World News

A look back at WTO ministerial conferences since 1996: Key outcomes, agenda

WTO's 14th ministerial in Cameroon comes amid rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions, with India set to push key concerns on agriculture and trade reforms

How Ukraine's front line became a testing ground for drone innovation

In recent years, Ukraine's domestic drone interceptor market has burgeoned, producing some key players who tout their products at international arms shows

Trump threatens to deploy ICE agents at US airports over funding impasse

Transportation Security Administration personnel are set to miss a second full paycheck on March 27 amid a partial government shutdown in its 36th day

China vows more open economy, national treatment for foreign companies

China will focus on promoting high-quality development and continue to create a favourable business environment so that companies coming to China can develop with confidence and achieve great success

Apple CEO praises Chinese developers, partners amid Beijing's pressure

Cook, speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, praised the innovations of Chinese developers and the automation at the country's manufacturing facilities

Trump touted big tax refunds, but rising gas prices may level gains

Lower and middle-income households are likely to be hit particularly hard, because they receive lower refunds, while spending a greater proportion of their earnings on gas

Trump, Iran escalate conflict with threats to energy, water facilities

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that critical infrastructure and energy facilities in West Asia could be "irreversibly destroyed" should Iranian power plants be attacked

Iran threatens Hormuz shutdown over Trump's energy strike warning

Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours

Seven killed in Qatar helicopter crash due to technical malfunction

Four of those killed were Qatari armed forces personnel, one was from the Qatar-Turkey joint forces and two were technicians, the Turkish and Qatari defence ministries said

Oil prices set to rise further Monday as West Asia crisis escalates

Iran warned it would attack US-linked infrastructure, including energy and desalination facilities in the Gulf, if Trump carried out his threat

Iran says Hormuz open to all expect enemy-linked ships amid US threat

The threat of Iranian attacks during the US-Israeli war on Iran has kept most ships from getting through the narrow strait, the conduit for around a fifth of global oil and LNG supplies

Qatar confirms 6 killed in helicopter crash in Persian Gulf, 1 missing

The Interior Ministry said one person is still missing from from the crash, which took place the day before

West Asia crisis: Hormuz closure forcing Trump, importers to seek solution

The channel has been a focal point since the start of the war, but Iran's geographic and strategic advantages mean the US has been unable to restore traffic

More than half of countries have banned phones in schools: Unesco

Facebook's own research revealed that 32 per cent of teenage girls felt worse about their bodies after using Instagram

Iran internet blackout stretches into 4th week amid ongoing war concerns

The prolonged disruption has significantly curtailed communication channels both within the country and with the outside world, raising concerns

Sri Lankan govt urges sparing use of power, fuel; hikes prices again

This came as the island nation raised fuel retail prices at midnight, the second such hike in a week

Cuba's power grid collapses for third time this month, causing blackout

The Cuban Electric Union, which reports to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, announced a total blackout across the island without initially giving a cause for the outage

Meloni faces major test as Italy holds referendum on judicial overhaul

The outcome of the vote will shape the mood ahead of a general election next year, potentially destabilising Meloni, who has led one of Italy's longest-serving governments

64 killed, including 13 children in strike on hospital in Sudan: WHO

The strike on the Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur on Friday also injured at least 89 people and rendered the hospital non-functional, Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, said

Iran threatens to target US energy, IT systems if fuel facilities attacked

This warning from Tehran comes as defence officials at the Pentagon have formulated comprehensive strategies for the potential deployment of United States ground troops into Iran