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AI summaryAs the US-Israeli offensive against Iran enters its second month, luxury retailers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi report significant sales drops, with tourist traffic falling sharply. Industry analysts warn the region's luxury market could halve in March, dealing a blow to a sector already facing global headwinds.
AI summaryFinance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is in Washington for the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, where he is seeking early approval of the next IMF tranche and discussing the economic impact of the Iran conflict. The IMF, World Bank, and IEA have announced a joint coordination mechanism to address global economic disruptions.
AI summarySouth Korea's finance ministry has pledged strict measures, including legal action, against the spread of fake news exacerbating market volatility. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol filed a complaint over false reports that the government would force citizens to sell U.S. dollars amid Middle East tensions. The local currency has shown increased volatility since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
AI summaryUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to retire immediately, without giving a public reason. The move is part of a broader shake-up of senior military leadership under Hegseth, coming amid ongoing US operations against Iran.
AI summaryUS President Donald Trump announced the destruction of Iran's tallest bridge in an airstrike, warning of more attacks unless Iran agrees to a deal. Iranian officials reported at least eight killed and nearly 100 wounded in the strike on the under-construction B1 bridge near Karaj, which they say was a civilian structure. The attack has escalated fears of a widening conflict, with international reactions ranging from UN warnings of 'a wider war' to European criticism of US strategy.
AI summaryIran has promised 'more crushing, broader and more destructive' attacks against the US and Israel following President Trump's threat to bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Age.' The war, now in its fifth week, has seen continued airstrikes on both sides, with rising casualties in Lebanon and regional instability as the UAE bars Iranians and Kuwait reports drone attacks.
AI summaryAs the US-Israel conflict with Iran enters its 34th day, President Trump's speech has deepened hostilities, prompting Iranian retaliation and raising fears of a prolonged war. Military deployments and international reactions suggest an escalating crisis with global implications.
AI summaryThe Gulf Cooperation Council's Secretary-General called on the UN Security Council to take measures to halt Iranian attacks and ensure safe navigation through strategic waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz. A draft resolution backed by Bahrain faces objections from Russia, China, and France.
AI summaryIsraeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem of a 'very heavy price' for rocket attacks during the Passover holiday. The warning came amid reports of an Iranian ballistic missile barrage and ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attacks, while Iran's supreme leader voiced support without pledging aid.
AI summaryPresident Donald Trump’s primetime address on the Iran war was met with widespread skepticism from analysts and commentators, who questioned his claims of success and regime change. Fact-checkers identified misleading and false statements about the conflict and the US economy.
AI summaryThe Israeli military announced the killing of Mohammad Reza Ashrafi Kahi, a senior commander in the IRGC's Oil Headquarters, amid a wave of strikes on over 120 sites in Iran. The IDF also reported the earlier killing of Jamshid Eshaqi, a commander of Iran's Oil Headquarters, and the destruction of IRGC financial infrastructure in Tehran.
AI summaryThe family of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi reports she suffered a suspected heart attack in prison and received inadequate treatment. Meanwhile, prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been arrested in Tehran, with activists accusing the regime of cracking down on dissent amid the war with Israel and the US.
AI summaryIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims it attacked Amazon's cloud computing center in Bahrain and an Oracle data center in Dubai, actions described as retaliation for attacks on Iran. The IRGC has also threatened further strikes on US IT companies in the region, raising regional tensions.
AI summaryMinisters from more than 40 countries met virtually on Thursday to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran since US-Israeli strikes began in late February. The UK-led talks, which the US did not attend, focused on diplomatic and planning measures, with 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships reportedly stranded.
AI summaryRussian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said the US wants a corridor through Armenia to transport critical minerals from Central Asia and maintain leverage over Iran. He also highlighted uncertainties around the Trump Route due to the Caspian Sea's shallowing and investment risks.
AI summaryThe US-led war on Iran is reshaping East Asia's hierarchy, with Russia and China gaining as emergency energy suppliers and industrial stabilisers, while US allies Japan and South Korea face economic strain and reconsider their security dependence, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.
AI summaryFrench President Emmanuel Macron, speaking during a state visit to South Korea, described any military operation to force open the Strait of Hormuz as unrealistic and criticised what he called inconsistent daily statements from US President Donald Trump on the Iran conflict and Nato. Macron defended the alliance’s value based on underlying trust and said the strait could only be reopened through a ceasefire and talks with Iran. Coverage across outlets highlighted both the strategic warning on Hormuz and personal and alliance-related friction.
AI summaryIran's internet has been almost entirely cut off for over 790 hours amid ongoing military conflict with the US and Israel, according to NetBlocks. The blackout has entered its sixth week, with connectivity at about 1% of normal levels. Google search has partially resumed, but full access remains limited.
AI summaryIran's military leadership has pledged to closely monitor enemy movements and prepare counteraction plans in the event of a ground invasion, following US President Donald Trump's statement that he did not rule out seizing Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export hub.
AI summaryRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko stated that cooperation with Sri Lanka in the energy sector should be built on a solid legal and economic foundation, not limited by frameworks imposed by the United States. The remarks came during his visit to Colombo for inter-ministerial consultations, where the two countries also discussed Sri Lanka's interest in purchasing Russian oil.