Around 80,000 fans were hoping to see Lionel Messi take on Lamine Yamal in Doha, while thousands more were gearing up for the F1 grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but the war in the Middle East had other plans. The Gulf countries have invested vast sums of money in
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss future deployments, did not say what the role of the additional troops would be. One of the officials said the troops were departing the West Coast of the United States about three weeks ahead of schedule
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The British government gave authorisation on Friday for the United States to use military bases in Britain to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites that are attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. British ministers met on Friday to discuss the
In Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, women perform a traditional dance, their long dresses spinning, gold tassels and heavy necklaces catching the firelight, as smaller crowds than usual celebrate Nowruz, overshadowed by the Middle East conflict. Among them were Iranian Kurds
Iranians are managing to get online during the current war with the US and Israel despite drastic censorship and frequent blackouts, throwing the spotlight on to providers of tools such as VPNs (virtual private networks). AFP asked Adam Fisk, head of US-based nonprofit Lantern,
March 20 (Reuters) - Iranian missiles and drones have continued to strike crucial energy facilities and other targets in Gulf countries and the wider Middle East nearly three weeks into the war. Neutralising Iran's missile and drone capabilities is a crucial war aim for both
BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - NATO has withdrawn all of its troops from an advisory missionin Iraq, the military alliance said on Friday, as the repercussions of the Iran war spread across the Middle East. "I would like to thank the Republic of Iraq and all the Allies who
The island is an energy hub that accounts for 90% of Iran's oil exports and is home to key Iranian military installations.
By Nate Raymond and Jonathan Stempel BOSTON, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration escalated its attacks on Harvard University on Friday, as it sued the Ivy League school to recover billions of dollars for allegedly failing to protect Jewish and
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that there are no leaders left in Iran to talk to about the war, with military strikes continuing to target Iranian officials. (Reporting by Gram Slattery and Steve Holland; Editing by Caitlin Webber)
(Note: This story contains graphic details in paragraphs 1, 3 and 14) By Ali Sawafta and Pesha Magid HUMSAH, West Bank, March 20 (Reuters) - Israeli settlers sexually assaulted a Palestinian man - tying his genitalia with zip ties and parading him naked in front of his family -
March 20 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei released a message on Friday marking the start of Persian New Year which he named the year of a "resistance economy under national unity and national security." In the statement, released on his Telegram
Saeed Ziad, who offered a pro-Iran perspective on the war, has not posted on X in days, and the account of Fatima al-Smadi was deleted, though their exact status is not known.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his U.K. counterpart, Yvette Cooper, that providing military bases for the United States will be considered as participation in 'aggression,' according to a statement in Farsi he posted on his official Telegram channel
BEIRUT/SIDON, Lebanon, March 20 (Reuters) - For Lebanese Muslims, there was little to celebrate on Friday during Eid al-Fitr as a displacement crisis prompted by Israeli strikes and fears for the future cast a dark shadow over the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
BRUSSELS, March 20 (Reuters) - NATO said it was "adjusting" the posture of its mission in Iraq, in response to a media report that the alliance had started to withdraw personnel from the country due to the military conflicts in the Middle East. "We can confirm that we are
March 20 (Reuters) - Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei will issue a message within minutes marking the start of Persian New Year, state media reported on Friday. (Reporting by Enas Alashray; Editing by Louise Heavens)
AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Reuters) - The Netherlands is stepping up security for Iranian dissidents living in the country after a man of Iranian descent who is known to be critical of the authorities in Tehran was shot, Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said on Friday. A
Azmoun, 31, is one of the best-known soccer players in Iran, where the sport is a national obsession. State TV pundit Mohammad Misaghi condemned the act as 'childish' and disloyal. Reports say authorities may seize assets of Azmoun and other UAE-based internationals
KYIV, March 20 (Reuters) - Ukraine has deployed interceptor units to protect critical and civil infrastructure in five Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine's security council secretary Rustem Umerov said after a visit to the region. "Work is also underway to expand coverage
Israel's army says it hit Syrian bases and weapons in southern Syria in retaliation for attacks on Druze civilians in Suweida. 'We will not allow harm to Druze in Syria and will continue to act to protect them,' the IDF said, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning of
"We were attacked," wrote a sailor in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway blocked for weeks since US-Israeli strikes triggered a war with Iran, in a group chat seen by AFP on Friday. The conversations in Chinese on the messaging app WeChat -- provided by a worker whose
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers held Eid prayers at the gates of Jerusalem's Old City Friday, with Israel closing access to the Al-Aqsa mosque and other holy sites over the war with Iran. "Today, Al-Aqsa has been taken from us. It's a sad and painful Ramadan," Wajdi Mohammed
By Rajesh Kumar Singh CHICAGO, March 20 (Reuters) - U.S. airline chiefs are talking about the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in a way that many of their counterparts overseas are not — projecting confidence about fares and demand even as fuel costs surge and global aviation is
Forced by yet another war in Lebanon to flee his home for the second time in just two years, and mourning lost relatives and friends, Hassan Kiki said he feels much older than 16. "War has aged us... We have lived through what no one else has," the tall teen from south Lebanon
March 20 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources with knowledge of the issue. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru,
ATHENS/LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - A manager at London-listed insurer Hiscox faces a criminal charge of providing false testimony during an attempted extradition of a former colleague from Greece to Bermuda, court proceedings and filings seen by Reuters show. An Athens
LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - The family of a British couple detained in Iran said on Friday the pair were being used as "human shields" during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and they accused Britain's government of failing to make progress on their release. Lindsay and Craig
Even when the fighting ends, their transition to economies based on tourism, tech, finance and logistics could be undone by the geopolitical risk
Four Israeli-Iranian couples share their stories of nearly impossible love
In addition to fatigue and increased hunger, living with constant sleep deprivation and stress has other effects, some long-term. Experts explain the risks – and how to limit the damage, or at least some of it
By Hyunjoo Jin SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - South Korean authorities said on Friday that Iranian attacks on Qatar's energy facilities raise uncertainty, but downplayedconcerns about disruption to its liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply, citing the availability of alternative
The 127 cheetahs living in a Somaliland sanctuary were all torn away from their mothers to be kept as pets in the Gulf, survivors of a trade that threatens the very survival of the species. The long, slender, spotted felines yawn, stretch, and purr loudly as the staff approach
PARIS, March 20 (Reuters) - The International Energy Agency (IEA), which this month agreed a record release of oil from strategic stockpiles to deal with the effects of the U.S-Israeli war with Iran, outlined on Friday proposals to ease oil price pressures on consumers, such as
Firefighters battled another blaze at a Kuwait oil refinery on Friday after a fresh drone attack from Iran where millions were marking the country's New Year with muted celebrations under the shadow of war. Despite calls for an end to targeting Gulf energy infrastructure by
It's unclear whether U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to calm things down or whether he wants to spark an energy war, but Iran is willing to hold out. Either way, it suits Netanyahu
LONDON, March 19 (Reuters) - Leading European nations, Japan and Canada issued a joint statement on Thursday saying they were ready to join appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets. This is the full
When an ancient bronze statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius landed back on Turkish soil after decades abroad, it was more than a symbolic homecoming. It marked the latest victory in Turkey's increasingly assertive push to recover antiquities illegally taken abroad -- a
SYDNEY, March 20 (Reuters) - Protesters heckled and booed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday during a visit to Australia's largest mosque for Eid al-Fitr prayers, voicing anger over his stance on ally Israel's offensive in Gaza. Some in Australia's Muslim and Jewish
Six major international powers said Thursday they were ready "to contribute to" ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though three stressed that any initiative would take place post-ceasefire. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands said