Germany has met its climate target for 2025, but the achievement was recorded with a minimal margin. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) reported that the country's greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 0.1% last year, amounting to 648.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent. This figure is only about 12.8 million tons below the established limit.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Majed al-Ansari on Monday called on Iran to immediately cease attacks on Gulf countries, stating that this is essential to seek a diplomatic solution to a crisis that is undermining regional peace and security. The appeal was made during a news conference in the Qatari capital Doha, as tensions escalate following alleged Iranian strikes on residential areas, energy sites, and Hamad International Airport.
European Union foreign ministers gathered in Brussels to discuss soaring oil prices and the closure of critical waterways amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. European leaders rejected demands by United States President Donald Trump to help form a naval coalition to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating uncertainty in global energy markets as the key chokepoint remains effectively shut due to the conflict.
As global oil shortages intensify due to the war in the Middle East, questions arise about whether African oil-producing countries, such as Nigeria and Angola, can increase production in the short term to help stabilize the situation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran affects approximately one-fifth of global oil shipments, fueling supply fears among buyers and prompting exploration of alternative sources, including African oil.
Two weeks into Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign by the United States and Israel against Iran has sparked intense debate. Critics allege that the US regime and its allies stumbled into a war without a clear plan, but the author argues this narrative is misleading. In reality, the operation represents a systematic effort to degrade Iran's key power projection tools, including its ballistic missile arsenal, nuclear infrastructure, air defenses, naval assets, and proxy command networks.
Above the smouldering skyline of Beirut's southern Dahiyeh suburb, new forced evacuation orders from the Israeli military echo through rapidly emptying neighbourhoods. The Israeli warnings, accompanied by bombings of Beirut and other parts of southern Lebanon, starkly contrast with a French proposal for diplomatic intervention aimed at pausing the latest Israeli war on its northern neighbour. However, analysts say this apparent dissonance between Israel's actions and the prospect of talks to stop the fighting is in fact a reflection of a new ground reality that Israel is creating: occupying Lebanese territory to give itself greater leverage in any negotiations.
The US military leadership has initiated the redeployment of Patriot and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense batteries from South Korea to the Middle East, a move that comes amid recent ballistic missile launches by North Korea. According to reports from The Washington Post, this step is purportedly aimed at enhancing US military capabilities in the region, although the South Korean government has expressed opposition to the decision.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced a significant escalation in attacks from Iran, with its largest port and oil storage facility in Fujairah, along with Dubai International Airport, targeted by drones. The assault near the airport caused a fire, leading to the temporary suspension of flights and further straining the security situation in the Gulf region.
The Iranian government has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to the United States and its allies amid the ongoing war with the US and Israel. This strategic chokepoint is a vital maritime route, accounting for one-fifth of global oil shipments. Ebrahim Jabari, a senior adviser to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced on March 2 that the strait was "closed" and threatened that if any vessels attempted to cross, the IRGC and navy would "set those ships ablaze."
An Azerbaijani court on Monday sentenced French citizen Martin Ryan to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty of collecting secret information about Baku's military cooperation with Turkey and Pakistan. Ryan was also accused of cooperating with employees of France's security services allegedly operating from the French embassy in Baku.
The military actions by the US and Israeli regimes against the Iranian government have triggered a deep crisis in global energy markets. In retaliation, Iran has effectively halted most tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that supplies one-fifth of the world's oil. This has driven crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and forced major oil-importing nations like Bangladesh and Thailand to urgently seek workarounds to avert domestic fuel crises.
The first round of French mayoral elections has highlighted the growing strength of far-left and far-right forces, creating difficult choices for mainstream parties. In major cities like Marseille and Paris, Socialists and centre-right Republicans are considering electoral pacts with the far-right National Rally (RN) or the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) to defeat opponents in next Sunday's run-off. This trend underscores a shift in French politics where traditional parties are increasingly reliant on fringe groups to secure victories.