Weeks of fighting between the US, Israel, and Iran have severely disrupted the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz. This has forced Southeast Asian governments to scramble to provide sufficient fuel for industry, airlines, and household consumption, amid surging prices and supply chain shocks.
Fears of economic strain are intensifying across Europe as the United States-Israel war on Iran approaches the one-month mark. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the conflict as an economic "catastrophe", while the United Kingdom's economic growth prospects for this year received a sharp downgrade.
The war launched by the United States and Israel has killed more than 1,500 people in Iran, a figure considered conservative as official calculations are yet to be released. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that 3.2 million people – over 3% of the population – have been displaced within Iran since US-Israeli strikes began on February 28. Twenty-seven days into the conflict, aid agencies and countries bordering Iran are bracing for a potential refugee crisis as civilians flee the violence.
As Lufthansa, Germany's flag carrier, marks its 100th anniversary, its collaboration with the Nazi regime and use of forced labor during the Holocaust continue to be largely overlooked. Founded in 1926 as Deutsche Luft Hansa (later Lufthansa), the company faced economic struggles in the 1930s and was "saved" by the Nazis, serving as a front for their rearmament program. Historian Lutz Budrass notes that during World War II, Lufthansa played a key role in aircraft repair workshops behind the front lines and directly procured forced laborers, including children kidnapped from Nazi-occupied territories across Europe.
At least 28 civilians have been killed in two separate drone strikes in Sudan, according to health workers, as the country’s brutal civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) approaches its fourth year. The attacks occurred in North Darfur and North Kordofan states, highlighting the escalating violence against non-combatants.
The European Parliament on Thursday approved a controversial bill that paves the way for deporting illegal migrants to so-called 'return hubs' outside the European Union's borders. Lawmakers voted 389 in favor to 206 against, advancing the proposal as pressure mounts to tighten immigration rules within the bloc. The reforms would establish migrant centers beyond EU territory to house individuals whose asylum applications are rejected, with those refusing relocation facing harsh penalties including detention and entry bans.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) was once a humble stopover for luxury flying boats making arduous journeys from the UK to far-flung parts of the British Empire, such as India and Australia. In the 1960s, it had a simple desert sand runway used as a refueling stop for airliners heading to more exotic destinations. Today, however, Dubai is a key pillar of the industry, and DXB is its beating heart. In 2024, over 92 million passengers passed through its gleaming, marble-floored halls and brightly lit shopping malls.
The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, along with Tehran's response, has disrupted approximately one-third of global helium supplies. This gas is critical for medical applications such as MRI scans and for high-tech industries including semiconductor manufacturing.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has stated that former President Raul Castro is involved in talks between the island and the United States. This announcement comes amid soaring tensions between the two states, as nationwide blackouts persist due to an oil blockade implemented by US President Donald Trump.
Uzbekistan's State Security Service (SSS) has uncovered cases of smuggling and illegal trade in precious metals during operational activities across several regions of the republic. Preliminary estimates indicate that the total value of the seized assets exceeds 900 million soms.
A group of Uzbek citizens who violated Sweden's migration legislation have been deported and returned to Tashkent. Their expulsion was due to illegal residence in Sweden, breaches of visa requirements, or overstaying their permitted duration. The repatriation process was coordinated through cooperation between the competent authorities of Sweden and Uzbekistan, ensuring the safe return of the individuals to their home country.
Monaco has claimed the top spot globally for the number of registered patents (inventions) per capita, based on statistics from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). With over 307,000 patents per 100,000 people, the figure significantly outpaces other nations. The 2024 ranking, published by Visual Capitalist, considers active patents relative to population size.