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UN peacekeepers fired upon during patrols in southern Lebanon UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) on Monday said three of its patrols were attacked and returned fire “in self-defence” and continued their patrols, with no injuries reported. Last week, a UN base came under artillery fire from the Israeli military, injuring three Ghanaian peacekeepers. Unifil has said it is investigating whether that was a deliberate targeting of UN personnel by Israeli forces. The incident comes as fighting intensified across southern Lebanon, with heavy Israeli air strikes reported around the city of Khiam and elsewhere in the south. Strikes were also reported in the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border and in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

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Charles Kupchan says the US and allies are reluctant to use military means to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

March 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump called on allies over the weekend to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian forces continue attacks on the vital waterway amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week. Trump said his administration has already contacted seven countries, but declined to identify them. In an earlier social media post, he said that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would participate.

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES, March 15 (Reuters) - The darkly comic thriller "One Battle After Another" claimed the coveted best picture prize at the Oscars on Sunday, winning a close contest with the vampire story "Sinners" at the highest honors in the film business. Michael B. Jordan earned the best actor trophy for his dual roles as twin brothers in "Sinners." Jessie Buckley won best actress for playing the wife of William Shakespeare, Agnes Hathaway, in "Hamnet."

Madrid-based journalist Guy Hedgecoe explains why Pedro Sánchez has been one of the few European leaders to challenge the US president on Iran When the US and Israel launched their attack on Iran two weeks ago, the response from European leaders was muted and ambiguous. Uneasy about the strikes but unwilling to condemn Donald Trump outright. There was one notable exception, however: Pedro Sánchez, the prime minister of Spain. As he would say in his public announcement – explaining to Spaniards why he had not allowed the US to use two military bases – the Spanish government’s position could be summarised in four words: ‘no a la guerra’, no to war. Continue reading...

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TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Japan does not currently plan to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump called on allies to help escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. "We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework," Takaichi told parliament.

Israeli strikes in south Lebanon kill 10, ministry says Lebanon’s Ministry of Health on Monday said Israeli raids on several towns in the south of the country killed 10 people and wounded 13 others. The ministry said the strikes targeted the towns of Qatrani, Majdal Selm and Aitaat as fighting continued along the Israel-Lebanon front.

Footage shows fire near Dubai International Airport after a drone ignited a fuel tank, according to UAE authorities.

China’s Economy Gets Off to Better-Than-Forecast Start to Year  Bloomberg.com

Brent crude tops $106 a barrel as markets see no end in sight to the halt of traffic through the critical waterway.

Hidden behind a tall hedgerow in the English countryside, Charlie Cumming stood at the fence of an air force base, camera raised towards a US B-1 Lancer bomber parked nearby. He was one of hundreds of curious onlookers who flocked to the airfield at RAF Fairford in the southwestern county of Gloucestershire since US aircraft began arriving on March 6, days after the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran. "I've come just for pictures for my Instagram, really," said the 17-year-old. "It's a bit concerning they're here, but I still think they're really cool to see."

March 16 (Reuters) - The Dubai Media Office said on Monday that authorities were dealing with a fire resulting from a drone attack in the vicinity of the Dubai International Airport, adding that no injuries were reported. Dubai authorities said that the drone attack hit a fuel tank and the civil defence teams were working to bring the fire under control.

CNBC Daily Open: Oil infrastructure under threat as Iran war rages on?  CNBC

Legislation, proposed by Finance Ministry to help offset OECD-brokered tax hike amid brain drain concerns, will let tech firms keep a larger share of their income The post Knesset advances bill to grant R&D tax credit in bid to keep tech firms in Israel appeared first on The Times of Israel.

By Jarrett Renshaw and Bianca Flowers March 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States could soon reach a deal with Cuba or take other action, signaling that developments in the long-strained relationship may come quickly. "Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do," Trump said to reporters on Air Force One. "We're talking to Cuba, but we're going to do Iran before Cuba."

Iran launches heavy wave of missile strikes as war enters third week  CBS News

Dubai says 'drone-related incident' ignites fire near airport The Dubai Media Office on Monday said that it responded to a fire following a “drone-related incident” near Dubai International Airport, which affected one of the fuel tanks.   “Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control,” the office said in a statement, without immediately providing further details about the incident. A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control. No injuries have been reported so far. March 16, 2026

Trump warns Nato faces 'very bad future' over Hormuz US President Donald Trump warned that Nato faces a “very bad future” if allies fail to help the United States secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an interview with the Financial Times. “We have a thing called NATO,” Trump said, adding that Washington had supported its allies in the past but now expects assistance. “Now we’ll see if they help us,” he said, arguing that countries benefiting from the Gulf’s energy routes should help ensure “nothing bad happens there.” “We’ve been very sweet. We didn’t have to help them with Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us …  But we helped them. Now we’ll see if they help us. Because I’ve long said that we’ll be there for them but they won’t be there for us. And I’m not sure that they’d be there,” he said.