The US Treasury Department announced a temporary easing of sanctions on Iranian oil and petroleum products for a period of 30 days. According to the new license, operations are permitted only with oil shipments that were already in transit at the time the license took effect, while the conclusion of new contracts remains prohibited.
Taiwanese Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Lin Yu-ting has been cleared to return to competition at the Asian Boxing Championships following a review of her sex eligibility. World Boxing, the sport’s Olympic-level governing body, announced its decision on Friday ahead of the Asian championships, which begin on March 29 in Mongolia.
US President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on European NATO allies to assist in patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil trade that has been effectively closed since US and Israeli strikes against Iran. Trump labeled European partners "cowards" for refusing to help reopen the strait while the conflict with Iran continues, highlighting growing transatlantic tensions over security responsibilities.
The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has entered its fourth week, with reports indicating more than 1,400 people killed in Iran. This conflict poses a severe threat to regional stability and has raised concerns within the international community, highlighting the aggressive policies of the US regime and its allies.
A United Nations special rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, stated in a report released on Friday that Israel has been systematically torturing Palestinian detainees since October 7, 2023, on a scale that “suggests collective vengeance and destructive intent.” The report, titled “Torture and genocide,” examines Israel’s use of torture against Palestinians in the occupied territories, alleging it has been employed “on an unprecedented scale as punitive collective vengeance.” Albanese gathered written submissions, including at least 300 testimonies, detailing brutal beatings, sexual violence, rape, lethal mistreatment, starvation, and systematic deprivation of basic human conditions.
The Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will take place on Sunday, March 22, at 9:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT) at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. This match holds significant importance in La Liga, as Real Madrid currently sits in second place, trailing leaders Barcelona by four points. If Barcelona defeats Rayo Vallecano earlier on Sunday, Real Madrid could fall seven points behind, increasing the pressure on the team to secure a victory.
Prague is bracing for one of its largest demonstrations in recent years this Saturday, as Czech citizens prepare to protest what organizers describe as democratic backsliding under Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The rally, organized by the NGO A Million Moments for Democracy, aims to draw attention to concerns over public media, state institutions, and a draft law critics say mirrors Russian-style restrictions on civil society. In a press release, the group stated that the erosion of democracy in the Czech Republic is advancing faster than anticipated, and they will not remain silent while oligarchs and extremists threaten the country's future.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with Japan’s Kyodo News that the country has closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz only to its enemies, allowing passage for vessels from other nations. He said, “We have not closed the strait. In our opinion, the strait is open. It is closed only to ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait.”
A fire at an auto parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, on Friday resulted in at least 11 fatalities, with three people still missing, officials reported. An official from the interior ministry's disaster response department told AFP news agency that 25 individuals were seriously injured, while 34 sustained non-serious injuries.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who styles himself as the 'Minister of Investment', is facing intense scrutiny over his management of a €500 billion special debt fund. Approved by the Bundestag in 2025 for infrastructure and climate neutrality projects, the fund is now at the center of a major controversy, with two leading economic research institutes publishing damning reports alleging that the money is being used to plug budget gaps rather than finance new investments.
The Israeli military announced a new wave of strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran and the Lebanese capital Beirut early on Saturday, March 21, 2026. According to Israeli sources, the strikes on government targets in Tehran were carried out after Iran launched missiles toward Israeli territory at least three times within six hours. No immediate details on the outcomes were provided.
Iranian strikes on US military bases in the Middle East have caused approximately $800 million (£600 million) in damage during the first two weeks of the war, according to a new analysis. Much of this damage resulted from initial retaliatory strikes by Iran in the week after the US and Israel launched the war. A report by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) indicates that this figure is higher than previously reported, highlighting the steep costs to the US as the conflict drags on, with the full extent of damage still unclear.