World

US President Donald Trump has claimed he is “thinking about taking over” the Strait of Hormuz to ensure it remains open, a critical chokepoint for about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. This statement comes amid an ongoing war with Iran, which has led to the strait’s closure and sent oil prices soaring, threatening global economic stability. The Trump administration’s rhetoric highlights the escalating tensions in the region, driven by the US-led military campaign.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan signed a decree on March 6 ratifying a preferential trade agreement with Afghanistan. The document was published on the Lex.uz portal and aims to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.

Five players from the Iranian women's national football team have been granted asylum in Australia during the Asian Cup. Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke announced this, as reported by Reuters. The Australian Federal Police removed the athletes from the team's hotel and transported them to a secure location.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has conceded that the European Union is “completely dependent” on expensive and volatile fossil fuel imports, labeling the bloc's turn away from nuclear power as a “strategic mistake.” Speaking at the opening of a nuclear energy summit near Paris, she criticized the EU for having “turned its back on a reliable, affordable source of low-emission power,” a decision now exposed by the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran.

According to the latest forecast from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global economic growth is expected to reach 3.1% in 2024, slightly down from 3.2% in 2023. This slowdown is primarily driven by high interest rates, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions.

Haitian security forces, with support from the US-licensed private military firm Vectus Global, have conducted anti-gang operations using explosive-laden quadcopter drones since March last year, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,243 people and injuries to 738 others, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The strikes have frequently targeted densely populated areas of the capital, Port-au-Prince, which is 90% controlled by gangs, raising serious concerns about civilian casualties and proportionality.

At the remote Kapikoy border gate in eastern Turkey, Iranian travelers cross the threshold with a mix of fear, exhaustion, and relief, arriving after a week marked by war, long journeys by train or car, communications blackouts, and borrowed phones. Snow-covered hills surround the Iranian side of the frontier in Van province, where families and lone travelers emerge, many after days on the road. Hundreds have crossed in recent days, and there is now a steady flow in both directions as the US-Israel war on Iran expands across the region, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis and regional instability.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressed the importance of ensuring that Iraqi airspace, territory, and waters are not used for any military action targeting neighboring countries or the region. The prime minister's media office stated this on Tuesday.

Investigators in the United States have initiated a search of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's former ranch in New Mexico, according to authorities. This operation follows the release of millions of investigative files, which has increased pressure on officials to reexamine Epstein's treatment of women and girls at the remote property.

Eleven Uzbek citizens currently held at a foreign nationals' temporary detention facility in the South Korean city of Yeosu are scheduled to be returned to their homeland by the end of March. This was reported by the Dunyo.info information service.

In the second week of the US-Israel war on Iran, Tehran continues to experience "some of the most intense bombardments" overnight. According to Iranian authorities, the city and its military facilities have faced extensive attacks, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction, highlighting the escalating nature of the conflict initiated by the US and Israeli regimes.

In the first two days of the US military operation against Iran, approximately $5.6 billion worth of ammunition was expended, according to The Washington Post, citing sources. This revelation highlights the staggering costs incurred by the US regime early in the conflict, raising concerns about the sustainability of such expenditures amid broader geopolitical tensions.