Russia and Ukraine accused each other of new infrastructure attacks, despite a 30-day ceasefire agreed by President Vladimir Putin. Kyiv reported heavy drone strikes, while Moscow claimed to have intercepted Ukrainian drones. The tensions follow a call between Putin and Donald Trump on the conflict.
Israel’s far-right politician and leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is set to return to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government amid an intensification of the war in the Gaza Strip.
Afghanistan seeks foreign investment in mining, engaging with Chinese and Kazakh diplomats to boost resource extraction. With $1 trillion in untapped minerals, Kabul aims to become a key industry player despite infrastructure and security challenges.
China and Kazakhstan have agreed to deepen cooperation in key areas, including trade, security, and Belt and Road projects. At a high-level meeting in Beijing, officials emphasised stronger political ties, economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges to advance their strategic partnership.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on Tuesday to create a new state agency for atomic energy, marking a key step in Kazakhstan’s plan to build its first nuclear power plant.
Azerbaijan on Tuesday reported cross-border fire targeting its military positions from Armenia for the third day in a row.
Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) has approved a $10 million climate resilience project aimed at addressing the country’s environmental challenges. The initiative is set to enhance climate adaptation and strengthen sustainable development efforts.
Tensions rise along the Lebanon-Syria border after the abduction and killing of Syrian security forces. Syria accuses Hezbollah of orchestrating the attack, while the group denies involvement. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation are underway.
Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on Gaza, following the collapse of negotiations to extend a ceasefire. The strikes have resulted in significant casualties, while efforts to resume peace talks remain stalled.
Users on social media have uncovered a controversial use case for Google’s new Gemini 2.0 Flash model, which appears capable of removing watermarks from images—often from prominent sources such as Getty Images and other major stock media providers.
Germany pledged €300 million in aid for Syrians, focusing on food, healthcare, shelters, and protection. The funds will support those in Syria and refugees in neighboring countries. Foreign Minister Baerbock stressed the need for political inclusion and accountability.
Iranian opposition figure Mehdi Karroubi will be freed on Monday, ending 14 years of house arrest following his protests against the 2009 election results. His political ally, former Prime Minister Mirhossein Mousavi, is also expected to be released in the coming months.
During an informal phone conversation on Saturday, the presidents of Russia, Belarus, and Tajikistan—Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, and Emomali Rahmon, respectively—gave a call to their Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, according to the Kremlin.
The interim government in Damascus will attend an international conference on Monday in Brussels to seek aid pledges for Syria, which continues to face significant humanitarian challenges and an uncertain political future following the departure of Bashar al-Assad.
On March 16, at around 09:45, Armenian armed forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions located in the direction of the Digh settlement in the Goris region, using firearms, according to Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence.
Azerbaijan has officially joined the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation following President Ilham Aliyev’s approval. The move, backed by D-8 leaders at the Cairo Summit, strengthens Azerbaijan’s global economic ties and aligns with the bloc’s mission.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin on a finalised draft peace agreement with Azerbaijan in a phone call with Vladimir Putin. Kremlin said on that Friday conversation was initiated by the Armenian side.
The United States has proposed a "bridge" plan to extend the ceasefire in Gaza through April, aiming to facilitate negotiations for a permanent halt to hostilities and ensure the release of U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander.
