AnewZ Morning Brief - 17 March, 2026
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The 176th General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) has formally registered World Expo 2030 Riyadh. Organised under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow”, Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place in the capital of Saudi Arabia between 1 October 2030 and 31 March 2031.
BIE Member States, gathered in the General Assembly in Paris, unanimously approved the registration of Expo 2030 Riyadh, following the recommendation of the BIE’s Executive Committee.
This registration confirms the status of Expo 2030 Riyadh as an International Registered Exhibition and makes it possible for Saudi Arabia to begin the implementation phase, including the official invitation of international participants via diplomatic channels.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to welcome 197 countries and over 40 million visits. The 6 km² site — with a 2 km² gated exhibition area — is shaped by the natural Wadi Al Sulai landscape and located near King Khalid International Airport. The event’s theme is supported by three pillars: Transformational Technology, Sustainable Solutions, and Prosperous People.
To mark the occasion, the BIE flag was ceremonially handed to H.E. Ibrahim Al Sultan, CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
Saudi Arabia was elected host of World Expo 2030 during the BIE’s 173rd General Assembly in November 2023. Since then, it has formalized its plans by submitting a comprehensive Registration Dossier to the BIE, outlining operational timelines, legal and financial frameworks, the Master Plan for the Expo site, participation guidelines, and legacy strategies.
BIE Secretary General Dimitri S. Kerkentzes stated that Expo 2030 Riyadh, under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow,” will unite the world to address future challenges and foster innovation. He emphasized that official registration now enables Saudi Arabia to move ahead with preparations for six months of global engagement and discovery.
Ibrahim Al Sultan noted that the BIE’s adoption of the Registration Dossier reflects global confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to host a groundbreaking World Expo and in Riyadh’s readiness to deliver it. He affirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to organizing a world-class event that reflects its global standing.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials launched a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan through the Astara state border crossing continues on Sunday (15 March), ensuring smooth and efficient transit for those arriving.
Kazakh voters have overwhelmingly approved a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. Exit polls showed that around 87% of voters have backed the new constitution.
The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran is already hitting the Middle East travel and tourism sector hard, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimating losses of at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
A towering lava fountain from Kilauea shot about 400 metres into the air late on Tuesday (11 March) on Hawaii Island, prompting temporary closures at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and part of a key highway as volcanic ash and debris fell over nearby areas.
Emirates and Etihad Airways were resuming limited flight schedules to key global cities from their United Arab Emirates hubs on Friday (6 March), though the ongoing threat of missile fire piled pressure on airlines.
Air fares between Asia and Europe have surged after major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, partially reopened following closures linked to the conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran. Airlines are still rerouting flights around restricted airspace, cutting economy seat supply and pushing up prices.
Global air travel remained in turmoil on Monday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region prompted widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, disrupting one of the world’s most important aviation corridors.
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