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A total lunar eclipse as Makha Bucha Day, a Buddhist holiday, is marked at Wat Khao Wong Phrachan in Lopburi province, Thailand, March 3, 2026. REUTERS A total lunar eclipse as Makha Bucha Day, is marked at Wat Khao Wong Phrachan in Lopburi province, Thailand, Tuesday.
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Passengers wait amid flights disruptions as a result of the Israeli-US strikes on Iran, at Ngurah Rai International Airport , Bali, on Monday. (AFP) Passengers stranded on the Indonesian resort island of Bali clamoured for flight news Tuesday as the outbreak of war in the Middle East grounded planes and turned a tropical holiday dream into an ordeal for many.Hundreds were crowded at Ngurah Rai International Airport, many dressed in shorts, flip-flops and summer dresses, their expressions dour.Many sat on the floor, exhausted, and one man repeatedly hit a wall in frustration."I just kind of want to see my family.... right now it's a bit stressful," British tourist Adam Woo, transiting through Bali after holidaying on the neighbouring island of Lombok, told AFP.The 23-year-old student said he saw the missiles start flying on the news "and I was a bit worried about my flight" — especially after Dubai International Airport was hit in Iran's response to a US-Israeli attack."Obviously, everyone around the world at the moment is kind of stuck," said Woo."All the travel agencies are swamped with people calling in. So, it's literally impossible to even get on the phone with someone."He said he was looking for an alternative flight via China.Around Woo, many at the airport were lugging around heavy luggage with slumped shoulders, frustration etched on many a face.Many queued on foot and on chairs outside information centres hoping for news on replacement flights, receiving occasional briefings with little news.The airport's immigration office said in a statement at least 4,400 people had flights to Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi cancelled between Saturday and Monday.With would-be passengers at risk of overstaying their visas, the Bali immigration office introduced a same-day emergency stay permit free of charge for affected foreigners.Thirty-five have applied so far, according to immigration head Felucia Sengky Ratna.Airports company Angkasa Pura said 15 flights from Bali to Doha and Abu Dhabi, and vice versa, have been cancelled between Saturday and Monday.National carrier Garuda Indonesia has grounded all flights to Doha until further notice. Related Story
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Manila Tuesday, where they discussed ways to deepen economic and security ties.Lee was in Manila on a state visit.Marcos said both sides 'recognise growing uncertainty in geopolitical developments,' and agreed on the need to uphold a rules-based international order, including in the maritime domain.The Philippines and South Korea agreed to expand cooperation in shipbuilding, nuclear energy and artificial intelligence.Lee said the two countries will also cooperate in infrastructure and defence industries.Lee added that South Korea and the Philippines plan to work together on critical minerals and supply chains.The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East during their talks.South Korean companies will help the modernisation of the Philippine military, Lee saidThe countries signed MoUs in various sectors, including digital technology, procurement of specific defence equipment, agriculture, intellectual property, foreign language education, culture, and police investigations.
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Germany has announced on Monday that it will not participate in the ongoing military operations in the Middle East region.The German government has no intention to participate in the military operations against Iran, said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, before adding that Germany has no bases in the Middle East like Britain, which has allowed the US to access its bases in order to destroy Iranian missiles and missile launch platforms.Wadephul added that Germany has no appropriate means, as the nation certainly has no intention to engage in any kind of these operations, clarifying that it is possible for German troops to defend themselves when they are under attack, but there would never be any other measures beyond that on the part of Berlin.Germany has small military units in two nations in the Middle East.
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The European Union downplayed any immediate impacts on its oil supplies due to the military developments that have been unfolding in the Middle East region since last Saturday.In a message relayed to the bloc countries today, the European Commission stated that it doesn’t predict any instant impact on EU oil supplies and called on the member states to share the oil supply security assessments by the end of today.Global oil markets have begun issuing their assessments of supply movements and prices due to the outbreak of military actions in the Middle East, and the impact on maritime navigation in the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz, both of which are major arteries for global oil and LNG exports.
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France is ready to defend Gulf nations, as well as Jordan and Iraq against possible attacks from Iran, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday, as the conflict that began with Israeli and US strikes on Iran on Saturday has rapidly expanded to neighboring countries in the Middle East.To allied countries that have been deliberately targeted by the missiles and drones of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and dragged into a war they did not choose -Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan- France expresses its full support and complete solidarity, Barrot said, adding it stands ready to take part in their defense.Barrot added that Israeli and US unilateral attacks in Iran should have been debated in bodies that uphold international law, such as the United Nations, noting that it is only through the UN Security Council that the use of force can acquire necessary legitimacy.French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and expressed support for efforts to avoid the conflict. Barrot said that no French victims had been reported at this stage, and that work to facilitate the return of French citizens from areas impacted by the conflict would begin when possible.An estimated 400,000 French citizens are residents or currently visiting countries in and around the Gulf.
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China today expressed readiness to work with the international community to promote peace in the Middle East.China stands ready to work with the international community to call for peace and stop the conflict, resolve issues through dialogue and negotiations, and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large, said Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning today.China is deeply concerned over the current situation,and firmly opposes the use of force in international relations or infringement on other countries' sovereignty and security, she said.The priority now is to immediately stop military operations and prevent the spread and spillover of the conflict, Mao Ning added.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said Monday that the agency has no indication that any nuclear facilities in Iran were hit by the US and Israeli airstrikes, stressing that the situation in the Middle East is "very concerning".Grossi, at the start of an extraordinary meeting on the Iranian file, reiterated his call for all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation, amid the US and Israeli offensives on Iran and Iran's missile attacks in response.He added that contact efforts with Iranian nuclear regulators are underway, but without any response so far, expressing hope that this essential communication channel can be re-established soon enough.The extraordinary IAEA meeting, requested by Russia, ahead of the nuclear watchdog's regular Board of Governors session, which includes 35 countries, at a time when the region is witnessing a large-scale escalation of military tensions.The IAEA, tasked with monitoring Iran's nuclear program, confirmed last Saturday that it is closely observing developments in the Middle East, calling on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any nuclear risks that could threaten the region's population.
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Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides announced that a Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicle struck the British RAF Akrotiri airbase, resulting in minor damage. He simultaneously emphasized that his country is not participating in any military operations."We are in a region of particular geopolitical instability with many challenges and problems, which is going through an unprecedented crisis," the Cypriot President said in a press statement on Monday."I want to be clear: Our country does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation," Christodoulides said.He explained that all competent security agencies are on high alert, noting that he is in constant contact with European and other world leaders regarding regional developments.Earlier today, the British Ministry of Defence announced that the Akrotiri airbase was subjected to a suspected drone strike, with no casualties reported so far. The Ministry stated the attack occurred at midnight local time, confirming that protective measures in the area are at their highest levels to ensure the safety of forces and facilities.
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President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed Europe's full solidarity and support for the State of Kuwait in the wake of the Iranian attacks that took place Saturday and caused damage to Kuwait International Airport.In a post on the platform X, von der Leyen reiterated Europe's full solidarity and support for Kuwait following unacceptable Iranian attacks that damaged the country's international airport.She stressed that Europe will continue to engage with international and regional partners to help restore stability in the Middle East region.
