OPEC keeps oil demand forecast despite supply shocks from Iran war
OPEC has maintained its global oil demand projections even as supply disruptions linked to the war involving Iran shake energy markets. The organization confirmed that Saudi Arabia led a significant increase in production in February, raising output by 250,000 barrels per day in what appears to have been a precautionary move ahead of military......
Iran missile campaign across Gulf enters second week of escalating conflict
Twelve days after the outbreak of a widening conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the Gulf region continues to face sustained waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks that have struck every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, caused civilian casualties and killed U.S. personnel, while triggering one of the most severe......
Shell and TotalEnergies declare force majeure on Qatari LNG supply contracts
Shell, TotalEnergies, and several companies in Asia have declared force majeure on downstream contracts linked to Qatari liquefied natural gas deliveries, according to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with the matter. The move follows Qatar’s own force majeure declaration earlier in March after disruptions triggered by attacks......
Women still carry the hidden burden of family health
In 2026, one of the clearest signs of persistent inequality inside the home is not always visible in household budgets or chore charts. It appears in doctors’ appointments, treatment schedules, vaccination reminders, specialist visits and the constant monitoring of relatives’ health needs. A recent survey found that 92% of women......
European gas prices fall sharply as Trump signals Iran war may end soon
European natural gas prices dropped sharply after a surge triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as traders reacted to comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the war could end in the near future. The benchmark Dutch TTF gas price, the main reference for European gas markets, had nearly doubled......
ISS deorbit scheduled to begin in 2028 before planned 2030 ocean descent
The International Space Station will begin a gradual descent from orbit in 2028 before making a controlled plunge into the ocean in 2030, according to Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov. The timeline confirms plans long discussed between Russia and NASA as the two agencies prepare to retire the aging orbital laboratory after nearly three decades......
Meta acquires Moltbook, a social network built for AI agents
Meta has acquired Moltbook, an experimental social network designed for artificial intelligence agents, bringing its founders into the company’s AI research division. The deal, first reported by Axios, will see Moltbook cofounders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr join Meta Superintelligence Labs, the unit led by former Scale AI chief executive......
Oil rebounds above $89 after historic $38 swing amid Iran war turmoil
Global oil markets have experienced extreme volatility this week, with crude prices swinging by tens of dollars within hours as traders struggled to interpret conflicting signals from Washington about the United States conflict with Iran and the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures surged to nearly $120 per barrel when markets......
MOTHRA telescope in Chile aims to reveal faint cosmic web structures
A new astronomical instrument under construction in the mountains of Chile is set to become the largest lens based telescope array ever built. Known as MOTHRA, the Modular Optical Telephoto Hyperspectral Robotic Array will combine 1,140 Canon telephoto lenses to observe extremely faint structures in the universe. The project is being built......
Global markets swing as Iran war sends mixed signals to investors
Global stock markets experienced renewed volatility this week as sharp movements in oil prices and shifting signals from the conflict involving the United States and Iran unsettled investors. In the United States, the S&P 500 closed down 0.2 percent on Tuesday, March 10, after surrendering earlier gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average......
Volkswagen plans 50,000 job cuts in Germany as profits plunge
Volkswagen plans to eliminate about 50,000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as the automaker accelerates restructuring efforts following a sharp decline in annual profits. The announcement came as the company reported earnings at their lowest level since the 2016 diesel emissions scandal. Chief executive Oliver Blume outlined the plan in a letter......
Dubai gold trades at rare discount as war disrupts global bullion flows
Gold is trading at an unusual discount in Dubai, one of the world’s most important hubs for physical bullion trade, as conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts transport routes and breaks the supply chains linking the precious metal to global markets. Traders in Dubai are offering discounts of up to 30 dollars......
European Union warns Venice Biennale over Russian pavilion participation
The European Commission warned on March 10 that it may suspend or terminate funding for the Venice Biennale after organizers allowed Russia to reopen its national pavilion for the 2026 exhibition, marking Moscow’s first participation since its full scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. European Commission Executive Vice President......
Scientists directly date prehistoric cave paintings at Font-de-Gaume in France
Scientists have directly dated prehistoric cave paintings at the Font-de-Gaume site in southwestern France for the first time, determining that a bison figure was created between 13,461 and 13,162 years ago. The findings, published on March 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenge long standing assumptions about......
United Nations warns of humanitarian crisis in Cuba amid fuel shortages
The United Nations warned Tuesday that severe fuel shortages in Cuba are triggering a humanitarian crisis, with the island’s health system nearing a critical point as energy shortages disrupt essential services nationwide. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organization remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating......