10 Things Global News - 16th March 2026
Succinct, unbiased news from around the world
Trump Pressures Allies To Secure Strait Of Hormuz
Drone Attack Halts Flights At Dubai Airport
Oil Rises As Kharg Island Strike Deepens Supply Fears
Pope Sharpens Ceasefire Appeal Over Iran War
Ukraine Seeks A Return For Gulf Drone Support
FCC Chair Threatens Broadcasters Over Iran Coverage
Trump Signals Fast-Moving Cuba Decision
Pakistan And Afghanistan Trade New Strikes
French Local Polls Show Pressure On Main Parties
One Battle After Another Dominates Oscars Night
U.S. President Donald Trump warned NATO allies they face a “very bad” future if they fail to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure on partners as Iran continues attacks following U.S. and Israeli strikes more than two weeks ago. The narrow waterway between Iran and Oman normally carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump urged countries that benefit from the route, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain, to send naval assets such as minesweepers to secure shipping lanes against drones and naval mines. He argued that nations dependent on Gulf energy supplies should help protect the passage.
The president also signalled diplomatic leverage, saying he could delay a planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping unless Beijing clarifies its position. He further warned the United States could launch additional strikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, if attacks in the strait continue.
Sources: Reuters, FT
Dubai suspended flights at its main international airport after a drone strike caused a fire at a nearby fuel tank, the latest disruption to one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs as the Iran conflict enters its third week. Authorities said the fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported, but flights were halted and some aircraft were forced to circle outside the airport while emergency teams responded.
The suspension lasted more than five hours, making it the longest operational halt since Dubai resumed flights through what it called safe air corridors three days into the war. Emirates suspended flights until further notice and urged passengers not to travel to the airport, while police shut several roads leading to the facility.
Some flights were diverted to Dubai World Central Airport and Abu Dhabi, while others returned to their origins. The incident was the third confirmed attack involving the airport in the past two weeks.
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters
Oil prices rose in volatile trading after the United States struck military sites on Kharg Island and President Donald Trump increased pressure on other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Brent traded around $105 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was near $99, with futures having risen more than 40% over the past two weeks.
Iran said crude flows from Kharg, its main export hub, were continuing as normal after the attack, even as the conflict widened and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained at a near-standstill. The island handles the bulk of Iran’s oil shipments, while the strait usually carries about a fifth of international oil supplies.
The market reaction suggested traders were still assessing whether the latest attacks would produce a lasting supply shock. At the same time, governments in Asia were moving to confront the energy squeeze, while the International Energy Agency said oil from a record stockpile release would be made available immediately.
Sources: Bloomberg, The Guardian
Pope Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East in his strongest intervention since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, directly appealing to those responsible for the conflict. Speaking after the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, he said violence could not lead to justice, stability or peace and urged the reopening of dialogue.
The pope said thousands of innocent people had been killed over the past two weeks and countless others had been forced to flee their homes. He said attacks had struck schools, hospitals and residential areas, and expressed closeness to families who had lost loved ones. He also singled out Lebanon as a cause for great concern and said he hoped dialogue would support lasting solutions to the crisis there.
The remarks marked a more direct tone from Leo, who had previously limited himself to more muted appeals for diplomacy and dialogue while maintaining the Vatican’s tradition of diplomatic neutrality.
Sources: Associated Press, Catholic Weekly
Ukraine said it wants funding and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern countries defend against Iranian drones, after sending specialist teams to the region to assess threats and demonstrate air-defence practices. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said three teams had been dispatched and stressed that Kyiv was not taking part in combat operations.
He said longer-term drone agreements with Gulf countries could still be negotiated and that what Ukraine would receive in exchange had yet to be settled. Zelenskiy said both technology and funding were important for Kyiv as Gulf states continue to expend large quantities of air-defence missiles against Iranian Shahed drones.
The offer comes as Ukraine worries that a prolonged Middle East war could affect its own access to U.S. support and air-defence supplies. Zelenskiy also said planned peace talks involving Kyiv, Moscow and Washington in the United Arab Emirates were postponed after the regional conflict erupted two weeks ago.
The request for reciprocity was not well received by President Trump who said in a phone interview the “last person we need help from is Zelensky.”
Sources: Reuters, The Independent
The chair of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission threatened broadcasters with the loss of their licences after President Donald Trump criticised media coverage of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. Brendan Carr said broadcast licences were not a property right and warned stations they could lose them if they failed to serve the public interest.
Carr said broadcasters accused of running hoaxes and news distortions could still correct course before licence renewals. His remarks drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and press freedom advocates, who said the threat violated constitutional protections and amounted to government pressure on the press.
The episode has intensified concern over how regulatory power is being used against media organisations during wartime reporting. The FCC does not licence national television networks, but it does licence the local broadcast stations that carry network programming, giving the threat practical weight even where direct authority is limited.
Sources: BBC, Axios
President Donald Trump said the United States could soon either reach a deal with Cuba or take other action, signalling that movement in the long-strained relationship may come quickly. Speaking on Air Force One, he said Washington was in talks with Havana but that Iran remained the more immediate priority.
The remarks came as tensions between the two countries remained elevated after years of sanctions, diplomatic friction and disputes over migration and security. Cuba’s president said on Friday that talks had opened with the United States to seek solutions through dialogue to bilateral differences and to move the two countries away from confrontation.
The exchanges are taking place as Cuba faces one of its most severe economic crises in decades, worsened by disruptions in imported oil that have forced rolling electricity outages and limits on some public services. Despite the renewed contact, both governments still face significant differences over the terms of any shift.
Sources: Reuters, The Hill
Pakistan said it struck militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s Kandahar region overnight, while Afghanistan said it responded by attacking a Pakistani army camp in South Waziristan, as fighting between the two neighbours showed no sign of easing. Pakistan said it had targeted equipment storage facilities and technical support infrastructure, while Afghanistan said two sites were hit in Kandahar and reported no casualties.
Afghanistan said its retaliatory strike destroyed most of the camp’s command centre and inflicted heavy casualties, but Pakistan rejected that account as propaganda and said only a small drone was shot down. Afghanistan also said it carried out operations across the border from Kunar and Nangarhar, claims Pakistan also denied.
The latest fighting erupted in late February and has upended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar last October. Both sides have accused the other of targeting civilians, and dozens have been killed.
Sources: The Guardian, Associated Press
The first round of France’s local elections pointed to a fragmented political landscape ahead of next year’s presidential race, with the left leading in Paris while the far-right National Rally and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left both made gains. In Paris, Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire was ahead of former culture minister Rachida Dati, while in Le Havre former prime minister Édouard Philippe was well placed before a second-round vote.
The National Rally held Perpignan, the largest city it has run in the past 20 years, and was competitive in Marseille, Toulon and Nice. La France Insoumise also posted strong results, including in Roubaix, where it could win the mayor’s office.
The results now set up a series of run-offs and tactical alliance talks before the final round on 22 March. Analysts see the local races as an early indicator of political momentum before the 2027 presidential contest, with turnout falling to historically low levels outside the pandemic-hit vote in 2020.
Sources: France 24, The Guardian
One Battle After Another emerged as the biggest winner at the Oscars, taking six awards including best picture, best director, adapted screenplay, editing, supporting actor and the inaugural prize for casting. The film’s success capped a competitive season and delivered the first Oscar wins of Paul Thomas Anderson’s career after decades of nominations.
Sinners also had a strong night, winning four awards including best actor for Michael B. Jordan, original screenplay, original score and cinematography. Jessie Buckley became the first Irish winner of the best actress Oscar, while Amy Madigan won best supporting actress. Sentimental Value won best international feature, giving Norway its first victory in that category.
The ceremony featured a strong theme of first-time winners across major categories, alongside tributes to late film figures and scattered political remarks from the stage. The results gave Warner Bros a particularly strong night, with the studio taking home 11 awards.
Sources: The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter
On this day ….
On this day in 1521, the expedition led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippine archipelago during the first circumnavigation of the globe.
Sailing under the Spanish flag, the voyage connected Europe with Southeast Asia through newly charted maritime routes and demonstrated the practical scale of the Earth’s oceans.
Although Magellan himself would be killed weeks later in the Battle of Mactan, the expedition continued westward and eventually completed the first circumnavigation in 1522.
The journey reshaped global trade, accelerated European expansion into Asia, and helped establish the maritime networks that defined early globalisation.
Five centuries later, the voyage remains a reminder of how exploration, commerce, and empire became deeply intertwined in the making of the modern world.