Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a New Year message to Iran, describing Russia as a “loyal ally and partner” of the Islamic Republic, according to a statement released by the Kremlin on Saturday(21).

Fourteen days into the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the most significant development may not be a missile strike or drone attack. Instead, it came in the form of a single statement reportedly delivered by an Iranian official to CNN: oil tankers may pass through the Strait of Hormuz—but only if the oil cargo is paid for in Chinese yuan rather than U.S. dollars.

Imagine a weapon so cheap, so simple, and so plentiful that it could render the most advanced military on Earth financially crippled.

Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba, addressed reporters on Friday(13) about key domestic challenges and foreign relations, including ongoing discussions with the United States aimed at resolving bilateral disputes.

On March 13, 2026, the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, delivered a lecture to Sri Lankan intellectuals and journalists on the topic of “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity”.

The United States has temporarily lifted sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments in an effort to stabilize global energy markets amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has entered its 12th day by last Wednesday, with rising civilian casualties, persistent volatility in global oil markets and increasing fears of a broader regional war.

On Sunday, two new Type 055 guided-missile destroyers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, Dongguan and Anqing, made their official debut.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts has selected Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s next supreme leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.