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Over 10,000 Chinese citizens return from Middle East amid war

Over 10,000 Chinese nationals have safely returned from countries including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry and civil aviation administration have guided domestic airlines to increase capacity to repatriate Chinese citizens stranded in the Middle East, Guo added. More than 3,000 Chinese citizens had already been evacuated from Iran, the foreign ministry said last week. The war in the Middle East, which broke out after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, led to flight cancellations across the region. Major Chinese airlines, including Air China and China Southern Airlines, resumed flights earlier this month between some Chinese cities and Gulf hubs such as Riyadh and Dubai. Read: Airline shares battered as oil prices spike, Iran war intensifies China has condemned the US and Israeli strikes, repeatedly called for a ceasefire, ...
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G7 energy ministers to discuss soaring prices amid Iran war

G7 energy ministers will discuss soaring energy prices due to the war in Iran on a call on Tuesday while a group of European Union leaders will do so later in the day, officials said. Oil prices surged to their highest levels since mid‑2022 on Monday propelled by fears of Gulf output cuts and disrupted tanker traffic. G7 finance ministers said on Monday they were prepared to implement "necessary measures" in response to the price surge but stopped short of committing to coordinated emergency releases of reserves. Even before the Iran crisis, European energy prices typically sat higher than those in the US and China. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has promised to propose measures to tackle the issue at an EU summit next week. Read: Iran says oil blockade will continue until attacks end, Trump threatens to hit harder Tuesday's G7 call is scheduled for 1245 GMT. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, whose country holds the G7 presidency this year, said ther...

Airstrikes in Isfahan damage historic Safavid-Era landmarks

It was reported on Monday that an Israeli airstrike targeted the Isfahan Governor’s Office, causing significant damage to the city’s historic and valuable heritage, particularly within the Safavid-era government complex. Iranian media footage showed the Chehel Palace Museum, where the large windows of the 17th-century pavilion were shattered and parts of the interior structure were damaged by nearby explosions. The Israeli military said it carried out a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Isfahan, targeting military infrastructure and command centers. The Iranian media shared the images below, as per a tweet by a user on X: Another historic site damaged in Israel/US attacks on Iran. This time the Chehel Setoon Palace in Isfahan, a 17th century architectural marvel built during the Safavid Era. This isn’t a war against the Islamic Republic. This is a war against everything that is truly Iranian. pic.twitter.com/c00D1ngj1S — kev joon (@never_oppressed) March 9, 2026   Syed Ruhol...

China proposes five-point plan on Iran conflict

China has proposed a five-point approach to address the escalating situation involving Iran, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urging an immediate ceasefire, respect for sovereignty and a return to political dialogue to prevent further instability in the Middle East. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress, Wang outlined China’s five-point position for resolving conflict in the volatile region. The press conference — one of the most important diplomatic events held during the NPC each year — provides insight into how China views its role amid rising geopolitical tensions and shifting global power dynamics. At a press conference, Chinese FM Wang Yi stated China's stance on the issues related to Iran and the Middle East. #TwoSessions pic.twitter.com/dZAo0PU0bO — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 9, 2026 The framework, according to the transcript issued by China’s foreign ministry, includes respecting nationa...

Turkey says it deployed six F-16 fighter jets, air defence systems to northern Cyprus

Turkey on Monday deployed six F-16 fighter jets and air defence systems to northern Cyprus to boost the security of the Turkish community there amid the war in Iran, the defence ministry said, adding that Ankara would take additional measures if needed. European powers have moved to ramp up military deployments to the ethnically-split island in recent days, after an Iranian drone, which security officials believe was fired by Hezbollah, an ally of Iran in Lebanon, hit the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus last week. Read: PM Shehbaz expresses concern over attacks on Azerbaijan and Turkiye "In the context of the latest developments in our region, six F-16 fighter jets and air defence systems have been deployed to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as of today," the ministry said in a statement, adding that this was part of the phased planning to strengthen the breakaway state's security. "As a result of the evaluations to be made depending on the developments, ...

China condemns 'evil designs' of Taiwan premier's Japan visit

China on Monday condemned the "evil designs" of Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai's rare visit to Japan over the weekend, on a trip he said was to support the island's baseball team and was private. Cho flew to Japan on Saturday to watch Taiwan play in the World Baseball Classic, in what Taiwanese media said was the first trip to the country by a premier since Japan and Taiwan broke formal diplomatic ties in 1972. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, routinely lambasts any overseas trips by its leaders, but used especially strong language to target Cho. "The person you mentioned harboured evil designs; acting stealthily and sneakily, he ran to Japan to engage in little tricks of seeking independence and making provocations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing. "Japan's indulgence of provocation and unbridled recklessness will certainly pay a price, and all consequences arising from...

Two Israeli soldiers killed as it targets Iranian commanders in Beirut

The Israeli military said on Sunday that two ​of its soldiers were ​killed in southern Lebanon, marking ⁠the first fatalities ​among its troops ​since Israel-Hezbollah hostilities resumed last week as Israeli intensified air ​strikes on ​Lebanon. The military did not immediately ‌provide ⁠further details on the circumstances of the incident. Clashes have continued ​along ​the ⁠Israel-Lebanon frontier amid heightened tensions ​between Israel and ​Hezbollah ⁠following the US-Israeli military campaign on Iran. Israel's military said it struck Iranian commanders in the Lebanese capital early on Sunday, expanding the scope of strikes to the heart of ‌Beirut after days of strikes that have left nearly 400 people dead. The drone strike was the first within the city limits of Lebanon's capital since Israel-Hezbollah reaction resumed last week, and came amid heavy bombardment on Beirut's southern suburbs and the country's south and east. Israel said it targeted key commanders of...