A Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea, killing 29 people on board, due to a possible technical malfunction, Russia’s defence ministry said early yesterday, according to news agencies.

The ongoing regional conflict could push up to 4 million people in the Middle East into poverty, the United Nations has warned, while Human Rights Watch said migrant workers in the region face growing risks to their safety and livelihoods.

The United States would be “out of Iran pretty quickly” but could return for targeted strikes if needed, President Donald Trump said yesterday, as the International Energy Agency warned that global oil supply disruptions could double in April.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding talks in China to end months of conflict, two officials from Islamabad told AFP yesterday.

The Trump administration keeps suggesting that the Iran war could wrap up soon. The reason? Because it’s accomplishing its goals. “We are going to achieve our objectives in a matter of weeks, not months,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told ABC News on Monday.

It is absolutely true that France which has not been consulted and is not part of this military offensive launched by the United States and Israel, is not taking part in it.

France was among the first European NATO members to react

The US president also expressed his hope for a deal with Iran’s new leaders

Trump’s statements about Iran's request for a ceasefire are false and baseless, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman says

Unemployment could rise by 4% points as millions risk falling into poverty

A Russian Antonov-26 military plane crashed while flying over the occupied Crimean peninsula, killing 29 people, the TASS state news agency reported Wednesday, quoting Russia's defence ministry.

First crewed lunar journey since 1972

The foreign resident population rose by 188,000 to 5.56 million

Incident in Fujairah near Strait of Hormuz follows drone interception, reports WAM

US would have to occupy Kharg for months before Iran completely runs out of revenues

Rights group urges Gulf states to ensure wages, safety, and support return travel

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war

Lower courts blocked the move as unconstitutional, ruling that under the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment nearly everyone born on US soil is an American citizen

A ​total of 60% of respondents said they disapproved of US military ​strikes on Iran, while 35% approved in the survey of 1,021 people

The remarks underscored the shifting and at times contradictory statements from Washington about how the war, now in its fifth week, might end.