Top World News
Oil built the Persian Gulf. Desalinated water keeps it alive. War could threaten both
Mar 8, 2026 - World 
As the Iran war widens, experts say the Middle East’s real strategic weak point may be water – not oil
A new Nepali party, led by an ex-rapper, is set for a landslide win in parliamentary election
Mar 8, 2026 - World 
Nepal’s new Rastriya Swatantra Party is heading for a landslide win in the country’s first parliamentary election since youth protests toppled the old leadership last year
Cocoa beans rot and West African farmers seek other options after commodity crash
Mar 8, 2026 - World 
West African cocoa farmers are facing a squeeze after the price of the global commodity crashed on the international market in recent months
Russia sits back as the Iran war escalates, expecting long-term gains
Mar 8, 2026 - World 
As U.S. and Israeli missiles and bombs rain on Iran, Russia has responded with words of indignation but no visible action to support its Middle Eastern ally.
Putin has 'renewed swagger' after Trump hands him a big win: WSJ
Mar 7, 2026 - World 
Kremlin strongman Vladimir Putin’s declining fortunes have taken a major turn for the better because Donald Trump’s war on Iran has given the staggering Russian economy a shot in the arm as oil prices lurch upward.According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian crude that was languishing unsold just days ago has become a hot commodity. The U.S. has eased sanctions on Russian oil, opening the door for key buyers to increase purchases. With oil and natural gas prices surging, Russian producers are reaping substantial profits.The shift is already visible in global markets. In India, traders who previously demanded steep discounts to purchase Russian oil are now attempting to sell at prices above global benchmarks—a dramatic reversal."The longer that this conflict goes on, the world will increasingly rely on both Russian crude oil and Russian refined products," said Naveen Das, senior crude analyst at Kpler.Emboldened by his suddenly improved fortunes, Putin has grown more aggressive with "renewed swagger' on the global energy stage. He has threatened to cut off remaining energy supplies to Europe before the continent's deadline to eliminate Russian LNG and pipeline gas imports by 2027."Other markets are opening now," Putin declared on state television Wednesday. "If they shut us down in a month or two, wouldn't it be better to stop now and move to those countries that are reliable partners?"Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Friday that the Iran conflict has directly fueled demand for Russian energy products.Global benchmark Brent crude has surged nearly 30 percent since the attacks began. While higher prices normally benefit all oil producers, disruption in the Gulf has crippled Russia's primary competitors in that region, leaving Moscow uniquely positioned to capitalize on the crisis.You can read more here.
