Trump: US not ready for a deal to end war with Iran
US President Donald Trump has said he is not yet ready to seek a deal to end the military offensive against Iran. He said that while he thinks Tehran may be interested in negotiations and a ceasefire, the United States will continue operations to achieve more favorable terms.
Trump's comments come at a time when tensions in the region have risen sharply. Iran has launched new missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries and Israel, while US and Israeli warplanes have carried out new waves of bombings on targets in Iran.
The escalation of the conflict has created an unstable situation in the Middle East, affecting international air transport and energy markets. Some flights have been diverted or canceled, while oil exports from the region have come under pressure, leading to a rise in fuel prices on global markets.
However, neither Tehran nor Washington appear willing to tone down their rhetoric, despite the rising death toll and uncertainty in energy markets. The situation has been further complicated by restrictions on movement in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping lanes for oil.
Shares of major oil companies hit record highs as Middle East war pushes up price per barrel
Shares of major oil companies have reached historic levels since the start of the Iran war, which has caused a sharp rise in prices in global oil and gas markets.
The combined market value of the six major Western oil companies on the stock exchange has increased by more than $130 billion in the two weeks since the first US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The hit to energy supplies caused by the conflict has led to record stock market valuations for Shell, Europe's largest oil company, as well as for American companies ExxonMobil and Chevron.
According to analysts, this situation is expected to bring the industry very large profits, even though several energy facilities in the Middle East have been affected by the conflict.
Consulting firm Rystad Energy estimates that US oil companies could benefit from the price hike by around $63.4 billion, while Goldman Sachs analysts predict a combined profit of around £5 billion for BP and Shell.
Jürgen Habermas, Germany's great postwar thinker, dies at 96
Renowned German philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas has died at the age of 96, his publishing house announced.
Habermas was considered one of the most important intellectual figures in post-war Germany and one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. He became particularly known for his theory of political consensus building and for his analyses of democracy, public communication, and the role of rational debate in society.
In addition to his great influence on philosophy and sociology, he also contributed to shaping the public discussion about European integration and the creation of the European Union.
Although he came from the neo-Marxist tradition of the Frankfurt School and was often seen as an intellectual figure close to the German Social Democrats, his influence transcended political divisions.
Far right and radical left gain ground in first round of local elections in France
The first round of local elections in France has shown strong support for Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party and Jean-Luc Mélenchon's radical left La France Insoumise (LFI). The results suggest that both political forces could significantly increase their presence at the local level as the country approaches next year's presidential election.
The local elections, which will go to a decisive second round on March 22, are seen as a key test of the political climate ahead of the presidential race. President Emmanuel Macron's term ends in the spring of 2027 and it remains unclear who will lead the European Union's second-largest economy after him.
