00:00Trump says the U.S. military has already achieved considerable success in Iran and vowed to
00:06continue fighting until all war objectives are realized.
00:10Emmanuel Macron has ordered an increase in the country's nuclear warhead stockpiles
00:15and a bid to bolster European security in the face of threats.
00:20European gas prices jumped by as much as 45% on Monday after Qatar officially halted its
00:25gas production due to Iranian strikes on its facilities.
00:31The U.S. and Israel's war on Iran continues with no end in say after the first strikes
00:36on Tehran took place on Saturday.
00:39The conflict has expanded to the wider region after Iran responded by launching its own air
00:44attacks across the Middle East.
00:47Meanwhile, Israel also struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Monday in what it said were retaliatory
00:53strikes for the group's earlier involvement.
00:57At a White House event on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump outlined his main objectives for
01:03the war.
01:04U.S. forces are out to destroy Iran's missile capabilities, wipe out its naval capacity and
01:10prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
01:13Other stated war aims include ensuring that the Iranian regime can no longer fund militant
01:18groups outside of its borders.
01:21Trump noted that U.S. attacks have so far dealt considerable damage.
01:26This was our last best chance to strike what we're doing right now and eliminate the intolerable
01:33threats posed by this sick and sinister regime.
01:37He also added that the U.S. attacks are ahead of schedule to achieve the war's goals, stressing
01:42that his country's military has the ability to continue fighting for as long as it takes.
02:10The U.S. President also claimed that Iran's missile program was intended as a cover-up to the secret
02:16development of nuclear weapons.
02:19Tehran, striking a defiant tone, warned that the U.S. will, quote, no longer be safe.
02:29In a landmark speech, French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered an increase in the country's
02:35nuclear warhead stockpile, vowing he would be resolute in his response if the country's
02:40vital interests were threatened.
02:42The speech comes as European security is being tested on multiple fronts, from Russia's war
02:47in Ukraine to the expanding Iran war, which targeted Cyprus and EU member state on Monday.
03:15France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, according to the latest figures released by the Stockholm
03:22International Peace Research Institute.
03:25Macron did not indicate how much of an increase he wants to add to the country's arsenal, but
03:30noted that Paris will no longer disclose the size of its capabilities moving forward.
03:35The address does not come in response to the ongoing war in the Middle East, with French
03:40officials stressing that it was planned well in advance.
03:43The French leader also said he wants to implement a program in which French deterrence is spread
03:49out across Europe and noted that eight countries have displayed interest in hosting these programs.
03:55Germany announced it would participate in French nuclear drills and, quote, the development
04:00of conventional capabilities with European partners.
04:06European gas prices jumped by as much as 45 percent on Monday, hitting 46 euro per megawatt-hour
04:12after Qatar officially halted its gas production.
04:14The surge follows a reported attack on Qatar Energy's massive Northfield facilities, which
04:20comes amid the wider fallout of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
04:25Global energy flows are now under threat as Tehran moves to block the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime
04:29choke point that carries 20 percent of the world's oil supply.
04:34Experts warn that while the strait has never been fully closed in modern history, current satellite
04:39data shows tanker traffic has virtually halted.
04:42The disruption is a major blow to Europe, which relies on Qatar for up to 14 percent of its
04:47LNG imports since moving away from Russian energy.
04:51The crisis hits at a time of vulnerability, with EU gas storage levels currently below 30
04:56percent as the winter heating season comes to an end.
04:59In Germany and France, reserves have plummeted to just 20 percent, putting the bloc's largest
05:04economy is at risk of intense global competition for remaining supplies.
05:14Two unmanned drones that were headed in the direction of a British military base in Cyprus were intercepted
05:20on Monday. A government spokesperson has said the incident took place a few hours after
05:26an Iranian attack drone landed on an airfield in the base on Sunday night, causing minor damage.
05:32The British Royal Air Force Base is located in the Akrotiri area of Cyprus. Residents have been
05:39evacuated in the areas surrounding Akrotiri as well as those around an additional British
05:44military base in Dekilia.
05:45After all, after all the events in the Kipriak-Democrat, I confirmed that Greece, at all the
05:59time of the crisis, will be in every possible way in the presence of the Kipriak-Democrat, so that
06:09they will be able to deal with the threats and the challenges of the Kipriak-Democrat.
06:17Baphos International Airport was also evacuated as a precaution.
06:21The Greek government has since sent two Fragates and two F-16 fighter jets to support defense
06:29operations on the island.
06:31The Cypriot government has reiterated that its own role is limited to humanitarian assistance
06:36and it is not taking part in any military operations.
06:42I want to be clear that our country does not meet any way and it is intended to be a
06:51part of any military operations.
06:56We remain confined to the human role of which we had all this time,
07:02always as a part of the solution and not the problem.
07:07We will continue to work with the same responsibility.
07:14In just a few days the UAE has faced an unprecedented wave of drone and missile attacks.
07:20The UAE Ministry of Defense says Iranian forces have launched 165 missiles,
07:25two cruise missiles and 541 drones since February the 28th.
07:30Most were intercepted, 152 ballistic missiles and both cruise missiles were destroyed along with 506 drones.
07:38But some did get through.
07:4035 drones fell inside the country causing material damage and 21 struck civilian areas.
07:47The human cost has been stark.
07:49Three people were killed and 58 others were injured.
07:53Debris for interceptors caused further damage to homes and property.
07:57And just behind me the hotel was struck by a drone last night.
08:01A reminder of how close the attacks came to residential and civilian areas.
08:06Officials say the UAE's air defences remain fully operational and ready to respond to any further threats.
08:12But they warn the danger is far from over.
08:15Behind me the Palm Jumeirah looks peaceful and calm now.
08:19That's a stark contrast to yesterday.
08:22Last night the sky above lit up with interceptor fire.
08:26A loud explosion shook the area as missiles and drones were destroyed mid-air.
08:31It's a vivid reminder of the risk that hung over the city.
08:34Today has been tense.
08:37But in this rare moment of calm that we face right now.
08:40Officials are urging everyone to remain vigilant and follow guidance from embassies and the government.
08:46Amid this uncertainty there are moments of solidarity and resilience.
08:51Residents and businesses have come together to support those most affected.
08:56Hotels like my Leo here are offering free rooms to travellers stranded by cancelled flights.
09:02Volunteers are helping to deliver food and essentials to those sheltering in place.
09:07And neighbours are checking on each other.
09:10Showing a united front in the face of these unprecedented attacks.
09:19Croatian Prime Minister Andrei Plenkovic insisted on Monday that the European Union's position on the events unfolding in the Middle
09:26East was very clear and unified,
09:29despite the negative reaction that greeted a statement released by Brussels on Sunday.
09:34We shall continue consultations.
09:37I think that all the statements which were issued so far, but for maybe one or two, were very, very
09:43clear and unified.
09:44The EU's top diplomat Kaya Callas said in a statement that the EU is taking all necessary steps to ensure
09:51the safety of EU citizens in the Middle East,
09:54and warned that further escalation could threaten the region.
09:58Spain and Slovenia blocked the use of stronger language,
10:01with Madrid in particular condemning Saturday's US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
10:06But Plenkovic argued that the lead on the topic was rightfully taken by France, Germany and the UK.
10:11I think the lead has been taken by the E3, where two member states of the European Union are participating,
10:18due to the fact that they were the most involved in the talks with Iran.
10:23The three countries released a joint statement in which they warned that they stand ready to take defensive action
10:29to destroy Iran's capability to fire missiles and drones at their source.
10:37European markets created on Monday morning as investors react to the dramatic weekend of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
10:43The Eurostox 50 shed 2% at the open, with indices in Paris, Milan and Madrid all seeing sharp declines
10:50as the conflict threatens global shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
10:54In Spain, the IBEX 35 is the worst performer, dropping more than 2%,
10:58while London's FTSE 100 remains more resilient, falling just 0.3%.
11:03The sell-off followed a freefall in Asia, where Japan's Nikkei 225 dropped over 2.3% before the European
11:11bells even rang.
11:12In the UAE, regulators have shut down both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai exchanges for the next several days to
11:18prevent panic selling.
11:20While stocks sink, energy prices are soaring,
11:23with a barrel of US benchmark crude initially surging 8% amid supply concerns.
11:29Assets considered safe are also on the rise, with gold up 2.5% and silver climbing by 2%
11:35as the market braces for further escalation.
Comments