Dubai: The World Happiness Report 2026 has once again placed the UAE as the happiest country in the Arab world, keeping its place on the 21st spot globally and ahead of countries such as the US and UK. The UAE has maintained its position from last year, achieving a score of 6.821 out of 10 based on»»»

In 2025, Allianz-Țiriac paid nearly RON 1.7 billion to insured clients and third-party claimants in compensation for covered events, 12.7% more than in 2024. On each working day of the past year, around 900 customers benefited from insurance coverage, with Allianz-Țiriac covering their costs. Total»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost more than 2,125 soldiers in combat against Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr over the past week, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "In total, the enemy lost over 2,125 military personnel, two tanks»»»

Israeli police said on Friday they had arrested an army reservist who served on the Iron Dome air defense system on suspicion of passing secrets to Iran. The arrest comes as Israel and the United States are locked in a war with Iran that has spread across the Middle East. "Raz Cohen, a 26-year-old »»»

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini was killed in dawn US-Israeli air strikes on Friday, state media reported. The strikes came as an Iranian drone attack hit Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi oil refinery, causing several fires but no casualties. Follow our liv»»»

Dan Marks, a research fellow in energy security at the Royal United Services Institute, breaks down the impact of Israel's attack on Iran's massive South Pars natural gas field on global energy markets – and just how both sides could escalate the crisis with further attacks on critical energy infra»»»

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday expressed solidarity with Lebanon and pledged to press ahead with diplomatic efforts to halt escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Barrot’s visit came as Lebanon faces mounting security and humanitarian problems resulting from ongoing h»»»

Tunis, March 20 (TAP) - The French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM)French Global Environment Facility and the World Wide Fund for Nature France launched a new project dedicated to protecting posidonia seagrass beds and developing blue carbon...»»»

Eid Mubarak. I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well in these unprecedented times. This is definitely a holiday with a difference. No-one in the UAE has asked for or wants this uncertainty, but perhaps it reinforces what is so special at this time of year: Being with loved ones, enjoying t»»»

Liquefied natural gas facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City, in Ras Laffan, Qatar, on February 25, 2026. File Photo by Hannibal Hanschke/EPA March 20 (UPI) -- Iran attacked Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery for the second time in two days on Friday, focusing its military on Persian Gulf energy in»»»

Doha, Qatar: Gulf countries are observing Eid Al Fitr on Friday, March 20, 2026, under heightened security measures as regional tensions continue to escalate. Authorities have restricted outdoor prayers and public celebrations in several countries as a precaution. In Kuwait, officials announced the»»»

Brussels: The European Union has condemned Iranian attacks on energy facilities in Qatar, warning that such actions risk plunging the region into further chaos. Speaking on the sidelines of a European Council meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security »»»

Worldwide, prestigious institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Tate Modern are incorporating digital art into their exhibitions, recognising its cultural and financial significance. These museums are pioneering new ways to engage visitors through immersive digital experiences. Mea»»»

Six major international powers said Thursday they were ready "to contribute to" ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, though three stressed that any initiative would take place post-ceasefire. Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands said Thursday they were ready "to»»»

Between March 17–18, Romania hosted a major interoperability testing exercise dedicated to the European Digital Identity Wallet, the CSC Interoperability Event EUDI Wallet 2026. The event was organised by the Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC), with the support of certSIGN, and brought together digit»»»

Dubai: As Eid 2026 arrives, many UAE residents are embracing a quieter, more meaningful way of celebrating, one that is shaped by reflection, resilience, and a deep sense of gratitude to the country they call their second home. Across communities, the focus has shifted from large gatherings to inti»»»

Colombo: Sri Lanka refused permission to the United States to station two of its warplanes at a civilian airport in the island’s south in early March, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said on Friday. The request was turned down to maintain Sri Lanka’s neutrality and ensure its territory was not u»»»

Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called Friday for the enemies of his nations to have their “security” taken away, in his latest message to the public. Khamenei made the remarks in a statement issued on his behalf and sent to President Masoud Pezeshkian, after Israel killed Intelligence M»»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the region, warning that continued aggression risks plunging the Middle East into a broader and more dangerous conflict. He called on Iran»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that the UAE will continue to advance towards a peaceful and prosperous future, through its strength, resilience, and the loyalty and unity of its people. In a statement published on his official X account, Sheikh Moh»»»

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday that US-Israeli strikes had killed their spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini. Naini "was martyred in the criminal cowardly terrorist attack by the American-Zionist side at dawn,” the Guards said in a statement on their Sepah News website. A short time earlier, th»»»

A series of meetings held over the past two days inside Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone have produced a preliminary framework aimed at halting attacks on the US Embassy, according to an informed Iraqi source. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said the discussions brought together representativ»»»

London: A joint statement issued by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan condemned Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf, on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The statement,»»»

The World Health Organization (WHO) is preparing for a potential “nuclear incident” in Iran, a senior regional official has told Politico. The US and Israel claim their attacks are aimed at destroying the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment program, which Tehran maintains is peaceful. WHO Eastern»»»

Populism is flourishing, as if they were not seeing that there is a global economic crisis, as if it had been forgotten that Romania is at a time of excessive deficit procedure and not even half of the path of budgetary correction has been made, according to aid Valentin Lazea, chief economist of t»»»

Europe must remain focused on Ukraine, even though we are affected by the crisis generated by the war in Iran, President Nicusor Dan said on Friday after the European Council meeting.He stated that one of the topics discussed at the meeting in Brussels was the situation in the Middle East, 'with al»»»

Mumbai: A deluge of weight loss drugs is set to transform the global fight against obesity as India prepares to unleash low cost generic versions of injections like Ozempic after a key patent expired Friday. The move will dramatically widen access to treatments that have long been considered a luxu»»»

The digital age has fundamentally reshaped how we consume news and entertainment, creating a dynamic interplay between different platforms. What begins as a headline on a desktop monitor might evolve into a viral video viewed on a smartphone, illustrating the fluid consumption habits of today's aud»»»

The digital age has fundamentally reshaped nearly every industry, and the gambling sector is certainly no exception. What was once the exclusive domain of opulent brick-and-mortar establishments has transitioned into a sprawling online universe, accessible with a few clicks. This transformation, wh»»»

Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»

Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»

Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»

As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine»»»

As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine»»»

As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine»»»

Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»

As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine»»»

Released on March 19, the latest Freedom in the World 2026 report finds that global freedom declined for the 20th consecutive year in 2025, with more countries experiencing deterioration in political rights and civil liberties than improvements, Statista reports. »»»

As geopolitical tensions remain elevated and economic measures are becoming a key foreign policy tool, sanctions continue to shape global trade and diplomacy, Statista reports. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine»»»

Drone and missile strikes linked to Iran sparked fires at key refineries in Kuwait and Bahrain on Friday, while air defence systems in Saudi Arabia and Qatar intercepted multiple drones and missiles, raising tensions across the Gulf. Authorities confirmed that emergency teams contained the blazes a»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - The Iranian military struck targets in West Jerusalem and Haifa on Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said. "During the 66th phase of Operation True Promise 4, targets in West Jerusalem, Haifa in the region were successfully hit," the IRGC said in a statement qu»»»

Beneath the powder snow at internationally popular Japanese ski resort Niseko, anxiety is mounting among residents over soaring prices and a massive influx of overseas workers. At a time when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is talking tough on immigration, upscale Niseko has never been more popular w»»»

Giggles and songs ripple across a field in rural eastern Uganda where elderly women swing cricket bats as a way to reshape what ageing, health and sports can look like in later life. The so-called "cricket grannies" are bound together by a growing love of a game they initially knew nothing about bu»»»

1 of 8 | Prime Minster Sanae Takaichi of Japan makes remarks as she stands with President Donald Trump during a dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo March 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump hosted Prime Mini»»»

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Friday the 2026 budget was set at around $10.5 billion, nearly triple last year's level, state TV reported. He said GDP is estimated to reach $60 billion-$65 billion this year, adding the economy could return to 2010 levels and improve services. Speaking af»»»

Eastern Mediterranean-focused gas producer Energean on Thursday suspended its 2026 outlook for Israel, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict that has forced the shutdown of its production vessel serving multiple Israeli fields. Growing regional tensions have triggered precautionary shutdowns of k»»»

China will be in a stronger position to extract concessions from Donald Trump when the US president finally visits Beijing after becoming entangled in his Middle East war, analysts say. Trump had been due in the Chinese capital at the end of this month for talks with President Xi Jinping, but has d»»»

On March 20, 1995, 12 people were killed, and more than 5,000 made ill in a nerve-gas attack on the Tokyo subway system. A 13th victim died a day later and a 14th in 2008. 1 of 7 | A photo taken on June 16, 1995, shows Aum Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara (C, back), born Chizuo Matsumoto, being»»»

Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE have been urged to remain vigilant after authorities have found a rise in scams linked to travel assistance programmes amid the current regional tensions. In an advisory, the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai and the Northern Emirates has warne»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Pantsir air defense systems are capable of intercepting not only drones but also HARM and HIMARS projectiles, ATACMS ballistic missiles and cruise missiles including Storm Shadows and Flamingos, Russian state tech corporation Rostec said on Friday. "Pantsir systems have »»»