MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost up to 290 soldiers killed or injured in combat against Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. "The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted t»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced the official Eid Al Fitr holiday for employees in the private and non-profit sectors, setting the break to begin at the end of the working day on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The ministry said the holiday will star»»»

Dubai: Fujairah International Airport has joined hands with Oman-based airline SalamAir to operate special charter flights to help travellers return home amid ongoing regional tensions. The flights will run on March 4 and 5, 2026, with a stop in Muscat. From there, passengers can travel onwards to »»»

Bulgaria faces heightened risks from the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly the strikes on Iran, which former President Rumen Radev has described as a direct threat to national security. In a post on his Facebook page, Radev criticized the caretaker government under Prime Minister»»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump's criticisms of Madrid's refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran. "The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war," he said in a televised address, a day after Tr»»»

Trebinje Mayor Mirko Ćurić hosted a reception yesterday for the cast and crew of the short film Nuances, which addresses peer violence, and pledged support for the talented young residents in their future projects. The film has sparked strong reactions from audiences in Trebinje and is the result o»»»

This photo, taken Wednesday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in central Seoul after the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index plunged more than 12 percent to close at 5,093.54 amid mounting concerns over the economic fallout from the escalating Middle East conflict. Photo by Yonhap Seoul »»»

Rep. Cheon Jun-ho (R) of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Yoo Sang-beom of the main opposition People Power Party shake hands during their talks at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (P»»»

Approximately €630 million will be available in 2026 for those applying to the EIC Accelerator, a Horizon Europe funding program that provides support to startups and SMEs, says Ovidiu Mihăilă, founder of fundingloop, a consulting company for deep-tech businesses interested in accelerating innovati»»»

Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov stated at the start of the government meeting that Bulgaria’s fuel deliveries remain uninterrupted despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The country imports oil and petroleum products from regions not currently affected by hostilities, and there is no phys»»»

It would be a good idea for President Iliana Iotova to convene a Consultative Council for National Security, There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Stanislav Balabanov told journalists in Parliament here on Wednesday. His comment was prompted by the situation in the Middle East. As a conservative party, »»»

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Wednesday to assassinate any Iranian leader picked to succeed supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. "Any leader selected by the Iranian terror regime to continue leading the plan for Israel's destruction, thr»»»

US President Donald Trump’s order to attack Iran has drawn mixed reactions among Americans, with polls showing a clear public split and statements from lawmakers exposing divisions within both the Republican and Democratic parties. Trump claimed the joint US-Israeli military campaign, launched on S»»»

Dubai: Hundreds of Iranians have begun crossing into neighbouring Turkey as fears grow in Tehran amid the escalating Middle East conflict. Families and individuals were seen arriving at the Kapikoy land border crossing in eastern Turkey, describing a tense and uncertain situation back home. Some tr»»»

Today, March 4, two repatriation flights from Jeddah to Bishkek and Jeddah to Osh are transporting more than 200 citizens to Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. According to the ministry, the Jeddah—Bishkek flight is carrying 90 citizens, while the Jeddah—Os»»»

Dubai and Abu Dhabi stocks tumbled on Wednesday as they reopened after a two-day halt following Iran's unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks on the Gulf nation on Sunday. The closure froze trading in billions of dollars' worth of listed assets as investors awaited clarity on the scale of »»»

Abu Dhabi: The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate in Dubai have been closed, and services cannot be provided in those facilities until further notice, the US Embassy announced in a social media post on Wednesday. The announcement comes amid the blatant Iranian aggression on the country. F»»»

Dubai: Kannada actor Yash has postponed the release of his upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. The movie, which was earlier scheduled to hit theatres on March 19 clashing with Bollywood blockbuster Dhurandhar 2, will now be released worldwide on June 4, 2026. The makers said the decisi»»»

Green Cities project, which unites Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, has been officially launched in the Fergana Valley. The German Embassy in Bishkek reported. According to the Embassy, ​​the project will be implemented in Osh and Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The initiative aims to reduce environmenta»»»

A group of prominent cultural figures from Kyrgyzstan and the CIS countries sent a letter to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, asking him to support the production of a historical documentary film about the city of Frunze and the Soviet era. The letter was signed by People’s and »»»

Israel expanded its air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting the area around the presidential palace near Beirut and other areas south of the capital as well as strongholds of the Iran-backed Hezbollah party, killing at least 11 people. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on Monday whe»»»

Dubai: Trading across the UAE’s main stock exchanges resumes today after regulators imposed a two day suspension designed to shield markets from sharp volatility during a period of escalating geopolitical tensions across the Middle East. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»

An agricultural census will be conducted in Kyrgyzstan from March 20 to April 10. Elmira Alymkulova, chief of staff of the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, announced on Birinchi Radio. According to her, such an event is held once every ten years and is nationwide. However, a c»»»

Dubai: Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence of Saudi Arabia Major General Turki Al Maliki announced early Wednesday that nine drones were intercepted and destroyed immediately upon entering the Kingdom's airspace. The announcement was made in a statement issued by Major General Al Mali»»»

Doha, Qatar: In light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, the Nepal Embassy has urged its nationals currently in Qatar to register their details through a dedicated online portal. In a statement, the Nepal Embassy said the data collection aims to collate essential information to enhance p»»»

The Bishkek City Hall has developed a draft resolution «On the Regulation of Municipal Parking and Parking Lots in the City.» The document has been submitted to the City Council for consideration. Key points of the draft: According to the City Hall, a differentiated (zonal) pricing system is propos»»»

The administration of US President Donald Trump is seeking to purge “anti-American” narratives from the country’s national parks and museums, several media outlets have reported, citing a leaked government database. Among the themes reportedly identified for removal are racism and climate change. A»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Pension Fund has announced that pension payments will be brought forward over the next three months to coincide with the approaching Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha holidays. In a statement, the fund said pensions for March will be disbursed on March 16. Payments for April will»»»

Dubai: Malayalam actress Swasika, who had travelled to Abu Dhabi for a dance workshop, has landed in Kerala after taking the repatriation flight. She told local reporters that there was no 'heavy panic situation', as reported by several Malayalam news channels. Everyone was alert and understandably»»»

Doha: Paris Saint-Germain and two of its strikers, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, have been nominated across three categories of the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, an event that honours the previous year’s greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs. Following the Ballon d’Or, the Golden»»»

So far, 12 parties and 10 coalitions have submitted registration documents, said Rositsa Mateva, spokesperson and deputy chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC), speaking on Bulgarian National Television (BNT) on Wednesday. A total of eight parties and five coalitions have so far been regist»»»

DOHA: Qatar Airways announced the continued temporary suspension of its flights due to the ongoing closure of Qatari airspace. The airline explained in a post on its official X platform that operations will resume as soon as the Civil Aviation Authority announces the airspace is safe to reopen. Qat»»»

On March 4, 2005, homemaking guru Martha Stewart returned home after serving five months in a federal prison for conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding and making false statements to federal investigators. 1 of 7 | Martha Stewart shows on March 7, 2005, a poncho that was crocheted and give»»»

President Nicusor Dan on Tuesday received at Cotroceni Presidential Palace the designated ambassador of the United States of America, Darryl Nirenberg, According to a press release from the Presidential Administration, talks between President Nicusor Dan and Ambassador Darryl Nirenberg focused on t»»»

Abu Dhabi: AD Ports Group said its operations across all business sectors continue as normal despite ongoing regional developments, stressing that precautionary measures have been activated to ensure the continuity of services and the safety of its workforce and partners. In a statement, the group »»»

Dubai: Global Village will remain closed on Wednesday, March 4, as regional tensions continue. In a statement, Global Village said the closure is a precautionary safety measure taken in line with official guidance. Visitors have been advised to check the attraction’s official website and social med»»»

The Irish government has said it will charter a flight from Oman in the coming days for Irish citizens to return from the Middle East. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, said her department will be contacting Irish citizens in the Middle East on Wednesday to travel home on a charter f»»»

Dubai: Etihad Rail, in coordination with the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi (ADCMC), operated three exceptional passenger train services between Al Ghuwaifat Station (Al Dhafra) and Al Faya Station (Abu Dhabi City). These trips safely transported over 350 passengers a»»»

Explosions sounded in Iran's capital on Wednesday as the war with the United States and Israel entered its fifth day, with Israel targeting the Iranian leadership and security forces and the country responding with missile barrages and drone attacks on Israel and across the Gulf region. The blasts »»»

A student has unraveled a long-standing cosmic enigma concerning some of our solar system’s most peculiar objects: icy “snowmen” that populate its outer reaches, according to The Independent. Astronomers have long debated the origins of these 'contact binaries' – objects comprising two connected sp»»»

Dubai: Shipping and maritime logistics firm Gulf Navigation Holding said its operations continue without disruption despite heightened tensions across the Middle East, confirming that petroleum storage facilities and tanker fleets remain fully operational. Sign up for our daily business newsletter,»»»

Doha, Qatar: As part of its efforts to support livelihoods and enhance self-dependence for refugee families in Bangladesh, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has distributed agricultural kits to 400 vulnerable and female-headed households. Implemented in cooperation with Bangladesh Red Crescent Soci»»»

Dubai: In a strong show of solidarity, the Filipino Social Club (FILSOC) has convened an online coordination meeting, bringing together Filipino community leaders from accredited organisations across the UAE, along with business partners, and church representatives. The meeting has tackled on reinf»»»

Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said Wednesday, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches. Lebanese state media said the Israeli attacks targeted a building in Baalbek, in Lebanon's east f»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The airlines said that it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace. It added that further update will be provided on»»»

Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari (pictured) has reaffirmed Qatar’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty, protecting its infrastructure, and maintaining stability through coordinated defens»»»

A deputy has announced the need to build a new waste landfill in Chui region. Mederbek Sakkaraev made this statement at a meeting of the Zhogorku Kenesh. According to him, the current landfill in the village of Iskra in Chui region has almost exhausted its capacity, as it is 90 percent full. «It oc»»»

Rising geopolitical tensions are clouding the outlook for growth, inflation and capital flows across the Middle East, raising questions about the region’s ability to absorb fresh shocks. Instability is not good for any region, World Bank President Ajay Banga told Asharq Al-Awsat, saying the scale o»»»

Iranian Kurdish militias have consulted with the United States in recent days about whether, and how, to attack Iran's security forces in the western part of the country, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. The Iranian Kurdish coalition of groups based on the Iran-Iraq border i»»»

ConflictsIraqIraq, caught in the middle, braces for Iran war impactCathrin Schaer | Omar AlbamIraq is the only country in the Middle East to be targeted by both sides in the current conflict. There, the war could impact everything from the next government to intercommunal violence and civil servant»»»