Laser defence race heats up: Can light beams stop drone swarms?
High-energy lasers are increasingly being viewed as a potential game-changer in defending oil facilities, military bases and critical infrastructure against the growing threat of drones and missiles in the Middle East. Unlike traditional interceptor systems such as Patriot missiles — which can cost»»»
Watch: US-Israel war on Iran enters week two — scenes from the ground
A second week of intense fighting has unfolded across Iran, Israel and parts of the wider Middle East after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets. Images from the ground capture the human impact of the conflict — smoke rising above cities, damaged buildings, e»»»
Israelis Demand Netanyahu Clarify War’s Exit Strategy
Growing public unease in Israel over the war with Iran has prompted mounting calls for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to clarify the conflict’s objectives and trajectory. The demands follow conflicting statements about when the war might end, coupled with Netanyahu’s continued refusal to answer »»»
Iran War Raises Concerns Over Impact on Suez Canal Traffic
The Iran war has sparked growing concern in Egypt over its potential impact on navigation through the Suez Canal, one of the country’s most important sources of national income. Experts say the conflict has already begun affecting traffic through the strategic waterway as security risks for ships i»»»
Singapore assists 24 Filipinos stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Dubai: The Singapore government has assisted 24 Filipinos who have been stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by facilitating their transit through Singapore on their travel back to the Philippines. The group, nine men and 15 women, arrived in Singapore on March 13 aboard a Singapore-chartered evacuati»»»
Etihad announces latest flight schedule until March 16
Etihad Airways has released an updated limited commercial flight schedule connecting Abu Dhabi with key international destinations. Passengers with existing bookings will be accommodated, and new tickets are available for purchase at its website. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading t»»»
RAF Typhoon jets in action over Bahrain
RAF Typhoon jets have been in action over Bahrain as part of the UK's contribution to the defence of its Gulf Arab allies, the BBC has been told. Two jets out of the four sent to Qatar have been allocated specifically to help Bahrain intercept incoming drones, as the US-Israel war with Iran has ent»»»
US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq, military says
Rescue operations are under way after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, US Central Command (Centcom) has said. Neither hostile nor friendly fire were involved in the downing of the KC-135, which occurred over western Iraq, Centcom said. The tanker had been involved in ongoi»»»
Mission accomplished? The 2003 boast that haunts today's Iran conflict
On 9 April 2003 a statue of the leader of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was pulled down in the centre of Baghdad. The metal plaque at the base of the statue was torn off and the statue's marble plinth attacked with a sledgehammer. Iraqi civilians initially tried to pull it down, scaling the statue to secur»»»
DefMin Miruta and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit 86th Air Base in Borcea
The Minister of National Defense, Radu Miruta and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky paid a visit on Thursday to the 86th Air Base "Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociornita", in Borcea, Calarasi County.On this occasion, the two officials met with the staff and cadets of the F-16 Training Ce»»»
Annual inflation rate fell to 9.31% in February
”The consumer price index in February 2026 compared to January 2026 was 100.59%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (February 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.5%. The annual inflation rate in February 2026 compared to February 2025 was 9.3%. The average rate of change in consum»»»
North Korea Condemns Japan's Long-Range Missile Deployment - Reports
SEOUL (Sputnik) - North Korea condemns Japan's plans to deploy long-range missiles, warning such moves heighten regional tensions and threaten security, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported on Friday. Tokyo has already stationed an upgraded Type-12 anti-ship missile with extended range »»»
London’s Most Urban Riding School Transforms Lives Through Horses
Sandwiched between social housing blocks and busy train tracks in south London is Britain's most urban riding school, where children from disadvantaged backgrounds learn to ride horses as part of a project aimed at improving their well-being. About 160 children each week attend the Ebony Horse Club»»»
TAQA investors approve new board and multi-year dividend plan
Dubai: Shareholders of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company confirmed a new board of directors at the company’s annual general assembly, marking a leadership update at one of the region’s largest listed utilities groups while approving dividends that will return around Dh5 billion to investors. Sign u»»»
Stranded UAE residents tell of detours across countries to get back amid US-Israel-Iran war
Dubai: When regional airspace closures swept across the Middle East due to the US-Israel-Iran war at the end of February, thousands of UAE residents found themselves stranded far from home. For some, the journey back meant days on buses through desert highways. For others, it meant hopping across t»»»
Abu Dhabi expands autonomous taxi services on Yas Island
The Integrated Transport Centre, an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has expanded commercial operations of Level 4 autonomous taxis on Yas Island, marking another step in the emirate’s push toward smart and sustainable mobility. The initiative is being implemented under »»»
Air Freight Rates Soar as Middle East Conflict Blocks Trade Routes
Air freight rates have risen by as much as 70% on some routes since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, data shows, as the conflict limits flights, blocks some ocean shipments and pushes up jet fuel costs. Rates on routes between South Asia and Europe have been the most affected by Middle East»»»
Trump Threatens Iran Following New Wave of Attacks on Gulf States and Israel
Iran launched multiple attacks early Friday on Gulf Arab states, including dozens of drones at Saudi Arabia, following warnings from its new supreme leader about hosting American bases, and US President Donald Trump threatened major new retaliation. “Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags to»»»
Qatar participates in GCC media briefing at UN on UNSC draft resolution condemning Iranian attacks
New York: Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations H E Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani participated in a media stand organised by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) group at the United Nations in New York. The media stand addressed the draft resolution submitted to »»»
About 9,000 US citizens choose to remain in UAE despite evacuation offer
Dubai: Around 9,000 American citizens living in the United Arab Emirates have chosen to remain in the country despite offers from the US government to arrange charter evacuation flights, the US State Department has said. In a statement issued by Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Globa»»»
Trump Administration Denounces CNN for Airing Messages from Iranian Leaders
The Trump administration denounced CNN on Thursday for airing a portion of the new Iranian supreme leader's public statement, the second time in three days that he's targeted the network for reporting on how the regime is responding to the American attacks. The attack illustrated the care news outl»»»
Thousands of Chinese Boats Mass at Sea, Raising Questions
Thousands of Chinese fishing boats have been massing in geometric formations in the East China Sea, in coordinated actions that experts believe are part of Beijing's preparations for a potential regional crisis or conflict. Monitoring ship-tracking data on Christmas Day, Jason Wang could tell somet»»»
Oil surge and rising yields stall global gold rally, Dubai prices edge lower
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai moved slightly lower on Friday morning, extending a period of volatile trading that has shaped the precious metals market over the past two weeks. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for »»»
US Weather to Go Nuts with Blizzard, Polar Vortex, Heat Dome, Atmospheric River All at Once
Nearly every part of the United States is getting walloped by wild weather or just about to be. Days of downpours have begun in Hawaii. The Southwest will soon bake with day after day of record 100-degree-plus (38 Celsius-plus) heat. Two storms will dump snow by the foot over northern Great Lakes s»»»
Qatar Airways runs limited flights March 13 to 17 amid airspace shutdown
Dubai: Qatar Airways has announced a limited operating schedule for several days in March after the closure of Qatari airspace forced the airline to suspend most flights, leaving thousands of passengers waiting for clarity on travel plans. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balanc»»»
Parents urged to educate children on response to National Warning System alerts
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has called on parents to play an active role in educating their family members, particularly children, on how to respond appropriately to alerts issued through the National Warning System. In a statement issued amid ongoing regional developments, the mini»»»
Wrester Aiperi Medet kyzy to face Olympic champion again - | 24.KG
Kyrgyz wrestler Aiperi Medet kyzy will compete at the PWL tournament in Tashkent on March 27. According to organizers, her opponent will be Yuka Kagami, the Olympic champion from Japan. The athletes have faced each other four times before, with the head-to-head record currently tied at 2–2. Their m»»»
Qatar real estate deal value climbs to QR2.709bn in February 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s real estate sector has witnessed positive momentum in February this year as the total deal value climbed to QR2.709bn showing investor confidence in the country’s economy. The real estate transactions index recorded a total value of QR2.709bn for 508 real estate deals in Februa»»»
Joby, Archer ramp up air taxi certification, production drive
Electric air-taxi pioneers Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are accelerating efforts to secure regulatory certification and expand manufacturing capacity, as the advanced air mobility sector moves closer to launching commercial passenger flights. Joby Aviation recently began flight testing its fir»»»
Russian crude on 30 tankers awaits buyers in Asian waters
Dubai: Russian crude oil and fuel on about 30 tankers in Asian waters is potentially available for purchase after the US granted a temporary waiver to buy cargoes that were already at sea. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The vessels are carrying at least 19 million bar»»»
Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert - UPI.com
In this photo taken Wednesday, police stand in front of a promotional video in central Seoul for the upcoming BTS live performance in Gwanghwamun Square. Photo by Yonhap Police vowed Friday to detain any suspects behind possible terror threats targeting K-pop juggernaut BTS' comeback concert set to»»»
Sirens Heard at Incirlik Air Base, Key NATO Facility in South Türkiye
Sirens were heard early on Friday at Türkiye’s Incirlik airbase, a key NATO facility where US troops are stationed near the southeastern city of Adana, state news agency Anadolu reported. There was no immediate official comment on the incident, which took place four days after NATO air defenses sho»»»
Iran War Disrupts Energy Supplies as Iran's New Leader Resolves to Keep Fighting
Iran’s secretive new leader issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel. Early Friday, »»»
Joby, Archer ramp up air taxi certification, production drive
Electric air-taxi pioneers Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are accelerating efforts to secure regulatory certification and expand manufacturing capacity, as the advanced air mobility sector moves closer to launching commercial passenger flights. Joby Aviation recently began flight testing its fir»»»
Trump threatens Iran following new wave of attacks on Gulf states and Israel
Iran launched multiple attacks early Friday on Gulf Arab states, including dozens of drones at Saudi Arabia, following warnings from its new supreme leader about hosting American bases, and US President Donald Trump threatened major new retaliation. "Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags to»»»
Chinese investors pile into Hong Kong equities as inflation at home heads north
Investors from China are buying Hong Kong stocks at a record pace, raising questions about whether the surge reflects limited confidence in other regional markets or a more deliberate but defensive shift by domestic investors seeking opportunities outside the mainland. »»»
Chinese investors pile into Hong Kong equities as inflation at home heads north
Investors from China are buying Hong Kong stocks at a record pace, raising questions about whether the surge reflects limited confidence in other regional markets or a more deliberate but defensive shift by domestic investors seeking opportunities outside the mainland. »»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
Drone crashes into Dubai apartments as UAE casualties rise
Dubai Media Office has confirmed that a drone crashed into a building in Dubai Creek area of the city in the early hours of March 12, at approximately 2:45 a.m. The building was evacuated to ensure resident safety, w»»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
TEHRAN BLOG: Permits-for-passage system emerges as the US heads towards a strategic defeat in Iran
An informal system of “permits-for-passage” through the Straits of Hormuz is emerging after Tehran has started to grant navigation permission to oil tankers headed to “friendly countries" with cargos of oil and gas. A tank»»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
Middle East conflict drains $600mn a day from regional tourism
Escalating hostilities across the Middle East are stripping about $600mn a day from the region’s tourism economy as flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel anxiety trigger mass cancellations, Emerging Travel reported. »»»
Czech ruling coalition drafts Russian-style NGO bill
The Czech ruling coalition has drafted a bill aimed at curtailing non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities in the country. Critics of the bill say it imitates Russian legislation aimed at restricting the activities o»»»
Czech ruling coalition drafts Russian-style NGO bill
The Czech ruling coalition has drafted a bill aimed at curtailing non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities in the country. Critics of the bill say it imitates Russian legislation aimed at restricting the activities o»»»
Czech ruling coalition drafts Russian-style NGO bill
The Czech ruling coalition has drafted a bill aimed at curtailing non-governmental organisation (NGO) activities in the country. Critics of the bill say it imitates Russian legislation aimed at restricting the activities o»»»
UAE responds to missile threats, residents alerted safe
UAE residents have received a mobile alert from the Ministry of Defence confirming that the situation in the country is currently safe, following earlier warnings about potential missile threats. The message, sent across the UAE, thanked residents for their cooperation and reassured the public that»»»
Protesters gather as Albanian parliament blocks arrest of former deputy PM Balluku
Albania’s parliament on March 12 rejected a request from anti-corruption prosecutors to lift the parliamentary immunity of former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku, preventing her arrest in connection to a corruption case and prompting protests from opposition supporters in the capital. »»»