Strikes on south, Hezbollah's attacks and other developments
Eight people were killed Friday and nine wounded in a strike on Sidon's al-Fawwar, as Israel targeted motorbikes and a Hezbollah-affiliated health center in Safad al-Battikh, kfartebnit and Aiteet. The Israeli army warned of a strike on a building in Abbasiyyeh-Tyre, and struck and shelled Teffahta»»»
Ramadan Nights 2026 in Sharjah draws shoppers and families
Dubai: The 43rd edition of the Ramadan Nights exhibition has opened at Expo Centre Sharjah, offering a lively mix of shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences during the holy month. Organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the »»»
All But 2 of Austria's 96 Glaciers Have Retreated Over Last 2 Years
All but two of Austria’s 96 glaciers have retreated over the last two years, monitors in the Alpine country reported Friday, saying the “dramatic development” highlights the impact of climate change. The latest report from the Austrian Alpine Club shows the Alpeiner Ferner in the western Tyrol regi»»»
Economy Ministry invites Chinese companies to relocate production to Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan is inviting Chinese companies to open enterprises or relocate production to the country. First Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Choro Seyitov announced at a briefing. He noted that several visits to China have recently taken place, where the Kyrgyz side has invited local companies»»»
HoR Speaker Saleh cancels new import tax having previously claimed he had never agreed such a tax. Is Saleh’s position weakening? Report and analysis
Several reliable Arabic language Libyan media sites reported last Wednesday (11 March) that the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, has now reversed his decision to impose the controversial import tax on some goods. The media sources say Saleh has now communicated the rever»»»
Ras Al Khaimah announces complete ban on operating all types of drones
Ras Al Khaimah: Ras Al Khaimah Police have announced a complete ban on operating all types of drones across the emirate due to exceptional circumstances affecting the country. The decision applies to all drones and light sport aircraft. Authorities stressed that compliance with the directive is man»»»
Snow Geese Take Off for the Arctic in Mesmerizing Sunrise Display
A few dozen birdwatchers gathered in the predawn darkness to wait for the moment when thousands of migrating snow geese stopped honking and preening to suddenly take flight from a Pennsylvania reservoir. The mesmerizing display, about an hour after sunrise, was over almost as soon as it began. The »»»
Russian Missile Kills Three on Bus in East Ukraine
A Russian strike in eastern Ukraine on Friday killed three people on a bus near the embattled town of Kupiansk, which Moscow's army is battling to recapture, investigators said. The wider Kharkiv region, which borders Russia, was partly occupied when Russian forces invaded in February 2022, but was»»»
Religious Denominations Exempted from Rent Income Tax
By amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act passed conclusively on Friday, Bulgaria's Parliament exempted from corporate tax the income accruing to religious denominations from renting real estate. Under the adopted provisions, the profit from renting real estate owned by a religious denomination»»»
Agriculture Minister Alerts Prosecution Service of Malpractices in Animal Waste Incineration
Caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov submitted an alert to the prosecution service on Friday regarding alleged abuse in a public procurement procedure for incinerators. The Minister made public his alert at a news briefing outside the government headquarters. He said that on his v»»»
Caretaker Cabinet Has All Submitted Documents Regarding US President Trump’s Board of Peace, FM Neynsky Says
Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said at a news conference on Friday that the government has all documents submitted to the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria regarding US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, commenting on Bulgaria’s potential accession to the body. Neynsky said that f»»»
First Lesser Kestrel Returns to Bulgaria from Wintering Grounds
The first lesser kestrel to return to Bulgaria this season from its wintering grounds has been spotted in the village of Kliment near Karlovo (Central Bulgaria), the Green Balkans conservation organization said Friday. The sighting is an encouraging sign for the colony’s growth and the successful r»»»
Cabinet Chairman orders construction of new medical cluster in Karakol - | 24.KG
During a working visit to Issyk-Kul region, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev inspected the state of medical facilities in Karakol city. The Cabinet’s press service reported. Adylbek Kasymaliev visited the regional hospital, main building of which was built in 19»»»
4 American servicemen killed after U.S. refueling jet crashes in Iraq - UPI.com
A row of U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft lined up at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport on February 27, the day before Israel and United States launched their airborne offensive against Iran. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo March 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. military »»»
Vucic: Serbia has long-range air-to-ground missiles, Zagreb will not decide about what we will have
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening Serbia had long-range air-to-ground missiles and would continue to acquire them. In an interview for the RTS, Vucic said Serbia also had other military capabilities that had still not been revealed. He said Serbian military engi»»»
Iranian charge d'affaires summoned to Foreign Ministry, handed protest letter
The Iranian Chargé d'Affaires in Lebanon, Tawfiq Samadi, appeared Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the summons of Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. He was met by the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Ambassador Abdel Sattar Issa, who raised "a series of serious questions regarding statem»»»
Britons should not take photos of strikes in UAE, embassy warns
The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned Britons in the region against breaking the country's laws by taking pictures or sharing images of the impact of Iranian missiles. It comes after a 60-year-old British man was charged under cyber crime laws in Dubai after allegedly fil»»»
MPs Adopt Amendments to Budget Extension at First Reading
MPs on Friday adopted at first reading amendments to the budget extension bill with 174 votes in favour and 23 against, with no abstentions. All parliamentary groups supported the proposal except Vazrazhdane. The deadline for proposals between the first and second readings was shortened to three da»»»
Israel expands strikes on Lebanon, cuts bridge over Litani river
Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting multiple areas including a bridge over the Litani river that it said Hezbollah had been using as a passageway for its fighters. The raids came after Israel threatened to also carry out a ground operation to disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese»»»
How UAE businesses thrive amid regional tensions
Dubai: Despite the current geopolitical situation in the region, many entrepreneurs in Dubai continue to remain confident in the UAE’s stability, making it a key reason as to why businesses continue to operate normally amid the heightened tensions. For Frando Sarmiento, partner, co-founder, and adv»»»
Contacts With Russian Defense Ministry Very Important for IAEA - Grossi
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Contacts with the Russian Defense Ministry are very important for the International Atomic Energy Agency given that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is located in a war zone, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday. Contacts with the ministry are very importan»»»
Tunisian expats remittances up by 6.7%
Tunis, March 13 (TAP) - Nearly TND 1,467.7 million in remittances were sent by Tunisians residing abroad from the beginning of the current year up to February 28, compared with TND 1,375.5 million during the same period last year, up 6.7%.The...»»»
No fuel shortage expected in Kyrgyzstan — Economy Ministry - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan is not expected to face a shortage of fuel and lubricants, and both prices and supply volumes remain under constant monitoring by government agencies. Choro Seitov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce, announced at a briefing. According to him, authorities are working to ensure»»»
OMV Petrom Enters Bulgarian Black Sea with 25% Stake in Khan Tervel Gas Block
OMV Petrom has announced that it will join the consortium exploring the offshore Khan Tervel gas block in the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea, marking a significant expansion of its footprint in a region of growing strategic importance for Europe’s energy security. The Romanian oil and gas compan»»»
Tunisias Embassy to Kuwait: Flights arranged for Tunisians wishing to return via Saudi Arabia
Tunis, March 13 (TAP) - Tunisa's Embassy to Kuwait in a statement to members of the community wishing to travel to Tunisia via Saudi Arabia, that it had received information following its contact with Jazeera Airways regarding the launch of flights...»»»
Laos adjusts fuel pricing mechanism amid Mideast tensions
Vientiane: Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced an adjustment to the country's fuel pricing mechanism, shifting from weekly price reviews to more frequent updates in response to volatility in the global oil market linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. In an official statem»»»
Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated
The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in a torpedo attack by a US submarine last week in the Indian Ocean are due to be flown home on Friday, Sri Lanka's defence ministry has said. The seamen were among 130 thought to be aboard the Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, when it was sunk on 4 March about»»»
IDF drops charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee
Israel’s military has dropped charges against soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner at a wartime detention facility at the Sde Teiman base. The high-profile case has deeply divided Israeli society. The incident relates to events in July 2024 at the military base in southern Is»»»
Caretaker PM Gurov Says Government Will Refer ‘Board of Peace’ Ratification to Constitutional Court if Adopted
Commenting on the possibility that Parliament might adopt a bill ratifying an agreement on Bulgaria’s accession to the Board of Peace, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said at a news conference on Friday that, if such a decision is adopted, the government will refer the matter to the Constitut»»»
UN chief in Beirut for Lebanon 'solidarity' visit
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since March 2. "I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They we»»»
US Moves to Ease Sanctions on Russian Oil in Bid to Stabilize Global Energy Markets - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Kremlin has taken note of Washington statements about the United States having no further plans to lift oil sanctions from Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. "We have heard the statement from US officials that an exception has been made for oil already loaded unt»»»
Islamic nations D-8 summit postponed due to Middle East regional tension
Jakarta: An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the regional tension in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a lea»»»
Bulgaria Tops List for Evacuations from Middle East Conflict Zone, Caretaker PM Says
Bulgaria ranks first in the number of people evacuated from the conflict zone in the Middle East, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said on Friday at a ceremony honouring Foreign Ministry officials for their contribution to the successful evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the Middle East an»»»
Vienna Insurance Group announces a profit before taxes of EUR 1.16 billion in 2026, up 31.7%
Hartwig Löger, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Vienna Insurance Group, on the Group’s performance: “VIG achieved an outstanding Group result in 2025, once again driven by strong growth and high levels of profitability in all countries. Based on this result and our strong capital position,»»»
Iraq Studies Alternative Options for Oil Exports
Iraq is studying alternative measures to export crude oil after disruptions to the process amid the US-Israeli war against Iran. At the same time, the country intends to continue producing crude oil at a level of 1.4 million barrels per day. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani told the official t»»»
Media Review: March 13
HEADLINES Trud’s top story is about measures the Cabinet plans to introduce to soften the impact of rising fuel prices on low-income individuals. 24 Chasa also covers the issue on its front page. Duma leads with the headline “There Is No Matter That Can Be Solved Through War,” quoting Krum Zarkov, »»»
Dh5,000 rooms for Dh600? UAE hotels roll out surprising Eid staycation deals
Dubai: Luxury hotel rooms that often sell for thousands of dirhams during peak seasons are now appearing on booking platforms for a lower price — as UAE hotels pivot toward residents with sharply discounted Eid staycation offers. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app »»»
UAE President and King of Jordan discuss regional security amid rising tensions
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today held a phone call with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, during which they discussed regional developments following recent military escalation and serious implications for the security»»»
UTICA points out need to cement partnership with Islamic Development Bank
Tunis, March 13 (TAP) - Representatives of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) pointed out the need to further cementing partnership with the Islamic Development Bank and leveraging its various financing and support...»»»
Türkiye Says Third Ballistic Missile from Iran Shot Down
Türkiye’s defense ministry on Friday said a ballistic missile from Iran had been shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO forces in the third such incident of the Middle East war. "A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense ass»»»
Bulgarian Government Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios in Middle East Conflict, PM Gurov Says
The Bulgarian Government is preparing for the worst-case scenarios in the development of the conflict in the Middle East, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said during a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Friday. Earlier, a ceremony was held to present honorary awards to Minist»»»
Millions of Fearless Iranians Defy US-Israeli Aggression, Rally on Int’l Al-Quds Day
Millions of Iranians have poured into the streets across the country to mark International Al-Quds Day, a significant annual event aimed at expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemning US and Israeli actions in Palestine and beyond. Al-Manar correspondent reported an Israeli aggr»»»
Kyrgyzstan’s GDP may exceed forecasts and reach $32 billion by 2030 - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan’s economy is showing steady growth and may surpass previously projected indicators. Choro Seitov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, announced at a briefing. According to him, the country’s GDP was initially projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, but preliminar»»»
HSC‘s National Accord Bloc calls on relevant authorities to act against the ''corrupt and illegal'' Arkenu Oil Company
The National Accord Bloc of the High State Council issued a written statement, dated 9 March 2026 but only made public yesterday, calling on all relevant Libyan authorities to take the necessary steps against Arkenu Oil Company’s ‘‘corrupt’’ and ‘‘illegal’’ export of Libyan oil. Arkenu is a private»»»
US oil waiver includes 100million barrels loaded onto vessels
Moscow, Russia: Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev said that the United States’ decision to waive some restrictions on Russian oil would apply to about 100 million barrels of oil that had already been loaded onto vessels. In a post on his Telegram channel, Dmitriev said tha»»»
Russia Says It Doesn't See Iran Crisis Reducing US Interest in Ukraine Peace Talks
Russia is not concerned at this point that the Iran crisis will reduce US interest in mediating peace talks on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. "No, there are no such concerns at this time; our contacts with our American counterparts provide no grounds for such dou»»»
Health Minister Warns of Issues with Medical Helicopter Bases, Risk of Losing Funds
The situation regarding the bases for medical helicopters is worrying, even scandalous, acting Health Minister Michail Okoliyski told reporters on Friday. According to him, there is a risk of failure of the investment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and a loss of funds: aroun»»»
Sheikh Mohammed issues new law on violations and penalties in Dubai
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (6) of 2026, governing violations, penalties, and administrative measures in the Emirate of Dubai. The Law establishes a binding legal framework for government ent»»»
Islamic Nations D-8 Summit Postponed Due to Middle East War
An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the war in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a leaders' summit on April »»»
US Braces for Potential Iranian Retaliatory Operations within its Borders
Fears have grown in the US that Tehran could activate “sleeper cells” or carry out unconventional retaliatory attacks on American soil as Washington and Tel Aviv continue their war against Iran. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that his administration knows where the Iranian sleeper cells»»»