Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin regretted calling Alex Pretti - a Minnesota resident killed by federal immigration officers in Minnesota earlier this year - a "deranged individual", he said on Wednesday. The senator's marks came as he was questioned by colleagues considering his nomination to lea»»»

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, condemned the continued Iranian attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, stressing that these aggressive practices constitute a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and reflect a dangerous approach that disregards t»»»

Celebrations and safety are the need of the hour, and Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority are at the front lines of making sure this is exactly what happens over the course of the Eid Al Fitr holiday. To ensure this, they have issued certain guidelines: Remain attentive and reduc»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borissov, who is in Brussels for the 50th anniversary of the European People's Party (EPP), discussed several topics in a video broadcast on his Facebook page on Wednesday. Ahead of the April 19 snap parliamentary elections, Borissov said coalitions are formed after elections. "Ea»»»

A woman was killed when a ski gondola crashed down a snowy mountain at Engelberg ski resort in the Swiss Alps, local officials say. Police in the central Swiss canton of Nidwalden say the gondola detached from the cable "for reasons that are still unclear" at about 11:00 (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday. E»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.This CBUAE decision was taken following the US Federal Reserve's de»»»

Fifteen years ago, a UN resolution establishing a no-fly zone in Libya was twisted into a mandate to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. "There is a date that scholars of international relations never forget, and it is March 17, 2011," Marco Marsili, associated researcher at the Centre for International Stu»»»

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a halt in fighting during celebrations for the end of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike in their escalating conflict killed hundreds in Kabul earlier this week. The governments in Islamabad and Kabul said in separate statements that Saudi Arabia, Qa»»»

Paris, France: Unusually strong winds and warm ocean water likely drove a rapid plunge in Antarctic sea ice in recent years, scientists said on Wednesday, shedding new light on a puzzling event. While the Arctic sea ice area has been steadily declining, the story has been very different in Antarcti»»»

Dubai: Dubai Customs has announced the activation of a “green corridor” between the emirate and the Sultanate of Oman for sea and air shipments, in cooperation with Oman’s General Administration of Customs. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The initiative is designed to »»»

Dubai: The UAE has launched the first phase of its Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentives Programme, offering businesses tax credits to encourage investment in innovation and technology. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Under Phase 1, companies can claim a non-re»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) yesterday organized a roundtable meeting with heads of foreign chamber of commerce and international business councils operating in Qatar, in the presence of representatives from several affiliated companies. The meeting comes as part of QBA’s c»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has warned that targeting energy facilities linked to the South Pars gas field constitutes a serious escalation and poses a direct threat to global energy security. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said attacks on energy infrastructure associate»»»

Dubai: Air India and Air India Express are set to operate a total of 48 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the GCC countries on March 19, 2026. Alongside regular services, the airlines will operate 32 additional non-scheduled flights to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These flights are subje»»»

Several countries have confirmed Friday, March 20, 2026, as the first day of Eid Al Fitr, following the completion of 30 days of Ramadan and the unsuccessful sighting of the Shawwal crescent. Countries confirming Eid on Friday include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, and Australia»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar expressed its welcome for the announcement of the temporary truce between Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on the occasion of the upcoming blessed Eid al-Fitr, and considers this step a positive initiative that contributes to de-escalation and streng»»»

NATO chief Mark Rutte said Wednesday that allies of the military alliance were in discussions on the "best way" to open the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large chunk of the world's oil supply normally passes, AFP reported. "I have been in contact with many allies. We all agree, of course, that »»»

It was late at night when an Iranian cluster bomb flew through the ceiling of an elderly couple's apartment in central Israel and exploded in their tiny living room, killing them both. The path of the bomb was still clearly mapped onto the ash-covered debris left behind. A large hole in the ceiling»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE announced on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, that the first day of Eid Al Fitr will be observed on March 20, after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted. Earier this month, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation h»»»

In the mood for some outdoorsy time with the kiddos over the Eid break? That’s perfect – there’s just about that lovely nip in the air that makes the shade perfect for some down time as you kid watch. Dubai Municipality has put out the timings of the parks and other recreational areas within those »»»

If you are in the UAE and having trouble accessing your X account, do not be alarmed for you are not alone. Downdetector, the website that lets you know when services are down based on real-time reports, has confirmed that there has been a spike in complaints over the microblog this evening (March »»»

Dubai: It’s official. Saudi Arabia announced today (March 18, 2026) that the first day of Eid al Fitr will fall on March 20, after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted. The moon-sighting committee convened and verified the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of Ramadan after 30 days of f»»»

Dubai: Dubai Court of Cassation has issued a landmark ruling clarifying how compensation claims should be handled in divorce cases involving non-Muslim couples, drawing a clear line between personal harm and damages directly arising from divorce. In its latest judgment, the court ruled that claims »»»

The US sent Ukraine $26 billion in aid without adequate oversight of how the funds would be used, a government auditor has told lawmakers. The flaws in a program managed by the now-defunct US Agency for International Development (USAID) were highlighted by the office of the inspector general, which»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality has announced full readiness to receive Eid Al Fitr, launching intensive inspection and awareness campaigns targeting a wide range of establishments expected to see high public turnout during the holiday. The campaigns will cover food outlets, barbershops, beauty »»»

1 of 2 | Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla, is sworn in during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on his nomination to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Ca»»»

While a number of countries are getting ready to sight the moon and declare the first day of Eid Al Fitr on Wednesday (Mar 18, 2026), some nations will hold their moon-sighting moments a day later, on Mar 19. In many countries, the 29th of Ramadan will fall tomorrow and so Eid will fall on Friday o»»»

China has never demanded that Kyrgyzstan be the first to introduce a visa-free regime, Liu Jiangping, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Kyrgyzstan, said at a briefing. She responded to a 24.kg news agency correspondent’s question about the accuracy of»»»

A small French town has won instant internet fame because its mayor – running for re-election in Sunday's municipal elections – goes by the name of Hittler. Not just that. One of his two opponents is called Zielinski. "It has gone completely crazy," lamented Charles Hittler, mayor of Arcis-sur-Aube»»»

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier and a central pillar of US naval operations in the war against Iran, is expected to head for repairs after a major fire onboard. The nuclear-powered carrier, deployed for nearly nine months and involved in more than two weeks of strikes l»»»

Dubai has taken a major step in advancing police education with the issuance of Dubai Police Academy Law No. (7) of 2026 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The new law reflects Dubai’s forward-looking vision to ele»»»

A new group of 39 migrants who risked the popular but lengthy sea crossing from northern Africa in a small boat has been located on the southern coast of Crete, authorities said Wednesday. One of the men, a 20-year-old from South Sudan, was allegedly identified as the person who had piloted the boa»»»

Sharjah: Police have announced strict measures against vehicles and motorcycles causing noise and disturbance in residential areas and on public roads, as part of ongoing efforts to maintain public safety and community peace. The General Command of Sharjah Police said it has received multiple compl»»»

A cyberattack by Iran-linked hackers on the medical technology company Stryker last week highlighted the modern threats facing the United States. File Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA March 18 (UPI) -- A cyberattack by Iran-linked hackers on the medical technology company Stryker last week highlighted»»»

Dubai: India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday announced a special assessment scheme for declaring Class 10 results across Middle East countries, after several board examinations were cancelled due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The board had scrapped the Class 10 main »»»

Dubai: This Eid, ANAX Holding, a Dubai-based investment firm, supported the noble initiatives carried out by the Emirates Red Crescent benefiting vulnerable families and individuals across the UAE. During a visit to the Emirates Red Crescent Dubai Center, Satish Sanpal, Founder and Chairperson of A»»»

The UAE air defence systems on Mar 18, 2026 (today) 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran. Since the onset of Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,699 drones. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of two members of t»»»

The leadership of the EU and NATO is the worst either bloc has had in decades, marked by incompetence, a policy of appeasing the US, and failing to protect European interests, according to a scathing critique by journalist Claudi Perez in Spain’s leading newspaper, El Pais. The opinion piece, publi»»»

When the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and crippling Tehran’s military infrastructure, the world witnessed a dramatic reshaping of the Middle East’s power structure. Beijing’s public response—measured moral condemnations, an e»»»

BusinessMiddle EastIran war triggers helium shortage, hits semiconductor supplyTimothy RooksRising tensions in the Middle East are rattling high-end chipmakers. Among all the latest geopolitical uncertainties for the industry is a shortage of helium that could slow global production. https://p.dw.c»»»

Prosecutors in the trial of Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have requested a jail term of seven years and seven months, arguing he should be found guilty of 39 of the 40 charges he is accused of. The 29-year-old denies the most serious charges, which include four cou»»»

Gila Pahima returned to Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel last spring, 18 months after its population had been evacuated because of Hezbollah rocket fire. Now air raid sirens are again sounding around the clock as the boom of missiles and interceptors echoes overhead. "I feel like we're in constant »»»

Five members of Iran's national women's football team have returned to the country after dropping their bids for Australian asylum. The players were pictured in their team tracksuits as they crossed into Iran from Turkey on Wednesday afternoon, having flown back via Malaysia and Oman. They had init»»»

Dubai: As the UAE awaits for Eid Al Fitr, authorities have issued fresh guidance to ensure that residents and visitors alike can celebrate safely and with peace of mind. The Dubai Media Office has released a safety guide explaining what to do if you receive an emergency alert on your phone, which c»»»

Dubai: UAE officials conducted an inspection at a Carrefour distribution centre to review food supply, procurement and stock levels, as authorities monitor market stability and ensure continued availability of essential goods nationwide. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»

When the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America on June 11, 2026, it will be the largest sporting event ever staged. Matches will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, involving millions of spectators and a global television audience expected to exceed five bi»»»

Good news, people with cars. ParkinUAE has announced free parking over the Eid Al Fitr period. The parking solutions provider in the UAE tweeted that all public parking will be free, with the exception of multi-storey parking, between Thursday, March 19, and Sunday, March 22. We’ll be back to payin»»»

Dubai: Gold prices fell below the Dh600 mark on Wednesday afternoon, with the 24K rate dropping to Dh597 per gram at 3.40 pm from Dh601 in the morning, while 22K declined to Dh552.75 from Dh556.50, tracking a broader pullback in global markets. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices i»»»

Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has approved a housing benefits package wor»»»

US President Donald Trump has criticized other NATO nations’ unwillingness to join the US-Israeli military operation against Iran, calling the bloc a “one-way street” that America has never really needed. The remarks came a day after US allies, including NATO members, ignored or rejected Trump’s ca»»»