BBC Middle East editor’s ‘Israeli propaganda’ court case begins
The UK High Court has heard arguments in a defamation case, in which a BBC Middle East editor is suing a journalist over an article that accused him of inserting “systematic Israeli propaganda” into the network’s coverage. Raffi Berg, who has publicly heaped praise on Israel, is seeking damages fro»»»
Salam to Asharq Al-Awsat: We Refuse to Tie Lebanon’s Fate to Iran’s Interests
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stressed on Saturday that the state was doing everything possible on the political and diplomatic levels to end Israel’s war on Lebanon and ease its catastrophic impact on the people, especially the displaced. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that diplomatic efforts have »»»
Israel-Iran conflict enters eighth day as strikes spread across Middle East
Military confrontations between Israel and Iran entered their eighth day on Saturday, with both sides exchanging missile and air strikes while attacks spread across parts of the Gulf and Iraq, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Israel said it had carried out “extensive strikes” on target»»»
FRA approves Egypt’s first private equity fund specialising in agriculture
The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has approved the establishment of Al Ahly Green Agricultural Investment Fund Company, making it the first private equity investment fund in the Egyptian market dedicated to investment in the agricultural sector. The fund may also engage in venture capital ac»»»
Industry Minister, Polaris Parks discuss expansion plans in Egypt
Egypt’s Ministry of Industry held talks with a delegation from Turkish industrial developer Polaris Parks to review the company’s ongoing projects in Egypt and discuss expansion plans aimed at attracting new investments and creating sustainable job opportunities. The meeting, chaired by Industry Mi»»»
Why did Iran's president apologise?
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian surprised many observers when he apologised to Iran's neighbours for recent strikes against them, during an address delivered on Saturday morning as part of the country's interim leadership. Apologies between states are rare, particularly during active conflict, a»»»
One week of widening war: Leaders killed, nuclear sites hit — what we know so far
Dubai: A week after the United States and Israel launched a sweeping military campaign against Iran, the conflict has rapidly expanded across the Middle East, with strikes hitting nuclear facilities, military bases and senior leadership targets inside Iran. The fighting has already killed nearly 1,»»»
AUC students assemble 6,000 Ramadan food packs for families in need
Students at The American University in Cairo (AUC) organized one of the largest student-led community service efforts on campus this year, assembling 6,000 Ramadan food packs for families in need. The initiative, coordinated by AUC’s Office of Student Life in collaboration with 42 student organizat»»»
Egypt expands dental services across 17 governorates
Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population (Egypt) said it opened and upgraded several dental departments and clinics in government medical facilities in January 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services and expand access for citizens. Health ministry spokesperson Hossam Abdel G»»»
Planning Minister orders reallocation of National Investment Bank, NI Capital investments
Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, has directed the reallocation of investment priorities for the National Investment Bank (NIB) and its investment arm NI Capital Holding, as part of efforts to enhance their role in supporting development and economic growth. Speaking duri»»»
Qatar’s private schools record 70% student attendance on distance learning platforms
Doha, Qatar: Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), Omar Abdulaziz Al Naama affirmed that the educational process in private schools continues to run smoothly through electronic learning platforms. He revealed that student a»»»
UK enhances Middle East defences as US-led coalition tightens vs Iran
In a significant escalation of British involvement in the Middle East, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that the United States has begun utilising British bases for targeted defensive operations. This move aims to thwart Iranian missile launches threatening regional stability and pu»»»
US Bases in Middle East Fail to Secure Nations & Become Safety Risk - Expert
American bases in the Middle East are constantly facing various kinds of attacks and do not protect the countries on whose territory they are located that effectively, Turkish political scientist Umur Tugay Yucel tells Sputnik. "For a long time, the Gulf countries had unwavering trust in the Americ»»»
UAE ‘not an easy target’, President warns enemies not to misjudge its strength
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the UAE would emerge stronger from the ongoing war and warned that the country should not be mistaken for weak, stressing that the UAE is “not an easy target”. Speaking during a televised interview while visiting injured vict»»»
CIB signs MoU with OtroVato to boost domestic, cross-border trade
Commercial International Bank (CIB) has signed a memorandum of understanding with OtroVato, a subsidiary of Orascom Investment Holding, to establish a strategic collaboration aimed at supporting exporters, buyers, suppliers and distributors through integrated trade and banking solutions, with a par»»»
Health Ministry Focused on Modernizing Psychiatric Care with Recovery Plan Funding
Bulgaria's Health Minister, Assoc. Prof. Michail Okoliyski, said efforts are focused on preventing the loss of funding for the modernization of psychiatric care under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, his Ministry said. Meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee on Friday, he »»»
SDMK plans to impose restrictions on Umrah trips due to situation in Middle East - | 24.KG
The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SDMK) held a meeting to discuss the safety of citizens of Kyrgyzstan in Saudi Arabia. According to the muftiyat, the meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign A»»»
Man with two grenades had been pulled in 15 times since 2008
The 48-year-old man who threatened to blow himself up outside Athens Police Headquarters (GADA) on Friday evening has been arrested fifteen times since 2008, police said. According to police records, the suspect had previously been detained for drug possession and theft, authorities said. He was la»»»
SDMK plans to impose restrictions on Umrah due to situation in Middle East - | 24.KG
The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SDMK) held a meeting to discuss the safety of citizens of Kyrgyzstan in Saudi Arabia. According to the muftiyat, the meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign A»»»
Message of solidarity with Qatar from Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie
DOHA: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) expressed its deep solidarity with the State of Qatar following the Iranian attacks it was subjected to. This came in a message received by Speaker of the Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, from APF General Delegate HE Amelia L»»»
US-Iran war: aviation industry hits turbulence
The effects of the war unfolding between the United States, Israel, and Iran have found their way to the global aviation industry. Within hours of the first bombs, airspace closed, key Arab Gulf airports suspended operations, flights were cancelled, passengers were stranded, airline share prices fe»»»
Interior Ministry: 14,300 drug cases recorded in 2025
Tunis, March 7 (TAP) – The Ministry of the Interior announced that security units recorded 181,998 criminal cases in 2025, leading to the arrest of 69,164 individuals, including 14,300 drug-related cases, as part of ongoing efforts to combat...»»»
Industrial production drops 6.6 percent in January: statistics
Skopje, 6 March 2026 (MIA) - Industrial production in January decreased by 6.6 percent compared to the same month in 2025, said the State Statistical Office on Friday. Industrial production in section Mining and quarrying increased by 2.5%, in section Manufacturing it decreased by 8.0%, while in se»»»
What to do if you hear explosion while driving: MOI
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MOI) has issued a set of safety guideline for motorists, on how to response if they hear an explosion while driving. In a video shared across its social media, the Ministry advised drivers to immediately slow down and pull over to a safe area. The following in»»»
Military chief defends UK response to Middle East conflict
The head of the British military has told the BBC he "completely rejects" criticism that the UK had been ill-prepared for the conflict in the Middle East. Speaking on Saturday as war continued in the region, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton said it was "probably the most dangerous ti»»»
Trump Says Iran ‘Will Be Hit Very Hard’, Threatens to Expand Targets
US President Donald Trump said Iran would be "hit very hard" on Saturday and that he was considering widening the areas and groups of people being, targeted, without providing details. "Today Iran will be hit very hard! Under serious consideration for complete destruction and certain death, b»»»
GERB Leader Borissov: Political Crisis Not Created by GERB
The political crisis in the country was not created by GERB, party leader Boyko Borissov said on Saturday after inspecting the facilities of the new St Anastasia Children's Hospital in Burgas. “We are not the creators of the political crisis. We are only warning about it,” Borissov said. According »»»
Timothée Chalamet triggers backlash over ballet and opera remarks
Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet has triggered a backlash from the performing arts world after he dismissed ballet and opera as art forms that audiences do not care about. Chalamet had been talking to Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas in February about efforts to preserve cinema»»»
In US-Iran war, willpower could trump firepower
Missiles and drones are core elements of Iran’s military power. The country has relied on them heavily and almost exclusively in its fight against the US and Israel. The Iranian air force can’t be trusted because it has antiquated equipment dating to the Shah era, and while the Iranian navy has som»»»
Ranked: The 2050 global economy — who will be the richest nations? Where India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Egypt, Nigeria may rank
In the long journey of nations, there come moments when the balance of industry and wealth shifts as the tide shifts upon the sea. So it may be with the world economy in the years ahead. Figures drawn from the estimations of Goldman Sachs suggest that by the middle of this century, around 2050, the»»»
Iranian Hardline Clerics Seek Swift Naming of New Supreme Leader
Two influential and hardline Iranian clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader to help guide the nation amid a new wave of US and Israeli strikes, Iranian media reported on Saturday. The calls by the clerics suggest that at least some in the clerical establishment are unc»»»
Silistra Residents Block Border Crossing with Romania in Protest over High Electricity Bills
Residents of Silistra blocked the road leading to the border checkpoint with Romania in protest against high electricity bills. Some of the demonstrators waved Bulgarian flags and carried banners with messages such as “No to monopolies!”, “Stop robbing the people”, and “No to the energy mafia”. The»»»
Eid Al Fitr likely on March 20 in UAE, astronomers say
Sharjah: Eid Al Fitr is expected to fall on Friday, March 20, 2026, according to astronomical calculations announced by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology. The academy’s astronomical observatory said its calculations indicate that Ramadan 1447 AH will complete 30 days,»»»
Philippine embassy, consulate in UAE issues advisory on overstay fines exemptions
Dubai: Travellers who were unable to leave the UAE due to the recent temporary airspace closure will not face financial penalties for overstaying. The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai and Northern Emirates have issued an advisory confirming that UAE auth»»»
Foreign investors withdraw $2 billion from Egyptian markets amid regional tensions
Foreign investments in Egyptian market Foreign investors have sold off a massive amount of Egyptian government debt (bonds and treasury bills). In just four days of trading, they withdrew more than LE 102.3 billion, which is roughly $2.046 billion. While the stock market also saw foreigners leaving»»»
Hezbollah’s Rejection of ‘Surrender’ Stalls Macron Initiative to Halt War
French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative has failed to break the political stalemate surrounding the ongoing war in Lebanon, as Hezbollah rejects what it describes as “surrender” and insists on pressing ahead with the confrontation. Lebanese and international observers view Hezbollah's fightin»»»
CBSE postpones Class XII exams; Class X exams cancelled in Middle East
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a postponement of Class XII board examinations in the Middle East regions, including Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Class XII exams postponedExams scheduled for 9, 10, and 11 March 2026 have been postponed»»»
Oil prices: Brent surges to $92.62, WTI hits $90.72 amid Iran war
Oil markets are in turmoil as prices spiked further on Saturday (March 7, 2026) following a sharp climb on Friday driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East. Live market data as of 8.35am GMT, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude climbed to $92.62, up $2.18 from $92.62 from $90.72 on Friday, w»»»
Dhurandhar: The Revenge trailer out: Here's why we think this will be more bloody, violent, and filled with dark humour
Dubai: The trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge is finally out, and if first impressions are anything to go by, the upcoming action thriller led by Ranveer Singh (his hair still looks lush) looks far more intense than expected. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film appears to lean heavily into a darker,»»»
BSP Leader Zarkov: BSP Must Put Back Justice at Heart of Politics
Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Krum Zarkov said that the lack of strong left-wing representation in the institutions is a loss not only for BSP, but for the entire Bulgarian people speaking on the Panorama programme of the Bulgarian National Television. According to him, socialists have the»»»
Emirates cancels all flights to and from Dubai until further notice
All flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice. Emirates advised passengers not to travel to airports and thanked them for their patience. The airline stressed that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. Also Read: Cancelled UAE flights? How to manag»»»
Experience Transylvania: where Europe slows down
In a Europe shaped by overtourism and algorithm-driven itineraries, Transylvania is emerging as an outlier: a living rural landscape where heritage, biodiversity, and community-based tourism intersect with measurable economic impact. Mihai Eminescu Trust (MET), a heritage conservation foundation th»»»
Iranian Ambassador: Bulgaria Is Not a Legitimate Target for Iran!
Iran does not view Bulgaria as a potential target and has no hostile intentions toward the country, according to the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sofia, H.E. Ali Reza Irvash. In a special interview for Bulgarian National Radio’s program “RadioTochka,” the diplomat stressed that Teh»»»
Death of Iraqi ‘Oil King’ Exposes ‘Jurf al-Sakhar Empire’
A mysterious assassination of a faction leader in Iraq has exposed details of a lucrative oil trade run by what officials and local sources describe as the “Jurf al-Sakhar empire” south of Baghdad, according to information gathered from officials and local residents. Sources said a “major incident”»»»
Explosions Rock Iran's Capital, and More Attacks Target Israel as US Warns Bombing Will Intensify
Explosions sent up clouds of dark smoke in the Iranian capital city early Saturday, and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel as the United States warned of a forthcoming bombing campaign that officials said would be the most intense yet in the weeklong conflict. There was no foreseeable e»»»
Press Review - 'Operation Epstein Distraction': Sexual assault allegations against Trump emerge
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, March 6: International papers discuss US President Donald Trump's "warrior transformation" and speculate about how the new war in the Middle East could benefit Russia. Also: the US Department of Justice publishes an interview that outlines sexual assault allegations agai»»»
US Justice Department releases Epstein files with accusations against Trump
The US Justice Department on Friday released Epstein file documents detailing claims that US President Donald Trump attempted to force an underage girl into performing oral sex. The FBI interviewed the alleged victim in 2019 as part of its investigation into late financier and sex offender Jeffrey »»»
Spotlight - Iran, Europe & Churchill: The View from a Former British Ambassador to Iran
In this edition of the Spotlight, we speak to Richard Dalton, the former British ambassador to Iran and Libya and a former consul general in Jerusalem, to unpack the first week of war and what may come next. With President Donald Trump demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender” and Tehran showing n»»»
Ukraine to provide drone protection support in Middle East at US request
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that Ukraine would provide assistance to the US and other allies in response to requests for support in dealing with Iran's Shahed drones currently being used in the Middle East conflict. The United States and its Middle Eastern allies are turning»»»
Trump Considers Deploying US Troops in Iran — Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump has privately expressed interest in deploying troops to Iran and discussed the matter with his aides, NBC News reported, citing officials and other sources. The report said Trump discussed the idea with his aides and Republican officials. The discussions»»»