DUBAI: A US F-35 stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at an American air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, in what could mark a significant escalation in the ongoing war. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that the »»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump’s response to the latest escalation in the Iran war has raised fresh questions about coordination and messaging between Washington and Israel, even as both allies insist they remain aligned in their broader objectives. In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social p»»»

Dubai: An Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field has pushed the Middle East conflict into dangerous new territory, raising concerns over global energy supplies and regional escalation. But what exactly is South Pars, and why is it so critical? World’s largest gas reserveSouth Pars is part of»»»

Abu Dhabi: Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, has dismissed rumours about restrictions on capital movement in the country, warning against the spread of misinformation during times of regional tension. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a post o»»»

KARACHI: A powerful overnight storm accompanied by heavy rain and gale-force winds killed at least 19 people in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, and injured several others, as walls and roofs collapsed across multiple areas, according to officials and local media. Heavy rains and strong winds lash»»»

RIYADH: Arab and Islamic foreign ministers issued a unified condemnation of Iran’s missile and drone attacks across the Gulf on Thursday, warning that the strikes on civilian infrastructure “cannot be justified under any circumstances” and urging Tehran to immediately halt its escalation. Meeting i»»»

The United States and South Korea concluded their annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise on Thursday. In this photo, taken March 9, U.S. Army Gen. Xavier T. Brunson (R), speaks with Korean Marine Maj. Gen. Park Sung Soon (L) at Camp Mujuk in Pohang. Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Aaron S. Patterson/U»»»

“There’s eight of us, and we’re a fun bunch,” says a cheerful Tazeen Jafri. She's excited, and for good reason. It's Eid: A time of family, love and joy. Eid can’t ever postponed, as Jafri and many others would agree. And this time, Jafri already knows exactly what’s in store: A table overflowing w»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai have dropped sharply from their March highs, opening a window for last-minute Eid shoppers looking to buy jewellery at relatively lower rates after weeks of elevated pricing. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwa»»»

Dubai: Filipino expats in the UAE are seeing stronger returns on every dirham sent home after the Philippine peso weakened to fresh lows, pushing remittance value higher at a time when global energy costs continue to rise. (Check live forex rates here) Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Che»»»

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»»»

Dubai: India has moved to curb rising passenger complaints over airline seat fees, directing carriers to make at least 60% of seats on every flight available at no additional cost, in a step aimed at improving fairness and transparency for flyers. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»

Dubai: Dubai’s real estate services sector is seeing sustained growth, with new data indicating rising activity in permits, valuations, and customer transactions, reinforcing the market’s operational depth and transparency. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The number of»»»

Dubai: Plans to bring Disneyland to Abu Dhabi are moving forward, with Miral Group’s chief reaffirming commitment to the project in a public message that signals continued momentum on one of the region’s most closely watched developments. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balance»»»

Dubai: Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai edged higher on Wednesday morning, with the 24K rate at Dh601 per gram at 9.17am, up slightly from Dh600 a day earlier, while 22K climbed to Dh556.50 from Dh555.50, yet the broader trend shows prices have dropped Dh40 from this month’s peak on March 2, raising the»»»

Dubai: Tesla has activated free Supercharging across key locations in the UAE and wider Gulf, offering immediate relief to electric vehicle users navigating rising uncertainty across the region. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move took effect at midnight local tim»»»

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months. As such, Newsbase’s AsiaElec sat down with Assistant Vice President in the Global Sales Department – Keiji Yasukawa – earlier in the month, at the firm’s Taipei HQ to ask »»»

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months. As such, Newsbase’s AsiaElec sat down with Assistant Vice President in the Global Sales Department – Keiji Yasukawa – earlier in the month, at the firm’s Taipei HQ to ask »»»

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months. As such, Newsbase’s AsiaElec sat down with Assistant Vice President in the Global Sales Department – Keiji Yasukawa – earlier in the month, at the firm’s Taipei HQ to ask »»»

Dubai: Emirati entrepreneurs are moving away from importing technology to building it locally. Founders like Rashid Al Salmi are pushing that transition through Sulmi, a UAE-based mobility and clean energy company focused on autonomous driving and electric vehicle technologies. Sign up for our dail»»»

After a month of restraint, routine and reflection, Eid arrives with abundance. Tables fill up quickly, rich biryanis, syrup-soaked desserts, endless cups of tea, and so do plates. It’s a celebration, after all. But somewhere between the second helping and the post-meal slump, many find themselves »»»

1 of 2 | British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L), NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pose outside No.10 Downing Street after a discussion on the war in Ukraine in London on Tuesday. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo March 17 (UPI) -- Speaking to th»»»

Dubai: If confirmed, the killing of Ali Larijani would mark one of the most consequential blows to Iran’s ruling system since the start of the war — and arguably even more destabilising than the loss of its supreme leader. Unlike Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose authority was ultimately rooted in his »»»

Dubai: Israel’s military has announced it had killed General Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force, though Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the death. Israel’s defence minister also said Tuesday that the military killed top Iranian secu»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a museum under construction to honor troops sent to fight for Russia, state media reported Tuesday. In this August photo, Kim meets with bereaved family members at a memorial ceremony in Pyongyang. File photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, March 17 (UPI) -- North Korea»»»

The other day, an acquaintance repeatedly got my name wrong in a phone call. I didn’t register it, the first few times. I just hmmed as we continued to discussing a pitch. It only dawned after she suddenly apologised, “Have I been calling you by a different name all this time?” “I think so. But it’»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai moved higher on Tuesday morning, recovering slightly after recent declines, with buyers watching global cues closely amid ongoing geopolitical tension and inflation concerns. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwa»»»

Dubai: British Airways has extended its temporary reduction in flights across the Middle East, citing continued uncertainty in regional airspace. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline had already cancelled services to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel »»»

After he was handed a statuette for best actor at the Academy Awards, Michael B Jordan received another golden prize - a cheeseburger. The actor, who won for his performance in the vampire-blues film Sinners, stopped by fast food chain In-N-Out Burger after the Hollywood ceremony. Still dressed in »»»

The activities of a radical ideology supporter have been stopped in Kyrgyzstan. The press center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) reported. According to it, the citizen N.A. arrived in Kyrgyzstan from a CIS country. «He is accused of attempting to travel abroad to j»»»

Dubai: The rise of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader may have appeared swift and inevitable from the outside. But behind the scenes, it followed a tense power struggle among clerics, political leaders and Revolutionary Guards commanders during one of the most dangerous moments in the Is»»»

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae watching a live feed of a strategic cruise missile test-fire from the naval Destroyer Choe Hyon at an undisclosed location in North Korea, 10 March 2026 (issued 11 March 2026). According to KCNA, the test aimed to verify the reliability»»»

Dubai: The deployment of US Marines to the Middle East is raising fresh questions about Washington’s next moves in the escalating conflict with Iran — and whether Tehran’s key oil export hub on Kharg Island, often described as the “crown jewel” of Iran’s energy sector, could become a target. A Mari»»»

Dubai: Dubai motorists planning to rely on free parking during the upcoming Eid holiday may need to double-check signage at certain locations after a private parking operator said charges could still apply in some areas. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Parking operator»»»

Beijing: Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and Pyongyang from March 30, according to tour agencies and the state-owned carrier's website, after train services between the two capitals resumed last week. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomat»»»

Dubai: Just a week ago, US President Donald Trump suggested Britain did not need to send ships to the Middle East, saying the United States had already “won” the war with Iran. Now the tone appears to have shifted. Trump is urging allies — including Nato partners, Britain and even China — to help r»»»

Dubai: Former UFC heavyweight champion and professional boxer Francis Ngannou has purchased a five-bedroom residence at Armani Beach Residences on Palm Jumeirah in one of the latest high-value property deals in Dubai’s luxury market. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Dev»»»

Dubai: Artificial intelligence is already playing a major role in how customers interact with banks, telecom providers and airlines in the UAE, often operating quietly behind the scenes while human agents step in only when necessary. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Ind»»»

North Korea-linked hackers used the popular South Korean messaging platform KakaoTalk to spread malware and steal sensitive information, according to a cybersecurity report released Monday. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, March 16 (UPI) -- North Korea-linked hackers carried »»»

Dubai: Majid Al Futtaim delivered its strongest financial performance to date in 2025, reporting record profit growth and a stronger balance sheet as the company marked three decades of operations across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & »»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai slipped to their lowest level this month on Monday morning, giving buyers a brief window of relief after several weeks of elevated prices driven by global market turmoil. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, »»»

Dubai: The Philippine peso fell to a record low against the UAE dirham on Monday morning, reflecting mounting pressure on emerging market currencies amid volatile energy markets and growing global uncertainty. (Check live forex rates here) Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balanc»»»

The 2026 Academy Awards delivered a rare moment in the history of the Academy when the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film was awarded in a tie, with both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva receiving the prize. For Romanian audiences, the news carries particular significance: one of the»»»

March has been relentless. As tensions ripple across the Middle East, many people are struggling to pause or even catch their breath. But in a world that refuses to slow down, some communities are determinedly carving out their own moments of calm. In the neighbourhood of Jumeirah, a small evening »»»

Dubai: Relations between Washington and Tehran have swung dramatically over the past seven decades, shaped by coups, revolutions, sanctions, nuclear diplomacy and military confrontations. Successive US presidents — from Eisenhower and Nixon to Obama and Trump — have pursued sharply different strate»»»

Dubai: Some international coverage of the current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has suggested a wave of departures from the UAE and portrayed the situation in dramatic terms, including AI-generated videos circulating online depicting war-like conditions in Dubai. Sign up for our daily bu»»»

Dubai: US intelligence assessments shared with President Donald Trump suggest that Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had serious reservations about his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei succeeding him, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The intelligence, circulat»»»

Dubai: India’s LPG supply system has come under pressure as the federal government issued new rules, states introduced allocation controls and several cities reported disruptions in commercial cooking gas availability amid global fuel concerns triggered by the ongoing Iran war, Indian media reports»»»

Dubai: The United States is deploying about 2,500 Marines to the Middle East as the war with Iran enters a new phase centred on the Strait of Hormuz, where attacks on shipping have disrupted one of the world’s most critical oil routes. The Marines are expected to come from the 31st Marine Expeditio»»»