Air traffic snarled due to winter weather, government shutdown - UPI.com
A combination of wild weather -- winter weather in the Midwest and wicked rain and hail in the Southeast -- made all manner of travel worse on Monday, especially air travel because of the partial government shutdown that has left the TSA unfunded. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo March »»»
Iran’s Kharg Island: Trump’s Dream since 1988
The coral island of “Kharg” stands with its small area of no more than 24 square kilometers as a living testament to the struggle of wills in the heart of the Gulf; it is not just an oil export terminal, but represents a geopolitical knot that encapsulates a long history of international rivalry an»»»
10,000 UAE students await clarity after India's CBSE cancels Class 12 exams
Dubai: More than 10,000 Indian expat students in the UAE are awaiting clarity on their Board exam results after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday cancelled Class 12 Board examinations for the UAE and six other Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The»»»
Colombia, Venezuela seek full membership in Mercosur bloc - UPI.com
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his country and Venezuela plan to submit formal applications to join Mercosur after a meeting in Caracas between delegations from the two governments. File Photo by Ricardo Maldonado Rozo/EPA March 16 (UPI) -- Colombia and Venezuela said they will seek full me»»»
EU imposes further restrictive measures against 16 individuals, 3 entities over serious human rights violations in Iran
BRUSSELS: The Council of the European Union today, March 16, decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 16 individuals and 3 entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. Today’s listings target a diverse group of individuals and entities that played a key role in t»»»
Education Council announces continuation of distance learning in schools, higher education institutions; flexible remote work for federal government caregivers
ABU DHABI: The Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council has announced three regulatory measures aimed at ensuring the continuity of the educational process across the country while safeguarding the safety of students and the wider educational community, in coordination with t»»»
MoI issues workplace safety guidelines
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued a set of workplace safety guidelines for employees across government, semi-government and private institutions in view of the current regional situation, urging strict adherence to official alerts and precautionary measures. The mi»»»
QF adopts advanced tech for virtual learning: Marmolejo
QNA Doha Higher Education President and Education Advisor at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) Francisco Marmolejo has affirmed that the Education City universities have adopted a range of innovative mechanisms and solutions to ensure the student engagement in v»»»
Can energy strength help Gulf economies weather Iran war?
Dubai: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies are facing rising geopolitical risks as tensions with Iran disrupt regional trade and energy markets. Yet economists say the region’s energy strength — including export infrastructure, large reserves and higher oil prices — may help cushion the broade»»»
Japan moves early on strategic oil release
Agencies Japan began to release oil from its reserves Monday to alleviate supply concerns that have grown amid the US-Israel war with Iran and stabilize the distribution of petroleum products, taking the step ahead of a planned International Energy Agency-led move. In its first oil release since 20»»»
MoPH announces Eid Al Fitr working hours for government health units
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has announced the working hours across the government health sector during the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holiday. It confirmed that all emergency services and inpatient care at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hospitals , including Paediatric»»»
Indian ambassador praises Qatar leadership for ensuring safety, stability during conflict
Tribune News network DOHA Indian Ambassador HE Vipul has issued a statement, thanking His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Government of Qatar for the exceptional handling of the situation arising from the current conflict. The statement reads as follo»»»
HMC announces its operating schedule for Eid Al Fitr period
QNA Doha Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has announced the operating hours ofservices during the Eid Al Fitr holiday. The timings of HMC’s services during the Eid Al Fitr holiday are the following: The Trauma and Emergency Centre continues to operate as normal, 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week for»»»
QA to operate limited flights to & from Doha from March 18 to 28
QNA Doha Qatar Airways has announced that it will operate a limited number of flights to and from Doha from March 18 to 28, 2026. In a statement on Monday, the airline said that it continues to suspend part of its operational activities currently in light of the ongoing closure of Qatar’s airspace,»»»
How Poland rose as world's 20th-biggest economy
POZNAN, Poland (AP): A generation ago, Poland rationed sugar and flour while its citizens were paid one-tenth what West Germans earned. Today its economy has edged past Switzerland to become the world’s 20th largest with over $1 trillion in annual output. It’s a historic leap from the post-Communis»»»
World Bank grants signal gradual reopening of financial ties with Syria
Damascus, March 16 (SANA) – Recent grants announced by the World Bank for Syria are being viewed by analysts as an important step toward restoring the country’s links with international financial institutions and supporting its economic recovery after years of isolation. Economic experts say the mo»»»
5 Western leaders urge against 'significant' Israeli ground op in Lebanon
The leaders of five Western countries said in a joint statement Monday that a large-scale Israeli ground operation in Lebanon "must be averted." "A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict," said the joint statemen»»»
Tennessee tens sue Musk's xAI for allowing Grok to undress them - UPI.com
A group of teens in Tennessee are suing xAI for allowing Grok to undress them in their Instagram photos. File Phot by Fazry Ismail/EPA March 16 (UPI) -- A group of Tennessee teens and one adult sued Elon Musk's xAI on Monday for allowing it to undress them creating child pornography. The teens alle»»»
Drone strike triggers fire at Shah gas field in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Authorities are responding to a fire at the Shah gas field following a drone strike, the Abu Dhabi Media Office reports. Emergency teams have been deployed to contain the fire and assess the situation. Authorities confirmed that no injuries have been reported so far. Further updates will»»»
Advisor to Prime Minister says stopping Iranian attacks requires clear decision, not investigative committees
Doha: The State of Qatar has said that Iran must take "a clear decision" to stop attacks on the countries of the region, rejecting suggestions that investigations or joint teams are needed to address the issue. Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' weekly media briefing, Advisor to the Prime»»»
Swiss government rejects proposal to limit immigration
Geneva: The Swiss government on Monday rejected a hard-right proposal to limit immigration to stop the population from hitting 10 million before 2050, arguing it would harm relations with the European Union. Swiss voters will have their say on June 14 on a proposal entitled "No to a Switzerland of »»»
Min Fin: billions will be spent on housing construction and renovations
Poland’s government plans to contract the construction and renovation of 18,000 apartments in 2026, Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański announced. Combined with funding from 2024 and 2025, the government expects to support 35,000 housing units over three years. The 2026 budget allocates P»»»
European countries decline participation in military operations in Strait of Hormuz
Capitals, March 16 (SANA) – Several European countries have signaled they will not participate in military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, amid growing tensions in the region and calls by the United States to form a coalition to secure shipping through the strategic waterway. Greece announced i»»»
Drone strike triggers fire at Shah oil field in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Authorities in Abu Dhabi are currently responding to a fire at the Shah oil field following a drone strike, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported. Emergency teams were deployed to the site to contain the fire and assess the situation. Authorities confirmed that no injuries have been reported s»»»
Albania Set to Approve Resolution Declaring Iran a State Sponsor of Terrorism
The Albanian Parliament is expected to approve a resolution declaring the Islamic Republic of Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. The draft cites international evidence of Iran’s support for armed non-state groups and destabilizing activities in the Middle East. The resolution also highlights cybera»»»
Democratic Party to Boycott Tuesday Parliamentary Session
Albania’s Parliament is expected to hold a plenary session on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., but the opposition Democratic Party (PD) says it will boycott the meeting. PD Parliamentary Group leader Gazment Bardhi said the session was called in violation of parliamentary rules and outside the Assembly’s nor»»»
Syria, Financial Action Task Force to boost anti-Fraud cooperation
Vienna, Mar. 16 (SANA) A delegation of the Syrian Arab Republic, headed by Central Bank Governor, Abdelkader Husrieh, met on Monday in Vienna with President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Elisa Madrazo, on the sidelines of the Global Anti-Fraud Summit 2026. The two sides discussed means»»»
Rising Chinese energy demand reshapes global oil and gas supply routes
Capitals, March 16 (SANA) – China’s growing demand for energy is increasingly influencing global oil and gas supply routes, as Beijing moves to diversify imports and reduce reliance on vulnerable maritime chokepoints amid rising geopolitical tensions. Security concerns in the Middle East—particular»»»
'My mother cried out one last time': Palestinian boy, 12, describes how Israeli forces killed his family in car
In the few moments of silence after the shootings, before he was dragged from the family car, 12-year-old Khaled Bani Odeh thought he was the only member of his family left alive. Seconds before, his parents and two youngest brothers had been shot dead through the windscreen by Israeli forces, as t»»»
Vucic: Serbia has multi-layered airspace defence
LUCANI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday Serbia had serious multi-layered airspace defence, and announced that, with the aim of strengthening the Serbian Armed Forces further, he would have important meetings about new arms acquisitions as early as on Tuesday. "It is very difficul»»»
Turkey condemns Israeli ground operation in Lebanon
Turkey on Monday condemned Israel's ground operation in Lebanon, cautioning against "another humanitarian catastrophe" unfolding in the Middle East. "We firmly condemn the Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, which is worsening instability in the region," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "»»»
Bulgaria Has Not Received Invitation to Participate in Strait of Hormuz Military Involvement, FM Neynsky Says
During a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said in front of Bulgarian journalists that US President Donald Trump's demand for joining military operations to ensure freedom of navigation in Strait of Hormuz is toward US allie»»»
Fitch Solutions forecasts 5.6% growth for Egypt’s construction sector in FY 2026/2027
Egypt’s construction sector is expected to maintain strong growth momentum through 2035, supported by major infrastructure investments and large-scale urban development projects, according to a report reviewed by the Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC). The IDSC cited forecasts by Fitch »»»
Tourism Minister discusses boosting arrivals, investment opportunities in South Sinai
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, began his visit to Sharm El-Sheikh with a meeting with Ismail Kamal, Governor of South Sinai, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and further support the tourism sector in the governorate. The meeting addressed a number of issues of m»»»
EU, Egypt work jointly to de-escalate regional tensions: Ambassador Eichhorst
Angelina Eichhorst, Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt, said the European Union is working closely with Egypt to help preserve regional stability and support efforts to de-escalate tensions. Her remarks came in press statements on the sidelines of the World Water Day 2026 event. Eichhorst th»»»
Iranian cluster munitions hit Israel as Gulf tensions threaten global energy flows
The military confrontation involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other entered its 17th day, with missile strikes and air raids intensifying across the region and raising international concern over the potential impact on Gulf security and global energy supplies. Iran’s»»»
MSMEDA directs EGP 18.7bn in financing to 934,000 women-led projects over 11 years
Bassel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), said the agency has directed 45% of its total financing between July 2014 and December 2025 to projects owned or managed by women, amounting to EGP 18.7bn. According to Rahmy, the financing supported around 934»»»
Israel Steps up Campaign in Lebanon, as Iran Keeps Stranglehold on Shipping
The war in the Middle East raged on multiple fronts on Monday, as the US and Israel pummeled military targets in Iran’s capital, Israel stepped up its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran retaliated with a drone strike that temporarily forced the closure of Dubai’s airport, a »»»
Detention warrants against members of Sumud Flotilla committee over suspected fraud
Tunis, March 16 (TAP) – The investigating judge at the Economic and Financial Judicial Division issued arrest warrants, on Monday, against seven members of the management committee of the Tunisia branch of the Sumud Flotilla, following the opening...»»»
North Korea launches rockets amid U.S. asset redeployment - UPI.com
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»»»
US airline CEOs urge Congress to end shutdown and pay airport workers
Top airline CEOs have urged the US Congress to end the government shutdown that has left airport workers without pay, warning travellers could face more delays. American Airlines, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue are among the airlines that have written to lawmakers to demand funding is restored to the»»»
Spanish King Acknowledges ‘Much Abuse’ During Conquest
King Felipe VI on Monday acknowledged "much abuse" during Spain's conquest of the Americas, the latest attempt by a top Spanish official to address Mexico's longstanding historical grievances. Laws imposed by the Spanish crown in the 16th century to govern its colonies had a "desire to protect" Ind»»»
Cuba protests intensify after U.S. talks confirmed - UPI.com
A motorcycle travels down an unlit street during a power outage in Havana in early March. Widespread power outage are continuing throughout the nation as fuel runs out. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA March 16 (UPI) -- Cuba entered its 10th consecutive day of protests Monday as demonstrations agai»»»
China directly mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan – Foreign Ministry
Beijing is directly mediating a ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, neighboring countries that have been engaged in intense fighting since February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has had phone conversations with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts during »»»
Wary allies show there's no quick fix to Trump's Iran crisis
Throughout his two terms in office, Donald Trump hasn't been shy to criticise – even to attack – Washington's Nato allies. But his latest suggestion – that failing to secure the Strait of Hormuz would be "very bad for the future of Nato" – implies an understanding of the alliance's purpose that has»»»
Chile begins trench construction along borders with Peru, Bolivia - UPI.com
Members of the Chilean Army guard the border crossing at the northern border between Chile and Bolivia, in the commune of Colchane, Tarapaca region, Chile, last March. File Photo by Javier Martin/EPA March 16 (UPI) -- Chile formally began building trenches and walls Monday at the Chacalluta border »»»
‘Real threat’ of Polish EU exit – Tusk
There is “a real threat” that Poland could leave the EU, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, after the country’s president vetoed a bill that would have allowed Warsaw to tap billions in defense loans from the bloc. President Karol Nawrocki last week vetoed legislation that would have let Warsaw d»»»
Federation of GCC Chambers strongly condemns Iranian attacks, seeks to boost Gulf economy
Doha, Qatar: The Federation of GCC Chambers condemned the recent Iranian attacks on the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), describing them as senseless assaults on the region's remarkable development model, founded on justice, stability, and openness. In an official statement issued a»»»
Saudi Arabia Reinforces Global Mining Leadership at PDAC 2026 in Canada
Saudi Arabia participated in the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, held March 1–4, 2026, highlighting exploration and mining opportunities in the Kingdom built on vast geological data and supported by a reformed regulatory framework. On the sidelines of the confere»»»
Iran war: Why gold prices are not soaring?
BusinessGlobal issuesIran war: Why gold prices are not soaring?Dirk KaufmannGold is typically seen as a safe haven, especially in times of war and other crises. Notwithstanding the ongoing war in Iran, the price is steady. What's driving the stability? https://p.dw.com/p/5AULKGold is likely to rema»»»