Israel Presses Washington to Amend War Plan
Israeli political sources said the government is pushing back against key elements of a US proposal to end the war with Iran, describing the dispute as fundamental rather than technical. They said three of the plan’s 15 clauses are at the heart of disagreements with the administration of US Preside»»»
Kyrgyzstan invites European countries to participate in Bishkek+25 Summit - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan participated in the World Congress on Snow, Mountain, and Wellness Tourism and the seventh meeting of the Mountain Partnership, which were held in Andorra. The Presidential Administration reported. The delegation was led by Dinara Kemelova, Sadyr Japarov’s Special Representative for the »»»
Houthis Join War by Launching Missiles at Israel
Iranian-backed Houthi militias have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel, their first such attack since the Iran war began. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, issued a statement on Saturday on the group’s Al-Masirah satellite television network. Israel’s »»»
Fitch Confirms Bulgaria’s “BBB+” Rating, Sees Stable Outlook Despite Political Risks
Fitch Ratings has confirmed Bulgaria’s long-term sovereign credit rating in foreign currency at “BBB+” and maintained a stable outlook, signaling continued confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals. According to the agency, the assessment is underpinned by Bulgaria’s strong fiscal and exter»»»
Hamas to Seek Changes in Response to Disarmament Plan
Sources in Hamas and other Palestinian factions say there’s growing pessimism over a plan presented by the high representative of the US-backed Board of Peace, Nikolay Mladenov, to the movement’s leadership, proposing the full and unconditional disarmament of the Gaza Strip. Two Hamas sources, insi»»»
Knife Attacker in Sofia Previously Detained for Armed Robbery and Hooliganism
The 39-year-old woman who attacked four German citizens with a knife in central Sofia has a prior criminal record that includes an armed robbery committed in 2020, for which she was detained. According to Deputy Director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs Nikolay Peltekov, she was later s»»»
Pakistan to host Saudi, Turkiye, Egypt for talks on Mideast war
Islamabad, Pakistan: Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt will meet in Islamabad for talks on the war in the Middle East, the government said on Saturday. It said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had invited his counterparts and that they would be in the Pakistani capital on S»»»
President of Ukraine arrives in Doha
DOHA: President of Ukraine HE Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Doha on Saturday for a working visit. The president and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Doha International Airport by Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al »»»
Top WTO official sounds fertiliser warning over Middle East war
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Disruptions to fertiliser supplies caused by the Middle East war pose a double threat to global food security through scarcity and high prices, a top World Trade Organisation (WTO) official has warned.Iran has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz, choking a vital transit route fo»»»
After US Terror Listing, Sudan’s Brotherhood Faces Tough Choices
Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islamic Movement has remained silent after the US designated it a “foreign terrorist organization,” a decision that took effect on March 16. Nearly two weeks later, the group’s leadership, at home and abroad, has issued no statement clarifying its position or the p»»»
Yemen's Houthis Launch Missile Attack on Targets in Israel - Statement
DUBAI (Sputnik) - Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, said on Saturday that it had launched a missile attack on targets in Israel in support of Iran, which is being attacked by the United States and Israel. "The Yemeni armed forces launched ballistic missiles at important Israe»»»
How Earth Hour 2026 is bringing UAE families together for climate action
Dubai: What began in 2007 as a symbolic gesture has grown into one of the world’s largest environmental movements. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International has launched "Earth Hour" to encourage people to switch off non-essential lights for one hour, raising awareness about climate change and bi»»»
Whale Stranded at Baltic Sea Resort Has Swum Off Sandbank. But it Isn't Safe Yet
A whale that was stranded for days in shallow water at a Baltic Sea resort in Germany has swum free from a sandbank overnight after a last-ditch rescue effort. But it isn't out of danger yet. An excavator spent Thursday digging an escape channel. The whale then swam through it overnight, marine bio»»»
Ukrainian President arrives in Doha
Doha, Qatar: President of Ukraine, HE Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived in Doha Saturday morning, March 28, 2026, for a working visit to the country. Upon his arrival at Doha International Airport, His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were received by HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-»»»
UAE announces end of unstable weather, conditions return to normal
Abu Dhabi: The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, has announced the end of the recent weather situation and confirmed that conditions across the country have stabilised. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the »»»
UAE announces end of weather disturbance as heavy rain alert lifted
Abu Dhabi: The National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, has announced the end of the recent weather situation and confirmed that conditions across the country have stabilised. The announcement followed a meeting of the Joint Asses»»»
Tête à tête - War in Lebanon 'was imposed upon us', PM Nawaf Salam says
In an interview with FRANCE 24 in Beirut, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed the Israeli offensive in Lebanon, amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. "This war was imposed upon us," the Lebanese leader said, adding that Lebanon "could have avoided it" had Hezbollah not fired rocke»»»
Singapore Seizes Record Asian Pangolin Scales Disguised as 'Dried Fish Skin'
Singapore has seized over 830 kilograms of Asian pangolin scales hidden in a shipment bound for Cambodia, authorities said Saturday, calling it the largest haul of its kind discovered in the city-state. Falsely declared as "dried fish skin", the scales -- estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangol»»»
CBSE Class 12 evaluation in UAE, Middle East: What students must know about how marks will be calculated
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced an alternative assessment policy for Class 12 students in West Asian countries, including the UAE, after board exams scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, could not be held due to extraordinary circumstances. The new scheme aims»»»
World's 'ugliest' city finds allure in decay
Charleroi, Belgium: Belgian artist Nicolas Buissart started doubling as a tour guide as a joke after a newspaper in the neighbouring Netherlands named his city the ugliest in the world. Some 15 years later, he is still arranging tours of Charleroi for visitors seeking beauty in dilapidated factorie»»»
Russia's FSB Foils Terrorist Attack Planned by Ukraine
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) prevented a terrorist attack planned by Kiev against a law enforcement officer in Stavropol, the FSB press center said on Saturday. "The Federal Security Service of Russia in the city of Stavropol prevented a sabotage and terrorist act p»»»
UAE and Ukrainian Presidents discuss cooperation and regional developments
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, discussed security developments in the region amid ongoing military escalation and their implications for regional and international peace and security, as well as their impact on»»»
Fitch Affirms Israel's 'A' Rating with Negative Outlook
Global ratings agency Fitch reaffirmed Israel's long-term foreign-currency rating at "A" with a negative outlook on Friday, adding that rising public debt levels and ongoing war-related risks could weaken the country's fiscal trajectory. Fitch forecast military expenditure will remain high in 202»»»
Spaniard Noelia Castillo, 25, dies by euthanasia after courts rejected her father’s bid
Noelia Castillo died on Thursday after receiving life-ending medication at a medical facility in Sant Pere de Ribes, near Barcelona. She had requested to be alone at the time of her death, although relatives had been present earlier. A close friend who had hoped to persuade her to change her mind w»»»
SoftBank Secures $40 Billion Loan to Boost OpenAI Investments
Softbank Group said on Friday it has secured a $40 billion bridge loan to bolster investments in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and for general corporate purposes, marking another significant step in its artificial intelligence strategy. The Japanese investment conglomerate, led by founder Masayoshi Son, con»»»
World's 'ugliest' city finds allure in decay
Belgian artist Nicolas Buissart started doubling as a tour guide as a joke after a newspaper in the neighbouring Netherlands named his city the ugliest in the world. Some 15 years later, he is still arranging tours of Charleroi for visitors seeking beauty in dilapidated factories and rundown wareho»»»
33 million litres/day: Diesel consumption in the Philippines — a data-driven look at diesel dependence and the electrification challenge
Manila: The Philippines faces ongoing energy security pressures. This was highlighted by recent government actions amid global oil market volatility induced by the Mideast war. According to data from the Philippine National Oil Co (PNOC) and the Department of Energy references cited in recent analy»»»
MoECC calls on public, institutions to observe Earth Hour in support of sustainability
DOHA: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) has called on individuals and institutions across the country to participate in Earth Hour, observed this evening, by switching off lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. In a statement posted »»»
LIVE UPDATES: Sirens, interceptions persist across GCC as Middle East turmoil enters day 29
Doha, Qatar: Oman, Bahrain and the UAE confirmed interceptions of missiles and drones on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Few injuries have been reported. Stay tuned for more updates: 10am Doha Time Thai PM says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait Thailand has reached an agreement »»»
On This Day, March 28: Sumatra quake kills hundreds - UPI.com
On March 28, 2005, an 8.6-magnitude earthquake jolted the western coast of Sumatra, killing about 1,000 people and destroying hundreds of buildings. 1 of 6 | An aerial photograph taken February 12, 2005, shows damage six weeks after a tsunami hit Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. On M»»»
Indonesia begins enforcing social media ban for under-16s
Indonesia began enforcing a social media ban for children under the age of 16 on Saturday, after a minister warned digital platforms there was "no room for compromise." The Southeast Asian nation announced the ban this month citing threats from online pornography, cyberbullying and internet addicti»»»
Foreign worker wounded in drone attack on major Omani port
Muscat, Oman: A drone attack on one of Oman's main ports wounded a foreign worker, the Gulf country's authorities said on Saturday. Two drones hit the port of Salalah in the far south of Oman, a statement carried by the country's official news agency said, injuring the worker and causing "limited" »»»
Foreign Ministry calls on Kyrgyzstanis to leave the Middle East - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on citizens of Kyrgyzstan currently staying in the Middle East to leave the region due to the escalation of tensions. Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic are also advised to refrain from traveling to the region until the situation fully stabilizes. It is noted that»»»
Qatar urges one-hour lights off to mark Earth Hour 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has called on individuals and institutions across the country to participate in Earth Hour, observed this evening, by switching off lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. In a stateme»»»
WTO Reform Talks Face US-Indian Obstacles
Large differences remain between most countries and the US and India as trade ministers meet to discuss reforms at the World Trade Organization, two diplomats told Reuters on Friday. The ministers are meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, as the organization faces a critical test to its future amid a year »»»
Why a women-only bar in Minsk is triggering male backlash in 2026
If you haven’t seen an example of collective male hysteria for a while, take a look at the comments on the news story about the opening of a women-only pub in Minsk. There are tears, threats, and even strategic plans to take over the territory. The men commenting are furious that there will be a pl»»»
PWL League: Kyrgyzstani Akzhol Makhmudov faces Nao Kusaka from Japan - | 24.KG
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Greco-Roman wrestler Akzhol Makhmudov competed against Japan’s Olympic champion Nao Kusaka. The bout was broadcast on wrestlingtv.ru. Competing in the 82 kg weight category, Makhmudov secured an early victory over his opponent with a score of 19:6. The two athletes h»»»
Thai PM says reached deal with Iran for vessels to transit Hormuz Strait
Bangkok: Thailand has reached an agreement with Iran to allow Thai oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Southeast Asian nation's Prime Minister said on Saturday. Iranian forces have effectively slowed shipping through the strait to a trickle during the Middle East war, which b»»»
European Commission: Energy supplies remain stable despite war in the Middle East
Brussels, March 28 (SANA) The European Commission and European Union member states said on Friday that the security of oil and gas supplies remains stable at present, despite the ongoing war in the Middle East, noting that oil reserves continue to stand at high levels. The official website of the E»»»
European Central Bank Member: No Rush to Hike Interest Rates
The European Central Bank should not rush to raise rates in response to surging energy costs, as its “baseline” outlook remains intact and there is no sign yet that inflation is becoming entrenched, Cypriot central bank chief Christodoulos Patsalides said. With energy prices surging on the US-Israe»»»
Kyrgyzstan's Agriculture Ministry receives rain-inducing drones from China - | 24.KG
China has donated 12 drones to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, the ministry’s press service reported. According to the ministry, Minister Erlist Akunbekov met with representatives of the Chinese IT company Quanyibao (Hangzhou). «The unmanned aerial ve»»»
Middle East Power Struggle Faces Defining Moment
Perhaps the worst-case scenario long feared in decision-making circles has come true. With the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Washington and Tel Aviv used the same “shock and awe” approach Israel has relied on in recent years, one that delivers rapid gains before losing momentum by t»»»
Israel: Missile Fired from Yemen
Israel’s military said early Saturday that it had detected a missile fired from Yemen, the first since the Iran war began. Yemen’s Houthis so far had stayed out of the war. Hours earlier, the Houthis said they were prepared to act if what the group called an escalation against Iran and the "axis of»»»
How the Philippines is strengthening migrant worker protection ahead of UN meet
Dubai: The Philippines is stepping up efforts to strengthen protections for its migrant workers around the world, as the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has convened multiple stakeholders in Quezon city this week ahead of a United Nations (UN) forum on migration. Together with the International»»»
Cholpon-Ata bypass road to be completed in time for WNG and SCO summit - | 24.KG
A 15.64-kilometer bypass road is under construction in Cholpon-Ata and is scheduled for completion in time for the World Nomad Games (WNG) and the SCO summit. The press service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Kyrgyzstan reported. According to the ministry, the project involves th»»»
Cool night, strong winds and high seas expected across Qatar
DOHA: The Qatar Meteorology Department has forecast moderate temperatures with some cloud cover during the day on Saturday, becoming relatively cold by night. In its daily weather report, the department said offshore conditions will be partly cloudy at times, warning of strong winds and high seas. »»»
Washington, Tehran could hold talks this week, US Middle-East Envoy says
Washington: US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said today that the US and Iran could hold talks this week. Witkoff did not provide further details on the potential meeting, but confirmed that Iran had received its 15-point plan, and that Washington was still awaiting Tehran's respons»»»
One month into Iran war, some Trump objectives are unfulfilled as he looks to wind down the conflict
Washington: President Donald Trump has listed five objectives that the US wants to achieve before ending its war with Iran. Now, one month into the conflict, he has suggested the US may soon be “winding down” the operation, even though some of his key aims remain undefined or unfulfilled. Trump las»»»
Tiger Woods arrested, charged with DUI after Florida crash
Miami: Tiger Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Friday after a rollover crash near his Florida home, authorities said, as the 15-time major champion's golf career veered into fresh turmoil. Woods, 50, escaped injury but was detained after his vehicle clipped a truck whi»»»
'They're putting up quite a fight': Hezbollah pushes back against Israel's advancing troops
FRANCE 24 correspondent Renée Davis reports from Beirut, where Israel on Friday carried out fresh air strikes on the once densely packed southern suburbs. And in the country's south, Shiite group Hezbollah said its fighters continued to push back against Israel's ground offensive.»»»