Bulgaria's Interim PM Honors MFA Team for Historic Evacuation Operation of 2,600 Bulgarians from the Middle East
Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to commend the staff of the Crisis Headquarters for their role in the recent evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from conflict zones in the Middle East and Iran. The operation, described as unprecedented in both scale and complexity,»»»
Snow Geese Take Off for the Arctic in Mesmerizing Sunrise Display
A few dozen birdwatchers gathered in the predawn darkness to wait for the moment when thousands of migrating snow geese stopped honking and preening to suddenly take flight from a Pennsylvania reservoir. The mesmerizing display, about an hour after sunrise, was over almost as soon as it began. The »»»
Russian Missile Kills Three on Bus in East Ukraine
A Russian strike in eastern Ukraine on Friday killed three people on a bus near the embattled town of Kupiansk, which Moscow's army is battling to recapture, investigators said. The wider Kharkiv region, which borders Russia, was partly occupied when Russian forces invaded in February 2022, but was»»»
Religious Denominations Exempted from Rent Income Tax
By amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act passed conclusively on Friday, Bulgaria's Parliament exempted from corporate tax the income accruing to religious denominations from renting real estate. Under the adopted provisions, the profit from renting real estate owned by a religious denomination»»»
Agriculture Minister Alerts Prosecution Service of Malpractices in Animal Waste Incineration
Caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov submitted an alert to the prosecution service on Friday regarding alleged abuse in a public procurement procedure for incinerators. The Minister made public his alert at a news briefing outside the government headquarters. He said that on his v»»»
Caretaker Cabinet Has All Submitted Documents Regarding US President Trump’s Board of Peace, FM Neynsky Says
Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said at a news conference on Friday that the government has all documents submitted to the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria regarding US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, commenting on Bulgaria’s potential accession to the body. Neynsky said that f»»»
First Lesser Kestrel Returns to Bulgaria from Wintering Grounds
The first lesser kestrel to return to Bulgaria this season from its wintering grounds has been spotted in the village of Kliment near Karlovo (Central Bulgaria), the Green Balkans conservation organization said Friday. The sighting is an encouraging sign for the colony’s growth and the successful r»»»
4 American servicemen killed after U.S. refueling jet crashes in Iraq - UPI.com
A row of U.S. Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft lined up at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport on February 27, the day before Israel and United States launched their airborne offensive against Iran. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo March 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. military »»»
Vucic: Serbia has long-range air-to-ground missiles, Zagreb will not decide about what we will have
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening Serbia had long-range air-to-ground missiles and would continue to acquire them. In an interview for the RTS, Vucic said Serbia also had other military capabilities that had still not been revealed. He said Serbian military engi»»»
Iranian charge d'affaires summoned to Foreign Ministry, handed protest letter
The Iranian Chargé d'Affaires in Lebanon, Tawfiq Samadi, appeared Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the summons of Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. He was met by the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Ambassador Abdel Sattar Issa, who raised "a series of serious questions regarding statem»»»
Russian Military Carries Out 7 Retaliatory Strikes on Ukraine's Infrastructure Over Past Week
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces launched one massive and six group strikes targeting Ukraine's military-industrial enterprises, fuel and energy infrastructure, transport hubs, and airfields, in retaliation for Ukraine's attacks on Russian civilian sites, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Frida»»»
Britons should not take photos of strikes in UAE, embassy warns
The British Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned Britons in the region against breaking the country's laws by taking pictures or sharing images of the impact of Iranian missiles. It comes after a 60-year-old British man was charged under cyber crime laws in Dubai after allegedly fil»»»
Al Rayyan coach Jorge welcomes resumption
Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan head coach Artur Jorge has welcomed the resumption of the Qatar Stars League (QSL), expressing relief as football returns despite the challenging circumstances in the Middle East. Fourth-placed Al Rayyan will take on Al Shahania in their Round 18 clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadiu»»»
MPs Adopt Amendments to Budget Extension at First Reading
MPs on Friday adopted at first reading amendments to the budget extension bill with 174 votes in favour and 23 against, with no abstentions. All parliamentary groups supported the proposal except Vazrazhdane. The deadline for proposals between the first and second readings was shortened to three da»»»
Israel expands strikes on Lebanon, cuts bridge over Litani river
Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting multiple areas including a bridge over the Litani river that it said Hezbollah had been using as a passageway for its fighters. The raids came after Israel threatened to also carry out a ground operation to disarm Hezbollah if the Lebanese»»»
How UAE businesses thrive amid regional tensions
Dubai: Despite the current geopolitical situation in the region, many entrepreneurs in Dubai continue to remain confident in the UAE’s stability, making it a key reason as to why businesses continue to operate normally amid the heightened tensions. For Frando Sarmiento, partner, co-founder, and adv»»»
Contacts With Russian Defense Ministry Very Important for IAEA - Grossi
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Contacts with the Russian Defense Ministry are very important for the International Atomic Energy Agency given that the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is located in a war zone, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Friday. Contacts with the ministry are very importan»»»
OMV Petrom Enters Bulgarian Black Sea with 25% Stake in Khan Tervel Gas Block
OMV Petrom has announced that it will join the consortium exploring the offshore Khan Tervel gas block in the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea, marking a significant expansion of its footprint in a region of growing strategic importance for Europe’s energy security. The Romanian oil and gas compan»»»
Laos adjusts fuel pricing mechanism amid Mideast tensions
Vientiane: Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced an adjustment to the country's fuel pricing mechanism, shifting from weekly price reviews to more frequent updates in response to volatility in the global oil market linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East. In an official statem»»»
Bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in US torpedo strike to be repatriated
The bodies of 84 Iranian sailors killed in a torpedo attack by a US submarine last week in the Indian Ocean are due to be flown home on Friday, Sri Lanka's defence ministry has said. The seamen were among 130 thought to be aboard the Iranian warship, the Iris Dena, when it was sunk on 4 March about»»»
IDF drops charges against soldiers accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian detainee
Israel’s military has dropped charges against soldiers accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian prisoner at a wartime detention facility at the Sde Teiman base. The high-profile case has deeply divided Israeli society. The incident relates to events in July 2024 at the military base in southern Is»»»
Caretaker PM Gurov Says Government Will Refer ‘Board of Peace’ Ratification to Constitutional Court if Adopted
Commenting on the possibility that Parliament might adopt a bill ratifying an agreement on Bulgaria’s accession to the Board of Peace, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said at a news conference on Friday that, if such a decision is adopted, the government will refer the matter to the Constitut»»»
Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon reports rocket barrages towards the occupied territories: Sirens sound in Nahariya, Meron and nearby areas - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon reports rocket barrages towards the occupied territories: Sirens sound in Nahariya, Meron and nearb»»»
UN chief in Beirut for Lebanon 'solidarity' visit
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since March 2. "I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They we»»»
University in Dubai announces distance learning after spring break
Dubai: A university in Dubai on Friday announced it will shift to remote learning after the spring break, making it one of the first higher educational institutions in the country to spell out what happens to classes post the break. Middlesex University Dubai made the announcement in a social media»»»
US Moves to Ease Sanctions on Russian Oil in Bid to Stabilize Global Energy Markets - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Kremlin has taken note of Washington statements about the United States having no further plans to lift oil sanctions from Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. "We have heard the statement from US officials that an exception has been made for oil already loaded unt»»»
Islamic nations D-8 summit postponed due to Middle East regional tension
Jakarta: An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the regional tension in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a lea»»»
Partnership strategy between Tunisia and IsDB for 2026-2029, focus of meetings between Bank and national bodies
Tunis, March 13 (TAP) - The partnership strategy between Tunisia and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the period 2026–2029 was at the centre of a series of meetings between a bank delegation on an official visit to Tunisia March 8-14, and a...»»»
Bulgaria Tops List for Evacuations from Middle East Conflict Zone, Caretaker PM Says
Bulgaria ranks first in the number of people evacuated from the conflict zone in the Middle East, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said on Friday at a ceremony honouring Foreign Ministry officials for their contribution to the successful evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the Middle East an»»»
Vienna Insurance Group announces a profit before taxes of EUR 1.16 billion in 2026, up 31.7%
Hartwig Löger, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Vienna Insurance Group, on the Group’s performance: “VIG achieved an outstanding Group result in 2025, once again driven by strong growth and high levels of profitability in all countries. Based on this result and our strong capital position,»»»
Iraq Studies Alternative Options for Oil Exports
Iraq is studying alternative measures to export crude oil after disruptions to the process amid the US-Israeli war against Iran. At the same time, the country intends to continue producing crude oil at a level of 1.4 million barrels per day. Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani told the official t»»»
Municipality minister conducts agricultural produce inspection tour
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah conducted an inspection tour on Thursday as part of monitoring the food security system and strengthening local productionThe inspection tour included Mahaseel Marketing and Agricultural Services Company, where he r»»»
Media Review: March 13
HEADLINES Trud’s top story is about measures the Cabinet plans to introduce to soften the impact of rising fuel prices on low-income individuals. 24 Chasa also covers the issue on its front page. Duma leads with the headline “There Is No Matter That Can Be Solved Through War,” quoting Krum Zarkov, »»»
How much does gold cost? Kumtor's 2025 report: Facts versus criticism - | 24.KG
Kumtor Gold Company reported the amount of gold produced for 2025, its production costs, and other aspects of its production and financial performance. This is the company’s response to claims that production at Kumtor mine has declined and the cost of gold mined has increased. According to Kumtor »»»
Dh5,000 rooms for Dh600? UAE hotels roll out surprising Eid staycation deals
Dubai: Luxury hotel rooms that often sell for thousands of dirhams during peak seasons are now appearing on booking platforms for a lower price — as UAE hotels pivot toward residents with sharply discounted Eid staycation offers. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app »»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.4137
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.4137 dinars for one euro on Friday, which is a slight change relative to Thursday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is nearly steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.3 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct rela»»»
UAE President and King of Jordan discuss regional security amid rising tensions
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today held a phone call with His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, during which they discussed regional developments following recent military escalation and serious implications for the security»»»
Türkiye Says Third Ballistic Missile from Iran Shot Down
Türkiye’s defense ministry on Friday said a ballistic missile from Iran had been shot down in Turkish airspace by NATO forces in the third such incident of the Middle East war. "A ballistic munition launched from Iran and entering Turkish airspace was neutralized by NATO air and missile defense ass»»»
Bulgarian Government Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios in Middle East Conflict, PM Gurov Says
The Bulgarian Government is preparing for the worst-case scenarios in the development of the conflict in the Middle East, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said during a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Friday. Earlier, a ceremony was held to present honorary awards to Minist»»»
Millions of Fearless Iranians Defy US-Israeli Aggression, Rally on Int’l Al-Quds Day
Millions of Iranians have poured into the streets across the country to mark International Al-Quds Day, a significant annual event aimed at expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and condemning US and Israeli actions in Palestine and beyond. Al-Manar correspondent reported an Israeli aggr»»»
Kyrgyzstan’s GDP may exceed forecasts and reach $32 billion by 2030 - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan’s economy is showing steady growth and may surpass previously projected indicators. Choro Seitov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, announced at a briefing. According to him, the country’s GDP was initially projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, but preliminar»»»
HSC‘s National Accord Bloc calls on relevant authorities to act against the ''corrupt and illegal'' Arkenu Oil Company
The National Accord Bloc of the High State Council issued a written statement, dated 9 March 2026 but only made public yesterday, calling on all relevant Libyan authorities to take the necessary steps against Arkenu Oil Company’s ‘‘corrupt’’ and ‘‘illegal’’ export of Libyan oil. Arkenu is a private»»»
US oil waiver includes 100million barrels loaded onto vessels
Moscow, Russia: Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev said that the United States’ decision to waive some restrictions on Russian oil would apply to about 100 million barrels of oil that had already been loaded onto vessels. In a post on his Telegram channel, Dmitriev said tha»»»
Russia Says It Doesn't See Iran Crisis Reducing US Interest in Ukraine Peace Talks
Russia is not concerned at this point that the Iran crisis will reduce US interest in mediating peace talks on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. "No, there are no such concerns at this time; our contacts with our American counterparts provide no grounds for such dou»»»
4 US Service Members Killed in Plane Crash Over Iraq
Four of the six crew members aboard a US military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the US military said on Friday, as rescue efforts continued for the remaining two. A US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident the m»»»
Health Minister Warns of Issues with Medical Helicopter Bases, Risk of Losing Funds
The situation regarding the bases for medical helicopters is worrying, even scandalous, acting Health Minister Michail Okoliyski told reporters on Friday. According to him, there is a risk of failure of the investment under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and a loss of funds: aroun»»»
Train from N. Korea to China reaches Beijing after six-year halt
Beijing: A train from North Korea arrived in Beijing on Friday, China’s railway authority said, as rail service between the two neighbouring countries resumed this week after a six-year pause. China is North Korea’s largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political su»»»
Sheikh Mohammed issues new law on violations and penalties in Dubai
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued Law No. (6) of 2026, governing violations, penalties, and administrative measures in the Emirate of Dubai. The Law establishes a binding legal framework for government ent»»»
Islamic Nations D-8 Summit Postponed Due to Middle East War
An April summit of the D-8 bloc of Muslim-majority developed countries that includes Iran has been postponed due to the war in the Middle East, host Indonesia said Friday. No new date was announced for the meeting that was to have stretched over four days, culminating in a leaders' summit on April »»»
US Braces for Potential Iranian Retaliatory Operations within its Borders
Fears have grown in the US that Tehran could activate “sleeper cells” or carry out unconventional retaliatory attacks on American soil as Washington and Tel Aviv continue their war against Iran. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that his administration knows where the Iranian sleeper cells»»»