Dubai: Internet users in the United Arab Emirates are unlikely to face major disruptions despite rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, though speeds could slow if conflict damages subsea cables that carry global data traffic. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The wate»»»

At a time when geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts cast a shadow over the broader landscape, the Middle East and North Africa's startup ecosystem is showing strong resilience and the ability to attract both local and international capital. Investment in technology is no longer a complement»»»

The rockets that Hezbollah continues to fire, since its decision to join what it calls a support war for Iran, have surprised observers with their intensity and type, particularly in Israel. Israeli media have expressed astonishment that the group still retains such military capabilities, despite t»»»

China on Monday launched the Kuaizhou-11 Y7 carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province, sending eight new satellites into preset orbits, the Xinhua News Agency reported. The mission marked the fifth flight of the Kuaizhou-11 rocket. The "Kuaizhou" se»»»

Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin regretted calling Alex Pretti - a Minnesota resident killed by federal immigration officers in Minnesota earlier this year - a "deranged individual", he said on Wednesday. The senator's marks came as he was questioned by colleagues considering his nomination to lea»»»

Within Iran’s ruling structure in Tehran, the post of intelligence minister is far from a routine cabinet role. The ministry, established after the 1979 revolution, is a central pillar of the security system, overseeing a wide network of intelligence operations at home and abroad. While the preside»»»

Israel has stepped up targeted killings of fighters in Gaza for a fourth day in a row, zeroing in on field commanders in the military wings of Palestinian factions, particularly the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, across the north and south of the enclave. On Wednesday, the »»»

A forum on healthcare, organized by the Bulgarian Medical Union, was held in Sofia on Wednesday, bringing together representatives of medical institutions and community to discuss key challenges and future policies in the system. The participants in the forum included President Iliana Iotova, caret»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borissov, who is in Brussels for the 50th anniversary of the European People's Party (EPP), discussed several topics in a video broadcast on his Facebook page on Wednesday. Ahead of the April 19 snap parliamentary elections, Borissov said coalitions are formed after elections. "Ea»»»

March 18 (UPI) -- A TV news reporter was delivering a live segment about a bear encounter in California when a bear wandered into the camera frame behind her. Erin Myers, a reporter for KTLA-TV, was broadcasting live from a Monrovia neighborhood on Sunday morning and teasing an upcoming story about»»»

On Wednesday, the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs adopted at second reading a consolidated bill combining drafts aimed at amending and supplementing the Penal Code that were approved in plenary at first reading. One of the initial bills was submitted by GERB-UDF, one»»»

The killing of Iran's most influential powerbroker, Ali Larijani, has pushed the country into a more uncertain phase, complicating decision-making in Tehran and narrowing its options as the war grinds on. The US-Israeli war on Iran began with the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside a g»»»

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the military struck and destroyed two additional bridges over ‌Lebanon's Litani ‌River, saying ‌they ⁠were used by the ⁠Iran-aligned Hezbollah group to smuggle weapons south. He did not specify ⁠where the ‌bridges ‌were located. "This is »»»

Dubai: The US is expanding visa restrictions to cover 50 countries, adding 12 more to its existing list as part of efforts to curb overstays and tighten immigration controls, the State Department said. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In a post on social media platform »»»

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs adopted at second reading a draft law on transparency and integrity in governance, the so-called Lobbying Activities Act, submitted by GERB-UDF MP Georgi Georgiev at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday. A proposal by Velichie MP Yuli»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.This CBUAE decision was taken following the US Federal Reserve's de»»»

Hungary’s veto on money for Ukraine is to hijack the spotlight at Thursday’s EU summit in Brussels (19 March), alongside disagreements over Europe’s carbon market, overshadowing what was meant to be a key debate on turning Europe into a truly economic powerhouse. In draft conclusions, seen by EUobs»»»

The parents of a group of teenagers believed to have vandalized two state schools in northern Greece have covered the cost of repairs to avoid legal action, municipal officials said. The municipality of Thermi near Thessaloniki said police used security camera footage to identify nine local high sc»»»

Dubai: The US Federal Reserve held rates steady on Wednesday, when they were expected to leave interest rates unchanged, as the US-Israel war on Iran sends shock waves through oil markets and supply chains, while economic data has begun to show weakness. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, C»»»

Fifteen years ago, a UN resolution establishing a no-fly zone in Libya was twisted into a mandate to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. "There is a date that scholars of international relations never forget, and it is March 17, 2011," Marco Marsili, associated researcher at the Centre for International Stu»»»

The US central bank has voted to hold interest rates steady again, as a spike in oil prices since the US-Israel war with Iran began raises economic uncertainty and threatens to drive up inflation. The decision, which was widely expected, left the Federal Reserve's key interest rate in the range of »»»

The Complex Oncological Centre - Ruse is hosting an international medical forum as part of the European initiative INTERACT EUROPE 100, which aims to introduce interdisciplinary training in oncology. The event brings together healthcare professionals from across Europe to share experience and stren»»»

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a halt in fighting during celebrations for the end of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike in their escalating conflict killed hundreds in Kabul earlier this week. The governments in Islamabad and Kabul said in separate statements that Saudi Arabia, Qa»»»

Israel kept up its campaign of targeting Iran’s leaders on Wednesday, killing the country’s intelligence minister, and an Iranian offshore natural gas field was struck in a sign of the war’s mounting pressure – from both sides -- on the region's economic lifeblood: energy. Iran has been taking aim »»»

Doha: Qatar’s Ministry of Awqaf (Endowments) and Islamic Affairs issued on Wednesday a set of guidelines for worshippers attending Eid Al-Fitr prayers for the year 1447 AH, aimed at ensuring safety and smooth organisation at mosques. In a statement, the Ministry urged worshippers to arrive early at»»»

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday announced a halt in fighting during celebrations for the end of Ramadan, after the deadliest strike in their escalating conflict killed hundreds in Kabul earlier this week. The governments in Islamabad and Kabul said in separate statements that Saudi Arabia, Qa»»»

Canterbury, United Kingdom: Hundreds of masked-up students queued Wednesday to get vaccinated at the UK university campus at the heart of a deadly meningitis outbreak, as the number of cases rose to 20. "It's quite a concerning thing. It all happened so fast," said Jack Jordan, a 19-year-old studen»»»

Paris, France: Unusually strong winds and warm ocean water likely drove a rapid plunge in Antarctic sea ice in recent years, scientists said on Wednesday, shedding new light on a puzzling event. While the Arctic sea ice area has been steadily declining, the story has been very different in Antarcti»»»

The activities paid for by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is a matter of political decision, said NHIF Governor Petko Stefanovski on Wednesday. He participated in the discussion on "Priority: Health - from public attitudes to political decisions," organized by the Bulgarian Medical Assoc»»»

In order for innovations and a higher level of prevention to enter, investments are required, said Dr. Nikolay Branzalov, Chair of the Bulgarian Medical Union, at the "Priority: Health - from public attitudes to political decisions" discussion on Wednesday, organized by the Bulgarian Medical Union »»»

The National Assembly unanimously voted, 145-0 with no abstentions, to mandate the caretaker government to state Bulgaria's position at the March 19-20 European Council on the need to temporarily suspend the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) until its ongoing review at EU level is co»»»

1 of 5 | Emergency response and command vehicles surround the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 16, 2016. Pulse Nightclub, the site of a mass shooting that killed 49 people in Orlando in 2016, was demolished on Wednesday. File Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo March 18 (UPI) »»»

Dubai: Dubai Customs has announced the activation of a “green corridor” between the emirate and the Sultanate of Oman for sea and air shipments, in cooperation with Oman’s General Administration of Customs. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The initiative is designed to »»»

Dubai: The UAE has launched the first phase of its Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentives Programme, offering businesses tax credits to encourage investment in innovation and technology. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Under Phase 1, companies can claim a non-re»»»

Ten European Union member states, including Greece, have called on the bloc to keep handing out free carbon permits to industry to ‌help curb costs as the US-Israeli war on Iran sends energy prices soaring. European Union leaders, who meet for a summit in Brussels on Thursday, are debating proposal»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has warned that targeting energy facilities linked to the South Pars gas field constitutes a serious escalation and poses a direct threat to global energy security. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said attacks on energy infrastructure associate»»»

Dubai: Air India and Air India Express are set to operate a total of 48 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the GCC countries on March 19, 2026. Alongside regular services, the airlines will operate 32 additional non-scheduled flights to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These flights are subje»»»

A judge in Poland has ruled that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin can be extradited to Ukraine, although his defence says he will appeal. Butyagin is being held in a Warsaw prison for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and plundering artefacts from the ancient city of Myrmekion in Cri»»»

The Lebanese state has no option left but to seek a humanitarian truce for Eid al-Fitr, after the failure of efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel is insistsling on Hezbollah's complete "surrender" before halting its operations in Lebanon, while the »»»

Used primarily in the aerospace, energy and petrochemical industries, rhenium plays a key role in high-performance applications. Photo by cottonbro studio/pexels SANTIAGO, Chile, March 18 (UPI) -- The United States is continuing efforts to secure supplies of critical minerals deemed vital to nation»»»

Several countries have confirmed Friday, March 20, 2026, as the first day of Eid Al Fitr, following the completion of 30 days of Ramadan and the unsuccessful sighting of the Shawwal crescent. Countries confirming Eid on Friday include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Turkey, and Australia»»»

Special operations forces from Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardia) recently conducted military exercises on the Kola Peninsula, using FPV kamikaze drones to neutralise “armed saboteurs” in a simulated combat scenario. The drills, held in the Khibiny Mountains, involved Rosgvardia’s elite units wor»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija said on Wednesday a first-instance ruling by a so-called court in Pristina under which Kosovo-Metohija Serbs Zoran Kostic and Dragan Milovic had been convicted to 15 and seven years in prison, respectively, for alleged war crimes represen»»»

It was late at night when an Iranian cluster bomb flew through the ceiling of an elderly couple's apartment in central Israel and exploded in their tiny living room, killing them both. The path of the bomb was still clearly mapped onto the ash-covered debris left behind. A large hole in the ceiling»»»

The Federal Reserve will announce its next move on interest rates, or if it will make a move at all, on Wednesday. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo March 18 (UPI) -- The Federal Reserve will announce its next move on interest rates, or if it will make a move at all, on Wednesday. »»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE announced on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, that the first day of Eid Al Fitr will be observed on March 20, after the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted. Earier this month, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation h»»»

In the mood for some outdoorsy time with the kiddos over the Eid break? That’s perfect – there’s just about that lovely nip in the air that makes the shade perfect for some down time as you kid watch. Dubai Municipality has put out the timings of the parks and other recreational areas within those »»»

Caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski announced the launch of expanded neonatal screening in Bulgaria, the Health Ministry said on Facebook on Wednesday. Together with Deputy Minister Petar Gribnev, he visited the specialized obstetrics and gynaecology hospital Maichin Dom in Sofia, where one»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) held a draw on Wednesday to determine the numbers under which the parties and coalitions will appear on the ballot for the early parliamentary elections on April 19. These will be the eighth elections since 2021. The draw was streamed online. Representatives of»»»

If you are in the UAE and having trouble accessing your X account, do not be alarmed for you are not alone. Downdetector, the website that lets you know when services are down based on real-time reports, has confirmed that there has been a spike in complaints over the microblog this evening (March »»»