US submarine torpedoed Iranian warship in Indian Ocean: Pentagon
Washington, United States: A US submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. "An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo," Hegseth told a news conference. »»»
Israeli forces enter several Lebanese villages
Israeli forces have advanced into a number of towns and villages in south Lebanon, a source from the U.N. peacekeeping force in the country, UNIFIL, told AFP on Wednesday. "Israeli forces are present today in several villages, including Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun and Khiam," he said. Khi»»»
Ajman introduces new legislation governing lost items and abandoned property
Ajman: His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, has issued Law No. (2) of 2026 concerning the handling of lost and abandoned property in the Emirate of Ajman. Also Read: Ajman Ruler issues law establishing Rental Dispute Resolution CentreThe law de»»»
Israel Initially Planned to Strike Iran in Mid-2026, Reveals Minister
Israel had initially planned to strike Iran in mid-2026, but developments inside the country and shifting regional dynamics brought the timetable forward to February, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday. "An operation was planned for the middle of the year with the same target set," Katz»»»
Israeli Forces Enter Several Lebanese Villages after Evacuation Order
Israeli forces have advanced into a number of towns and villages in south Lebanon, a source from the UN peacekeeping force in the country, UNIFIL, told AFP on Wednesday. "Israeli forces are present today in several villages, including Kfar Kila, Houla, Kfar Shouba, Yaroun and Khiam," he said. Khiam»»»
Iran threatens to target Israeli embassies worldwide if Israel targets its Lebanon mission
Iran's armed forces threatened on Wednesday to target Israeli missions worldwide if Israel were to attack Tehran's mission in Lebanon, a military spokesman said. Abolfazl Shekarchi, the spokesman of the Iranian armed forces, said live on television that "if Israel commits such a crime, it will forc»»»
US Senate to vote on Trump's war powers as Iran conflict continues
The US Senate will vote on a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday aimed at limiting the president's ability to wage war in Iran as the administration continues its military campaign. Democratic lawmakers - and a handful of Republicans - have questioned whether President Donald Trump exceeded his powe»»»
Higher tariffs likely this week, says US Treasury
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US was "likely" to implement a 15% global tariff this week following conflicting statements from President Donald Trump about the rate. The new tariff is intended to replace the sweeping global import taxes Trump imposed last year but were recently struc»»»
Russia Will Honor All Energy Deals With Hungary – Putin
Russia has always fulfilled and is ready to fulfill all its obligations to Hungary regarding energy supplies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "And everything that depends on us – we have always fulfilled our obligations and, of course, we intend and are ready to continue doing so. Not everyt»»»
Iran postpones Khamenei funeral as US and Israeli bombardment continues
Authorities in Iran have postponed the funeral ceremony for the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as US and Israeli forces continue intense strikes across the country. An official said there had been many requests from people wanting to attend the three-day event at a Tehran prayer compl»»»
Kuwait extends visit visas and absence permits amid exceptional circumstances
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior on Wednesday announced an automatic extension of visit visas for one month, and granting an additional three-month absence permit for residents currently outside the country. The move is a result of the exceptional circumstances the country is going through, noting »»»
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine says the U.S. "will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory."
In a high-stakes Pentagon briefing on March 4, 2026, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General John Daniel "Raizin" Caine outlined the progression of the first four days of “Operation Epic Fury”, the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. As the campaign e»»»
Türkiye Summons Iran Envoy Over Missile Incident, Says Source
Türkiye on Wednesday summoned Iranian ambassador after a ballistic missile launched from Iran headed toward its airspace, a diplomatic source said. "The Iranian ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry, and we conveyed our reaction and concerns over the incident," the source said. Türkiye sa»»»
Lebanese Army Arrests 27 for Weapons Possession as Hezbollah Military Activity Banned
The Lebanese army said Wednesday it had arrested 27 people in the past two days for "illegally possessing weapons and ammunition", following a government decision to ban Hezbollah's military activities. In a statement, the army said troops at its checkpoints "detained over the past two days 26 Leba»»»
Hegseth, Caine warn that U.S. is stepping up attacks in Iran - UPI.com
An interceptor missile fired by Israel strikes an incoming Iranian ballistic missile as seen through tree branches looking straight up, over Moshav Beit Zayit, just outside Jerusalem, on the fifth day of the USA-Israel war on Iran on Wednesday. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo March 4 (UP»»»
US says it killed leader of Iranian unit that tried to assassinate Trump
US forces killed the leader of an Iranian unit that tried to assassinate President Donald Trump, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday. "Iran tried to kill President Trump, and President Trump got the last laugh," Hegseth told a news conference at the Pentagon. He said the United States has»»»
Suspected smuggler had squashed eight migrants into small car
A man has been arrested in the northeastern Evros region for ferrying eight migrants who had entered Greece illegally from Turkey, police said Wednesday. The small car with nine people squashed into it was stopped in the Orestiada area Tuesday, between Ormenio and Ardanio, police said. Usually migr»»»
Qatar rejects Iranian claims, affirms right to self-defence under UN Charter
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani affirmed that the State of Qatar has consistently pursued dialogue and diplomacy, dealing in good faith with all parties, but will firmly confront any aggression that violates its sovereignty»»»
NATO condemns Iranian targeting of Turkiye
Brussels: NATO has condemned Iran's targeting of Turkiye, reaffirming its support for all member states amid rising regional tensions. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said on Wednesday the alliance "strongly condemns Iran's targeting of Turkiye and stands firmly with all allies, including Turkiye, a»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from HE Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the call, the Iranian Foreign Minister indicated that the Iranian »»»
Venezuela signs new contracts to supply oil to United States - UPI.com
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Venezuela on Wednesday, marking a new step in the energy and diplomatic agenda between Washington and Caracas. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo March 4 (UPI) -- Venezuela state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. announced signing new con»»»
UAE: Term two grades in public schools will rely on continuous assessment
Dubai: The UAE’s Ministry of Education said that Term Two grades for students in public schools will be determined based on continuous assessments, including projects and assignments completed during the academic term. In a statement, the ministry said the evaluation will rely on coursework and ong»»»
Department of Meteorology warns of strong wind, high sea, thundery rain tonight
Doha, Qatar: Weather inshore until 6am on Thursday will be partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered rain, possibly thundery at times, and cold, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report. Offshore conditions will be partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance of scattered rain, possibly»»»
MPs Reject Proposal to Abolish Communist-Era Forced Name Change of Muslims
MPs voted at first reading against abolishing in the Directorate General Civil Registration and Administrative Services (GRAO) of the forced change of Bulgarian citizens' Turkish names, which took place during Bulgaria's Communist regime and was part of the so-called "Revival Process". The MPs vote»»»
Cold Response: France withdraws nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
France has withdrawn its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from the upcoming NATO exercise Cold Response and is instead deploying it to the Mediterranean amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Rather than operating with NATO forces in the Norwegian Sea, the carrier strike group will reposition sou»»»
Bulgarian Security Services Hold Emergency Meeting Following Iranian Missile Incident
Bulgaria’s Defence Ministry Wednesday hosted a high-level meeting of the country’s security services, in response to a recent ballistic missile launch by Iran toward Turkey that was intercepted by NATO air defence, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said. While Prime Minister Andrey Gurov is expecte»»»
Police break gang of underage robbers that preyed on Athens motorists
Police in northwestern Athens have broken a gang of underage youths that allegedly carried out a string of violent robberies on motorists in the depressed Aharnes suburb, officials said Wednesday. Nine suspects were arrested during a series of raids Monday, and warrants have been issued against ano»»»
A Russian-flagged Tanker Erupts in a Massive Fire and Sinks off Libya
A Russian-flagged tanker carrying liquefied natural gas exploded and erupted in flames before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya, authorities in the North African country said Wednesday. No casualties were reported, according to The AP news. The tanker was under Western sanctio»»»
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid releases poem praising leadership of UAE President
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has released a new poem written and recited by him, praising the leadership of President UAE His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and highlighting his strength of c»»»
Enoch Burke's mother and sister to be arrested and jailed
The High Court in Dublin has ordered for the mother and sister of teacher Enoch Burke to be arrested and jailed for contempt of court. Enoch Burke, a teacher from County Mayo, has been in a long-running legal battle for defying court orders to stay away from his former workplace after he refused to»»»
MoD, GCO explain loud interception sounds, urge public to follow safety guidance
Doha The Ministry of Defence (MoD), in cooperation with the Government Communications Office (GCO), has released an informational advisory explaining the recent loud sounds heard across parts of the country, attributing them to the successful interception of aerial threats by air defence systems. A»»»
Israel extends Lebanon incursion to strike Hezbollah
Israeli forces have moved deeper into southern Lebanon and seized additional positions for the first time since the 2024 ceasefire with the aim of targeting Hezbollah. The move marks a broader expansion of Israel’s military campaign across the region. Israel carried out airstrikes on Lebanon in ret»»»
CIA working to arm Kurds to attack Iran – media
The CIA is working on arming Kurdish forces hostile to the Iranian government to support the US-Israeli regime-change war against Tehran, CNN has reported. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have called for a popular uprising after launching strikes against Iran»»»
Pedro Sanchez digs in over Iran after Trump threats to cut Spain off - UPI.com
"No to war" was Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to stop trading with Spain over its refusal to support his miltary campaign against Iran or allow U.S. forces to fly missions out of two joint-Spanish-U.S. air bases. File photo by Borja Puig De »»»
Veteran War Correspondent Reveals How to Tell When Analysts Talking About Iranian Losses Are Lying
“In every war, destroying a launcher is a very popular claim because it implies that the Israelis have reduced future attacks. This is a domestic and international message that ‘we have achieved the main objectives of the military campaign’,” says Elijah Magnier, a prolific journalist and war repor»»»
QatarEnergy declares force majeure after LNG production halt
Dubai: QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments after suspending production at key facilities following a drone attack on the country’s energy infrastructure. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The state-owned energy giant said it ha»»»
First Plane With Bulgarians from Dubai Lands at Varna Airport
The first plane carrying 180 Bulgarians from Dubai landed at Varna Airport on Wednesday. It was part of a series of special flights organized to return Bulgarian citizens from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman on March 4-5, who are stranded there due to the conflict in the Middle East. /NF/»»»
US Says Submarine Sank Iranian Warship off Sri Lanka
A US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, the Pentagon said, as more nations were sucked into the Middle East war. The US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean during an attack called "quiet death", Defense Secretary Pete Hegs»»»
MoD, GCO explain loud interception sounds, urges public to follow safety guidance
Doha The Ministry of Defence (MoD), in cooperation with the Government Communications Office (GCO), has released an informational advisory explaining the recent loud sounds heard across parts of the country, attributing them to the successful interception of aerial threats by air defence systems. A»»»
GCO launches official WhatsApp channel to enhance public outreach
Doha The Government Communications Office (GCO) has announced the launch of its official channel on WhatsApp, marking a new step in strengthening direct communication with the public. The GCO said the new WhatsApp channel will serve as an additional platform to share verified news, official stateme»»»
U.S. struggling to evacuate Americans in the Middle East amid war - UPI.com
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before briefing senators on the war in Iran in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The State Department is scrambling to evacuate American citizens from the Middle East as war continues. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo March 4 (UPI) -- The State»»»
Israel tells people in large parts of southern Lebanon to leave ahead of attacks
The Israeli military has told civilians living in a large swathe of southern Lebanon to leave their homes immediately and move north of the Litani River because of intended military action against Hezbollah. The sweeping orders came as hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed group continued »»»
Crisis Headquarters Set Up over Middle East Situation Is Operating around the Clock - Deputy Foreign Minister
Speaking at a news briefing here on Wednesday, Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov said that the Foreign Ministry’s crisis headquarters set up over the Middle East situation was operating around the clock. The crisis headquarters' news briefing addressed the escalation of the security situat»»»
Strait of Hormuz Closure: Severing Global Energy's Most Crucial Artery
In the wake of the US and Israeli strikes against Iran on February 28, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted. Around 300 tankers are now stuck, halting global oil and LNG supply flows. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and India rely heavily on this route, with Japan de»»»
UAE flight update: Which airlines are operating special flights?
Dubai: Only a small number of airlines are operating special or limited flights out of the UAE, as most scheduled services remain suspended due to regional airspace closures. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it's completely free. Click here for Apple or here fo»»»
Salik profit jumps in 2025 as toll traffic and pricing boost revenue
Dubai: Dubai’s toll-road operator Salik reported strong financial results for 2025, with revenue and profit rising sharply as traffic volumes increased and pricing reforms boosted income. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The company said revenue rose 35.1% year-on-year »»»
Cabinet highlights Qatar Armed Forces’ readiness, security vigilance
Doha, Qatar: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting on Wednesday at the Amiri Diwan. At the outset of the meeting, the Cabinet commended the decisive role of Qatar Armed Forces, under the leader»»»
Regional Development Minister Angelina Boneva Resigns for Health Reasons
The Caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Angelina Boneva, has submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Andrey Gurov due to health reasons, the Ministry said on Wednesday. Until a new minister is appointed, the ministerial functions will be performed by the current Deputy »»»
Government Aircraft Heads to Abu Dhabi, Chartered Plane to Dubai, Says Situation Centre Director
A government aircraft is flying to Abu Dhabi, while another plane chartered by the Bulgarian government is heading to Dubai. The government plane has a capacity of 70 seats, and the aircraft bound for Dubai can carry 320 passengers, said Foreign Ministry's Situation Centre Directorate Director Iren»»»
US Defense Chief Dismisses Russia, China as Not a 'Factor' in Iran War
The US defense chief on Wednesday dismissed China and Russia as non-factors in Washington's decision making when it comes to the war against Iran. "I don't have a message for them, and they're not really a factor here, and our issue is not with them," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a press con»»»