Before a March 10 phone call between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss regional developments and their impact on the security and stability of both countries and the wider region, it appeared the two leaders had not been in direct contact since each assu»»»

March 13 (UPI) -- An Australian businessman was found guilty Friday of selling information to two people believed to be Chinese spies. Alexander Csergo, 59, was convicted of reckless foreign interference in a Sydney court after compiling reports for two people he knew as Ken and Evelyn in Shanghai »»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said Friday that recent public statements regarding an ongoing investigation have been misinterpreted, insisting that authorities should continue their work while respecting institutional roles. Speaking during a press conference, Rama said he interprets the stateme»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dr Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, today discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and development sectors, as well as opportunities to advance ties in»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have announced a comprehensive security and traffic plan to ensure public safety and smooth movement across the emirate ahead of the 27th night of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid Al Fitr celebrations. The General Command of Sharjah Police said the plan aims to enhance security »»»

Yosemite Valley was blanketed in snow following a storm in February 2026. File Photo curtesy of Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is about to have a taste of summer with temperatures predicted to reach the 80s early in the new week, a dramatic shift from the snowy weather that recently »»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned Friday that Lebanon is "facing one of the most dangerous chapters in its modern history." "The truth is, this is a conflict they (Lebanese people) did not choose and did not want. In the past few weeks, as hostilities intensified, more than 900,000 people—nearly on»»»

pistachios are experiencing strong popularity in multiple markets. Consumption as a snack continues to grow steadily, while their use in ice cream, chocolate and baked goods is becoming more common. File Photo by Ali Haider/EPA BUENOS AIRES, March 13 (UPI) -- Pistachio cultivation is expanding rapi»»»

Iranian officials led a pro-government rally in Tehran as explosions rocked the city on Friday, while the United States vowed it would intensify strikes in the coming hours and days. The hardline stances and renewed strikes unleashed by Israel and Iran presaged no let-up in the conflict engulfing t»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Friday that the Nordic nation will not acquire or deploy a nuclear weapon on its territory during peacetime. On March 5, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that the government has suggested allowing the import, transportation, d»»»

Israel has rebuffed a historic offer of direct talks from Lebanon, deeming it too little too late from a government that shares its goal of disarming Hezbollah but cannot act against the heavily armed Lebanese group without risking a civil war. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed the state's w»»»

Canadians have lost more than 100,000 full-time jobs since the beginning of 2026, adding pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney's government as it seeks to shield the economy from the impact of US tariffs on Canada. Canada's unemployment rate rose to 6.7%, according to the latest labour figures rel»»»

Tunis, March 13 (TAP) – The weather on Friday night will be marked by passing clouds over most regions, sometimes becoming dense in the north and centre and locally in the south.According to the National Institute of Meteorology, scattered rain is...»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Friday that the Middle East war must end "as soon as possible" as the conflict "benefits no-one and harms many economically, including us". Asked whether Europeans should make direct contact with Iran to ask for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, Merz said: "»»»

Gas prices rise in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Tuesday. The economic effects of the violence in Iran -- which controls much of the world's oil -- come as the United States's GDP weakens. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo March 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. gross domestic product rose at a inflation-ad»»»

Tunis, March 13 (TAP) – The stock market posted a gain of 3.1% over the week, closing at 15,413.59 points, according to stockbroker Tunisie Valeurs.Trading activity accelerated notably during the week, with the market generating a total turnover of...»»»

Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded and likely disfigured, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday, questioning Khamenei's ability to govern after nearly two weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran. No images have been released of Khamenei since an Israeli strike at the s»»»

A strike on a residential area in the Qods suburb of Tehran has killed least two children, local officials have said. An attack on girls’ elementary school in Minab on the first day of the US-Israel war on Iran led to more than 160 losing their lives. The bombing in Qods also left some 17 people wo»»»

Pilot screening for cervical and colorectal cancer is expected to begin in June in three regions of Bulgaria, caretaker Minister of Health Mihail Okoliyski told reporters on Friday. The two programmes were originally due to start last year. In early March, Okoliyski said the Public Financial Inspec»»»

The Israeli defense minister vowed on Friday that Lebanon would pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure in the war with Hezbollah, while the UN urged Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when the Tehran-backed militant grou»»»

Israel has launched a new phase of its assault on Iran, targeting checkpoints manned by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) based on tip-offs from informants on the ground, a source briefed on Israel's military strategy told Reuters. The targeting of checkpoints secured by IRGC personnel s»»»

Military support for Ukraine and the fallout from the US-Israeli war against Iran are set to dominate Monday’s (16 March) foreign affairs ministers meeting. EU leaders agreed in December to disburse €90bn in soft loans to Ukraine, with an opt‑out from contributions for Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Meteorology Department has warned of expected poor horizontal visibility later tonight due to mist and fog in some areas. In its daily weather report published on Friday, March 13, 2026, the department said the inshore weather until 6am on Saturday will be relatively cold wit»»»

The decision by the US to ease some sanctions on Russian oil sales has provoked a chorus of criticism from European leaders. President Emmanuel Macron of France said there was "no justification" for it. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany said the decision was "wrong". EU Council President Antonio»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC) confirm that the Qatar 1812 KM, part of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), has been rescheduled and will now take place from October 22 to 24, 2026 at Lusail International Circuit. Originally sch»»»

Lisbon: Portugal announced Friday it was renewing a temporary cut to fuel taxes to limit the impact of the soaring price of oil due to conflict in the Middle East. The government said the cut would apply to petrol as well as diesel. "Taking into account the evolution of fuel prices, the government »»»

A kilometer and a half of electric cables used to illegally hook up homes with the power network have been confiscated during a police raid on Roma camps on the northwestern fringes of Athens, authorities said Friday. Four people were arrested in Thursday’s raids at Zefyri and Aharnes, on charges i»»»

BusinessUS eases oil sanctions, boosting RussiaArthur SullivanThe US has further eased sanctions on Russian oil in an attempt to bring soaring energy prices down. The news is a huge boost to the Kremlin, just when it needed one. https://p.dw.com/p/5AM3iA tanker carrying Russian oil, pictured on Jan»»»

Israeli strikes have killed at least 773 people since March 2, the Lebanese health ministry said on Friday, as Israel vowed that Lebanon will pay an "increasing price" in damage to infrastructure. "The total number of martyrs from March 2 to March 13 reached 773, and the number of wounded reached 1»»»

The EU should consider replacing its top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who has become an insignificant figure on the global stage, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. Speaking at a meeting with students on Thursday, Fico reiterated his opposition to the former Estonian prime minister serving as th»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have issued a stern warning to motorists against disruptive driving behaviours, including excessive vehicle noise and unauthorised modifications. Authorities say such actions disturb residents, compromise public safety, and tarnish the city’s image. Since the start of Ramadan, p»»»

The EU is facing a dilemma that could define its role in the escalating confrontation with Iran. Supporting Washington’s military campaign may strengthen transatlantic unity, but it also risks dragging the continent into a conflict that could trigger severe economic and energy consequences for the »»»

London: Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior hailed Reece James as the "best player in world football in his position" after the captain signed a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge. The England defender, 26, who first trained with the club 20 years ago, said he wanted to remain at the club for his "peak ye»»»

Bulgaria Evacuates over 2,600 Citizens from Middle East, Government Prepares for Further Risks Bulgaria has evacuated more than 2,600 of its citizens from the conflict zone in the Middle East in a large-scale operation carried out under difficult conditions, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov sa»»»

If oil prices hang around $120, it increases the chance of default going down the line, financial analyst Syed Javed Hassan says. Pakistan is heavily dependent on energy imports, but that is not the whole problem, Pakistani financial analyst and former chairman of the Economic Advisory Group, Syed »»»

Share: An Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over the capital, Beirut—specifically in the Hamra district.. The Israeli leaflets reads : The new reality – where is your country heading Share:»»»

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has opened an election observation mission for the upcoming snap parliamentary elections on April 19, ODIHR said. The mission is headed by Dunja Mijatovic and consist»»»

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is likely to sign a voter ID law passed by the state's legislature that could disenfranchise thousands in the state. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo March 13 (UPI) -- Florida's legislature has passed a voter registration law similar to the Safeguard American V»»»

BELGRADE - In a letter sent on Friday, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church called on Pope Leo XIV, Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and other major European and world leaders to use their authority to get Pristina to halt the enforcement of an extremely dis»»»

Israeli planes dropping propaganda leaflets over Beirut on Friday caused a number of loud booms in the sky, terrifying residents of the Lebanese capital. AFP correspondents heard four successive booms at short intervals, before clouds of paper leaflets appeared high in the air. State media said the»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump claimed on Friday the Pentagon has "virtually unlimited" stocks of ammunition allowing the military to continue operations against Iran for as long as required. "We're hitting them very hard. We have unlimited ammunition ... We have virtually unlimit»»»

The Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the Central Election Commission (CEC) discussed joint measures to ensure lawful, fair and transparent elections, to prevent and counter electoral offences, and to guarantee citizens’ political right»»»

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said an incident where a vehicle was rammed into the Temple Israel synagogue near Detroit on Thursday was antisemitism and "hate, plain and simple". The FBI is investigating the incident as a "targeted act of violence against the Jewish community" but a motive for»»»

Brussels: The European Union described the United States' decision to lift some restrictions on Russian oil as "unilateral and very worrying," given the sharp rise in oil prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. European Council President Antonio Costa said in a post on the X platform that this»»»

Beirut: Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun met in Beirut today with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss efforts to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The Lebanese Presidency stated in a press release that the UN Secretary-General expressed his full solidarity with the Lebanese people»»»

Member of the Zhogorku Kenesh Kurmankul Zulushev, elected from multi-mandate constituency No. 10, has submitted a statement requesting the early termination of his parliamentary powers. The information was reported by the Central Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan. According to the commission, the a»»»

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth downplayed the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz during a press briefing Friday and claimed 15,000 Iranian targets have been struck. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo March 13 (UPI) -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth downplayed the shutdown of the Strait »»»

Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade volume in January 2026 amounted to $1,052.9 billion. According to the National Statistical Committee, this figure increased by 2 percent compared to January 2025. Sharp drop in exports As in the previous year, January 2026 saw a significant decline in exports of 20.3 perc»»»

Dubai: India’s largest airline by market size, IndiGo, will introduce a fuel charge on domestic and international routes starting March 14. The airline has cited the additional charge due to a sharp rise in jet fuel prices linked to geopolitical issues in the Middle East. Stay updated: Get the late»»»

Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed journalists Friday regarding the case involving former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, after Parliament yesterday declined to authorize her arrest during a plenary session. Speaking at a press conference, Rama firmly rejected claims that Albania had faced in»»»