Doha: The outreach programmes organised by the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center continued at several locations across the country, with hundreds of attendees from different communities of non-Arabic-speaking Muslims participating in the lectures. Key programmes Al Wakra Ho»»»

The average net monthly salary stood at 5,518 lei in January 2026, decreasing by 396 lei (-6.7%) compared with December 2025, while the average gross monthly salary reached 9,220 lei, 648 lei (-6.6%) lower than the level recorded in December 2025, according to data published on Friday by the Nation»»»

Industrial production decreased by 3.9% in the first month of this year compared with January 2025, in unadjusted terms, according to data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).According to the official data, in January 2026 declines were recorded in manufacturing (-6.4%»»»

Romania is a "firm" promoter of the Strategic Partnership with the United States of America and of the consolidation of the transatlantic relationship, the Minister of National Defense, Radu Miruta said on Friday during the meeting he had with the new U.S. ambassador in Bucharest, Darryl Nirenberg.»»»

Romania's Custodian of the Crown, Her Majesty Margareta, met on Friday with the new US Ambassador to Bucharest, Darryl Nirenberg, with whom she discussed Romanian-American cooperation in the areas of defence, economy, education, science and arts.The meeting, which took place at the Elisabeta Palace»»»

Through the 2026 budget we are taking the first decisive step towards exiting the excessive deficit procedure, and by the end of the year we will be on the trajectory agreed with the European Commission, of 6.2% of GDP, the Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, informed on Thursday evening.'At the»»»

The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, will be in Bucharest on Monday, during which he will meet President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.According to the schedule announced by the Government's Press Office, the OECD»»»

The 2026 draft budget will be submitted for a final vote in the joint plenary sitting of Parliament next Thursday.The joint Standing Bureaus of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate approved on Friday the schedule for the debate and adoption of the draft laws on the state budget and social securit»»»

The National Defence Ministry (MApN) announced on Friday that new drones were detected in the immediate vicinity of Romanian airspace, with a second RO-ALERT message sent to residents in the Danube Delta area.According to a MApN release, on Friday, at around 11:55, two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft »»»

Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai's airport on Monday after a "drone-related incident" sparked a fire nearby, city authorities said. The Emirati defence ministry later said its air defence systems were intercepting a wave of Iranian drones and missiles, without specifying where. Follow ou»»»

Doha, Qatar: The activities of the last ten nights Itikaf during Ramadan commenced at the Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, with the participation of more than 120 non-Arabic speaking Muslims representing eight different communities. The Itikaf aims to educate and raise aw»»»

Beirut: Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Lebanon H E Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has participated in the launch of an international appeal aimed at mobilising funding to address the country’s growing humanitarian needs. The appeal was held at the Grand Serail of Beirut (Government Palac»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced the receipt of a new investment cash endowment valued at QR400,000, donated by a generous benefactor under the supervision of the Directorate. The initiative reflects the deep-rooted cultur»»»

Doha, Qatar: University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has announced the launch of its Early Acceptance initiative for the Fall 2026 semester, offering outstanding high school students the opportunity to secure a place at the University before completing their final examinations. Prospec»»»

Damascus, March 16 (SANA) Turkey will temporarily close all border crossings with Syria to passenger and commercial traffic during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a Syrian border authority official said Sunday. Mazen Alloush, director of relations at Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, said »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services continues its charitable initiative, “Iftar for the Fasting”, distributing food baskets and nutritious meals at multiple locations across Qatar. The project targets low-income workers as well as needy families, benefiting tens»»»

Doha, Qatar: With deep sorrow and grief, the Qatar Press Centre (QPC) mourns the prominent journalist Jamal Rayyan, who passed away yesterday at the age of 73, after a distinguished media career spanning more than five decades, during which he left a lasting mark on the history of Arab television j»»»

Doha, Qatar: Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) on X announced that government entities operating through Qatar’s government service centres has completed 38,260 transactions in February 2026, highlighting continued efforts to improve service delivery and operational efficiency. »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has issued a clear and urgent appeal to all motorists, reminding them not to stop or park vehicles in front of electricity transmission and distribution stations across the country. In an official advisory posted on its soc»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai slipped to their lowest level this month on Monday morning, giving buyers a brief window of relief after several weeks of elevated prices driven by global market turmoil. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, »»»

Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s prime minister, said on March 16 that the government is considering measures within its legal constraints to ensure the safety of Japanese-linked vessels and their crews in the Middle East amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, Kyodo News reports. »»»

The cinema might feel like a relic to some – a moment from before films were available at the press of a button at home – but those interested in cinemas never turn their back on an afternoon spent sitting in complete darkness with total strangers in front of a booming big screen. According to METR»»»

Gaza: Israeli occupation authorities announced yesterday the reopening of the Rafah land crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in both directions, starting next Wednesday, for limited movement of people. The crossing will operate according to the mechanism in place before its closure. Traveller»»»

Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has denounced yesterday the killing of 14 health workers in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, demanding the necessity of protecting medical personnel and health facilities at all times. In a press statement, Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros »»»

Egypt’s trade deficit widened at the end of 2025 as import growth outpaced gains in exports, according to newly released data from Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). In its monthly foreign trade bulletin, CAPMAS reported that the country’s trade gap expanded 12.2% year-»»»

On March 16, 1802, the U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. 1 of 5 | President George W. Bush watches the graduates throw up their hats at Michie Stadium for the 2006 Graduation Ceremony of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., on May »»»

March 16 (UPI) -- Dubai officials temporarily suspended all flights at the city's international airport Monday morning, as the United Arab Emirates was defending itself against a barrage of Iranian drone and missile strikes. A drone fired by Iran caused a fire to erupt from a fuel tank in the vicin»»»

International transport companies in Bulgaria are coming under growing pressure as fuel prices continue to rise following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Representatives of the sector warn that if the conflict drags on, some smaller firms could be pushed into bankruptcy, while consumers may»»»

Doha, Qatar: As part of its ongoing efforts to support the local community and promote the spirit of social solidarity, the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation launched a charitable initiative marking the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, distributing 1,150 food baskets to benefici»»»

Doha, Qatar: First-year pre-medical students at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) in February explored Qatar’s rich biodiversity during a field trip to the mangrove forest at Jazirat Bin Ghannam, also known as Purple Island. Divided into three groups, the students visited the island on three sep»»»

Doha, Qatar: Marking the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation has distributed 28 tonnes of dates in several countries, including Nepal, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip, as part of a humanitarian initiative aimed at strengthening solidarity and suppo»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Zakat Affairs Department at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has embarked on implementing its annual plan to funnel Zakat Al-Fitr contributions to eligible recipients in a timely manner, according to the guidelines put out in Islamic Sharia, and ultimately to materialize t»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar University (QU), represented by its College of Pharmacy, announced that a group of fourth-year pharmacy (P4) students successfully completed international experiential training rotations in Malaysia, Scotland, and New Zealand. The initiative reflects QU’s commitment to preparing »»»

Oil prices hovered around $100 a barrel Monday and stocks fluctuated as the Iran war moved into a third week with both sides showing no sign of backing down and diplomats trying to ensure safe passage for tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Crude shot up in the opening minutes after the U»»»

The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The military said in a statement that in recent days, Israeli army “troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key He»»»

Jordan: The Sheikh Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani Primary Health Care Center continues to provide medical services to refugees residing in the Azraq Camp in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as part of humanitarian efforts to deliver comprehensive, high-quality primary healthcare. The center also continua»»»

In naval warfare, few weapons are as effective — or as disruptive — as marine mines. Of the 20 US Navy ships that have been severely damaged or sunk by adversary action since September 1945, 15 were "mine" victims. The US has also used as both offensive and defensive weapons: when the US Navy emplo»»»

Hungary’s two leading political blocs, Fidesz and the Tisza Party, held mass rallies on March 15 in a prominent display of power, widely seen as a measure of their capacity to rally voters ahead of the April 12 elections. Prime Minister Viktor Orban vowed to keep Hungary "an island of security and »»»

At Hungary’s March 15 national commemoration, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech centered on the country’s security, sovereignty, and the coming election. According to the prime minister, Europe is entering a dangerous period as Brussels prepares for deeper involvement in the war in Ukr»»»

Aluminium Bahrain, known as Alba, said on Sunday it had initiated a shutdown of three aluminium smelting lines accounting for 19% of its capacity to preserve business continuity amid ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. The closures are the latest impact on the Middle East aluminium sector, »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Doha Equestrian Tour wrapped up its three-day local show jumping competitions at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab on Saturday night, showcasing top-level performances from more than 120 riders and 240 horses. Total prize money for the tour exceeded QR490,000. The tour opened with th»»»

Doha, Qatar: France has reaffirmed its strong strategic partnership with Qatar, highlighting deep diplomatic ties, and the defence dimension of the partnership has taken on heightened importance as the region navigates a complex geopolitical situation. In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula y»»»

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning parliamentary group will table an amendment that would require the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) to cover the cost of electricity meter accuracy tests amid complaints about high electricity bills since the start of the year,»»»

Six citizens of Kyrgyzstan were injured in a road accident on Kaluzhskoye highway in New Moscow, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported. According to the ministry, the accident occurred on March 14 at the 45th kilometer of Kaluzhskoye highway and involved a sightseeing bus and a Vol»»»

Doha, Qatar: Estithmar Holding has paid the third semi-annual coupon of its Qatari Riyal-denominated Sukuk (first tranche), at an annual profit rate of 8.75%. The first tranche, part of the company’s broader Sukuk program valued at QR3.4bn and listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Sec»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has maintained a robust stockpile of essential food and consumer goods to ensure market stability. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has affirmed that sufficient stock is available in the country to ensure the availability of goods and prevent monopolistic practices. T»»»

Doha, Qatar: AlRayan Bank successfully held the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of Shareholders yesterday. At the AGM, the shareholders endorsed the financial statements for the fiscal year ended at 31 December 2025 that reflect a Net Profit after Tax of QR1350m. H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Qas»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has reaffirmed its full readiness and continuous field response to maintain essential services and support community needs, as part of its ongoing commitment to delivering services with the highest standards of quality and efficiency. The ministry, in a pos»»»

Life is back to normal in one of the world’s busiest cities, as markets and malls bustle with shoppers preparing for Eid. Families are not only picking up food essentials but also browsing for new clothes, fashion items, household products, chocolates, and electronics, soaking in the festive spirit»»»

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov visited two dairy enterprises — Belaya Reka and Umut & Co — in Issyk-Ata district of Chui region. The working visit was carried out as part of an assignmen»»»