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»»»

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»»»

Riyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday the interception and destruction of two ballistic missiles. Major General Turki Al Maliki, the ministry's official spokesperson, said in a press release that two ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Province were intercepted and de»»»

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»»»

Israel's defense minister said the Israeli military had destroyed two bridges spanning the Litani River in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, alleging they were being used by Hezbollah. "The IDF (Israeli army) today struck and destroyed two additional bridges over the Litani River that were used for sm»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Russia possesses advanced systems, including counterspace weapons, hypersonic missiles and undersea capabilities, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said in the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment published on Wednesday. “Russia has advanced systems, including counters»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has established the conditions and procedures for setting up polling stations in medical facilities, nursing homes, and other specialized institutions providing social services, in prisons and detention centres, as well as on vessels flying the Bulgarian flag, »»»

Dubai: Dubai Court of Cassation has issued a landmark ruling clarifying how compensation claims should be handled in divorce cases involving non-Muslim couples, drawing a clear line between personal harm and damages directly arising from divorce. In its latest judgment, the court ruled that claims »»»

Kyrgyzstan’s Trade Representative in China, Zhusubali Toromamatov, met with the leadership of Chengdu International Trade Group to discuss the possibility of supplying domestic eco-friendly products, developing logistics, and expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation, confirming the partie»»»

Nairobi: A Chinese national and a Kenyan man were charged Tuesday with unlawfully dealing in wildlife species after they were found in possession of hundreds of live ants stored in specialised tubes. The case was the latest focused on the alleged smuggling of ants in the East African country, where»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality has announced full readiness to receive Eid Al Fitr, launching intensive inspection and awareness campaigns targeting a wide range of establishments expected to see high public turnout during the holiday. The campaigns will cover food outlets, barbershops, beauty »»»

The line of cars stretched as far as the eye could see along the coast of southern Lebanon, as residents of areas bombarded in the Israel-Hezbollah war poured into the ancient city of Sidon in search of safety. At war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, Israel has called on everyone living south of the Zah»»»

While a number of countries are getting ready to sight the moon and declare the first day of Eid Al Fitr on Wednesday (Mar 18, 2026), some nations will hold their moon-sighting moments a day later, on Mar 19. In many countries, the 29th of Ramadan will fall tomorrow and so Eid will fall on Friday o»»»

China has never demanded that Kyrgyzstan be the first to introduce a visa-free regime, Liu Jiangping, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Kyrgyzstan, said at a briefing. She responded to a 24.kg news agency correspondent’s question about the accuracy of»»»

Iran's military said it would target energy infrastructure across the Gulf following a U.S.-Israeli attack on its facilities at a major gas field, state television reported on Wednesday. The military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement that it would "severely strike the sourc»»»

A judge in the US has ruled that the effective closure of the Voice of America (VOA) last year was "illegal" and that hundreds of its journalists should be reinstated. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities one week to put the international broadcaster back on air. The VOA was se»»»

DOHA: Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari has said that “the Israeli targeting of facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars field, an extension of Qatar’s North Field, is a dangerous and irresponsible step amid the current military escalation in the region”. “Targeting energy infrast»»»

Doha on Wednesday condemned attacks on an Iranian facility on the Gulf coast serving a massive gas field it shares with Qatar. "Israel's targeting of facilities linked to Iran's South Pars gas field, which represents an extension of Qatar's North Field, is a dangerous and irresponsible step amid th»»»

Germany and France on Wednesday called for de-escalation of the Middle East war with Germany's top diplomat warning of a "crisis of the gravest order" if global supply chains continue to be disrupted. "We must try to find a point where the military objectives (the United States and Israel) have set»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump angrily suggested Wednesday that he could leave U.S. allies to secure the Hormuz strait on their own since they have refused to fight alongside U.S. forces against Iran in the crucial shipping lane. Saying the United States doesn't need the strait -- a major global oil s»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran struck all US military bases located in the Middle East during the latest attack, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday. "Over the past few hours, a series of powerful attacks have been carried out by the armed forces as part of the 62nd phase of »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia condemns the irresponsible attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant (NPP) and Israel and the United States must abandon reckless attacks that carry security risks, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. "We strongly condemn the irresponsib»»»

Cairo: The Arab Parliament reiterated its strong condemnation of the continued and repeated Iranian attacks targeting a number of Arab countries, stressing that the attacks disregard all rules of international law and the United Nations Charter, and constitute a serious and direct threat to peace a»»»

Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said the Israeli targeting of facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars field, an extension of Qatar’s North Field, constitutes a dangerous and irresponsible step a»»»

Actor, producer and politician Kamal Haasan said he feels a deep connection with Kerala, even as some people see him as an outsider. In a post on X, Haasan wished Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan success in the upcoming elections. “I wish Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan all the very best,” he wrote,»»»

Dubai: Aster DM Healthcare said it has secured overwhelming shareholder and creditor approval for its proposed merger with Quality Care India Limited (QCIL), clearing a key step toward creating one of India’s largest hospital networks. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.T»»»

The UAE air defence systems on Mar 18, 2026 (today) 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones launched from Iran. Since the onset of Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,699 drones. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of two members of t»»»

When the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and crippling Tehran’s military infrastructure, the world witnessed a dramatic reshaping of the Middle East’s power structure. Beijing’s public response—measured moral condemnations, an e»»»

This operation is not just about neutralizing militants; it is about compelling Kabul to act responsibly and stop tolerating groups that destabilize the region, Sultan M. Hali said. Earlier cross-border actions were limited to tactical raids against militant hideouts. However, Operation Righteous F»»»

Share: PHOTO- A person walks past debris at the site of an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Zuqaq al-Blat district in central Beirut, Lebanon, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi Beirut- It is unreasonable to ‌expect th»»»

President Iliana Iotova said that she expects a more comprehensive compensation package due to rising prices. “This is only the first step. I expect a more comprehensive package if the war continues,” she told journalists regarding the caretaker government’s aid porposal. She participated in a foru»»»

Manama: The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) said that its air defense systems have intercepted and destroyed 130 missiles and 234 drones since the start of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom. In a statement, the General Command stressed that using ballistic missiles and dr»»»

Share: PHOTO – Flames engulf a building following an Israeli air strike in Beirut, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Lebanon, March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer Israeli warplanes hit central Beirut in the early hours of Wednesday, destro»»»

The main square of the Hungarian city of Eger was filled on Tuesday (17 March) with people welcoming the prime minister like a star. But it was not only his supporters who turned up. Spontaneous chants of ‘Viktor! Viktor!’ greet me as I arrive at Viktor Orbán campaign rally, a good half-hour before»»»

Dubai: Gold prices fell below the Dh600 mark on Wednesday afternoon, with the 24K rate dropping to Dh597 per gram at 3.40 pm from Dh601 in the morning, while 22K declined to Dh552.75 from Dh556.50, tracking a broader pullback in global markets. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices i»»»

The UAE air defence systems on 18th March 2026 engaged 13 ballistic missiles and 27 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,699 UAVs. Also Read: US‑Israel war on Iran, Day 19: Israel s»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tehran does not seek a ceasefire and does not believe in it, but wants an end to the war, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday. "We are not seeking a ceasefire because we do not want this scenario to happen again after a while. We want the war to stop complet»»»

It is unreasonable to expect the Lebanese government to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah while the country is being bombed by Israel, France's special envoy for Lebanon said on Wednesday. Jean-Yves Le Drian said only negotiations would resolve the crisis, in which Lebanese authorities say over 900 peop»»»

Speaking at a national social forum, caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Nikolay Naydenov said that political will is needed, and every minister, politician and mayor should work daily to improve housing conditions in Bulgaria, the Ministry said on Wednesday. Naydenov said it i»»»

There are no grounds for restricting potato imports from China, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan reported following potato market monitoring. According to the ministry, the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Control Service monitored the situation with p»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia strongly condemns any actions aimed at harming the health or murder of representatives of the Iranian leadership, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "Actions aimed at harming health or even killing and eliminating representatives of the leadership of sovere»»»

Lebanon said Israel struck central Beirut early Wednesday without warning, killing at least twelve people, as the Israeli military announced it was targeting the country's south. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said two strikes in the early hours of Wednesday hit an apartment in the c»»»

British health authorities are scrambling to contain what officials have described as an “unprecedented” meningitis outbreak centred around a university and linked to a popular nightclub in southeastern England. The outbreak in Kent has claimed the lives of two young people — a 21-year-old universi»»»

Dubai: Several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, are going to attempt to sight the Shawwal crescent today (Wednesday) evening, as they mark the 29th day of Ramadan. Other countries expected to conduct moon sightings on Wednesday include Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, Pa»»»

Volkswagen has regained the top position in China’s auto market, overtaking domestic electric-vehicle champion BYD as changing policy incentives reshape the world’s largest car market. According to industry data for early 2026, the German automaker captured roughly 13.9% market share, placing it ah»»»

CAIRO — Paradise Textiles, part of Alpine Group, has announced plans to invest $102m in an integrated fabric manufacturing facility in Amreya Free Zone, positioning Egypt as a growing hub for sustainable textile production. The project, company-announced, is expected to create around 1,200 jobs and»»»