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UAE: Sharjah Municipality announces free parking for Eid Al Fitr 2026, adds extra bus and marine services

Sharjah Public Parking/Representative Image Sharjah Municipality has announced free public parking for the first three days of Eid Al Fitr 2026, easing movement across the emirate as authorities roll out a wider transport plan to manage increased travel during the holiday. Public parking users in Sharjah will be exempt from fees on the first, second and third day of Eid Al Fitr, allowing residents and visitors to move around without worrying about parking charges during the festive period. The exemption, however, does not apply to smart parking lots and public parking zones that remain chargeable throughout the week and on official holidays. These areas are marked with blue informational signs, and motorists are advised to follow the signage to avoid fines.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US pounds Iranian missile sites near key Strait of Hormuz; Iran rains down cluster bombs on Tel AvivIran confirms death of national security chief Ali Larijani, president Pezeshkia..

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Former Hong Kong lawmaker denies abetting criminal activity in mainland China

AdvertisementHong Kong courtsHong KongLaw and CrimeFormer Hong Kong lawmaker denies abetting criminal activity in mainland ChinaEx-lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan says people his alliance had been supporting should not have been considered as violating mainland law in first place
3-MIN READ3-MIN ListenBrian WongPublished: 8:00pm, 18 Mar 2026A former Hong Kong lawmaker on trial for allegedly inciting subversion has denied abetting criminal activity by supporting mainland Chinese dissidents, accusing Beijing of levelling false charges against them.
Prosecutors on Wednesday challenged Lee Cheuk-yan’s claim that he had no intention to incite others to overthrow the mainland’s communist rule when he called for an end to “one-party dictatorship” as former chairman of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China.
Lee, 69, and former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung, 41, are contesting the charge under the Beijing-imposed national security law for allegedly i..

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As Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’

AdvertisementChina-Latin America relationsChinaDiplomacyAs Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts
3-MIN READ3-MINCao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 8:00pm, 18 Mar 2026As Washington steps up rhetoric and pressure on Cuba after its campaign in Iran, Beijing finds itself torn between geopolitical reality and ideological affinity.According to analysts, Beijing has few good options to counter US hegemony in Washington’s own backyard, and its response is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and modest humanitarian aid.
They said any disruption to global stability ultimately harmed Beijing’s interests and did not see prolonged US military action creating a window of opportunity for China.
AdvertisementUS President Donald Trump on Monday said he expected to have “the honour of taking Cuba”, after a tightening US oil squeeze contributed t..

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Will the Iran war really lead to a global pivot to renewable energy?

As the Middle East conflict sends fuel costs skyrocketing and threatens to put a dent in the global economy, the argument for reducing the world's dependence on oil and gas and moving towards renewables has grown louder.
Ships have been blocked – and in some cases burning – at the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage near Iran through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas passes. The key supply route has been effectively closed, stopping oil, gas and other essential exports from the Gulf region and sending commodities on a rollercoaster ride.
Skyrocketing oil and gas prices are leaving many countries rationing fuel and staring at rising food prices. The International Energy Agency is calling it the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market.
With no sign the conflict will end imminently, bodies including the UN have called for the world to reduce its dependence on oil and gas, with renewables cited as the most obvious alternative. “The resources of the..

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Trump will pay his respects in Delaware to 6 US service members killed in the Middle East

President Donald Trump is set to pay his respects on Wednesday at a Delaware military base when the remains of six U.S. service members killed in the crash of a refueling aircraft are returned to their families.
It will be the second time since launching the war on Iran on Feb. 28 that the Republican president will attend the solemn military ritual known as a dignified transfer, which he once described as the “toughest thing” he has had to do as commander in chief.
All six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft were killed last week in a plane crash over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. They were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Washington state.
The crash brought the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members. About 200 U.S. service members have been injured, including 10 severely, the Pentagon has said.
Trump last traveled to Dover Air Force Base on March 7 for the dignified transfer of s..

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Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran’s leadership

Death of Ali Larijani deepens crisis at heart of Iran's leadership8 hours agoShareSaveAmir AzimiBBC PersianShareSaveAnadolu via Getty ImagesLarijani was viewed as one of Iran's most influential political figuresThe Israeli air strike which killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, has removed one of the Islamic Republic's most experienced and influential policymakers at a critical moment.
Larijani was not a military commander, but he was a central figure in shaping Iran's strategic decisions.
As secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, he sat at the heart of decision-making on war, diplomacy, and national security.
His voice carried weight across the system, particularly in managing Iran's confrontation with the United States and Israel.
After the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 28 February, Larijani struck a defiant tone, signalling that Iran was prepared for a long conflict.
His death, now confirmed by state media, comes amid a b..

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Total repression and air strikes bring unrelenting dread for Iranians

Total repression and air strikes bring unrelenting dread for Iranians12 hours agoShareSaveFergal KeaneSpecial correspondentShareSaveWatch: Iranians show daily life under air strikes and regime crackdownA woman stands on a rooftop listening to the sounds of the city below. There is only the dull hum of traffic tonight. But she knows how easily that can change. It is usually the dogs who notice the sound first and begin to bark furiously. The noise of aircraft. Then the ominous percussion of explosions. A ball of orange rising from an airstrike in a familiar neighbourhood.
The BBC has obtained footage and interviews from Tehran which evoke a city of strained nerves, of constant waiting for the next blast and relentless fear of the state security apparatus.
Baran – not her real name – is a businesswoman in her thirties. She is now too scared to go to work. “With the start of the drone attacks, no one dares to go outside. If I open my door and step out, it is like gambling with my life.”
S..

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Fact check: Is IShowSpeed invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and planning a livestream? Truth revealed

A viral post claimed IShowSpeed was invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and would livestream it. The quote spread quickly but lacks any official confirmation. The claim comes from a meme account using old images. In reality, the couple plans a private ceremony after the 2026 World Cup, and Speed’s earlier mention was just a joke. The rumor spread fast and loud. A viral post claimed that a popular streamer had secured an invite to one of football’s most anticipated weddings and would even broadcast it live. The quote fueling the buzz read: “🚨 IShowSpeed has confirmed he’s been invited to Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez’s wedding and will be streaming it live.” It sounded believable at first glance. Big names. Bigger hype. But the story does not hold up under. There is no verified confirmation from any of the people involved. No official statement. No credible source. What exists instead is a familiar pattern in the age of social media, where recycled j..

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Iranian footballer who stayed back in Australia says ‘everything will be fine’ as she starts training for new club

One of the two Iranian footballers who decided to stay back in Australia said “everything will be fine” as they joined a training session at their professional club in Brisbane.
This followed a wave of reversals by their Iranian teammates who had initially sought asylum in Australia but later chose to return to Tehran.
The women's A-League club, Brisbane Roar, shared the first pictures of the two remaining Iranian footballers who joined a training session wearing the Queensland team's colours.
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh are the two remaining members from the group of seven who first sought asylum and sparked a diplomatic row between Iran and Australia after Tehran blamed Canberra for “psychological” pressure on the women.
open image in gallery(AP)”Everything will be fine,” Pasandideh, 21, posted with a peace sign emoji on Instagram alongside Jill Ellis, FIFA’s head of football.
The update came as the rest of Iran’s soccer delegation left Malaysia bound for O..