How a family trip turned into Dh20m for this Kerala entrepreneur
Dubai: Shamon Shaji, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from India, has never imagined that a casual family trip to Dubai would lead to a life-changing windfall. During a trip to visit his in-laws, the business owner has come across Big Ticket and decided to try his luck. “My in-laws live in Dubai, so we v»»»
Law Enforcers Uncover One of Largest Illegal Cigarette Factories, Two Detained
Bulgarian authorities have uncovered one of the largest illegal cigarette factories in the country, detaining two men in connection with the operation. The suspects, aged 52 and 56, have been held for up to 72 hours by an order of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyustendil. They are charged wit»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Russia discuss expansion of cooperation in agro-industrial sector - | 24.KG
Erlist Akunbekov, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Oksana Lut, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, and Sergei Dankvert, Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision met in Moscow. According to the Cabinet of »»»
From Asia to the Americas: Governments Race to Contain Energy Shock
Governments worldwide are moving swiftly to contain the fallout from a sharp rise in energy costs, as global supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran rattle markets. Surging fuel and electricity prices have prompted urgent steps to protect consumers and secure supplies, with mounting»»»
Sri Lanka struggles to avert economic collapse over Mideast war
Colombo: Sri Lanka is struggling to prevent a repeat of its spectacular economic collapse four years ago, as the prolonged Middle East war compounds the fallout from a deadly cyclone in November. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has rationed fuel, raised its price by a third and increased electri»»»
IMF Urges BOJ to Keep Raising Rates Even as Iran War Poses New Risks
The International Monetary Fund urged the Bank of Japan to continue raising interest rates, even as the Middle East war posed "significant new risks" to the country's economic outlook. The proposal comes amid market expectations the BOJ will raise interest rates as soon as April in the face of moun»»»
US military aircraft hit in Iran war are first shot down by enemy fire in over 20 years
Iran shooting down two American military aircraft marks an exceedingly rare assault for the US. that has not happened in more than 20 years and shows the Islamic Republic’s continued ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated.” Get updated faster »»»
Türkiye to connect its railways with Syria as Part of Historic Hejaz Railway
Ankara, April 4 (SANA)Turkish Minister of transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Friday that Türkiye plans to extend its current railway line to the city of Aleppo in Syria, as part of efforts to revive the historic Hejaz Railway. “We wish to revive the old line with a symbolic an»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Iran downs two US warplanes as Middle East conflict intensifies
Doha, Qatar: Iranian and American forces raced each other Saturday to recover a crew member of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war. Tehran said it had shot down the F-15 warplane, while US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two »»»
Trump seeks $1.5 trillion defense budget as Iran war drives costs
US President Donald Trump on Friday asked lawmakers to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments. The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40 percent in a single year»»»
Police Investigate after man fires gun in air outside stadium
Police in the western Athens district of Peristeri are investigating after a man fired a gun into the air outside a local stadium on Friday night. The incident occurred at the Chrysoupoli municipal stadium and reportedly took place in the presence of minors, some of whom attempted to record the sho»»»
As Trump orders UFO data released, a question hangs: If aliens exist, what would they think of us?
For generations, human beings have wondered: What would alien life from another planet be like? But we rarely ask the opposite: What would they think of us? Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.It's a question that can produce some, well, uncomfortable»»»
Two US fighter jets downed in Mideast, one crew member rescued
A US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace on Friday, triggering a search operation by Washington which rescued one crew member. A second US Air Force aircraft went down later in the day, according to a US official. The whereabouts of any other crew were not immediately known. A US f»»»
Over 1,000 police officers to patrol Bishkek over weekend - | 24.KG
More than 1,000 police officers will patrol Bishkek today and tomorrow, following instructions by the head of the city’s Main Department of Internal Affairs. According to the department’s press service, a roll call and briefing of the capital’s police personnel was held ahead of the weekend. Office»»»
Kyrgyz boxer Omar Livaza wins bronze at tournament in Turkey - | 24.KG
Kyrgyz athlete Omar Livaza won a bronze medal at an international tournament in Turkey, the Boxing Federation reported. The 34th Ahmet Cömert tournament is currently underway in Istanbul. Omar Livaza competed in the 65-kilogram weight class. The Kyrgyzstani won two consecutive victories over athlet»»»
2 US Aircraft Shot Down as War in Iran Escalates. At Least 1 Crew Member is Missing
Iran shot down two US military planes in separate attacks Friday, with one service member rescued and at least one missing, in a dramatic escalation since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It was the first time US aircraft have been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President D»»»
Artemis II astronauts ignite engines and head for lunar flyby
NASA’s Artemis II astronauts fired their engines and set course for a lunar flyby on Thursday, marking the first human departure from Earth orbit since 1972. The crew of three Americans and one Canadian will break distance records, witness a solar eclipse and pave the way for future lunar missions »»»
How a Russian influence network is spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Ivory Coast
The Company – a network of Russian agents specialised in disinformation operations – has been carrying out a vast propaganda campaign against the Ukrainian embassy in Ivory Coast. When the pan-African media outlet The Continent received a trove of leaked documents about this operation, the FRANCE 2»»»
Baltic Sea strikes: How Ukraine aims to undermine Russia's oil profits from Iran war
Ukraine has in recent days intensified drone attacks on ports and refineries in Russia’s Leningrad region on the Baltic Sea. Yet Kyiv’s strategy of trying to stop Moscow from reaping the benefits of oil disruption in the Middle East doesn’t come without significant risk. Ukrainian drones struck key»»»
UAE weather forecast: Rising temperatures; rain, strong winds ahead
Dubai: Fair to partly cloudy skies are expected across the UAE on Saturday, with temperatures set to rise slightly before unsettled conditions bring a chance of rain and stronger winds in the days ahead, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Get updated faster and for FREE: Downloa»»»
First ruling on Tempe tragedy published
The Administrative Court of Athens announced it has published the ruling it issued last week awarding damages for moral suffering to relatives of a victim of the Tempe rail disaster. The decision recognizes the obligation of the Greek state to pay the first plaintiff a total of €180,000 and each of»»»
Strong geomagnetic storm may produce vivid northern lights as far south as Pennsylvania - UPI.com
The northern lights can be seen from Gillette, Wyo., on October 5, 2024. File Photo by Tony Laubach/AccuWeather Activity from the sun could create displays of the aurora borealis across the northern half of the United States this weekend. The sun has produced multiple solar flares and associated co»»»
Four toddlers slain in knife attack at Ugandan daycare - UPI.com
The Uganda Police Force said Okello Christopher Onyum was arrested for allegedly killing four young children at a daycare. Photo courtesy Uganda Police Force April 3 (UPI) -- A 39-year-old man was arrested in Uganda after allegedly attacking and killing four toddlers at a daycare center in Kampala,»»»
Flying from UAE? 42 Air India, Air India Express flights to West Asia on April 4
Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 42 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on April 4, 2026. This includes 26 non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE, subject to slot availability and other operational conditions at departure airports. All flig»»»
Dubai property market tops Dh176bn on strong investor demand
Dubai: Dubai’s property market maintained strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with total sales reaching Dh176.7 billion across nearly 48,000 transactions, reflecting continued investor appetite and steady price growth. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Data fro»»»
SpaceX IPO: Can Elon Musk justify a $1.75 trillion valuation?
Dubai: When Elon Musk began positioning SpaceX for what could be a record-breaking IPO, the headline figure—up to $75 billion—drew the most attention, but the proposed listing is shaping up as much as a referendum on Musk’s broader strategy as it is on the company itself. Get updated faster and for»»»
1 crew member rescued after US fighter jet shot down in Iran
A U.S. fighter jet was shot down in Iran on Friday and one crew member was rescued, officials said, the first aircraft downed since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It marked a major escalation in the conflict just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the U.S. h»»»
Samokov Hotel Spa in Borovets Offers Year-Round Wellness and Signature "After Ski" Therapy
The spa centre at the Samokov Hotel in the Borovets mountain resort offers year-round services, including a signature therapy called "After Ski," said the hotel manager Svetlana Atanasova to BTA. The centre was created as a space for complete relaxation, recovery, and health care. The spa services »»»
Spa Centre at Veliko Tarnovo's Grand Hotel Yantra Offers View of Historic Landmark Hills
The spa centre at Grand Hotel Yantra in Veliko Tarnovo now offers the most modern forms of relaxation after a major renovation, hotel manager Ivo Staykov told BTA. The renovation was completed in 2025 and covered the main areas - indoor pool, relaxation spaces, etc. The next phase will include cons»»»
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito hospitalized last month - UPI.com
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha Bomgardner, attend inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Pool photo by Chip Somodevilla/UPI | License Photo April 3 (UPI) -- Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was taken to a Philadelphia hospital after a Federalist So»»»
GRIFID Encanto Beach Hotel Develops New Detox Programme for Guests
GRIFID Encanto Beach Hotel in the Golden Sands resort has developed a new detox programme for its guests. The programme offers stays of varying length designed to promote health, balance and body harmony, the hotel manager Anita Atanasova told BTA. Key elements of the GriFit D-TOX programme are thr»»»
UAE: One dead, four injured after fires at Habshan gas facilities in Abu Dhabi
Authorities confirmed that two fires broke out at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant after debris fell following a successful air defence interception. Emergency response teams responded swiftly and brought the situation under control, officials said, adding that the incident occurred as part of the »»»
Tunisias Cap Bon aims to become World Capital of Gastronomy 2028
Tunis, April 3 (TAP) - Tunisia's Cap Bon is aiming to become the World Capital of Gastronomy 2028. This bid was highlighted during an economic and tourism promotion event held on March 31 in Rome by the Tunisian embassy in Italy, in partnership...»»»
Bulgaria's Tallest Ferris Wheel Is Unveiled in Sofia
A 40-meter Ferris wheel, the tallest in Bulgaria, was unveiled in the Boris’ Garden in Sofia as part of the city’s newest event, Sun Fest Sofia. The opening of the Ferris wheel is included in the festive program marking 147th anniversary of Sofia as capital of Bulgaria. The attraction was manufactu»»»
Iran Shoots Down US Fighter Jet, One Pilot Rescued, Media Say
One US crew member has been rescued after Iran shot down a warplane on Friday, Israeli and US media reported, as the war looked set to intensify with US President Donald Trump threatening more attacks on civilian infrastructure. Two US sources told Reuters the plane was a two-seat F-15E and a »»»
Kozani manhunt underway after suspect abandons cannabis-laden car
Police in northern Greece are searching for a 43-year-old man who fled on foot after abandoning his vehicle during a pursuit in Kozani, northern Greece. The incident unfolded on Thursday morning, when officers from a local anti-drug unit signaled the driver to stop for a routine road check after de»»»
Air Serbia carries record-high 813,188 passengers in Q1 2026
BELGRADE - In Q1 2026, Air Serbia set a new standard for its business operations with 813,188 passengers carried and 3 pct growth y-o-y, the national airline said on Friday. "This is also the first time that the number of 800,000 carried passengers was surpassed in the January-March period. During »»»
Chile joins regional debate to regulate surrogate motherhood - UPI.com
The Chilean The Family Committee of the Chamber of Deputies began this week to discuss a bill supported by all political parties that would prohibit and penalize the practice of surrogate motherhood. Photo by widephish/Pixabay SANTIAGO, Chile, April 3 (UPI) -- Chile has joined other Latin American »»»
Belchin Garden Hotel Offers Four Mineral Water Pools and Year-Round Spa Services
SPA Hotel Belchin Garden offers year-round spa services to its guests, hotel manager Petar Ivanov told BTA. The entire centre uses mineral water and features four pools, both indoor and outdoor. The children’s pool, located outdoors, is heated at 35C. The spa centre also includes a Finnish sauna an»»»
Rising energy prices deepen economic strain in Turkiye: Turkish economists
Istanbul: Turkiye's economy is facing mounting pressure from persistently high global energy prices, as the country relies heavily on imports of oil and gas to meet domestic demand. This dependence has exposed it to global market volatility, driving up production costs, increasing the burden on bus»»»
Iranians Urged to Hunt for Crew of Downed US Fighter Jet
Iran authorities urged people living in the rugged southwest of the country to search for the crew of a downed US fighter jet on Friday as state TV broadcast images of what was said to be the mangled remains of the plane. The US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the »»»
Hegseth’s Pentagon Purge Designed to Prevent a Mutiny: Karen Kwiatkowski
The secretary of war’s dismissal of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and two other top generals signals intensifying rot in the Department amid the Iran war, former senior DoD insider-turned whistleblower Karen Kwiatkowski says. General George represented “experience in Army battlefield ope»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»
Gulf Islamic sukuk bond spreads hit five-year highs amid Iran war uncertainty
Yields on Gulf sovereign and corporate debt have surged to their widest spreads in five years as the war involving Iran drives a sharp reassessment of regional risk, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said that “many G»»»