BEIJING: China's central bank announced Thursday that it has added 12 banks to its list of authorized institutions for digital yuan operations, Xinhua News Agency reported. The move aims to promote the steady development of the digital currency, improve the inclusiveness of its services, and meet p»»»

Dubai: Several churches across Dubai have announced the suspension of in-person services starting April 3, following directives from UAE authorities to ensure public safety and community well-being. Parishes across denominations have moved quickly to comply, with many shifting to online worship whi»»»

Burkina Faso's president, Ibrahim Traore, pictured in 2025 in Moscow meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his regime have killed more than 1,800 civilians -- including dozens of children -- since taking power in September 2022. File Photo by Russian Presidential Office/UPI | License Photo »»»

Dubai: With less than two months remaining until the start of Hajj 2026, preparations are accelerating across the Muslim world as millions prepare for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is an obligation upon every Musli»»»

NICOSIA, Cyprus: Skyrocketing oil and gas prices in Europe as a result of the ongoing Iran war won't return to normal levels any time soon, even if peace is declared tomorrow, the European Union's (EU) energy commissioner warned Tuesday. Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said although there are no immedia»»»

As the US-Iran war with Iran continues to disrupt global shipping, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has convened around 40 countries to demand the "immediate and unconditional reopening" of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guards effectively shut the key waterway and oil conduit wh»»»

United Airlines on Thursday announced a $10 increase to its checked baggage fees, making it the second airline this week to do so after JetBlue raised its fees by $4 or $9, depending on whether you fly on a peak or off-peak date. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Unite»»»

Iran and its allies traded fire with Israel and the United States, as Washington-linked assets across the Middle East were targeted alongside energy and civilian infrastructure -- with the month-long war on Friday showing little sign of easing. Strikes have increasingly targeted economic and indust»»»

The leaders of the UK and Australia have told their citizens to cut fuel consumption and prepare for months of hardship as a result of the US-Israeli war with Iran. But Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese couldn’t bring themselves to name who’s responsible. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Aust»»»

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz — amid the US-Israel war with Iran — is fast turning into a windfall for Russia, blunting Washington’s sanctions strategy and forcing a quiet recalibration of pressure on Moscow. As strikes ripple across the Gulf and threatening passage through the world’s most »»»

NEW YORK: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), has called on the Security Council to take all necessary measures to ensure an immediate end to Iran's unprovoked attacks on GCC states. He further urged the Council to protect wat»»»

Tribune News Network Doha A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), headed by Dr Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, assistant undersecretary for healthcare regulatory affairs, conducted an inspection visit to the MoPH food and medicine inspection units and the Food Safety Laboratory at the Abu Sam»»»

Tribune News Network Doha The Core Curriculum Programme at the Deanship of General Studies at Qatar University (QU) organised a virtual seminar titled ‘How Does Volunteering Enhance Your Character?’, attended by more than 150 students from various colleges across the university. The seminar was hel»»»

QNA Doha The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), held a coordination meeting on Thursday bringing together major suppliers in Qatar and a group of relevant local companies to enhance the resilience and sustainability ofsupply chains. The meeti»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Research led by Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar, in collaboration with world-leading experts has published two extensive scientific review articles offering a practical framework for national teams preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026, as the to»»»

QNA Doha The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has announced that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has strongly condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan. ICAO highlighted that the attacks forced emergency measures, including»»»

QNA Doha Several Arab and international filmmakers participating in Qumra Film 2026, organised by the Doha Film Institute, stressed the forum’s critical role in nurturing new cinematic voices. In a virtual meeting, they praised the support provided to filmmakers throughout all stages of production,»»»

Boris Azarenko is a Russian entrepreneur and co-founder of Vesper, a Moscow-based developer of high-end residential property. With a background in finance, Azarenko held senior positions in banking and corporate investment before moving into premium residential development, where he has helped shap»»»

London: British police on Thursday launched a new national hub aimed at cracking down on the sale of banned knives and machetes, often to children, on an online "grey market". In the year ending September 2025 there were about 50,000 knife crimes in England and Wales, according to the Office for Na»»»

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan's government on Thursday drastically raised fuel prices in response to spiking global energy prices caused by the Middle East conflict, the country's petroleum minister said in a press conference. The new prices mark an increase of 42.7 percent in petrol prices and 54.»»»

Park Hotel Pirin is cementing its position as one of Bulgaria’s leading spa and wellness destinations through its highly effective treatments, therapeutic mineral water and refurbished facilities, hotel manager Georgi Mitrev told BTA. The hotel is the first in Bulgaria to earn the EUROPESPA WELLNES»»»

International Organization for Migration chief Amy Pope told AFP on Thursday in Beirut that the prospects for prolonged mass displacement in Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah are at war, were "very alarming". "I think those prospects are very alarming because you look right now at the level of de»»»

Amid mounting geopolitical tensions threatening global supply chains, particularly disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to shield its economy by strengthening private sector readiness to withstand external shocks. Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that the Federation o»»»

A Lebanese mother described the sharp decline in one of her last sources of income, once a pillar of her financial stability, as remittances from her son abroad dwindled in the wake of the war. “My son used to send me $600 a month. I lived on it, covered my medication and basic needs. After the war»»»

There Is Such a People (TISP) top-of-the-list candidate Toshko Yordanov met residents and business representatives in the Plovdiv Region, the party press service said Thursday. The event took the form of a direct public dialogue, with an open exchange of views on key issues for the country and the »»»

Tunis, April 2 (TAP) - A Chinese delegation comprising several influencers, alongside two of China's most prominent tour operators, and the Luxury Times media group, arrived to Tunisia on April 1.The visit (April 1-7) is part of a promotional...»»»

For families with children under the age of 18, the main risk cited is that of a difficult situation arising within the family. In this context, the analysis revealed that life insurance has great potential and can be an important financial solution for alleviating concerns about insufficient incom»»»

The top candidate on the GERB–UDF list in Kyustendil, Hristo Terziyski, along with youth members of the local organization, coordinator Neli Tocheva, and PM candidates Mark Kyurkchiev and Polina Mileva, took part in a charitable initiative, “Books Heal,” the GERB-UDF press centre reported. During a»»»

The recovered golden helmet of Coțofenești and two gold bracelets that were stolen from the Drents Museum are being shown to the press in the presence of a heavily armed officer in Assen, the Netherlands, on Thursday. Photo by Sam van der Wal/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- An ancient golden helmet and two br»»»

Copenhagen: More than 200 years after being sunk by Adm. Horatio Nelson and the British fleet, a Danish warship has been discovered on the seabed of Copenhagen Harbor by marine archaeologists. Working in thick sediment and almost zero visibility 15 meters (49 feet) beneath the waves, divers are in »»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), held a coordination meeting on Thursday, bringing together major suppliers in the State of Qatar and a group of relevant local companies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chain»»»

Caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev Thursday said that public trust in the Ministry’s new leadership has increased. He pointed to what he described as a several-fold increase in alerts about election-related crimes compared to the October 2024 parliamentary elections. Dechev noted that the Mini»»»

Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states Thursday, demonstrating Tehran’s continued ability to strike its neighbors even as US President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated. Iran’s attacks on Gulf states along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hor»»»

The US has removed the sanctions on interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The move was announced on Wednesday and marks a significant policy shift as Washington builds closer ties with Caracas after kidnapping Venezuel»»»

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has denied claims that he told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that up to 80% of Syrians living in Germany could be convinced to return home within three years. Merz cited the figure and timeline on Monday during a joint press conference with al-Sharaa, a former jihad»»»

Doha, Qatar: A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), headed by Dr Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs, conducted an inspection visit to the MoPH food and medicine inspection units and the Food Safety Laboratory at the Abu Samra border cro»»»

Acting Education and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov said Bulgaria and Switzerland are cooperating successfully in education and science, with a key focus of their joint work on the development of dual education and support for scientific research. He met with Swiss Ambassador Pierre Hagmann and Th»»»

Germany does not allow the establishment of polling stations in more than 40 locations, although more than one voting section may be set up at some of them, Central Election Commission (CEC) spokesperson Rositsa Mateva said on Thursday at a regular weekly briefing on the April 19 elections. On Wedn»»»

On April 1, the Federation threatened possible disciplinary action against 15-year-old Russian gymnast Sofia Ilteryakova after she failed to turn toward the flags raising behind her at an awards ceremony at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 30. The event was Ilteryakova’»»»

1 of 6 | The Earth is seen from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the Artemis II test flight. NASA astronauts launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday for a 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth. Image courtesy of NASA April 2 (UPI) -- The Artemis II astronauts h»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov has announced that authorities have seized more than half a million euros in what he described as funds intended to influence or distort the outcome of the upcoming elections in Bulgaria. In a recorded video message distributed on social media, he said the gov»»»

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»

Polls ahead of the Hungarian elections point to an opposition victory, but players behind the scenes expect Prime Minister Viktor Orban to come out on top. Others say it’s a scenario ripe for a Kiev-style ‘color revolution’. READ MORE: Battle for Hungary: EU attacks on Orban are a sign of worse thi»»»

The Senate Thursday sent a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House of Representatives. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The Senate sent its bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House Thursday morning after t»»»

The price of oil surged while stock markets fell back after U.S. President Donald Trump's address Wednesday night stoked fears the Iran war could be about to get a lot worse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The price of oil surged while stocks retreated on Thursday afte»»»

The Rossiya Segodnya media group has launched a new SputnikPro internship for nine specialists from leading media in South Asia at its headquarters in Moscow. The project is part of the InteRussia programme of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.The event was opened by Director for Intern»»»

Dubai: At a time when the US–Israel–Iran conflict is reshaping geopolitical and economic realities, businesses across the region are being tested on their ability to adapt and endure. Against this backdrop, Danube Group’s Founder and Chairman Rizwan Sajan is setting a strong example of leadership b»»»

Dubai: Singapore Airlines has extended the cancellation of its Dubai flights until May 31, citing the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. In an advisory, the airline confirmed that these two services will remain suspended during this period - SQ494 departing Singapore for Dubai and S»»»

Dubai: The UAE government's decision to extend distance learning until April 17 amid regional tensions has been met with relief and gratitude by parents, who say their children's safety outweighs any disruption to routine. For Praseetha Rajesh, a mother of two whose elder daughter Anushka is a univ»»»

COSMO PHARM, one of Romania’s most prominent producers of dietary supplements, has continued to expand its network of retail partners, achieving a 25% increase in 2025 compared to 2024. This growth has directly enhanced the visibility of the company’s products, which are now available in over 1,000»»»