DUBAI: Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard opened fire Wednesday on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz, damaging the ship and further raising the stakes as planned ceasefire talks in Pakistan failed to materialize. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center sai»»»

Thailand plans to reduce the visa-free stay from 60 to 30 days for citizens of 93 countries and territories, Bangkok Post reported. According to the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, this is being done to combat crime, particularly fraudsters who abuse visa-free stays by»»»

Arab foreign ministers have condemned Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and disrupt international navigation, demanding, in a virtual meeting they held on Tuesday, that Tehran be compelled to compensate and make amends for the economic losses resulting from these threats. The Secretary-G»»»

Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received a phone call from Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly State of Kuwait. During the call, Sheikh Jarrah Al Sabah condemned the terrorist plot »»»

To mark Earth Day, the regional offices of the Ministry of Environment and Water will organize various initiatives in support of the global environmental protection movement, the ministry’s press office reported. Planned activities include outdoor lessons, talks, presentations, exhibitions dedicate»»»

Dubai: “I am not going to give in to the algorithm and the populist,” says Kritika Kamra, Bollywood actress and new bride, with a clarity that feels deliberate rather than performative. The comment comes soon after her intimate March 11th Mumbai wedding quietly turned into a social media storm. Wha»»»

Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari has said that Qatar fully supports mediation efforts undertaken by Pakistan to end US-Iran war. “Qatar continues its ongoing communication with various parties, »»»

London: The British Ministry of Defense announced that it will host a conference with representatives from 30 countries, which will continue over Wednesday and Thursday, to discuss the formation of an international mission to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry said in a statem»»»

For the second consecutive year, McDonald's Qatar, in collaboration with Mubadara for Social Impact, hosted a dedicated Environmental Day, bringing together more than 100 employees for a day of mangrove planting, beach clean-up, and environmental workshops at the 'Flower Each Spring Camp' in Ras Al»»»

Large-scale efforts to purge unscrupulous officers from law enforcement agencies continue in Kyrgyzstan. The Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS), Zhumgalbek Shabdanbekov, said in an official statement. According to him, this work is being conducted jointly wit»»»

New MP Mirlan Zheenchoroev took the oath of office in Parliament of Kyrgyzstan. Several days ago, the Central Election Commission registered Mirlan Zheenchoroev as a member of the Zhogorku Kenesh in single-mandate constituency No. 21. Kubanychbek Kongantiev, the MP previously elected in this consti»»»

New Delhi: Schools in India's capital must ring regular bells to remind schoolchildren to drink water as the megacity gears up to face heatwave conditions, a new city order has said. Summer heat in the world's most populous nation can be brutal -- putting millions of people at risk, with nearly 11,»»»

Iran executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s intelligence service and passing sensitive information, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported on Wednesday. Mizan ⁠identified the man ⁠as Mehdi Farid, saying he had held a position ⁠in a civil defense unit within a sensitive organization and»»»

Doha, Qatar: A major step forward in treating inherited blood disorders in Qatar Sidra Medicine a member of Qatar Foundation is now offering a new gene therapy to eligible patients. The hospital has been qualified by Vertex Pharmaceuticals to administer Casgevy, a one-time treatment designed for pa»»»

After US-Israeli bombardment eliminated Iran’s supreme leader and much of its top echelons, the country’s leadership didn’t fall apart — but negotiations to end the war offer a new test. For decades, the supreme leader successfully managed several powerful factions, bringing to heel those who chall»»»

Hezbollah has stepped up its campaign against Lebanon’s authorities, objecting to their decision to pursue direct negotiations with Israel and insisting the government reverse course, while warning it could seek to bring down the process by force. The group argues that such talks require a broad na»»»

Washington, Tehran, Islamabad and Paris: President Donald Trump extended the US ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for peace talks, with Tehran silent on the decision early Wednesday. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the two week truce, crediting a request from mediator Pakistan and st»»»

The Kingdom of Bhutan is hosting the second interregional working session Mountains Connect, aimed at strengthening cooperation on sustainable development in mountain regions, the administration of president of Kyrgyzstan reported. The event has brought together representatives from more than 25 co»»»

The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) has decided to temporarily restrict the import of certain types of clothing from Vietnam. The decision was made at a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Board. According to the EEC press service, it was decided to apply a trigger-protective measure t»»»

In an interview for BTA, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva praised Bulgaria's smooth accession to the eurozone, as well as its policy in response to the energy crisis that followed the military conflict in the Middle East. Following the spring meetings of the »»»

Seoul: A notorious North Korean hacking group is likely behind the theft of nearly $300 million in cryptocurrency over the weekend, an affected party has said, in the biggest known crypto heist this year. It is the latest such incident linked to North Korea, whose sophisticated cybercrime programme»»»

SYDNEY: Problems enforcing Australia’s teen social ‌media ban reflect social media platforms’ weak deployment of tools available to run age checks rather than the limits of the technology, an industry ​body representing the tech suppliers said.The comments come as regulators step up enforcement war»»»

SANTA FE: The wife of a US Army sergeant was being held Tuesday at an immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas, amid signs that the Trump administration is dialing back leniency toward immigrant family members of military personnel and veterans. Jose Serrano, an active duty soldier who serv»»»

Three sources in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said a member of its political bureau and head of its military wing, Akram al-Ajouri, survived an Israeli airstrike that targeted him in Iran about a month ago. Two senior sources in the group, based in Lebanon where al-Ajouri had lived in recent years»»»

On April 15, Saudi Arabia’s NEOM posted a terse but telling message on X: “Europe- Egypt- NEOM- GCC: your faster route.” Accompanied by a map, the post traced a corridor linking Europe to Egypt’s ports of Damietta and Safaga, on to NEOM Port, then overland to Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the Unite»»»

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it fired rockets and drones into northern Israel on Tuesday, accusing the Israeli military of violating a ceasefire ahead of US-mediated talks between the Israeli and Lebanese governments this week. The Israeli military earlier said Iran-aligned Hezbollah had fir»»»

On April 21, 2026, during a visit of First Deputy Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, Meder Aliev, to Vienna to participate in the 26th Conference of the Alliance Against Trafficking in Persons, a meeting was held in the Austrian Parliament with the Speaker of the National Counci»»»

A video of a teacher physically assaulting a student has been posted on social media. The Ministry of Education commented on the situation. According to the Education Department of Suzak district of Jalal-Abad region, the incident occurred on March 25, 2026, at A. Gaidar secondary school No. 22. «A»»»

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his government was not seeking confrontation with Iran-backed Hezbollah, but would not allow itself to be intimidated as it prepares direct talks with Israel to end the conflict. Salam and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Paris to see how »»»

SANTA FE: The wife of a US Army sergeant was being held Tuesday at an immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas, amid signs that the Trump administration is dialing back leniency toward immigrant family members of military personnel and veterans. Jose Serrano, an active duty soldier who serv»»»

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States would indefinitely extend its ceasefire with Iran, easing fears that a fragile pause in fighting could collapse as stalled peace talks remain in limbo. The move comes amid mounting diplomatic pressure, with Pakistan scrambling to bring both side»»»

Three suspects were arrested in Thessaloniki after allegedly collecting €50,000 in marked bills from a car rental company manager, authorities said. The case stems from a complaint by a 74-year-old businessman who reported being threatened on video by a masked man demanding €100,000. Defense attorn»»»

The US delegation's planned visit to Iran has been delayed until Washington receives a proposal from the Iranian side, a White House official said. "In light of President Trump’s TRUTH Social post confirming the United States is awaiting a unified proposal from the Iranians, the trip to Pakistan wi»»»

The US Department of the Treasury will continue to exert maximal economic pressure on Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "The US Treasury will continue to apply maximum pressure through Economic Fury to systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds. Any p»»»

The US Department of War said it had requested a record $50 billion for the military intelligence program in fiscal year 2027, a 49% increase compared to 2026. "Today, the Department of War released the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) top line budget request for fiscal year 2027. The total was »»»

The United States has a history of mistaking defeats in war for victories. In 1973, Richard Nixon declared his administration had achieved a “Peace with Honour,” which didn’t betray Washington’s South Vietnamese allies, but barely two years later, Saigon fell. In May 2003, George W Bush announced t»»»

President Sadyr Japarov arrived in Kazakhstan on April 21 on a working visit. The presidential press service reported. The head of state’s plane landed at Astana International Airport. The President was welcomed by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. During his working visit, Sadyr Japarov»»»

Kyrgyzstan is rapidly increasing its film production and could soon rank among the world’s leaders in the number of films produced per capita. Director Suyun Otkeev reported. Despite its relatively small market, the country’s film industry has been accelerating significantly. Around 50 films were p»»»

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he was extending a ceasefire with Iran to give more time for negotiations, but would maintain a US naval blockade of the country's ports. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Trump posted on social media that he w»»»

A bill to ratify the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Japan on the elimination of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion has been submitted to the Zhogorku Kenesh. The document provides for the ratification of the agreement signed on December 19, 2025, in Tokyo. After the law enters into»»»

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in Blanche vs. Lau, which would determine when immigration officers can demote a permanent resident's status to parole, a temporary status that can be revoked and result in deportation. File Photo by Eric Lee/UPI | License Photo WASHINGTON, April»»»

Dubai: Planning for an Eid Al Adha getaway? Book now or pay more as your travel date approaches. That is the clear message from UAE travel agents, as strong demand, limited flight capacity and rising fuel costs combine to keep airfares elevated in the weeks ahead. With Eid expected to fall between »»»

The UAE is set for a week of partly cloudy to cloudy conditions, with a chance of light rain, blowing dust and a gradual drop in temperatures from today through Sunday, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Today, cloud cover will increase with a probability of light rainfall over »»»

Ras Al Khaimah : Ras Al Khaimah Police has launched field inspection tours across schools in the emirate, coinciding with the full return to in-person classes. The visits aim to assess the overall readiness of schools and monitor the smooth resumption of daily classroom learning, marking a new phas»»»

Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has signed a strategic partnership with ION to establish a wide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the emirate, in a move to strengthen green mobility infrastructure. Under the agreement, ION, a joint venture between Beeah and Cr»»»

The United Kingdom is accelerating a sweeping clean-energy expansion, recording a bumper wind power output in the first quarter of 2026, as per government data. The green energy drive is aimed at shielding households from volatile natural gas prices that have driven up electricity bills amid global»»»

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday she hopes the world is finally ready for a woman to lead the United Nations as she campaigns to succeed António Guterres. She framed her bid as a chance to restore trust in the crisis-hit organisation and send a powerful global signal by appoi»»»

Share: France’s President Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris, April 21, 2026. © AFP Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the »»»

ABU DHABI: Authorities have issued a comprehensive guide to enhance the readiness of educational institutions, including school transportation, to mitigate risks and manage emergency and exceptional situations. The guide applies to the remaining period of the current academic year and in 2026. The »»»

BARIKOT, Afghanistan: There are no children in the Afghan border village of Barikot, where the school has been smashed by shells and the playground sits deserted after weeks of war with Pakistan. Almost all of the 8,000 residents fled after the conflict erupted in late February, but AFP journalists»»»