Kennedy Space Center, United States: Four astronauts blasted off aboard a massive NASA rocket Wednesday on a long-anticipated journey around the moon, the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. With a thunderous roar that reverberated far beyond the launchpad, the enormous orange-and-white»»»

People inspect a damaged building following an earthquake in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Thursday, April a, 2026. A 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Molucca Sea between the Sulawesi and Maluku island in Eastern Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning, Indonesia's BMKG geological agency said. »»»

Dubai: The government of Dubai has called on residents to stay informed with facts amid the rapid spread of misinformation and rumours on social media. Daily posts claiming statements such as ‘I hear explosions in Dubai,’ “’ubai faces severe shortage of goods,’ or ‘Life in Dubai has come to a stand»»»

Iraqi oil fields once alive with the buzz of workers are nearly deserted. Ports that pulsed with the churn of cargo have fallen still, the din of commerce replaced by the soft rhythm of waves. A month after the war in Iran started, workers at ports and oil fields in the province of Basra, where alm»»»

The Government approved an emergency ordinance that introduces new measures for the decarbonization of the energy sector, in accordance with the commitments assumed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and with the requirements of the European Commission.According to a press rel»»»

The modernization of the distribution network in Dascalu and Petrachioaia localities is part of the project "Increasing the security of electricity supply of Dascalu and Petrachioaia localities through the modernization of the Petrachioaia – Ilfov County line" financed through the Modernization Fun»»»

Etem Gestamp, the Sofia-based joint venture between Viohalco Group and Spain’s Gestamp Group focused on aluminium extrusion and processing for the automotive industry, and Rezolv Energy, the Actis-backed independent power producer, have signed a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) in Bu»»»

The 7 stations of 200 kW each will be installed by June 29th The contract was awarded through a public tender PPC Blue Romania, part of the PPC group of companies in Romania, has won the auction organised by the Bucharest Airports National Company to install 7 hyper-fast charging stations for elect»»»

Beirut: President of Lebanon H E General Joseph Aoun met yesterday with Ambassador of Qatar to Lebanon H E Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. At the outset of the meeting, the Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the President of Lebanon, wishing His E»»»

Damascus, April 2 (SANA) The head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority said Wednesday that a newly signed air transport agreement with Germany marks a significant step toward developing civil aviation in Syria, strengthening bilateral cooperation and aligning the sector with international standar»»»

A police operation in Burgas has led to the discovery of a significant quantity of ammunition and a weapon equipped with optics in a residential property in the Ostritsata-2 area, near the Banevo district. The search was carried out on April 1 by officers from the Criminal Police Department of the »»»

Dubai: In just over a month, the global aviation industry has undergone a dramatic shift, with airfares climbing sharply across major routes, including from the UAE. What was once a relatively stable pricing environment has become volatile, as airlines grapple with rising fuel costs, reduced capaci»»»

Dubai: A new Abu Dhabi-based energy platform is taking shape to capture Asia’s surging electricity demand, with Masdar and TotalEnergies committing $2.2 billion to a joint venture that will consolidate their renewable energy operations across nine countries. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»

President Donald Trump said U.S. forces will "finish the job" in Iran soon as "core strategic objectives are nearing completion," offering a full-throated defense of the war Wednesday night in his first national address since the conflict began more than a month ago. He used his platform before a w»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health is participating in the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on April 2. This year’s observance is held under the theme “Autism and Humanity – Every life Has Value,” as designated by the United Nations. The observance highlights the»»»

On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II, head of the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century, died at his Vatican apartment. 1 of 6 | Bishop Robert Hermann celebrates a mass in honor of the late Pope John Paul II at the Cathedral Bascillica in St. Louis on April 3, 2005. The pontiff died »»»

A mining cage drops deep beneath the Armenian capital, carrying asthma patients in helmets down into a salt cave clinic -- an alternative treatment center whose future is now at risk. State funding for the speleotherapy center in the Avan salt mine was recently cut as the small Caucasus nation roll»»»

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the original aims of the war in Iran had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved. Albanese called for de-escalation, noting that US-Israeli attacks had degraded Iran's air force, navy and military industrial base, r»»»

The Ombudswoman institution has voiced strong opposition to the proposed increase in heating prices in Sofia, which is expected to approach nearly 30 percent. According to the position sent by Ombudswoman Velislava Delcheva to the Chair of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), Plamen M»»»

Skopje, 30 March 2026 (MIA) - Directorate for Technological-Industrial Development Zones (DTIDZ) CEO Goce Dimovski presented the investment potentials and opportunities that zones offer to foreign investors before the Hungarian business community, in the framework of a forum titled "Hungary - North»»»

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Romania was 6% in February, the same as reported in January, according to data published on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).According to the same source, the number of unemployed people (aged 15-74) in February 2026 was estimated »»»

Three quarters of Romanian employees (75%) feel a high financial pressure because of the latest wave of price rises, while a third of them (35%) say they are ready to find an additional activity for an extra income, an opinion poll released by eJobs on Tuesday shows. According to data centralised b»»»

The reform of state-owned companies is an extremely important signal for foreign investors, as any market disruption resulting from state support in certain areas presents risks for investors, Deputy Prime Minister Oana Gheorghiu said on Wednesday, on the third day of the regional conference The Ec»»»

Social-democrat (PSD) chairman Sorin Grindeanu claims that, following the five regional meetings held so far with party organizations, his colleagues have told him that they no longer wish to continue "in this form" within the governing coalition."We had five regional meetings, as you well know, in»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Reads, an initiative under Qatar National Library dedicated to fostering a culture of reading across Qatar, is hosting an interactive booth at Doha Festival City, from April 1 to April 22. The activation aims to deepen engagement with the Family Reading Programme (FRP), a structu»»»

A senior figure in a Sudanese coalition that formed a government backed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was killed in a strike by the Sudanese army on his home in Nyala, South Darfur, late Tuesday, while Health Minister Alaaeldin Naqd and others survived. Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi, prime minister »»»

Doha, Qatar: Since entering 2026, the global automotive industry has been undergoing a dual cycle of structural adjustment and technological restructuring. In this complex market environment, Chery has demonstrated robust growth resilience and strategic focus. According to the latest data released »»»

Doha, Qatar: Director General of Qatar Press Centre (QPC), Sadiq Mohammed Al-Amari met with Ambassador of Sudan to Qatar H E Badreddine Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed. They discussed ways to enhance media cooperation and reviewed the most prominent challenges facing Sudanese journalists amidst the ongoing»»»

Tripoli: The State of Qatar has taken part in a high-level Arab event on implementing the Arab strategy for older persons, held in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Libya, H E Dr Khalid Mohammed bin Zaben Al Dosari, represented the country at the event.»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaWealth tax: Why are countries afraid to tax the ultrarich?Timothy RooksGrowing income inequality and public displays of billionaire power are increasing calls for new income and wealth taxes aimed at the world's richest individuals. Can wealth ever be taxed fairly? h»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s real estate rental market has shown strong growth, supported by rising activity and sustained demand, the Public Authority for Real Estate Regulatory Affairs (Aqarat) has said. In a post on its X account, Aqarat reported that the number of rental contracts signed in 2025 has ex»»»

Doha, Qatar: With several schools under Qatar Foundation (QF) resuming in-person classes, enhanced safety measures and emergency preparedness drills are being prioritised to ensure the wellbeing of students and staff amid the current regional situation. Qatar Foundation continues to reinforce its c»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar ports (Hamad, Ruwais and Doha) witnessed growth in handling of the container and cargo volumes in March this year. Mwani Qatar stated in a post on its X platform, yesterday “Ports received over 44,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in March 2026, in addition to handling appr»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Case Studies and Analysis Department at the State Cases Affairs Sector has announced the introduction of a new service titled “Lessons Learned.” The Ministry of Justice, in a statement, said that this service provides summaries and key takeaways from final court rulings that have b»»»

In a wide-ranging conversation with Al Majalla, Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin gave a measured yet unwavering assessment of where the Palestinian cause stands—and where it must go. She argues that Israel's conduct since the 1993 Oslo Accords has not only strained the peace pr»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Wajba clinched the title of the third Al Thumama Ramadan Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Al Rayyan in the final, capping a strong run in the youth competition for players aged 10 to 14. The champions received QR7,000 along with gold medals, while the team’s captain marked the occ»»»

From missile interceptions near Abu Dhabi to travel, education and price updates, here’s what UAE residents need to know today as regional tensions continue to impact daily life. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Missile intercepted near Abu Dhabi e»»»

A military An-26 aircraft crashed into rocky terrain east of Sevastopol, killing seven crew members and 23 personnel on board. The Soviet-built turboprop aircraft went down at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 31 March, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said, citing a technical malfunction as the preliminary ca»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) Cup, part of the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026, will kick off today and will run for four days at the Longines Arena of Al Shaqab. More than 170 riders, including ranked riders representing 21 countries, will compete in one- to five-star categories for»»»

Doha, Qatar: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 runners-up France are at the top of FIFA Men’s World Rankings for the first time since September 2018 Spain while Argentina have dropped down to second and third place, respectively. World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar, who have also qualified for the 2026 tournament, »»»

Four astronauts – three Americans and one Canadian – blasted off Wednesday on NASA’s Artemis II, humanity’s first lunar flight in over 50 years. The 32-storey rocket soared from Kennedy Space Center, marking the start of a decade-long plan for sustainable Moon exploration and a future landing near »»»

Israel said it came under Iranian missile fire on Thursday after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the Iranian republic into the "Stone Ages" with heavy strikes in the next two to three weeks. In a speech from the White House, Trump sought to reassure war-weary Americans that the militar»»»

A small gas-canister bomb exploded early Thursday outside a block of flats in central Athens, police said, causing minor damage and no injury. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and the target was unclear. The pre-dawn blast damaged the entrance to the building on the cor»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has resumed its educational programme, “Principles of Islamic Sciences,” delivered by a distinguished group of specialized preachers, as part of its ongoing “Ta’seel wa Tahseel” (Foundation and Attainment) initiative. Organized by the Departmen»»»

Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) announced yesterday that Qatar has joined the Nice Agreement on the International Classification of Goods and Services, as part of efforts to enhance investor services and modernize its legislative and regulatory framework in line with global devel»»»

Democrats criticized while Republicans praised President Donald Trump's Wednesday night address to the nation on the war in Iran. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- Democrats late Wednesday lambasted President Donald Trump's Iran war address to the nation for shifting ti»»»

Gold retreated from two-week highs on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said that Washington would continue its military campaign in Iran in the coming weeks, pushing crude prices sharply higher and dampening hopes of interest rate cuts. Spot gold was down 2% at $4,664.39 per ounce, as of 04»»»

US President Donald Trump made fun of the French president and his wife during a private lunch Wednesday, as he lambasted NATO allies for not joining the war against Iran that has roiled the Middle East. "We didn't need them, but I asked anyway," Trump told a private lunch in a video posted briefly»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Social Development and Family has announced the launch of a unified digital platform that encompasses all its public services, marking a significant step in its digital transformation and efforts to enhance accessibility and efficiency. This initiative is expected to si»»»