Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s housing market is beginning to diverge across cities, with Jeddah recording its strongest year in recent memory while Riyadh shows signs of strain and Dammam gains ground on pricing appeal. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.According to Cavendish Ma»»»

North Korea on Thursday condemned a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution criticizing its human rights record, calling the measure a “grave political provocation." In this photo, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the opening of the 61st session of the Council in Geneva,»»»

The Israeli enemy army announced that search and rescue forces are combing areas in northern ‘Israel’ following the fall of rocket debris originating from Lebanon. The operations focus on locating scattered fragments and securing affected zones. A powerful explosion rocked northern occupied Palesti»»»

Dubai: Artemis II marked a historic milestone as four astronauts blasted off on a journey around the Moon, reigniting human exploration beyond Earth orbit. Launched aboard NASA’s powerful Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center, the mission lifted off at approximately 6:35 pm local tim»»»

BEIJING: Oil prices jumped by more than four dollars during early trading on Thursday, following US President Donald Trump's address, in which he confirmed that strikes on Iran would continue. Brent crude futures rose by as much as $4.88, or 4.8 percent, to $106.04 a barrel, while US West Texas Int»»»

Dubai: In a time of uncertainty across the region, a moment of hope emerged at Dubai’s largest wildlife park with the birth of a second white rhino calf. The endangered species saw a healthy male born to mother Olive, later named Salam, the Arabic word for peace. The birth adds an important chapter»»»

NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission lifted off late on Wednesday (April 1) on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to begin their journey around the Moon. The SLS rocket lifted the Orion spacecraft and its four‑person crew — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hanson — from Nasa's »»»

Doha, Qatar: For many households in Qatar, the problem is not buying more. It is paying more for the same basket. You go out for essentials, stick to your usual products, avoid unnecessary extras, and still come back wondering how the total increased again. That is exactly why so many shoppers feel»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have warned motorists of strict penalties for reckless behaviour that endangers lives, flagging dangerous acts such as opening car doors while vehicles are in motion and filming social media videos on the road. The warning is part of the police’s strategic priority of pr»»»

The Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan will carry out an inventory of its laws and resolutions. Speaker Marlen Mamataliev announced at a parliamentary session. According to him, the Parliament has adopted more than 3,000 laws and around 20,000 resolutions. «As you know, a reform is underway in the Parli»»»

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»»»

An undersea magnitude 7.4 earthquake toppled buildings in parts of northern Indonesia, sent people fleeing from their homes, killed at least one person and generated a small tsunami Thursday. Strong shaking lasting 10 to 20 seconds was felt in Bitung in North Sulawesi province as well as in Ternate»»»

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»»»

'We are at an important moment for Romania, and we can finally see that the importance of energy is being recognised. Beyond stopgap measures such as price caps or regulation, the only real solution is investment,' said Sebastian Burduja, honorary adviser to the Prime Minister, former Minister of 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 spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters said that US and Israeli assessments of Tehran’s military capabilities are inaccurate and incomplete, stressing that the country’s strategic power is far greater than its “enemies” believe. He explained that recent strikes on some Iranian sites»»»

Kyrgyzstan continues to have one of the most favorable tax regimes in Central Asia. Maria Nazarova, Tax Director at Schneider Group, said during a business-government dialogue held today in Bishkek, presenting a regional overview. According to her, the main taxes in Kyrgyzstan remain lower than in »»»

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 »»»

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»»»

As of March 31, 2026, the National Bank of Romania's foreign exchange reserves were standing at EUR 67,032 million, up from EUR 65,023 million on February 28, 2026.During the month, the following flows were recorded: EUR 9,424 million worth of inflows representing: changes in credit institutions' f»»»

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»»»

Any erosion of political stability has repercussions for Romania, a key concern for rating agencies, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said on Wednesday."All discussions that affect stability - not just actions, but discussions themselves - have an impact on us. Rating agencies raise this issue dur»»»

The declaration of a crisis situation on the crude oil and/or petroleum products market comes into force on Wednesday and will remain valid until 30 June, with a package of measures being introduced during this period in order to protect citizens and the economy, according to the Emergency Ordinanc»»»

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»»»

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: GCC economies are forecast to contract this year as recent regional escalations continue to weigh on economic activity, according to ICAEW’s latest Economic Insight Q1 2026 report, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics. Set against a softening global growth backdrop, the report»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

Madrid: Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Spain H E Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi joined a meeting in Madrid with Spain’s foreign minister and Their Excellencies GCC ambassadors to discuss recent regional developments. During the meeting, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Coope»»»

Doha, Qatar: Racing returned to Al Rayyan Racecourse after a fortnight and the highlight of the day did not disappoint as Dubawi Spectre stole the show to claim the Al Jassasiya Cup in a nail-biting finish last evening. The six-year-old gelding, owned by Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud, bided his ti»»»