Japan and France agreed on Wednesday to coordinate closely on efforts to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers, as US President Donald Trump said Washington would play no role in securing the vital waterway. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said after talk»»»

Hey, good news! The EU has found a new source of desperately needed gas amid the current energy crunch. The bad news? It’s in the US. So it will serve America, first. With Europe getting any sloppy seconds that Daddy Trump feels like overcharging it for when he isn’t threatening to invade. It’ll be»»»

When a hiker fell from a 55-meter (180-foot) waterfall in wild New Zealand bush, rescuers were forced to evacuate the badly hurt woman without her dog, which couldn't be found. After strangers raised thousands of dollars for a search, border collie Molly was flown to safety by a helicopter pilot wh»»»

The caretaker government's commitments to organizing fair elections were the focus of a meeting between Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Dunja Mijatovic, head of the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the government press servic»»»

DOHA: Orthopedists at a Hamad Medical Corporation hospital have performed a pioneering microscopic spinal surgery to treat a patient with spinal stenosis. The highly delicate procedure, carried out at Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiya Hospital, is the first of its kind in the facility and was previously p»»»

A Thessaloniki court on Wednesday convicted two men in a revenge porn case involving an influencer that was held behind closed doors due to the nature of the charges. The former partner of influencer Ioanna Touni and a friend of his were given suspended prison sentences after being convicted of mal»»»

Dubai has introduced a package of transport-related incentives, including fee exemptions and discounts, aimed at supporting families and enhancing quality of life, authorities said. The initiative, aligned with the National Family Growth Agenda 2031, follows an agreement between the Ministry of Fam»»»

President Iliana Iotova has refused to convene a National Security Council in connection with a note served by Iran, saying that in her view there is no problem. “We, as citizens, believe there is,” said There Is Such a People (TISP) floor leader Toshko Yordanov after a meeting with the head of sta»»»

Lille, France: Two migrants died Wednesday while trying to cross the Channel to Britain, French maritime authorities said. Rescue services responded to eight people in distress following an attempt to board a vessel on the northern French coast, according to the maritime prefecture for the Channel »»»

Dubai: Airfares between the UAE and India are likely to come under upward pressure after Indian carrier IndiGo announced a revision in fuel charges, driven by a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. The airline confirmed that updated fuel surcharges will apply to all new bookings made from 1 am on April 2»»»

Polish ultramarathon runner Dominika Stelmach claimed a standout victory at the Antalya Ultra Trail, underlining her position among the world’s top endurance athletes. Held in southern Turkey, the race spans dramatic terrain between the Mediterranean coast and the Taurus Mountains. Starting at sea »»»

A series of cyber attacks targeting key public institutions in Albania in recent weeks have not caused significant or irreparable damage, according to Economy Minister Delina Ibrahimaj. The attacks are reported to have affected systems linked to parliament, the national postal service and, most rec»»»

Dubai: UN aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has issued a strong condemnation of attacks attributed to Iran, describing them as unlawful acts that pose a direct threat to the safety of international civil aviation. At its 237th session in Montreal on April 1, the ICA»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov met with representatives of the Jewish community in Bulgaria on the occasion of the major religious holiday of Passover, the government press service reported in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Alina Levi, Chair of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria Shalom, pre»»»

Whenever war rocks northern Israel, residents of Kiryat Shmona live their lives to the rhythm of rocket sirens. Young people have left the city, and those who remain feel neglected by the government. Some mere three kilometers from Lebanon, this northern settlement is living through its second war »»»

Dubai: As tensions continue to unfold across the region, many Emiratis say their sense of security and trust in the nation’s leadership remains unwavering. Across the UAE, citizens describe a climate of calm resilience, with daily life continuing as normal and communities standing firmly united beh»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library has revealed a 1,000-year-old manuscript titled “Gharib Al Quran”, authored by the early scholar Abu Ubaidah Mamar Ibn Al Muthanna. The manuscript, dating to the fourth century, consists of 23 folios measuring 17 by 22 cm. It is written in clear A»»»

Dubai: The regional aviation map has changed completely in just over a month. Airspace restrictions, temporary closures, and safety-driven rerouting have forced airlines to suspend some flights, reduce schedules, and reroute many services along longer corridors to avoid affected zones. The UAE’s Ge»»»

Dubai: Beauty pageants have long been more than just a display of physical beauty. In Southeast Asia, they are a cultural phenomenon that carries deep significance for communities both at home and abroad. For many Filipinos, Thais, and Vietnamese among others, pageants are closely tied to national »»»

1 of 2 | A snake named Ronaldo gave birth to 12 babies without the participation of a mate two years after giving virgin birth to 14 babies. Photo courtesy of the City of Portsmouth College March 31 (UPI) -- A Brazilian rainbow boa snake living at England's City of Portsmouth College gave birth to »»»

Britain's King Charles will address the US Congress on April 28 during his visit to Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday. Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the US in a long-planned trip to mark the 250th anniversary of that country's independence from »»»

Sharjah has introduced remote working for employed mothers in the government sector, aiming to support work-life balance and family stability, officials said. Hesham Suhail Al Qahtani, Director of HR Systems at the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, said the new policy allows working mothers wi»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has introduced new penalties for citizens travelling to prohibited destinations, including fines of up to SR30,000 and travel bans of up to two years, under updated regulations approved by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Minister of Interior. The fine is doubled for repeat o»»»

Dubai: ADNOC has reinforced its business continuity framework to ensure stable energy supply, with senior leadership reviewing preparedness measures amid ongoing regional tensions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Pri»»»

Dubai’s real estate market has recorded a landmark transaction with the sale of a granted land plot at the Royal Amwaj project in Palm Jumeirah for more than Dh1 billion, despite regional tensions, according to official data. Figures from the Dubai Land Department’s “Dubai REST” app showed the comm»»»

The investigation into a tragedy involving six violent deaths in two mountain areas in Bulgaria's Northwest is still in progress, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said here on Wednesday. He spoke during a hearing at an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly, prompted by "further dism»»»

Dubai: The number of travellers arriving in Dubai continues to exceed departures, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a leading global destination for living, working and long-term residence, a senior official has said. Lieutenant General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General D»»»

Abu Dhabi: Creative Media Authority’s youth arm, Creative Lab, has organised a series of online workshops during the spring break to introduce young students to storytelling and digital content creation. The initiative engaged 38 students aged 9 to 12 from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, offering »»»

Dubai: The Dubai Autism Center (DAC) has introduced a pioneering “dynamic approach” to education and rehabilitation, becoming the first specialised institution in the Middle East to implement such a model. The move signals a shift away from conventional support systems towards a more responsive fra»»»

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto has condemned "foreign interference" in the country's election campaign, following the release of wiretapped telephone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Telex.hu wrote on March 31. »»»

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto has condemned "foreign interference" in the country's election campaign, following the release of wiretapped telephone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Telex.hu wrote on March 31. »»»

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto has condemned "foreign interference" in the country's election campaign, following the release of wiretapped telephone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Telex.hu wrote on March 31. »»»

Dubai: While several Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan haven't openly praised Dhurandhar 2, there's one global star who has robustly celebrated the box-office juggernaut. And that's Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ranveer Singh's co-star from hits like Bajirao Mastani, Gunday and Dil »»»

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto has condemned "foreign interference" in the country's election campaign, following the release of wiretapped telephone conversations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Telex.hu wrote on March 31. »»»

An American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad had tried to cross from Syria into Iraq three weeks earlier and was initially turned back, an Iraqi official said Wednesday. US and Iraqi officials said Shelly Renee Kittleson had also been warned of threats against her in the days before her abdu»»»

DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has issued Amiri Decree No. (16) of 2026, reconstituting the Board of Directors of the Qatar Leadership Centre. The decree stipulates that the Board of Directors of the Qatar Leadership Centre be reconstituted under t»»»

Marek Noetzel, who officially takes the helm of NEPI Rockcastle today as CEO, has announced the new composition of the company’s Executive Committee, including the promotion of Anca Nacu to the position of Chief Investment Officer and Justyna Bartosz to the role of Group Leasing Director. These app»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued today Amiri Decision No. 16 of 2026, reconstituting the Board of Directors of the Qatar Leadership Centre. The decision stipulates that the Board of Directors of the Qatar Leadership Centre be reconstituted under the chairman»»»

Dubai: A new step to strengthen the foster care system has been taken as the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi has granted a licence to the Foster Families Association. The public benefit organisation has been set to operate as a community-driven entity, promoting a culture of »»»

One person of Indian nationality was injured after debris from an intercepted drone fell near an industrial facility in the Umm Al Thaoub area, the Umm Al Quwain Government Media Office confirmed on Wednesday. The media office said UAE air defence systems successfully intercepted a drone targeting »»»

Beirut is bursting. It's been a month since Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel after the U.S.-Israeli attack on its patron, Iran, triggering Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion. Since then, more than 1 million people from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs »»»

Dubai: Regular savers in the UAE rose by 37% in 2025 compared to the previous year, signalling a shift towards long-term financial planning among residents. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Sharia-compliant savings and investment company said bondholders’ funds cros»»»

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson has been abducted in central Baghdad on March 31 by gunmen with suspected ties to Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, Iraq's Interior Ministry confirmed. Kittleson was se»»»

Punch, the baby Japanese macaque, became a symbol of hope for many chronic social media users. Videos of him clutching a stuffed orangutan, named Mo, went viral, offering one of the most heartwarming moments amid widespread uncertainty and unrest in the world. And perhaps, that's why the internet i»»»

Dubai: When you think of the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, the first image that comes to mind is often a live concert: lights flashing, music reverberating through thousands of fans, and the thrill of a packed crowd. But understandably, in uncertain times due to regional conflict, the iconic venue is p»»»

Dubai: Filipinos planning to travel abroad have been warned against dealing with fixers offering to process Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) requirements for a fee. Authorities have stressed that such shortcuts can lead to offloading at the airport, where passengers are prevented from boardin»»»

Beirut is bursting. It's been a month since Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel after the US-Israeli attack on its patron, Iran, triggering Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion. Since then, more than 1 million people from southern and eastern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs ha»»»

Dubai: The Philippines has extended its visa relief programme for foreign nationals stranded due to the ongoing developments in the Middle East, offering them temporary legal stay without fines or penalties. Philippine justice secretary Fredderick Vida has signed department order 219, extending the»»»

Acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov flew to Kyiv, signed a 10-year defense cooperation agreement with Volodymyr Zelensky, and flew back. On paper, a straightforward show of solidarity with real strategic substance. In practice, he attached enough additional baggage to the visit to hand nearly every»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Orthopedic Surgery team at HMC’s Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital (AAH), successfully performed a precise microsurgical spinal canal decompression on a 56-year-old patient who had suffered for years from chronic pain and severe difficulty in movement due to spinal canal stenosi»»»