Pune horror: Godman held for rape, forcing women to drink urine
Dubai: A self-styled godman and seven associates have been arrested in Pune after police uncovered what investigators describe as a years-long cycle of sexual abuse, psychological manipulation and financial exploitation allegedly carried out from a hidden underground ashram. The main accused, ident»»»
Lahore HC halts Punjab move to take over Ewing Hall
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday restrained the Punjab government from taking any further action regarding the 11.5-kanal Ewing Hall property belonging to Forman Christian College University (FCCU), following a dispute over the cancellation of its lease, Dawn reported. Justice Ahmad Nadeem»»»
Abu Dhabi property deals hit record Dh38.1 billion in first quarter
Dubai: Abu Dhabi’s residential property market recorded its strongest first quarter on record, with Dh38.1 billion worth of sales across 8,100 transactions between January and March, according to Cavendish Maxwell. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The total value of hom»»»
DIFC gives firms 30 days to respond to new AI data rules
Dubai: Dubai International Financial Centre has opened a 30-day public consultation on proposed changes to its Data Protection Regulations, with the amendments aimed at strengthening rules around personal data, artificial intelligence systems and governance standards. Sign up for our daily business»»»
Indian teen dies trying to save mother in New York carriage tragedy
NEW YORK: An 18-year-old Indian tourist died after leaping from a runaway horse-drawn carriage to help his mother when she was thrown from the vehicle during a family visit to New York City's Central Park. Romanch Mahajan was on his first trip to New York with his parents and younger brother when t»»»
Trump demanded unconditional surrender. Iran forced a deal
DUBAI: On March 6, at the height of the US-Iran war, President Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum to Tehran. “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,” he declared, signalling confidence that overwhelming military pressure would force Iran to capitulate. More than three mont»»»
flydubai launches Benghazi flights with Dubai fares starting from Dh4,500
Dubai: flydubai has launched direct flights to Benghazi, becoming the first UAE carrier to operate services to the Libyan city. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai-based airline will fly three times a week to Benghazi Benina International Airport, expanding its A»»»
Emirates NBD completes $2.75 billion investment in RBL Bank, takes 60% stake
Dubai: Emirates NBD has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in India’s RBL Bank through a primary capital infusion of about $2.75 billion, or nearly Rs260 billion, marking one of the largest cross-border banking deals in India. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»
UAE Ministry of Finance launches new strategy to strengthen fiscal performance
Dubai: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has announced the launch of the Ministry of Finance’s 2027-2029 Strategic Plan. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.T»»»
Dubai gold prices rise again, with 24K up over Dh11 per gram on Thursday morning
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai surged on Thursday morning, reversing Wednesday’s dip as global bullion rose after the signing of an interim peace agreement between the US and Iran. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up f»»»
UAE Central Bank keeps base rate unchanged at 3.65% after Fed decision
Dubai: UAE borrowers waiting for cheaper mortgages, car loans and business finance may have to wait longer after the Central Bank of the UAE kept its Base Rate unchanged at 3.65%. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The decision, announced on June 17, followed the US Feder»»»
US rate relief hopes fade as Fed officials signal possible hikes ahead
Dubai: The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, but borrowers hoping for relief received a clear warning after nearly half of policymakers signalled support for at least one rate hike later this year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The decisi»»»
JVC, MBR City and Meydan could gain most from Dubai Gold Line
Dubai: Dubai’s planned Gold Line is beginning to influence the investment case for some of the city’s busiest residential districts, with brokers and developers expecting the biggest lift in communities where property demand has grown faster than public transport access. Sign up for our daily busin»»»
Saudi Arabia, Uruguay sign sports cooperation pact
Agreement covers exchange of programs, expertise and technology, with cooperation in sports medicine, anti-doping and Paralympic sport Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal signed a memorandum of understand»»»
China, India, Iraq...: Where Iran's $100 billion is frozen
Dubai: From bank accounts in China and Iraq to restricted funds in Qatar and South Korea, tens of billions of dollars belonging to Iran remain frozen abroad — and gaining access to that money has emerged as one of Tehran's top demands in negotiations with the Trump administration. According to a re»»»
Arada begins its London expansion with 172 apartments above Swiss Cottage station
Dubai: Arada has started the pre-launch phase of 100 Avenue Road, a 172-apartment residential development in London’s Swiss Cottage, marking the UAE-headquartered developer’s first London product after its acquisition of Regal last year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»
Trump once attacked Iran cash deals. Now he’s defending a $300 billion fund
Washington: US President Donald Trump is facing criticism over a proposed reconstruction and investment fund for Iran that could be worth up to $300 billion, with opponents arguing it resembles arrangements he fiercely criticised under former president Barack Obama, according to a CNN analysis. The»»»
Revolut moves closer to UAE launch after securing Central Bank licences
Dubai: Revolut has received Stored Value Facilities and Retail Payment Services licences from the Central Bank of the UAE, clearing a major regulatory step before the global fintech launches its local product offering. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The approval follo»»»
AI-driven challenger banks are forcing traditional lenders to rebuild for a faster future
Dubai: Global banks could see profit pools fall by $170 billion by 2030 unless they move faster on AI, data and digital-first operating models, according to a new DIFC report that describes the industry’s biggest structural shift since the 2008 financial crisis. Sign up for our daily business newsl»»»
President Iotova Attends Launch of 2026 Harvest Near Lovech
Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova attended the opening of the Golden Harvest Lovech 2026 Campaign in the village of Drenov near Lovech on Wednesday. According to the head of State, the harvest tradition is passed down from generation to generation and reflects the Bulgarian people's rapport with th»»»
Who was Sai Karthik Varma Datla? Indian techie among 12 killed in Missouri skydiving plane crash
Dubai: An Indian technology professional who had built a promising career in the United States was among 12 people killed when a skydiving aircraft crashed and burst into flames shortly after take-off in Missouri, authorities said. Sai Karthik Varma Datla, 24, from Andhra Pradesh, died along with t»»»
Seoul to ease restricted zone for civilians near North Korean border - UPI.com
South Korea's Defense Ministry announced plans Wednesday to move the boundaries of the Civilian Control Line closer to the inter-Korean border. In this file photo, a South Korean military guard post is seen near the DMZ in Paju on February 12, 2021. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo »»»
UAE Central Bank completes Project Aperta to speed up secure cross-border financial data sharing
Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE has completed Project Aperta, a cross-border open finance initiative designed to make international financial data exchange faster, safer and more efficient for businesses and financial institutions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Th»»»
QNB brings together entrepreneurs, industry leaders to support Qatar’s next growth story
Doha, Qatar: QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has launched SME Local Business Boost, a series of events which aim to create sector-focused platforms that strengthen engagement across Qatar’s Small and Medium Enterprise ecosystem. The inaugural event brought »»»
Dubai gold prices ease after June rebound, but 24K stays above Dh520
Dubai: Dubai gold prices edged slightly lower on Wednesday morning, although the market remained well above the lows seen earlier this month as global bullion held near recent gains. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign»»»
Will war-driven construction costs make Dubai homes more expensive for buyers?
Dubai: Dubai’s construction sector is still getting the materials it needs, but the war has made procurement costlier, slower and harder to predict as developers reroute cargo, lean more on regional suppliers and adjust buying plans. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The»»»
Egypt, Kenya discuss boosting African vaccine, drug manufacturing
Egypt and Kenya discussed expanding cooperation in healthcare and strengthening pharmaceutical security across Africa, focusing on local manufacturing of medicines and vaccines, reducing reliance on imports, and increasing the exchange of medical expertise. Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population»»»
Eight big questions hanging over the US-Iran memorandum of understanding
Dubai: The United States and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at extending the ceasefire that ended months of conflict and creating a pathway towards a broader settlement. But while the agreement has eased immediate fears of renewed fighting, many of its most important pro»»»
UAE distributes over Dh46b in VAT and excise revenues after 15% rise
Dubai: The UAE distributed more than Dh46 billion in Value Added Tax and Excise Tax revenues to federal and local governments by the end of 2025, marking a 15% increase from the previous year, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now -»»»
Sharjah hotel guests jump 22% to 2.1 million as revenues hit Dh780 million
Dubai: Sharjah’s hotels welcomed 2.1 million guests in 2025, a 22% increase on the previous year, as stronger airport traffic and new travel links helped drive demand across the emirate’s hospitality sector, according to Cavendish Maxwell. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app»»»
No tolls, just fees? What Iran's plan for Strait of Hormuz means
DUBAI: Iran says it is not planning to charge ships tolls for passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, it insists vessels will pay fees for services provided in one of the world's most strategically important waterways. The distinction may sound technical, but it lies at the heart of a growin»»»
DMCC is building a new platform to help firms read the future of global trade
Dubai: DMCC is planning to launch DMCC Campus and DMCC Intelligence, two new platforms designed to help businesses, governments and institutions navigate a global trade environment being reshaped by technology, geopolitics and economic change. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Ba»»»
Central banks see gold taking a larger share of reserves over the next five years
Dubai: Central banks are expected to keep buying gold over the next year, with reserve managers increasingly treating the metal as a strategic asset during periods of crisis, geopolitical uncertainty and pressure on the US dollar, according to the World Gold Council. (Check latest UAE gold prices h»»»
A $112b global credit firm is setting up in DIFC after DFSA approval
Dubai: Dubai International Financial Centre has welcomed Oak Hill Advisors after the global credit-focused alternative investment firm received regulatory authorisation from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to establish in the emirate. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bala»»»
Mubadala backs a UK-Ireland power link that can support 380,000 homes
Dubai: Mubadala Investment Company has acquired $200 million of Equitix’s stake in Greenlink, a subsea electricity interconnector linking Great Britain with Ireland, in a deal that expands the Abu Dhabi sovereign investor’s presence in European energy infrastructure. Sign up for our daily business »»»
Dubai gold buyers watch Dh520 level after steep June drop and quick rebound
Dubai: Dubai gold prices dipped slightly on Tuesday morning, but remained above the Dh520 mark after a volatile month that saw local rates swing from early-June highs to a sharp mid-month drop before recovering again. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar»»»
Abu Dhabi’s Dh55b PPP push could change how everyday infrastructure gets built
Dubai: Abu Dhabi’s Dh55 billion public-private partnership pipeline marks a major expansion of private-sector participation in infrastructure delivery, moving the emirate’s PPP model beyond its traditional base in power and water projects, according to S&P Global Ratings. Sign up for our daily busi»»»
'Some sleep in our home': Meet the Emirati in Dubai caring for 30 cats and rescuing animals from the desert and parks
Abdulkarim Ismail Al Zarouni might be a little reserved when it comes to speaking about himself. Yet, when it comes to rescuing abandoned cats from different corners of UAE, the stories begin to flow. And due to his efforts, in one corner of the city, nearly 30 street cats know exactly where to go »»»
Palm Jebel Ali moves closer to first villa handovers in Dubai
Dubai: Construction activity is progressing across key residential areas of Palm Jebel Ali, with the delivery of ultra-luxury villas currently underway and handovers scheduled to commence later this year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.In an exclusive interview with G»»»
South Korea’s Hyosung expands U.S. power equipment production - UPI.com
Hyosung, Quanta unit to produce high-voltage circuit breakers in Pennsylvania from October Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon. Photo by YONHAP / EPA June 14 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Hyosung Group is expanding its presence in the U.S. power equipment market by establishing a local production »»»
Trump says 'let the oil flow', but Hormuz reopening still uncertain
Dubai: A fragile US-Iran framework agreement aimed at halting hostilities has been hailed by President Donald Trump as a diplomatic breakthrough — but key elements of the deal remain disputed, with uncertainty over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and enforcement mechanisms. »»»
Akal Takht declares Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann ‘anti-Guru’, asks Sikh community to shun him
Dubai: The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikhs, on Monday declared Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann “anti-Guru” and “Panth Virodhi (anti-community)” and asked the Sikh community to sever all ties with him over an alleged objectionable video and a controversial law passed by t»»»
More British companies are choosing Dubai for expansion
Dubai: Dubai attracted 562 new British companies to its main chamber in the first quarter of 2026, as business links between the emirate and the UK continue to strengthen. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The new registrations brought the total number of active British »»»
Payasam spills on Kerala minister during free bus scheme launch
Dubai: A light-hearted but awkward moment marked the launch of Kerala’s flagship free bus travel scheme for women on Monday, when hot payasam (kheer) accidentally spilled on Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna inside a crowded KSRTC bus in Kollam. The incident happened during the rol»»»
Gold, stocks and Bitcoin rally as oil drops after US-Iran deal eases market fears
Dubai: Global markets rallied on Monday after the US and Iran reached an interim agreement to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over energy supplies, inflation and the risk of further pressure on interest rates. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bal»»»
DXN takes off: Noida International Airport begins operations. What to know about India’s newest aviation hub
Dubai: More than 70 kilometres from Delhi, India’s newest aviation gateway — the Noida International Airport in Jewar — officially began operations on Monday, marking a major milestone for western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR). The first commercial flight, operated by IndiGo, »»»
Pakistan military aircraft crashes, killing two pilots
Dubai: A Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft crashed in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing both pilots on board, the military said, in the second deadly aviation accident involving the armed forces in less than a week. The aircraft went down near the city of Mardan during a routine training s»»»
Stanford graduation disrupted as students walk out during Sundar Pichai speech over Israel deal
Dubai: Stanford University’s 2026 graduation ceremony was disrupted on Sunday when around 200 students walked out in protest as Google CEO Sundar Pichai took the stage, turning a celebration for thousands of graduates into a demonstration over the company’s ties to Israeli government contracts. As »»»
Hezbollah Military Media Releases Footage of Targeting Israeli Personnel Carrier in Ainatha, South Lebanon
Hezbollah Military Media released a footage displaying an Islamic Resistance drone attack on n “Israeli” enemy army armored personnel carrier in Ainatha town in southern Lebanon with an Ababil loitering glider [FPV]. #Watch | #Hezbollah fighters target an “Israeli” enemy army armored personnel carr»»»
6.2-magnitude quake strikes off southern Philippines
Dubai: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck offshore waters southeast of Mindanao on Monday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS). Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.In an advisory issued at 5.18p»»»