Iran’s parliament speaker has categorically refuted successive false claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the rules set by the Islamic Republic concerning transit through the strategic waterway. In a post on X on Friday, Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf wrote, “The US p»»»

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said the Golan Heights are “occupied Syrian land” and that any recognition of Israeli sovereignty there would be “null and void,” stressing that the international community does not accept Israel’s claim. Speaking at the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Sharaa said Is»»»

Tehran: Although the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the world's oil supply, has been declared fully open for commercial vessels, its operational status remains contested. Both Washington and Tehran confirmed on Friday that the strait had been completely open for all commercial vessels. Howe»»»

Audio guide systems have been installed at the national historical and archaeological museum complex Sulaiman-Too in Osh. The complex’s director, Mederbek Aparkhanov, reported. He said that QR code signs have been placed at each cultural site, including the main and cave museums, as well as key loc»»»

The crescent moon marking the start of Dhu Al Qadah 1447 AH was photographed from Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning by the International Astronomy Center. The image was captured at 10:00am UAE time on April 18, 2026, from the Khatm Astronomical Observatory, with the moon located 11.7 degrees from the s»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police has reviewed its financial sustainability plans as part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen governance and support long-term stability. The discussion took place during the second meeting of the Financial Sustainability Council, chaired by Dr Major General Ahmad»»»

The Ministry of Economy and Trade announced last Thursday (16 April) that its Minister, Suhail Abushiha, had approved the decisions for the formation of four foreign and joint venture (JV) companies to support the investment climate in several vital sectors. The Ministry said this comes within the »»»

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has conducted extensive field inspections across private schools in the emirate to assess their readiness for either a return to in-person learning or the continuation of remote education. The move underscores the authority’s commitment to »»»

As part of its ongoing efforts to advance a sustainable mobility ecosystem in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, announced that its green bus fleet has exceeded 1.3 million environmentally friendly kilomet»»»

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan's army chief completed a three-day visit to Tehran, the country's military said on Saturday, having met top Iranian leaders and negotiators as part of efforts to end the Middle East war. Field Marshal Asim Munir met several top Iranian leaders during the trip, which sh»»»

Dubai Police have warned residents about a growing cyber fraud tactic involving fake QR codes being circulated through text messages, emails and even public spaces. Authorities said scammers are creating codes that appear legitimate, often luring users with offers such as prizes, discounts and excl»»»

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) marked World Public Transport Day with a special tribute, illuminating Burj Khalifa to highlight the role of public transport in building sustainable, connected cities. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.In»»»

Tehran's announcement on Friday that the critical Strait of Hormuz was reopen to commercial shipping for the remainder of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire was followed by a flurry of social media posts by US President Donald Trump suggesting that a peace deal could be reached "soon". But Iranian offici»»»

Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome Robert B. Murrett, retired Vice Admiral in the US Navy, Professor of Practice and Deputy Director of the Syracuse University's Institute for Security Policy and Law. The Israel-Lebanon and US-Iran ceasefires are at a critical juncture In the evolving geopolitical dyn»»»

A new report by Cisco shows wireless networks in Saudi Arabia are no longer just a connectivity layer. They are a direct driver of performance and growth. The study draws on responses from 6,098 decision-makers and technical specialists across 30 markets, including 106 organizations in the Kingdom,»»»

US President Donald Trump said the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain and attacks will resume if no agreement is reached with Iran, after Tehran said it had fully reopened the strait to commercial vessels but threatened to close it again over the US blockade. Asked by a reporter Friday ni»»»

Syrian government forces have taken control of Qasrak air base in the northeastern province of Hasakah following the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition, SANA reported on April 16 citing a statement issued by the Syrian defence ministry. »»»

Syrian government forces have taken control of Qasrak air base in the northeastern province of Hasakah following the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition, SANA reported on April 16 citing a statement issued by the Syrian defence ministry. »»»

Hardline voices in Iran have criticised Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for posting what they called an incomplete and poorly framed tweet announcing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported on April 17. »»»

Syrian government forces have taken control of Qasrak air base in the northeastern province of Hasakah following the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition, SANA reported on April 16 citing a statement issued by the Syrian defence ministry. »»»

Syrian government forces have taken control of Qasrak air base in the northeastern province of Hasakah following the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition, SANA reported on April 16 citing a statement issued by the Syrian defence ministry. »»»

Hardline voices in Iran have criticised Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for posting what they called an incomplete and poorly framed tweet announcing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported on April 17. »»»

Hardline voices in Iran have criticised Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for posting what they called an incomplete and poorly framed tweet announcing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim News Agency reported on April 17. »»»

Hungary’s outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that his party, Fidesz, requires "full renewal" following its electoral defeat last weekend, but he also confirmed he intends to remain in his position as president of the party and oversee its reorganisation, liberal Hvg.hu wro»»»

US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, opening the door to direct negotiations between the two sides. Without a truce, the war between Israel and Hezbollah would remain open-ended, bringing more destruction and displacement to southern Lebanon. But a ceas»»»

On April 25, the Ooedodaiko group, a group from the Kyrgyz-Japanese Center that has been transforming every performance into a true triumph of strength and rhythm for a quarter century, will take the stage at the Toktobolot Abdumomunov Kyrgyz National Academic Drama Theater, the organizers reported»»»

The Trump administration is pushing countries worldwide to back a "trade over aid" declaration at the UN, part of a broader effort to overhaul how Washington spends billions of dollars in foreign assistance. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Eric Pelofsky, Vice President of Global Economic R»»»

The Strait of Hormuz will be “completely open” to commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media Friday. US President Donald Trump welcomed the move, thanking Tehran for reopening the critical waterway. Read our liveblog to see ho»»»

A 10-day ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel came into effect this Friday, though the Lebanese army has already reported several alleged violations in the southern border region, where these images were taken. US President Donald Trump announced the deal and said he has invited both coun»»»

Residents on Friday began to return to their homes in Beirut's southern suburbs after a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon came into effect. For many, Israel's relentless bombing campaign has left little to go back to. In cars and on motorbikes, people trickled back into Beirut's southern subu»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), announced yesterday a major success in fundamentally reengineering its processes, resulting in a reduction of service delivery time by up to 90%. Some transactions can now be completed in as little as six minutes. The Ministry stated that this achi»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday hosted a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. Macron welcomed Iran's announcement that the wate»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are chairing a meeting of around 40 so-called “non-belligerent” countries this Friday to discuss securing the Strait of Hormuz. The closure of this vital route—now subject to both an Iranian blockade and a retaliatory US one—h»»»

An 85-year-old Frenchwoman who was arrested by ICE after her American veteran husband died has returned to France, the French foreign ministry announced Friday. The detention of Marie-Thérèse Ross – who had moved to the US to marry her long-lost love and was still waiting for her Green Card applica»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday chair a meeting of allies to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends. France24 Internation»»»

On one of Paris's most prestigious avenues stands the former home of Jeffrey Epstein. As the world has discovered, the late convicted paedophile's activities went way beyond simply owning real estate around the world. In a special edition, Annette Young speaks to survivors and their supporters who&»»»

China's President Xi Jinping has broken a six-week silence about the war in Iran, vowing to take a "constructive" role in efforts to end the conflict. Beijing is wary of being drawn into a war it took no part in, and faces a delicate balancing act between its long-term partnership with Iran and its»»»

François Picard is pleased to welcome Irfan Nooruddin, the Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor of Indian Politics in the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University. As a scholar of Indian politics, he approaches institutional reform not as a question of isolated policy change, but as a re»»»

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is managing the repercussions of a public rebuke from US President Donald Trump this week over the pope, Iran and a defence deal with Israel. It's a rupture that had been building since the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran and may ultimately serve her po»»»

They are known as "forever chemicals": synthetic compounds that resist breakdown in the human body and the environment. Also known as PFAS, there are thousands of them, and you might not even realise that you are being exposed to them while doing simple everyday tasks like cooking. The EU does have»»»

Dubai-based airline flydubai has announced new recruitment for its cabin crew team, inviting applications from candidates ready to build a career in aviation and customer service. The airline, which operates a growing network across more than 100 destinations, said the role offers an opportunity to»»»

The confrontation between the United States and Iran is no longer a conventional political dispute; it has evolved into a multidimensional crisis with military, economic, security, and environmental ramifications that threaten not only the stability of the Arabian Gulf but also the broader internat»»»

Share: Photo- Blackened buildings and burned-out cars… scenes from Beirut’s southern suburbs. © Fadel Itani, AFP Residents on Friday began to return to their homes in Beirut’s southern suburbs after a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon came into effect. For many, Israel’s relentless bombing ca»»»

An Irish man alleged to run the day-to-day operations of an international money laundering and firearms trafficking cartel was arrested this week in Dubai. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- An Irish man who allegedly laundered money and trafficked drugs and firearms t»»»

Ankara , April 17 (SANA) Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the latest regional and international developments. The Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that the trilateral meeting, held on the side»»»

Istanbul: The emergency item submitted by the State of Qatar, represented by the Shura Council, has secured overwhelming approval for inclusion on the agenda of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently underway in Istanbul. The vote marks the first time an emerge»»»

DOHA: Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar HE Yun Hyunsoo and Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar HE Naoto Hisajima visited the ice rink at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, located at Al Sadd Sports Club, to review the facilities dedicated to ice sports. The visit came»»»

Heavy traffic develops before the Qasmiyeh Bridge as displaced residents return to their homes near Tyre, southern Lebanon, on Friday. Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day cease-fire, Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 17 (UPI) -- The Israel-Hezbollah war, temporarily halted by a»»»

April 17 (UPI) -- A Chinese car company successfully filed to patent a voice-activated "in-vehicle toilet" that slides out from under a passenger seat. Chongqing-based automaker Seres filed an application under patent number CN224104011U in April 2025, and the patent was officially authorized earli»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said, “Negotiations will never come at the expense of Lebanon’s rights, principles or sovereignty”, adding, “They reflect strength rather than weakness”. In an address to the nation, Aoun noted the ongoing negotiations are “not a sign of weakness, retreat or concessio»»»