Focus - India's rise of rural cinema: Film productions turn to the countryside
In 2025, Panchayat became the most-watched series in India. Its success stems from its story about the head of a village council in a rural area of Uttar Pradesh. In recent years, stories from rural India have permeated the film industry, even reaching prestigious international award ceremonies. »»»
Softa Technologies outlines ZKTOR’s South Asia beta progress at New Delhi press conference
Softa Technologies, the company behind ZKTOR, outlined the South Asia beta progress of its Indian social media platform at a press conference held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The company said ZKTOR has crossed half a million beta users across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh»»»
Passport services for Indians in UAE: Alhind reveals 16 centres
Abu Dhabi: The locations of 16 new Indian consular service centres coming up across the UAE have been revealed as Alhind Tours and Travels formally signed its agreement with the Indian missions in the country on Monday. Spread across all seven emirates, the centres are set to go live on July 1, 202»»»
Media Review: May 19
OVERVIEW The Government’s measures to tighten public spending and the competition between Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas to host Eurovision 2027 after Bulgaria’s win with DARA dominated the media on Tuesday. Several outlets also covered the cost of retirement bonuses in the public sector, the ris»»»
Răzvan Pascu launches NOZOMI Travel Society, a travel agency specializing in exotic tours
A key distinguishing feature of NOZOMI Travel Society is the inclusion of special experiences within its tours, such as meetings with prominent figures or businesspeople from various countries, as well as personal and business development workshops, or tours led by renowned Romanian guides who are »»»
U.S. extends temporary Russia sanctions relief for 3rd straight month - UPI.com
Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent announced Monday that the United States would be issuing a temporary waiver on the sale of Russian oil already on vessels at sea. File Photo by Shawn Thew./UPI | License Photo May 19 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has issued temporary Russia sanctions relief f»»»
Supertanker with Iraqi Oil Heads for Vietnam After Hold-up in US Blockade
Supertanker Agios Fanourios I is heading for Vietnam to discharge its Iraqi crude oil cargo after it was held by the US Navy for five days in the Gulf of Oman, the vessel's manager said on Monday. The Maltese-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz on May 10 and was sail»»»
30-minute blackout: IndiGo passengers stranded in dark, sweltering cabin
Dubai: Around 160 passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from Vadodara to Delhi were left sweating in complete darkness for nearly 30 minutes after a ground power failure disrupted electricity supply to the aircraft before take-off. The incident occurred on IndiGo flight 6E 657 on Sunday night at Vadod»»»
Saudi budget airline flyadeal is launching flights to India for the first time
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flyadeal will begin scheduled flights to India for the first time, launching daily non-stop services between Riyadh and Hyderabad from July 1, 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move marks flyadeal’s – a subsidiary of natio»»»
South Korea Increases Purchases of Aluminum From Russia to Historic High
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - South Korea increased purchases of raw aluminum from Russia to a record amount in April, with imports reaching almost $140 million, according to Sputnik calculations based on data from the Korean statistical service. South Korean companies imported $136.5 million worth of raw alu»»»
Trump pauses Iran strike — and Dubai gold prices react. Is now a good time to buy?
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai edged lower on Tuesday morning as global markets reacted to signs of easing geopolitical tensions following US President Donald Trump's announcement that he had paused a planned military strike against Iran to allow negotiations to continue. In Dubai, 24K gold slipped to»»»
Qatar Foundation’s Lawh Wa Qalam: M.F. Husain Museum celebrates diversity through an artistic legacy
Doha, Qatar: On International Museum Day 2026, Qatar Foundation’s Lawh Wa Qalam: M. F. Husain Museum celebrates its role as an arts and culture landmark that embodies inclusivity and diversity, staying true to the vision of renowned modern art master Maqbool Fida Husain. Housed within Qatar Foundat»»»
WISE policy dialogue explores AI readiness in classrooms through global research
Doha, Qatar: The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), an initiative of Qatar Foundation hosted a policy dialogue yesterday spotlighting new global research on the integration of artificial intelligence in K–12 education. It drew on the perspectives of more than 3,000 teachers across multip»»»
Inzamam backs India-Pakistan cricket revival, says rivalry can surpass Ashes
Doha, Qatar: The soft-spoken giant, who once caressed the ball through the covers with effortless grace, still carries the calm of his batting days. Even in retirement, Inzamam-ul-Haq speaks in measured tones, choosing diplomacy over drama, but when the conversation turned to India and Pakistan cri»»»
Hanoi hits the brakes on petrol bike ban
HANOI: Millions of exhaust-belching motorbikes zip through Hanoi’s narrow streets every day fueling its chronic air pollution, but authorities have backtracked from an ambitious plan to ban them in favor of electric two-wheelers. Vehicular emissions account for more than half of the capital’s pollu»»»
Iran announces new body to manage Strait of Hormuz as peace talks stall
Iran announced a new body to oversee the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, signalling tighter control over the strategic waterway after months of disruption linked to its war with the United States and Israel. Tehran says the authority will manage maritime traffic and provide updates as tolls and restric»»»
Green steel may save India $1 trillion in coal imports: Report
Washington: India’s shift towards green steel production could help the country avoid nearly $1 trillion in long-term coking coal import costs and strengthen its position in future export markets, according to a new study released by the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) at the University of C»»»
Delhi Police arrest man, recover stolen mobile phones and bike
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) In a significant breakthrough against rising street crime and mobile snatching incidents, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the South District Police apprehended a mobile phone snatcher on Tuesday. It recovered six stolen and snatched mobile phones from his possession, an»»»
Hormuz tanker traffic edges higher after wartime low
LONDON: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was slightly higher last week, returning to levels in line with the average recorded since the start of the Middle East conflict after hitting a wartime low. A total of 55 commodities vessels crossed the strategic waterway between May 11 and 17, accordin»»»
India, Norway seal 12 agreements to deepen green strategic partnership during PM Modi's visit
Oslo: India and Norway on Monday marked a significant upgrade in bilateral ties with the signing of 12 agreements and initiatives during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the Nordic country, signalling a broad expansion of cooperation across climate, technology, maritime, and scienti»»»
US crude futures fall, Brent down nearly 3%
Oil prices fell sharply in early Asian trade, extending losses after recent volatility tied to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz began to ease and tanker traffic showed tentative signs of recovery. Market data at 9:27 a.m. Tokyo time showed: WTI crude at $102.5, down $1.87 (-1.79%) Brent crud»»»
Trump shares AI-generated alien image amid Truth Social ‘Space Force’ posts
US President Donald Trump has posted a glitchy AI-generated image of himself alongside a shackled alien in his latest flurry of space-themed Truth Social posts on Sunday. The post came just over a week after the US War Department declassified a batch of government files on unidentified flying objec»»»
US Treasury eases purchase of Russian oil in move to stabilise markets
The US Treasury Department issued a temporary 30-day general licence allowing the most energy-vulnerable nations to access Russian oil stranded at sea, aiming to stabilise global crude markets and redirect supply to "countries in need". Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the move in a state»»»
American Airlines announces one of the longest Israel flight suspensions by a major US carrier
Dubai: American Airlines has extended the suspension of its direct flights between New York and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until January 6, 2027, making it one of the longest service halts by a major international carrier since regional tensions escalated following the war involving Iran. The ai»»»
'Girl in the River Main' identified 25 years on, father arrested
A teenager nicknamed "The Girl in the River Main" after her body was found floating in Germany a quarter-century ago bearing signs of abuse has finally been identified, leading to her father's arrest, Interpol said Monday. The girl was named as Diana S, aged 16, the organisation said, adding that s»»»
Indian rupee hits new record low against UAE dirham as remittance boom gets bigger
Dubai: The Indian rupee has fallen to its weakest level ever against the UAE dirham, pushing remittance values sharply higher for millions of Indian expatriates in the Gulf while raising concerns over inflation, rising import costs and prolonged pressure on India’s economy. Get updated faster and f»»»
India's Adani to pay $275m settlement to US over Iran sanctions violations
Dubai: India's Adani Enterprises agreed to pay $275 million to settle potential civil liability related to apparent violations of US sanctions on Iran tied to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports, the US Treasury Department said on Monday. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News ap»»»
First look of India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train unveiled
Dubai: India has unveiled the first visual design of its much-awaited Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, offering an early glimpse of the country’s first high-speed rail service ahead of its planned launch in 2027. The image of the aerodynamic train was installed at Gate No. 4 of the Railway Mi»»»
Germany's crisis-hit chemical industry seeks revival
BusinessGermanyGermany's crisis-hit chemical industry seeks revivalSrinivas MazumdaruHit by high energy costs and regulation, Germany's chemical companies are scaling back production at home while expanding abroad. Can the trend be reversed? https://p.dw.com/p/5DmTSThe German chemical giant BASF ha»»»
‘I am trapped’: Final messages of former beauty queen before death
Dubai: “Mera jeevan narak ho gaya hai mummy (My life has become a living hell, Mom).” Those words, sent in a WhatsApp message to her mother days before her death, are now at the centre of a growing investigation into the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma — a former Miss Pune, MBA graduate and mark»»»
Germany: Chemical industry down, but not out
BusinessGermanyGermany: Chemical industry down, but not outSrinivas MazumdaruHit by high energy costs and regulation, Germany’s chemical companies are scaling back production at home while expanding abroad. Can the trend be reversed? https://p.dw.com/p/5DmTSThe German chemical giant BASF has embark»»»
No work, no pay: War hits hard OFWs in the Middle East
DUBAI: “The money I raise from my part-time work is not enough, so I usually just have a meal once a day to save money,” Dubai-based Filipino household helper Cinderella told Arab News. “I was working for a Syrian family here in Dubai, but they left the UAE because of the US-Iran conflict amid fear»»»
Women to travel free on KSRTC buses in Kerala
Dubai: Delivering on election promises within hours of assuming office, the maiden Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday announced a series of sweeping welfare measures, signalling the start of an assertive, people-centric governance model under the new Congress-led UDF»»»
UAE students can study medicine in India for just Dh700 a year – here’s how
While cracking India’s fiercely competitive engineering and medical entrance exams remains a daunting challenge, students from the UAE are increasingly securing seats in reputed institutions, including IITs, NITs and government medical colleges, at fees that are often lower than monthly school tuit»»»
G7 Finance Chiefs Meet to Seek Common Stance on Unstable Ground
Finance chiefs from the G7 industrialized nations gather in Paris on Monday for two days of talks aimed at forging a united front as the Middle East war roils economic prospects worldwide. France, which currently chairs the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven, faces the tricky task of keeping»»»
Kerala CM VD Satheesan holds first cabinet meeting after assuming office
Thiruvananthapuram: Shortly after taking charge as the Chief Minister of Keralam, VD Satheesan on Monday held the first meeting of his Cabinet. Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as Chief Minister earlier in the day, officially bringing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) back to »»»
India’s Lifeline Ferry Across Strategic Archipelago
Leaping from a small boat in choppy waters off India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands, George Washington jumps on board the only ferry service connecting hundreds of communities across the strategic archipelago. "These ships are a lifeline for the people," 18-year-old Washington told AFP, travelling b»»»
Thailand expands Thai Fruits & Food Festival 2026 campaign through Al Maya Supermarkets in the UAE
The Ministry of Commerce, Royal Thai Government, through the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) and Thai Trade Center Dubai, officially launched the Thai Fruits & Food Festival 2026 at Al Maya Murooj Supermarket on May 16, 2026 as part of its retail promotion campaign in the UAE. Th»»»
Encroaching World Threatens India's Last 'Uncontacted' Tribe
One of the last outsiders to make authorized visits to India's only "uncontacted" tribe says it may be time to reconnect with the isolated people -- in order to shield them from an encroaching world. Anthropologist Anstice Justin, 71, took part in the government's limited contact missions to the re»»»
Ikhlef bags silver at Asian Weightlifting Championships in India
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Ouisal Ikhlef delivered an impressive performance at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, India, claiming silver in the women’s +86kg category against a high-quality field featuring Olympic and world-level competitors. Ikhlef finished ahead of world No.2-ranked»»»
Oil touches two-week high after drone attack on UAE nuclear power plant
NEW DELHI: Oil prices extended gains on Monday as efforts to end the Iran war appeared to have stalled, after a nuclear power plant in the UAE came under attack and as US President Donald Trump is expected to discuss military options on Iran. Brent crude futures climbed $2.01, or 1.84 percent, to»»»
Thousands of flamingos transform Navi Mumbai into a stunning sea of pink
Dubai: A breathtaking natural spectacle unfolded in Navi Mumbai as thousands of migratory flamingos descended on wetlands and creek areas near the NRI Complex in Nerul, turning the landscape into a vivid sea of pink. Large flocks of the birds gathered in shallow waters and mudflats, creating a stri»»»
Encroaching world threatens India’s last ‘uncontacted’ tribe
SRI VIJAYA PURAM: One of the last outsiders to make authorized visits to India’s only “uncontacted” tribe says it may be time to reconnect with the isolated people — in order to shield them from an encroaching world. Anthropologist Anstice Justin, 71, took part in the government’s limited contact m»»»
Kerala CM oath ceremony: VD Satheesan, 20 ministers to be sworn in today
New Delhi: The swearing-in ceremony of the new Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government, headed by Chief Minister-designate V.D. Satheesan, is scheduled to be held on Monday at the Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The event will formally mark the UDF's return to power in Kerala a»»»
'Mother of all deals': India-EU cooperation to help bring stability to an unstable world — EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Gothenburg [Sweden], May 18 (ANI): European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Saturday (local time) stressed that cooperation between India and the European Union can help bring stability to an increasingly unstable world and ensure greater security for citizens. Speaking at the European»»»
What if disruption in Strait of Hormuz never ends? World already adapting to a “new normal”
Dubai: For months, governments, businesses and financial markets treated the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz as a temporary crisis that would eventually ease through diplomacy or military de-escalation. Moody’s Ratings is now warning the world may need to think differently. Get updated faster an»»»
G7 is right forum to discuss ending Iran conflict, German minister says
BERLIN: The Group of Seven countries is the right forum for discussing how to bring a lasting end to the war in Iran, which along with the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz poses a serious threat to the global economy, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Monday. Klingbeil will travel t»»»
QF’s M F Husain Museum celebrates diversity through an artistic legacy
Tribune News Network Doha On International Museum Day 2026, Qatar Foundation’s Lawh Wa Qalam: M F Husain Museum celebrates its role as an art and culture landmark that embodies inclusivity and diversity, staying true to the vision of renowned painter Maqbool Fida Husain. Housed within Qatar Foundat»»»
Egypt’s Foreign Trade Surges to $104.7bn in fiscal year 2023/2024
Egypt’s foreign trade has reached an impressive $104.7 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024, according to a recent report by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). This substantial figure includes $72.1 billion in imports and $32.6 billion in exports, emphasizing the country’s robust engagement with glob»»»
UAE to work with China to reshape future of education using AI
Dubai: A senior UAE delegation led by Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, travelled to Hangzhou, China, for the World Digital Education Conference 2026, held under the theme AI + Education: Transform»»»