Trump has given no indication of how long the extension will last. The US leader's ceasefire is therefore considered indefinite, ex-ambassador to Iran Asif Durrani points out. The second round of US–Iran talks in Islamabad did not take place, as the two sides failed to agree on preliminary conditio»»»

Chisinau: A Chisinau court sentenced oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc to 19 years in prison on Wednesday in a case linked to the disappearance of $1.0 billion from the Moldovan banking system. A former businessman, lawmaker and kingpin in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc fled the country in »»»

A US Army nuclear surety official has reportedly described the rampant corruption he witnessed in Ukraine since the administration of US President Barack Obama. The interview was released by the media group run by the controversial journalist James O’Keefe, whose modus operandi is to send reporters»»»

Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has announced the adoption of the “Advanced Agriculture 4.0” system, as part of its efforts to support digital transformation in the agricultural sector. Officials said the system marks a shift from traditional farming methods to a more modern, data-d»»»

The upper age limit for military reservists in Germany should be raised to 70 given that people stay fit longer, Bastian Ernst, the newly elected president of the country’s Reservists’ Association, has said. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany has pursued a major recru»»»

Abu Dhabi: Indians in the UAE will need to use a new service provider for passport renewals, visa applications, and other consular services from July 1, after tour and travel firm Alhind Tours and Travels won a three-year contract to replace the long-standing operator BLS International. The Embassy»»»

Zurich: FIFA has announced the release of a new allocation of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 50 days ahead of the tournament's kick off in North America. In a statement published on its official website, FIFA said fans will be able to purchase tickets for all 104 matches through FIFA's online»»»

CHANGSHA - The manufacture of two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) that will be used to build a Belgrade metro system is complete, Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali announced on Wednesday. Technical tests of the machines, made by the Chinese company CRCHI, began in the city of C»»»

DUBAI: The Liverpool Arab Arts Festival will return from July 17 to 26 across various venues in the British city, organizers announced this week. Now in its 24th year, the UK’s longest-running annual festival dedicated to Arab arts and culture will present a wide-ranging program celebrating creativ»»»

Khartoum: For nearly two years, Al-Shubbak watched through ancient grey eyes as Tuti, the crescent-shaped island in the heart of the Sudanese capital she calls home, emptied of its inhabitants under a punishing paramilitary siege. She refused to leave. "I didn't even move for the English when they »»»

The Health Ministry sent instructions to the regional health inspectorates on actions to be taken in cases of suspected violence and on the implementation of the Coordination Mechanism for Assistance and Support to Victims, the Ministry said on Facebook on Wednesday. The aim is for the mechanism to»»»

DUBAI: The Liverpool Arab Arts Festival will return from July 17 to 26 across various venues in the British city, organizers announced this week. Now in its 24th year, the UK’s longest-running annual festival dedicated to Arab arts and culture will present a wide-ranging program celebrating creativ»»»

While Japan is at 206%, the US at 124%, and even major Global South carry far higher debt, Russia remains one of the most fiscally stable countries in the world.»»»

Riyadh: The mobile clinics of Saudi aid agency KSrelief in Hairan district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate provided medical services to 472 beneficiaries in one week. The facilities handled infectious disease cases and provided emergency, internal medicine, and reproductive health services, the Saudi»»»

Washington: The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to I»»»

Brussels: The European Commission (EU) proposed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a series of measures to address the repercussions of West Asia crisis on energy markets in European Union countries. The Commission said these measures include improving the distribution of aircraft fuel among bloc member»»»

Israel’s latest land grab is dashing Lebanon’s hope of tapping offshore gas to solve its persistent energy shortage. Maritime energy prospects were the focus of a 2022 deal on a disputed border between the two nations. On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published a map of a “forward defense»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE reported significant progress in Emiratisation across the banking, financial, and insurance sectors, with employment targets exceeded and compliance rates nearing full alignment by the end of 2025. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - »»»

At least two cargo ships reported being fired on near the key Strait of Hormuz shipping lane where Tehran is once again jockying with the United States for control in a long-simmering dispute illustrated by this view of Iranian navy speed boats conducting military exercises off southern Iran back i»»»

Dubai: The European Commission has launched a sweeping energy emergency package after the conflict in the Middle East pushed the bloc's fuel import costs up by €24 billion — without delivering a single additional unit of energy. The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a broad package of emerg»»»

A new Dubai Metro line spanning 42km and connecting 15 key areas in Dubai was announced on Wednesday. In a post on X, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the Dh34 billion Golden Line project will benefit 1.5 milli»»»

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev Wednesday urged the State to act beyond party interests after the April 19 snap parliamentary elections. "My task is to protect the interests of all Sofia residents - regardless of their political choice. And I expect the same from the state - an attitude driven not by pa»»»

JAKARTA: Indonesia started its Hajj flights on Wednesday with expanded access to the Makkah Route, as Saudi authorities added a new major Indonesian airport to the flagship initiative that streamlines immigration procedures for pilgrims. Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, will »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior, MOI, announced the addition of a new feature on Metrash App that allows users to pay for family and friends’ traffic violations. The ministry in a social media post stated that to access this feature, users should log into the Metrash app, navigate to “Traffic»»»

Berlin, April 22 (SANA) Lufthansa announced it will cancel around 20,000 flights from its schedule amid a sharp rise in fuel costs and growing concerns over jet fuel (kerosene) supplies, highlighting mounting pressure on Europe’s aviation sector. According to Germany’s Bild magazine, the airline sa»»»

In an era marked by ecological challenges, development dilemmas and geopolitical dynamics are increasingly intertwined. Through a series of innovative practices, Chinese modernization offers a "green solution" to some of humanity's pressing questions of survival and development. Rooted in the wisdo»»»

BELGRADE - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission will begin an official visit to Belgrade on Thursday, with the opening meeting to be held at the National Bank of Serbia (NBS). A plenary meeting of the IMF mission and a Serbian delegation at the NBS is scheduled for 10 am, the central bank h»»»

Dubai A woman tourist from the United States has alleged that she was sexually assaulted at a homestay in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, with police arresting two men, including the property owner and a staff member, following a complaint, according to multiple media reports. The incident took place »»»

The bonds listed today are part of a broader Medium‑Term Notes (MTN) Programme, under which the Bank may issue bonds in several tranches. The maximum nominal value of all tranches under the programme amounts to EUR 100 million. Key features of the bond issue VISTA36E: “We welcome Vista Bank to the »»»

BEIJING: China on Wednesday denied again that a ship intercepted by the United States contained a “gift” from Beijing for Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump made the accusation. Trump had said that an Iranian-flagged ship seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday contained “a gift »»»

The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) announced a new adjustment to interest rates on its three-year Platinum Certificate – one of the most prominent savings instruments in Egypt. This move reflects the banking sector’s efforts to keep pace with economic changes. The new rate adjustment offers customers»»»

TradeGlobal issuesWill Iran war reshape global trade more than COVID?Nik MartinAs the Iran war simmers, trade experts wonder if this conflict will reshape supply chains more than the pandemic. Companies are already rethinking strategies to future-proof revenues from other geopolitical risks. https:»»»

NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members including Türkiye after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and head into Turkish air space over the past weeks. A member of the US-led defense alliance, Türkiye, which borders Iran, has be»»»

The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed armed factions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq and froze»»»

US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran. The move happened just hours before the fragile two-week truce had been set to expire on Wednesday. However, he has vowed to maintain the naval blockade, touting it as leverage to force Tehran to make a deal. “I have directed our Milit»»»

Speaking at a briefing after the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov was announced, Yes, Bulgaria co-chairs Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozhanov said that "the heart of the Peevski-Borissov model has been ripped out, this is an achievement of the people who came out to protest»»»

Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan's capital was still locked in gear on Wednesday to host high-stakes US-Iran talks that were pushed back at the last minute overnight, but many residents began to tire of the heavy personal and economic toll of tight security restrictions. Markets were quiet, government»»»

Dubai: Lufthansa Group has slashed 20,000 flights from its summer schedule in a bid to cut jet fuel costs as the Iran conflict pushes jet fuel prices sharply higher, the airline announced late Tuesday. The move by the German aviation giant is now setting the tone for what could be a turbulent seaso»»»

North Korean-linked hackers were likely behind the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency over the weekend, a blockchain technology firm said. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, April 22 (UPI) -- North Korean-linked hackers were likely behind the theft of hu»»»

The topic of how the new parliament will look like after the elections dominates Wednesday’s news media. POLITICS 24 Chasa’s front-page article presents the governance programme of Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria, which won the April 19 elections under the headline, “Life according to Radev: Sta»»»

The United States’ decision to extend its ceasefire with Iran is less a sign of breakthrough than a reflection of a complex moment — one where diplomacy, pressure and uncertainty are all unfolding at once. President Donald Trump pushed back the end of the two-week truce to allow more time for negot»»»

United States: NASA unveiled a new telescope on Tuesday to scan vast swathes of the universe for planets outside our solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The Roman space telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of planets, possibly offering clarity abut ho»»»

The war in the Middle East has boosted demand to move vital cargo through the Panama Canal to such an extent that one vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) paid $4 million to skip the line and avoid a wait that can take up to five days, according to an official report. A surge in such payment»»»

US President Donald Trump's administration has halted US dollar shipments to Iraq and frozen security cooperation programs with its military, as it presses Baghdad to dismantle Iranian-backed factions operating in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing Iraqi ‌and US ‌offic»»»

Dubai: UAE motorists are unlikely to see a sharp drop in fuel prices in May, even as global oil markets ease from March’s peak. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Crude has pulled back—but not enough to signal a full correction. Brent crude is now tr»»»

RIYADH: “This is a multidimensional shock.” That is how Jihad Azour, director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, summed up the bleak outlook gripping the region, describing the current war as an earthquake not seen in geopolitics and economics for fiv»»»

Israel's foreign minister on Wednesday urged Beirut to make joint efforts with Israel to counter the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, ahead of talks between the countries set to resume in Washington. "Tomorrow the direct talks between Israel and Lebanon will resume in Washington DC. I call on the go»»»

China warned on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East was at a "critical juncture" after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire to allow Iran more time to negotiate. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the two-week truce on Tuesday with Tehran yet to respond but he said a US»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli enemy forces carry out an incursion into the Al-Marj neighborhood in the outskirts of Houla, amid bursts of machine-gun fire and ar»»»

Manila: The global race for microchips and AI hardware is reshaping Southeast Asia. Manila’s move to join "Pax Silica" and help build a 16.2-km2 "free zone" in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) forms part of a catch-up industrial strategy. The plan: Align the country towards advanced supply chains »»»