New York, USA: The State of Qatar sent two identical letters (the 12th and 13th) to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, and HE Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April Jamal Fa»»»

Dubai: Airlines are facing rising fuel costs, supply risks and operational pressure, but the global aviation sector is holding steady for now, with strong travel demand helping offset the crisis, said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. Carriers are increasing fares and cutting capacity as oil pric»»»

1 of 2 | Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., on Wednesday criticized a Pentagon strategy that shifts responsibility for deterring North Korea onto Seoul. Wicker, seen here at the U.S. Capitol in September 2025, made the comments during a pre-recorded speech at the Asan Plenum policy forum in Seoul. File Ph»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, seen here leaving No. 10 Downing Street in London in January, is leaving for the Gulf on Wednesday following the announcement of a cease-fire in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Keir S»»»

Two French nationals arrived in Paris on Wednesday after spending more than three years in an Iranian prison on espionage charges, with President Emmanuel Macron hailing "the end of a terrible ordeal." Cecile Kohler, 41, and Jacques Paris, 72, arrived on a commercial flight, landing at Charles de G»»»

Hapag-Lloyd voiced cautious optimism on Wednesday on the prospect of resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after a two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, but said that resuming normal traffic throughout its network would take at least 6-8 weeks. Speaking in a call to customers,»»»

A Russian overnight drone attack on Ukraine's largest Danube river port, Izmail, damaged a port facility, Ukraine's regional development ministry said on Telegram on Wednesday. "The enemy continues to target logistics and port infrastructure," the ministry ‌said. According to ‌its Telegram post, ‌f»»»

About 500 employees of the prosecutor’s office in Kyrgyzstan are in need of housing. Prosecutor General Maksat Asanaliev said during a session of the Zhogorku Kenesh. He made the statement in response to lawmakers’ questions about housing provision, including concerns that prosecutors transferred t»»»

German-Bulgarian solar photovoltaic developer Sunotec said on April 7 it has secured a structured equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities unit to support its expansion across Europe. The»»»

Romania’s central bank, the National Bank of Romania (BNR), decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged at 6.5% at its April 7 board meeting, opting for caution amid a rapidly shifting macroeconomic environment shaped by both domestic fiscal uncertainties and external shocks stemming from th»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe A Great Victory: Iran Says US Forced to Accept Its 10-Point Plan After Historical Defeat 08-04-2026 11:57 AM A missile exhibited beneath Ir»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Calendar House (QCH) has noted that the star 'Al Sarfah' that marks the end of Suhail season can be best observed during the months of April and May, when it becomes more visible in the night sky. Highlighting key astronomical details about the star, the QCH shared in a socia»»»

A premeditated murder investigation is underway after a violent incident in the village of Kokalyane near Sofia, where a man is accused of fatally stabbing another person inside a garage that had been adapted for living. According to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, the attack took place on Apri»»»

In the current context in Romania, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need strong anchors. These strategic directions have a common element: the need to strengthen the economy’s resilience in the face of external shocks and structural uncertainties. Opinion by Leonardo Badea, First Deputy Go»»»

US Vice President J.D. Vance has met with Viktor Orban in Budapest in a high-profile visit ahead of a critical parliamentary election. The Hungarian prime minister’s party is trailing that of his pro-EU opponent in the polls, and he has accused Brussels of interfering in the vote. Vance touched dow»»»

Antigua and Barbuda has long held a prominent place in Caribbean sailing thanks to steady trade winds, historic harbours, and a maritime society that convenes throughout the year. From the renowned Antigua Sailing Week to classic yacht celebrations in English Harbour, the island regularly welcomes »»»

The office of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is seen in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. On Tuesday, voters in Georgia elected her replacement, Republican Clay Fuller. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- Republic»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has added five more universities to its automatic recognition scheme for domestic higher education qualifications, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 38 as part of efforts to streamline procedures and reduce»»»

On April 1, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic conducted a comparative price monitoring of food products (bakery products, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and others) in the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as i»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli enemy army renews threat to target Lebanese towns south of the Zahrani River 08-04-2026 11:35 AM Latest News Urgent News Maariv Heb»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Maariv Hebrew newspaper says 5,000 structures destroyed as a result of Iranian missiles 08-04-2026 11:34 AM Latest News Urgent News Maariv »»»

Athens, Greece: Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from January 1, 2027 Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. "We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old," he said in a vide»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced the implementation of alternative assessment procedures for the mid-term exams of the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year. The Ministry, represented by the Assessment Affairs Sector, said this decision applies to stude»»»

Dubai: Oil markets are signalling that prices will remain elevated despite a sharp pullback recorded on Wednesday, as a temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran eases immediate fears but leaves deeper supply risks unresolved. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - si»»»

Dubai: Iraq has reopened its airspace to civil aviation after an improvement in security conditions, allowing flights to resume across one of the region’s key air corridors. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said on Wednesday that all civil flights, including overflights, departures and arrivals a»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Culture has launched the fifth edition of the National Grant Programme for Culture and Creativity, one of the UAE’s flagship national initiatives dedicated to supporting creative Emiratis and enabling them to develop impactful cultural and creative projects. The launch re»»»

Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. "We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15-years-old," he said in a video posted on Tik»»»

Banking and ‌airline stocks led a more than 4% rise in Turkish shares and the lira was on track for a rare daily gain on Wednesday, as the two-week Middle East ceasefire sparked a relief rally across global markets. At 0823 GMT, Türkiye's blue-chip BIST 100 index was up 4.3%, while the banking inde»»»

Israel's military said Wednesday its forces would continue their campaign against Hezbollah fighters, claiming the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Lebanon. "The battle in Lebanon continues, and the ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has commenced exports of a new crude oil grade, Cawthorne, as it seeks to boost production and strengthen its position in global markets. The maiden cargo of the new »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

Iran has put forward a sweeping 10-point plan to secure an end to its war with the United States and Israel, centring on a permanent halt to hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of sanctions, as both sides agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations. T»»»

Ajman: Ajman Bank has allocated Dh1.6 million in charitable contributions to support humanitarian, educational and community initiatives across the UAE. The funds will be distributed to several organisations, including Al Ihsan Charity Association, Beit Al Khair Society, International Charity Organ»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union has begun secretly working on the issue of creating its own nuclear weapons production potential, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said on Wednesday. "In the endless corridors of the European Union headquarters, they have already begun secretly wo»»»

Stock markets in the Gulf region jumped on Wednesday in line with global equities after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday. Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the Strait of »»»

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing," but said he wishes it will include Lebanon. "We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations»»»

Lebanon's army warned people against returning to the country's south on Wednesday, where the Israeli military is still launching attacks, as Israel said the ceasefire with Iran did not include its conflict with Hezbollah. "In light of regional developments and reports circulating about a ceasefire»»»

A total of 223 people have so far been detained for election-related offences, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said at the start of the caretaker Government meeting on Wednesday. He stressed that the caretaker Cabinet will not enter the party political arena, but will fight against vote broke»»»

Washington, United States: The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump. Here's what we know about the truce between two countries, which are set to begin negotiations but remain poles a»»»

Beijing, China: China's top diplomat Wang Yi will travel to North Korea on Thursday, Beijing's foreign ministry said, aiming to deepen relations between the neighbours. China is North Korea's largest trading partner and a vital source of diplomatic, economic and political support for the isolated n»»»

Tunis, April 8 (TAP) – The weather, will be locally foggy on Wednesday morning, followed by partly cloudy skies across most regions of the country, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INM).Temperatures will see a slight rise, ranging...»»»

Gulf banks are holding up well despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, underpinned by solid financial positions and early regulatory action, though the full impact on the sector has yet to emerge. Mohamed Damak, managing director at S&P Global Ratings, told Asharq Al-Awsat there ha»»»

Israel's opposition leaders swiftly criticized the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction of Iran threatened b»»»

EU leaders on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran. "I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much needed de-escalation", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media platform X, adding ‌it was»»»

American journalist Tucker Carlson has accused President Donald Trump of mocking Christians by issuing an expletive-laden threat to Iran at Easter. On Sunday, Trump again demanded Tehran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively shut since the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Febr»»»

Baghdad, Iraq: Iraq's civil aviation authority said it was reopening the country's airspace on Wednesday following the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire, after it was closed due to the Middle East war. "The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announces the reopening of Iraqi airspace to air traffic ef»»»

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, saying it is effective immediately” and covers everywhere including Lebanon. In a post on X, the Pakistani PM, whose country has been serving as the key mediator between the US and »»»

Bulgaria’s caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran brought a sense of relief after weeks of escalating tensions in the Middle East, describing it as a moment welcomed by all who hope for an end to the conflict. Spe»»»