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»»»

RIYADH: The UAE’s real estate sector remained resilient in the first quarter of 2026 despite conflict in the Middle East, while office markets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi remained tight due to limited new supply, according to CBRE. In its latest report, the real estate consultancy said that average offi»»»

Dubai: Airfares have been expected to rise again, with authorities increasing fuel surcharges to near-maximum levels. The Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has raised the passenger and cargo fuel surcharge to level 19 for the second half of April. In an advisory released today, the CAB has n»»»

GUANGZHOU - Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic, who is on a visit to Guangzhou, China, met with the city's mayor Sun Zhiyang on Wednesday to discuss opportunities for investments in Serbia by Guangzhou-based companies. "This city is famous for research and development cent»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has become an anchor investor in a newly launched exchange-traded fund by State Street Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers. The newly launched ETF, State Street Saudi Arabia Enhanced Active Equity UCITS ETF, or SAQL, activel»»»

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 »»»

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that the military remained on high alert and was ready to return to fighting on all fronts, amid the fragile truces in Iran and Lebanon. “Since the inferno of October 7, we have been working to reestablish our military strength through conti»»»

A Russian national team has appeared at a major team sport event under the national flag and anthem for the first time since 2022. The women’s water polo team became the first Russian squad to participate in a competition in a full-fledged status after the World Aquatics lifted all the restrictions»»»

Abu Dhabi: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed in a phone call on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, with King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco the developments taking place in the Middle East and their serious implications for regional and inter»»»

OneClickDrive, the mobility marketplace that has established a strong presence across the UAE and wider Middle East, has extended its platform to Morocco, offering travelers, residents, and tourists a structured way to compare and book vehicles across the country's major cities. The platform is now»»»

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 »»»

Dubai: Parents planning to send children to travel have been advised to avoid relying on unverified social media services, as Philippine authorities have officially named Facebook pages offering fake travel clearance assistance. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), th»»»

Customers can apply for the offer 100% online via Home’Bank and benefit from a transparent discount structure that helps them customize their interest rate. With these offers, ING Bank Romania ranks among the top three most competitive mortgage solutions on the local market, according to an analysi»»»

Doha, Qatar: In recognition of Earth Day, Old Doha Port is showcasing its sustainability work across marine protection, waste management, and seabed conservation. The destination’s environmental initiatives reflect its responsibility to protect the marine environment that supports its operations, h»»»

Vasile Țiple, Board Member of TechAngels and Defence Angels European Network (DAEN), talked to BR about Romanian investors’ strategic transition into the pan-European defence sector. He mentioned that AI-driven technologies are redefining security resilience and highlighted the critical importance »»»

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:»»»

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and State Street Investment Management (State Street IM), one of the world’s largest asset managers, launched on Thursday the State Street Saudi Arabia Enhanced Active Equity (SAQL) with PIF as anchor investor. The fund actively invests in equities of companie»»»

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 has not moved its THAAD missile defense system to the Middle East, USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said Tuesday. In this March photo, Brunson speaks to reporters during a combined military exercise in Yeoncheon. File Photo by Yonhap The United States has not moved its THAAD mis»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet backed the Public Investment Fund’s 2026–2030 strategy and approved a tax pact and cross-border deals, as non-oil exports rose 15 percent and digital readiness ranked first globally. The cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on April 21 on beh»»»

The resignation of Borislav Sarafov is a dignified but belated personal act, according to a statement by GERB published on Facebook. The party said that institutions have always been their top priority. “The most important thing now is for the new National Assembly to begin work immediately so that»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Governor of Qatar Central Bank HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani met today, April 22, 2026, with HE Oliver Owcza, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation between the two co»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Saudi Arabia has stepped up preparations for the 2026 Hajj season, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directing authorities to deploy all capabilities to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage as arrivals begin from around the world. Speaking on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Dr Howard Tucker has been officially recognised as the world’s oldest doctor ever, following a remarkable medical career that spanned more than seven decades and continued almost until his death at the age of 103. Late Dr. Tucker, from Cleveland, Ohio, practised medicine from 1947 to 2»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired on Wednesday the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohann»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) will announce on Saturday, April 25, the names of the elected Members of Parliament in the 52nd National Assembly, said here on Wednesday CEC Chair Kameliya Neykova during an online meeting of the Commission. CEC will also announce the election results on Thurs»»»

Bucharest is set to receive a loan tranche of almost €266 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to upgrade the urban tram network. The city will use the financing to renovate around 50 kilometres of tram tracks. It will also introduce new tram vehicles and upgrade depots to increase speed»»»

April 22, the Valdai Discussion Club opened the third recruitment round for its “Valdai – New Generation” project — a community of young but already accomplished researchers specializing in contemporary world politics, economics, and social relations. Participants will have the opportunity to publi»»»

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 »»»

Nature and EnvironmentGlobal issuesHow farmers are rising to a fertilizer shortfallJosh AxelrodThe war in Iran has sparked a global fertilizer shortage and is threatening food security. What are farmers around the world doing to save their crops? https://p.dw.com/p/5BqbIWhat can farmers do when fer»»»

ConflictsJapanHormuz crisis forces Japan, South Korea to rethink strategyJulian Ryall in TokyoThe Strait of Hormuz blockade has shaken Tokyo and Seoul, highlighting their dependence on maritime trade for essential goods including food and fuel. https://p.dw.com/p/5CaNZJapan gets more than 90% of it»»»

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 about how many could b»»»

Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the UN's food and weather agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai rose on Wednesday as global bullion gained following easing geopolitical tensions after a US move to extend a ceasefire with Iran. In Dubai, 24-carat gold climbed to Dh573.00 per gram in both morning and afternoon trade, up from Dh565.00 yesterday. The 22-carat variant r»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi has issued the Executive Regulations of Law No. (8) of 2025 concerning Human Resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The regulations outline a set of conditions and controls governing employee selection, appointment, and promotion, ensu»»»

The Chair of the Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions in Bulgaria, Prof. Dr. Miglena Temelkova, sent an official letter on Wednesday to the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, congratulating it on its convincing election victory and expressing the readiness of the rectors for a construct»»»

Pierre Herme, the French master of macarons, says he was inspired to build his multi-country empire selling the sugary French treats by a desire to reinvent an object he felt was boring. Starting out his career aged 14, he discovered macarons, two halves of light almond biscuit separated by a sugar»»»

Christel Krueger peered through thick glass and murky water at the Berlin Zoo, staring in awe at a mother hippopotamus and her child sleeping on a sandbar. Krueger, 86, and her daughter were on a specialized zoo tour last month for people who live with dementia that was organized by Malteser Deutsc»»»

KYIV: Ukraine has asked Turkiye to host a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky and ​Russian President Vladimir Putin, its top diplomat said, as Kyiv seeks to reinvigorate stalling peace talks.“We asked the Turks about it, we asked some other capitals,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in»»»