The number of babies born in South Korea rose at a record high pace in February of this year, government data showed Wednesday. In this photo, taken Wednesday, a nurse looks after newborns at a hospital in Goyang. Photo by Yonhap The number of babies born rose at a record high pace in February of t»»»

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»»»

InRento is a pan-European investment platform launched in 2020 in Lithuania, to provide financing for real estate developers who need speed, simplicity, and certainty. The FinTech company has already financed more than €90 million in investments and has returned over €28 million to more than 4.400 »»»

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council Prosecutors Chamber unanimously decided on Wednesday to designate Deputy Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova acting prosecutor general. The decision comes in the wake of Borislav Sarafov's resignation as acting prosecutor general earlier today. The Prosecutors Cha»»»

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»»»

“What happened was the restoration of legality in the governance of the Prosecutor’s Office, and I believe that everyone is a winner as a result,” caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Andrey Yankulov commented to the media on the decision of the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the Suprem»»»

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»»»

New Delhi: Sakib Hussain's father is a labourer from India's poorest state and his mother sold her jewellery to buy him bowling boots. Their sacrifices -- and his tears -- paid off after the 21-year-old fast bowler made an instant impact in the Indian Premier League. He claimed 4-24 for Sunrisers H»»»

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 Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has shut down two slaughterhouses—one registered in the village of Gergevets near Sliven and an illegal one in Byala Slatina, the Agency said on Wednesday. At the slaughterhouse in Gergevets, inspectors from the BFSA Central Office and the Regional Directorat»»»

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»»»

Stockholm: Authorities ordered 16 public schools to shut in the central Swedish town of Borlange on Wednesday after receiving a threat of violence, officials said. Private schools also kept their doors closed after being told of the threat. "The decision is a precautionary measure due to a potentia»»»

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»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Space and Astronomy Hub (SSAH) at the University of Sharjah has released its astronomical calculations regarding crescent moon visibility conditions for the opening of Dhu al-Hijja 1447 AH. Based on its findings, the center projects Wednesday, May 27, 2026, as the likely first »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

Saudi billionaire Al-Waleed bin Talal has sold his remaining stake in Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox Inc., according to Bloomberg. Bin Talal had been a shareholder in Murdoch’s companies for about 20 years, the news agency added. The Saudi prince began investing in Fox News in 1997 and was one o»»»

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 (»»»

At least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. Iran has imposed restrictions on ships using the strait, first in retaliation for the US-Israeli bombardment of the count»»»

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»»»

Ras Al Khaimah: Motorists in the UAE are being urged to stay vigilant after Ras Al Khaimah Police warned of a surge in fake car insurance advertisements circulating on social media. The authority said the scams are designed to deceive vehicle owners and drivers by offering unrealistically low insur»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recorded a violation by a delivery company for advertising discounts without obtaining prior authorization. In a social media post, the Ministry stated that the company announced discounts without obtaining prior approval from the Department of»»»

Over 7,800 tablets and more than six kilograms of powdered substances were found by customs officers of the Sofia Customs Territorial Directorate in the luggage of passengers arriving from India, the Customs Agency reported on Wednesday. At around 9:00 a.m. on April 16, customs officers at the Sofi»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: As additional flights are being introduced and airline partners make gradual return to Qatar's airspace, Hamad International Airport (HIA) has compiled a list of most common questions to provide passengers with latest information. The list compiled on April 21, 2026, gives information »»»

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»»»

Chadwick Scott Willacy, 56, was executed by Florida on Tuesday evening for the 1990 murder of 56-year-old Marlys Sather. Photo courtesy of Florida Department of Corrections/Website April 22 (UPI) -- Florida has executed a 58-year-old death row inmate convicted of killing his neighbor who had come h»»»

The Libyan Export Development Authority (LEDA) revealed last Monday (20 April) that the Indonesian Exporters Association signed a contract to import 200,000 litres of Libyan olive oil. The contract was signed on the sidelines of the 52nd Tripoli International Fair taking place in Tripoli from 16 to»»»

A bus carrying 39 Ukrainian citizens, 37 passengers and two drivers, overturned on Wednesday shortly before 7 a.m. on the road leading to the Malko Tarnovo border control checkpoint with Turkiye, Malko Tarnovo Mayor Iliyan Yanchev told BTA. The bus stopped on the road due to a lack of fuel, then ro»»»

The Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) said on Wednesday in a Facebook post that "the result of the April 19 elections is clear. We accept this result with political integrity and with the clear understanding that trust is earned through consistency, character, and effective work." "The ARF was»»»

BEIJING: 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 »»»

According to a study by the Cato Institute, the US war with Iran—despite demonstrating overwhelming firepower during Operation Epic Fury—resulted in significant strategic and material losses that exposed the fragility of Washington’s military posture in the region. The Cato Institute notes that whi»»»

China ‌has issued a new proposal urging cities to integrate youth development into urban planning, housing, healthcare, education and public services, in a broader push to make urban life more supportive for young people, children and families. The blueprint, jointly issued by 15 departments and re»»»