The Arab League strongly condemned on Thursday the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners. It urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council, to act urgently to compel Israe»»»

The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights wants authorities in El Salvador to reconsider constitutional and legal changes that allow life sentences for minors as young as 12. File Photo by Rodrigo Sura/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human»»»

Iranian authorities Thursday executed a teenager convicted over January protests after a fast-track trial rights groups labelled as "grossly unfair", as the country ramps up executions during the war with the US and Israel. Amir Hossein Hatami, 18, was sentenced to death in February along with six »»»

Three new secretaries have been appointed to Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova has appointed three new secretaries in her administration since taking office on January 20: Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova, according to information on the President's website. Plugchieva »»»

The recovered golden helmet of Coțofenești and two gold bracelets that were stolen from the Drents Museum are being shown to the press in the presence of a heavily armed officer in Assen, the Netherlands, on Thursday. Photo by Sam van der Wal/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- An ancient golden helmet and two br»»»

A month into Israel's war against Hezbollah, invading Israeli troops are gradually advancing in south Lebanon, raising fears for the area's fate following the last Israeli occupation that lasted nearly two decades. Since war erupted last month, Israeli officials have said Israel intends to establis»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), held a coordination meeting on Thursday, bringing together major suppliers in the State of Qatar and a group of relevant local companies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chain»»»

The US has removed the sanctions on interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The move was announced on Wednesday and marks a significant policy shift as Washington builds closer ties with Caracas after kidnapping Venezuel»»»

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has denied claims that he told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that up to 80% of Syrians living in Germany could be convinced to return home within three years. Merz cited the figure and timeline on Monday during a joint press conference with al-Sharaa, a former jihad»»»

Tunis, April 2 (TAP) - The Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) Bureau on Thursday decided to hold four plenary sessions to address questions to a number of ministers and to forward 48 written questions to the relevant government...»»»

NOVI SAD - The head of the Vojvodina provincial government Maja Gojkovic met on Thursday in Novi Sad with a delegation of China's Hebei province, headed by Governor Wang Zhengpu. The parties noted that firm foundations were in place for strengthening the cooperation in areas of mutual interest. In »»»

The Progressive Bulgaria coalition leader, Rumen Radev, told residents of Krumovgrad and Momchilgrad, Southern Bulgaria, that Progressive Bulgaria will not coalesce with GERB leader Boyko Borissov or with MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski, the coalition press service reported on Thursday. R»»»

Germany does not allow the establishment of polling stations in more than 40 locations, although more than one voting section may be set up at some of them, Central Election Commission (CEC) spokesperson Rositsa Mateva said on Thursday at a regular weekly briefing on the April 19 elections. On Wedn»»»

Argentina's government declared Iran's charge d'affaires, Mohsen Tehrani, "persona non grata" and expelled him from the country, Argentina's Foreign Minister said in a statement on Thursday. The measure orders Tehrani to leave the country within 48 hours. The decision comes in response to a stateme»»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met on Thursday in Belgrade with Milorad Dodik, leader of the Republika Srpska party Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, to discuss all important matters for Serbs in the region. "I especially informed Dodik of an attempt to erode stability and se»»»

London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»

In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armoured vehicles while soldiers combed through tunnels they said were used by Hezbollah, as Syria reinforces its side of the border. Syria is seeking to stay out of the regional war, whose flames»»»

Paris, France: Citigroup has urged staff in Paris and Frankfurt to work from home, a company spokeswoman said Thursday, as US banks step up security following a thwarted attack against another US financial institution over the weekend. "The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we»»»

NEW YORK: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations HE Antonio Guterres, and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for April, HE Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regarding the latest »»»

New York: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations 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 Fares Alrowaiei, regardin»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov has announced that authorities have seized more than half a million euros in what he described as funds intended to influence or distort the outcome of the upcoming elections in Bulgaria. In a recorded video message distributed on social media, he said the gov»»»

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»

April 2 (UPI) -- A shipment of Russian crude delivered to Cuba is expected to sustain the island's electricity system and key economic activities for about 10 days, officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines told the Cuban News Agency. The tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, described as part of Russia's»»»

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday there was no end in sight to a war that had already displaced a million people over the last month, as families fleeing Israeli strikes said they were exhausted by repeated rounds of conflict. Lebanon is entering the second month of conflict betw»»»

Polls ahead of the Hungarian elections point to an opposition victory, but players behind the scenes expect Prime Minister Viktor Orban to come out on top. Others say it’s a scenario ripe for a Kiev-style ‘color revolution’. READ MORE: Battle for Hungary: EU attacks on Orban are a sign of worse thi»»»

Three new secretaries have been appointed to President Iliana Iotova since she took office at the end of January, shows information on the President's website. They are Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova. Plugchieva has been appointed Secretary for Foreign Policy. She has»»»

The Hague: Dutch authorities on Thursday showed off a recovered priceless gold 2,500-year-old helmet from Romania that was stolen last year during a brazen heist in the Netherlands. Flanked by balaclava-clad police officers, a spokesman for Dutch prosecutors unveiled the 5th-century BC golden Helme»»»

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan over the victims of floods and landslides caused by heavy rainfall in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. Get updated faster and for FREE: Do»»»

In a step reflecting a strategic shift in regional energy routes, Baghdad has officially begun exporting crude oil via Syria, in an effort to bypass the paralysis that has affected traditional maritime trade corridors. The move, which Damascus described as a return to its role as a “transit compass»»»

Dubai: Dubai is accelerating its push toward an AI-driven government, with all public services set to be integrated into a single digital ecosystem within one year. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The directive was issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Moha»»»

The price of oil surged while stock markets fell back after U.S. President Donald Trump's address Wednesday night stoked fears the Iran war could be about to get a lot worse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The price of oil surged while stocks retreated on Thursday afte»»»

At this point, more than half a million euros have been seized in police operations related to the upcoming elections, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said in a video published on his Facebook page on Thursday. According to him, this is the budget of a small municipality. “Against this sum, t»»»

Dubai: At a time when the US–Israel–Iran conflict is reshaping geopolitical and economic realities, businesses across the region are being tested on their ability to adapt and endure. Against this backdrop, Danube Group’s Founder and Chairman Rizwan Sajan is setting a strong example of leadership b»»»

When three villagers from China’s Sichuan Province wrote to local officials in 2022 questioning why the government was confiscating their land and evicting them from their homes, they received a brief response: "It is a state secret." An investigation by CNN revealed that this secret centers on Chi»»»

‎Misrata Chamber of Commerce received last Monday (30 March 30) at its administrative headquarters, an economic delegation that includes representatives of 30 major Egyptian companies specialized in the manufacture, trade, packaging and packaging of foodstuffs. The Egyptian delegation was hey recei»»»

Caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov said on Thursday that he does not expect a significant increase in the prices of goods. He was speaking to journalists after a meeting with President Iliana Iotova, during which they shared concerns about prices, the resilience of the agri-food»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has stepped up high-level diplomatic engagement with the United States and regional stakeholders in a bid to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, positioning itself as a key facilitator for dialogue amid a conflict that has rattled global energy markets and heightened geopolitic»»»

US President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a speech that resembled political theater more than presidential leadership, offering remarks that reflected less a coherent strategy than a projection of self-crafted illusion. Claiming sweeping military triumphs—including the destruction of Iran’s»»»

London: Britain accused Iran on Thursday of holding the world's economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The U.S. is not attending the virtual mee»»»

Restaurant and café prices in Bulgaria have increased sharply over the past decade, rising by close to 110%, according to analysis by the Institute for Market Economics. Economist Adrian Nikolov pointed out that this growth significantly outpaces the rise in key cost components such as labor, elect»»»

BELGRADE - In a statement released after a session of its head committee, the Movement of Socialists proposed an urgent reshuffle of the Serbian government, the passage of a law granting Serbian citizenship to all Serbs in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, as well as a binding referendum on t»»»

Moscow: Russia will send a second ship carrying oil to Cuba as the island grapples with a US fuel blockade, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said Thursday. Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis since January, when US forces abducted Venezuela president and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro. His remo»»»

A month into Israel's war against Hezbollah, invading Israeli troops are gradually advancing in south Lebanon, raising fears for the area's fate following the last Israeli occupation that lasted nearly two decades. Since war erupted last month, Israeli officials have said Israel intends to establis»»»

Dubai: Sending money home could soon become faster and more flexible for thousands of Filipinos living in the UAE. Digital wallet platform du Pay has partnered with GCash to improve cross-border transfers, aiming to make it easier for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to support families back home. »»»

Dhaka: Bangladesh on Thursday hiked prices of liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking and compressed natural gas in some cars by 29 percent, as the Mideast war worsens an energy crunch. The South Asian nation of 170 million people imports 95 percent of its oil and gas needs. With the latest price »»»

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) said in a statement on Thursday that it will not allow unjustified increases in electricity and thermal energy prices and that it will continue to apply a balanced and conservative approach in order to protect service consumers. On Thursday, it tran»»»

After drawing more than 8,000 visitors across its May and October editions last year, Gulf News Edufair returns to Abu Dhabi on May 16-17 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, bringing together a broader mix of universities and education providers. More than 25 higher education in»»»

Tunis, Apr. 2, 2026 (TAP) – A working session on the challenges facing trade between Tunisia and Libya was held between Mohamed Al-Hangari, President of the Libyan Export Development Authority (LEDA), and Samir Majoul, President of the Arab Chambers...»»»

Dubai: Japan has introduced a major reform to its family law, allowing divorced couples to share custody of their children for the first time. The amendment to its Civil Code, which took effect starting this April, has marked a step away from the system that granted custody to only one parent after»»»