What Does the Inclusion of Saudi Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Index Mean?
Saudi Arabia’s debt market is set for a strategic shift in early 2027, following J.P. Morgan’s announcement that local-currency bonds will be included in its global emerging markets bond index. The move represents a vote of confidence in the Kingdom’s structural reforms and is expected to open the »»»
Bangladesh measles crisis deepens as child deaths reach 194
Dhaka: Bangladesh has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases has exceeded 28,000, government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children have died from the disease every day for the past week. Five childr»»»
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s president and prime minister accused Israel on Thursday of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country’s south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas. Rescuers and the reporter’s employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-yea»»»
Aoun, Salam accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
Lebanon's president and prime minister accused Israel on Thursday of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas. Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old jo»»»
Egypt Expands IPO Programme with Six State Firms to Deepen Market Activity
Cairo — Egypt is advancing its state IPO programme with the addition of six new government-owned companies to the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), in a move aimed at strengthening market depth and broadening investor participation. According to official EGX statements, and as confirmed by Deputy Chairman M»»»
Egypt Opens 9 Industrial Projects in Suez Canal Economic Zone with $182.5mn Investments
Cairo — Egypt has accelerated its industrial expansion drive with the inauguration of nine new industrial projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, as Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly led an official tour of the Sokhna integrated industrial area. The projects span strategic sectors including enginee»»»
Microsoft faces $2.3 bn cloud computing lawsuit in UK
London, United Kingdom: Microsoft is facing a £1.7-billion ($2.3 billion) class action lawsuit in Britain alleging that it abused its dominant market position to overcharge businesses, claimants said Thursday. The case was brought by digital markets regulation expert Maria Luisa Stasi on behalf of »»»
58-year-old woman killed in bear attack in Poland
Warsaw: A 58-year-old woman was killed by a bear in Southeastern Poland on Thursday, Pawel Giba, press officer for the District State Fire Service Headquarters in Sanok, told AFP. A report received by the fire department "indicated that in the village of Plonna a woman was allegedly attacked by a b»»»
Salam says Lebanon won't sign any agreement without Israel's full withdrawal
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has urged the Trump administration to pressure Israel to scale back its demands and end its military invasion of the country. In an interview with the Washington Post, Salam said Lebanon could not sign any agreement that does not include a “full withdrawal” of Israeli for»»»
UN 'working on' keeping presence in Lebanon in 2027
The United Nations said Thursday it was "working on" maintaining a presence in Lebanon once the mandate for its UNIFIL peacekeeping force expires at the end of the year. "In terms of the post-UNIFIL, we're currently in the process of working on these options," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. Und»»»
Independent Arabia wins top Fetisov prize for Egypt adoption-brokers investigation
LONDON: Independent Arabia has won a Fetisov Journalism Award prize for its investigation into an adoption-brokers network in Egypt, adding to the outlet’s growing list of honors since its launch in 2019. Journalist Salah Labban won the 2025 prize in the civil rights category for his investigation,»»»
Indonesia rules out Malacca Strait toll as Hormuz crisis spotlights Asia’s key chokepoint
JAKARTA: Indonesia will not charge tolls in the Strait of Malacca, its foreign minister said on Thursday, dispelling reports it could follow Iran’s example in the Strait of Hormuz. Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono spoke to reporters in response to media reports over the possible blockage of the»»»
Tanzania poll violence report is ‘whitewash’: opposition
NAIROBI: A Tanzanian government report into election violence that killed hundreds is “an attempt to whitewash the regime’s crimes,” the main opposition party told AFP on Thursday. A commission of enquiry reported on Thursday that 518 people were killed in protests and violence around the election »»»
EU approves a massive loan package to help Ukraine after Hungary lifts its veto
BRUSSELS: The European Union on Thursday approved a massive loan package to help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for the next two years, the bloc’s Cypriot presidency said, after Hungary lifted its veto. The EU also approved a new raft of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukrain»»»
Iran’s Hormuz tolls defy global law, set dangerous precedent
Dubai: Iran’s move to impose and reportedly collect tolls from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz marks a direct challenge to international law and a dangerous escalation in its confrontation with the United States and its allies. A senior Iranian parliament official has claimed that Tehran»»»
Adwan decries parliament inaction over war decisions, says LF to have a major stance later
MP George Adwan said Thursday at a press conference held by the Strong Republic bloc in parliament that "what happened over the past two years is that a certain faction dragged Lebanon into a war in support of Gaza, and the result was the destruction of Gaza and hundreds of thousands of martyrs. Th»»»
Hackers steal $2.5 mn from Sri Lanka finance ministry
Colombo, Sri Lanka: Cyber criminals hacked into the Sri Lankan finance ministry's computer system and siphoned off $2.5 million, the government said Thursday, the most amount of cash ever stolen by hackers from a state institution. The cyber attack is a major blow to Sri Lanka, which is recovering »»»
Syria’s economic prospects: priorities and challenges
Damascus, April 23 (SANA) After one year in power, Syria’s government is focusing on reintegrating the country into the global political and economic system, seeking to end decades of sanctions and isolation. While officials say the most difficult phase has passed, the country still faces deep stru»»»
UAE flights disrupted: Where you can still travel today
Dubai: Air travel across the UAE continues to operate under strain nearly two months after the US-Israel-Iran conflict that erupted on February 28, with airlines relying on restricted air corridors, longer flight paths, and reduced schedules to maintain connectivity. The aviation sector has been am»»»
UAE crisis resilience sets global standard for stability
There is a unique sense of pride that comes from witnessing a nation transform challenges into a masterclass in stability. Over the past 50 days, as regional uncertainty dominated global headlines, I have watched the UAE once again demonstrate why it stands as a global standard for crisis managemen»»»
Indonesia Eyes Iran’s Strategy to Monetize Malacca Strait
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Purbaya Yudha Sadewa has floated copying Iran's tax on the Strait of Hormuz for ships sailing the Strait of Malacca—bordered by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Indonesia "is not a peripheral country. We sit on a strategic global trade and energy route. Ships pass wi»»»
Popovic, Grushko discuss further advancement of Serbia-Russia cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister for International Economic Cooperation Nenad Popovic met on Thursday in Belgrade with Russian Deputy FM Alexander Grushko, who is on an official visit to Serbia for a meeting of a Serbia-Russia intergovernmental committee on trade and economic and science and technical c»»»
UN ‘working on’ keeping presence in Lebanon in 2027
GENEVA: The United Nations said Thursday it was “working on” maintaining a presence in Lebanon once the mandate for its UNIFIL peacekeeping force expires at the end of the year. “In terms of the post-UNIFIL, we’re currently in the process of working on these options,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the »»»
UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008
London: Both chambers of Britain's parliament have approved a bill that would ban children aged 17 and under from buying cigarettes during their lifetime. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after January 1, 2009 (now aged 17) from taking up smoking. Health minister Wes Streeting ca»»»
ADCB posts record Q1 profit as loan growth, diversification drive earnings
Dubai: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank reported a record first-quarter profit, supported by strong lending growth, higher fee income and improved efficiency, as it navigated an evolving operating environment. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Profit befor»»»
UAE to move 50% of government services to AI within two years
Dubai: The UAE will transform half of its government sectors, services and operations to autonomous artificial intelligence systems within two years, under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The major government shift was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mo»»»
Limited-edition gold coins inspired by UAE pride unveiled, supporting Dubai's Ferjan initiative
Dubai: Emirates Minting Factory has launched a limited-edition gold and silver coin collection in collaboration with Dubai Gold District, with proceeds set to benefit Ferjan Dubai, a social enterprise focused on community development across Dubai. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf »»»
After first disappearing, Hungarian minister Szijjártó speaks out, alleging foreign interference (11 days after the election)
Our weekly digest of Hungarian politics continues as we report on developments after the historic April election and on the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: After 10 days, outgoing foreign minister Péter Szijjártó has resurfaced. The newly-victorious Tisza»»»
Trump says he is under 'no pressure' to bring an end to war with Iran - UPI.com
U.S. President Donald Trump insisted Wednesday there was no time pressure to end the war with Iran and no deadline for when American military action would resume in the absence of a deal, saying the Iranians were more fearful of the U.S. maritime blockade than they were of the bombing. Photo by Dan»»»
US-led Digital Neocolonialism Enslaves Millions Worldwide
While the colonialism of old involved “the looting of gold and silver and the ransacking of nations,” digital age neocolonialism is all about “forcing citizens and countries to use certain technology while extracting their personal data,” Facebook whistleblower and censorship expert Ryan Hartwig te»»»
What makes workplace stress dangerous? New report reveals nearly 900,000 deaths a year
Dubai: Workplace stress is no longer just a matter of fatigue or burnout. A new report by the United Nations' International Labour Organisation (ILO) has revealed that it is linked to nearly 900,000 deaths every year worldwide. The study entitled “The psychosocial working environment: Global develo»»»
Huge ancient statue possibly of Ramses II found by chance in Egypt
A massive granite statue discovered in Sharqia during residential excavation, believed to date to the era of Ramses II; transferred to San al-Hagar for examination and restoration near Tell el-Faraoun under strict legal supervision A massive ancient granite statue believed to date back to the era o»»»
Iran war pushing more than 30 million back into poverty, UN development chief says
BANGKOK: More than 30 million people will be pushed back into poverty by the impacts of the Iran war including disruptions to fuel and fertilizer supplies just as farmers are planting crops, UN development chief Alexander De Croo said on Thursday. Fertilizer shortages — worsened by the blocking o»»»
Syria unveils plan for Damascus foreign exchange, gold market to boost monetary stability
JEDDAH: Syria has announced plans to launch the Damascus Market for Foreign Exchange and Gold, aiming to strengthen monetary policy and enhance financial stability. Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Abdulkader Husrieh said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to create a balanced and tr»»»
Why trust in media matters most during times of crisis
At a forum celebrating powerful women, it was a man who chose to talk about the kind of leadership that rarely makes headlines. Speaking at the session Beyond the Headlines: A Trusted Voice in Times of Crisis, Mark Thompson, Editor-in-Chief of Gulf News, traced his understanding of leadership back »»»
Trump reportedly draws up NATO ‘naughty list’ after Iran war split
The White House has reportedly drawn up a NATO “naughty and nice” list, sorting member states into tiers as it considers how to reward countries that backed the US war against Iran and punish those that did not. According to Politico, the internal paper was prepared ahead of NATO Secretary General »»»
Some 21.2% of Bulgaria's Population Lived below Poverty Line in 2025
In 2025, the national poverty line in Bulgaria was set at BGN 866.67 per person per month, with 1,368,700 people, or 21.2% of the population, living below it, according to data published on Thursday by the National Statistical Institute. Compared with the previous year, the poverty line increased b»»»
Moscow Contributing to Stabilizing Prices on Energy Markets Amid Hormuz Blockade - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is contributing to stabilizing prices on energy markets and minimizing the consequences of the crisis amid the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "At the moment, you know, we are contributing to this price stabilization and »»»
US–Iran war clock: May 1 deadline puts Trump under pressure
As the United States edges closer to a critical May 1 deadline in its war with Iran, a decades-old law is quietly becoming one of the most consequential forces shaping the next phase of the conflict. Nearly eight weeks after Washington joined Israeli strikes against Iran, President Donald Trump fac»»»
GCC female workforce participation exceeds 39%, hits 7.3m
RIYADH: Female labor force participation across Gulf Cooperation Council countries climbed to 39.3 percent in 2025, as employment gains and falling joblessness signal steady progress in the region’s workforce diversification efforts. The number of employed women rose to 7.3 million in 2025 from 5.7»»»
King Charles on US mission to bolster UK’s special relationship with royalist Trump
LONDON: Britain’s King Charles heads to the United States next week for the most high-profile trip of his reign so far, on a mission to shore up the future of the two allies’ “special relationship” which the Iran war has plunged to its lowest point in 70 years. The state visit marks the 250th anni»»»
Catalin Albu (Publicis): “We are fundamentally changing our approach by moving from selling big ideas to an Outcome-First philosophy”
As part of BR’s new interview series with professionals in the Media & Marketing sector, we sat down with Catalin Albu, Associate Managing Director at Publicis Romania, and talked about the agency’s last year and the near future, AI implementation & trends, as well as what will impact the industry »»»
Egypt sets LE4 trillion revenue target in 2026/27 budget
Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed that the new fiscal year 2026/2027 budget aims to meet citizens’ basic needs, improve services, and support economic activity. During his presentation of the financial statement for the 2026/2027 draft budget before the House of Representatives on Wednesday,»»»
Media Review: April 23
The results of the April 19 parliamentary elections and the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov dominate Thursday’s news media. POLITICS & ELECTION RESULTS Dnevnik.bg has an article about the news members of Parliament who were elected on April 19. The 52nd National Assembly w»»»
Schneider Electric and Deloitte collaborate to drive AI-enabled digital transformation across industrial operations
Global energy technology leader Schneider Electric and Deloitte, a leading professional services organization, have announced a collaboration designed to help customers and clients — from manufacturers and industrial operators to data center and infrastructure leaders — modernize end-to-end process»»»
Official talks between IMF mission, Serbian delegation begin in Belgrade
BELGRADE - Official talks between an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and representatives of the Republic of Serbia began with a plenary meeting at the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) on Thursday. The Serbian delegation is headed by NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic, who is also Serbia's gov»»»
Organised crime turns UK mini-marts into drug trade hotspots
Dubai A shocking investigation by the BBC has uncovered how illegal drugs — including cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription pills — are being openly sold in mini-marts across UK High Streets, exposing what officials describe as a growing “cancer” of organised crime. Undercover reporters »»»
Zambia says it has custody of ex-president’s body in dispute with family over burial
JOHANNESBURG: The Zambian government says it has taken custody of former President Edgar Lungu’s body from his family in a long-running dispute over where he should be buried after he died in South Africa nearly a year ago. In a statement Wednesday, Zambia’s attorney general said the government had»»»
Lulu Chairman assures food security in meet with ministers
Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali held a meeting with Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef and Minister of Investment Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif. During the meeting, Ali briefed the ministers on the steps taken by Lu»»»