Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that mothers are a source of lasting strength for the nation and society. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app now - it's completely free. Click here for Apple or here for Android. You »»»

Doha, Qatar: Retailers across Doha have noted a strong pickup in consumer spending, driven by discounting, promotional campaigns, and a seasonal rise during Eid Al Fitr. Malls and high streets are witnessing increased footfall, with industry players pointing to a concentrated surge in demand for fa»»»

Hamdija Alukić (70) has been arrested in Alabama on charges that he committed war crimes against civilians in the Prijedor area in 1992. Alukić is accused of participating in attacks on two vehicles carrying civilians, as well as of setting fire to several houses while people were still inside them»»»

Washington, March 21 (SANA) The United States has lent 45.2 million barrels of crude oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to energy companies, aiming to ease price increases driven by the conflict with Iran. Reuters quoted the Energy Department as saying the initial batch represents about»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov today took part in Nooruz celebration in Naryn’s central square. Congratulating the people of Kyrgyzstan on the spring equinox holiday, he noted that Nooruz is a symbol of renewal, creation, labor, and unity, a legacy inherited from our ancestors. «We are proud»»»

The Israeli military said it launched a wave of strikes on Beirut claiming to target the Iran-backed group Hezbollah early Saturday, while Lebanese state media reported strikes in the country's south. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on Mar»»»

Iran is ready to let Japanese-related vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, Kyodo news reported, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Tehran has started talks with Tokyo, including with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, about possibly opening»»»

Doha, Qatar: During times of regional geopolitical tension, relying on official and verified news sources becomes essential not only for personal awareness but also for maintaining public order and responsible civic engagement, according to Lecturer at the College of Law at Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer»»»

Political parties in Iraq have carried out intense efforts over the past two days to contain the escalation in the country in wake of increased attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad by pro-Iran factions, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The efforts aim to also prevent Iraq from sliding into a broader c»»»

Donald Trump's war with Iran is weighing on independent US voters, a crucial bloc likely to determine if the president's Republican Party maintains control of Congress in the November midterm elections. At a breakfast diner in Pennsylvania, a swing state where voters often shift between parties, th»»»

Israel’s ongoing military operation in Lebanon violates international law, French President Emmanuel Macron has said. Speaking at a European Council press conference in Brussels on Thursday, Macron also criticized the attacks on Israel being carried out by Lebanese-based militant movement Hezbollah»»»

Prime Minister Orbán resumed his nationwide tour with a stop in Szentendre, where he delivered a sharp message on energy security, the war in Ukraine, and Hungary’s position within the European Union. Speaking to supporters, the prime minister framed the current geopolitical situation as a decisive»»»

Dubai: What started as a modest gathering of motorcycling enthusiasts has evolved into one of the UAE’s much-anticipated multi-club biking events, drawing hundreds of riders united by both passion and purpose. Amid the current geopolitical situation, the fourth edition of the “Biker Buddies Eid Bro»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has issued an important advisory to owners of ships and maritime vessels, urging them to strictly follow instructions from competent authorities to ensure the safety and protection of life and property amid current developments. The Ministry emphasised t»»»

WASHINGTON , United States — The US Treasury on Friday temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto vessels, in Washington's latest step to stem a supply crisis over the Middle East war.The authorisation allows for the delivery and sale of Iranian crude oil and other petroleum p»»»

Following a tense and protracted EU summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary has both the legal and political grounds to block the €90 billion loan package intended for Ukraine. The prime minister described the negotiations as “combative” and underscored that Hungary succ»»»

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is being examined in criminal investigations by two US federal prosecutors' offices, according to a New York Times report published on Friday. Relations between Washington and Bogota entered a volatile phase after US President Donald Trump's return to office 14 mon»»»

Doha, Qatar: Hotels across Doha are experiencing a notable surge in bookings for Eid Al Fitr holidays amidst ongoing tensions in the region, as citizens and residents increasingly opt for local staycations rather than travelling abroad. Industry experts say the combination of time off, competitive »»»

Doha: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs launched the Joy of Eid initiative to celebrate Eid Al Fitr by distributing 5,000 gifts to children across 20 major Eid prayer mosques in different areas of Qatar. The initiative aims to spread happiness a»»»

In Naryn region, the gross domestic product (GDP) was 18 billion soms in 2020, and by 2025, it reached 40 billion. Thus, the growth rate is 224 percent, indicating that the figure has more than doubled. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov announced this during Nooruz celebrations. In the industri»»»

The Bishkek City Hall plans to renovate and build more than 40 parks and public gardens in 2026, its press service reported. According to it, some of the parks will be renovated, while a significant number will be built from scratch. The work will be carried out by the municipal enterprise Bishkekz»»»

An Israeli strike on a health center in southern Lebanon instantly killed 12 medical workers, seriously wounded one and left four missing under the rubble for hours. The March 13 strike in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah, one of the single deadliest strikes in Lebanon since the latest Israel-Hezboll»»»

The US-Israeli war with Iran has put AI use in defence systems in the spotlight like never before. AI's exact role in the military, its accuracy and possible repercussions are slowly beginning to emerge – but the extent of its use and role in the war so far still largely remain a mystery.  The»»»

In a week where assassinations have continued within the top ranks of Iran’s regime, the minister of intelligence, the commander of the Bases paramilitary and the powerful security chief Ali Larijani included, but a weakened government seems to have had little bearing on Tehran’s retaliation across»»»

On March 21, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones landed near Cairo after becoming the first people to circle the globe by balloon. 1 of 3 | On March 21, 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones landed near Cairo after becoming the first people to circle the globe by balloon. UPI File Photo | Licen»»»

On February 28, the United States and Israel began striking targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israeli territory, as well as on US military targets in the Middle East. The damage caused by US and Israeli aggressi»»»

European powers and Japan have changed their posture on the ongoing Middle East war, by prioritising energy security and avoiding being dragged by the US into the on-going war with Iran. Recent developments show the allies are preparing to act even without full US leadership. Some countries, such a»»»

Women make up 30.1% of candidates for parliament in the April 19 elections, Central Election Commission Deputy Chair Rositsa Mateva said on Saturday. Their share is up 1.7 percentage points from the October 2024 vote. There will be 62 more women candidates for parliament in the upcoming elections t»»»

Dubai: The Philippines is introducing a temporary toll discount for public transport and freight services starting March 23 to offer a breathing space to the transportation sector, who is currently under pressure from rising fuel prices, amid the situation in the Middle East. In a statement, Philip»»»

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed on Friday that he was working on steering the country clear of the war in the Middle East. “We are taking steps very carefully and working on keeping Syria out of any conflict,” he said after Eid al-Fitr prayers in Damascus. “We must remember that Syria had»»»

President Iliana Iotova will visit Kyustendil for the city’s official holiday, the Kyustendil Spring Festival, the President’s press secretariat said on Saturday. She will be welcomed by Mayor Ognyan Atanasov outside the Kyustendil Municipality building and will greet residents and visitors during »»»

Seoul: Rescuers combed the charred wreckage of a South Korean car parts factory for missing people after a fire killed at least 11 and injured dozens more, authorities told AFP on Saturday. Fire crews were initially unable to enter the factory in the central city of Daejeon due to the risk of the b»»»

Rescuers combed the charred wreckage of a South Korean car parts factory for missing people after a fire killed at least 11 and injured dozens more, authorities told AFP on Saturday. Fire crews were initially unable to enter the factory in the central city of Daejeon due to the risk of the building»»»

Kyrgyzstan ranks 47th in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index and 78th in the Energy Transition Index (ETI), an index published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF). These data are presented in a report by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) in the section covering the energy sector »»»

Dubai: Global oil prices rose again on Saturday, reflecting mounting geopolitical pressure on supply flows. Middle East crude led the move with a sharp spike. Murban crude, a key benchmark exported from the UAE, jumped 18% to $146.40 per barrel. That followed a 6% surge a day earlier, when prices h»»»

Dubai: Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has temporarily suspended its flights between Manila and major Middle East destinations, such as Dubai and Doha, until April 30 amid the ongoing tensions in the region. In its latest advisory, PAL has noted that the suspension is a “precautionary measur»»»

DOHA: The Meteorology Department has warned of expected thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds along the coast, and of thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds and high waves offshore. It is forecast that the weather along the coast, until 6pm, will be partly cloudy to cloudy with suspended dus»»»

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East. Iran will not agree to a ceasefire with the United States and Is»»»

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned on Saturday Israel's strikes on Syrian army camps as "aggression", joining other Arab nations and Türkiye in calling on the international community to intervene. Israel's military said on Friday it had struck southern Syria in response to what it called att»»»

San Francisco: A jury has found Elon Musk liable for defrauding investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company for $44 billion. But it absolved him of some fraud allegations, finding that he did no»»»

US President Donald Trump said he was considering “winding down” military operations in the Middle East even as the United States is sending three more amphibious assault ships and roughly 2,500 additional Marines to the region. Trump’s post Friday on social media followed an Iranian threat to atta»»»

LAGOS — Far from the Middle East war, fallout from oil disruptions is reverberating across the world, unsettling lives from Lagos to Manila as people adjust to fuel price hikes and gas shortages.Benchmark oil prices are hovering around $100, a surge of around 40 to 50 per cent since the war against»»»

For decades, American support for Israel was one of the most durable constants in US foreign policy, to such an extent that successive administrations, whether Democratic or Republican, hardly needed to debate it. That truism no longer holds. A Gallup poll conducted between 2-16 February confirmed »»»

Three weeks after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the world has entered an exceptionally dangerous phase. The confrontation has expanded far beyond the bounds of a conventional military conflict. It has developed into a multi-layered war in which military fronts converge with immense ec»»»

The world is now passing through an era of ‘strategic unravelling’, and its proportions are catastrophic. Conflicts no longer remain confined to their immediate geographies. With grim persistence, they expand into regional wars. Their prevalence stems from the breakdown of the post-1945 internation»»»

From one studio to another, Chuck Norris turned discipline into legend – a martial arts champion who became the iron-jawed face of "Walker, Texas Ranger" and a larger-than-life cultural myth. He died Thursday at 86. Chuck Norris, the martial arts grandmaster and action star whose roles in “Wal»»»

A video claiming that Iran published a list of 11 American cities it plans to target has gone viral since it was first posted on Instagram on March 3. We found the origin of this list, and it turns out that it has nothing to do with Iran.  Instagram user truecrimewithbella posted a video on Ma»»»

The UAE is bracing for heavy rain and gusty winds as unstable weather moves across the country. This morning, rainfall has affected Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other areas, with convective clouds forming over scattered regions and fresh to strong winds causing blowing dust and reduced visibility between »»»

Our reporters in the Middle East went to meet Palestinians who are desperately trying to reach Israel to find work there. Before the October 7 attacks, 120,000 Palestinian workers held permits allowing them to enter Israel legally. Today, only a handful of permits are »»»

A court in France has sentenced jihadist Sabri Essid for his part in "the genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State group" against Iraq's Yazidi minority, in the first French trial of its kind. Essid is presumed to have been killed in 2018, but without proof of his death he was tried and convicted »»»