London: Reports of the death of the world's oldest living land animal - a nearly 200-year-old tortoise - were greatly exaggerated. Jonathan, believed to be 193, is still kicking - albeit slowly - on the island of St. Helena. "It was a hoax," Anne Dillon, head of communications on the island, told T»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria has formally requested assistance from the European Union to counter potential foreign interference and disinformation campaigns ahead of its upcoming parliamentary elections, according to reporting by POLITICO and correspondence seen by the publication. In the request, Bulgarian authoriti»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) HE Felix Tshisekedi left Doha on Thursday, following a working visit to the country. His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure from Doha International Airport by HE Minister of State for Foreign A»»»

The Rossiya Segodnya media group has launched a new SputnikPro internship for nine specialists from leading media in South Asia at its headquarters in Moscow. The project is part of the InteRussia programme of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.The event was opened by Director for Intern»»»

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday warned that Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem would pay an "extraordinarily heavy price" for escalating attacks during the ongoing Jewish holidays. "I have a clear message for Naim Qassem... you and your associates will pay an extraordinarily heavy »»»

Dubai: Singapore Airlines has extended the cancellation of its Dubai flights until May 31, citing the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. In an advisory, the airline confirmed that these two services will remain suspended during this period - SQ494 departing Singapore for Dubai and S»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Minister of State for Energy Affairs, HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, met today, April 2, 2026, with the Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom. Discussions during the meeting, which was held virtually, dealt with the impact of»»»

Dubai: The UAE government's decision to extend distance learning until April 17 amid regional tensions has been met with relief and gratitude by parents, who say their children's safety outweighs any disruption to routine. For Praseetha Rajesh, a mother of two whose elder daughter Anushka is a univ»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC announces targeting US-linked steel facilities in Abu Dhabi, parts of aluminum operations in Bahrain, as well as military industries t»»»

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»»»

COSMO PHARM, one of Romania’s most prominent producers of dietary supplements, has continued to expand its network of retail partners, achieving a 25% increase in 2025 compared to 2024. This growth has directly enhanced the visibility of the company’s products, which are now available in over 1,000»»»

‎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»»»

Tunis, April 2 (TAP)- Under BeMed+ project, an initiative was put into motion to make wall frescos at Mustapha Ben Jannet stadium in Monastir, in collaboration with street artist Skander Tej.The project is supported by the French Facility for...»»»

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»»»

Vienna: Austria has rejected US requests for military overflights of its territory since the start of the conflict in the Middle East in line with its policy of neutrality, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP on Thursday. "There have indeed been requests and they were refused from the outset," Co»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah City Municipality has issued a set of guidelines to curb mosquito breeding during the rainy season, urging residents to take preventive measures to protect public health and maintain environmental standards. The municipality highlighted that Puddle or standing water remains the»»»

Dubai: On Autism Awareness Day, Dubai International Airport took to social media to highlight their efforts to make travel more inclusive, focusing on support for passengers with autism and other hidden disabilities. The airport hopes to create a calm, sensory-friendly experience at every stage, fr»»»

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»»»

Oil prices extended gains on Thursday in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump threatening further heavy strikes on Iran, dampening hopes of de-escalation. The main U.S. oil contract, West Texas Intermediate, jumped 10.3 percent to $110.47 per barrel. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude»»»

The dollar rose sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump's address on Iran shattered hopes for a swift end to the conflict, sending investors towards safe-haven assets as oil prices jumped and stocks tumbled. In a televised speech, Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran in the next »»»

Misrata Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture announced last Monday (30 March) that it will be holding a workshop entitled “The Smart Export Gateway: How to Open Global Markets for Your Product Amidst Rapidly Increasing Global Competition.” The workshop is being held from 1 to 2 April. The»»»

Dubai: Rows of luxury boutiques line an upmarket Dubai mall, yet a month into the Middle East war their sales staff sit idly, phones in hand, watching for the rare customer. Salespeople in immaculate suits say they have been told not to speak to reporters, but one briefly described the mood. "Of co»»»

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Animal Rescue League of Iowa (@arliowa) April 1 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers in Iowa shared a photo of an orphaned baby chick being comforted by its new surrogate mother -- a feather duster. The Animal Rescue League of Iowa said on social media that the baby»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli occupation soldiers and vehicles in the towns of Rshaf and Beit Lif with rocket barrages:»»»

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 »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli occupation army soldiers and vehicles at the Kfar Giladi and Marj Israeli sites with rock»»»

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»»»

Seoul, South Korea: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that a military operation to liberate the Strait of Hormuz is "unrealistic", expressing frustration at US President Donald Trump's alternating statements on the Iran war. "There are those who advocate for the liberation of the St»»»

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»»»

Uchkun OJSC will gradually increase the production of Kyrgyzstan’s own banknotes: starting with 20 soms, followed by 50, 100, and 200 soms denominations. The full transition to domestic production of all denominations will allow the country to stop ordering banknotes from abroad and reduce costs. T»»»

Manila: Manny Pacquiao's planned September fight with Floyd Mayweather will not be an exhibition, the Philippine boxing legend said Thursday, days after his fellow hall of famer said their bout would be strictly entertainment. Netflix last month announced a long-awaited rematch of the highest-gross»»»

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that air defenses engaged 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones originating from Iran. Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones. The attacks have resulted in ca»»»

Benghazi Chamber of Commerce announced last Monday (30 March) that it will be organising the First Scientific Economic Conference on “The Libyan Economic Crisis: Between the Confusion of Economic Policies and the Shortcomings of Management: Diagnosing the Reality and Scenarios for Addressing It,” f»»»

The national Quran recitation competition dedicated to the memory of former mufti Chubak azhy Zhalilov concluded in the city of Manas. The winners in the three main categories received top prizes — cars: Other prize-winners and participants received cash awards, trips to the minor pilgrimage (Umrah»»»

Amman, Jordan: Jordanian National Electric Power Company's Director General Sufian Al-Batayneh said Jordan's power network is functioning safely and sustainably on April, 2, 2026, stressing that there are no indications of disruptions to electricity supply. Speaking to Jordan News Agency (Petra), A»»»

Umm Al Quwain: Umm Al Quwain Police General Headquarters has urged parents to prevent children from using unlicensed motorcycles and electric bikes in residential areas, citing rising safety risks and noise complaints. The Traffic and Patrols Department said reckless riding by untrained youngsters—»»»

India’s massive condom industry is facing major disruptions due to material shortages and soaring production costs linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East, local media reports, citing manufacturers. India produces over 6 billion condoms annually in a high-volume, low-margin market worth $860 m»»»

Authorities in Thessaloniki have carried out scores of checks to ensure dog owners are obeying pet safety regulations and imposed thousands of euros in fines, police said Thursday. A police statement said officers accompanied by municipal officials stopped 128 dog owners in March in central Thessal»»»

Urgent searches of private properties, vehicles and commercial premises were carried out in an operation against vote buying in the town of Varbitsa, in the northeastern Shumen Region, Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev said on Facebook on Thursday. Identity cards, lists of names and»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal has nearly doubled aviation fuel prices as global energy costs surge during the Middle East war, officials said Thursday, raising fears of a fresh blow to its tourism-dependent economy. The landlocked Himalayan nation of 30 million relies almost entirely on India for its fos»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah reports 26 precise strikes so far on Monday, targeting Israeli occupation army gatherings of vehicles and soldiers and key sites,»»»