RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said its Qiwa labor platform surpassed two million registered establishments in the first quarter of 2026, alongside 13 million workers and 12 million documented employment contracts, underscoring rapid digitalization of the »»»

Iran's supreme leader declared Thursday that the United States had suffered a shameful defeat, defiantly rejecting a warning from President Donald Trump that an economically punishing US naval blockade could be enforced for months to come. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Oliver McTernan, »»»

Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has not cut jobs despite fluctuations in demand linked to the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted regional travel and mobility patterns. The DFM-listed company’s chief executive told Gulf News that business has remained “f»»»

In a sharp social media jab amid escalating US-Iran tensions, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament and a former IRGC commander, mocked American efforts to pressure Tehran through naval blockade and sanctions. Ghalibaf posted a map overlay comparing Iran’s extensive borders to hypo»»»

Pop star Britney Spears on Thursday was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, prosecutors outside Los Angeles said -- but she could avoid jail time with a plea deal. The criminal complaint does not specify which substance the 44-year-old singer was allegedly using when she »»»

James Garfield Broadnax was executed Thursday evening in Huntsville, Texas, for the June 2008 double murder of Stephen Swan and Matthew Butler. Photo courtesy of Texas Department of Criminal Justice April 30 (UPI) -- The state of Texas on Thursday evening executed a 37-year-old man convicted of a d»»»

Dubai: The UAE’s banking sector continues to demonstrate strong resilience and global competitiveness, underpinned by robust regulation, ample liquidity and a diversified economic base, according to Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal bin Sultan Al Qassimi, Chairman of United Arab Bank (UAB). In an intervie»»»

U.S. lawmaker pledges to be 'voice' for defectors, expand broadcasts 1 of 4 | Rep. Young Kim, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, leads a roundtable with 11 North Korean defectors at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Tuesday. Photo by Asia »»»

Dubai: Fair skies and intermittent cloud cover will prevail across the UAE on Friday, with temperatures climbing into the high 30s along coastal areas and exceeding 40°C inland, as light to moderate winds sweep across the country. According to the National Centre of Meteorology, conditions will rem»»»

President Donald Trump said Thursday he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war, a day after proposing a similar reduction in Germany. "Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?" Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider »»»

BEIRUT: The US embassy in Lebanon on Thursday urged a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s south killed at least 17 people despite an ongoing ceasefire. Israeli and Lebanese representatives this month have met twice in Washington »»»

WASHINGTON: Federal prosecutors released a video Thursday showing the moment authorities say a man armed with guns and knives tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and attempt to kill President Donald Trump. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, posted the video»»»

Share: A message lighting up Times Square , New York City center: last weekend “Neighboring nations deserve better than what stands between them”. The US embassy in Lebanon on Thursday urged a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country’s »»»

Dubai: The United States is considering deploying one of its most advanced weapons systems in the Iran conflict — a hypersonic missile known as “Dark Eagle” — in a move that could signal a new phase of escalation even as a fragile ceasefire holds, media reports said. The system, formally called the»»»

Chris Wood scored from the penalty spot to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa in the first leg of their all-English Europa League semifinal on Thursday. In a matchup of two teams hoping to revive former European glory, the win at the City Ground puts Forest a step closer to what »»»

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval. The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defense Secr»»»

President Donald Trump dropped tariffs on whiskey coming out of the United Kingdom -- scotch, in particular -- after King Charles and Queen Camilla concluded their trip to the United States this week. File Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI April 30 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Thursday lifted tar»»»

GENEVA: Rainfall is likely to be below normal during the June–September 2026 southwest monsoon season across much of South Asia, with the strongest signal over central regions, according to a new seasonal forecast which will help millions of people prepare. A few parts of the north-western, north-e»»»

FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup after a backlash over soaring prices for the 2026 tournament in North America, as officials defended costs as a reflection of demand while acknowledging fan anger. FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strateg»»»

A fresh Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Black Sea ​port of Tuapse, the fourth in the past week, sparked a fire at the sea terminal but caused no injuries, local officials said early on Friday. Tuapse has come under repeated attack, particularly the Black Sea port’s oil terminal. The strikes have»»»

NEW YORK: A massive, fiery explosion at a house in Queens sent several New York City police officers flying through the air early Thursday morning as they were responding to a call of a man inside armed with a knife and the smell of gas. Eight officers were treated for minor injuries — including bu»»»

WASHINGTON/DUBAI: Iran said on Thursday it would respond with “long and painful strikes” on US positions if Washington renewed attacks and restated its claim to the Strait of ​Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.Aerospace Force Commander ​Majid Mousavi was quoted by»»»

VANCOUVER: Palestinian football federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to take part in a photo opportunity with Israel soccer official Basim Sheikh Suliman in a tense incident at the end of FIFA’s Congress on Thursday. After both Rajoub and Suliman had addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni»»»

VANCOUVER: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer. Infantino confirmed he ‌would run ‌for the 2027–2031 term in ​the ‌closing ⁠moments ​of the ⁠FIFA Congress in Vancouver,»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday continued his attacks on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying he was “doing ​a terrible job” with his own country and should spend “less time on interfering” with Washington’s effort to tackle “the Iran nuclear threat.” Trump has been sparring w»»»

Dubai: Nearly nine weeks into the Iran conflict, Washington’s strategy has shifted from rapid escalation to a prolonged economic squeeze — raising a critical question: How long can the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz last, and is the war sliding into a “frozen conflict”?»»»

A Ukrainian drone attack has killed two teenagers on a motorcycle in Russia's Belgorod region, the local governor said early on Friday. "In the village of Volchya Alexandrovka, a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone deliberately attacked a motorcycle carrying two young men. Aged 18 and 15," Belgorod govern»»»

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump made a series of claims about Iran, its internal situation, and ongoing Washington's actions there, asserting that American intervention has prevented mass executions and significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities. Speaking during an executive order»»»

FORT COLLINS, Colorado: President Donald Trump granted a key approval Thursday for a major new oil pipeline from Canada into the U.S. that’s been dubbed “Keystone Light” over its similarities to a contentious project blocked by the Biden administration. The three-foot-wide (1 meter) Bridger Pipelin»»»

Uzbekistan's average monthly nominal wages rose 17.4% y/y in the first quarter to UZS 6.83mn ($568), according to national statistical committee data.  The increase extends a multi-year trend. Average monthly nom»»»

Dubai: When you use your Visa card in the UAE—whether ordering food, booking a ride, or shopping online—the speed and reliability of that payment is set to improve. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Visa has appointed Emirates NBD as its National Ne»»»

Militants on Thursday called for a united front to depose Mali's ruling junta and to proceed with a "peaceful and inclusive transition," according to a statement which follows weekend attacks by militants and Tuareg separatists against key junta positions. The JNIM urged "all sincere patriots, with»»»

What started out as a joke on social media, has now got the US President’s backing. Donald Trump said he supports the idea of changing the name of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - or ICE - to a new acronym, “NICE.” This comes as the immigration agency continues to face mounting scrutiny o»»»

Amid fresh transatlantic tensions surrounding Iran, NATO, and US troops in Germany, Delano D'Souza is pleased to welcome Dr Christopher Featherstone, Associate Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of York. Dr Featherstone sees a strained alliance caught between perform»»»

Dubai: Dubai has launched a new support portfolio for its creative sector, giving artists, cultural institutions and small businesses access to workspaces, grants, training, exhibition opportunities and wider public visibility. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Creat»»»

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday hiked the minimum wage package by 26.3 percent, to $240, in an attempt to quell growing discontent over difficult living conditions. Addressing thousands of government supporters in Caracas on the eve of International Workers' Day, Rodriguez,»»»

The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to "severe" after two men were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday. The government says the increase is not solely due to the stabbings, adding that the threat has been "rising for some time". Speaking from Downing Street earlier, the Prime Minister K»»»

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of Defense's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Thursday, where he was grilled on the costs of the war in Iran and whether President Donald Trum»»»

WASHINGTON: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has moved to address staffing issues that triggered concern and uncertainty among and about its workforce, including reinstating employees put on leave for publicly opposing agency policies, and extending contracts for some workers whose terms wer»»»

VANCOUVER: FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Gr»»»

Elon Musk sparred with lawyers for a third day Thursday at his California trial against OpenAI, struggling to explain why his own for-profit AI empire differs from the one he is trying to take down. "Few answers are going to be complete, especially when you cut me off all the time," the visibly irr»»»

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on former Congolese President Joseph Kabila for his alleged role in funding and providing political support to rebel groups operating in the east of his country. The Treasury and State departments announced Thursday that they had targeted K»»»

Tunis, April 30 (TAP) - The Tunis-Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency signed, on Thursday, a partnership agreement with Tunisie Telecom for a period of three years, aimed at boosting joint cooperation and strengthening integration between the two...»»»

Tunis, April 30 (TAP) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, held a remote meeting on Thursday with heads of Tunisian diplomatic and consular missions abroad. The meeting is in line with the President of...»»»

A search is underway for a missing 26-year-old hiker last seen along one of the Grand Canyon's most heavily traveled areas, according to the National Park Service. Sandarsh Krishna was last seen on Monday along the Rim Trail on the South Rim, between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point along Hermit»»»

President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring more "aggressive options" to pressure Iran into a negotiated settlement, as talks remain deadlocked and Tehran’s leaders continue to reject America's core demands. The White House is emphasising “maximum pressure” tactics — especially economic pain — w»»»

A hailstone in Vigo Park, Texas, seen next to a Monster drink can on June 2, 2024. Photo by Val Castor/NSW A massive hailstone measuring 7.1 inches in diameter has been confirmed as a new state record in Texas, nearly two years after it was discovered near Vigo Park in the Texas Panhandle following»»»

LONDON: Authorities in Israel said on Thursday that they would release a Palestinian man who was seriously wounded by Israeli forces more than two weeks ago. Qusai Rayyan, 29, was shot during an Israeli raid in Salfit Governorate in the northwestern West Bank on April 15. The Palestinian Ministry o»»»

NEW YORK: Pain at the pump. Flights canceled, costlier airplane ticket prices and baggage fees. Everyday items such as soap and toothpaste getting more expensive. Higher postal prices. Consumers are paying for the Iran war 's disruption of global energy production as the conflict enters its third m»»»