800 ships stranded in Hormuz, Al Jaber flags supply risk
Dubai: Fresh figures shared on Sunday by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber point to a sharp escalation in disruptions across the Strait of Hormuz, with at least 22 ships attacked, 10 crew members killed and close to 800 commercial vessels now stranded, including almost 400 oil tankers. Sign up for our daily»»»
US mine-clearing operation in Strait of Hormuz: How it works and why it matters
Dubai: The United States has begun a high-stakes operation to clear suspected Iranian sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying warships, underwater drones and specialised helicopters to reopen one of the world’s most critical energy routes. Two US Navy guided-missile destroyers — the USS Frank »»»
Sharjah moves to upgrade malls, back SMEs and lift retail appeal
Dubai: Sharjah is stepping up efforts to strengthen its retail ecosystem, with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry holding talks with shopping mall operators to improve service standards, support SMEs and raise the sector’s investment appeal. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheq»»»
‘Final offer’ vs ‘unreasonable demands’: What US, Iran, Israel and Pakistan said after talks
Dubai: If the 21-hour US–Iran talks revealed deep divisions at the negotiating table, the reactions that followed showed an equally sharp divide in how both sides see the path forward. From Washington, the message was firm. US Vice President JD Vance said the United States had made its position cle»»»
ADX-listed companies hit Dh200bn profit, 98% compliance rate
Dubai: Companies listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange reported combined net profits exceeding Dh200 billion for 2025, alongside a 98% compliance rate in audited financial disclosures, highlighting a market environment backed by strong governance and consistent investor engagement. Sign up for ou»»»
ADNOC Gas, Fertiglobe flagged top picks in Bernstein MENA call
Dubai: Bernstein has initiated coverage on the MENA energy sector with a bullish view on UAE-listed ADNOC Gas and Fertiglobe, naming both among its top investment picks and pointing to strong cashflow visibility, sovereign backing and disciplined capital structures. Sign up for our daily business n»»»
UAE-backed DIAFA acquires Ivy, Annabel’s, Scott’s in ten-figure deal
Dubai: DIAFA, the Abu Dhabi-based luxury hospitality platform and an affiliate of International Holding Co., has completed a majority investment in Richard Caring’s restaurant and private members’ club portfolio, taking control of brands including The Ivy, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, Noema and Annabel’s, a»»»
UAE-backed DIAFA acquires Ivy, Annabel’s in £1.4 billion deal
Dubai: DIAFA, a luxury hospitality platform backed by International Holding Co., has acquired a majority stake in Richard Caring’s restaurant and private members’ club portfolio for about £1.4 billion, taking control of brands including The Ivy, Annabel’s, Scott’s, Sexy Fish and Harry’s Bar, accord»»»
No, Emmanuel Macron did not share a (fake) photo of Melania Trump with Jeffrey Epstein
Social media users are claiming that French President Emmanuel Macron circulated a photo of Melania Trump, the wife of US President Donald Trump, appearing with Jeffrey Epstein. However, the image has been digitally altered and was never shared by Macron. The misinformation began circulating after »»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
PANNIER: Taliban look north for friends
Central Asia’s governments were probably not best pleased when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, but most of them have since tried to make the most of the status quo. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turk»»»
UAE: “We're all navigating this together” - How working parents are thriving through remote learning
Dubai: It has been a daily test of balance, patience and emotional endurance, but UAE parents are determined to push through, with a little help from leaning on each other. The world of early morning meetings, school log-ins, deadlines and domestic routines continue, while one part of the house is »»»
Unification minister calls resuming tourist railway to border with N. Korea starting point for peace - UPI.com
A train enters Dorasan Station near the border with North Korea on Friday. South Korea resumed tourist rail service to the border station for the first time in over six years. Pool Photo by Yonhap Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Friday the resumption of tourist rail service to the border»»»
China, North Korea pledge closer ties after Wang visit - UPI.com
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui during their meeting at the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang Wednesday. Wang is in North Korea on a two-day visit. Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, April 10 (UPI) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met »»»
Job hunting in the UAE? Experts share what makes a CV stand out to recruiters
Write a CV, not a story. I remember one of my first mentors saying these words, after going through my first CV. I had poured out my life story on those pages, elaborating on each and everything that I could, down to my school days. My mentor, at the time, had sighed and told me flatly, “Please kee»»»
Saudi oil output hit as attacks disrupt key facilities, raising fresh global supply fears
Dubai: Saudi Arabia said recent attacks linked to Iran have damaged key parts of its energy network, cutting production capacity and disrupting exports at a time when global supply is already strained. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.An energy ministry official said st»»»
Asian stocks extend gains on Iran talks optimism, markets watch next move closely
Dubai: Asian equities climbed on Friday, extending their first weekly gain since the Middle East conflict began, with investors leaning into optimism ahead of planned US-Iran talks this weekend. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 0.8%, whi»»»
Dubai gold slips again as global rally holds, buyers eye dip after Dh4 drop
Dubai: Dubai gold prices slipped on Friday morning, extending a cautious trend even as global markets point to a stronger weekly finish. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques»»»
DIFC moves to ease business costs with payment breaks and fee relief across Dubai’s financial hub
Dubai: Dubai’s financial hub has moved to ease pressure on companies operating within its ecosystem, introducing a package of temporary support measures to stabilise cash flows and give firms breathing space. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Dubai International Financia»»»
Calls to invoke the 25th Amendment after Trump's Iran threats 'useless'
US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy “a whole civilisation” in Iran has reignited calls to invoke the 25th Amendment and drawn condemnation across the political spectrum. Yet despite a growing chorus of critics, from Democrats to former MAGA allies, the mechanism remains politically out of»»»
US Report: Ethiopia Army Base Used to Support Sudan’s RSF
An Ethiopian military base close to the Sudanese border is lending support to the Rapid Support Forces, according to a report by a research unit at Yale University released Wednesday. The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) said analysis of satellite imagery and open-sour»»»
Dubai launches maritime hub to capture more value from global shipping and trade
Dubai: Dubai is moving to capture a larger share of global shipping revenue by bringing trade, finance and maritime services into a single ecosystem, with the launch of a new Maritime Centre at DMCC. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The initiative is designed to go beyo»»»
High turnout marks India’s key state elections
Voters across India’s Assam and Kerala states, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry, turned out in large numbers on Thursday in closely watched Assembly elections seen as a key test of political momentum for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition alliances. With polling»»»
Lulu airlifts 3,000 tonnes of Kerala produce to GCC for Vishu
Dubai: Festive demand is driving a large-scale airlift of fresh produce from Kerala into the Gulf, with more than 3,000 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and traditional essentials being flown in ahead of Vishu celebrations. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Retail major Lulu»»»
Open Hormuz unconditionally, no strings attached, says Al Jaber
Dubai: Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, has called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened without conditions, warning that continued restrictions are tightening global energy supply and pushing markets toward a critic»»»
UK tracked 3 Russian subs in alleged N. Atlantic 'covert' op
London: Britain said Thursday it had tracked and “seen off” three Russian submarines on an alleged month-long “covert operation” in Atlantic waters “north of the UK” near vital undersea cables and pipelines. Disclosing details of the joint mission with Norway and other unspecified allies, British D»»»
DFSA moves to support DIFC firms with temporary rule easing amid disruption
Dubai: Dubai’s financial regulator has moved to ease operational strain on firms in the Dubai International Financial Centre, introducing temporary regulatory relief measures aimed at maintaining market stability while preserving oversight standards. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Chequ»»»
Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz alarms Gulf states as shipping remains disrupted despite ceasefire
Dubai: Within hours of President Donald Trump announcing a halt to fighting with Iran, confusion over its terms, violations on the ground, and conflicting claims over the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt on whether the ceasefire existed at all. The uncertainty was immediate and multi-layered. The United»»»
Mubadala scales to Dh1.4 trillion with UAE portfolio at core of growth
Dubai: Mubadala Investment Company's assets under management rose 17% to Dh1.4 trillion in 2025, supported by strong domestic investments and steady returns across its global portfolio. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The sovereign investor reported five-year and ten-y»»»
Pakistani man pleads guilty in plot targeting NYC Jewish center - UPI.com
Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that 21-year-old Muhammad Shahzeb Khan pleaded guilty to plotting to kill Jews in a mass shooting in New York City. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- A 21-year-old Pakistani citizen has pleaded guilty to plotting an Islamic State-inspi»»»
Dubai gold edges lower as global cues keep market on edge
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai eased slightly on Thursday morning, giving up a small portion of the gains seen earlier this week as global markets weighed fragile geopolitical signals against shifting rate expectations. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 24-karat rate st»»»
Freezing at work? Why uncertain times are leaving you mentally stuck — UAE experts explain how to break free
I know I have to do this. But I can't. That's the inner monologue that most, have been facing of late. And it could be something as basic as sending an email. Sometimes, it’s almost physically difficult to do it. There's a heaviness that settles on your fingers. You can't finish a task. You’re func»»»
Yandex captures 70% of Russia’s search market, outpacing Google
Yandex (YNDX) holds around 70% of all search queries in Russia, consolidating its position as the dominant domestic search engine and outpacing global rival Google, according to motoram.ru. Yandex is one of a rare example »»»
Flights resume in Bahrain: Airport restarts operations after airspace reopening
Dubai: Flight operations are gradually returning at Bahrain International Airport, offering relief to passengers after recent airspace restrictions disrupted schedules across the region. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Bahrain Airport Company, which operates the airpor»»»
India flights suspended: Jazeera cancels 9 routes till May 15, refunds offered
Dubai: Passengers planning travel between Kuwait and several Indian cities are facing disruptions after Jazeera Airways pulled services across nine routes, with cancellations running for over a month amid operational challenges. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airl»»»
North Korea says its latest weapons tests included missiles with cluster-bomb warheads
SEOUL: North Korea on Thursday said its testing spree this week involved various new weapons systems, including ballistic missiles armed with cluster-bomb warheads, as it pushes to expand nuclear-capable forces aimed at rival South Korea. The report by North Korean state media came a day after Sout»»»
Lick up, kick down: A psychiatrist’s view of how Orbán created a sick society
In Hungarian society, the rules of baseness have taken root: be ruthless, be selfish, lick upwards, kick downwards, despise the weak. We spoke with psychiatrist and writer Péter Hunčík about how society and political power have changed over the past 16 years of prime minister Viktor Orbán’s rule. F»»»
Iran warns ships in Hormuz: Seek permission or face destruction
Dubai: Iran has warned ships near the Strait of Hormuz that they must seek permission from its naval forces before transiting the critical waterway, underscoring Tehran’s continued grip over the strategic chokepoint despite a ceasefire agreement. “You must receive permission from Iranian Sepah navy»»»
BAFTA racial slur was breach of BBC editorial standards: internal probe
BAFTA racial slur was breach of BBC editorial standards: internal probe London: The BBC breached its own editorial standards by broadcasting a racial slur during the BAFTA awards ceremony, an internal probe found Wednesday. The finding follows a "fast-tracked" investigation ordered by former Direct»»»
Tehran’s call: How Mojtaba Khamenei sealed the Iran deal
Dubai: In the end, the deal was not decided in Washington — but in Tehran, where Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei quietly gave the green light, a decisive intervention that broke weeks of deadlock, according to Axios. The ceasefire that followed brought a sudden halt to weeks of escalating confronta»»»
How UAE families are saving money and cutting back in uncertain times
Times have been a bit tough, of late. But chin up, chin up, as Dubai-based Shraddha Mishra, a homemaker insists on telling her children. "There's always a way forward, and that's what we do." Indeed, in the past one month, she along with other residents have looked to make changes in their lives, c»»»
U.S. Sen Wicker criticizes ‘burden shifting’ in Korea defense policy - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., on Wednesday criticized a Pentagon strategy that shifts responsibility for deterring North Korea onto Seoul. Wicker, seen here at the U.S. Capitol in September 2025, made the comments during a pre-recorded speech at the Asan Plenum policy forum in Seoul. File Ph»»»
Stress and early menopause: UAE doctors’ insights for women under 45
For women who experience premature menopause, before 45, and especially under 40, the stakes for heart health are higher than most realise. The early loss of estrogen, which naturally protects the cardiovascular system, leaves the heart vulnerable to high blood pressure, inflammation, and stiffenin»»»