Dubai: Dubai is accelerating its push toward an AI-driven government, with all public services set to be integrated into a single digital ecosystem within one year. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The directive was issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Moha»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: After careful consideration, in light of the evolving situation in the region, Qatar Museums and Design Doha have made the decision to postpone the opening of the Design Doha Biennial 2026 to Nov. 5-7, 2026, with exhibitions remaining on view until Dec. 31, 2026. Qatar Museums remains »»»

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»»»

BELGRADE - The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade on Thursday dismissed as untrue reports by some media outlets about a fresh "raid" of the Faculty of Philosophy building in Belgrade by Criminal Police Directorate personnel. In a statement on its website, the prosecutor's office said tha»»»

Dubai: At a time when the US–Israel–Iran conflict is reshaping geopolitical and economic realities, businesses across the region are being tested on their ability to adapt and endure. Against this backdrop, Danube Group’s Founder and Chairman Rizwan Sajan is setting a strong example of leadership b»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Kampala: Four children were stabbed to death on Thursday at a kindergarten in Uganda's capital, Kampala, police said, with local media reporting the victims were aged between two and three. "We confirm a tragic incident at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program school in Makindye Division Ka»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

BELGRADE - In a statement released after a session of its head committee, the Movement of Socialists proposed an urgent reshuffle of the Serbian government, the passage of a law granting Serbian citizenship to all Serbs in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, as well as a binding referendum on t»»»

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. »»»

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»»»

Airborne attacks across large areas of Ukraine by Russian forces with drones and artillery killed at least five people, injured 11 others over the past 24 hours, inflicting widespread damage to infrastructure and in residential areas. File photo by Sergey Kozlov/EPA April 2 (UPI) -- At least five p»»»

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—»»»

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»»»

The European Commission has announced a new financial aid package for the cash-strapped Ukrainian government using the revenue generated from frozen Russian assets. The sum of €1.4 billion ($1.63 billion) would largely be spent on covering Kiev’s debts to its Western backers, the statement said. Uk»»»

Dubai: A 19th-century masterpiece by Raja Ravi Varma has sold for a record $17.9 million at an auction in Mumbai, setting a new benchmark for Indian art and underscoring its growing global value. The oil-on-canvas painting, Yashoda and Krishna, was auctioned by Saffronart on Wednesday, far exceedin»»»

At least 30 road accidents involving scooters were registered in the capital in two months. The press service of the Department of the Patrol Police Service reported. According to it, 34 people were injured in the road accidents. These figures raise serious concerns and require urgent preventative »»»

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran will not provide a durable solution to the issue of Tehran's nuclear program and that Trump cannot keep "contradicting" himself every day on Iran. "A targeted military action, even for a few weeks, will not allo»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal's newly elected lawmakers met Thursday for the first parliamentary session since an anti-corruption protests toppled the government in September 2025 and left the old parliament building in flames. Lawmakers, elected in March, met within the new parliament building, with man»»»

In a groundbreaking move to support its diaspora, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), has announced a new initiative designed to streamline banking processes for Egyptians living overseas. This initiative enables expatriates to open bank accou»»»

In a milestone step to enhance Egypt’s pharmaceutical sector, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, witnessed the signing of a pivotal cooperation protocol. This agreement, established between the Arab Pharmaceutical Ingredients Co. ( Arab API ) and »»»

EIPICO was able to provide medicine to the Egyptian citizen at a fair price, as the average price of a package of EIPICO products is one of the lowest prices in the market with the highest international quality standards, this is in fulfillment of its social role, in addition to pumping investments»»»

The King Charles III House in Viscri brings to Romania the exhibition of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London, ‘Marie of Romania: Artist Queen. A Floral Conversation,’ dedicated to the artistic universe of Queen Marie of Romania and her fascination with the flora of her adopted country. After »»»

Schneider Electric presented its innovations and solutions for the digital transformation process in the energy sector during the Innovation Day event held in Bucharest, in the presence of the company’s partners and integrators. The technologies showcased are designed to address current industry ch»»»

In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armored vehicles while soldiers combed through tunnels they said were used by Hezbollah, as Syria reinforces its side of the border. Syria is seeking to stay out of the regional war, whose flames »»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has closed $2.25 billion in long-term financing, drawing strong participation from international lenders as it seeks to diversify funding and strengthen liquidity. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here. The transaction comprises a $1»»»

Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states Thursday, demonstrating Tehran's continued ability to attack even as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated and predicted the war would end soon. Iran's strikes on its neighbors along with its cho»»»

Stockholm, Sweden: Sweden's government announced on April, 2, 2026, that it was investing more than $900 million in air and drone defence capabilities. The investment would cover multiple systems, such as radar and anti-aircraft weapons systems as well as electronic warfare platforms. The 8.7 billi»»»

Dubai: Nearly everyone in the UAE knows seat belts save lives. About 95 per cent of residents, in fact. So why are only 24 per cent of rear-seat passengers actually wearing one? A new survey in the UAE has identified what it calls the single biggest opportunity to reduce road fatalities in the coun»»»

Dubai: The northern Iranian coastline of the Arabian Gulf, once a hub of coexistence and shared prosperity among diverse communities, has been transformed by the Iranian regime into a platform for regional aggression, said Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President. He said»»»

The government’s actions are putting Bulgaria’s national security at risk, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said during a meeting with party members and supporters in Haskovo on Thursday. He added that the Cabinet “is turning Bulgaria into a military target in a conflict that could escalate i»»»