Dubai: Hajj 2026 is weeks away, and for the millions of pilgrims converging on Mecca, one document is non-negotiable - the Nusuk card. Issued by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, it is the mandatory smart ID every registered pilgrim must carry from arrival to departure, granting access to »»»

A 48-year-old influencer and trainer was arrested in Koropi early Saturday morning for driving under the influence and dangerous driving. Police said the woman failed to stop at a traffic police check after being observed performing a number of dangerous driving manoeuvres. She was finally stopped »»»

An Israeli airstrike killed at least three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, health officials said, as mediators met leaders from Hamas in an effort to shore up a US-brokered ceasefire deal. Medics said the strike had hit a group of men outside a school in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza »»»

Dubai: President Donald Trump has escalated the battle for the Strait of Hormuz, ordering a US naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iran — a move that risks sending global oil prices higher even as Washington says it wants the vital artery reopened. The contradiction is only apparent. Trump isn»»»

Ukrainian believers gather to mark Easter near the Church of the Archangel Saint Michael in the Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography in Pyrohovo village near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. A truce had been announced for the Easter holiday, during which both sides accused the other of violations. »»»

Suspected militants opened fire on a vehicle carrying police officers assigned to protect polio workers in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, killing one of them and wounding four others before fleeing the scene, police said. Two attackers were killed when police returned fire, The Associated Press »»»

Nearly two-thirds ‌of Israelis oppose the Iran ceasefire, but the public is divided over whether Israel should respect the two-week truce or resume attacks on Iran, according to a poll from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The poll was the first national survey of Israelis conducted after the US»»»

The Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic plans to commission 13 small hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 81.03 megawatts in 2026. According to the ministry, President Sadyr Japarov made a number of instructions to the Ministry of Energy to implement projects aimed at developin»»»

Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump, saying the Vatican’s calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and not political positioning. Speaking to The Associated Press aboard the papal plane, Leo said it was “not understanding what the message of the Gospel is” »»»

Port Moresby: Cyclone Maila has resulted in at least 11 fatalities in Papua New Guinea, along with severe flooding and landslides. The National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea (NBC PNG) reported that initial estimates indicate more than 10,000 people have been affected, while approxima»»»

Dubai: The death of Asha Bhosle on April 12, 2026, prompted an outpouring of tributes across India from politicians and industry veterans to a younger generation of actors eager to be seen marking the moment. But amid the grief, one post stood out and not in a way anyone intended. Actor Athiya Shet»»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been ousted after 16 years in power, marking a dramatic political shift in one of Europe’s most closely watched elections. In a high-turnout vote, Orban conceded defeat to conservative challenger Peter Magyar, ending a long period of nationalist rule that h»»»

Contract soldier I. uulu A., who had previously sustained a serious gunshot wound at a border post, has died in the hospital. The State Border Service confirmed the news. Related news Border guard shoots himself at Irkeshtam post According to the agency, the soldier, 22, was hospitalized in Gulcho,»»»

Dubai: When Kite Beach Dubai lit up at sunrise on Sunday, it wasn't just the morning light that made it glow. Nearly 1,500 runners, draped in red, white, green and black, moved together along one of the city's most iconic waterfronts in a unique show of unity and gratitude. The community event, Run»»»

Dubai: What was meant to be a grand cinematic farewell for Tamil actor Vijay has instead turned into a crisis. Over five minutes of footage from Jana Nayagan, widely expected to be Vijay’s final film before his full-time entry into politics, leaked online on April 9 and 10, triggering outrage among»»»

Industrial output in Bulgaria posted a modest monthly increase in February 2026, but continued to decline sharply on an annual basis, according to preliminary, seasonally adjusted data from the National Statistical Institute. On a monthly comparison, the industrial production index rose by 0.9% com»»»

The second Home Away Sports Festival, held on Sunday 5 April 2026, was a resounding success, bringing together 196 blue-collar migrant workers for a full day of cricket, badminton, carnival games, music and community. Organised this year by Karam Kandhari and Aarin Taurani, in collaboration with Sm»»»

The highly anticipated Edufair Abu Dhabi will take place from May 16–17 at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, bringing together more than 25 prestigious universities and career service providers from the UAE and abroad. The event aims to help students and families identify the rig»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that whatever the pressure, Britain would not be dragged into the Iran war and was not ⁠supporting a blockade of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Starmer ⁠said it was vital to get the Strait reopened. "It is, in my view, vital t»»»

Abu Dhabi’s mobility authorities have announced the activation of a paid parking system in new sectors of Musaffah starting Monday, April 20, as part of efforts to improve traffic flow and regulate parking usage. The initiative, announced by Q Mobility, aims to reduce haphazard parking, ease conges»»»

On the occasion of Easter, the greatest Christian holiday, Orthodox believers continue to preserve customs passed down through generations. From painted eggs and festive tables to family gatherings, tradition remains deeply rooted in everyday life – even as modern lifestyles reshape how it is pract»»»

Dubai: Companies across the UAE and global markets continue to expect export growth in 2026, even as the Middle East conflict reshapes financial conditions and risk dynamics across global trade. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The latest Allianz Trade Global Survey, wh»»»

Canberra, Australia: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday called for the resumption of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, and for an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The call by Albanese came during a television interview with the Australian Broadc»»»

Beijing, China: As population aging accelerates in China, Parkinson's disease is emerging as an increasingly common chronic condition among older adults, prompting Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University in Beijing to launch the country's first AI-powered digital doctor platform for the disea»»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Russia, due to its relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its strong ties with many Arab countries and Lebanon, could play an important role in the region, Mahmoud Kamati, deputy head of Hezbollah’s political council, told Sputnik. “Today, Russia, thanks to its relations»»»

Misrata Free Zone Port Customs Centre reported last Wednesday (8 April) that iIn a qualitative operation reflecting the vigilance of customs men and their keenness to protect national security, the Head and members of the Misrata Free Zone Port Customs Centre were able to thwart an attempt to smugg»»»

South Korea's exports jumped 36.7 percent in the first 10 days of April on strong overseas demand for semiconductors, data showed Monday. This photo shows containers stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek on April 1. Photo by Yonhap South Korea's exports jumped 36.7 percent from a year earlier in the firs»»»

London, April 13 (SANA) Oil prices exceeded $100 a barrel on Monday as tensions escalated in the Strait of Hormuz following the failure of negotiations between Iran and the United States, according to Reuters. Brent crude futures rose by $7.11, or 7.47 percent, to $102.31 per barrel, reversing a 0.»»»

Dubai: Oil prices climbed at the start of the week while global equities and bonds came under pressure, after the US confirmed plans to impose a blockade around Iranian ports, raising concerns over energy supply and market stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Bre»»»

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani marked his 100th day in office on Sunday with a rally to tout early successes and vow to follow through on his unabashedly "socialist" agenda. "I know there are many who use 'socialist' as a dirty word, something to be ashamed of," the 34-year-old told a packed room in»»»

A bread shortage in Gaza is worsening as Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies continue to affect bakeries that had reopened following an October ceasefire. The flow of aid and food supplies, including from the World Food Program (WFP), has declined further over the past month, amid Israeli»»»

Croatia expects a fierce competition for European tourists this summer as war and global instability disrupt travel patterns, even as the Adriatic destination leans on its reputation for safety to sustain visitor numbers. »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a visit to China on April 14-15, where he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on a number of issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. "On April 1»»»

When the US and Israel waged war on Iran on 28 February 2026, killing its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, two global powers watched intently from afar: China and Russia. Both had signed a trilateral strategic pact with Tehran just weeks earlier, pledging to deepen economic and defence ties (though off»»»

Doha, Qatar: As Autism Acceptance Month spotlight on inclusion and understanding, healthcare leaders in Qatar are underscoring the importance of early detection and intervention in improving the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Assistant Medical Director of Children and Adoles»»»

Doha, Qatar: In the fast-paced world of telecommunications, where infrastructure, technology, and people intersect, maintaining a strong health and safety (H&S) culture is a necessity. Vodafone Qatar recognises that a resilient and proactive approach to safety is fundamental to both operational exc»»»

Doha, Qatar: LuLu Hypermarket announced the launch of its highly anticipated ‘Half Pay Back’ promotion, running until May 2, 2026. Crafted to deliver exceptional value, the campaign gives customers the opportunity to enjoy significant savings across selected fashion categories. Shoppers can explore»»»

The Middle East war will dominate global finance officials' talks this week in Washington, but World Bank President Ajay Banga is sounding the alarm about a bigger, looming crisis: a huge gap in jobs for the 1.2 billion people who will reach working age in developing countries in the next 10 to 15 »»»

Manila: With the Philippine government discontinuing its multi-billion-peso support programme for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle manufacturing, electric vehicle (EV) makers are stepping up interest in the country’s new ₱60-billion ($1 billion) Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS). T»»»

Doha, Qatar: More than 14,500 building permits were issued in 2025, marking a 6.1 percent increase compared to the previous year. The growth reflects continued momentum in the construction sector, driven by sustained demand and ongoing development initiatives across key segments. The construction s»»»

Dubai: There are ideas that take years to develop and there are ideas that arrive fully formed, urgent and impossible to ignore. The We Love Dubai initiative was the second kind. It started with a conversation. Marta Paniagua, Creative Director at Multilem Middle East, turned to her colleague Dorot»»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro ‌Sanchez on Monday said China should take on a more substantial role with issues including climate change, security, defense and the fight against inequality, adding that Europe will also have to redouble its efforts as the US withdraws from leadership roles on many fro»»»

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed with President Donald Trump blaming Tehran's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Trump had announced on social media he would blockade the strategic Strai»»»

Four years ago it was Viktor Orbán who inflicted a humiliating defeat on the then Hungarian opposition; this time his party, Fidesz has been beaten just as badly. We sum up the lessons of Sunday’s Hungarian elections in 10 points. After 16 years, the Orbán system has fallen and Viktor Orbán is leav»»»

Manila: With the Philippine government discontinuing its multi-billion-peso support programme for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle manufacturing, electric vehicle (EV) makers are stepping up interest in the country’s new ₱60-billion ($1 billion) Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS). T»»»

Dubai: Companies across the UAE and global markets continue to expect export growth in 2026, even as the Middle East conflict begins to tighten financial conditions and raise concerns around payments and counterparty risk. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The agreement »»»

Doha, Qatar: Captain Hassan Al-Haydos said Al Sadd are confident as they prepare to face Al Hilal SFC in the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah tonight. Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal start as favourites in the one-legged knockout tie after »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar is emerging as a regional leader in strengthening cyber resilience, underpinned by robust national frameworks and a clear strategic vision, according to regional market experts. The country has established comprehensive initiatives, including the National Cyber Security Strategy »»»

Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said it has detained two tankers for allegedly conducting an illegal ship-to-ship transfer of about 700,000 liters of diesel off the island of Penang over the weekend. Malaysia has been cracking down on fuel smuggling amid mounting shortages and supply »»»

Doha, Qatar: Director of the Banking Supervision Department at Qatar Central Bank Ali Hamad Al Marri has underscored the importance of the decision to defer loan instalments and interest payments for three months, describing it as a proactive step to maintain financial stability and support both in»»»