This photo, taken Wednesday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in central Seoul as South Korean stocks jumped nearly 7 percent after the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks spiked nearly 7 percent after the United States and Iran agreed on a »»»

Dubai: In the UAE, a new kind of economy is flourishing, one powered not just by money, but by generosity. Small businesses have been turning their success into support for local communities, who have been both their customers and partners in giving. What started as simple forms of assistance have »»»

Pope Leo on Wednesday praised the two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, hours after calling US President Donald Trump's threat against the population of Iran "unacceptable". The pope, who has emerged as an outspoken critic of ‌the war in recent ‌weeks, said he welcomed ‌the ⁠announcement of the cease»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday he welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, adding that Kyiv was ready to "respond in kind" if Moscow ceased strikes. "Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe ‌against our ‌state and our peo»»»

Ten people, including two wounded gunmen, were in detention Wednesday a day after a deadly shootout near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the state Anadolu news agency reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Turkish media said a gunman who was killed in the shootout was »»»

Dubai: Airlines are facing rising fuel costs, supply risks and operational pressure, but the global aviation sector is holding steady for now, with strong travel demand helping offset the crisis, said IATA Director General Willie Walsh. Carriers are increasing fares and cutting capacity as oil pric»»»

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»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, seen here leaving No. 10 Downing Street in London in January, is leaving for the Gulf on Wednesday following the announcement of a cease-fire in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Keir S»»»

Romania’s central bank, the National Bank of Romania (BNR), decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged at 6.5% at its April 7 board meeting, opting for caution amid a rapidly shifting macroeconomic environment shaped by both domestic fiscal uncertainties and external shocks stemming from th»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe A Great Victory: Iran Says US Forced to Accept Its 10-Point Plan After Historical Defeat 08-04-2026 11:57 AM A missile exhibited beneath Ir»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar has expressed its welcome of the ceasefire announcement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, considering it an initial step toward de-escalation. It stressed the need to build on this development urgently to prevent further escalatio»»»

Antigua and Barbuda has long held a prominent place in Caribbean sailing thanks to steady trade winds, historic harbours, and a maritime society that convenes throughout the year. From the renowned Antigua Sailing Week to classic yacht celebrations in English Harbour, the island regularly welcomes »»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has added five more universities to its automatic recognition scheme for domestic higher education qualifications, bringing the total number of participating institutions to 38 as part of efforts to streamline procedures and reduce»»»

Dubai: Oil markets are signalling that prices will remain elevated despite a sharp pullback recorded on Wednesday, as a temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran eases immediate fears but leaves deeper supply risks unresolved. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - si»»»

Dubai: Iraq has reopened its airspace to civil aviation after an improvement in security conditions, allowing flights to resume across one of the region’s key air corridors. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said on Wednesday that all civil flights, including overflights, departures and arrivals a»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Culture has launched the fifth edition of the National Grant Programme for Culture and Creativity, one of the UAE’s flagship national initiatives dedicated to supporting creative Emiratis and enabling them to develop impactful cultural and creative projects. The launch re»»»

Not only did Iran fiercely repel US–Israeli aggression, but “it may lock in de facto control of the strategic Strait of Hormuz,” Yury Lyamin, senior researcher at the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, tells Sputnik. Nevertheless, the two-week ceasefire deal agreed bet»»»

Israel's military said Wednesday its forces would continue their campaign against Hezbollah fighters, claiming the ceasefire with Iran does not apply to Lebanon. "The battle in Lebanon continues, and the ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the military's Arabic-language spokesman, Colonel Avichay »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has persisted despite the two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. US President Donald Trump suspended military operations against Iran hours after his own deadline »»»

Iran has put forward a sweeping 10-point plan to secure an end to its war with the United States and Israel, centring on a permanent halt to hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of sanctions, as both sides agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations. T»»»

Ajman: Ajman Bank has allocated Dh1.6 million in charitable contributions to support humanitarian, educational and community initiatives across the UAE. The funds will be distributed to several organisations, including Al Ihsan Charity Association, Beit Al Khair Society, International Charity Organ»»»

Stock markets in the Gulf region jumped on Wednesday in line with global equities after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday. Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the Strait of »»»

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing," but said he wishes it will include Lebanon. "We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations»»»

Lebanon's army warned people against returning to the country's south on Wednesday, where the Israeli military is still launching attacks, as Israel said the ceasefire with Iran did not include its conflict with Hezbollah. "In light of regional developments and reports circulating about a ceasefire»»»

Washington, United States: The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump. Here's what we know about the truce between two countries, which are set to begin negotiations but remain poles a»»»

Gulf banks are holding up well despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, underpinned by solid financial positions and early regulatory action, though the full impact on the sector has yet to emerge. Mohamed Damak, managing director at S&P Global Ratings, told Asharq Al-Awsat there ha»»»

Israel's opposition leaders swiftly criticized the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives. The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction of Iran threatened b»»»

American journalist Tucker Carlson has accused President Donald Trump of mocking Christians by issuing an expletive-laden threat to Iran at Easter. On Sunday, Trump again demanded Tehran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively shut since the US-Israeli attack on Iran on Febr»»»

Baghdad, Iraq: Iraq's civil aviation authority said it was reopening the country's airspace on Wednesday following the announcement of a US-Iran ceasefire, after it was closed due to the Middle East war. "The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announces the reopening of Iraqi airspace to air traffic ef»»»

Gold prices climbed to a nearly three-week high on Wednesday as markets reassessed near-term risks after US President Donald Trump agreed to suspend bombings and attacks on Iran for two weeks, easing fears of energy-driven inflation. Spot gold was up 2.5% at $4,819.52 per ounce, as of 0726 GMT. Ear»»»

Abu Dhabi: Two Emiratis and one Indian national sustained minor injuries after falling debris from a successfully intercepted aerial threat struck the Habshan gas processing complex, authorities said, as emergency teams worked to contain several small fires at the site. Abu Dhabi Media Office confi»»»

Oil fell below $100 per barrel on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran that was subject to the immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures fell $16.32, or 14.9%, to $92.95 a barrel at 0630 GMT, while WTI slid $18.16, »»»

Commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, said he is ready to “stop the war and cooperate to deliver humanitarian aid to all areas affected by the conflict in the country,” in talks with the United Nations secretary-general’s personal envoy, Pekka Haavisto. »»»

Decisions by Sudan’s transitional Sovereign Council chief and army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to dismiss several senior military leaders and reassign them to other top positions have fueled speculation that the moves are “not isolated” from imminent changes within the army-led governing aut»»»

Washington, USA: Shipping data shows little movement in the Strait of Hormuz more than six hours after the US and Iran announced a ceasefire. According to CNN, analysts warned that vessels and insurance companies will need more positive signs before resuming navigation through this vital waterway. »»»

Reporting from Jerusalem, FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky says the US-Iran ceasefire is likely to be “a major problem domestically” for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The right-wing Israeli prime minister’s base “was expecting regime change, was expecting something very dramatic” with the »»»

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»»»

Dubai: A Dubai court has ordered a company to pay Dh40,000 to a customer, along with 5 per cent annual interest from the date of filing the case until full settlement, and to bear all court fees and expenses. The ruling was issued by the Court of First Instance in a civil dispute involving a custom»»»

An Israeli strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon, the health ministry said Wednesday, as the United States and its allies agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. "The Israeli enemy's strike on Sidon, south Lebanon, resulted in a preliminary toll of eight citizens martyred and 22 wounded»»»

London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Gulf on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to meet with regional leaders in an effort to bolster the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said. "I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief»»»

Israel renewed its strikes on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, state media reported, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the Iran war truce does not include Lebanon. The Israeli army also issued an evacuation warning for a building near the southern city of Tyre. "Urgent and repeate»»»

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle reacted Tuesday night to President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week cease-fire in the conflict with Iran. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- Following President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week cease-fire in the wa»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police said they had arrested 375 people of various nationalities for filming sensitive locations and spreading misleading information related to current events on social media platforms. The individuals have been referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action in line with»»»

Australia's most decorated living soldier will remain behind bars after his legal team did not seek bail following his arrest over multiple alleged war crimes, local media reported on Wednesday. Police on Tuesday arrested and charged Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, with five counts of war crimes in connecti»»»

Singapore: It will take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise even with the Strait of Hormuz open, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Wednesday, April 8, 2026. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil, has been virtually paralysed for week»»»

Visitors taking a stroll along the River Lea in Hackney Marshes may spot a series of signs fixed to the trees, each sharing an eccentric, whimsical tale. An 11-year-old girl is behind the notices and over the past year has spent her family walks inventing backstories for each tree. Niovi's project,»»»

Doha, Qatar: The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by both parties. Meanwhile hours after the US announcement, explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital Manama on Wednesday morning, April 8, 2026. Stay tuned»»»

Seoul, North Korea: North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in two rounds on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, South Korea's military said, hours after reporting an "unidentified projectile" launched from the North's capital area the previous day. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has »»»