Court issues more fines over hotel floor demolition delays
Greece’s top administrative court has ordered the state to pay €10,000 in compensation to four residents over delays in enforcing a ruling to demolish upper floors of a controversial hotel in central Athens. The case concerns the Coco-Mat Athens BC in the Makriyianni district, a 10-storey building »»»
Turkiye warns of wider conflict in Middle East
Ankara: Turkiye on Thursday warned of a wider war in the Middle East amid rising regional escalation. In a statement on the latest developments, Turkish Ministry of Defense emphasized that all conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, in line with international law, and affirmed »»»
MoI warns against misuse of emergency alert sounds
DOHA: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has issued a public notice urging the public to refrain from playing or circulating audio or video clips that include sounds of the National Warning System, citing concerns over public safety and social stability. In a statement released on Thursday, the ministr»»»
MoPH delegation inspects food, medicine inspection units and Food Safety Laboratory at Abu Samra border
Doha, Qatar: A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), headed by Dr Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs, conducted an inspection visit to the MoPH food and medicine inspection units and the Food Safety Laboratory at the Abu Samra border cro»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli enemy soldiers and vehicles at the Friz Hill and Ghadmatha Hill in the town of Ainatha with volleys of rocket fire: statement 35 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli enemy soldiers and vehicles at the Friz Hill and Ghadmatha Hill in the town of A»»»
Medical Needs Surging in Iran and Supplies Under Threat, Red Cross Warns
Emergency medical needs in Iran are rising exponentially, and stocks of trauma kits and other gear could run low if the war persists, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation there said on Thursday. More than 1,900 people have been killed since the»»»
War Crimes Complaint Filed in France Over 2024 Deadly Israeli Strike in Beirut
A complaint filed Thursday in France seeks a war crimes investigation into an Israeli strike on a Beirut apartment building in November 2024 said to have killed seven civilians including the parents of a French-Lebanese artist, a human rights group said. The artist, Ali Cherri, and the Internationa»»»
Report: Egyptian initiative stalls despite Berri's involvement
The Egyptian intelligence's initiative for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel remains stalled "in the study and consultation phase," with no final response yet from either side, despite Speaker Nabih Berri's involvement in the negotiations, sources told the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. A week af»»»
Playing national emergency alert sounds in public may lead to legal action: MoI
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior has issued a public notice urging the public to refrain from playing videos or audio recordings that include the National Warning System alert sound. In a statement released on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Ministry emphasized that using these alert tones as mob»»»
UK’s Pearson cancels International GCSE, A Level and iPLS exams in UAE for May/June 2026
Dubai: UK exam board Pearson Edexcel on Thursday confirmed the cancellation of school exams across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon for the May/June 2026 series. All International GCSE, International A Level and iPLS qualifications will be cancelled, according to an announcement made by Emma Wh»»»
Education Minister: Bulgaria Has Tradition in Dual Education, Builds on It with Swiss Programme
Acting Education and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov said Bulgaria and Switzerland are cooperating successfully in education and science, with a key focus of their joint work on the development of dual education and support for scientific research. He met with Swiss Ambassador Pierre Hagmann and Th»»»
Philippines secures from Iran 'safe passage' of its ships, seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz
Manila: The Philippines has secured assurances from Iran for the safe passage of its ships and seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level diplomatic outreach ordered by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she held a “very productive” phone call o»»»
Macron Says it is Unrealistic to Open Hormuz Strait by Force
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday it would be unrealistic to launch a military operation to force open the Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump challenged US allies to work towards reopening it. Thousands of people have been killed across the Middle East since February »»»
Strike Hits Bridge Near Tehran Again
US-Israeli strikes hit a bridge near Tehran on Thursday, which had already been hit around an hour earlier, Iranian state TV reported. "A few minutes ago, the American-Zionist enemy once again targeted the B1 bridge in Karaj," a city west of Tehran, state TV said, adding that the first strike had c»»»
Saharan dust over Crete reached 10 times safety limit on Wed
Concentrations of Saharan dust over Crete reached up to ten times recommended limits on Wednesday, as strong winds from North Africa carried a dense orange haze across the island, according to data from the University of Crete. Winds of up to 140 km/h transported large quantities of dust from easte»»»
International Federation of Gymnastics Bends Over Backwards to Show Double Standards Against Russia
On April 1, the Federation threatened possible disciplinary action against 15-year-old Russian gymnast Sofia Ilteryakova after she failed to turn toward the flags raising behind her at an awards ceremony at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 30. The event was Ilteryakova’»»»
IRGC Says Attacked US-Linked Industrial Facilities in Middle East
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - The Iranian military has attacked US-linked steel and aluminum industry facilities in the Middle East, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday. Iran has previously said that US and Israel attacked facilities of the Iranian metallurgical companies Khouzest»»»
10 days to election: Campaign in Hungary resembles political spy movie
In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»
Cambridge cancels UAE June 2026 exams for IGCSE, O Level, AS & A Level and IPQ students
Dubai: Cambridge International Education has announced that schools in the UAE will not sit traditional exams in the June 2026 series, replacing them with a portfolio of evidence route for all candidates. The decision, made in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Education, affects students taking»»»
Was the crashed Batroun drone headed to Hamat airbase?
MP Ghayath Yazbek of the Lebanese Forces said Thursday that an "Iranian-made" drone that crashed earlier in the day in the Batroun district had been headed to the nearby Hamat airbase, which is used by U.S. forces, suggesting that Hezbollah and Iran were behind it. "They have lost their political a»»»
Which countries' ships are hit by Hormuz crisis?
London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»
UAE President and King of Jordan discuss regional developments
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received a phone call from King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, during which they discussed regional developments and their serious implications for regional and international security and stability. »»»
Syrian Troops Uncover Tunnel Network on Lebanon Border
In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armoured 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»»»
Teacher found guilty of sexually harassing six girl students
A private school teacher in Thessaloniki has been sentenced to two years in prison, convertible to a daily fine of €10, after being found guilty of sexually harassing six female students aged 10 and 11. The Single-Member Misdemeanor Court of Thessaloniki convicted the 49-year-old of repeated indece»»»
Citigroup orders telework as US banks in Paris tighten security
Paris, France: Citigroup has urged staff in Paris and Frankfurt to work from home, a company spokeswoman said Thursday, as US banks step up security following a thwarted attack against another US financial institution over the weekend. "The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we»»»
Qatar sends 10th identical letter to UN, Security Council regarding latest developments of Iranian attack on its territories
NEW YORK: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to Secretary-General of the United Nations HE Antonio Guterres, and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for April, HE Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regarding the latest »»»
Qatar sends 10th identical letter to UN, UNSC regarding Iranian attack on its territories
New York: The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, and HE Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regardin»»»
Al Kaabi meets UK energy security secretary, reaffirms Qatar's commitment to remain reliable energy supplier
DOHA: Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Saad Sherida Al Kaabi met with Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom HE Ed Miliband. Discussions during the meeting, which was held virtually, dealt with the impact of the ongoing regional conflict on the global energ»»»
Bulgarian Authorities Seize Over Half a Million Euros in Crackdown on Vote Buying
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov has announced that authorities have seized more than half a million euros in what he described as funds intended to influence or distort the outcome of the upcoming elections in Bulgaria. In a recorded video message distributed on social media, he said the gov»»»
Flights are getting expensive again — here’s what’s driving it and what UAE travellers should know
Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»
12-year-old boy drowns in Sharjah wadi
Sharjah: A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in Wadi Al Helo in the Kalba area of Sharjah, prompting Sharjah Police to issue an urgent warning against swimming in wadis and rainwater pools. Police said the incident was reported at 7:05pm on Wednesday, when the operations room received a call »»»
Sudan Appoints Yassir al-Atta Armed Forces Chief of Staff
Sudan has appointed General Yassir al-Atta, a member of the country's Sovereign Council and assistant to the commander-in-chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of staff of the country's Armed Forces, a military spokesman told Reuters on Thursday. The move is the most significant personnel shift since»»»
Iran accuses US and Israel of genocide over school strikes killing children
Iran has accused the US and Israel of genocide over the “deliberate” targeting of schools and education facilities in strikes on the country. In a post on X on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said more than 600 schools and educational facilities across Iran have been targeted i»»»
Nepal helicopter rescue scam: 32 charged in probe
Several tour guides in Nepal ran a fake helicopter rescue racket to defraud insurance companies in Australia and the UK, the Kathmandu Post has reported. Investigations by the paper revealed that the guides first staged a medical emergency, called in a helicopter, and checked tourists into a hospit»»»
Poland refuses to lend Patriot missile systems for Iran war
Poland will not relocate its American-made Patriot air defense missile systems to the Middle East to help the US intercept attacks from Iran, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said. Despite US President Donald Trump claiming that the Pentagon has an “unlimited” stockpile of weap»»»
Could a Maidan-style coup happen in Hungary?
Polls ahead of the Hungarian elections point to an opposition victory, but players behind the scenes expect Prime Minister Viktor Orban to come out on top. Others say it’s a scenario ripe for a Kiev-style ‘color revolution’. READ MORE: Battle for Hungary: EU attacks on Orban are a sign of worse thi»»»
Three New Secretaries Apppointed to President Iotova Since She Took Office Late January
Three new secretaries have been appointed to President Iliana Iotova since she took office at the end of January, shows information on the President's website. They are Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova. Plugchieva has been appointed Secretary for Foreign Policy. She has»»»
'Extraordinary news': Dutch recover stolen gold Romanian helmet
The Hague: Dutch authorities on Thursday showed off a recovered priceless gold 2,500-year-old helmet from Romania that was stolen last year during a brazen heist in the Netherlands. Flanked by balaclava-clad police officers, a spokesman for Dutch prosecutors unveiled the 5th-century BC golden Helme»»»
Putin, Saudi prince seek more efforts to end Mideast war
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "Both sides emphasized the need for a rapid cessation of hostilities and the intensification of political»»»
Senate sends DHS funding bill back to the House - UPI.com
The Senate Thursday sent a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House of Representatives. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The Senate sent its bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House Thursday morning after t»»»
Al-Tanf Crossing Opens Iraqi Energy Lifeline to Counter Hormuz Disruption
In a step reflecting a strategic shift in regional energy routes, Baghdad has officially begun exporting crude oil via Syria, in an effort to bypass the paralysis that has affected traditional maritime trade corridors. The move, which Damascus described as a return to its role as a “transit compass»»»
7 ways Dubai’s AI-powered government will change your daily life in the UAE
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»»»
World's oldest tortoise very much alive despite death rumors
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»»»
Oil price jumps after Trump says Iran going to be 'hit extremely hard' - UPI.com
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»»»
Over EUR 0.5 Mln Seized in Police Operations Related to Elections, PM Says "State No Longer Pretends to Be Blind"
At this point, more than half a million euros have been seized in police operations related to the upcoming elections, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said in a video published on his Facebook page on Thursday. According to him, this is the budget of a small municipality. “Against this sum, t»»»
President of Democratic Republic of Congo leaves Doha
Doha, Qatar: President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) HE Felix Tshisekedi left Doha on Thursday, following a working visit to the country. His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure from Doha International Airport by HE Minister of State for Foreign A»»»
Danube Group pledges no layoffs, on-time salaries amid geopolitical turmoil
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»»»
Singapore Airlines extends Dubai flight cancellations
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»»»