Iran attacks threaten global aviation, UN aviation body ICAO says
Dubai: UN aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has issued a strong condemnation of attacks attributed to Iran, describing them as unlawful acts that pose a direct threat to the safety of international civil aviation. At its 237th session in Montreal on April 1, the ICA»»»
Private sector added 62,000 jobs in March, driven by small employers - UPI.com
Private sector hiring in the United States remained steady in March, bolstered by small businesses, the ADP National Employment Report said Wednesday. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo April 1 (UPI) -- Private sector hiring in the United States remained steady in March, bolstered by smal»»»
Hegseth questions NATO’s future as allies refuse to join Iran war
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense, pointing to the bloc’s refusal to assist or participate in the American-Israeli war on Iran. Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday, Hegseth stated that the future of US involvement»»»
Over 102,000 Citizens and Organization Representatives Sought Ombudsman's Assistance in 2025
More than 102,000 citizens and representatives of organizations sought assistance from the Ombudsman institution in 2025, according to its annual report submitted to the National Assembly and sent to the media on Wednesday by the Ombudsman's press office. A total of 102,138 citizens and representat»»»
US–NATO rift deepens: Is Trump preparing for an exit?
The future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is under renewed scrutiny after US President Donald Trump signalled he is considering pulling Washington out of the alliance, amid growing tensions with European partners over the Iran conflict. Trump’s remarks — coupled with warnings from»»»
In Israel's north, war-weary residents feel abandoned by government
Whenever war rocks northern Israel, residents of Kiryat Shmona live their lives to the rhythm of rocket sirens. Young people have left the city, and those who remain feel neglected by the government. Some mere three kilometers from Lebanon, this northern settlement is living through its second war »»»
Qatar participates in 43rd session of Arab Interior Ministers Council
Doha: The State of Qatar participated in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, held Wednesday via videoconference. Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani led the State of Qatar's delegation participating in the session. Duri»»»
30 killed in Russian military transport aircraft crash in Crimea - UPI.com
Ukrainian rescuers at the scene of another Antonov AN-26 crash near Chuguyev city in Kharkiv province in September 2020 in which 26 Ukrainian military personnel, most of them cadets, were killed. File Photo by Sergey Khrupov/EPA-EFE April 1 (UPI) -- At least 30 passengers and crew were killed when »»»
Trump: Iran asked for cease-fire, will address nation on war - UPI.com
President Donald Trump said Wednesday morning that Iran has asked for a cease-fire. He said he told them only if the Strait of Hormuz is open. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday that Iran asked for a cease-fire, but he »»»
US troops would take heavy casualties capturing Iran’s Kharg Island – ex-officer Krapivnik tells RT
US President Donald Trump has deployed thousands of troops to the Middle East and said he wants to seize Iran’s foremost crude export hub, Kharg Island, to “take the oil.” However, such an assault promises heavy losses and a logistics quagmire for Washington, according to former US Army officer Sta»»»
Sniper shooting becomes official sport in Russia
The Russian Ministry of Sport has recognised shooting with sniper rifles as a new official sporting discipline. A ministerial decree states that “military precision shooting” has been included in the official Russian register of sports. The decree was signed by Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev on »»»
Spain star Yamal slams 'intolerable' anti-Muslim 'mockery' at Egypt friendly
Madrid: Spanish football superstar Lamine Yamal, who is Muslim, on Wednesday slammed "intolerable" chants during a friendly against Egypt in Barcelona that police are investigating for Islamophobia and xenophobia. The chanting "was aimed at the opposing team and was not something personal against m»»»
Emiratis express unity and confidence in leadership amid regional tensions
Dubai: As tensions continue to unfold across the region, many Emiratis say their sense of security and trust in the nation’s leadership remains unwavering. Across the UAE, citizens describe a climate of calm resilience, with daily life continuing as normal and communities standing firmly united beh»»»
US to Leave Iran 'Pretty Quickly' and Return if Needed, Trump Tells Reuters
The United States will be "out of Iran pretty quickly" and could return for "spot hits" if needed, President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation. Trump also said he would express his disgust with NATO for what he considers »»»
Macron says France not 'taking part' in Mideast war after Trump criticism
President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday France had not been consulted and wasn't taking part in the war against Iran, after U.S. leader Donald Trump criticized the country's overflight ban on planes carrying military supplies for the conflict. "It is absolutely true that France, which has not b»»»
Trump says Iran has asked for ceasefire, US to consider it once Hormuz is open
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran has asked for a ceasefire but that the United States would only consider this once the Strait of Hormuz is clear for shipping. Iran's president "has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platfor»»»
What happened to Middle East air travel in just 33 days?
Dubai: The regional aviation map has changed completely in just over a month. Airspace restrictions, temporary closures, and safety-driven rerouting have forced airlines to suspend some flights, reduce schedules, and reroute many services along longer corridors to avoid affected zones. The UAE’s Ge»»»
France: NATO is Not Designed to Carry Out Operations in Strait of Hormuz
NATO is a military alliance that ensures the security of the Euro-atlantic area and is not designed to carry out operations in the Strait of Hormuz that would breach international law, France's junior army minister said on Wednesday. "Let me remind you what NATO is. It is a military alliance concer»»»
Starmer Says UK to Host Multi-nation Meeting on Hormuz Shipping
Britain will this week hold a meeting of about 35 countries to discuss how to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz which has been crippled by the Middle East war, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host the discussions, Starmer told reporters d»»»
The power behind the crown: Why beauty pageants captivate Southeast Asians
Dubai: Beauty pageants have long been more than just a display of physical beauty. In Southeast Asia, they are a cultural phenomenon that carries deep significance for communities both at home and abroad. For many Filipinos, Thais, and Vietnamese among others, pageants are closely tied to national »»»
Watch: N.C. horse performs record-breaking 38 tricks in 3 minutes - UPI.com
March 31 (UPI) -- A North Carolina horse showed off his skills by performing 38 tricks in under three minutes, earning a Guinness World Record in the process. Gringo, a 19-year-old white mustang trained by his owner, Lauryn Zepeda, performed tricks including dancing, kicking a ball, waving a flag, »»»
Snake at British college gives virgin birth for a second time - UPI.com
1 of 2 | A snake named Ronaldo gave birth to 12 babies without the participation of a mate two years after giving virgin birth to 14 babies. Photo courtesy of the City of Portsmouth College March 31 (UPI) -- A Brazilian rainbow boa snake living at England's City of Portsmouth College gave birth to »»»
NASA Counts Down for First Crewed Lunar Mission in Half a Century
NASA is set to launch four astronauts as soon as Wednesday evening on a 10-day flight around the moon, marking the most ambitious US space mission in decades and a major step toward returning humans to the lunar surface before China's first crewed landing. NASA mission managers on Monday polled "go»»»
King Charles to Address US Congress on April 28
Britain's King Charles will address the US Congress on April 28 during his visit to Washington, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement on Wednesday. Charles and his wife Queen Camilla will visit the US in a long-planned trip to mark the 250th anniversary of that country's independence from »»»
Acting Prosecutor General Meets Jewish Community in Bulgaria Representatives
On Wednesday, at the Palace of Justice in Sofia, acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov met with Shalom Organization of Jews in Bulgaria Chair Dr. Alina Levi, Central Israeli Spiritual Council Chair Maxim Delchev, Zionists Federation of Bulgaria Chair Nikolay Galabov, the Director of the Office»»»
Mali: EXPO 2027 Serbia's biggest growth opportunity
MADRID - EXPO 2027 Belgrade is our biggest growth opportunity and we will present Serbia in the right way at the event, Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali has told the Spanish El Mundo daily in an interview. Speaking about Serbia's EU accession, Mali said a decision on the mat»»»
Iran war: Strikes on steel deal painful blow to economy
ConflictsAsiaIran war: Strikes on steel deal painful blow to economyDaniel AmeriThe US-Israeli strikes on Iran's two biggest steel mills will likely harm Tehran's ability to wage war, but could also cripple Iran's economy in irreversible ways. https://p.dw.com/p/5BUjfIran's Mobarakeh Steel company »»»
Look: Google celebrates the launch of Artemis II with a Doodle - UPI.com
1 of 5 | Google Doodle celebrates the upcoming launch of Artemis II Wednesday. Screenshot courtesy of Google Doodle April 1 (UPI) -- Google's Doodle Wednesday celebrates the launch of Artemis II. The historic mission will send astronauts around the moon and back for the first time in over 50 years.»»»
Sharjah allows remote work for mums in government sector
Sharjah has introduced remote working for employed mothers in the government sector, aiming to support work-life balance and family stability, officials said. Hesham Suhail Al Qahtani, Director of HR Systems at the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, said the new policy allows working mothers wi»»»
Oil Slides as Middle East Uncertainty Keeps Markets on Edge
Oil reversed earlier gains on Wednesday as uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East unnerved markets and US President Donald Trump again suggested the US-Israeli war with Iran could be nearing an end. The front-month Brent contract for June fell $1.06, or 1%, to $102.91 per barrel at 1106 »»»
Dollar Falls for Second Day as Middle East Ceasefire Expectations Rise
The dollar dropped for a second day on Wednesday as expectations of a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict grew after the US signalled that an end to the war could be near, even though markets remained on edge on fears of escalation. The White House said US President Donald Trump would address the»»»
Iranian Authorities Warned Bulgaria Not to Let US Use Airports
Iranian authorities warned NATO member Bulgaria last month not to let the US use its airports for planes participating in military operations in Iran, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Earlier on Wednesday, Stanislav Balabanov, a deputy with the "There is Such People" party, showed a note fro»»»
Dubai’s timely stimulus sends strong signal of confidence
At a time when regional tensions are casting a shadow over global markets, Dubai’s latest economic stimulus could not have come at a better moment. The approval of Dh1 billion in incentives by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Ministe»»»
Saudi Arabia: Travel to some countries comes with a ban
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has introduced new penalties for citizens travelling to prohibited destinations, including fines of up to SR30,000 and travel bans of up to two years, under updated regulations approved by Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Minister of Interior. The fine is doubled for repeat o»»»
Ten Arrested in Varna in Vote-buying Sting
Ten people have been detained during a specialized operation targeting crimes related to political rights, the Varna Police said here on Wednesday. The operation began in the early hours of Wednesday and covers the entire region. Evidence has been gathered so far indicating that the ten detainees p»»»
'Foreign' drone detected in Finland: police
Helsinki: Finnish police told AFP Wednesday that a "foreign" drone had been spotted on a frozen lake near Finland's border with Russia and media reported that it was Ukrainian. The "foreign unmanned aircraft" was detected on the ice of Lake Pyhajarvi in Parikkala in eastern Finland on Tuesday, two »»»
UAE: New rules for remote working
Working from home in the UAE does not translate into lighter rules or more flexible obligations. Behind the convenience of remote setups lies a framework just as firm as that governing office-based roles — where employees remain bound by the same working hours, performance benchmarks and legal resp»»»
39 cultural properties in Lebanon placed under enhanced protection
UNESCO convened Wednesday an extraordinary meeting to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage in Lebanon, following the country’s request. The meeting - an extraordinary session of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict – led to granting provisio»»»
Iran’s supreme leader vows to continue supporting Hezbollah
Iran’s supreme leader vowed Wednesday his nation will continue to support anti-Israeli forces in the Mideast. The message from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, like others since he was named Iran’s new supreme leader, came in a statement read on air by a state television anchor. "I firmly declare that t»»»
Railway Chiefs of SCO countries meet in Bishkek - | 24.KG
The sixth meeting of heads of railway administrations from member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Bishkek, bringing together representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, India, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the state enterprise»»»
STS offers refund as more UAE school groups waive transport fee during distance learning
Dubai: The number of UAE school groups suspending or refunding transport fees during the ongoing period of distance learning is growing, with School Transport Services (STS), one of the largest school transport providers in the country, also offering parents a pro-rata refund or credit on April fee»»»
ADNOC sustains output as UAE reviews energy continuity plans
Dubai: ADNOC has reinforced its business continuity framework to ensure stable energy supply, with senior leadership reviewing preparedness measures amid ongoing regional tensions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Pri»»»
Belgasem Hafter reneges on US-brokered agreement by refusing to cut development spending – sends dinar crashing
After days of steady gains by the Libyan dinar on the black-market foreign exchange from a high two weeks ago of around LD 10.50 per dollar to a low of LD 8.22 at one point yesterday, the dinar lost value on opening today (to LD 9.18) after Belgasem Khalifa Hafter announced he would not adhere to a»»»
Government Approves Health Ministry Funding for 2026
On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers approved EUR 126,000 in funding for the Ministry of Health for 2026 to support the Bulgarian Red Cross in implementing the Programme for humanitarian support and integration of displaced persons from Ukraine who have been granted temporary protection in Bulgar»»»
Cabinet approves draft law on oversight of fuel stations
Doha, Qatar: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani chaired the regular meeting of the Cabinet, held at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday morning, April 1, 2026. Following the meeting, the Minister of Justice and Mini»»»
Is the war ending soon? Investors are convinced it is
Dubai: Global markets have already moved ahead of the facts. Investors are increasingly betting that the conflict between the US and Iran could end within weeks, a shift driven largely by comments from Donald Trump that the military campaign may be wrapped up in “two to three weeks.” That expectati»»»
Pyrotechnics, syringes, needles, gas masks found in Rectorate buidling - prosecutor
BELGRADE - As part of a preliminary investigation aimed at determining safety omissions at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade following the death of a 25-year-old girl at the faculty building, pyrotechnics, sprays, syringes, needles, cannulas, infusion sets, megaphones, radio stations, walkie-ta»»»
Russia's New Topol-Based Start-1M Conversion Rocket Unveiled for 1st Time
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The exterior of the new Start-1M light-class conversion rocket system, based on the Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), was presented for the first time at an exhibition in Russia's Federation Council on Wednesday, a Sputnik correspondent reported. The mock-up feat»»»
Trump declares 'job done,' says U.S. forces to leave Iran in 2-3 weeks - UPI.com
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. forces would be out of Iran "soon" with military operations ending in as little as two or three weeks. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said the United States would be out of Iran "soon" with military o»»»