Is opposing Israel 'anti-Semitism'? France’s latest attempt to fight hate risks inflaming it
The French government is backing a draft law based on the idea that "hatred" of Israel is inseparable from hatred of the Jewish people. Critics of the “Yadan law” warn the new legislation will not just muzzle legitimate criticism of Israel but could further fuel anti-Semitism in France. Frenc»»»
Middle East war: Global economic fallout
Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war: - More ships pass Hormuz - A French-owned and a Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of ships to have transited the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital route for oil and liquified natu»»»
From Asia to the Americas: Governments Race to Contain Energy Shock
Governments worldwide are moving swiftly to contain the fallout from a sharp rise in energy costs, as global supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran rattle markets. Surging fuel and electricity prices have prompted urgent steps to protect consumers and secure supplies, with mounting»»»
US military aircraft hit in Iran war are first shot down by enemy fire in over 20 years
Iran shooting down two American military aircraft marks an exceedingly rare assault for the US. that has not happened in more than 20 years and shows the Islamic Republic’s continued ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated.” Get updated faster »»»
Türkiye to connect its railways with Syria as Part of Historic Hejaz Railway
Ankara, April 4 (SANA)Turkish Minister of transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Friday that Türkiye plans to extend its current railway line to the city of Aleppo in Syria, as part of efforts to revive the historic Hejaz Railway. “We wish to revive the old line with a symbolic an»»»
Trump seeks $1.5 trillion defense budget as Iran war drives costs
US President Donald Trump on Friday asked lawmakers to approve a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, as the United States faces rising costs from its war with Iran and mounting global security commitments. The proposal would lift Pentagon spending by more than 40 percent in a single year»»»
Artemis Astronauts More than Halfway to Moon, Putting Earth in Rearview
The Artemis 2 astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon on Saturday as they sped toward a planned lunar flyby, with NASA releasing initial images of Earth taken from inside the Orion spacecraft. Astronaut Christina Koch said the crew had a collective "expression of joy" up»»»
Artemis astronauts more than halfway to the Moon, putting Earth in rearview
Houston: The Artemis 2 astronauts have passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon on Saturday as they sped toward a planned lunar flyby, with NASA releasing initial images of Earth taken from inside the Orion spacecraft. Astronaut Christina Koch said the crew had a collective "expression o»»»
As Trump orders UFO data released, a question hangs: If aliens exist, what would they think of us?
For generations, human beings have wondered: What would alien life from another planet be like? But we rarely ask the opposite: What would they think of us? Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.It's a question that can produce some, well, uncomfortable»»»
Report: Armed Forces Personnel Shortage Stood at 20.5% in 2025
In 2025, the shortage of military personnel decreased by 1.8% and reached 20.5%, according to the Report on the State of Defence and the Armed Forces, approved by the caretaker government on April 1. Despite the measures taken, vacant positions for military personnel remained close to those in 2024»»»
Report: Military Personnel Shortage Stood at 20.5% in 2025
In 2025, the shortage of military personnel decreased by 1.8% and reached 20.5%, according to the Report on the State of Defence and the Armed Forces, approved by the caretaker government on April 1. Despite the measures taken, vacant positions for military personnel remained close to those in 2024»»»
'Extraordinary' views of home as astronauts head towards the Moon
Houston: As Artemis 2 astronauts forged Friday on their lunar mission, NASA released initial images taken ahead from inside the Orion spacecraft, including a full portrait of Earth featuring its deep blue oceans and billowing clouds. After a flurry of high-stakes activity including a dramatic blast»»»
Israeli Army: Hezbollah Disarmament Needs Full Occupation of Lebanon
A senior Israeli military commander said on Friday that disarming Hezbollah was not part of the current war objectives, and that the army’s plan instead focused on razing entire villages in southern Lebanon and forcibly displacing residents to create a buffer zone imposing a new border reality. Def»»»
Two US fighter jets downed in Mideast, one crew member rescued
A US fighter jet was shot down over Iranian airspace on Friday, triggering a search operation by Washington which rescued one crew member. A second US Air Force aircraft went down later in the day, according to a US official. The whereabouts of any other crew were not immediately known. A US f»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
2 US Aircraft Shot Down as War in Iran Escalates. At Least 1 Crew Member is Missing
Iran shot down two US military planes in separate attacks Friday, with one service member rescued and at least one missing, in a dramatic escalation since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It was the first time US aircraft have been downed in the conflict and came just two days after President D»»»
Cuba begins prisoner release after announcing more than 2,000 pardoned
Cuban authorities began releasing prisoners on Friday after announcing the day before that 2,010 inmates had been pardoned, marking a second wave of releases in less than a month as Havana faces increased pressure from the United States. Cuban authorities began to free prisoners on Friday after ann»»»
The World This Week - Iran: US fighter jet downed, War “It’s not a show”, The Space Race, Will Syrians leave Germany?
It’s been a week that began with President Trump addressing the nation for the first time since the Iran War began five weeks ago. Expectations that he might signal an end to the conflict—or announce a ground offensive or a split from NATO—were unmet. Instead, his 18-minute speech echoed his social»»»
From 250 to 700 dollars per article: How Russia influenced West African media content
A leak of confidential documents from a network of Russian agents operating on the African continent reveals how Russia managed to place hundreds of articles in 35 different West African French-language media outlets – sometimes without their knowledge. The FRANCE 24 Observers team worked with»»»
How a Russian influence network is spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Ivory Coast
The Company – a network of Russian agents specialised in disinformation operations – has been carrying out a vast propaganda campaign against the Ukrainian embassy in Ivory Coast. When the pan-African media outlet The Continent received a trove of leaked documents about this operation, the FRANCE 2»»»
Baltic Sea strikes: How Ukraine aims to undermine Russia's oil profits from Iran war
Ukraine has in recent days intensified drone attacks on ports and refineries in Russia’s Leningrad region on the Baltic Sea. Yet Kyiv’s strategy of trying to stop Moscow from reaping the benefits of oil disruption in the Middle East doesn’t come without significant risk. Ukrainian drones struck key»»»
Rail disaster trial spirals into chaos
Courtroom proceedings over Greece’s deadliest peacetime rail disaster have devolved into shouting matches, hallway confrontations and bitter recriminations, casting doubt on whether justice will be served for the 57 victims of the 2023 Tempe train collision. The so-called “small trial” – a prelimin»»»
Lebanon’s displaced face rising hostility as airstrikes fuel fear and evictions – Ya Libnan
Share: Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs © Ibrahim Amro, AFP A growing number of Shiite families displaced by the war in Lebanon say they’re being pushed out of towns where they feel unwelcome over the suspicion that they may be Hezbollah members By : BA»»»
Dubai’s KHDA, UAE schools respond after IGCSE, A Level, IB exam cancellations
Dubai: For thousands of students across the UAE who have spent a long time preparing for high-stakes international examinations, the news recently arrived in waves. First the IB. Then Cambridge, Pearson and OxfordAQA. One by one, the major exam boards have confirmed that traditional in-person writt»»»
Hide, find water: US ex-pilot details how to survive being shot down
As American forces race against time and Iran's military to locate a missing fighter jet crew reportedly shot down Friday, a retired Air Force general told AFP what it takes to hide and survive if parachuted into enemy territory. "You're like, 'Oh my God, I was in a fighter jet two minutes ago, fly»»»
First Western shipping vessel transits Strait of Hormuz since start of Iran war - UPI.com
Many international shipping vessels, such as the one pictured in March, have been anchored and idling in the Middle East after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian traffic after the United States and Israel engaged in a war there. Friday, Iran allowed vessels linked to France and Japan t»»»
SpaceX IPO: Can Elon Musk justify a $1.75 trillion valuation?
Dubai: When Elon Musk began positioning SpaceX for what could be a record-breaking IPO, the headline figure—up to $75 billion—drew the most attention, but the proposed listing is shaping up as much as a referendum on Musk’s broader strategy as it is on the company itself. Get updated faster and for»»»
1 crew member rescued after US fighter jet shot down in Iran
A U.S. fighter jet was shot down in Iran on Friday and one crew member was rescued, officials said, the first aircraft downed since the war began nearly five weeks ago. It marked a major escalation in the conflict just two days after President Donald Trump said in a national address that the U.S. h»»»
CBSE curriculum revamp: Major 2026‑27 syllabus changes explained
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will phasedly implement its new curriculum starting 2026-27, officials said on Friday. The reforms include the three-language formula for Class 6 and a two-level system in mathematics and science for Class 9, according to a PTI report. Three-language »»»
Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, hit by cyberattack - UPI.com
The Uffizi Galleries, home to Italy's most precious art, were hit by a cyberattack, the museum said. The museum claims there was no data stolen. File Photo by Claudio Giovannini/EPA April 3 (UPI) -- The Uffizi Galleries in Florence, Italy, said Friday it suffered a cyberattack, but not a breach of »»»
1 crew member rescued after US fighter jet goes down in Iran
One crew member has been rescued after an American aircraft went down in Iran, according to one U.S. and one Israeli official, who both spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive ongoing military operations. The rescue occurred as the U.S. military was conducting a search and rescue oper»»»
'Do you know my name?': Sheikh Mohammed's moment with child melts hearts
Dubai: It was a brief exchange that lasted only seconds, but for many who watched it online, it captured something larger about leadership. In a widely shared video, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is seen engaging in a warm, sp»»»
Man arrested in scam targeting elderly woman’s gold and cash
A 35-year-old man was arrested in Thessaloniki over a scam that defrauded an 81-year-old woman in the northern region of Pella of 146 gold coins and about €4,000. Police said the victim received a call from a man posing as her son’s accountant, claiming her son faced a fine for undeclared money and»»»
Trump: JD Vance will be new fraud czar, focus on 'blue states' - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Colin McDonald listens as Vice President JD Vance speaks during his swearing in as Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Pool Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo April 3 (UPI) -- Vice President JD Vance is now the government's fra»»»
Chile joins regional debate to regulate surrogate motherhood - UPI.com
The Chilean The Family Committee of the Chamber of Deputies began this week to discuss a bill supported by all political parties that would prohibit and penalize the practice of surrogate motherhood. Photo by widephish/Pixabay SANTIAGO, Chile, April 3 (UPI) -- Chile has joined other Latin American »»»
Finance Ministry Revises Inflation, GDP Projections for 2026 Due to Middle East Conflict
The average annual inflation in Bulgaria is expected to reach 4.3% this year, while the annual increase in consumer prices is projected to amount to 5.2% by the end of 2026, according to the spring macroeconomic forecast of the Finance Ministry, published on its website. At the same time, the real »»»
Iranians Urged to Hunt for Crew of Downed US Fighter Jet
Iran authorities urged people living in the rugged southwest of the country to search for the crew of a downed US fighter jet on Friday as state TV broadcast images of what was said to be the mangled remains of the plane. The US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the »»»
White House Requests Giant $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget Amid Iran War
The White House sent a spending proposal to lawmakers Friday calling for a massive $1.5 trillion US defense budget next year as it faces increased costs due to the war in Iran. The total year-on-year increase in Pentagon spending would be the largest since World War II, US media reported, although »»»
10 Dead as Russia Launches New Daytime Attacks on Ukraine
Russian strikes killed at least 10 people in Ukraine on Friday, officials said, as Moscow launched the latest in an increasing number of daytime barrages. Moscow has been firing aerial broadsides at Ukraine throughout its more than four-year invasion, mostly at night, but in recent weeks it has ste»»»
Iran Leaders Join Crowds on Tehran’s Streets to Project Control in Wartime
After more than a month of being stalked by targeted assassinations, Iran's leadership has adopted a new tactic to show it is still in control - with senior officials walking openly in the streets among small crowds who have gathered in support of the regime. In recent days, Iran's president and fo»»»
Hegseth’s Pentagon Purge Designed to Prevent a Mutiny: Karen Kwiatkowski
The secretary of war’s dismissal of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and two other top generals signals intensifying rot in the Department amid the Iran war, former senior DoD insider-turned whistleblower Karen Kwiatkowski says. General George represented “experience in Army battlefield ope»»»
Ghana’s macro rebound signals coordinated policy success as inflation, rates and currency stabilise
Ghana’s central bank governor says a synchronised improvement in key economic indicators reflects coordinated monetary and fiscal policy, as inflation, interest rates, and the currency stabilise after years of crisis. Bank»»»
UPDATE: Iranian tribesmen hunt downed US f-15 pilot as Black Hawk allegedly shot down
Armed tribal groups in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province have fanned out across mountains and plains searching for the pilot of a US fighter jet Iran claims to have shot down, as American forces launched what appears to be a large-scale search and rescue operation, Tasnim News Agency repor»»»
UPDATE: Iranian tribesmen hunt downed US f-15 pilot as Black Hawk allegedly shot down
Armed tribal groups in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province have fanned out across mountains and plains searching for the pilot of a US fighter jet Iran claims to have shot down, as American forces launched what appears to be a large-scale search and rescue operation, Tasnim News Agency repor»»»
UPDATE: Iranian tribesmen hunt downed US f-15 pilot as Black Hawk allegedly shot down
Armed tribal groups in Iran's Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province have fanned out across mountains and plains searching for the pilot of a US fighter jet Iran claims to have shot down, as American forces launched what appears to be a large-scale search and rescue operation, Tasnim News Agency repor»»»
Death exposes theft of psychotropic drugs in Argentine hospitals - UPI.com
The death of an anesthesiologist in Argentina revealed the alleged misuse of hospital medications and triggered an investigation of health professionals for suspected theft of drugs. Photo by Marta Branco/Pexels BUENOS AIRES, April 3 (UPI) -- The death of a young anesthesiologist in Buenos Aires th»»»
Iranian media says US jet shot down, bounty offered for pilot
Tehran: Iran deployed troops and offered a bounty as it launched a hunt for a US pilot whose jet Iranian media said had been downed by the Islamic republic's air defence systems Friday. US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond»»»
De Croo: Syria at “Pivotal Moment” as focus shifts from aid to reconstruction
Damascus, April 3 (SANA) UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said Syria is at a pivotal moment, with improved stability and the end of the war and violence opening the door for long-term development and investment. In an interview with SANA at the conclusion of his visit to Syria on Thursday, De C»»»