Middle East War Presents ‘Serious Risk’ for Africa, Warns Report
The Middle East war "presents a serious risk to Africa", the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB) said in a report seen by AFP Saturday. The conflict threatens to increase the cost of living and curtail growth on the continent, the report warned. The Middle East accounts for 15.8 p»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Winning numbers out with special announcement
Dubai: In the Dh30 million UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw on Saturday, a number of participants took home cash rewards. In Draw No. 260404, the winning numbers from the Days section were 18, 26, 19, 30, 28, and 17, while the Months section revealed 11 as the winning number. At the same time, three re»»»
US Military Jets Hit in Iran War Are the First Shot Down by Enemy Fire in Over 20 Years
Iran shooting down two American military jets marks an exceedingly rare assault for the US that has not happened in more than 20 years and shows Iran’s continued ability to hit back despite President Donald Trump asserting it has been “completely decimated.” The attacks came five weeks after US and»»»
Russian Strike on Ukraine Market Kills Five, Wounds 25
A Russian drone hit a covered market in the eastern Ukrainian city of Nikopol on Saturday, killing five people and wounding 25, officials said, as Moscow pressed on with intensified daytime attacks. Russia has been firing aerial broadsides at Ukraine throughout its more than four-year invasion, mos»»»
Middle East conflict triggers $600 million daily hit to tourism industry
Capitals, April 4 (SANA) The escalating conflict in the Middle East is inflicting severe damage on the region’s tourism sector, with daily losses now estimated to exceed $600 million, according to industry data. The widening war has disrupted international travel on a large scale, as security conce»»»
Trump's go-it-alone certainty confronts the uncertainties of war
Washington: President Donald Trump did not equivocate in his first live address to Americans about the war in Iran. "We've beaten and completely decimated Iran," he said in a prime-time speech from the White House on Wednesday. "They are decimated both militarily and economically and in every other»»»
QNB: External energy shock could force ECB policy shift
Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has warned that an external shock in the energy sector could push the European Central Bank (ECB) into a difficult policy trade-off, as rising inflation risks collide with weakening growth prospects. In its weekly report, QNB said persistently elevated energy »»»
73 Measles Cases Registered in Bulgaria – Health Ministry
A total of 73 measles cases have been recorded in Bulgaria between March 18 and April 3, the Ministry of Health reported on its website on Saturday. The cases are spread across five regions – Vratsa, Lovech, Pleven, Sofia-city, and Sofia-region. The majority, 83.5%, were registered in Vratsa. Preli»»»
Received an emergency alert while shopping? The first minutes are critical — here’s what to do.
As part of Phase Two of the #OurCommunityIsPrepared campaign, the Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre (ADCMC), in collaboration with strategic partners, is guiding residents on how to respond to emergency alerts in public spaces and shopping malls. Stay calm, act quicklyWheth»»»
Rain, storms kill 121 in Afghanistan and Pakistan in two weeks
Kabul: Heavy rain and storms have killed at least 121 people over two weeks across Afghanistan and Pakistan, disaster officials in both countries said Saturday. Stormy weather has brought rain sweeping across Afghanistan since late March, causing floods, landslides, and hitting homes and crops. "Si»»»
Deadly rains, storms kill 121 in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2 weeks
Kabul: Heavy rain and storms have killed at least 121 people over two weeks across Afghanistan and Pakistan, disaster officials in both countries said Saturday. Stormy weather has brought rain sweeping across Afghanistan since late March, causing floods, landslides, and hitting homes and crops. "Si»»»
US Aircraft Losses Challenge Trump’s Claims of Crippled Iranian Defenses
US media reports indicate that Iranian air defenses have downed multiple US military aircraft during ongoing operations, contradicting claims by US President Donald Trump just a day earlier that Iran’s air defenses and radar systems had been “completely destroyed.” According to the reports, an F-15»»»
Libya’s proposed Science and Technology City can reduce oil dependence, create jobs for youth and support local innovation
The Media Office of Libya’s Science and Technology City announced last Tuesday (31 March) that the project was established by Cabinet Resolution No. 486 of 2021 as a financially and administratively independent scientific institution. The city is to be established in the municipality of Swani Bin A»»»
Progressive Bulgaria Leader in Stara Zagora: Overcoming Citizens’ Fear of Speaking Out Is Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge for Progressive Bulgaria is overcoming fear, because in regions with diverse ethnic or political communities people are intimidated and hesitate to express their political affiliation or preference for fear of losing their jobs, Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev said dur»»»
Stuck in a cooking rut? Try some creative rule-breaking in the kitchen.
If you’re feeling burned out by your daily cooking routine, you might reflexively try to pare things down, using fewer ingredients and bare-minimum recipes, but cookbook author Jerrelle Guy does the opposite - she adds something. She was able to reclaim her joy and creativity in the kitchen by spri»»»
European drivers choke on rising diesel prices
Paris, France: The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. The Easter holiday weekend across Europe is expected»»»
Taiwan Says It Has Assurances over LNG Supplies from 'Major' Country
Taiwan has received supply assurances from the energy minister of a "major" liquefied natural gas-producing country, the island's economy minister said on Saturday, speaking about the Iran war's impact on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, had relied on Qatar for a»»»
Trump seeks massive $1.5 trillion defence budget amid Iran war
Engaged in a costly war against Iran, the White House unveiled its proposed budget for 2027 on Friday, asking Congress to increase the United States’ already massive defence spending by more than 40 percent over the course of a year. This would be a record in the country's recent history if Co»»»
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 »»»