US Army’s ‘Christian Extremists’ vs. Orthodoxy: Rift That Shapes Iran War
The Iran war is largely backed by so-called “Christian Zionists” — from US Speaker Mike Johnson to American Senator Lindsey Graham, who call this Middle East conflict a “religious war.” The Orthodox Church opposes American Protestants, including some US senators and politicians, who argue that the »»»
Sofia Reports Record Low Population of Stray Dogs
Local authorities in Sofia report a record low number of stray dogs in the city and are expanding measures for their control and care, the Town Hall said the occasion of World Stray Animals Day, April 4. According to the latest counts and expert estimates, the total population of stray dogs in the »»»
Dubai Police warn of fake insurance companies targeting residents on social media
Dubai: Dubai Police have warned residents about a growing wave of fraudulent insurance companies, urging the public to verify licences and official documentation before making any payments. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The alert comes as part o»»»
Fugitive Naples mafia boss arrested for murder
Rome: An Italian mafia boss accused of murder has been arrested on the Amalfi Coast, Italian police said on Saturday. Roberto Mazzarella, head of the Mazzarella clan of the Camorra, the Naples-based organised crime group, was arrested in the town of Vietri sul Mare, the police said in a statement. »»»
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»»»
Dubai delivers urgent medical aid to Gaza
Dubai: Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Humanitarian (DXBH) has facilitated the delivery of urgent medical supplies to Gaza. Through its Global Humanitarian Impact Fund (GHIF), DXBH coo»»»
Russia Targets Ukrainian Arms Industry and Energy Sites in Retaliation
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost over 380 soldiers in combat against Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr (Center) battlegroup over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces amounted »»»
War in the Middle East: UNSC vote on Strait of Hormuz postponed
Iran warned the UN Security Council against any "provocative action", ahead of a scheduled vote on a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz that ended up being&nb»»»
War in the Middle East: Iran hunts crew member of crashed US jet
One US service member has been rescued and at least one is missing after two US military planes went down in separate incidents including the first shoot-down since the war began nearly five weeks ago.»»»
Explosion Hits Pro-Israel Center in the Netherlands
A blast hit a pro-Israeli center in the Netherlands, police said Saturday, adding it caused minimal damage and no injuries. A police spokeswoman told AFP no one was inside the site run by Christians for Israel, a non-profit, in the central city of Nijkerk when the explosion went off outside its gat»»»
Indonesia slams 'unacceptable' peacekeeper casualties in Lebanon
Jakarta: The Indonesian government on Saturday slammed as "unacceptable" an explosion that injured three of its peacekeepers in Lebanon within days of three other blue helmets from the Southeast Asian nation being killed. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said three peacekeepers »»»
FIATA seminar examines global shipping risks
DOHA: At the initiative of the Qatar Chamber, the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has organised a webinar titled 'Middle East Security Situation: Managing Legal, Insurance, and Operational Risks in Times of Disruption'. The webinar reviewed the impact of current »»»
How a family trip turned into Dh20m for this Kerala entrepreneur
Dubai: Shamon Shaji, a 32-year-old entrepreneur from India, has never imagined that a casual family trip to Dubai would lead to a life-changing windfall. During a trip to visit his in-laws, the business owner has come across Big Ticket and decided to try his luck. “My in-laws live in Dubai, so we v»»»
Ex-Economy Minister: Claims That Eurozone Drove Prices Up Are False, Inflation in Bulgaria Remains Low
Nikolay Vassilev, former Minister of Economy, dismissed claims that prices in Bulgaria have doubled following eurozone-related developments, arguing instead that inflation remains low and that public fears about sharp price increases are exaggerated. Speaking on Nova TV, Nikolay Vassilev stated tha»»»
India Says Crude Oil Supplies Secured, No Payment Issues for Iran Imports
India's petroleum ministry said in a post on X on Saturday that the country's refiners have secured their crude requirements, including from Iran, and there are no payment hurdles for Iranian imports. India's crude oil requirements remain fully secured for the coming months, the minist»»»
Russian Strikes Wound 14 in Ukraine
Russian night-time strikes on Ukraine wounded 14 people while one person died and four were injured in air attacks in Russia, officials said Saturday. Russian strikes on Friday killed 14 people. Moscow has pummeled Ukraine since its 2022 invasion, mostly at night, but in recent weeks it has stepped»»»
MOI enables financial claim payment via Metrash
Doha, Qatar: The Search and Follow Up Department of Ministry of Interior provides a financial claims payment service through the Metrash App. The Ministry of Interior explained this in a social media post, adding that the 'Financial Claims Payment' service can be accessed in three easy steps. The s»»»
Israel strikes Beirut southern suburbs at dawn
The Israeli military said Saturday it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut's southern suburbs after it destroyed a bridge in West Bekaa to allegedly prevent the Iran-backed group's reinforcements from crossing. An AFP journalist heard two loud explosions in the capital within hal»»»
Indonesia Slams 'Unacceptable' Peacekeeper Casualties in Lebanon
The Indonesian government on Saturday slammed as "unacceptable" an explosion that injured three of its peacekeepers in Lebanon within days of three other blue helmets from the Southeast Asian nation being killed. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said three peacekeepers were woun»»»
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»»»
Slight rise in temperatures, highs between 12°C and 23°C
Tunis, April 4 (TAP) — The weather, on Saturday, will be partly cloudy to occasionally very cloudy, with scattered rain over coastal regions.Winds will blow from the west. They will be strong near the coasts and in elevated areas, and light to...»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Russia discuss expansion of cooperation in agro-industrial sector - | 24.KG
Erlist Akunbekov, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, Oksana Lut, Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, and Sergei Dankvert, Head of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision met in Moscow. According to the Cabinet of »»»
New director appointed at National School-Lyceum of Innovative Technologies - | 24.KG
Zhainak Ibragimov has been appointed Director of the National School-Lyceum of Innovative Technologies named after Aidarkan Moldokulov. The press service of the Ministry of Education of Kyrgyzstan reported. The decision was made following a competition. He previously served as the deputy principal »»»
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»»»
Another Train Derails in Central Bulgaria, Three Injured
Three passengers were injured after a train from Ruse to Plovdiv collided with a landslide on Saturday morning between Tsareva Livada and Tryavna in north central Bulgaria, the National Railway Infrastructure Company said. Train traffic in the section has been suspended. The incident occurred at 8.»»»
Russian Priest From US Explains Growing Interest of Young People in Orthodoxy
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Young generations feel the emptiness of secular society and therefore want to strengthen their faith, Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) Synod Youth Department Vice Chairman, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, told Sputnik. "They themselves are a generation that is look»»»
Trump Seeks $152 Mn to Revive Alcatraz as Federal Prison
US President Donald Trump asked Congress on Friday for $152 million to begin rebuilding the notorious Alcatraz prison, pressing ahead with his vision to return the former island lockup to active use. The funding request, included in the White House's proposed 2027 budget, would cover the first year»»»
Dubai road works to disrupt traffic on Al Khaleej Street
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a temporary traffic diversion on Al Khaleej Street due to scheduled road works. The diversion will affect the stretch between Cairo Street Roundabout and Al Wahida Street Roundabout, heading towards the Al Mamzar area. Get updated faster and»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Iran downs two US warplanes as Middle East conflict intensifies
Doha, Qatar: Iranian and American forces raced each other Saturday to recover a crew member of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war. Tehran said it had shot down the F-15 warplane, while US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two »»»
Train Derails in Central Bulgaria, Three Injured
Three passengers were injured after a train from Ruse to Plovdiv collided with a landslide on Saturday morning between Tsareva Livada and Tryavna in north central Bulgaria, the National Railway Infrastructure Company said. Train traffic in the section has been suspended. The incident occurred at 8.»»»
Israeli Forces Encircle Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon
Military developments are accelerating in south Lebanon as Israel steps up pressure through a mix of strikes, evacuation warnings and what analysts describe as a strategy of isolating border towns, with Bint Jbeil emerging as a primary focus. The Israeli army on Friday warned residents on the north»»»
One dead, 47 injured after 'incident' at Peru football derby: minister
Lima: At least one person died and 47 more were injured Friday night in an unspecified "incident" at Alejandro Villanueva Stadium in Peru's capital during a rally ahead of a football derby, according to the health ministry. "There has been an unfortunate incident at the stadium in which 47 people h»»»
French, Japanese Ships Cross Strait of Hormuz in First Since War
One French- and another Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of vessels to have crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital maritime route for oil and liquified natural gas, has been virtually blocked by Iran since the start of the war, sai»»»
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»»»
Iran, US race to recover missing crew member of crashed American fighter jet
Forces from Iran and the US are racing to recover a missing crew member from the F-15 warplane, shot down by Iran on Friday. US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two crew members. Iranian and American forces raced each other Saturday to recover a cre»»»
Bombers from Kola take part in major daytime attack
Two Tu-95MS aircraft from Olenya Air Base participated when Russia carried out one of the largest bombardments of Ukraine so far this year on 3 April. Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Telegram that Russia launched hours-long attacks using UAVs, as well as air- and ground-launched missiles, across th»»»
Italian Prime Minister to visit Qatar today: Embassy
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister of Italy, HE Giorgia Meloni, will be in Doha this morning, April 4, 2026, as part of a Gulf tour, the Embassy announced. The Embassy stated that, "The visit by the Prime Minister of Italy, HE Giorgia Meloni, expresses solidarity and friendship with the State of Qatar." M»»»
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»»»
Hamas Hopes Pressure Will Amend Gaza Disarmament Plan
Hamas is pressing mediators to secure changes to a plan presented more than a week ago by Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative of the “Board of Peace,” which calls for the full disarmament of Gaza without exception. A Hamas delegation in Cairo is holding intensive talks with Palestinian factio»»»
'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»»»
Artemis II crew captures stunning earth views on moon mission
Cape Canaveral, Florida: The Artemis II astronauts have captured our blue planet's brilliant beauty as they zoom ever closer to the moon. NASA released the crew's first downlinked images Friday, 1 1/2 days into the first astronaut moonshot in more than half a century. The first photo taken by comma»»»
Traffic violation cameras launched on Bishkek – Osh road - | 24.KG
Hardware and software systems have been launched on sections of Bishkek — Osh road in Chui region. They automatically record several types of violations, from speeding to driving without license plates. According to the Main Traffic Safety Department, the systems are being deployed as part of the S»»»
Number of road accidents involving scooters, mopeds increased 12-fold in Bishkek - | 24.KG
In 2025, about 682 road accidents involving scooters were recorded in the capital, with 756 injuries and 14 fatalities—significantly higher than in 2022. It was reported at a road safety forum for scooter, moped, and personal mobility vehicle drivers. Participants discussed the increase in road acc»»»
Two earthquakes — in Afghanistan and Tajikistan — felt in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
A magnitude 7 earthquake hit Afghanistan and was felt in Kyrgyzstan, the Institute of Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. According to the institute, the tremors were recorded on April 3 at 10.12 p.m. The epicenter was located in Afghanistan, approximatel»»»
Four injured in Bahrain from falling debris of intercepted Iranian drone
Manama: Bahraini authorities said that four people were injured after debris fell following the interception and destruction of an Iranian drone. In a post on X, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior confirmed that four citizens sustained minor injuries and several homes in Sitra were damaged due to fa»»»
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»»»
Over 1,000 police officers to patrol Bishkek over weekend - | 24.KG
More than 1,000 police officers will patrol Bishkek today and tomorrow, following instructions by the head of the city’s Main Department of Internal Affairs. According to the department’s press service, a roll call and briefing of the capital’s police personnel was held ahead of the weekend. Office»»»
Israel Says Striking Hezbollah Sites in Beirut after Destroying Bridge
The Israeli military said Saturday it had begun striking "Hezbollah infrastructure" in Beirut after it destroyed a bridge in eastern Lebanon to prevent the Iran-backed group's reinforcements from crossing. An AFP journalist heard two loud explosions in the capital within half an hour early Saturday»»»
Diner stunned as microchip found in meal reveals meat is from retired Turkish racehorse
An electronic identification microchip found in a meat stew served by a Turkish soup kitchen turned out to be from a racehorse retired early with a broken leg. The fate of four-year-old thoroughbred mare Smart Latch, illeg»»»