UAE says ties with US growing stronger despite regional tensions and global challenges
Washington: The UAE maintained security and continuity in the face of unprecedented and unprovoked attacks, a senior minister said, underscoring the country’s ability to respond swiftly while keeping daily life and institutions functioning without disruption. Speaking yesterday at the Semafor World»»»
Farmers urged to comply with biosecurity measures
Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas is expected to urge livestock farmers of Lesvos on Friday to comply with biosecurity measures aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease, as authorities seek to curb its spread quickly. A delegation from the island has been invited to meet at 11 a.m. at the a»»»
ICE detention shock: Indian-origin woman held after 35 years in US
A 53-year-old Indian-origin woman who has lived in the United States for more than three decades has been detained by immigration authorities in Texas, triggering legal challenges and growing concern over her treatment. Meenu Batra, a court interpreter who has spent over 35 years in the US, was arr»»»
Macut: Serbia committed to regional cooperation, EU path
ANTALYA - Serbian PM Djuro Macut said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday that global governance mechanisms had an irreplaceable role but that regional cooperation was becoming increasingly important amid growing global uncertainty. Speaking at a panel titled The Role of Regional Ownership in »»»
Israel says troops will remain in buffer zone extending 10 km from border
Israel's defense minister said on Friday that the campaign against the militant group Hezbollah was not yet complete, just hours after a 10-day ceasefire came into force in Lebanon. "The ground maneuver into Lebanon and the strikes on Hezbollah have achieved many gains, but they are still not compl»»»
Alliance for Rights and Freedoms MP Candidate Duganov: "We Have Chance to End Oligarchic State"
Borislav Duganov, MP candidate from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) in Smolyan, told voters in his hometown of Nedelino, Smolyan Region, that "with our vote on April 19, we have the chance to change the government and put an end to this oligarchic state," the coalition announced in a sta»»»
Aoun says ceasefire gateway for 'crucial' talks with Israel
President Joseph Aoun said on Friday that direct negotiations with Israel were crucial, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and an upcoming meeting between their leaders. "Direct negotiations are crucial... and a ceasefire is the gateway to proce»»»
On World Heritage Day, calls to protect heritage in conflicts and disasters
Doha, Qatar: The world observes World Heritage Day on April 18 each year, an initiative launched by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 to raise awareness of shared cultural and historical heritage. This year’s theme, "Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts»»»
Etihad adds First suites, lie-flat seats on all India flights
Abu Dhabi: Travellers flying from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and Delhi in India will experience improved travel comfort. UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways announced Friday that it plans to introduce the game-changing Airbus A321LR twice daily to these two Indian cities, complementing two daily wide-bo»»»
Live Updates: Tense Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holds in potential boost for Iran war peace deal prospects – Ya Libnan
Share: The Lebanese army started reconstruction of some of the bridges bombed by Israel during its war with Hezbollah Here is the latest on Middle East war Hezbollah and Iran have indicated backing for the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but both say they’re poised with their “fingers on the »»»
Abu Dhabi Police warn of fake Google links stealing banking data
Abu Dhabi Police has warned the public about fake links appearing in search engine results, saying they are increasingly being used by fraudsters to steal personal and banking information. Authorities urged users to be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links, especially those claiming to be»»»
Arrests fail to deter phone scam rings
Police say phone fraud rings continue to operate using familiar tactics, despite repeated arrests and prosecutions, with suspects often returning to crime after release. Authorities describe a pattern in which offenders pose as accountants or power utility technicians, warning victims of supposed f»»»
Property Concept rebranded as Alera: It is a year of recalibration in the real estate market
Property Concept, one of the leading companies in Romania specialized in turnkey real estate investments, offering integrated services including sales, interior design, and property management, is rebranding as Alera, marking a new stage in its development. The company is targeting accelerated grow»»»
Fake viral AI clip of India FM Sitharaman on high returns exposed
Dubai: A viral video claiming to show India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promoting a high-return investment scheme has been declared fake by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit. The clip, widely circulated on social media, falsely suggests that an initial investment of aroun»»»
Oil Prices to Swing Wildly In $95-$120 Loop Amid US-Iran Standoff - Investor
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Global oil prices will fluctuate between $95 and $120 per barrel in the near future due to the Middle East conflict, Kyle Shostak, director of Navigator Principal Investors, told RIA Novosti. "My reading of the situation is that the Trump administration is hopeful that the bl»»»
Mideast Chaos May Boost Northern Sea Route's Value - Korea Arctic Shipping Association
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The conflict in the Middle East, combined with the United States' blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, may ramp up interest in the Northern Sea Route, Subeom Choi, secretary general of the Korea Arctic Shipping Association, told RIA Novosti. "This crisis may strengthen global in»»»
China’s “Petroyuan” Gains Traction Amid Gulf Tensions
Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region are breathing new life into China’s long-standing ambition to expand the role of the yuan in global energy trade, reviving discussions around the so-called “Petroyuan” as an alternative to the Dollar-dominated system. Recent developments surroundi»»»
No flight? No problem. Step inside Abu Dhabi airport
Abu Dhabi: Zayed International Airport has opened its doors to the public, allowing citizens and residents to explore its facilities without the need to travel. The initiative, running for eight weeks, invites visitors to step inside the airport’s usually restricted areas to enjoy its retail outlet»»»
India wealth shake-up: Gautam Adani becomes Asia’s richest, overtakes Mukesh Ambani
Gautam Adani has emerged as Asia’s richest individual, with his net worth rising to $92.6 billion, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He is now ranked 19th globally. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Ambani slips to second in Asia»»»
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons to step down May 31 - UPI.com
Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons is to resign at the end of May, the Trump administration announced Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- Todd Lyons is to resign as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according»»»
Media Review: April17
The upcoming April 19 early parliamentary elections and the anticipated results is a major topic for Bulgarian media on Friday. POSSIBLE OUTCOMES – ANALYSIS Capital: “At this stage, we do not have a clear political partner, because all of them, in one way or another, have entered into harmful allia»»»
Philippine foreign ownership rules updated: What it means for global investors
Dubai: The Philippines has updated its foreign investment framework, maintaining strict ownership limits in various fields while gradually opening others to global investors. Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed executive order (EO) 113, approving the 13th regular foreign investment»»»
Deal or delay: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holds amid big questions
A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to be holding early Friday, raising cautious hopes of a broader de-escalation across the Middle East after weeks of intense fighting. The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump and agreed by Israel and Lebanon, took effect overni»»»
Gold Holds Steady, Eyes Fourth Weekly Gain on US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes
Gold held largely steady on Friday and was on track for a fourth straight weekly gain, as hopes for a US-Iran peace deal eased fears of higher inflation and elevated interest rates. Spot gold eased 0.1% to $4,784.72 per ounce by 0646 GMT, but was up about 1% so far this week. US gold futures for Ju»»»
Resistance Triumphs: Thousands Return to South Lebanon as Ceasefire Takes Effect
Residents of southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs began returning to their towns and villages on Friday, as a 10-day ceasefire with the Israeli occupation took effect at midnight. The roads leading to southern Lebanon witnessed heavy traffic congestion, with large numbers of citizens head»»»
Back on Earth, Artemis II Crew Still Finding their Footing
Nearly a week after their Pacific splashdown, the astronauts who crewed the Artemis II mission that flew around the Moon told reporters Thursday they have yet to fully grasp the magnitude of the moment. "It's been a week of medical testing, physical testing, doctors, science objectives," mission co»»»
Judge halts above-ground White House ballroom construction - UPI.com
A federal judge on Thursday ordered all above-ground construction of the White House ballroom to stop. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- All above-ground construction of the White House ballroom must be stopped amid litigation, a federal judge ordered Thursday, reprima»»»
One ticket, 30+ cities: Flying from India to US and Canada just got easier with Air India–WestJet
Air India has entered into a new interline partnership with WestJet, Canada’s leading leisure carrier, aimed at expanding connectivity between India and North America via Toronto and Vancouver. The agreement allows passengers to book single-ticket itineraries across both airlines, offering seamless»»»
Türkiye Hosts Latest Diplomatic Push on Middle East War
Türkiye hosts a high-stakes forum Friday bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad pushes diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war. Pakistan's powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fr»»»
On This Day, April 17: Explosion at Texas fertilizer plant kills 15 - UPI.com
On April 17, 2013, an explosion at a West, Texas, fertilizer plant killed 15 people, injured dozens and caused massive property damage in the community. 1 of 4 | Remains of a fertilizer plant and other buildings smolder after the plant exploded in West, Texas on April 17, 2013. File Photo by Larry »»»
Macron says Lebanon-Israel ceasefire 'may already be undermined'
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he was concerned that a ceasefire between militant group Hezbollah and Israel "may already be undermined by ongoing military operations." "I call for the safety of civilians on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel," he said on X. "Hezbo»»»
Ten-day ceasefire agreed by Israel and Lebanon takes effect
A ten-day ceasefire deal agreed between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday, as US President Donald Trump said he was trying to set up the first-ever face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries. The truce, which Trump said would begin at midnight local time in Lebanon and Isr»»»
Trump Says Iran War Should End 'Soon', Both Sides May Meet at Weekend
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah group to hold its fire as a 10-day truce went into effect between Lebanon and Israel. Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran coul»»»
The head of ANSVSA, at a meeting with the Chinese ambassador: The main objective is to open new export markets
Romania has a real potential for opening new export markets and the institutional dialogue and technical cooperation are essential for the Romanian producers stated the chairman of the National Sanitary Veterinary Authority and for Food Safety (ANSVSA), Alexandru Bociu after a meeting with Chen Fen»»»
Penalty heartbreak for Al Sadd as Vissel Kobe reach ACL Elite semis
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd SC suffered a heartbreaking exit from the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite, going down 5-4 on penalties to Vissel Kobe after a pulsating 3-3 draw in the quarter-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah yesterday. Substitute Jean Patric scored the winning»»»
Kyrgyzstan and India discuss integration of national payment systems - | 24.KG
Bankers from Kyrgyzstan and India discussed the integration of their national payment systems. Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Almaz Baketaev, held talks in Washington, D.C. with the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Sanjay Malhotra. The parties also focused on prospects »»»
Awqaf Ministry expands Da’wah outreach in 2025, reaching millions through community programmes
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has reported a significant expansion in its da’wah (religious outreach) ecosystem in 2025, underscoring its growing role in strengthening societal values, promoting intellectual security, and supporting family cohesion across Qatar. According t»»»
Who actually qualifies for Nafis child allowance?
Dubai: Emirati women working in the private sector will be eligible for child allowance benefits under the Nafis programme only under specific conditions, as authorities expand support for families while tightening eligibility criteria. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app no»»»
Right-wing community needs complete renewal, says Orbán
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, also the leader of Fidesz, spoke about the need for a complete renewal of the right-wing community in an interview broadcast on the Patrióta YouTube channel on Thursday. He described the election outcome as a clear defeat for the governing parties and took full responsi»»»
More ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz despite blockade, tracking data shows
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for oil and gas exports, has shown signs of increased vessel movement in recent days despite ongoing military tensions and a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports. Maritime tracking data and reporting indicate that a growi»»»
After a paralyzing stroke, a South Korean pianist recreates himself as a one-handed performer
SEOUL, South Korea: When a major stroke paralysed South Korean pianist Lee Hun's right side in 2012, he first worried about whether he would ever walk again. Playing the piano wasn't even a consideration. He returned to the piano only after a mentor told him about a large number of piano pieces for»»»
Trump Hopes Lebanon's Hezbollah Will Act Nicely to Achieve Peace
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah would act nicely and support the efforts to achieve peace. "I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be a GREAT moment for them if they do. No more ki»»»
Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon looks for new gas fields to power Philippines’ future
Manila: Filipino billionaire Enrique 'Ricky' Razon Jr.’s energy firm is pressing beyond the aging Malampaya gas field in a bid to expand the country’s long-term domestic gas supply and reduce reliance on imported fuel. Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., the Razon-led operator of Malampaya, sa»»»
A 10-day Ceasefire Agreed on By Israel and Lebanon Goes into Effect
A 10-day truce began in Lebanon on Friday that could pause fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire »»»
Video: US forces divert ship in Gulf of Oman amid US blockade on Iran ports
The US says its maritime enforcement operation targeting Iranian ports remains in place, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting that multiple vessels have been diverted in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said on Friday that a US Navy destroyer redirected a merchant vessel as part of ongoing measures»»»
U.S. bars entry to 26 people as visa restriction policy expands - UPI.com
The Department of State under Secretary Marco Rubio (L) announced an expansion to an existing policy to restrict visas to anyone in the Western Hemisphere it accuses of working to forward the interests of U.S. adversaries. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Trump ad»»»
Jet fuel supplies are lagging: What it means for airlines and travellers
A looming jet fuel shortage across Europe and Asia, triggered by the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could disrupt global travel within weeks if oil flows are not restored soon. The pressure on supplies risks higher airfares and potential flight cancellations as the peak»»»
US issues text of Lebanon Israel ceasefire agreement – Ya Libnan
Share: THE US State Department revealed the following on Friday “The text of the following statement was agreed to by the Government of Israel and Government of Lebanon: ” Following productive direct talks on April 14 between the governments of the Republic of Lebanon (hereinafter “Lebanon”) and th»»»
10-day Lebanon-Israel ceasefire begins after weeks of conflict
A ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday as US President Donald Trump pushes for broader regional diplomacy, including a possible first-ever leaders’ meeting. The truce comes amid efforts to end wider conflict involving Iran and follows weeks of intense fighting and heav»»»
A propos - France finance minister says Hormuz must open 'but not at any price'
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, says that t»»»