Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior has issued a public notice urging the public to refrain from playing videos or audio recordings that include the National Warning System alert sound. In a statement released on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Ministry emphasized that using these alert tones as mob»»»

Manila: The Philippines has secured assurances from Iran for the safe passage of its ships and seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, following high-level diplomatic outreach ordered by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she held a “very productive” phone call o»»»

On April 1, the Federation threatened possible disciplinary action against 15-year-old Russian gymnast Sofia Ilteryakova after she failed to turn toward the flags raising behind her at an awards ceremony at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 30. The event was Ilteryakova’»»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»

Hezbollah has, in recent days, activated the use of surface-to-air missiles to target Israeli drones, in addition to firing them at helicopters and fighter jets, according to statements it issued. It reported the downing of several drones in southern Lebanon and damage to a helicopter, while expert»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic announced on Thursday he was back at work following a 36-day sick leave and that he would be returning to his duties from next Monday. "In the coming days, I will have to follow all instructions given to me by doctors and be careful. From Monday, I w»»»

London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»

In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armoured vehicles while soldiers combed through tunnels they said were used by Hezbollah, as Syria reinforces its side of the border. Syria is seeking to stay out of the regional war, whose flames»»»

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»

Sharjah: A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in Wadi Al Helo in the Kalba area of Sharjah, prompting Sharjah Police to issue an urgent warning against swimming in wadis and rainwater pools. Police said the incident was reported at 7:05pm on Wednesday, when the operations room received a call »»»

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday there was no end in sight to a war that had already displaced a million people over the last month, as families fleeing Israeli strikes said they were exhausted by repeated rounds of conflict. Lebanon is entering the second month of conflict betw»»»

Iran has accused the US and Israel of genocide over the “deliberate” targeting of schools and education facilities in strikes on the country. In a post on X on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said more than 600 schools and educational facilities across Iran have been targeted i»»»

Poland will not relocate its American-made Patriot air defense missile systems to the Middle East to help the US intercept attacks from Iran, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has said. Despite US President Donald Trump claiming that the Pentagon has an “unlimited” stockpile of weap»»»

Polls ahead of the Hungarian elections point to an opposition victory, but players behind the scenes expect Prime Minister Viktor Orban to come out on top. Others say it’s a scenario ripe for a Kiev-style ‘color revolution’. READ MORE: Battle for Hungary: EU attacks on Orban are a sign of worse thi»»»

Three new secretaries have been appointed to President Iliana Iotova since she took office at the end of January, shows information on the President's website. They are Meglena Plugchieva, Kristiela Simeonova, and Milena Dimitrova. Plugchieva has been appointed Secretary for Foreign Policy. She has»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called for intensifying political and diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war during a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "Both sides emphasized the need for a rapid cessation of hostilities and the intensification of political»»»

The Senate Thursday sent a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House of Representatives. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The Senate sent its bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security back to the House Thursday morning after t»»»

In a step reflecting a strategic shift in regional energy routes, Baghdad has officially begun exporting crude oil via Syria, in an effort to bypass the paralysis that has affected traditional maritime trade corridors. The move, which Damascus described as a return to its role as a “transit compass»»»

Dubai: Dubai is accelerating its push toward an AI-driven government, with all public services set to be integrated into a single digital ecosystem within one year. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The directive was issued by Sheikh Hamdan bin Moha»»»

London: Reports of the death of the world's oldest living land animal - a nearly 200-year-old tortoise - were greatly exaggerated. Jonathan, believed to be 193, is still kicking - albeit slowly - on the island of St. Helena. "It was a hoax," Anne Dillon, head of communications on the island, told T»»»

The price of oil surged while stock markets fell back after U.S. President Donald Trump's address Wednesday night stoked fears the Iran war could be about to get a lot worse. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The price of oil surged while stocks retreated on Thursday afte»»»

Bulgaria has formally requested assistance from the European Union to counter potential foreign interference and disinformation campaigns ahead of its upcoming parliamentary elections, according to reporting by POLITICO and correspondence seen by the publication. In the request, Bulgarian authoriti»»»

Dubai: At a time when the US–Israel–Iran conflict is reshaping geopolitical and economic realities, businesses across the region are being tested on their ability to adapt and endure. Against this backdrop, Danube Group’s Founder and Chairman Rizwan Sajan is setting a strong example of leadership b»»»

Dubai: The UAE government's decision to extend distance learning until April 17 amid regional tensions has been met with relief and gratitude by parents, who say their children's safety outweighs any disruption to routine. For Praseetha Rajesh, a mother of two whose elder daughter Anushka is a univ»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has stepped up high-level diplomatic engagement with the United States and regional stakeholders in a bid to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, positioning itself as a key facilitator for dialogue amid a conflict that has rattled global energy markets and heightened geopolitic»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah City Municipality has issued a set of guidelines to curb mosquito breeding during the rainy season, urging residents to take preventive measures to protect public health and maintain environmental standards. The municipality highlighted that Puddle or standing water remains the»»»

Dubai: On Autism Awareness Day, Dubai International Airport took to social media to highlight their efforts to make travel more inclusive, focusing on support for passengers with autism and other hidden disabilities. The airport hopes to create a calm, sensory-friendly experience at every stage, fr»»»

London: Britain accused Iran on Thursday of holding the world's economy hostage as diplomats from more than 40 countries held talks on ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that has been choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The U.S. is not attending the virtual mee»»»

Restaurant and café prices in Bulgaria have increased sharply over the past decade, rising by close to 110%, according to analysis by the Institute for Market Economics. Economist Adrian Nikolov pointed out that this growth significantly outpaces the rise in key cost components such as labor, elect»»»

The dollar rose sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump's address on Iran shattered hopes for a swift end to the conflict, sending investors towards safe-haven assets as oil prices jumped and stocks tumbled. In a televised speech, Trump vowed more aggressive strikes on Iran in the next »»»

Dubai: Rows of luxury boutiques line an upmarket Dubai mall, yet a month into the Middle East war their sales staff sit idly, phones in hand, watching for the rare customer. Salespeople in immaculate suits say they have been told not to speak to reporters, but one briefly described the mood. "Of co»»»

Moscow: Russia will send a second ship carrying oil to Cuba as the island grapples with a US fuel blockade, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev said Thursday. Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis since January, when US forces abducted Venezuela president and Cuban ally Nicolas Maduro. His remo»»»

Tunis, Apr. 2, 2026 (TAP) – A working session on the challenges facing trade between Tunisia and Libya was held between Mohamed Al-Hangari, President of the Libyan Export Development Authority (LEDA), and Samir Majoul, President of the Arab Chambers...»»»

Manila: Manny Pacquiao's planned September fight with Floyd Mayweather will not be an exhibition, the Philippine boxing legend said Thursday, days after his fellow hall of famer said their bout would be strictly entertainment. Netflix last month announced a long-awaited rematch of the highest-gross»»»

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that air defenses engaged 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones originating from Iran. Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones. The attacks have resulted in ca»»»

Benghazi Chamber of Commerce announced last Monday (30 March) that it will be organising the First Scientific Economic Conference on “The Libyan Economic Crisis: Between the Confusion of Economic Policies and the Shortcomings of Management: Diagnosing the Reality and Scenarios for Addressing It,” f»»»

The Abu Dhabi Mobility has announced temporary road closures in Mohammed bin Zayed City and Musaffah Shabiya, on Saturday, April 4, as part of traffic management measures. According to the advisory, closures will affect sections of Sheikh Najm Street and surrounding internal roads in Musaffah Shabi»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal has nearly doubled aviation fuel prices as global energy costs surge during the Middle East war, officials said Thursday, raising fears of a fresh blow to its tourism-dependent economy. The landlocked Himalayan nation of 30 million relies almost entirely on India for its fos»»»

The European Commission has announced a new financial aid package for the cash-strapped Ukrainian government using the revenue generated from frozen Russian assets. The sum of €1.4 billion ($1.63 billion) would largely be spent on covering Kiev’s debts to its Western backers, the statement said. Uk»»»

The Bidding for Egypt’s 4th Generation telecommunication licenses has launched, with currently the state telecommunications company Telecom Egypt bidding for 7.08 billion EGP. This license is essential to Telecom Egypt as it will lead them into Egypt’s mobile market a long awaited move at there end»»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated, after a cabinet session at the Grand serail, his commitment to efforts aiming at stopping the Israeli war. Salam condemned joint Hezbollah-Iran attacks on Israel and said they do not serve Lebanon's national interests. The Prime Minister saluted the steadfast »»»

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran will not provide a durable solution to the issue of Tehran's nuclear program and that Trump cannot keep "contradicting" himself every day on Iran. "A targeted military action, even for a few weeks, will not allo»»»

Baku, Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan's Supreme Court on April, 2, 2026, upheld a nine-year prison sentence slapped on leading opposition figure Tofig Yagublut for fraud and forgery that he and rights groups say is politically motivated. Yagublu, the deputy chairman of the anti-government Musavat party, was»»»

EIPICO was able to provide medicine to the Egyptian citizen at a fair price, as the average price of a package of EIPICO products is one of the lowest prices in the market with the highest international quality standards, this is in fulfillment of its social role, in addition to pumping investments»»»

President Donald Trump used his national address to project confidence in the US campaign against Iran — but left some of the most critical questions unanswered. While he spoke of military progress and suggested that objectives are “nearing completion,” the speech offered little clarity on what com»»»

Tunis, Apr. 2 (TAP) – The Assembly of People's Representatives will hold a plenary session, Friday. It will focus on addressing oral questions to Minister of Cultural Affairs, Amina Srarfi, according to a statement published, Thursday»»»

The Emsaad-Ras Ajdir Road Implementation and Management Authority (ERMA) announced yesterday the commencement of work on sub-section (4.3) of the road linking Al-Aziziya and Ras Ajdir. The road will be 160 kilometres long and work will start in May, after the completion of all necessary technical a»»»

In rugged terrain along the Syrian-Lebanese border, yellow bulldozers raised earthen berms in front of armored vehicles while soldiers combed through tunnels they said were used by Hezbollah, as Syria reinforces its side of the border. Syria is seeking to stay out of the regional war, whose flames »»»

Dubai: Emirates NBD has closed $2.25 billion in long-term financing, drawing strong participation from international lenders as it seeks to diversify funding and strengthen liquidity. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here. The transaction comprises a $1»»»

Prime Developments Ltd., a leading developer dedicated to infrastructure, sustainable projects, and community enhancement in St. Kitts and Nevis, proudly joins the Investment Gateway Summit 2026 as its exclusive Platinum Sponsor. "We are proud to welcome Prime Developments Ltd. as a Platinum Sponso»»»