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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The restoration of aluminum production at Abu Dhabi plant of the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) company, the largest aluminum producer in the Middle East, may take up to 12 months, EGA said. On March 28, the government of Abu Dhabi said that six people were injured as a result of debris from an in»»»

Authorities responded to a minor incident in Dubai Internet City after debris from an aerial interception fell on the facade of the Oracle building, the Dubai Media Office said. Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported and the situation was quickly brought under control Earlier, authoriti»»»

Two meetings of border representatives of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were held at the initiative of the Kyrgyz side. The State Border Service of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. The first meeting took place at Samarkandek border outpost of Batken border detachment with the participation of representati»»»

The 86th meeting of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers was held in Moscow, chaired by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. The Commonwealth Executive Committee website says. Major General Ruslan Mukambetov, Minister of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic, participated in the Council’s work. The m»»»

Dubai: Authorities responded to an incident in Dubai Marina after debris from an aerial interception struck the facade of a building, the Dubai Media Office said. Officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control, with no reports of injuries or fire. Get updated faster and for FREE: »»»

Dubai: Fair to partly cloudy skies are expected across the UAE on Saturday, with temperatures set to rise slightly before unsettled conditions bring a chance of rain and stronger winds in the days ahead, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Get updated faster and for FREE: Downloa»»»

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: 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»»»

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»»»

BEIJING: Peace talks between Afghanistan's Taliban government and Pakistan are advancing, China's government said Friday, two days after those countries resumed conversations following weeks of fighting that have killed hundreds. “The consultation process is being steadily implemented and advanced,»»»

The funds are included in the Trump administration's 2027 federal budget proposal. The Trump administration has requested $152 million to reopen the prison on Alcatraz Island, which he first directed his administration to do in May 2025. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo April 3 (UPI)»»»

Share: What to know about the Iran war today: A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down by Iran and a crew member was rescued by American forces, U.S. officials told CBS News. U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News Iran’s claim that it shot down an American fighter jet. Images posted on social media and»»»

Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 42 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on April 4, 2026. This includes 26 non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE, subject to slot availability and other operational conditions at departure airports. All flig»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s property market maintained strong momentum in the first quarter of 2026, with total sales reaching Dh176.7 billion across nearly 48,000 transactions, reflecting continued investor appetite and steady price growth. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Data fro»»»

Abu Dhabi: Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, has criticised arguments put forward by former Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a recent article published in the US magazine Foreign Affairs, saying they overlook fundamental facts and Iran’s continued hostile be»»»

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 »»»

The Ministry of Interior in Qatar has cautioned the public against playing or circulating audio or video clips that mimic the National Emergency Alert System, including using such tones as mobile ringtones. Authorities warned that these risks causing panic and disturbing public order. In a statemen»»»

Authorities confirmed that two fires broke out at the Habshan Gas Processing Plant after debris fell following a successful air defence interception. Emergency response teams responded swiftly and brought the situation under control, officials said, adding that the incident occurred as part of the »»»

Livestock thefts are becoming an increasing concern in the Thessaloniki prefecture, with two major incidents recorded within just one month. In Nea Mesimvria, unknown individuals broke into a barn just days ago, cutting chains, breaking locks, removing doors, and damaging the barn’s facilities. The»»»

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has dismissed reports that President Donald Trump fired former AG Pam Bondi over her botched handling of the Epstein files. Blanche made the remarks on Fox News on Thursday, hours after Trump announced that Bondi, who had served since early 2025, was out. The»»»

An Indian national has won the Dh20 million grand prize in Big Ticket’s live draw series 285, held in Abu Dhabi. Shamon Shaji was holding ticket number 229425 which she purchased on March 22. "I am watching live. Thank you so much," said Shaji during the phone call. Show hosts Richard and Bouchra h»»»

Dubai: An Indian national has won the Dh20 million grand prize in Big Ticket’s live draw series 285, held in Abu Dhabi. Shamon Shaji was holding ticket number 229425 which she purchased on March 22. "I am watching live. Thank you so much," said Shaji during the phone call. Show hosts Richard and Bo»»»

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»»»

Abu Dhabi: Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has said its Al Taweelah site sustained significant damage following recent Iranian missile and drone attacks, with full restoration of primary aluminium production likely to take up to 12 months. In an initial assessment released on Friday, the company co»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East war during a phone call on Friday, the Kremlin said. The war started over a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a conflict throughout the Middle East »»»

Iran shot down a US warplane on Friday, setting off a search by both sides for surviving crew as the war looked set to intensify with President Donald Trump threatening more attacks on civilian infrastructure. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was combing an area near where the plane came do»»»

Deir Ezzor, Apr. 3 (SANA) Internal security forces have reinforced measures to secure and protect oil tanker trucks convoys departing from al-Omar oil field in Deir Ezzor province and heading toward the city of Banyas, as part of a comprehensive plan to safeguard oil infrastructure and ensure the s»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

Bansko has the potential to become a year-round spa and wellness destination, said Hristina Mihaylova, manager of the Casa Karina hotel complex in the mountain resort, in an interview for BTA. Hotels that operate throughout all seasons are focusing on investment and development outside the peak sea»»»

Pakistan's economy depends heavily on labor exports to the Gulf, where millions of its citizens work. The Iran war has complicated this, prompting the government to devise a new strategy. In recent years, Pakistan has significantly increased both its labor exports and the volume of remittances that»»»

Egypt will set up the Middle East’s first commodities exchange this year as Amman-based Sigma Investments has completed the feasability study at a cost of LE1.3 million, announced Supplies and Internal Trade minister, Khaled Hanafy, on Monday. The plan is to trade eight commodities through 2 millio»»»

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»»»

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has intercepted a fresh wave of missile and drone attack launched from Iran, the country's defense ministry announced. A ministry statement on Friday said the air defense systems shot down incoming 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 47 drones. The st»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set to see rapidly changing weather conditions throughout April, with temperatures expected to rise gradually across most parts of the country by between three and five degrees compared with March, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). In its monthly outlook, »»»

Dubai: Dubai-born Leva Hotels has announced its entry into North Africa with a new project in Casablanca. The brand will launch Leva Casablanca this summer through a management agreement with Ismail Oukrid, COO of the Group, Ares Invest, Oukrid Family Office. The property, formerly known as the Was»»»

Calls to conscript women into the Ukrainian army are growing – but the reality is that they are already being recruited as contract soldiers, Institute of CIS Countries researcher Alexander Dudchak tells Sputnik. "The [Ukrainian] regime is carrying out an outright genocide," Dudchak says. "At the b»»»

Dubai: More than 40 million students from 138,000 schools across 60 countries took part in the 10th edition of the Arab Reading Challenge, one of the world’s largest literacy initiatives, it was announced on Friday. In a post on X, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President,»»»

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps has launched a campaign aimed at recruiting children as young as 12 for the “defence of the homeland”. More than a month into the war triggered by the US and Israel, rights groups highlight the life-threatening risks&nbs»»»