UAE raises AML compliance bar with tighter rules for banks
Dubai: The UAE has rolled out updated anti-money laundering and financial crime guidelines, tightening compliance expectations for banks and exchange houses, with a sharper focus on risk monitoring, customer verification and cross-border activity. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
French UNIFIL soldier killed in Lebanon, Hezbollah responsible, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the death of a French UN peacekeeping soldier Saturday following an attack that also left three people wounded in southern Lebanon, saying that "everything suggests" Hezbollah being responsible for the attack. The Iran-backed group denied involve»»»
Bulgaria vote set to deliver Radev win but no clear majority
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev is on course to win a snap parliamentary election on April 19, according to a new opinion poll, in what could mark a political breakthrough after years of instability. A survey by Ma»»»
Annaliza Diet: Building bridges through education and empowerment
Darlene Regis Doha A Filipina entrepreneur, educator, and community leader based in Qatar, Annaliza Diet (MA, MBA, CIPT, PhD Candidate) has emerged as a formidable force in global education and women’s empowerment. With influence that spans continents, she has built more than institutions — she has»»»
Qatar Foundation schools foster supportive learning environment with focus on student wellbeing
Tribune News Network Doha Schools within Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education ecosystem continue to foster a stable and supportive learning environment, placing student wellbeing and reassurance at the heart of the educational experience. This integrated approach strengthens community trust »»»
Mediation a responsibility and effective tool for conflict resolution: Dr Al Khulaifi
QNA Antalya Mediation is not viewed as a matter of media visibility or international competition, but rather as a responsibility and an effective tool for conflict resolution, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has said. Speaking »»»
Adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at IPU reflects growing impact: Shura officials
QNA Doha Officials and members of the Shura Council stated that the adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reflects the growing impact of Qatari parliamentary diplomacy and its role in supporting national, Arab, and Islamic positions. They noted in statements to Q»»»
Qatar Charity inaugurates its newservice complex in eastern Ghana
QNA Accra Qatar Charity (QC) inaugurated a new service complex in North Tongu District in eastern Ghana, comprising a school, mosque, teachers’ accommodation and a borehole providing clean drinking water, benefiting more than 2,000 people, with support from donors in Qatar. The inauguration took pl»»»
Qatar strengthens global role through strategic diplomacy
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In a period defined by geopolitical tension, shifting alliances, and complex security challenges, Qatar has emerged as a central diplomatic force guided by the vision and leadership of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Through calm d»»»
Trust remains ‘essential currency’ of effective mediation: Al Khulaifi
QNA Antalya Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has underscored that trust remains the cornerstone of effective mediation, describing it as the “essential currency” required to advance peace efforts and resolve conflicts. Speaking »»»
ICE detainee deaths skyrocket amid immigration crackdown - UPI.com
There were 33 deaths of ICE detainees in 2025, with 17 so far in 2026 The number of deaths of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees over the last year has skyrocketed amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has led to the agency detaining more people that it has since i»»»
EU must be ready to fight Russia without US by 2030 – Belgian defense chief
European nations have around four years to build up their defenses enough to deter a Russian attack without US backing, Frederic Vansina, Belgium’s Chief of the General Staff, has said. Moscow has dismissed speculation that it plans to attack NATO as nonsense. In an interview with Le Soir published»»»
Slovakia said it will sue the EU over a ban on Russian gas imports
Slovakia will file a lawsuit with the EU’s Court of Justice challenging the bloc’s decision to ban imports of Russian gas, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. In January, the EU formally approved a plan to phase out Russian pipeline gas by 2027, overriding vetoes from Slovakia and Hungary. “We obj»»»
Tornadoes cause damage in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois; no injuries - UPI.com
Storms tore through the upper midwest, causing damaging tornadoes Friday. Image courtesy of UPI April 18 (UPI) -- Tornadoes swept through several midwestern cities Friday leaving destruction and devastation in their wakes as a massive storm system tore through the area. Rochester, Minn., Lena, Ill.»»»
Ras Al Khaimah tragedy: Boy, 13, dies saving sister from sea
A 13-year-old Emirati boy has died after rescuing his younger sister from drowning at a beach in Ras Al Khaimah, in a tragic incident that has left the community in mourning. The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Flamingo Beach, behind the Saudi Institute, where the boy managed to save his »»»
Three sentenced for fake bear attack insurance scam - UPI.com
Three people were sentenced to three months in jail and another is awaiting trial in an insurance scam based on staged bear attacks on luxury cars. Photo courtesy California Department of Insurance April 18 (UPI) -- Three people were sentenced this week in an insurance fraud scam that saw them wear»»»
Two Indian-flagged tankers fired upon in Strait of Hormuz as Iran asserts control over waterway
Two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil came under gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Iran declared it would control traffic through the vital waterway in retaliation for an ongoing US naval blockade. Following the attack, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iran’s am»»»
President Saied reaffirms commitment to security forces on 70th anniversary
Tunis, April 18 (TAP) - Presiding on Saturday over the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Internal Security Forces, President Kais Saied reaffirmed that "Tunisia is living through times of historic sorting and challenge in confronting all...»»»
Sudan’s war leaves thousands of children alone and displaced
Sudan is entering its fourth year of civil war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, a conflict the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with children among the main victims. In Darfur and beyond, thousands are displaced, many separated from their families, facing hunger, viol»»»
US Military Prepares to Seize Vessels Linked to Iran Outside Middle East – Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US military is preparing to seize commercial vessels and tankers affiliated to Iran in international waters outside the Middle East in the coming days, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing US officials. On Saturday, the Iranian military command said that t»»»
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages
Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire on the Lebanon front continue, as military operations and airstrikes persist against targets Israel claims are affiliated with Hezbollah. This has forced residents who had returned to some southern villages to leave again immediately, fearing a rapid »»»
Al-Sisi reviews housing, infrastructure projects, urges strict adherence to timelines
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stressed on Saturday the importance of adhering to defined timelines for the completion of housing and infrastructure projects, while removing obstacles facing investment in the sector, according to a presidential statement. During a meeting with Housing Mini»»»
Pope Leo XIV flies to Angola, says he is not debating Trump - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV waves during a welcome ceremony at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda, Angola, Saturday. The Pope is on an 11-day trip to Africa, with stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. Photo by Jose Sena Goulao/EPA April 18 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV said h»»»
Leon fires Sundowns into African Champions League final
Pretoria: Colombian Brayan Leon was the match-winner again for Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday, April 18, 2026, scoring in a 1-0 CAF Champions League semi-final second leg win over Esperance of Tunisia. The 25-year-old, who joined the Pretoria club from Independiente Medellin three mo»»»
Jordan’s Safadi: New Syria determined to rebuild state and avoid conflict
Antalya, April 18 (SANA) – Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Saturday that the new Syria is determined to rebuild its state and avoid entering into any conflict, stressing that countries around the world support Syria’s stability and sovereignty over all its territory. Speaking during»»»
Sofia Police Seize over 10 Kg of Fentanyl Worth EUR 500,000 Since Start of 2026
Sofia police have seized over 10 kg of fentanyl since the beginning of the year, the Interior Ministry said. Five investigations are underway and five people have been detained on suspicion of distribution. The seized quantity is equivalent to around 40,000 doses, with one dose averaging 0.25 grams»»»
5.4-magnitude quake hits south of Kermadec Islands: GFZ
Beijing: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 jolted south of Kermadec Islands at 1603 GMT on Saturday, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said. The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was initially determined to be at 32.11 degrees south latitude and 177.91 degrees west longitude.»»»
Turkmenistan, China Launch Expansion of World’s Second-largest Gas Field
Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field, strengthening Beijing's already dominant position in the secretive Central Asian nation's energy sector. The former Soviet republic, which holds the world's fourth-largest gas reserves, has ex»»»
CBE explains March 2026 inflation uptick amid rising food, service costs
Annual urban headline inflation accelerated to 15.2% in March 2026, up from 13.4% in February, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The increase was driven by rising food and non-food inflation, with food inflation climbing to 5.8% from 4.6%, while non-food inflation rose to 21.5% from 19.»»»
Ahmed Fouad appointed head of SME Committee at FEB
The Federation of Egyptian Banks (FEB), chaired by Mohamed El-Etreby, has approved the appointment of Ahmed Fouad as head of its SME Committee, in a move aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of specialised committees and renewing their leadership. The appointment comes as part of ongoing efforts to»»»
"We are just displaced and we have to go back" : Lebanese return to southern villages
Despite warnings from authorities about the fragility of the ceasefire with Israel, thousands of people are returning to their homes in southern Lebanon, as FRANCE 24's Cyril Payen reports from Beirut. Most do not see themselves as refugees, but rather as internally displaced people in their own co»»»
Iran closes Hormuz Strait again over US blockade with ships mid-transit
Iran's military declared the Strait of Hormuz closed again on Saturday, its military command said, hours after reopening it and with more than a dozen commercial ships passing through the vital waterway. The toing and froing over the strait cast doubt on US President Donald Trump's optimism the day»»»
Hormuz domino effect: How the Middle East crisis affects food, flights and global supply chains
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered by the war in the Middle East hasn't just affected oil prices. Despite a provisional reopening during the current 10-day ceasefire, global supplies of jet fuel, fertilisers, industrial CO2 and naphtha have already been affected, potentially leading to s»»»
Middle East : Fragile US-Iran talks hinge on nuclear and Hormuz disputes
US-Iran negotiations show limited progress but remain tense, with disputes over enriched uranium and the Strait of Hormuz still unresolved. Donald Trump warns the conflict could resume if no deal is reached, while mediators say compromises may still be possible on nuclear restrictions.»»»
No signs of regime collapse as Iran weathers weeks of war
After weeks of US and Israeli strikes, Iranians are watching to see if ceasefire talks could lead to negotiations, while uncertainty over the future of the conflict persists. Despite foreign calls for regime change, analysts say Iran’s leadership remains entrenched, as economic pressure, repression»»»
$27 Billion City to be Built East of Cairo
Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) will build a new 1.4 trillion Egyptian pound ($27 billion) mixed-use city east of Cairo, CEO and Managing Director Hisham Talaat Moustafa said at a press conference on Saturday. The project, called The Spine, is to be developed in partnership with the National B»»»
Ethiopia journalist abduction sparks press freedom fears
The managing editor of one of Ethiopia’s last independent media outlets remains missing after being kidnapped by masked men inside the Addis Standard newsroom on Wednesday. Ethiopia, already one of the biggest jailers of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa after Eritrea, is seeing a renewed crackdown»»»
Sudan war enters fourth year as the humanitarian crisis deepens
Sudan has entered its fourth year of devastating conflict, after fighting broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The war has left millions displaced and, according to the UN, created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.»»»
In Liberia, concerns are growing over gold mining pollution
In Liberia, communities are raising alarm over rising water and soil pollution linked to gold mining activities. In the village of Jikandor, north of the capital, residents accuse the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation of violating environmental standards and contaminating rivers through undisclosed s»»»
Iranian VP Says Control of Hormuz Will be Secured One Way or Another
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran will seek full control over the Strait of Hormuz either through negotiations or on the battlefield, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Saturday. "Iran will pursue the right to control the Strait of Hormuz either at the negotiating table or on the battlefield,"»»»
US issues sanctions waiver on Russian oil sales again
The Trump administration on Friday issued a one-month sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded at sea, despite the treasury secretary indicating two days earlier that Washington would not renew the measure. The move comes amid efforts to ease global en»»»
UK : Keir Starmer under pressure over Mandelson vetting scandal
Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure after revelations that Peter Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to the US despite failing security checks, with Starmer saying he was never informed and blaming the Foreign Office. This comes months after Mandelson was dismissed over his ties to Jeffrey E»»»
Pope vs Trump: Has the week of tension weakened the US president?
A week of escalating tensions has unfolded between Donald Trump and the Vatican, after Trump insulted the Pope on social media following remarks on peace in the Middle East. His behaviour shocked audiences worldwide and reignited debate over his mental health. The feud has further exposed divisions»»»
Should Timmy, the whale stranded off the German coast, be saved?
Rescuers in northern Germany are trying to save a sick humpback whale nicknamed 'Timmy', which has repeatedly become stranded off the Baltic Sea coast. Experts are using air cushions and tugboats to refloat the animal, amid debate over whether it can still be safely rescued.»»»
Bayern close in on Bundesliga title as Dortmund lose
Berlin: Bayern Munich moved closer to the Bundesliga title after Borussia Dortmund fell to a 2-1 loss at Hoffenheim on Saturday, while pioneering Union Berlin coach Marie-Louise Eta lost on her debut in the dugout. Second-placed Dortmund's defeat leaves Bayern, who host Stuttgart on Sunday, 12 poin»»»