adidas and Saudia roll travel wear line across MENA
Dubai: Airlines are no longer just flying passengers — they’re now dressing them too. Sports apparel giant Adidas and Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia have launched a new travel-focused clothing line across the Middle East and North Africa, starting April 20. The aim, according to the airline»»»
First ‘Itmam’ centre for judicial services opens Sharjah
Sharjah :The Sharjah Judicial Department has launched the first centre under its “Itmam” judicial services initiative, marking a key step in enhancing service delivery and improving access to judicial processes in the emirate. Announcing the launch, Judge Dr Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Chairman of the»»»
Dubai Police welcome students with UAE flags as schools reopen
Dubai: Dubai Police marked the return of in-person learning with a series of field events aimed at welcoming students and fostering national pride. Through the “School Security” initiative, officers distributed UAE flags to students across schools, reinforcing a sense of belonging and identity from»»»
Romania’s real estate investment volume reached approximately EUR 152 million in Q1 2026
A distant second place was taken by the retail sector, with 8% of the total, followed by hotels (2%) and the industrial segment, with just 1%. The investment volume in the first three months of 2026 is approximately 7% above the quarterly average of 2025 but remains 2.5% below the level recorded in»»»
India, South Korea to cooperate on energy supply chains amid Iran war
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on Monday new partnerships in energy supply chains and critical technologies to address global trade fallout from the US–Israeli war on Iran. Lee arrived in India as the war, which started on Feb. 28, »»»
Laguna Medical SPA in St. Vlas Revives Traditions of Climatotherapy
The unique maritime climate of the St. Vlas resort can help treat chronic pulmonary diseases. This was established in the 1960s, when St. Vlas was recognized as one of Bulgaria's most favourable locations for climatotherapy and rehabilitation, Daniela Dineva of hotel owner Dinevi Group told BTA. Th»»»
New programme to turn 1,000 UAE families into entrepreneurs over 5 years
Dubai: The UAE is aiming to turn 1,000 Emirati families into entrepreneurs over the next five years, as part of a wider push to reduce reliance on state support and build a more self-sufficient economy. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Announced under the national campa»»»
UAE says it dismantled ‘terrorist group’ linked to Iran, arrests members
DUBAI: A “terrorist organisation” has been dismantled and its members arrested over alleged plans to carry out coordinated attacks aimed at undermining national security, authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Monday. The State Security Service said investigations found the group had links to Iran’s “Wil»»»
BPI Real Estate Poland acquires Poznań site for next Panoramiqa phases
BPI Real Estate Poland has acquired a site of nearly 13,000 sq m on Wągrowska Street in Poznań's Rataje district to deliver the next two phases of its Panoramiqa residential scheme. Panoramiqa 2 and Panoramiqa 3 together will add more than 600 flats and over 32,000 sq m of net saleable area, with c»»»
fydubai expands Thailand network with second destination
Dubai: UAE carrier flydubai has announced it will start daily flights to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok from 1 July 2026, marking its second destination in Thailand after Krabi. The service will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport and will strengthen travel links bet»»»
How the US-Israel-Iran conflict may impact the Global South’s harvest season
LONDON: For much of the Global South, the US-Israel-Iran war is no longer a distant geopolitical crisis. It is showing up in farm budgets, fuel queues and food markets, as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz drives up costs and strains already fragile economies. Iran’s blockade of Hormuz has rattled»»»
How Israeli strikes on paramedics are hindering rescue efforts in Lebanon
BEIRUT: Wael Mousawi, a 35-year-old Civil Defense responder in Tyre, says he has spent weeks moving “between death and death,” pulling bodies from the rubble of flattened homes in southern Lebanon as rescue teams struggled to keep pace with the scale of destruction. Paramedics and rescue workers ac»»»
Iran accuses US of ceasefire breach, vows retaliation over attack on ship
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, accused the US of violating a ceasefire by firing at one of Iran’s commercial ships in the Gulf of Oman, vowing to retaliate. State media quoted a Khatam Al-Anbiya spokesperson as saying early on Monday that the vess»»»
Luxor Museum prepares to unveil restored Cache Hall
LUXOR: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has completed work on Cache Hall at Luxor Museum in preparation for its reopening. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said that the project supported the strategy to modernize museums and enhance the cultural experience for visitors. Pro»»»
How Bahrain is supporting private-sector workers as Gulf businesses feel Iran war strain
LONDON: Reverberations of the conflict in the Middle East are being felt across the region both physically and metaphorically. The booms and jolts of missile interceptions over Gulf cities and industrial sites may have halted since President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8, b»»»
Doubts over talks between Iran and US after violence flares in Strait of Hormuz
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, »»»
Israel army warns Lebanese against returning to south
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah’s activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week. Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts»»»
Hezbollah claims attack destroyed Israeli tanks
Hezbollah said it detonated explosives Sunday afternoon in an attack against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The group said in a statement Monday that bombs planted by Hezbollah fighters exploded and destroyed four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan. It»»»
Iran’s president stresses importance of diplomacy while noting distrust of US
DUBAI: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce tensions with the US, but added that vigilance and distrust in interactions with Washington were an “undeniable necessity,” according to the state news agency IRNA. A two-week»»»
UK foreign minister to end tour early amid Iran ceasefire push
TOKYO/LONDON: British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will cut short an intensive diplomatic tour designed to build consensus around making a ceasefire in the Iran war permanent and on the next steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Cooper's department is at the centre of a new crisis over Peter Ma»»»
Israel talks aim to end hostilities, occupation: Lebanon president
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end “hostilities” and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named ex-ambassador Simon Karam to lead a delegation. “The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern r»»»
Israel PM vows ‘harsh action’ against soldier who vandalized Jesus statue in Lebanon
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “harsh action” Monday against a soldier caught on camera vandalizing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, as the image spread online. The photo, which the military determined was authentic, shows an Israeli soldier using a sledgeha»»»
Nora Attal stars in Dolce&Gabbana Beauty campaign
DUBAI: British Moroccan model Nora Attal stars in a new campaign for Italian label Dolce&Gabbana Beauty, showcasing a new lip product by the Italian luxury label. In the advert, which Attal shared on social media, the model can be seen posing with a red, glossy lip courtesy of the new Rose Dew Lip »»»
Muslim World League chief meets Malacca governor in Kuala Lumpur
RIYADH: Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, met with Dr. Haji Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam, governor of Malacca, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday. During the meeting, the two officials discussed topics of mutual»»»
EU’s Costa told Jordan’s King Abdullah that Hormuz Strait must be re-opened
European Council President Antonio Costa told Jordan’s King Abdullah that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened, during a phone call between the two, said Costa on Monday. Costa wrote on X that he had held the call with King Abdullah on Monday. “In our call today, I reiterated that the EU st»»»
Russia arrests German woman in alleged bomb plot
Moscow: Russia said Monday it had arrested a German woman with a bomb in her backpack who planned to blow up up a services facility in a Ukrainian plot. Moscow has arrested dozens of people throughout the four-year war, mostly its own citizens, over allegations of planning sabotage attacks for Kyiv»»»
Victory certain for EU-skeptic Radev in critical Bulgarian election
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has defeated former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov by 30 points in Bulgaria’s general election, according to preliminary exit polls. With some 96% of votes counted, Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition has won 44.7% of the vote, followed by Borissov’s GERB-SD»»»
Modern agriculture raises some Saudi farmers’ yields by $0.08 per kilogram
RIYADH: Investing in the restoration of arid and degraded lands is a highly profitable economic investment. Every dollar spent yields direct and indirect economic benefits ranging from $7 to $30. This highlights the significance of Saudi Arabia’s success in rehabilitating the first million hectares»»»
Startup wrap — Early stage funding momentum, IPO plans continue in MENA region
RIYADH: Startups operating in the Middle East and North Africa witnessed multiple funding rounds across various sectors last week, even as the conflict in Iran continued to rattle the market. This momentum builds on the record $7.5 billion funding received by startups in 2025, representing a 225 pe»»»
Startup wrap — Funding momentum continues amid Iran conflict
RIYADH: Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region secured multiple funding rounds across different sectors across the beginning of April, despite ongoing market uncertainty caused by the conflict in Iran. This positive momentum continues from the record $7.5 billion raised by MENA startup»»»
Startups secure fresh funding as regional momentum builds
RIYADH: Global and regional startups continued to attract capital across fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, and proptech, as investors backed platforms focused on financial infrastructure, consumer services, and data-driven solutions. Saudi Arabia-based fintech Lean Technologies has received a major »»»
Algeria launches global bid round for oil, gas exploration across 7 fields
RIYADH: Algeria has launched a global bidding round for oil and gas exploration across seven fields, in a move that underscores the OPEC member’s efforts to boost production capacity and attract foreign investment amid a volatile global energy market shaped by the Iran war. Samir Bekhti, president »»»
Riyadh Air adds Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester to expanding network
RIYADH: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newly launched national carrier backed by the Public Investment Fund, is set to add three new destinations — Jeddah, Madrid and Manchester — as it expands its network. The move signals the airline’s continued efforts to establish a global footprint ahead of its pl»»»
Saudi real estate prices fall 1.6% in Q1: GASTAT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s real estate price index declined by 1.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2025, driven by a softening residential market that offset stronger commercial sector gains, official data showed. According to the General Authority for Statistic»»»
Eastern Province to host $267m private sector sports project after Riyadh forum deal
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province is preparing to welcome a SR1 billion ($267 million) private sector-driven sports development project after a major agreement was concluded during the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh. The deal for the planned Dammam Sports City was formally signed by Talal »»»
Xi tells Saudi Crown Prince passage through Hormuz 'should be maintained': state media
Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday that "normal traffic" through the vital Strait of Hormuz "should be maintained", state media said. “Normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained, this is i»»»
Western Policy Aimed at Deterring Russia, China Threatens International Peace - Moscow
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The policy of the West, which is aimed at deterring Russia and China, poses a threat to international peace and security, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniy Ivanov said on Monday. "If we talk about the external perimeter, then the main threat to international peace and secur»»»
Israel PM vows 'harsh action' against soldier vandalizing Jesus statue in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "harsh action" Monday against a soldier caught on camera vandalizing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, as the image spread online. The photo, which the military determined was authentic, shows an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to str»»»
Israel strikes rocket launcher, Israeli convoy hit by IEDs Sunday, drones return to Beirut
The Israeli army said Monday it attacked overnight "a fully equipped and ready-to-fire rocket launcher in the Qalawiya area of southern Lebanon, north of the front line, in order to prevent an immediate threat to northern Israeli towns." "The launcher posed an immediate threat to IDF (Israeli arm»»»
Geagea says Aoun-Netanyahu meeting 'necessary,' 'should not be postponed'
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that Lebanon needs a lasting solution to permanently end the state of war with Israel, rather than merely settling for a temporary ceasefire, calling direct negotiations a "necessity" Hezbollah "forced" upon Lebanon. In an interview with Sky News Arab»»»
Pope Leo visits Angola’s diamond-rich northeast
Luanda: Pope Leo XIV heads to Angola’s remote and diamond-rich northeast on Monday in the latest stop on an Africa tour during which he has spoken out against the country’s glaring poverty. On the eighth day of a trip to four African nations, Leo will fly to the town of Saurimo, 800 kilometres east»»»
Struggle for Freedom Begins With People's Knowledge of Themselves, Not Armed Conflict, Says BTA Director General
The struggle for freedom begins with a people's knowledge of themselves, not with armed conflict, said BTA Director General Kiril Valchev during the presentation of the new issue of BTA's LIK magazine on Monday in Koprivshtitsa. The issue is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outbreak of the»»»
Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: US Working to Extend Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the US is working to extend the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, while President Joseph Aoun confirmed that “bilateral negotiations will be handled by Lebanon through a delegation headed by Ambassador Simon Karam, and no one will take part on Lebano»»»
UK’s Starmer to face grilling from MPs over Mandelson scandal
London: Embattled UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will face lawmakers in parliament on Monday as he bids to quell anger over an unrelenting scandal involving long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson. Starmer, already widely unpopular with the public and many Labour MPs, is struggling to e»»»
Klass Wagen opens its 12th local office in Romania at Târgu Mureș Airport
Klass Wagen continues its expansion strategy in the Romanian market by opening a new office in Târgu Mureș, near Transylvania International Airport, the investment being part of the company’s broader regional development plan. The decision comes at a favourable time for the local market, marked by »»»
EU hosts Palestinian leader in conference on security and peace in Gaza, West Bank
More than 60 nations sent representatives to Brussels Monday to discuss with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa stability, security and long-term peace in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, as global attention largely remains focused in the Middle East on the ongoing crises in Iran and Lebanon»»»
What to know as ceasefire in Iran war hangs in the balance
The ceasefire in the Iran war hangs in the balance as Pakistan's capital stands prepared for possible new talks between Tehran and Washington. As of right now, the two-week ceasefire will expire at 0000 GMT Wednesday (8 p.m. ET Tuesday.) But the truce between Iran, Israel and the United States star»»»
SCO Ministers meeting: Kyrgyzstan advocates for research and knowledge exchange - | 24.KG
During the 9th Meeting of Health Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan, Damir Osmonov, held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts, representatives of relevant departments, and international organizations. According to the ministry,»»»
Lebanon President Says Israel Talks Aim to End Hostilities, Occupation
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end hostilities and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named an ex-ambassador to the United States to lead the delegation. "The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southe»»»
Oil prices jump and Wall Street slides with US, Iran clashing in Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices climbed more than 5% and Wall Street veered toward losses before the opening bell Monday as a standoff between Iran and the U.S. prevented tankers from using the Strait of Hormuz. Futures for the S&P 500 also fell 0.5% while futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.6%. Nasdaq »»»