French fund Epsicap Nano buys logistics facility in Olsztyn
Epsicap REIM has entered the Polish market through its fund Epsicap Nano by acquiring a logistics property in Olsztyn for €5.3 million from Redkom Development. The facility, completed in 2025, offers 2,328 m² and operates as a last mile cross dock hub for urban logistics. This marks the fund’s firs»»»
Sharjah Police promote safety as school reopen
Sharjah: Sharjah Police marked students’ return to in-person classrooms following a period of online learning with a series of outreach visits aimed at reinforcing national values and strengthening community engagement. Officers visited several educational institutions across the emirate, alongside»»»
Supreme Court rejects parents’ complaint over child's gender identity - UPI.com
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case over whether a public school district violated parents’ rights by using preferred pronouns and a preferred name for their child. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo April 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined»»»
UAE President receives Prime Minister of Albania
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, who is on a working visit to the UAE. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to further develop UAE–Albania relations across priority sectors, notably the econ»»»
France probes alleged illicit cash flight from Lebanon
France is investigating allegations that two Lebanese banks transferred billions of dollars out of the country despite strict capital controls during a financial crisis, a source close to the case and lawyers said Monday. The probe is the latest in France to look into alleged corruption linked to t»»»
Shura Council holds weekly session
Doha: The Shura Council held on Monday its weekly session at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall, under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim. At the outset of the meeting, the Shura Council highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with HM S»»»
Journalists urge WHCA not to 'normalize' Trump ahead at press dinner - UPI.com
1 of 3 | A coalition of journalists are calling on the White House Correspondents’ Association to push back on President Donald Trump’s attacks on the press ahead of his attendance at Saturday’s correspondents’ dinner. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo April 20 (UPI) -- A coalition of journ»»»
Fake goods worth Dh1.8m seized in Abu Dhabi crackdown
Abu Dhabi: More than Dh1.8 million worth of counterfeit and non-compliant goods were seized in Abu Dhabi during 2025, according to the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) responsible for developing and regulating the business »»»
Did the Pope change — or did the world finally listen?
Luanda: And in Africa, the lion roared. There is a case to be made that Pope Leo XIV, the careful, reserved, Midwestern Augustinian, found his voice on his epic trip through Africa, blasting the “handful of tyrants” and “chains of corruption” that have held the continent hostage for centuries. But »»»
France's Macron Urges Iran, US to De-Escalate Amid Hormuz Tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the weekend over the Strait of Hormuz. "Our position remains the same. We need to settle things through diplomacy. Everyone must calm down," Macron said during a joint p»»»
OCA President discusses further olympic cooperation in talks with Malaysia's King and PM
Kuala Lumpur: HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Qatar Olympic Committee, has held high-level talks in Malaysia focused on strengthening Olympic movement across the continent. His Excellency has been welcomed by HM Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Kin»»»
World Bank backs Syria’s recovery efforts after Washington talks
WASHINGTON: The World Bank has backed the Syrian Arab Republic’s ongoing recovery efforts following talks with Syrian officials on the sidelines of the IMF (International Monetary Fund)-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington. The discussions, led by Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and Syri»»»
Libya’s agricultural sector is moving from planning to execution: Ahmed Ghazali at the Paris Libya-France Business Forum 2026
During the “Promoting Food Sovereignty” panel of the Libya France Business Forum held in Paris on 16 April, organised by Business France and the National Development Agency (NDA), Ahmed Al-Ghazali emphasised the fact that Libya’s agricultural sector is gaining momentum, underscoring growing coopera»»»
Damietta Governor Reviews MOPCO Complex, Highlights Role in Egypt’s Industrial Growth
Cairo — The Governor of Damietta, Hossam El-Din Fouzi, conducted an inspection visit to the industrial complex of Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO), underscoring its strategic role in supporting Egypt’s economy and advancing the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030. During the visit, company o»»»
Real Madrid coach Arbeloa launches stout defence of Mbappe
Madrid: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa mounted a strong defence of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, who was criticised for what some perceived as ignoring his defensive responsibilities in last week's Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich. Arbeloa, who himself is under fire with Real all but ce»»»
Kosovo deadly attack trial nears end, defence rejects charges
Pristina: The trial in Pristina over an alleged secession attempt in northern Kosovo entered its final phase Monday, April 20, 2026, with the defence rejecting charges against three Serbs accused of "terrorist acts". In September 2023, a group of dozens of heavily armed men led by Serb Milan Radoic»»»
Durov backs Musk in French criminal probe, accuses Paris of free speech suppression
France is weaponizing criminal prosecution in an attempt to suppress free speech, Telegram founder Pavel Durov has said, as he backed X owner Elon Musk in the social media platform’s legal case in the country. Durov made the remarks on Sunday after the Wall Street Journal reported that the US Depar»»»
20 startups launched through university accelerator program
RIYADH: Some 20 startups launched into the Saudi market at the conclusion of the University Startup Accelerator Program, organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, also known as Monshaat. A special event was held at the University of Business and Technology in Jeddah, mark»»»
GCC chief praises Qatar's role in passing IPU emergency resolution
RIYADH: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council has praised the State of Qatar's efforts in securing unanimous approval of a key emergency resolution at an international parliamentary gathering. Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi commended Qatar, alongside several other countries, for its role »»»
Bulgaria's Progressive Party wins election amid fears of Russia meddling - UPI.com
Bulgarian Prime Minister-elect, Rumen Radev (C), leader of the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, addresses the media on Sunday night after the first exit polls indicated he was on track to win. Photo by Borislav Troshev/EPA April 20 (UPI) -- Former president Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria Party h»»»
GCC Chief praises Qatar's role in passing IPU emergency resolution
Riyadh: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council has praised the State of Qatar's efforts in securing unanimous approval of a key emergency resolution at an international parliamentary gathering. Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi commended Qatar, alongside several other countries, for its role »»»
MWL chief launches global Qur’an science council in Malaysia
RIYADH: The head of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars inaugurated a new body, the Global Council for Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur. MWL Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa took part in the even»»»
CRA reaffirms commitment to consumer protection, safe digital engagement
Doha, Qatar: The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers and promoting safe digital engagement across the State of Qatar, while continuing its efforts to foster a digitally aware generation capable of making informed decisions in an increasing»»»
Justice minister honours staff completing leadership programme
DOHA: Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi honoured a cohort of ministry staff who successfully completed a leadership development program, in a move aimed at strengthening skills and enhancing government performance. Organised by the ministr»»»
Lebanon condemns attempts to destabilize Syria, rejects citizen involvementlitics
Beirut, April 20 (SANA) Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned attempts to destabilize Syria and undermine public order, referring to a plot announced by the Syrian Interior Ministry on April 19. In a statement, the ministry expressed solidarity with Syria and rejected any involvement by Le»»»
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 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»»»
Algeria police shut down sociologist's book signing: publisher
TUNIS: Algerian police shut down a book signing by sociologist Fatma Oussedik and temporarily closed the bookstore slated to host it, her publisher said on Sunday, calling the incident "as incomprehensible as it is illegal". The Koukou Editions publishing house said police on Saturday seized copies»»»
UNIFIL chief leads tribute to slain French peacekeeper in Beirut
BEIRUT: The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Monday led a solemn tribute to a French soldier killed in a shooting incident in the country’s south, praising his “service and sacrifice” and urging an investigation into the attack. Major General Diodato Abagnara, commander of the Unit»»»
Global trade isn’t deglobalizing — it’s reshuffling, Harvard economist says
ALULA: Global trade is not retreating into deglobalization despite geopolitical shocks, but is instead undergoing a structural reshuffling led by US-China tensions, according to Harvard University economist Pol Antras. Presenting research at the AlUla Emerging Market Economies Conference, Antras sa»»»
Oman private sector grows in Q4 2025 as value added, jobs rise
JEDDAH: Oman’s private sector recorded steady growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, with the number of active private enterprises rising by 0.2 percent to 268,286, compared to 267,734 in the same period of 2024, according to official data. Medium-sized enterprises posted the strongest growth in the»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
Syria secures World Bank support for reserve, gold management
RIYADH: Syria’s financial sector is set to strengthen as the World Bank has agreed to support the central bank in rebuilding foreign currency and gold reserves, boosting liquidity after years of conflict. The agreement follows talks between Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh and Katarzyna Zaj»»»
Macron and Tusk meet in Poland to discuss European defence
Poland: French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are meeting Monday in the north of Poland to strengthen defence cooperation in the face of Russian threats and weakening US commitment to Europe. The meeting is the first since the two countries signed a treaty of friend»»»
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»»»
Arab Parliament Speaker Calls for Unified International Parliamentary Voice to Confront Escalation in Palestine
Speaker of the Arab Parliament Mohammed Al-Yamahi stressed the need to unify the international parliamentary voice to confront escalating Israeli violations, emphasizing the importance of intensifying efforts to support the Palestinian cause, SPA reported. This came during his address to the second»»»
Vucic: Election date to become known by St George's Day or a few days later
ZRENJANIN - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday he believed the date of early parliamentary elections in Serbia would become known by Orthodox St George's Day (May 6) or a few days later. "I believe that, approximately by St George's Day or a few days later, we will know exactly when »»»
Opposition Files Criminal Complaints Against Police Officials
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Monday described a group of protesters arrested during the April 17 demonstration as “unconquerable heroes,” as tensions escalate between Albania’s opposition and law enforcement authorities. The individuals were detained in flagrante by police after allegedly »»»
Trump says US team heading to Pakistan for Iran talks, warns of strikes if no deal
The US negotiating team is heading to Pakistan for the next round of Iran peace talks on Monday, President Donald Trump has announced, while renewing his threat to strike Iran’s infrastructure if no deal is reached.In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump accused Tehran of violating the temporary ce»»»
UAE schools reopen: Safety plans, roles of schools, students, parents outlined
Abu Dhabi/ Dubai: The Ministry of Education and the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council have outlined a comprehensive safety framework, detailing the roles of schools, teachers and parents, as students across public and private schools in the UAE returned to in-person cla»»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Burj Al Arab to Armani, Dubai hotels move into upgrade cycle
Dubai: A wave of hotel refurbishments is sweeping across Dubai this summer, with several high-profile properties either scaling back access or pausing key venues as operators move to upgrade assets during the quieter season. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The current »»»
Syrian delegation attends FAO Near East regional conference in Rome
Rome, April 20 (SANA) A Syrian delegation led by Agriculture Minister Amjad Badr is taking part in the 38th session of the Near East Regional Conference, held at the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome. The conference is set to address challenges facin»»»
Zhogorku Kenesh committee rejects new Construction Law - | 24.KG
The Zhogorku Kenesh Committee on Industrial Policy, Transport, Fuel and Energy, Architecture, and Construction of Kyrgyzstan has rejected the draft law «On the Fundamentals of Urban Development, Architectural, and Construction Activities.» Deputy Minister of Construction, Architecture, Housing and »»»
Media Review: April 20
HEADLINES The outcome of Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections dominates coverage across all types of media on Monday, including print, television and online outlets, with a particular focus on the reported performance of former president (2017-2026) and Progressive Bulgaria party leader Rumen Rade»»»
Israel questions France, China, Pakistan over Iran shipping deals at UN
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations has lashed out at his French, Chinese, and Pakistani counterparts, accusing their countries of effectively backing Iran by allegedly striking deals to secure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The rebuke appears to stem from media reports which rece»»»