UAE President offers condolences following death of Salem Al Saman
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has mourned the passing of Salem Al Saman, paying tribute to his role in supporting the country’s early economic development. In a post on X, Sheikh Mohamed said: “May God have mercy on the late Salem Al Saman, who worked clos»»»
UAEU launches smart mushroom farm to boost food security
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has launched a Smart Mushroom House at its Al Foah Research Farm, aiming to support food security efforts and give students hands-on research experience. The new facility uses Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to help grow mushrooms in controlled condition»»»
French Boats Set Sail to Join Gaza Aid Flotilla
Some 20 French boats set sail from Marseille on Saturday to join up with an international flotilla making a renewed effort to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, AFP reporters saw. "Gaza, Marseille is with you" shouted around a thousand people who had come to the docks to support the»»»
Muriqi strikes late as Mallorca stun Real Madrid
Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Vedat Muriqi snatched Mallorca a surprise 2-1 La Liga win over Real Madrid on Saturday to deal Los Blancos a significant blow in the Spanish title race. Alvaro Arbeloa's side thought they had rescued a point after Eder Militao nodded home with two minutes remaining before »»»
Pakistan Rejects misleading reports on UAE deposits, reaffirms strong economic partnership
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically rejected recent misleading reports regarding financial deposits from the UAE held with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The ministry clarified that the deposits were placed under bilateral commercial agreements, reflecting the UAE’s strong s»»»
Dispute grows over Kea luxury resort expansion
More than 100 residents of Kea island are urging the municipal authority to take a clear position on a proposed 70% expansion of the One & Only resort, a project that has drawn growing opposition. In a letter sent this week, signatories say the municipality has opposed large-scale new tourism inves»»»
Trump's go-it-alone certainty confronts the uncertainties of war
Washington: President Donald Trump did not equivocate in his first live address to Americans about the war in Iran. "We've beaten and completely decimated Iran," he said in a prime-time speech from the White House on Wednesday. "They are decimated both militarily and economically and in every other»»»
Colorado conversion therapy ban at center of US culture war
Lawmakers in Colorado have approved amendments to the state’s ban on “conversion therapy,” a practice aimed at changing an individual’s non-traditional sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling. This comes despite a US Supreme Court ruling blocking enforcement of the state’s ban on s»»»
Orthodox Scholar Reveals Why Christian Zionists Are so Gung-ho About a New Middle East Crusade
The Protestant faith from which Christian Zionism emerged is “prone to fragmentation, doctrinal change, and the formation of new ideas,” with some sects moving “very far toward Judaism,” creating the doctrine of Anglo-Israelism, the hybrid religious movement of “Judeo-Christianity,” says theology p»»»
Egyptian teen sensation Goda shines at 2026 ITTF World Cup
Macao: Though she walked from the arena back to her hotel wiping away tears, leaving without a word in the mixed zone after her loss on Saturday, 18-year-old Egyptian sensation Hana Goda has emphatically proven her strength at the 2026 ITTF World Cup, etching her name into history. In the women's s»»»
Libya’s proposed Science and Technology City can reduce oil dependence, create jobs for youth and support local innovation
The Media Office of Libya’s Science and Technology City announced last Tuesday (31 March) that the project was established by Cabinet Resolution No. 486 of 2021 as a financially and administratively independent scientific institution. The city is to be established in the municipality of Swani Bin A»»»
Dembele leads PSG to victory ahead of Liverpool tie
Paris, France: Ousmane Dembele scored twice, including a stunning opening goal on the volley, as Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League quarter-final showdown with Liverpool by beating Toulouse 3-1 on Friday to cement their place at the top of Ligue 1. Last year's Ballon d'Or winn»»»
Libya and Turkey discuss increasing flights, including to Sebha
The Minister of Transport, and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, met in Tripoli last Wednesday (1 April) with the Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Guven Begiç, in the context of supporting travel and enhancing trade between the two countries. The Tripoli government said the »»»
European drivers choke on rising diesel prices
Paris, France: The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. The Easter holiday weekend across Europe is expected»»»
Eye on Africa - Uganda in shock after 4 children killed in kindergarden
First, Uganda is in shock after 4 children were killed in a brutal attack at a kindergarden in Kampala. Then, Sudanese military leader and head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, appoints Yasir al-Atta as the Armed forces new chief of staff. And, a week until the Beninese people head to the polls fo»»»
Dubai delivers urgent medical aid to Gaza
Dubai: Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Humanitarian (DXBH) has facilitated the delivery of urgent medical supplies to Gaza. Through its Global Humanitarian Impact Fund (GHIF), DXBH coo»»»
Abu Dhabi strengthens emergency readiness with new app
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, in partnership with the Emergency, Crises and Disasters Management Centre – Abu Dhabi, has launched the Community Responder application on official app stores. The move marks the second phase of the Our Community is Ready campaign, aimed at strength»»»
War in the Middle-East: Israel will reduce French defense imports 'to zero'
Rina Bassist, journalist correspondent for Al-Monitor, is our guest.»»»
French prosecutors open hate speech probe into polarising news channel CNews
The Paris prosecutor's office announced Friday it had launched an investigation into alleged racist comments following remarks made in late March on French news channel CNews targeting the newly elected mayor of Saint-Denis Bally Bagayoko. The Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday it had opened »»»
Is opposing Israel 'anti-Semitism'? France’s latest attempt to fight hate risks inflaming it
The French government is backing a draft law based on the idea that "hatred" of Israel is inseparable from hatred of the Jewish people. Critics of the “Yadan law” warn the new legislation will not just muzzle legitimate criticism of Israel but could further fuel anti-Semitism in France. Frenc»»»
Middle East war: Global economic fallout
Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war: - More ships pass Hormuz - A French-owned and a Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of ships to have transited the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital route for oil and liquified natu»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Iran downs two US warplanes as Middle East conflict intensifies
Doha, Qatar: Iranian and American forces raced each other Saturday to recover a crew member of the first US fighter jet to go down inside Iran since the start of the war. Tehran said it had shot down the F-15 warplane, while US media reported United States special forces had rescued one of its two »»»
French, Japanese Ships Cross Strait of Hormuz in First Since War
One French- and another Japanese-owned vessel are among a handful of vessels to have crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, maritime tracking data showed Friday. The passage, a vital maritime route for oil and liquified natural gas, has been virtually blocked by Iran since the start of the war, sai»»»
Iran Executes Two Linked to Opposition Group
Iran on Saturday executed two men it said were convicted of links to an opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, and of carrying out armed attacks, domestic media reported. The executions were the latest in recent days of individuals with PMOI links. The PMOI confirmed S»»»
Syria rejects any attempt to target embassies or diplomatic premises- Foreign Ministry
Damascus, April 4 (SANA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic affirmed its firm and unwavering position, rejecting any assault or attempt to target embassies and accredited diplomatic premises in the Syrian Arab Republic, saying that these premises are protect»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Japan discuss earthquake early warning system - | 24.KG
Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan Kanatbek Chynybaev met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic Ryuichi Hirano. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the parties discussed expanding cooperation in disaster risk reduction, strength»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
Middle East conflict could cut Indian fertiliser output by 10–15%
Due to supply chain disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, India could potentially see a decline in fertiliser output. According to a recent Bloomberg report, New Delhi has asked China to allow the sale of some urea cargoes. Indian officials have asked Beijing to ease restrictio»»»
From 250 to 700 dollars per article: How Russia influenced West African media content
A leak of confidential documents from a network of Russian agents operating on the African continent reveals how Russia managed to place hundreds of articles in 35 different West African French-language media outlets – sometimes without their knowledge. The FRANCE 24 Observers team worked with»»»
How a Russian influence network is spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Ivory Coast
The Company – a network of Russian agents specialised in disinformation operations – has been carrying out a vast propaganda campaign against the Ukrainian embassy in Ivory Coast. When the pan-African media outlet The Continent received a trove of leaked documents about this operation, the FRANCE 2»»»
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan to be tried for 'advocating terrorism' in X post
Rima Hassan, a European Parliament member from the France Unbowed (LFI) party who is of Palestinian descent, will face trial in July on charges of "advocating terrorism" online over a message on X she posted last month. The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism and the Eur»»»
Baltic Sea strikes: How Ukraine aims to undermine Russia's oil profits from Iran war
Ukraine has in recent days intensified drone attacks on ports and refineries in Russia’s Leningrad region on the Baltic Sea. Yet Kyiv’s strategy of trying to stop Moscow from reaping the benefits of oil disruption in the Middle East doesn’t come without significant risk. Ukrainian drones struck key»»»
Rail disaster trial spirals into chaos
Courtroom proceedings over Greece’s deadliest peacetime rail disaster have devolved into shouting matches, hallway confrontations and bitter recriminations, casting doubt on whether justice will be served for the 57 victims of the 2023 Tempe train collision. The so-called “small trial” – a prelimin»»»
Dubai’s KHDA, UAE schools respond after IGCSE, A Level, IB exam cancellations
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»»»
First Western shipping vessel transits Strait of Hormuz since start of Iran war - UPI.com
Many international shipping vessels, such as the one pictured in March, have been anchored and idling in the Middle East after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian traffic after the United States and Israel engaged in a war there. Friday, Iran allowed vessels linked to France and Japan t»»»
Dubai property market tops Dh176bn on strong investor demand
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»»»
SpaceX IPO: Can Elon Musk justify a $1.75 trillion valuation?
Dubai: When Elon Musk began positioning SpaceX for what could be a record-breaking IPO, the headline figure—up to $75 billion—drew the most attention, but the proposed listing is shaping up as much as a referendum on Musk’s broader strategy as it is on the company itself. Get updated faster and for»»»
Tunisia to experience two major astronomical events in 2026 and 2027 (INM)
Tunis, April 3 (TAP) - Tunisia is set to experience two major astronomical events, namely a partial solar eclipse and a total solar eclipse, the National Institute of Meteorology (French: INM) said on Friday. The partial solar eclipse will be...»»»
Tunisian-French economic meeting in Toulouse to enhance investment opportunities in Tunisia
Tunis, April 3 (TAP) - The Tunisian Consulate in Toulouse organised an economic meeting on Thursday in the French city of Toulouse, in cooperation with the "Agence pour le Développement Économique et Culturel Nord-Sud", the Foreign Investment...»»»
Tunis to host Tunisian-Congolese professional meetings on April 7 (CEPEX)
Tunis, April 3 (TAP) - Tunisian-Congolese B2B professional meetings will be held on April 7 in Tunis at the initiative of the Export Promotion Centre (French: CEPEX) with the support of Tunisia's embassy in Kinshasa. These meetings are to boost...»»»
Chile joins regional debate to regulate surrogate motherhood - UPI.com
The Chilean The Family Committee of the Chamber of Deputies began this week to discuss a bill supported by all political parties that would prohibit and penalize the practice of surrogate motherhood. Photo by widephish/Pixabay SANTIAGO, Chile, April 3 (UPI) -- Chile has joined other Latin American »»»
State Policy Must Support Citizens, Says BSP - United Left's Top Candidate in Ruse
The state must support its citizens with solidarity, justice and real solutions, Denitsa Ivanova, top-of-the-list candidate of the BSP - United Left coalition in Ruse, said on Friday. She, together with MP candidate Emil Georgiev, met with representatives of the Union of the Blind in Bulgaria and w»»»
Environment Minister, French Ambassador Discuss Current Topics on Environmental Protection
Caretaker Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov discussed current topics on environmental protection with the Ambassador of France to Bulgaria Marie Dumoulin, the Ministry's press centre reported on Friday. A topic raised by the French side was the import of batteries and solar panels. Pop»»»
US Fighter Shot Down Over Iran as Trump Threatens to Hit More Infrastructure
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»»»
Nigeria exports 950,000 barrels of new Cawthorne blend crude in first lifting from FSO terminal
State oil company Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has exported 950,000 barrels of a new Cawthorne blend crude, marking the first lifting from the FSO Cawthorne facility — Nigeria’s first new crude oil terminal in 50 years, The Punch reported. »»»
Guests at Casa Carina Favour Spring and Autumn for Wellness Tourism
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»»»
Iranian media says US jet shot down, bounty offered for pilot
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»»»
President Iotova, Bulgarian MEPs Discuss Need to Actively Uphold Bulgarian Position on North Macedonia's EU Accession
Bulgarian institutions should make more efforts to uphold the national position on the European Union membership of the Republic of North Macedonia. President Iliana iotova and Bulgarian MEPs rallied around the idea during a meeting on Friday, the press office of the head of state said. The meeting»»»
De Croo: Syria at “Pivotal Moment” as focus shifts from aid to reconstruction
Damascus, April 3 (SANA) UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo said Syria is at a pivotal moment, with improved stability and the end of the war and violence opening the door for long-term development and investment. In an interview with SANA at the conclusion of his visit to Syria on Thursday, De C»»»