Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz, fires on commercial ships - UPI.com
The Strait of Hormuz is closed again, this time by Iran. Two ships have reported being fired on in the strait Saturday. File Photo by Divyakant Solanki/EPA April 18 (UPI) -- Just one day after the Strait of Hormuz was declared open, Iran has blocked the passage again, citing "breach of promise" by »»»
Iran to Consider US Blockade of Strait of Hormuz as Violating Ceasefire - Security Council
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran will view any US maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a violation of the ceasefire, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran said on Saturday. "As long as the United States intends to obstruct the passage of vessels using methods such as a maritime blockade, Ira»»»
Russia's Rosatom Ready to Transfer Enriched Uranium From Iran – CEO
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom is ready to assist in transferring enriched uranium from Iran, while the issue of the Iranian enriched uranium remains key and painful issue during talks between the United States and Iran, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Satur»»»
Average GDP up 3.5 percent six quarters running: PM
Skopje, 17 April 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Friday the rise of industry turnover is solid and tops the region, notes there are challenges in the mining industry and adds the Government will do everything to keep the mines open. "Considering the situation in Europe and acros»»»
Lebanon president, PM discuss readiness for Israel talks
Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday, April 18, 2026, preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a statement, the office of President HH Joseph Aoun sa»»»
‘We cannot wake up every day to a president threatening the world’: Brazil president
Barcelona: Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to change course over the failure to stop conflict in the Middle East, AlJazeera reports. “We cannot wake up every morning and go to bed every night with a tweet from a presid»»»
Lebanon President, PM Discuss Readiness for Israel Talks
Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam »»»
QF Schools foster safe, supportive learning to prioritize student wellbeing
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation (QF) said schools within its 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. In a statement, QF said, "Across the schools, leaders »»»
Rublev fights into Barcelona Open final
Barcelona: Andrey Rublev came from a set down to beat Hamad Medjedovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in their semi-final in Barcelona on Saturday. Rublev qualified for the 29th final of his career in front of a lively crowd on the Rafael Nadal centre court after the Serb had edged the first set. The Russian will m»»»
Leader Hails Iran’s Army for Courageously Defending Country against Aggressors
In a message on Saturday marking Iran’s Army Day, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei hailed the country’s army for courageously defending the nation in the recent imposed war, just as it did in previous imposed wars. He said the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran h»»»
QF schools foster safe, supportive learning to prioritise student well-being
DOHA: Qatar Foundation (QF) said schools within its 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. In a statement, QF said, "Across the schools, leaders are foc»»»
Over 25,000 join ‘Your Nation Is Fortified’ race in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: More than 25,000 people from across society took part on Saturday in the “Your Nation Is Fortified” race in Abu Dhabi, in a strong show of unity, cohesion and social solidarity across the UAE. The race began at Wahat Al Karama and ended at Erth Abu Dhabi (Armed Forces Officers Club & Hot»»»
Finance Minister outlines tax reforms, income exemptions to support low earners
Damascus, April 18 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohammad Yisr Barnieh said that low-income earners in Syria will be fully exempt from taxes under a proposed reform, clarifying that the total tax-exempt annual income reaches 64 million Syrian pounds. In statements to SANA, Barnieh explained that individu»»»
GCC Countries achieve remarkable progress on sustainable development goals
Muscat, Oman: The member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) have achieved remarkable progress in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, clearly outperforming global averages, particularly in the fields of health, education, and basic»»»
Record fuel prices: How are governments responding?
PoliticsGlobal issuesRecord fuel prices: How are governments responding?Jan D. WalterIn Germany, a liter of diesel costs up to 40% more than before the Iran war and other countries have seen even bigger price jumps. What are governments around the world doing to combat record fuel prices? https://p»»»
Türkiye Says Iran Gas Pipeline Contract Nearing Expiry, No Talks Yet on Extension
Türkiye's long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are under way yet, Türkiye's energy minister said on Saturday. The agreement, due to expire in July, provide»»»
Iraq Says Oil Exports to Resume from All Fields within Days, State News Agency
Iraq's oil ministry said oil exports would resume from all fields within the next few days, the Iraqi state news agency INA reported on Saturday. Four energy sources said that Iraq resumed southern oil exports on Friday after a halt of more than a month caused by disruptions to shipping through the»»»
Strong Pressure on Hamas to Agree to Gaza Disarmament
Hamas is facing its strongest pressure yet from mediators and other parties to agree, even in principle, to the “Peace Council” document before negotiating its terms, particularly the plan to disarm factions operating in the Gaza Strip, especially its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. Two Hamas sour»»»
Cobolli downs Zverev to reach first Munich final
Munich, Germany: Flavio Cobolli ended top seed Alexander Zverev's Munich Open title defence on Saturday, April 18, 2026, as the Italian breezed past the world number three in straight sets to book his spot in the final. Fourth seed Cobolli downed the home favourite 6-3, 6-3 in just under 70 minutes»»»
Morocco frees Senegal fans after sentences served
Morocco: Morocco on Saturday released three Senegalese fans from jail after they completed a three-month prison sentence for participating in the violence that broke out during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, an AFP journalist saw. The trio left Al Arjat 2 prison, northeast of Rabat, in a»»»
Back to school mode on in the UAE: All the key updates
Dubai: As schools across the UAE reopen their doors, families are once again slipping into familiar routines, from early morning alarms to last-minute school shopping. The return marks a renewed sense of normalcy after nearly 50 days of distance learning mandated amid regional tensions linked to th»»»
Tunisia ready to strengthen cooperation with World Bank
Tunis, April 18 (TAP) – Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafid expressed Tunisia’s readiness to step up efforts to further strengthen cooperation with the World Bank (WB). This was as he met recently with the WB Vice President for the...»»»
Driving at night without headlights violates Qatar Traffic Law: MoI
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior, MoI, warned motorists driving at night without turning on the vehicle's lights are violating Article 70 of the Traffic Law. The Ministry in a social media post stated that motorists must ensure that vehicle lights are functional and switched on before embarkin»»»
Lebanon President Vows to Prosecute Those Who Attacked French UN Peacekeepers
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun vowed on Saturday to prosecute those who targeted French UN peacekeepers, killing one and wounding three. In a statement shared by the presidency, Aoun expressed his condolences to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call, condemning the incident and vow»»»
No Date Set for Next Round of Iran-US Talks, Says Iran Deputy FM
No date has been set for the next round of Iran-US peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial round, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday. "Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual d»»»
Daniel Kinahan arrested in UAE in major blow to global crime network
Dubai: Daniel Joseph Kinahan, one of the most powerful cocaine traffickers in the world, was arrested in the UAE yesterday, authorities said, a major step in a years-long effort to bring one of the continent’s most influential crime figures to justice. The Irish fugitive, widely identified by Irish»»»
School bus operations to resume in UAE
Doha, Qatar: School bus operations in the United Arab Emirates will resume starting Monday, April 20, 2026, for all public and private schools in the country. The country's Ministry of Education announced this stating that this decision comes following assessments conducted by the National Emergenc»»»
France Blames Hezbollah for French Peacekeeper's Death in Lebanon
A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack Saturday on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon that appeared to have been carried out by Hezbollah, French President Emmanuel Macron said. "Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack," he said on X, urging Lebanese auth»»»
Judge blocks Trump administration's pre-emptive lawsuit against Hawaii - UPI.com
The statei had said it planned to sue fossil fuel companies over climate change impacts. A judge on Friday blocked a lawsuit filed last year by former Attorney General Pam Bondi that attempted to prevent the state of Hawaii from filing suit against oil companies for their effects on climate change.»»»
Global Village to reopen after temporary closure amid regional conflict: 'We've missed you too'
Dubai: Calling all fans of Global Village! After weeks of maintaining it would remain closed until further notice, good news finally landed on April 18, Saturday, with the popular destination set to welcome visitors again soon. It will open again on April 20th, 5pm. The attraction had remained shut»»»
US approves potential $11.9 billion military sale to Germany
Washington: The US State Department has announced its approval of a potential $11.9 billion sale of military equipment to Germany. In a statement, the Department noted that "this proposed sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives by bolstering the security of a NATO ally,»»»
Muscat Stock Exchange market capitalization exceeds OMR 38.625 billion
Muscat, Oman: The main index of Muscat Stock Exchange (MSX) posted weekly gains of 174 points on Saturday, April 17, 2026, closing at 8,336, while the market capitalization of listed securities rose to OMR 38.625 billion, marking weekly gains of OMR 657.6 million. The benchmark index saw 48 securit»»»
Hezbollah Official Says Lebanon-Israel Talks 'Do Not Concern Us'
Senior Hezbollah official Mahmud Qamati said on Saturday that his group was not concerned by Lebanon's planned direct talks with Israel, labelling them a failure, Reuters reported. In a press conference in Beirut's southern suburbs, Qamati said his group was "not concerned with the negotiations bei»»»
Dubai announces return of school bus services from April 20
In line with ongoing assessments conducted by the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, bus services for private educational institutions in Dubai will resume starting Monday, April 20, 2026, in accordance with the approved safety protoc»»»
The Iran War Has Revealed Trump's Pressure Point: The Economy
Seven weeks of war have failed to topple Iran’s theocratic rulers or force them to meet all of President Donald Trump's demands, but for US adversaries and allies it has cast a spotlight on one of his central vulnerabilities: economic pressure. Even with Iran’s announcement on Friday that it was re»»»
APII to organise workshop on digital industry, PPP
Tunis, April 18 (TAP)- A workshop entitled "APII, Catalyst for the Digital Industry through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)" will take place on April 23 in Tunis, on the initiative of the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation...»»»
'Gouged': World Cup fans to pay 'insane' $150 for NY stadium train ticket
Newark, United States: World Cup fans will have to pay $150 -- more than 10 times the normal price -- for the quick round-trip train between New York and Meadowlands stadium when it hosts the tournament's final and seven earlier matches, local officials said Friday, drawing outrage. The 36 miles (5»»»
Israeli army says established 'Yellow Line' in Lebanon, as in Gaza
The Israeli military said Saturday it had established a "Yellow Line" demarcation in southern Lebanon, similar to the one separating its forces from territory still held by Hamas in Gaza, adding that it had already struck suspected militants approaching its troops along the line. "Over the past 24 »»»
Macron blames Hezbollah for French peacekeeper's death in Lebanon
A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack Saturday on U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon that appeared to have been carried out by Hezbollah, French President Emmanuel Macron said. "Everything points to Hezbollah being responsible for this attack," he said on X, urging Lebanese au»»»
ICC Qatar Successfully Concludes High-Level Webinar on Navigating Geopolitical Risk
Governance, ESG Compliance and Risk Priorities for Qatar's Private Sector," which brought together more than 200 participants from across the business and professional community. The webinar brought together a distinguished group of participants representing banks, law firms, embassies, real estate»»»
One dead after car ploughs into crowd in Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia: A car ploughed into a group of pedestrians outside Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday evening, leaving at least one dead and one seriously injured, Victoria Police of Australia said. "It is believed a grey Toyota mounted a kerb on Langs Road and struck two pedestrians just befo»»»
An Israeli soldier was killed and five others were wounded after a roadside bomb exploded in southern Lebanon yesterday: Zionist media - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe An Israeli soldier was killed and five others were wounded after a roadside bomb exploded in southern Lebanon yesterday: Zionist media 18-0»»»
One killed, 4 seriously injured in blast in Western Germany
Berlin, Germany: One man was killed and four others seriously injured in a powerful explosion inside a pedestrian tunnel in Volklingen, western Germany. German police said the injured include two men in life-threatening condition. Investigators believe the blast was caused by human action, without »»»
Iran says no date set for next round of talks with US
No date has been set for the next round of Iran–U.S. peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial round, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday. "Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual»»»
Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Hormuz strait
Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a British maritime security agency reported, after Iran's military reversed a pledge to open the route to shipping. The tanker's captain reported being approached 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of Oman by two gunboats of Ir»»»
Khamenei says Iran's navy 'stands ready' to defeat US
A statement said to have been issued by Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned Saturday that Tehran's navy was ready to defeat U.S. forces, as the foes sparred over the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement carried on his Telegram channel, Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since before th»»»
Turkish Ambassador: Strategic opportunities for Türkiye and Syria in energy market
Ankara, April 18 (SANA) Türkiye ‘s Ambassador in Damascus, Nuh Yılmaz, said on Saturday that Turkiye and Syria are before historic opportunity to enhance their energy market position following the seven-week closure of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy F»»»
Roman-era tomb uncovered in Egypt
Cairo, Egypt: Spanish archaeological mission uncovered a rare tomb dating from 30 BC to 395 AD in Egypt's central Minya province, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Saturday. The find will help shed light on the funerary features during the Roman and Greek periods, the ministry s»»»
Cabbage is trending this year: Here’s what to know about its nutrition
In a major plot twist most people probably did not see coming for 2026, cabbage is trending, taking the spotlight on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Pinterest even named it this year’s "it” vegetable, predicting cabbage steaks, kimchi cocktails and other cabbage-forward recipes»»»
Qatar Fund for Development Highlights Youth Programs at ECOSOC 2026
New York: The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) participated in the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Convened under the theme "Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030," the Forum brought together youth, Membe»»»