QSL title race revived with Al Shamal appeal win over Qatar SC
Doha: The Qatar Football Association Disciplinary Committee has reshaped the Qatar Stars League title race, ruling in favour of Al Shamal SC after confirming a player eligibility violation by Qatar SC in their April 13 clash. In its official decision, issued after reviewing Al Shamal’s protest (No.»»»
Voting Machines Operating Normally, Interior Minister Says
Voting machines are largely operating normally, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said on Sunday on Facebook. Malfunctions have been reported in less than 1% of all devices, and not all of them need to be withdrawn from the voting process, he added. According to the Electronic Governance Mini»»»
Electronic Governance Ministry: No Increased Cyber Activity on Election Day
There has been no increased cyber activity against strategic objects, administrative websites, or denial-of-service attacks since the beginning of election day, the Ministry of Electronic Governance (MEG) said on Sunday. The temporary cyber security situation centre at the ministry is monitoring th»»»
Bomb experts try to defuse WWII bomb near Paris
Colombes, France: Authorities evacuated thousands of residents of a Paris suburb Sunday as experts sought to defuse a World War II bomb, police said. Nearly 800 police cordoned off the site in the northwest suburb of Colombes as specialists tried but failed in one bid to remove the detonator from t»»»
Iran asserts leverage in Hormuz ahead of new round of talks
Iran has partially reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but only under strict authorisation and designated routes, as tensions with the US continue. While Pakistan tries to organise new talks, Iranian officials insist sanctions must be lifted and reject US demands to end nuclear activities, even as both »»»
'No Red Lines': The Real Secret of Iran's Newfound Geographic Power
Iran’s leverage over Hormuz Strait and the ~20% of global energy that flows through it was made possible “not by drawing red lines,” but “immediately hitting the heads and wallets of the global elite, hitting where it hurts most,” Institute of Middle East Studies expert Sergei Balmasov says. Washin»»»
Egypt’s current infrastructure is capable to serve as grounds for hosting International tournaments
With Egypt hosting an important match for the World Cup Qualifiers 2022 with its counterpart Senegal on March 25th, MEO, is glad to review with its readers the history of Egypt in hosting football tournaments like AFCON. MEO also had the pleasure to chit chat with Mr. Adel Koraiem CAF media officer»»»
Home ownership becoming increasingly difficult for middle class in Tunisia (IACE)
Tunis, April 19 (TAP) - Home ownership is becoming increasingly difficult for the middle class in Tunisia, mainly due to a lack of affordability, despite the existence of an overall surplus of housing stock, the Arab Institute of Business...»»»
Electronic Government Ministry: No Increased Cyber Activity on Election Day
There has been no increased cyber activity against strategic objects, administrative websites, or denial-of-service attacks since the beginning of election day, the Ministry of Electronic Governance (MEG) said on Sunday. The temporary cyber security situation centre at the ministry is monitoring th»»»
Hormuz, not nukes, now defines Iran’s deterrence strategy
Dubai: Iran may not have a nuclear weapon — but it has shown it can disrupt the world’s most critical energy chokepoint, even as international bodies insist such waterways must remain open to global navigation. That tension — between capability and legitimacy — is now at the heart of how deterrence»»»
First day of Islamic month of Dhu Al Qadah announced
The UAE Council for Fatwa has announced that today marks the first day of Dhu Al Qadah 1447 AH, the 11th month of the Islamic Hijri calendar. In a statement, the council said the decision was made after reviewing scientific data related to moon sighting, in coordination with specialised scientific »»»
Number of cars sold in Tunisia up 22.3% in Q1 of 2026
Tunis, April 19 (TAP) - The number of cars sold in Tunisia rose by 22.3% in Q1 of 2026 to 21,334 vehicles, against 17,441 vehicles during the same period in 2025, data published by the National Chamber of Car Dealers and Manufacturers, which is part...»»»
Pope Leo says ceasefire in Lebanon is 'a reason for hope'
Speaking at the end of his Mass in Kilamba, Angola, Pope Leo said the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was a “sign of relief for the Lebanese people.” He said: “I encourage those who have been committed to the search for a diplomatic solution to continue peace talks so that the end of hostili»»»
The week in pictures: Orban ousted in Hungary, Pope Leo's Africa tour and Trump as Jesus
Hungary ended 16 years of Viktor Orban’s rule, Pope Leo XIV began his first African tour with a historic first papal visit to Algeria and US President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus. Here is a look back at some of the week’s most striking images. »»»
Israel's double game between negotiations with Lebanon and occupation in the south
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon was reached following a first round of talks in Washington. Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, analyses Israel’s strategy in Lebanon, which he describes as oscillating between negotiations and cont»»»
Trump lied seven times in one hour – Iran’s top negotiator
US President Donald Trump made seven claims in one hour after Tehran announced the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and all of them are untrue, Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declar»»»
Trump Renews Threat of Strikes on Iran Infrastructure
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Donald Trump has again threatened to strike Iran’s bridges and power plants if Tehran refuses a deal with Washington on unresolved disputes. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his representatives are heading to Islamabad to participate in negotiations on Iran. "My Repr»»»
Watch: Dubai launches 'Work from Park' initiative with tech-enabled environments breaking office mould
Dubai: Subsequent to the recent "Work from Hotel" trend, Dubai has launched the “Work from Park” initiative that is said to provide tech-enabled environments that will break the traditional office mould. Dubai Municipality on Sunday announced the initiative, marking a strategic step towards redefin»»»
BSP Leader Krum Zarkov Votes for a Fairer Bulgaria
Casting his vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Krum Zarkov said he voted for a fairer Bulgaria, for a Bulgaria in which no one is above the law, but also for a Bulgaria that fairly distributes the wealth. "I am confident of a good result and I am sure that bet»»»
Dubai rents stay stable in Q1 as demand holds firm
Dubai: Dubai’s rental market remained steady in the first quarter of 2026, with fresh data pointing to stable demand, fewer contract cancellations and continued investor confidence. Figures from the Dubai Land Department show that rental contracts worth Dh32.2 billion were signed between January an»»»
Sharjah Coop braces for back-to-school shopping wave
Sharjah : As families across the UAE prepare for a return to in-person schooling after a prolonged period of distance learning, Sharjah Coop has reported a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour, marked by increased early planning and heightened readiness among households. Faisal Khaled Al Nabooda,»»»
UDF Leader Rumen Hristov Votes for Higher Incomes
Casting his vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Montana, Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) leader Rumen Hristov said he is voting for the well-being of the Bulgarian people, for higher incomes and higher pensions. He noted that there should be an increase in the country's gross domestic prod»»»
US issues new waiver allowing Russian oil sales
Washington, 18 April 2026 (dpa/MIA) - The United States issued another temporary sanctions waiver for Russian oil amid higher energy prices linked to the Iran war, the US Treasury Department said on Friday. The waiver authorizes the delivery and sale of Russian-origin crude oil and petroleum produc»»»
Middle East war live: Strait of Hormuz stays shut as Iran reports 'progress' in US talks
Iran’s parliamentary speaker said Saturday night that talks with the United States to end the war had made progress but remained far from an agreement, as Tehran said the crucial Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Follow our liveblog for»»»
What is UNIFIL? the UN mission in southern Lebanon explained
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has patrolled southern Lebanon along the border with Israel since 1978, acting as a buffer force following Israel’s invasion of the region. Expanded after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the mission now monitors the ceasefire and suppo»»»
Iran: Prolonged conflict reshapes view of the regime, analyst says
FRANCE 24’s guest Mehran Kamrave, Director of the Iranian Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, analyses Iran’s strategy towards the United States, highlighting three key levers the regime can rely on: sanctions, the nuclear programme, and control over the Strait of Hormu»»»
North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in latest weapons tests
South Korea’s military said Sunday that North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles, marking the latest in a string of weapons tests in violation of UN sanctions. North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a »»»
India launches world's largest census
With an estimated population of 1.4 billion, India—the world’s most populous nation—is launching the first phase of what is set to be the largest census ever conducted. More than three million officials are involved in updating figures from the last count in 2011, when the population stood at 1.21 »»»
'They are stealing the election': How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefield
Armenians are set to head to the polls in June for their parliamentary elections, which the EU and Russia are closely watching. With support for joining the bloc at an all-time high, this could be a sign that the former Soviet country is moving away from Moscow, one of its closest allies. But forei»»»
Prof. Schlevogt’s Compass No. 54: Vance’s VP dilemma – the poisoned chalice and taint of power
US Vice President J.D. Vance faces a classic bind: Loyalty to President Donald Trump ties him to a presidency that is bound to fail, yet distancing himself invites charges of disloyalty. Either course imperils his prospects of becoming the next president. His latest assignment as chief negotiator w»»»
Bulgaria heads to the polls for eighth general election in five years
Voters in Bulgaria headed to the polls Sunday for an eighth general election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev tipped to win on anti-corruption pledges. The election comes after unrest toppled Boyko Borissov’s rule and left the pro-European GERB party trailing. Bulgarians began head»»»
People & Profit - What Magyar's election win means for Hungary's economy and Europe
Hungary is preparing for a new era, after the centre-right Tisza party of Peter Magyar won a landslide victory over longtime nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Magyar says he'll seek to repair Hungary's confrontational relationship with the European Union, something that could unlock much-nee»»»
UAE uncovers major poultry cartel manipulating prices
Dubai: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has referred a cartel involved in anti-competitive practices in the poultry market to the federal public prosecution to initiate investigations and take the necessary legal measures, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). The ministry said evidence h»»»
Video: UAE flag-raising unites faiths at BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: People of different faiths including Emirati officials joined hands at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to showcase their deep gratitude, unity, and solidarity with the leadership and people of the UAE in a special UAE flag-raising ceremony. The BAPS Hindu Mandir officially r»»»
Dubai launches Foster Families Committee to advance alternative care system
The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai convened the third meeting of the Foster Families Committee, with the participation of representatives from several relevant government entities, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the alternative care ecosystem and enhance collaborative »»»
Nine killed after small truck overturned in Northern Thailand
Bangkok: Nine people were killed when a pickup truck overturned on a bend in Nan province, Northern Thailand. Local media reported that the pickup truck, carrying a large group of people, crashed on a steep embankment off a highway in the Bua District. Rescue teams rushed 14 injured passengers to t»»»
Fit in fatigues: German army presses recruitment drive
Cologne, Germany: Wearing a gas mask, a young man performs a rapid series of push-ups, jumps and squats at the German military's recruiting booth at FIBO, the world's largest fitness expo, held in Cologne. Germany hopes to grow its armed forces, winning tens of thousands of new volunteers -- a toug»»»
Attorney general inaugurates course on practical criminal investigation
DOHA: Attorney General HE Dr Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi inaugurated a refresher training course entitled 'Practical Criminal Investigation', which is organised by the Public Prosecution in cooperation with the Public Prosecution of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The course, which is held over f»»»
Tunisia to observe inaugural International Day of Women in Industry on April 21
Tunis, April 19 (TAP)- The inaugural International Day of Women in Industry (IDWI) will be observed on April 21, 2026, in Tunis under the theme "Women Shape the Future of Industry."This observance is spearheaded by the United Nations Industrial...»»»
Two Foreigners Arrested in Iran for Importing Starlink Technology
Four individuals, including two foreign nationals, were arrested in Iran's northwest, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, for being part of a "US-Israel-linked espionage network." The foreigners, whose nationality was not disclosed, are accused of importing satellite internet»»»
Prime Minister Gurov Votes for Ideas and Policies
Casting his vote in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Blagoevgrad, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said he voted for a country in which entering parliament is done with ideas and policies, not with bundles of cash. Gurov said he voted for a state in which politicians govern with decency and»»»
GCC affirms commitment to strengthen stability, development, resolve disputes through peaceful means
Antalya: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed its enduring commitment to promoting a stable and secure environment and adopting constructive policies based on development and prosperity rather than wars and conflicts, in a way that strengthens mutual trust with regional and international p»»»
Sharjah Police expand traffic services with new plate centre
Sharjah: Sharjah Police General Command has launched a specialised vehicle licence plate printing facility at the Al Ehsan Vehicle Inspection Centre in Al Suyoh (Al Mawrada 2), in a move aimed at enhancing service efficiency and accessibility for motorists. The facility was inaugurated in the prese»»»
UAE growth accelerates in early 2026 driven by banking and trade gains
Dubai: UAE economic growth accelerated in the early months of 2026, driven by expanding banking activity, rising foreign trade flows, and sustained investment momentum, according to official data and international reports. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply cli»»»
Trump Calls Israel Great US Ally That Knows How to Win
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said Israel had proven itself to be a great US ally that knew how to win. "Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a GREAT Ally of the United States of America," Trump said on TruthSocial. He said Israel knows how to win, "unlike some" »»»
Slovakia May Block Ukraine's Accession to EU - Parliament's Deputy Speaker
BRATISLAVA (Sputnik) - Slovakia may block Ukraine's accession to the European Union if the energy conflict between Kiev and Bratislava escalates, Tibor Gaspar, the Slovak parliament's deputy speaker, told Sputnik. "Ukraine does not risk 'automatically losing EU support,' but it may face specific pr»»»
Russian Forces Strike Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure Facilities
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost over 315 soldiers in combat against Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr over the past day, in addition to losses in manpower and equipment on other fronts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "The Ukrainian armed forces suffered losses of over 315 service members, s»»»
Economic reforms boost ability to handle regional shocks, attract investment
Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom confirmed that economic reform has enhanced the state’s ability to manage the repercussions of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and stressed that the government is continuing reforms to achieve macroeconomic stability and development f»»»
Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev Votes for "Strong Bulgaria in Strong Europe"
Casting his vote, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said he voted for a strong Bulgaria in a strong Europe. "This is what I want us to leave to our children," he added. Terziev said he opted for machine voting and showed a screwdriver he had brought with him, joking that he took it to make sure the voting»»»
US Blue Origin launches New Glenn rocket to transport satellite into orbit
Washington: US based company Blue Origin announced on Sunday, April 19, 2026, a mission to launch its New Glenn rocket, its third flight since becoming operational, as part of testing technologies for reusing orbital rockets. The rocket is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station»»»