Attacks by pro-Iran militias strain Iraq’s sovereignty, fray ties with Gulf Arab neighbors
LONDON: On March 26, representatives of the US and Iraqi governments gathered in Irbil for the first meeting of the new US-Iraq High Joint Coordination Committee, set up at Washington’s urging in a bid to keep Iraq out of the current conflict in the region. The following day, the US Embassy in Bagh»»»
Chile, U.S. sign deals on critical minerals, security - UPI.com
Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Perez Mackenna (R) greets U.S. Ambassador to Chile Brandon Judd during the signing of a security agreement between Chile and the United States to strengthen the fight against drugs and international organized crime in Santiago, Chile, on Monday. Photo ny Elvis Gon»»»
Governments worldwide shield households from rising energy costs
LONDON: Governments worldwide are trying to shield consumers from soaring energy costs resulting from the US-Israeli war on Iran. Here’s how different countries are responding: Britain is looking to force older wind and solar generators onto fixed contracts in a bid to bring down consumer bills. T»»»
Dr Michał Możdżeń: government belt tightening would lower GDP growth
Public debt in Poland is rising largely because households and firms are saving more, says Michał Możdżeń of the Krakow University of Economics. When private savings increase faster than investment, the government’s deficit grows almost mechanically. Lower inflows of foreign savings have reinforced»»»
PGE: no clear strategy for coal assets
Show lessDariusz Lubera, head of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, says Poland’s energy sector is operating “without a plan A.” There is no clear strategy for coal assets or updated national policies, leaving companies in uncertainty. Rising savings aren’t the issue here, but the transition itself. Co»»»
Peru signs F-16 fighter jet deal after days of tensions with U.S. - UPI.com
The government of Peru signed a contract to purchase 12 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. File Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA April 21 (UPI) -- The government of Peru finalized the sign a contract to purchase 12 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin after several days of unc»»»
Police identify phone scammer who grabbed €50,000 in cash
A man who talked a woman in central Greece into leaving €50,000 in cash outside her door and then took off with the money has been identified and charged, authorities said Tuesday. A police statement said the 23-year-old suspect was one of at least two people who pulled a common but highly efficien»»»
Trump says Iran violated truce as doubt surrounds peace talks
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of having repeatedly violated a temporary truce due to expire soon, with new peace talks mired in doubt after Tehran said it had not yet sent a delegation. The U.S. leader also touted Washington's strong negotiating position, even as uncertainty g»»»
Dubai integrates courts, police, prosecution digitally
Dubai: Dubai Courts has reviewed progress on the development and rollout of the “Dubai for Justice” platform, part of wider efforts to fast-track digital transformation in line with directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Coun»»»
Lula warns will respond after US expels police attache
HANOVER: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday warned he would hit back with reciprocal measures after Washington expelled a Brazilian police attache in the latest spat between the two countries. The leftist leader’s comments came after the United States ordered Commissioner Marc»»»
Colliers: Logistics market is entering an adjustment phase after the record year 2025
In a more positive note, leasing for manufacturing operations saw a much more positive result, Colliers consultants note, explaining that although confidence remains slightly below its usual average, Romania ranks mid-table across Europe, indicating a degree of resilience within the parts of the in»»»
Tavex Romania in 2025: EUR 46 million turnover and 500 kg of gold sold
In 2025, the company recorded a turnover of EUR 46 million from investment gold sales, up approximately 40% compared to EUR 35 million reported in 2024. Overall, Tavex Romania’s total revenues, including all business lines, reached EUR 65 million, compared to EUR 45 million in the previous year. Th»»»
Lula warns will respond after US expels police attache
HANOVER: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday warned he would hit back with reciprocal measures after Washington expelled a Brazilian police attache in the latest spat between the two countries. The leftist leader’s comments came after the United States ordered Commissioner Marc»»»
Qatar launches expanded government scholarship plan for 2026-2027 academic year
Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Ministry of Education and Higher Education has launched its government scholarship plan for the 2026-2027 academic year, introducing new academic pathways and expanded financial support aimed at building national expertise in priority sectors. The plan has been presented at a p»»»
Sheikh Mansour leads strategic review of government performance
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Development Council held in Abu Dhabi. The meeting reviewed the outcomes of implementing a number of government programmes and initiativ»»»
Mauritania lawmakers are charged with insulting president over racial bias claims
NOUAKCHOTT: Two female opposition lawmakers in Mauritania have been charged with insulting the president after accusing him of adopting a discriminatory attitude toward Black people and descendants of slaves in the West African nation. The lawmakers also were charged Monday with inciting violence, »»»
Azour to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Has Strong Financial Buffers to Confront War Impact
“This is a multidimensional shock.” That is how Dr. Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, summed up the bleak outlook gripping the region, describing the current war as an earthquake not seen in geopolitics and economics for five de»»»
SPLC: Justice Department investigating the civil rights organization - UPI.com
The Southern Poverty Law Center announced the Department of Justice is investigating it for its past use of paid informants. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo April 21 (UPI) -- The Southern Poverty Law Center announced via YouTube Tuesday that it is now the target of an investigation b»»»
Indonesia announces ‘giant’ natural gas discovery off Borneo coast
JAKARTA: Indonesia has announced a major gas discovery off the east coast of Borneo, a find the government says will strengthen the nation’s energy security as the war in the Middle East forces countries to rethink dependence on imported fossil fuels. Preliminary estimates point to around 5 trillio»»»
Macut, von Beckerath discuss stability of academic community, Serbia-EU cooperation
BELGRADE - At his own initiative, Serbian PM Djuro Macut held an urgent meeting with the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath on Tuesday to discuss the key issues of stability in the academic community and advancement of cooperation with EU institutions. Ensuring an equal relat»»»
Nafis expands: New groups supported, quotas unchanged
Dubai: The Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (ETCC) has confirmed that Emirati spouses of citizens and children of Emirati mothers working in the private sector will not be counted towards the annual 2 per cent Emiratisation target under the Nafis programme. The council said the quota for priv»»»
UAE puts gender balance at the core of growth: Eugene Mayne
Gender balance in the UAE is not positioned as a social initiative but embedded as a structural national priority, shaping policy, workforce participation and leadership development across sectors. This aligns inclusion with long-term economic resilience and competitiveness, said Eugene Mayne, Foun»»»
Alternative Routes for Middle East Oil and Gas Due to Hormuz Disruption
The US-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil chokepoint, exposing the Middle East's limited alternatives for exporting its hydrocarbons. The International Energy Agency (IEA) called it the largest supply disruption on record, bigg»»»
Bulgaria is not going ‘pro-Russia’ – the EU is just paranoid
After eight snap elections in five years, Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev, a 62-year-old reform-minded pragmatist with much political (he’s a former president) and military (he's also a former general) experience has just managed to gain an absolute majority of seats in the national parliament. It is, accor»»»
Pakistan central bank receives second tranche of $1bn from Saudi Arabia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central bank said on Tuesday that it has received a second tranche of $1 billion from Saudi Arabia, providing much-needed financial support to the country as it attempts to bolster its foreign exchange reserves amid recent repayments of $1.4 billion in Eurobonds and $2 billion»»»
Cuba confirms meeting with U.S. State Department delegation - UPI.com
A vehicle drives down a street in Havana on Monday. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has participated in an atypical series of interviews with international media organizations over the past several weeks amid tensions with the United States. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA April 21 (UPI) -- The »»»
Tunis Stock Exchange edges up 0.19% on Tuesday
Tunis, April 21 (TAP) - The stock market closed Tuesday’s session on a positive note, with the benchmark index gaining 0.19% to 15,829.45 points, on a solid turnover of TND 14.6 million, according to stockbroker Tunisie Valeurs. SOTIPAPIER share...»»»
Macron to Reaffirm Commitment to Lebanese Ceasefire and Sovereignty in Paris Talks
French President Emmanuel Macron is to reaffirm France’s full commitment to the ceasefire in Lebanon and support for the country’s territorial integrity at a meeting Tuesday in Paris with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Macron’s office said. Pakistan is preparing for a new round of talks betw»»»
Dubai GDRFA achieves 95.6% future readiness milestone
Dubai : Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs achieved a 95.6 per cent future readiness rate by 2025, driven by a long-term foresight strategy that has already translated into major initiatives such as the “Red Carpet” project — first envisioned in 2015 and now implemented »»»
Israeli settlers attack Palestinian school, kill two individuals
LONDON: Israeli settlers’ gunfire killed two Palestinians, including a school student, and left several others injured in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday afternoon. The Ministry of Health confirmed the deaths of student Aws Al-Naasan, 14, and Marzouq Abu Naim, 32, while live bullets injured three»»»
Trump Says Iran Violated Truce as Doubt Surrounds Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of having repeatedly violated a temporary truce due to expire soon, with new peace talks mired in doubt after Tehran said it had not yet sent a delegation. The US leader also touted Washington's strong negotiating position, even as uncertainty grew »»»
Germany, Italy Reject Suspending EU-Israel Cooperation Deal
Germany and Italy on Tuesday rebuffed calls to suspend an EU cooperation deal with Israel, despite rising anger over the war in Lebanon and the situation in the West Bank. Spain and Ireland had put the issue of halting the June 2000 agreement back on the table at a meeting of EU foreign ministers i»»»
Two Palestinians Killed in West Bank Village Attacked by Israeli Settlers, Witnesses Say
Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday after Israeli settlers and soldiers opened fire, witnesses said, while in Gaza health officials said two Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said two»»»
PM Says 72 MP Candidates Implicated in Vote-Buying, No Immunity Revoked
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said that 72 individuals with immunity - parliamentary candidates - have been implicated in vote-buying, yet none have had their immunity lifted. Gurov added that two-thirds of the Interior Ministry’s investigations have encounter»»»
France backs Egypt’s IMEC entry, readies migration pact at first strategic dialogue
France formally backed Egypt’s inclusion in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the two nations agreed to finalise a bilateral migration agreement in the coming weeks, officials announced following the inaugural French-Egyptian strategic dialogue on Monday. The talks in Cairo »»»
No: 72, 21 April 2026, Regarding the Restrictions and Maps published on the Official Website of the Fisheries Control Directorate of Greece
Greece has established “no fishing zones” in some maritime areas in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean where Greece has no jurisdiction and has published various maps contrary to international law, as seen on the official website of the Fisheries Control Directorate of Greece. Maps that draw »»»
Coast Guard to liaise with Libyan colleagues on stemming migration to Crete
Greece has sent two senior Coast Guard officials to Libya to try and talk local authorities into helping stem a wave of migration in small boats from the north African country to Crete, the government said Tuesday. Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for maritime affairs, said the two were sent followi»»»
Macut: Serbian gov't maintains constant communication with EC
BELGRADE - PM Djuro Macut said on Tuesday Serbian ministries and his government maintained constant communication with the European Commission and noted that Serbia was delivering on its commitments under the EU Growth Plan. Addressing MPs at a parliament session, Macut said allegations of a suspen»»»
US forces board a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon says
WASHINGTON: US forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia, the Pentagon said Tuesday, as it puts into place a global warning to track down vessels tied to Tehran. US forces “conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction” and boarded the M/T Ti»»»
US Forces Board a Sanctioned Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon Says
US forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia, the Pentagon said Tuesday, as it puts into place a global warning to track down vessels tied to Tehran. US forces “conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction” and boarded the M/T Tifani “withou»»»
UAE resilience built on unity and preparedness, says Maitha Al Shamsi
The UAE’s approach to crisis is not reactive but carefully designed, with resilience built into its systems long before challenges arise, Maitha Mohammed Al Shamsi, CEO of the Community Empowerment Sector at the Community Development Authority in Dubai, said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Tristar pres»»»
Qatar Stocks edge higher as market closes up 0.12 percent
Doha: Qatar's stock market closed slightly higher on Tuesday, supported by gains across a number of sectors. The Qatar Stock Exchange index rose by 12.56 points, or 0.12%, to finish at 10,684.76 points. During the session, a total of 195.7 million shares were traded, with a combined value of around»»»
Saudi chambers resolve over 130 logistics challenges via observatory
RIYADH: The Federation of Saudi Chambers has identified more than 130 challenges across vital sectors through the recently launched “Logistics Services Challenges Observatory.” These challenges were analyzed, with 27 shared with relevant authorities, 22 of which have been resolved, while work conti»»»
Finnish police say state data breach could be espionage
Helsinki: Finnish police said Tuesday that a suspected data breach into a government IT service provider in late January was being investigated as espionage. A suspected breach in the mobile device management service provided by the Government ICT Centre Valtori at the end of January may have invol»»»
Soccer fan Orbán’s election loss could prompt rethink of Hungary’s sports ambitions
BUDAPEST: One of the biggest soccer fans in global politics, Viktor Orbán, has been sidelined from his big game. The right-wing populist leader and Trump ally’s heavy defeat in the Hungarian elections means incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar will be the one in charge when the Champions League fin»»»
Diplomacy without illusions: The case for Iran's accountability first
Among advocates of process-first diplomacy, a familiar refrain has been especially common in recent days: diplomacy means talking to everyone, no adversary should be humiliated, and the only alternative to negotiation is war. These are not trivial principles. Engagement with adversaries has produce»»»
Trump to take part in 'America Reads the Bible' streaming event - UPI.com
President Donald Trump will read verses from the Old Testament he taped in the Oval Office for a America Reads the Bible event due to be livestreamed across the country Tuesday evening. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 21 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump will read verses from the Old T»»»
Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile: Where is it and who could get it?
Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked over Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran has insisted that continuing its nuclear program is its sovereign right, while the US maintains that the program must be abandoned for good and the uranium surrendered. RT looks in»»»
Lebanon PM and Macron to discuss bolstering country’s position in Israel talks
PARIS: Lebanon’s prime minister and French President Emmanuel Macron will discuss on Tuesday how to strengthen the country’s hand in possible direct negotiations with Israel in the United States later this week, as Beirut turns to a trusted European ally. The US will host ambassador-level talks wit»»»