France’s Macron to Meet with Lebanon’s PM in Paris on Tuesday
French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, his office announced, amidst a fragile 10-day truce between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The visit highlights Macron's commitment to seeing "full and complete respect for the ceasefire in L»»»
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran will not send a negotiating team for a second round of talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on April 19. Message e»»»
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran will not send a negotiating team for a second round of talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on April 19. Message e»»»
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran will not send a negotiating team for a second round of talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on April 19. Message e»»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Spain to formally ask EU to break Israel association agreement, Sanchez says
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will formally request the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on April 21 in Luxembourg, El Pais reported on April 19. »»»
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran will not send a negotiating team for a second round of talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on April 19. Message e»»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran will not send a negotiating team for a second round of talks with the United States as long as the US naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, an informed source told Tasnim News Agency on April 19. Message e»»»
Spain to formally ask EU to break Israel association agreement, Sanchez says
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will formally request the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on April 21 in Luxembourg, El Pais reported on April 19. »»»
Spain to formally ask EU to break Israel association agreement, Sanchez says
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will formally request the European Union suspend its association agreement with Israel at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on April 21 in Luxembourg, El Pais reported on April 19. »»»
Trump threatens to strike Iranian power plants and bridges over Strait of Hormuz incident
US President Donald Trump has threatened to "knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran" if Tehran does not accept a US-proposed deal, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz that Washington said involved Iranian vessels firing at French and British ships. »»»
Egypt's President reaffirms rejection of any violation of Arab states' sovereignty
Cairo: President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reaffirmed on Sunday his country's firm rejection of any infringement on the sovereignty of Kuwait or any other Arab state, during a meeting with Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, currently visiting Cairo. According to a »»»
Trump Says US Negotiators Will Head to Pakistan on Monday for Talks with Iran
President Donald Trump said US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday even as Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not immediately confirm t»»»
Oil prices hinge on US-Iran deal this week with ceasefire window closing
Dubai: Oil markets are entering a critical phase in the coming days, with the next directional move in crude prices likely to hinge on the outcome of a two-week ceasefire window tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global supply artery. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the »»»
AI is taking on real work, not just assisting employees
Dubai: For years, the conversation around enterprise AI focused on assistance. The technology was presented as a way to help employees write faster, search faster, analyse faster, and make better decisions. That was an important step, but it did not change the basic structure of work. In most organ»»»
Pope Leo XIV condemns 'logic of extractivism' in Angola visit
Pope Leo XIV denounced the “social and environmental disasters” linked to a “logic of extractivism” on Saturday, the first day of his visit to Angola, a country marked by decades of exploitation of its vast resources. Pope Leo XIV challenged Angola’s leaders to break the "cycle of interests” that h»»»
US Extended License for Sales of Russian Oil After G20 Meeting – Energy Secretary
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US decision to extend the license for Russian oil sales was made after the G20 meeting in Washington, as global bankers asked the US to do so, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday. "G20 conference was here, we had bankers from around the world, basically making»»»
Qatar provides technical support to Syria's finance sector
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has announced the provision of technical support and a comprehensive assessment aimed at identifying structural, regulatory, institutional, and operational gaps within the financial sector of the Syria. The initiative is being carried out in cooper»»»
'New era': Humanoid robot outruns humans in Beijing half-marathon, beats world record
A humanoid robot on Sunday won a half-marathon for robots in Beijing in 50 minutes 26 seconds, beating the human world record time and showcasing China's technological advances. A humanoid robot that won a half-marathon race for robots in Beijing on Sunday ran faster than the human world record in »»»
'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»»»
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»»»
Macron to meet with Salam in Paris on Tuesday
French President Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday meet with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Paris, the Elysee said, as a fragile 10-day truce holds between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. The visit highlights Macron's commitment to seeing "full and complete respect for the ceasefire in Lebanon" as w»»»
Food security under threat as Middle East war disrupts fertiliser supply
Around one-third of global fertiliser production comes from the Gulf region, making the area’s stability crucial for global food supply chains. With the Strait of Hormuz, an essential transit route for energy and commodities, facing repeated disruptions, concerns are growing over the impact on fert»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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,»»»
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»»»
Attorney General inaugurates practical criminal investigation course
Doha, Qatar: HE Attorney-General Dr. Issa bin Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, inaugurated Sunday a refresher training course on practical criminal investigation, organized by the Public Prosecution in cooperation with the Public Prosecution of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The four-day course, attended by »»»
French right divided over primary vote one year from presidential election
With the French presidential election just a year away, most parties are conducting internal polls to decide on their candidate. Les Républicains, led by Bruno Retailleau, are meeting this weekend to decide whether to hold a primary, amid criticism, particularly from Laurent Wauquiez, over reluctan»»»
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 »»»
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 »»»
Amir receives message from Rwanda President
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a written message from HE Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, concerning the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them. The message was received by Minister of Interior and Comma»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Syria officials discuss financial sector reforms with IMF, World Bank
Washington, April 19 (SANA) Syria’s finance minister and central bank governor held talks with international financial institutions on steps to support reforms and develop the country’s financial and banking sectors. Finance Minister Mohammed Yasser Barnieh and Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husr»»»
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»»»
Pakistan rolls out Hajj flights with enhanced facilities
Dubai: Pakistan has begun its Hajj flight operation, with the first pilgrims departing for Saudi Arabia as authorities roll out enhanced facilities for the annual pilgrimage, Dawn reported. Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousuf said the government was providing pilgrims with the “best p»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Dimitrieska-Kochoska meets World Bank officials: Support for reforms and development priorities confirmed
Skopje, 18 April 2026 (MIA) - Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska during the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) met with WB Vice President of the Europe and Central Asia region, Antonella Bassani, WB Group Executive Director repres»»»
Security lockdown in Islamabad, Rawalpindi as US-Iran talks expected
Dubai: Pakistan has placed its twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on high security alert, deploying tens of thousands of personnel and suspending transport services ahead of a possible second round of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, according to reports. More than 10,000 »»»
Two Indian men shot dead outside gurdwara in Italy
Dubai: Two Indian men were shot dead in northern Italy in what authorities suspect may have been a “coldly planned execution,” shortly after they attended a Vaisakhi gathering at a place of worship, according to reports. The incident took place late Friday night in the town of Covo, in Bergamo prov»»»
IMF, World Bank Meetings Show Limits in Mitigating Shocks, Reliance on US for Solutions
Global finance leaders, whipsawed by Middle East war news, came to grips this past week with their inability to mitigate the economic damage from increasingly frequent geopolitical shocks, and a realization that counting on US leadership to resolve crises is no longer the guarantee it had long been»»»
Nikoloski: Skopje and Ohrid airports regional leaders, confirmed by international media
Skopje, 18 April 2026 (MIA) - The Skopje and Ohrid airports are leaders in the region, as confirmed by international media. Skopje International Airport remains the regional leader with a 32 percent increase compared to the same period last year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Alek»»»
13 new mosques open in Dubai, serving 10,000+ worshippers
Dubai: Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has expanded the emirate’s religious infrastructure in the first quarter of 2026, with the opening of 13 new mosques at a total cost of Dh162 million, in an effortto meet growing demand in newly developed communities. The new mosques»»»