UK, France agree three-year deal to stop migrant crossings
PARIS: Britain and France have agreed a new three-year deal to stop undocumented migrants making the risky journey across the English Channel, according to a French interior ministry roadmap seen by AFP Wednesday. Under the deal, France pledged to increase law enforcement on the coast by more than »»»
Sinner’s mastery mindset makes him the man to beat
BENGALURU: Jannik Sinner was once viewed as an explosive talent custom-built for hardcourt tennis but the four-times Grand Slam champion’s assiduous work on his patience and control has made him the man to beat on clay heading into the French Open. It had long been assumed that in his era-defining »»»
‘Qatar’s diplomacy helps contain escalation, ensures int’l stability’
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In the midst of one of the most volatile regional crises in recent years, Qatar has emerged as a central diplomatic actor, deploying coordinated political, strategic, and economic efforts aimed at de-escalation, preserving the ceasefire, and ensuring the continued flow of glo»»»
QWSC and YoC launch 2026 winter sports development program
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC), in collaboration with Years of Culture (YoC), is set to launch a year-round programme of winter sports development initiatives as part of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture partnership. This marks a major step in expa»»»
Pope Leo condemns inmate conditions on tour of infamous Equatorial Guinea prison
Pope Leo XIV visited a notorious prison in Bata on the last leg of his Africa tour Wednesday, delivering a rare public critique of inmate conditions in Equatorial Guinea. In his address, the pontiff urged respect for human dignity, highlighting concerns about overcrowding and justice in a country l»»»
Pezeshkian rebukes Trump: Breach of commitments, blockade, threats 'main obstacles' to genuine talks
US President Donald Trump has said Iran’s leadership is “seriously fractured”. Trump made this declaration in announcing another extension of the ceasefire and signaled that US pressure on Tehran will continue. He said the truce would be kept in place to give negotiations "more time", while the US »»»
QHA, Qatar Tourism review sector outlook amid regional developments
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatari Hotels Association (QHA) convened a high-level meeting with senior officials from Qatar Tourism to assess the current state of the tourism and hospitality sector and explore measures to sustain growth amid ongoing regional developments. The meeting brought toget»»»
Cabinet commends Amir’s efforts to de-escalate regional tensions
QNA Doha The Cabinet has commended the efforts of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in working to de-escalate tensions, promote peace, and prioritize diplomacy and dialogue as the primary means of resolving disputes. During its weekly meeting, chaired by Pr»»»
Vodafone augments employee wellbeing with health sessions and new preventive initiatives
Tribune News Network Doha Vodafone Qatar has reinforced its commitment to employee care, safety and resilience through a series of wellbeing sessions and a growing calendar of practical health initiatives. Earlier this year, the company delivered two focused sessions that brought together over 320 »»»
QSTP brings global tech communityto Doha as part of SYNC Spring 2026
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), hosted founders, operators, and community members at its Doha campus as part of SYNC Spring 2026. The initiative connects Syrian technologists, founders and ecosystem partners across the diaspora th»»»
MoM’s new online services to streamline land transactions
QNA Doha Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has unveiled a new package of electronic services for the Urban Planning Affairs sector, marking a further step in the country’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. In a statement shared on X, the ministry said the services are now available on its offi»»»
Shura speaker, Spain’s envoy discuss relations
QNA Doha Shura Council Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim on Wednesday held talks with Ambassador of Spain to Qatar HE Alvaro Renedo Zalba, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and discussing regional developments. According to a statement, the meeting reviewed cooperation between th»»»
Business - Iran's workers face waves of layoffs as war batters domestic economy
Iranians are confronting mass layoffs and soaring inflation amid destroyed infrastructure and internet blackouts. We take a closer look. But first: US senators grill Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, and the global condom industry takes a blow from supply chain issues tied to the cl»»»
Report says US blocked $500mn cash shipment to Iraq over pro-Iran attacks
BAGHDAD: The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq»»»
Gaza civil defense says children among 5 killed in Israeli strike
GAZA CITY: Gaza’s civil defense agency said an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of civilians in a northern part of the Palestinian territory late on Wednesday, killing five people including three children. Despite an October 10 ceasefire, Gaza remains gripped by daily violence as both the Israeli»»»
French soldier dies of wounds after attack on UN force in Lebanon
President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that a second French soldier had died following an attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, which he said was carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with the spokesperson of the UN peacekeeping mission UNIF»»»
Gulf allies have requested financial support, US Treasury Secretary says
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that a number of allies in the Gulf region and in Asia have requested currency swap lines from the United States to help deal with energy shocks and otherfallout from the Middle East war. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Dr Kristi Diw»»»
'Right now both sides are testing each other', analyst says as Iran truce extended
FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Negah Angha, Former National Security Advisor under US President Joe Biden, about the ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States, which has choked off all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. She says that "right now both sides are testing each other" add»»»
With ciggies in short supply, Gaza smokers turn to dried jute
GAZA STRIP: Though Gazans normally use molokhia, or jute leaves, for soup, Abu Yahya Helles coats the crumbled, dried leaves in liquid nicotine and rolls them into cigarettes as a tobacco alternative. In war-ravaged Gaza, where shortages are still acute, some are now smoking Helles’ home-made roll-»»»
Al-Shaibani says leaders’ meetings in the Gulf tour focused on boosting fraternal ties
Damascus, Apr. 22 (SANA) Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said the Gulf tour led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, which included Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, focused on strengthening long-standing fraternal relations between Syria and those countries. Al-Shaibani said the»»»
Airlines cancel flights amid Iran conflict
WASHINGTON: Global air travel remains severely disrupted, with many people unable to fly as planned to destinations after the Iran war forced the closure of major Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. Below is the latest on flights, in alphabetical order: Greece’s largest carri»»»
US running out of key missiles after Iran war – report
The US military has dangerously depleted its stockpiles of critical missiles during the seven‑week war on Iran, creating a “near‑term risk” that could leave it vulnerable in any future conflict, according to a new analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The report, pu»»»
Where We Are Going Today: Loft
I will be honest, when I heard we were heading to a place called Loft, I pictured exposed brick, high ceilings, maybe a view. What I did not expect was a ground-floor restaurant with not a single step in sight. It was my first hint that Loft at U Walk in Riyadh was going to keep me guessing all nig»»»
Noem purse thief sentenced to three years in prison - UPI.com
Kristi Noem, then Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on March in Washington, D.C. Mario Bustamante Leiva, who stole Noem's purse from a Washington, D.C., restaurant in April 2025, was sentenced Wednesday for his part in that theft and oth»»»
Soft toys, lipstick, pajamas ... things you never knew came from oil
NEW YORK: It might be hard to imagine the Iran war weighing on stuffed toys with names like Snuggle Glove, Bizzikins and Wobblies, but even plush playthings are not immune when oil shipments from the Middle East are constrained. Like many soft toys, the creatures developed by a manufacturer in Fort»»»
Iran hangs ex-nuclear employee on spying charges
PARIS: Iran hanged a man on Wednesday convicted of links to Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the judiciary said, with two NGOs based outside the country saying he worked for the Iranian atomic energy organization. The execution of Mehdi Farid was the latest in a number of hangings of high-profile convic»»»
Pope Leo XIV speaks against inequality on visit to Equatorial Guinea - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV waves during a welcome ceremony upon his arrival Saturday at 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda, Angola. On Wednesday, the pope spoke to officials in Equatorial Guinea, the last stop on his trip. File photo Jose Sena Goulao/EPA April 22 (UPI) -- On the final stop o»»»
Saudi, Dutch foreign ministers discuss regional developments
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Tom Berendsen, the Netherlands’ foreign minister, in Riyadh on Wednesday. The parties reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional developments, reported the Saudi Press Agency. Berendsen reaffirmed Amsterdam’s c»»»
Report says US blocked $500 million cash shipment to Iraq over pro-Iran attacks
Washington: The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed militant groups. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to I»»»
How Dubai Metro Gold Line will reduce cut Red Line congestion, remove 40m road trips a year
Dubai: Dubai is planning its next metro expansion valued at Dh34 billion, the Gold Line, which will run from Al Ghubaiba to Jumeirah Golf Estates. The route passes through Mina Rashid, City Walk, Business Bay, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Nad Al Sheba, Meydan, Al Barsha South, and Jumeirah Village Cir»»»
Kuwait keeps schools online until further notice
Dubai: Kuwait’s Ministry of Education has confirmed that the learning process will continue remotely until further notice, stressing that no changes or new decisions have been issued so far. In a statement, the ministry said the measure is aimed at safeguarding students as well as teaching and admi»»»
Trump says Iran will not execute eight women after his request
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran had halted alleged plans to execute eight women arrested over anti-government protests, after he urged Tehran to release them to help peace negotiations.Iran's judiciary, however, described the US president's claims as "false news," saying they had ne»»»
Why oil will get costlier the more Hormuz disruption drags on amid war risks
Dubai: Oil prices are likely to remain elevated, and could rise further in the near term, as ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty surrounding the conflict involving Iran continue to tighten global supply conditions. Brent crude rose 1.7% to $100.16 per barrel on Wednesday, ref»»»
How the Strait of Hormuz blockade could ground Europe’s airlines within weeks
LONDON: Europe’s commercial aviation sector is moving closer to a jet fuel crunch as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to choke off supplies from the Gulf, threatening summer travel plans for millions and forcing airlines and governments to weigh rationing, cancellations and emergency fu»»»
Jordan marks 1st International Day of Women in Industry — UNIDO
AMMAN — As Jordan joins the global celebration of the first International Day of Women in Industry, marked on April 21, the spotlight this year falls on a steady, transformative shift rather than a single defining breakthrough.Women are increasingly shaping the direction of industrial growth, both »»»
Trump’s Iran war a strategic ‘disaster,’ expert tells RT
The war with Iran has been a strategic disaster for the US, leaving President Donald Trump in a weaker position at home and damaging American credibility, Quincy Institute co-founder Trita Parsi has told RT. He added that the conflict, which he said Israel had pushed for, had not unfolded as Washin»»»
The Debate - World's worst energy crisis? Iran war sparks scramble for alternatives to Gulf oil
Will the world have enough fuel to fill the tank and fertilize the crops? The seizure of ships by Iran adding to global jitters as the extension of a ceasefire offers zero visibility on prospects for the planet’s biggest choke point for oil and gas. Nearly two months on, the Paris-based Internation»»»
The Observers - Mapping the environmental toll of the Middle East war
Oil refineries set ablaze, missiles hitting pesticide factories, an oil slick in the Strait of Hormuz... In under two months, the US and Israel’s war on Iran has inflicted a heavy toll on the environment, fuelling concerns over the public health impact on local populations. It’s too soon to evaluat»»»
Three ships targeted in Hormuz, Iran seizes two
Iranian forces targeted three container ships on Wednesday, seizing two, the latest incidents to threaten a crucial trade route in the Middle East war. Iran's parliament speaker said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US naval blockade remain»»»
Israeli forces trap 2 journalists in south, block rescue access, claim Lebanese authorities
LONDON: Lebanese authorities have accused Israeli forces of trapping two journalists in the southern town of Al-Tiri and blocking rescue teams from reaching the area after a drone strike nearby killed two people. Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli forces had prevented the Red Cross and the»»»
Western Neocolonialist Tools are Amoral and Violate All Norms
Large Western colonial powers are actively employing new instruments of control, trying to plunge developing nations into wars and saddle them with debts, Yemeni political analyst and author Hamid Abdel Kader tells Sputnik. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are one such tool. The c»»»
ISIS Shifts Priorities, Seeks to Raise Cost of Rule in Syria
Syria has moved since early this year from internal unrest in the northeast, the coast, and the south to relative calm and attempts to impose a new security and political order, most clearly seen in the security file and in an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces. But the shift has set up an»»»
ICC Appeals Chamber rules it has jurisdiction in Rodrigo Duterte criminal case - UPI.com
Dahlia Cuartero, mother of a victim of an alleged extrajudicial killing during the war on drugs campaign of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, holds a picture of her son prior to watching a broadcast of an International Criminal Court proceeding from Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines»»»
Oil to Fabric: Middle East Crises Reshape Global Fashion
Rising oil prices are no longer just an energy market story; they are feeding directly into the cost of clothing. From petrochemical plants to fabric mills and retail racks, a complex supply chain is passing on higher costs, pushing up the final price consumers pay. According to the “Materials Mark»»»
New Darb toll gates in Abu Dhabi: locations, fees, and who’s exempt
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced the introduction of two new gates to the Darb Toll Gate System in Abu Dhabi. This initiative aims to enhance traffic flow on major roads, improve the efficiency of the road network, »»»
UAE Embassy in Beirut warns public over scam messages posing as officials
The UAE Embassy in Beirut has urged the public to exercise caution over suspicious messages and calls requesting financial transfers, falsely claiming to be from the embassy or its staff. In a post on its official account on X, the embassy said all its services are provided exclusively through appr»»»
Aoun says contacts ongoing to extend ceasefire
President Joseph Aoun’s comments on Wednesday came a day before a second meeting is scheduled to take place in Washington between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors. Aoun said in comments released by his office that preparations are ongoing for negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. He said the»»»
Rehabilitated sea turtles return to sea in Fujairah
Fujairah: The Fujairah Environment Authority (FEA), in cooperation with the Fujairah Research Centre, has released a number of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) back into their natural habitat after rescue and rehabilitation. The turtles - of varying sizes and ages - were rescued across Fujairah b»»»
Dozens of Israeli civilians attempt to enter Syria
The Israeli military said it intercepted around 40 Israeli civilians that attempted to enter Syria on Wednesday afternoon. The military said the civilians gathered at the border and then were able to infiltrate several hundred meters into the Israeli-military controlled buffer zone in Syria before »»»