Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the strategic waterway, after US President Donald Trump called off attacks indefinitely with no sign of peace talks restarting. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the Revolutionary Guards had seized two ves»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index fell 99.97 points, or 0.88 percent, to close at 11,244.99 on Wednesday. The MT30 index declined 12.41 points, or 0.82 percent, to 1,510.16, while the parallel market Nomu rose 1.18 points, or 0.01 percent, to 22,861.47. Trading turnover on th»»»

Sharjah : Families in Kalba facing court rulings over rental disputes are set to receive targeted financial support under a new agreement between Sharjah Charity International and Kalba Municipality. The initiative centres on fast-tracking assistance to residents in financial distress, using a coor»»»

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Wednesday morning launched Al Qawasim application and digital platform, dedicated to documenting the history of Al Qawasim family. The launch took place at Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre in the presenc»»»

Hungary and Slovakia have lifted their Russia vetoes, marking the end of an era, with the next round of EU sanctions on Moscow to snap into place almost immediately. The move, which legally comes into effect at 1PM on Thursday (23 April), marks the final collapse of outgoing Hungarian prime ministe»»»

SANYA: Senior officials from the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) have visited the national delegation's headquarters in Sanya, China, to review preparations for the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Hainan Province. QOC Second Vice President Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari and Secretary-General Jassim bin Ra»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent says Israeli occupation forces conducted demolition in the town of Al-Qantara 22-04-2026 16:17 PM Latest News Urgent»»»

France says the economic fallout from the Iran war has cost the country at least €6 billion, as the government has rolled out support measures for businesses and households, increased defence spending and faced surging borrowing costs. To offset this while meeting its budget deficit target, French »»»

Tunis, April 22 (TAP) — Tunisia’s digital transformation is a “historic necessity,” driven by development needs and rising citizen expectations for efficient and transparent public services, Minister of Communication Technologies Sofiene Hemissi...»»»

PARACIN - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday he believed in the pragmatism of Hungary's future PM Peter Magyar and noted that he was very pleased with their telephone conversation on Tuesday about key topics for further advancement of overall Serbia-Hungary relations. Vucic said t»»»

Central and Eastern Europe is rapidly becoming the focal point of Europe’s defence industrial expansion, driven by rising military spending, supply chain restructuring and the war in Ukraine, according to a new KPMG report. »»»

ROME: Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the UN’s food and weather agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organiza»»»

The large-scale multifunctional project Expo-Demilge has been launched in Kyrgyzstan. Shumkarbek Adilbek uulu, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Director of the National Institute of Strategic Initiatives, announced its launch at a press conference. He noted that the key goal of the initiati»»»

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Cuba's decision to further open its economy to private sector participation could allow Mexican private and mixed-capital companies to expand operations on the island. File Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA April 22 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbau»»»

Sanya: Senior officials from the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) have visited the national delegation's headquarters in Sanya, China, to review preparations for the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Hainan Province. QOC Second Vice President Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari and Secretary-General Jassim bin Ra»»»

Hezbollah announced on Wednesday a retaliatory drone strike targeting an Israeli site in Al-Bayyada, in response to the ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire announced last week. In a statement, the group’s Military Media said Islamic Resistance fighters targeted newly established Israeli art»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Winter Sports Committee (QWSC), in collaboration with Years of Culture, 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 expanding winter sports»»»

President Sadyr Japarov warned of the growing climate risks for Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia while speaking at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana. The head of state noted that despite Kyrgyzstan’s minimal contribution to global emissions—only approximately 0.03 percent—the country bears a sign»»»

Türkiye's central bank held its key interest rate at 37% as expected on Wednesday, deciding not to hike but warning that fallout from the Iran war could yet change the inflation outlook. It was the second straight policy meeting at which the bank held steady despite some expectations that it could »»»

The Council of Ministers has adopted a decision approving the Strategy for Countering Radicalization and Terrorism (2026–2030). The strategy consolidates the progress achieved so far and expands the capacity of the state and society for the effective prevention of radicalization and countering terr»»»

By a decision of the Cabinet, a report was adopted on the implementation of the 2026 Action Plan containing the measures arising from Bulgaria’s membership of the European Union as at March 31, 2026. Out of a total of 100 measures with a deadline for implementation by March 31, 41 have been complet»»»

The Council of Ministers Wednesday approved a decision to allocate EUR 150,079 to the Justice Ministry for 2026. The funds will reimburse the Ministry for payments made to citizens and legal persons affected by delays in the administration of justice. This amount represents the total compensation p»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi authorities have begun early preparations for the Hajj season, launching coordinated initiatives aimed at improving service quality, crowd management and spiritual services for pilgrims. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has inspected the readiness of camps in Mina during fi»»»

ISTANBUL: Sadri Haghshenas spends her days selling borek — a layered, savory pastry — at a shop in Istanbul, but her mind is on her daughter in Tehran. The family had to send her home to Iran after they ran into difficulties renewing her visa, despite fears that a shaky ceasefire could soon collaps»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaApple switches CEO: What it means for the tech giantNik MartinApple's top hardware engineer John Ternus will lead the $4 trillion iPhone maker, as Tim Cook steps back. Will Apple chase rivals for the smartest intelligence, or deliver the best personal AI experience? »»»

Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during its meeting with Israel in Washington on Thursday, a Lebanese official told AFP. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the topic, said "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one»»»

In the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, a wedding album quietly claimed the room. When it appeared on the side table, roles were set: some turned the pages carefully, others recalled details the photographs could not. You weren’t just visiting — you were stepping into someone’s life, one frame at a time. T»»»

Share: A woman walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel mural, in Tehran on April 21 2026, amid a ceasefire in the region. © Atta Kenare, AFP Lebanon will ask for a one-month ceasefire extension in its talks with Israel in Washington on Thursday, according to an official. Earlier, Iran seized two ship»»»

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, known as Ithra, announced the qualification of 20 teams at the conclusion of the regional rounds of the fifth Saudi STEM Racing competition. The contest aims to raise awareness of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) among»»»

PARACIN - The Vaider Serbian Glass Factory opened a new production plant in Paracin, central Serbia, on Wednesday. Addressing the opening ceremony, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the company could count on government assistance and that he would ask the government to find a way to help the»»»

BUDAPEST/BRUSSELS: Russian oil flowed through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday after a halt lasting months, officials said, allowing Hungary to lift its veto on a 90 billion euro ($105.79 billion) EU loan urgently needed by Kyiv. The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the »»»

former Guatemalan President Vinicio Cerezo, a signatory of the Esquipulas peace accords, demonstrated how leadership can expand political space by prioritizing dialogue and regional peace over permanent confrontation. File Photo by Juan Pablo Pino/EPA April 22 (UPI) -- Latin America is moving throu»»»

Kyiv/Moscow, April 22 (SANA) Fighting between Ukraine and Russia intensified on Wednesday, with both sides reporting casualties and damage as attacks expanded across several regions. Agence France-Presse quoted Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov as saying a civilian was killed and another »»»

A senior New Zealand minister has sparked outrage by deriding a planned free trade deal with India as a "butter chicken tsunami". Wellington is poised to sign a free trade agreement with India in New Delhi next week. Also Read: Australia: Albanese demands apology as senator’s anti-Indian remark spa»»»

Dubai: Pakistan is set to roll out a sweeping new five-year auto sector policy in consultation with the International Monetary Fund, aimed at slashing import tariffs, restructuring duties and opening up the vehicle market by 2030, The News reported on Wednesday. Under the $7 billion Extended Fund F»»»

Hezbollah on Wednesday said it targeted an Israeli artillery position in the southern town of al-Bayyada with an attack drone, adding that a control room went up in flames. The Israeli army had earlier said it "intercepted" a drone launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli troops in south Lebanon, calli»»»

Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while Europe's main stock markets eased on uncertainty surrounding the prospect of resumed Mideast peace talks following an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire. Asian equities had a mixed trading day as investors wait for clarity but broadly expect that both US Pres»»»

Dubai: Dubai-based dnata will invest around Dh77 million (A$32 million) to build a new cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, strengthening air freight capacity in Australia’s busiest logistics corridor. The global air and travel services provider said the purpose-built facility wi»»»

Dubai has announced an ambitious new addition to its public transport network with the launch of the Gold Line metro project. Revealed on X by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai the Dh34 billion initiative will span 42»»»

Dubai: Anvith Yalamanchili, a 15-year-old student from Dubai, has developed a free ride-sharing platform that connects commuters travelling along similar routes, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and emissions this World Earth Day. In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Anvith said the idea, n»»»

The number of measles cases in Bulgaria has reached 159, said Iliya Tasev, Director of the Public Health Protection, Health Control and Patients’ Rights Directorate at the Ministry of Health, speaking to journalists on Wednesday. Tasev added that 20,000 children have been vaccinated against measles»»»

The West and the US have used their ability to maneuver through legalities since the end of WW2 to control the international justice system, international relations researcher Professor Eli Georgi Elias tells Sputnik. The goal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is no longer to serve justice,»»»

BAGHDAD/DUBAI: The United States has halted a shipment of about $500 million in cash bound for Iraq and suspended parts of its security cooperation with Baghdad, in a move aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government over the actions of Iran-backed militias, Iraqi sources told Reuters. The measures wer»»»

THE HAGUE: International Criminal Court judges Wednesday threw out a challenge against the court’s jurisdiction by Rodrigo Duterte, meaning the former Philippines president could still stand trial over his war on drugs. The 81-year-old faces three counts of crimes against humanity at the internatio»»»

President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that the measures adopted by Cabinet must be "strictly enforced in Beirut," adding in a security meeting that "raids on locations containing weapons caches must be intensified." He added that the number of military and security forces deployed in the capital and»»»

Hanoi: Vietnam's top leader To Lam hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Hanoi on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, announcing a dozen cooperative agreements including on tech innovation and development of nuclear power plants. South Korea is Vietnam's biggest source of foreign investment and one»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announces the relocation of its headquarters in Lusail City starting from Sunday, April 26, 2026. In an announcement on social media, the Ministry also shared the exact location of its new headquarters in Lusail. The Ministry affirmed that all of i»»»

At a meeting of the Zhogorku Kenesh, deputies reviewed and adopted the draft law «On Amendments to the Law ’On Regulations of the Zhogorku Kenesh’» and the draft constitutional law «On Amendments to the Constitutional Law ’On the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums’» in their third rea»»»

The volume of remittances received by Kyrgyzstan in February 2026 amounted to $224.2 million, the National Bank reported. According to the bank, the bulk of this amount came from CIS countries—$208.2 million. Transfers from non-CIS countries amounted to $16 million. In February 2026, the volume of »»»