Israel summons Italy envoy over comments on Lebanon attacks
Israel summoned Italy's ambassador Monday to protest after Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Israel's "unacceptable attacks" on civilians in Lebanon during a visit to Beirut, an Italian diplomatic source said. Tajani, a senior member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, visited Be»»»
S. Korea dispatches envoys to Algeria, Libya for alternative supply chains amid Mideast crisis: FM - UPI.com
President Lee Jae Myung (R) asks Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (L) a question during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Tuesday. Photo by Yonhap Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday that the foreign ministry has dispatched envoys to Algeria and Libya and plans to send another envoy to the»»»
President: By 2028, there will be no old schools left in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov stated that all schools built in the 1960s and 1970s and currently in a dilapidated condition will be fully renovated or rebuilt by September 2028. He made the announcement during a meeting with residents of Alai district. According to the head of state, Kyrgyz»»»
DMCC hits 26,000 firms as tech takes the lead in 2025
Dubai: DMCC added more than 2,300 companies in 2025, bringing its total membership to more than 26,000. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Growth over the past year was driven by rising demand from global markets and the continued expansion of DMCC’s sector-focused ecosys»»»
Breakthrough expected in LD-dollar FX market: Central Bank launches comprehensive cash sales plan and distributes US$ 1 billion to banks
The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) announced a comprehensive package of new measures to regulate the foreign exchange market, ahead of an expanded meeting with commercial bank managers. The meeting aimed to establish implementation mechanisms that ensure smooth sales and enhance transparency. The news»»»
Germany's Merz urges Netanyahu to end Lebanon fighting
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to end fighting in southern Lebanon and engage in direct peace talks with the Lebanese government, a spokesman said. Merz also expressed his "grave concern" about developments in the Palestinian territories i»»»
Xi Calls for Tighter Ties to Spain in Face of Global ‘Chaos’
China's President Xi Jinping warned against a return to the "law of the jungle" in international relations and called for closer economic ties with Spain as he met Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Beijing on Tuesday, according to Chinese state media. The meeting of the two leaders comes on the secon»»»
IEA: Global crude oil demand set for sharpest quarterly crash since Covid
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says global oil demand is headed for its "steepest" quarterly drop since the Covid shock, with the agency’s outlook pointing to weakening consumption in April and the second quarter as trade tensions and softer economic momentum hit fuel use. An OPEC+ report, m»»»
War-weary Lebanese weigh giving talks with Israel a chance
From his small shop in Beirut, facing a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, Qassem Saad said he was exhausted by repeated Israeli wars on Lebanon, and hoped negotiations could end decades of suffering. "We know that Israel will remain an enemy to us, but we are tired," 49-year-old Saad, who»»»
Gold Rises as Dollar Softens, Lower Oil Prices Ease Inflation Fears
Gold prices rose on Tuesday, supported by a softer dollar and easing inflation fears as oil prices dropped on hopes of further US-Iran peace talks. Spot gold was up 0.8% at $4,775.20 per ounce, as of 0755 GMT. US gold futures for June delivery rose 0.7% to $4,798.40, Reuters reported. Oil prices fe»»»
Australia to Spend Billions on Drones as Warfare Changes
Australia will boost spending on drones by up to Au$5 billion ($3.6 billion) in response to shifts in warfare seen in the Middle East, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Tuesday. Australia's vast coastline and small population have spurred a focus on developing large autonomous submarines and fig»»»
Trump’s Blockade of Hormuz Strait to Have Severe Economic Implications
The global economy enters a new stage of uncertainty as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces began implementing a blockade of maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports. US President Donald Trump ordered the naval blockade after marathon peace talks with Iran in Islamabad,»»»
China’s Exports Slowed in March While Imports Soared
China's exports grew at a slower pace last month after starting the year with a surge, official data showed Tuesday, as the global economy reels from war in the Middle East. The world's second-largest economy produced a record-breaking trade surplus last year at $1.2 trillion. Booming overseas ship»»»
Wind power is not the harmless energy source liberals said it was
They may appear to be innocuous – even elegant – on the landscape as they collect power from the currents, but wind turbines have their own set of problems that environmentalists wish to ignore due to their eco-virtue-signaling. As environmentalists look at a sprawling field of wind turbines as ‘go»»»
Why Islamabad’s Serena Hotel is suddenly in the global spotlight after high-level talks
Dubai: Tucked away in one of Pakistan's most scenic pockets, the highly discreet Islamabad Serena Hotel has long been known as a quiet luxury escape. But in recent days, the five-star property (located close to the diplomatic enclave and key government institutions) has found itself at the centre o»»»
Israel says soldier killed, 3 others wounded in south Lebanon
The Israeli military said Tuesday that a soldier had been killed in Lebanon, the first since a U.S.-Iran temporary truce came into force that Israel insisted does not include the country where it is fighting Hezbollah. "Sergeant Major (Res.) Ayal Uriel Bianco, aged 30, from Katzrin, a firefighting »»»
Lebanon, Israel to meet for tough talks in Washington
Lebanese and Israeli representatives are scheduled to meet in Washington Tuesday for U.S.-mediated talks on ending the war in Lebanon, but the prospects of an agreement appear slim. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem called for the talks to be scrapped before they even began, describing them as "f»»»
Pakistan proposes new US–Iran talks as Vance, Trump signal progress
Pakistani officials said on Tuesday that Islamabad has proposed a second round of talks between the United States and Iran, even as senior US leaders signalled cautious optimism following the latest negotiations. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to»»»
Kyrgyzstan seeks to join World Bank’s AgriConnect initiative - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan has recorded significant growth in its food processing industry, with production increasing by 30.1 percent in 2025. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliev, stated during a meeting with Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani. Acco»»»
Iran to Allocate Part of Oil Revenues for Reconstruction After Attacks, Minister Says
Iranian oil sales in recent weeks have been favorable and part of the revenue will be allocated to repairing damage to industry caused by wartime attacks, Iran's oil minister said on Tuesday. Mohsen Paknejad said oil workers had maintained operations across facilities during the conflict,»»»
Two congressmen resign as US House faces rare expulsions over scandals
Two US lawmakers stepped down on Monday and two others faced possible expulsion amid scandals roiling Congress. Democrat Eric Swalwell resigned after misconduct allegations, while Republican Tony Gonzales said he would retire following pressure over an affair with a former aide, deepening turmoil i»»»
Man charged with throwing Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home - UPI.com
Federal prosecutors on Monday charged a 20-year-old man for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Image courtesy Justice Department/Criminal Complaint April 14 (UPI) -- Federal authorities have charged the 20-year-old Texas man who police arrested»»»
Pakistan Says Looking at Options to Repay $3.5 Billion UAE Loan
Pakistan is considering Eurobonds, loans from other countries and commercial debt to replace a $3.5 billion facility from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and manage its foreign reserves, its finance minister said. Muhammad Aurangzeb also told Reuters the shock from the ongoing war in the Middle East»»»
Saudi Arabia Urges US Back to Iran Talks as Other Oil Routes Face Risk
Saudi Arabian officials are warning the US that its move to impose a blockade on Iranian ports following failed negotiations could backfire, triggering even wider global energy disruption, according to media reports. Trump aims to pressure Iran into loosening its grip over the Strait of Hormuz, but»»»
Sale of government positions will no longer exist in Kyrgyzstan — Japarov - | 24.KG
The practice of selling government positions will no longer exist in Kyrgyzstan. President Sadyr Japarov announced this in an interview with journalist Ydyrys Isakov. He called personnel policy in the Kyrgyz Republic «very complex» and added that for the past 30 years, appointments in the country h»»»
What Does a ‘Blockade of the Blockade’ in the Strait of Hormuz Mean?
When Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, it did not physically seal the waterway — for example, by fully mining it. Instead, it barred ships and oil tankers belonging to Gulf littoral states, as well as vessels from countries it considers adversaries, chiefly the United States and Israel, fro»»»
CBSE Class 10 exams 2026 results due for UAE students today: Why they won’t be final
Dubai: More than 13,600 CBSE Grade 10 students in the UAE are about to receive their long-awaited results but there is a crucial catch. The scores coming out are not final, and the student sitting at the top of the class today may not hold that position a month from now. Schools and educators acros»»»
Bulgaria’s Tourism Industry Adapts to a Digital-First Traveller
Bulgaria’s tourism sector has never been stronger and has been achieving steady growth for the past few years. The industry has been adjusting to new changes in the market, that of the digital traveller. It is nothing new to say that tourism is shaped by technology, but its influence has grown even»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Jordan Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, received a phone call from His Excellency Dr. Ayman Al Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Du»»»
EU chief touts electric power strategy as energy crisis bites
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Brussels next week will present plans to tackle high energy costs caused by the Iran war and before the summer will unveil a broader package to boost Europe's electrification, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday.The energy crisis has already cost the 27-nation bloc more th»»»
Oil surges, stocks drop as Trump threatens to block Hormuz
LONDON — Oil prices surged and stock markets broadly fell Monday after US-Iran peace talks broke down and President Donald Trump announced a plan to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, ratcheting up fears for Middle East energy supplies.The news dealt a blow to hopes for an end to the six-week co»»»
Middle East war live: US-sanctioned tanker passes Strait of Hormuz despite Trump's blockade
A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the United States passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, shipping data showed, hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to block the chokepoint entirely. Earlier, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah urged Lebanon to pull out of direct »»»
Prime Minister, Saudi Foreign Minister discuss regional developments
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, received a phone call from HRH Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the call, they reviewed the »»»
Driver's license non-recognition rumors spread by corrupt groups — President - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov said that reports claiming Kyrgyz driver’s licenses are not recognized abroad are the result of actions by corrupt groups. He made the statement during a meeting with residents of Alai district. According to him, the new-format driver’s licenses are recognized »»»
US Says Ball in Iran’s Court as Push Grows to End War
The United States said "the ball is in the Iranian court" on ending the Middle East war, as diplomats accelerated efforts on Tuesday towards a new round of peace talks after weekend negotiations failed to produce a deal. US Vice President JD Vance had left talks hosted by Pakistan on Sunday, saying»»»
France reaffirms Qatar as ‘trusted partner’, pledges continued support
Doha, Qatar: France has reaffirmed Qatar’s position as a “trusted partner” and pledged to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the country, while highlighting the importance of continued mediation and diplomacy to ensure lasting regional stability. Director General for Political and Security Affairs a»»»
Russia warns of danger of war resuming as US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect
The Kremlin has warned that the danger of war resuming in the Middle East has not been averted after US-Iran negotiations ended without result, as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports came into effect on April 13. "The dan»»»
Russia warns of danger of war resuming as US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect
The Kremlin has warned that the danger of war resuming in the Middle East has not been averted after US-Iran negotiations ended without result, as a US naval blockade of Iranian ports came into effect on April 13. "The dan»»»
Iraq's Coordination Framework Close to Naming Candidate for PM's Post
Iraq's pro-Iran Coordination Framework is leaning towards nominating Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for a second term days after the election of Nizar Amedi as president. This would mean abandoning the nomination of former PM Nouri al-Maliki, whose chances of becoming premier are nil after »»»
Military Technology Museum in Germany bars entry to citizens of Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
A military technology museum in Germany has banned entry to citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, and 21 other countries. «Due to military security requirements, access to the collection is currently prohibited for citizens of states included in the list defined in Section 13 (17) of»»»
Bahrain banks offer loan deferrals as central bank injects liquidity
Dubai: Bahrain has moved to cushion households and businesses with a broad package of loan relief and liquidity support, aiming to keep credit flowing and ease repayment pressure during a period of economic strain. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Central Bank of Ba»»»
Fewer tourists, fuller local crowds: How Dubai hospitality is riding out the crisis
Dubai: Even as flight disruptions and jet fuel shortages unsettle travel across the region, Dubai’s community-driven hospitality venues are proving unexpectedly resilient — a sign, says McGettigan’s owner Dennis McGettigan, that the emirate’s strong resident customer base is helping steady the food»»»
How Would a Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Work?
Washington: Ephrat Livni After weekend peace talks in Pakistan between the United States and Iran ended with no agreement, President Trump on Sunday said the US Navy would impose a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway that Iran has mostly choked off since the war began in lat»»»
Another boat strike in the eastern Pacific Ocean leaves 2 dead, US military says
WASHINGTON: The U.S. military said it carried out another strike Monday (April 13, 2026) on a boat accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing two people. The campaign of attacks on vessels that the Trump administration says are trafficking drugs in Latin American waters has »»»
Business - Oil prices surge as Trump vows to block the Strait of Hormuz
US crude oil prices surged nearly 8%, reaching US$104 per barrel, as concerns grow over a potential US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In March, Iran exported around 1.85 million barrels of crude per day through the strait. Meanwhile, Hungarians are eyeing a new economic future as Peter Magyar pr»»»
Colombia Approves Plan to Cull Roaming Hippos Linked to Pablo Escobar
Colombian officials on Monday authorized a plan to cull dozens of hippos roaming freely through a region in the center of the country, where they threaten villagers and displace native species years after notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar brought in the first ones. Environment Minister Irene Vélez »»»
Democracy in Decline: Bulgaria Lands on Troubling “Autocracy Watch” List
A leading global research center on democratic systems has issued a stark warning about political trends in several countries, concluding in its latest annual report that Bulgaria is now among those showing clear signs of democratic backsliding. The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute argues t»»»
Mexican man is 16th migrant to die in ICE custody this year - UPI.com
A Mexican immigrant died Saturday in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Louisiana. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 13 (UPI) -- A 49-year-old Mexican man died in U.S. immigration custody late last week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, becoming the 16th »»»
ADB projects slower growth in all of Asia
For decades after globalisation and interconnected digitally enhanced international commerce, Asia has been the world's most reliable source of economic momentum. According to an outlook forecast report by the Asian Develo»»»