Russia Urges US-Iran to Keep Ceasefire, Continue Talks
Moscow on Monday called for the US-Iran ceasefire to be maintained and for diplomatic efforts to continue, after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with his Iranian counterpart, a close Russian ally. "The Russian side again emphasized the need to preserve the truce, which must be observed within »»»
FBI Director Kash Patel sues The Atlantic over excess drinking article - UPI.com
FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 18. On Monday he sued The Atlantic for $250 million in damages. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo April 20 (UPI) -- FBI Director Kash Patel sued The Atlantic on Monday, seeking $250 million in da»»»
800,000 cyberattacks daily on UAE even during "calm" periods
Fujairah: The UAE is fending off around 800,000 cyberattacks each day, even during periods of relative calm, underscoring the persistent and evolving nature of digital threats, a senior official has said. Dr Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, revealed the scale of the acti»»»
Iraq Reopens Rabia Border Crossing to Boost Fuel Oil Exports via Syria
Iraq has reopened the Rabia border crossing with Syria after more than a decade to accelerate overland fuel oil exports and revive cross-border trade amid disruption to Gulf shipping following the Iran war, Iraqi border officials said on Monday. The crossing, located in Iraq’s northern Nineveh prov»»»
Exhibition Dedicated to 150th Anniversary of April Uprising Opens at National Library
An exhibition “For the Freedom of a People”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the April Uprising, opened at the National Library on Monday. President Iliana Iotova attended the event. She said the venue is symbolic and that it would be difficult to find a more suitable space for such an exhibi»»»
Did the Pope change — or did the world finally listen?
Luanda: And in Africa, the lion roared. There is a case to be made that Pope Leo XIV, the careful, reserved, Midwestern Augustinian, found his voice on his epic trip through Africa, blasting the “handful of tyrants” and “chains of corruption” that have held the continent hostage for centuries. But »»»
France's Macron Urges Iran, US to De-Escalate Amid Hormuz Tensions
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for the United States and Iran to de-escalate amid increased tensions over the weekend over the Strait of Hormuz. "Our position remains the same. We need to settle things through diplomacy. Everyone must calm down," Macron said during a joint p»»»
Real Talks Need Honored Pledges, Not US Pressure – Iranian President
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that honoring commitments is essential for dialogue, while condemning U.S. demands for Iran’s surrender. "Honoring commitments is the basis of meaningful dialogue. Deep historical mistrust in Iran toward US gov conduct remains, while unconstructive & con»»»
Who will make up Magyar’s new Hungarian government? Meet the team shaping up to be Tisza’s first cabinet
Originally published at Napunk The soon-to-be-formed Tisza government in Budapest will differ from Viktor Orbán’s governments not only in personnel but also in structure. Over the four terms since 2010, Viktor Orbán has repeatedly reshaped his governments, abolishing traditional ministries and fold»»»
Rosatom to Restart Work at Iranian Bushehr Nuclear Plant Once Peace Returns – CEO
TASHKENT (Sputnik) - Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to resume construction of new units at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran as quickly as possible once peace is restored, the company's CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Monday. "Our most important task, once peace is restored in t»»»
Live update : Lebanon names ex-ambassador to US Simon Karam to lead Israel talks – Ya Libnan
Share: File photo- Ambassador Simon Karam, was named by president Joseph Aoun to lead the negotiations with Israel Lebanese President Joseph Aoun named former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Karam to head the negotiations, and said the talks will be “separate from any other negotiations”, in refe»»»
Trump snaps at critique that Israel dragged him into Iran war
In the leadup and throughout the seven-week war, U.S. President Donald Trump has faced criticism from the left and from some of his own supporters that he followed Israel’s lead into launching the conflict. But Trump on social media is blaming the media for pushing what he claims is a false narrati»»»
UAE threatens to ditch petrodollar for yuan in currency swap talks – WSJ
The United Arab Emirates has warned the US Treasury that it could be “forced to use Chinese yuan” in oil trade, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama delivered what the newspaper described as an “implicit threat” against the dollar’s dominant po»»»
Is Israel replicating Gaza's 'Yellow Line' in south Lebanon?
Israel says it has established a "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon near the border, where its forces are operating despite a 10-day ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. What is the so-called "Yellow Line", how does it resemble an Israeli military demarcation in the Gaza Strip and where does it leave »»»
How Global Village is keeping you safe
After a month-long closure triggered by the Iran–Israel–US conflict, Global Village has reopened with renewed energy, and a sharpened focus on safety. As we are told by security, the priority is clear: Keep calm, stay alert, and protect every visitor who walks through the gates. We have to be calm.»»»
Iran Postpones Response to US Attack on Merchant Ship to Protect Crew’s Families
Iran was poised and ready to retaliate against a recent US attack on the Iranian Touska container vessel in the Gulf of Oman, the Iranian Armed Forces’ Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters stated. "But due to the presence of some family members of the ship’s crew on board, an operational response w»»»
Fadlallah said Hezbollah to break 'Yellow Line', vows 'no one' can disarm group
Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Monday that it was in President Joseph Aoun's interest to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, while adding that his group wanted the current ceasefire to last. "It is in the interest of the state, the interest of Lebanon, the president of the republic»»»
Iran Says 'No Decision' Yet on Joining New Round of US Peace Talks
Iran said it had yet to decide whether to attend a new round of peace negotiations with the United States on Monday, casting uncertainty on a push to stop the Middle East war from resuming. US President Donald Trump said he was sending negotiators to Pakistan for talks on ending the war that engulf»»»
Global Village Season 30 reopening: New attractions, expanded spaces, and upgraded experiences
Global Village has officially reopened its door today continuing its milestone 30th season, and it's bringing more than just nostalgia. Since first welcoming visitors in 1997, the beloved shopper's attraction has grown into one of the UAE's most beloved destinations, drawing a record-breaking 10.5 »»»
One in 11 Greater Athens motorists stopped by police gets fined
Greater Athens traffic police have stopped more than 44,000 motorists in the past five days under an unprecedentedly long and effective road safety campaign, fining roughly one in eleven for breaching the beefed-up new driving code. A police statement said 4,132 fines were issued between Thursday a»»»
Residents return to ravaged homes months after Hong Kong fire
Hong Kong: Hong Kong residents who lost their homes in a massive fire at an apartment complex last year began returning on Monday for the first time to collect what is left of their belongings. The city's deadliest fire in decades killed 168 people when it ripped through seven of the eight apartmen»»»
IFAD to Asharq Al-Awsat: Repercussions of Hormuz Closure Trigger Global Food Security Shock
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said the repercussions of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a global food security shock, warning that disruptions to fertilizer and fuel supplies, rising input costs, and declining purchasing power are threatening producti»»»
Civil Defense urges caution as thunderstorms sweep Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s General Directorate of Civil Defense has urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid flood-prone areas as thunderstorms are forecast to continue affecting much of the country through Friday, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Citing projections from the National Center for»»»
Qatar emir and Jordan crown prince discuss efforts for regional deescalation
LONDON: Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah in Doha on Monday to discuss efforts to deescalate hostilities and restore stability in the Middle East. The meeting focused on regional developments and the need to intensify Arab efforts to ac»»»
India, South Korea to cooperate on energy supply chains amid Iran war
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on Monday new partnerships in energy supply chains and critical technologies to address global trade fallout from the US–Israeli war on Iran. Lee arrived in India as the war, which started on Feb. 28, »»»
Aviation authority: Iran reopens main airports in capital Tehran
Tehran: Iran reopened its main Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports in capital Tehran on Monday, April 20, 2026, the country's aviation authority said, after closures caused by the weeks-long war with the United States and Israel. "Authorization for passenger flights at Imam Khomeini International A»»»
Arrests made, UAE foils major terror plan
Abu Dhabi: UAE State Security authorities announced they have dismantled a terrorist cell and arrested its members over alleged involvement in covert activities aimed at undermining national unity and destabilising the country. According to the statement carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM), inves»»»
UAE says it dismantled ‘terrorist group’ linked to Iran, arrests members
DUBAI: A “terrorist organisation” has been dismantled and its members arrested over alleged plans to carry out coordinated attacks aimed at undermining national security, authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Monday. The State Security Service said investigations found the group had links to Iran’s “Wil»»»
How the US-Israel-Iran conflict may impact the Global South’s harvest season
LONDON: For much of the Global South, the US-Israel-Iran war is no longer a distant geopolitical crisis. It is showing up in farm budgets, fuel queues and food markets, as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz drives up costs and strains already fragile economies. Iran’s blockade of Hormuz has rattled»»»
How Israeli strikes on paramedics are hindering rescue efforts in Lebanon
BEIRUT: Wael Mousawi, a 35-year-old Civil Defense responder in Tyre, says he has spent weeks moving “between death and death,” pulling bodies from the rubble of flattened homes in southern Lebanon as rescue teams struggled to keep pace with the scale of destruction. Paramedics and rescue workers ac»»»
Iran accuses US of ceasefire breach, vows retaliation over attack on ship
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, accused the US of violating a ceasefire by firing at one of Iran’s commercial ships in the Gulf of Oman, vowing to retaliate. State media quoted a Khatam Al-Anbiya spokesperson as saying early on Monday that the vess»»»
How Bahrain is supporting private-sector workers as Gulf businesses feel Iran war strain
LONDON: Reverberations of the conflict in the Middle East are being felt across the region both physically and metaphorically. The booms and jolts of missile interceptions over Gulf cities and industrial sites may have halted since President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8, b»»»
Doubts over talks between Iran and US after violence flares in Strait of Hormuz
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, »»»
Iran executes two men convicted of links to Israel’s spy agency
TEHRAN: Iran executed two men on Monday convicted of having links to Israel’s spy agency, the judiciary said, the latest in a string of executions since the outbreak of war with Israel and the United States. “The death sentences of Mohammad Masoom-shahi and Hamed Validi were carried out at dawn tod»»»
Iran’s president stresses importance of diplomacy while noting distrust of US
DUBAI: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce tensions with the US, but added that vigilance and distrust in interactions with Washington were an “undeniable necessity,” according to the state news agency IRNA. A two-week»»»
UK foreign minister to end tour early amid Iran ceasefire push
TOKYO/LONDON: British foreign minister Yvette Cooper will cut short an intensive diplomatic tour designed to build consensus around making a ceasefire in the Iran war permanent and on the next steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Cooper's department is at the centre of a new crisis over Peter Ma»»»
Israel talks aim to end hostilities, occupation: Lebanon president
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aim to end “hostilities” and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named ex-ambassador Simon Karam to lead a delegation. “The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern r»»»
Israel PM vows ‘harsh action’ against soldier who vandalized Jesus statue in Lebanon
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “harsh action” Monday against a soldier caught on camera vandalizing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, as the image spread online. The photo, which the military determined was authentic, shows an Israeli soldier using a sledgeha»»»
EU’s Costa told Jordan’s King Abdullah that Hormuz Strait must be re-opened
European Council President Antonio Costa told Jordan’s King Abdullah that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened, during a phone call between the two, said Costa on Monday. Costa wrote on X that he had held the call with King Abdullah on Monday. “In our call today, I reiterated that the EU st»»»
Saudi investment pipeline active as reforms advance, says Pakistan minister
ALULA: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Mohammed Aurangzeb described Saudi Arabia as a “longstanding partner” and emphasized the importance of sustainable, mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in key economic sectors. Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging M»»»
Startup wrap — Early stage funding momentum, IPO plans continue in MENA region
RIYADH: Startups operating in the Middle East and North Africa witnessed multiple funding rounds across various sectors last week, even as the conflict in Iran continued to rattle the market. This momentum builds on the record $7.5 billion funding received by startups in 2025, representing a 225 pe»»»
Oil rises 6% on renewed US-Iran tension
SINGAPORE: Oil prices jumped more than 6 percent on Monday, on fears that the ceasefire between the US and Iran could collapse after the US seized an Iranian cargo ship, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz stayed largely halted. Brent crude futures advanced $5.47, or 6.05 percent, to $95.85»»»
Startup wrap — Funding momentum continues amid Iran conflict
RIYADH: Startups in the Middle East and North Africa region secured multiple funding rounds across different sectors across the beginning of April, despite ongoing market uncertainty caused by the conflict in Iran. This positive momentum continues from the record $7.5 billion raised by MENA startup»»»
Algeria launches global bid round for oil, gas exploration across 7 fields
RIYADH: Algeria has launched a global bidding round for oil and gas exploration across seven fields, in a move that underscores the OPEC member’s efforts to boost production capacity and attract foreign investment amid a volatile global energy market shaped by the Iran war. Samir Bekhti, president »»»
Western Policy Aimed at Deterring Russia, China Threatens International Peace - Moscow
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The policy of the West, which is aimed at deterring Russia and China, poses a threat to international peace and security, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniy Ivanov said on Monday. "If we talk about the external perimeter, then the main threat to international peace and secur»»»
Israel PM vows 'harsh action' against soldier vandalizing Jesus statue in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "harsh action" Monday against a soldier caught on camera vandalizing a statue of Jesus Christ in southern Lebanon, as the image spread online. The photo, which the military determined was authentic, shows an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to str»»»
Geagea says Aoun-Netanyahu meeting 'necessary,' 'should not be postponed'
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that Lebanon needs a lasting solution to permanently end the state of war with Israel, rather than merely settling for a temporary ceasefire, calling direct negotiations a "necessity" Hezbollah "forced" upon Lebanon. In an interview with Sky News Arab»»»
Pope Leo visits Angola’s diamond-rich northeast
Luanda: Pope Leo XIV heads to Angola’s remote and diamond-rich northeast on Monday in the latest stop on an Africa tour during which he has spoken out against the country’s glaring poverty. On the eighth day of a trip to four African nations, Leo will fly to the town of Saurimo, 800 kilometres east»»»
Macron and Tusk meet in Poland to discuss European defence
Poland: French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are meeting Monday in the north of Poland to strengthen defence cooperation in the face of Russian threats and weakening US commitment to Europe. The meeting is the first since the two countries signed a treaty of friend»»»
UK’s Starmer to face grilling from MPs over Mandelson scandal
London: Embattled UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will face lawmakers in parliament on Monday as he bids to quell anger over an unrelenting scandal involving long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson. Starmer, already widely unpopular with the public and many Labour MPs, is struggling to e»»»