Iran war effects on Europe: Is a recession already unfolding
Brussels, Apr.23 ( SANA) The eurozone’s private sector slipped back into contraction in April, marking its weakest performance in nearly a year and a half since November 2024, as the war in Iran hit services and fuelled inflation. The war in the Middle East, involving Iran, has now done what no tra»»»
Miguel Díaz-Canel says no talks if U.S. rejects Cuba's terms - UPI.com
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel speaks at an event commemorating the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, in Havana on April 16. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA April 23 (UPI) -- President Miguel Díaz-Canel said any negotiations with the United»»»
Saudi Heritage Commission registers 1,414 archaeological sites
RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission has listed 1,414 new archaeological sites in the national antiquities register, which reflects the diversity of the Kingdom’s cultural riches. It also underscores the broad scope of national efforts to survey and document archaeological sites, and to enable the»»»
Inside Iran’s 40-year power shift: Clerical rule fades as IRGC takes control
Dubai: Iran’s decision-making core has undergone a quiet but profound transformation, with real power shifting away from clerics to a hardened network of military commanders, according to a detailed report by The New York Times. At the centre of this shift is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamen»»»
Iran’s Hormuz Toll Offers SWIFT-Free Dollar Fiscal Endurance Lifeline
Iran has the justification for its Hormuz tolls, as it can cite “severe constraint” from US sanctions and war, Professor Azmi Hassan, senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy of Strategic Research in Malaysia, tells Sputnik. It also has unique leverage in that it effectively controls the waterway, he»»»
UK health data of 500,000 people listed for sale in China
London, United Kingdom: Anonymised medical data of half a million members of UK health database Biobank was temporarily listed for sale on a popular Chinese website, the government said on Thursday. Data minister Ian Murray told parliament that the breach involved the information of all 500,000 Bio»»»
London landlords caught advertising ‘Muslim only’ flats
Landlords across London and the south-east of the UK have been illegally advertising properties exclusively for Muslim tenants, in an apparent breach of Britain’s equality laws, according to an investigation published by The Telegraph on Wednesday. Listings on Facebook and Telegram posted across mu»»»
'Free Timmy!': Beached whale grips and divides Germany
Berlin: The sad saga of a humpback whale stranded a month ago on the German coast has sparked a flood of compassion but also a media frenzy, angry spats, conspiracy theories and death threats. As Germans have followed the travails of the sea mammal, dubbed "Timmy" by a newspaper, on their live news»»»
Iran government says men’s soccer team is preparing for ‘proud participation’ at World Cup in US
GENEVA: An Iranian government spokesperson says the men’s national team are preparing for “proud and successful participation” in their World Cup games in the United States. Iran’s ability and willingness to go to the World Cup across north America starting June 11 has been unclear since the US and»»»
Qatar to face El Salvador in pre-World Cup friendly in LA
DOHA: Qatar will take on El Salvador in an international friendly at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on June 6, the Qatar Football Association announced on Thursday, as Al Annabi continue their build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match forms part of a crucial overseas training camp designed to fine»»»
From Ukraine to Taiwan: Drone warfare lessons meet Indo-Pacific reality - UPI.com
A C-230 Overkill (Striker)) one-way attack drone is on display during a press tour in Taichung, Taiwan, on Tuesday. Thunder Tiger Corp. is a Taiwanese company that designs and manufactures defense-oriented unmanned vehicles, including UAVs, unmanned surface vessels, underwater ROVs and all-terrain »»»
Veliko Tarnovo Grand Hotel Attracts Guests with Mineralized Water at Renovated Spa Centre
The spa centre with mineralized water at the Grand Hotel Veliko Tarnovo spans 2,000 sq. m. The renovated hotel has once again become an attractive site for congress tourism, international events, team-building activities, and individual visits. Construction of the hotel began in 1967 and finished i»»»
Qatar Customs, Qatar Aviation Services sign MoU to facilitate clearance of personal imports
DOHA: The General Authority of Customs and Qatar Aviation Services signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to enhance cooperation in the field of general customs clearance for personal imports, aiming to improve service quality, simplify procedures, expedite transactions, and enhance the e»»»
Saudi oil and gas expertise under study for lunar exploration
RIYADH: A pact between a Saudi Arabia university and Japanese space exploration company has raised hopes of using the Kingdom’s expertise in oil and gas infrastructure for a lunar economy. Dr. Julien-Alexandre Lamamy, CEO of ispace-Europe, told Arab News recently that the company envisages tangible»»»
Lebanese leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
Lebanon's leaders accused Israel on Thursday of committing a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, with the Israeli army saying it was reviewing the incident. Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year»»»
“Demand is strong”: Emirates chief signals recovery despite war
Dubai: Dubai's flagship Emirates is confident it will rebound quickly from disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, with President Tim Clark saying strong demand will help the airline recover lost ground and fend off competition. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Speakin»»»
Trump administration reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III substance - UPI.com
1 of 2 | The Justice Department announced that it is immediately seeking to reschedule FDA-approved cannabis products including state-licensed medical marijuana, to Schedule III. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said this open the door for research into the substance. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI |»»»
UN 'working on' keeping presence in Lebanon in 2027
The United Nations said Thursday it was "working on" maintaining a presence in Lebanon once the mandate for its UNIFIL peacekeeping force expires at the end of the year. "In terms of the post-UNIFIL, we're currently in the process of working on these options," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the U.N. Und»»»
Malta’s notorious gambling laws ‘incompatible’ with single market: EU court top lawyer
Malta is on collision course for another legal dispute with the European Commission over its online gambling industry, after the European Court of Justice’s top advisor said that its law which forbids Maltese courts from recognising rulings from other member states breaks EU law. In a legal opinion»»»
German Chancellor Congratulates Rumen Radev on Election Victory
Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Rumen Radev in a phone call on Thursday on the overwhelming victory of Progressive Bulgaria in the parliamentary elections and expressed the German government’s readiness to work with Bulgaria’s future regular government, the press office of»»»
Son of former Shah of Iran appeals to Western countries for support
BERLIN: The son of the former Shah appealed to Western countries to join the war against Iran and criticised the decision of the German government not to meet him during his visit to Berlin on Thursday. Reza Pahlavi, whose father was deposed in the revolution that brought Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomei»»»
Senate passes resolution to begin budget reconciliation to fund DHS - UPI.com
Senate Republican Leader John Thune, R-S.D., helped the Senate pass a bill to begin the budget reconciliation process early Thursday Morning. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans were up all night voting, eventually adopting a budget reconciliation pack»»»
Wadi Al Qarha declared protected nature reserve in Sharjah
Sharjah: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued an Emiri Decree on the establishment of “Wadi Al Qarha” Nature Reserve in the Emirate of Sharjah. The decree stipulates that a natural reserve named “Wadi Al Qarha Nature Reserve”»»»
UNESCO Executive Board adopts International Plan to Protect Education from Attack
Paris, France: The Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unanimously adopted the International Action Plan to Protect Education from Attacks during its 224th session, in what was described as a first-of-its-kind step within international fr»»»
French, UK defense chiefs eye 'real progress' in Hormuz plan
Britain and France Thursday voiced hope that a military plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz was coming together and would succeed in restoring trade flows through the vital passage. At a two-day meeting in London, a dedicated operational planning group on Wednesday presented a decision brief to mi»»»
Peru's F-16 purchase from U.S. sparks political crisis, resignations - UPI.com
Interim Peruvian President José María Balcázar sought to suspend the roughly $3.5 billion acquisition of 12 F-16s from Lockheed Martin, arguing that the decision should be left to the next administration that takes office in July. File Photo by Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA April 23 (UPI) -- Peru's planned »»»
Saudi Arabia tops key global rankings in GEM entrepreneurship report
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has secured top rankings in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025-2026 report, reflecting a highly competitive environment and reinforcing its position as a premier hub for entrepreneurship. The Kingdom led all high-income economies in entrepreneurial finance, highlighting t»»»
Bangladesh measles crisis deepens as child deaths reach 194
DHAKA: Bangladesh has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases has exceeded 28,000, government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children have died from the disease every day for the past week. Five childr»»»
Ajman rolls out incentives to boost tourism and ease business costs
Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, on Thursday approved a comprehensive package of incentives aimed at supporting the emirate's tourism sector, including the deferral of fee payments and fine waivers, in a move designed to stimulate activ»»»
Britain, France sign $894M deal to stop migrant boats crossing Channel - UPI.com
Britain and France inked a new $894 million agreement Thursday to tackle small boats carrying asylum seekers attempting to get to England that will see the number of police patrolling French beaches rise from 700 to nearly 1,100. File photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA-EFE April 23 (UPI) -- Britain and Fr»»»
Pentagon says it boarded an Iran-linked vessel on Indian Ocean - UPI.com
1 of 2 | The Pentagon posted a video on social media Thursday showing what it says is U.S. forces boarding a vessel on the Indian Ocean with ties to Iran. File Photo via U.S. European Command/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- The Pentagon posted a video on social media Thursday showing what it »»»
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Only the State Decides on Talks with Israel
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Lebanon “has started to gradually reclaim its natural right to determine its own fate independently of others’ calculations,” stressing that the Lebanese state “alone holds the decision to negotiate,” and that Lebanon “is not subordinate to anyone and is»»»
Defying Hezbollah, Israel and Lebanon start talking
For the first time in decades, Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials sat across a table in Washington and began talking. The discussions—convened in the shadow of a wider war with Iran, mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and given a 10-day ceasefire window by Donald Trump—are truly histo»»»
Are Damascus and Hezbollah headed for confrontation?
Since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on 8 December 2024, the country’s border with Lebanon has been subject to an unprecedented mobilisation, with Damascus ramping things up in recent weeks by sending heavy reinforcements to the frontier to confront Hezbollah’s smuggling operations. Under As»»»
Pakistan eyes progress in US-Iran talks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan voiced hope for progress in US-Iran negotiations, stressing the need to sustain diplomatic channels to address the escalating Middle East crisis. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in talks with US Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad Natalie Baker, called for maintaining momentum, inclu»»»
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister: Only the State Decides on Talks with Israel
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said Lebanon “has started to gradually reclaim its natural right to determine its own fate independently of others’ calculations,” stressing that the Lebanese state “alone holds the decision to negotiate,” and that Lebanon “is not subordinate to anyone and is»»»
Round 2: Lebanon-Israel talks inch forward
Today (23 April), the US hosts the second round of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington. The first meeting of these diplomats on 14 April was significant, not because it was the first direct legal contact between senior officials of these states since 1993, or because th»»»
Mojsilovic: Security situation in Serbia stable
BELGRADE - Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic says the security situation in Serbia is stable but that certain challenges and risks do exist, above all, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija, and noted that the Serbian Armed Forces are fully capable of executing a»»»
Pakistan Remains Preferred Mediator in Talks With United States- Iranian Diplomatic Source
ISLAMABAD (Sputnik) - Iran still considers Pakistan as the preferred mediator in the negotiations with the United States, an Iranian diplomatic source told Sputnik. "Iran continues to consider Islamabad as the preferred and reliable mediator in the negotiations between Iran and the United States," »»»
Arctic of Strategic Importance for Russia's Economic Development - Putin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Arctic is of strategic importance for Russia's economic development and the protection of its sovereignty, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. "I have repeatedly noted the special strategic importance of this region for our country, for the domestic economy, fo»»»
Lebanon decries Israeli demolition of homes in areas occupied after ceasefire
BEIRUT: Spread across a hillside of southern Lebanon, the tiny village of Beit Lif had been almost entirely flattened. Once home to a few thousand people, nearly every house had been reduced to piles of concrete by Israeli military demolitions. “They were demolishing it gradually until they reached»»»
UK production costs hit record high amid Middle East conflict
London, April 22 (SANA) British companies reported a record rise in production costs this month, according to a new economic survey, highlighting renewed inflationary pressures that could feed into prices amid global energy disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict. Data from S&P Global showed»»»
Aldar acquires KEZAD logistics assets for Dh650m to expand portfolio
Dubai: Aldar Properties has acquired an industrial and logistics portfolio from a subsidiary of AD Ports Group for Dh650 million, expanding its presence in Abu Dhabi’s key economic zone. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The transaction involves the»»»
What Does the Inclusion of Saudi Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Index Mean?
Saudi Arabia’s debt market is set for a strategic shift in early 2027, following J.P. Morgan’s announcement that local-currency bonds will be included in its global emerging markets bond index. The move represents a vote of confidence in the Kingdom’s structural reforms and is expected to open the »»»
Bangladesh measles crisis deepens as child deaths reach 194
Dhaka: Bangladesh has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases has exceeded 28,000, government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children have died from the disease every day for the past week. Five childr»»»
Lebanon leaders accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s president and prime minister accused Israel on Thursday of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country’s south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas. Rescuers and the reporter’s employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-yea»»»
Aoun, Salam accuse Israel of war crime after journalist killed
Lebanon's president and prime minister accused Israel on Thursday of a war crime, after an airstrike killed a Lebanese journalist in the country's south, where Israeli forces occupy several areas. Rescuers and the reporter's employer on Wednesday confirmed the death of Amal Khalil, a 42-year-old jo»»»
Egypt Expands IPO Programme with Six State Firms to Deepen Market Activity
Cairo — Egypt is advancing its state IPO programme with the addition of six new government-owned companies to the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), in a move aimed at strengthening market depth and broadening investor participation. According to official EGX statements, and as confirmed by Deputy Chairman M»»»
Egypt Opens 9 Industrial Projects in Suez Canal Economic Zone with $182.5mn Investments
Cairo — Egypt has accelerated its industrial expansion drive with the inauguration of nine new industrial projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, as Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly led an official tour of the Sokhna integrated industrial area. The projects span strategic sectors including enginee»»»
Microsoft faces $2.3 bn cloud computing lawsuit in UK
London, United Kingdom: Microsoft is facing a £1.7-billion ($2.3 billion) class action lawsuit in Britain alleging that it abused its dominant market position to overcharge businesses, claimants said Thursday. The case was brought by digital markets regulation expert Maria Luisa Stasi on behalf of »»»