Security of Strait of Hormuz 'not free': Iran VP Mohammad Reza Aref amid rising US-Iran tensions
Tehran: Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Sunday (local time) warned that stability in the Strait of Hormuz comes at a cost, stating that the country cannot be expected to ensure maritime security while facing restrictions on its own oil exports, amid escalating tensions with the Un»»»
Lebanon’s complex political system makes peace with Israel difficult, RT reports
Lebanon’s political system and differing views on how to deal with Israel make a lasting peace deal difficult to achieve, according to an RT report from Beirut. Political power in the country is formally divided along religious lines, with key roles allocated to different communities. It is a struc»»»
Justice ministry staff feted for completing leadership programme
QNA Doha Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi honoured a cohort of ministry staff who successfully completed a leadership development programme, in a move aimed at strengthening skills and enhancing government performance. Organised by the mi»»»
Embassy of India honours volunteers for unwavering diaspora support
Tribune News Network Doha In a heartfelt gesture recognising community spirit and resilience, the Embassy of India, Doha, along with leading Indian community organisations in Qatar, expressed deep appreciation for the dedicated volunteers who have been tirelessly supporting the Indian diaspora duri»»»
US-Iran talks in limbo as Trump vows no let-up in blockade
Iran said Monday it had not decided whether to attend a new round of peace negotiations with the United States, while President Donald Trump vowed no let-up in a blockade and threatened to start bombing again when ceasefire ends on Wednesday night. The White House said Vice President JD Vance was r»»»
QRCS offers support todialysis centres in Syria
Tribune News Network Doha As part of a project to provide dialysis supplies for patients with kidney failure in Syria, the field personnel of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) have been distributing medical supplies to dialysis centres across the country, to ensure sustained access to such life-sav»»»
CRA promotes safe digital engagement culture among students
Tribune News Network Doha The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) participated in Phase Two of the “Safe Surfing” Initiative under the “My Values Shape My Identity” project, which is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), by delivering 13 workshops to879 middle»»»
Shura Council reviews real estate brokerage law amendment
During the session, the Shura Council reviewed a draft law amending some provisions of Law No 22 of 2017 to regulate the real estate brokerage activities, which was referred to it by the esteemed government, and decided to refer it to its Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to study and submit »»»
France investigating transfers of $15 Bil in stolen money by 2 Lebanese banks – Ya Libnan
Share: File – Lebanese bank customers hold pictures of the owners of Lebanese banks and caretaker PM Najib Mikati and Central bank chief calling them “the enemies of society”, during a protest in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, 11 June 2022. (EPA) France is investigating allegations that two Lebanese ban»»»
Drone attack kills 3 Colombian soldiers as rebel groups develop new lethal capabilities
BOGOTA: Colombian rebels on Monday launched drone strikes that killed three soldiers and injured two others, authorities said, as the use of these weapons becomes increasingly common in the South American country. Colombia’s army said that the attack took place in Ipiales, a municipality in the sou»»»
EU rearmament funds a ‘magnet for criminals’ – OLAF chief Klement
The billions of euros slated by the EU for the build up of weapons factories and procurement of military hardware are a “magnet for the criminals,” according to a senior anti-fraud official. The EU’s defense industry has issues with “manipulation with public tenders, blown-up prices, clientelism [a»»»
US envoy defends Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges
US President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges is “perfectly acceptable,” Washington’s envoy to the UN Mike Waltz has said, dismissing accusations of potential war crimes. Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Waltz insisted that “all options are on the table” reg»»»
US-Iran talks crisis deepens as Israel ‘triggered blood feud’ – ex-adviser
Israel has destroyed any chance of success in US-Iran talks by pushing Washington to kill Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to former senior foreign policy adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marine Corps veteran James Webb. In an exclusive interview with Afshin Rattansi’s ‘Going Un»»»
Lekhwiya enrolls 1st volunteer batch in search and rescue specialized training program
Doha: The Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) has enrolled the first batch of volunteers in the specialized training program in search and rescue and disaster management. The program comes in the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Qatar Voluntary Center, a Ministry of Culture-»»»
Oil rises more than 5% amid fears of US-Iran truce collapse
New York, April 20 (SANA) Oil prices rose more than 5 percent on Monday amid growing concerns that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran could unravel following the detention of an Iranian cargo vessel by US authorities and the continued suspension of navigation through the strategic Str»»»
Man detained in Germany over Nazi displays outside tax office
Police in Germany have detained a man suspected of erecting Nazi-themed structures outside the town of Eggenfelden, local media report, citing law enforcement. Two wooden structures bearing Nazi symbols appeared in the town within a month. In late March, a large replica of the Auschwitz concentrati»»»
Drone attack kills 3 Colombian soldiers as rebel groups develop new lethal capabilities
BOGOTA: Colombian rebels on Monday launched drone strikes that killed three soldiers and injured two others, authorities said, as the use of these weapons becomes increasingly common in the South American country. Colombia’s army said that the attack took place in Ipiales, a municipality in the sou»»»
Oil shock 2.0? Houthis threaten Bab Al- Mandab shutdown as Hormuz drama reignites, crude prices rebound
As tensions in the Middle East surged again over the weekend, the Iran-backed Houthis threatened to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial oil shipping lane that still serves crude flows from the Middle East through Red Sea ports. A Houthis statement gives a hint of the risks to global shipping.»»»
Philippines, US and allies start military exercises testing ‘real world’ readiness
MANILA: Philippine and US forces will carry out maritime strike drills on a remote Philippine island near Taiwan during annual exercises that started on Monday, which Manila’s military chief said would test their readiness under “real‑world conditions.” The April 20 to May 8 exercises known as “Bal»»»
Oil and gas prices surge as Iran re-closes Strait of Hormuz
Oil and European natural gas prices surged after Tehran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and fired on vessels following the US Navy’s seizure of an Iranian ship, halting all shipping traffic through the vital energy corridor. The turbulent weekend escalation saw Tehran re-impose restrictions on the w»»»
US-Iran talks hang in balance as mistrust complicates Pakistan diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts to stabilise the ceasefire between the United States and Iran entered a delicate phase on Monday, as both sides sent mixed signals over the prospects of a new round of talks in Pakistan. Iranian officials stressed that deep-rooted mistrust of Washington remains a key obstacle to »»»
Suspension of EU-Israel trade deal is ‘minimum required’ under international law, UN experts say
NEW YORK CITY: A group of UN experts said on Monday that the suspension of an EU-Israel trade deal would be the “minimum required” step required from the EU to comply with its obligations under international law, amid the continuing escalation of human rights violations by Israel. The call came ahe»»»
Palestinians receive demolition orders for 15 shops
SA-NUR, West Bank: A Palestinian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank received demolition orders for 15 shops on Monday, a day after Israeli ministers celebrated the reestablishment of a settlement on a neighboring hill. Israel’s ruling far-right coalition has supported a rapid expansion of s»»»
Cuba confirms recent talks with visiting US delegation
HAVANA: A senior Cuban diplomat on Monday confirmed recent talks in Havana with US officials, as the communist-led island faces a deep crisis over President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign. “I can confirm that a meeting between delegations from Cuba and the United States was recently held here in »»»
Is petrodollar starting to crack? How Iran war puts world oil trade at risk
Dubai: The global financial system’s reliance on the US dollar for oil trade is being tested in real time as the Iran war approaches the two-month mark, with a fragile two-week ceasefire window now in focus. What began as a geopolitical shock has evolved into a deeper market shift, forcing investor»»»
Over $71bn ‘needed over next decade to rebuild Gaza’
GENEVA: More than $71 billion will be needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction in war-ravaged Gaza, according to an EU-UN assessment published on Monday. In their final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment, or RDNA, the UN and the EU said that more than two years of war in the »»»
Bulgaria’s Kremlin-friendly ex-president wins election in landslide
SOFIA: Pro-Russian former President Rumen Radev has won Bulgaria’s parliamentary election by a landslide, official results showed on Monday, crushing long-dominant political forces and possibly pushing the EU and NATO member state closer to Moscow. The performance, exceeding opinion poll forecasts»»»
No: 69, 9 April 2026, Regarding the Approval by the Netanyahu Government of 34 New Settlements in the West Bank
The approval by the Netanyahu government for the establishment of 34 new settlements in the West Bank constitutes a grave violation of international law and relevant UN resolutions. Israel is undermining the vision of a two-state solution, which remains the key to lasting peace in the region, and i»»»
No: 70, 11 April 2026, Regarding the Social Media Post by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
Netanyahu, who has been described as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed, is a well-known figure with a clear track record. An arrest warrant has been issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Under Netan»»»
EU Commission proposes resuming full implementation of cooperation agreement with Syria
Brussels, Apr.20 (SANA) The European Commission announced on Monday that it has forwarded a proposal to the European Council to fully reactivate the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement, which has been suspended since 2011. In a statement published on its official website, the Commission said that relati»»»
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 kilometers east»»»
Tigray restores contentious regional parliament
ADDIS ABABA: The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has announced the restoration of a regional parliament, the election of which was one of the triggers for the Tigray war, alarming observers fearing a resumption of the deadly conflict between the Ethiopian government and regional forces. The Tigray»»»
Bulgaria’s Radev pushes for Russia dialogue, ‘pragmatism’ in EU policy
The winner of the Bulgarian parliamentary election, Progressive Bulgaria’s Rumen Radev, has called for dialogue with Russia to be restored. The former president has led the newly formed left-leaning populist party to a landslide victory on a platform of critical dialogue with Brussels and pragmatis»»»
Mexico’s president says Chihuahua raid bypassed federal government - UPI.com
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press conference Monday at the National Palace in Mexico City she has requested detailed information about a security operation in Chihuahua involving U.S. agents that left four people dead, including two Americans. Photo by Sáshenka Gutiérrez/EPA April»»»
Tunisia and Rwanda seek stronger economic ties and expanded trade cooperation
Tunis, April 20 (TAP) - Rwandan Minister of Trade and Industry Prudence Sebahizi expressed his country’s strong interest in strengthening and developing bilateral economic relations with Tunisia, emphasizing the need to fully leverage available...»»»
Superbrands Romania launches the 2026–2027 edition, dedicated to architects of progress in branding
The new Superbrands Honorary Council has also been established, bringing together 30 leaders from the business environment and specialists from the marketing and communication industry, whose mission, as in every edition, is to evaluate the reputational performance of the brands listed in the progr»»»
$200 million World Bank grant allocated for Syria railway projects
Damascus, April 20 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Transport announced that around $200 million has been allocated through a World Bank grant to finance a number of railway infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating the country’s economic recovery. Ali Asbar, Director of Land Transport Affairs at the»»»
Egypt postpones 20 road projects to rationalise petroleum consumption and reduce import bill
Egypt will postpone the construction of 20 road projects and slow down the implementation of other government developments as part of an announced rationalisation plan to reduce petroleum consumption and lower the state’s import bill. Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir announced the suspension of»»»
Minister of Military Production explores expanded co-operation with GOEIC
Salah Gomaa, Minister of State for Military Production, held talks with Essam El-Naggar, Chairperson of the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), to explore avenues for enhanced joint co-operation. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the advanced technical and technologi»»»
Egypt, AfDB explore new financing mechanism to boost infrastructure investment
Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, met with Oliver Bognon, Chief Executive Officer of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), an affiliate of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to discuss strengthening institutional cooperation and advancing economic development unde»»»
Syria’s return as a regional transport hub gains momentum
Damascus, April 20 (SANA) A series of recent diplomatic and economic developments is refocusing attention on Syria’s strategic location, as regional and international actors increasingly view the country not only through the lens of politics and reconstruction, but also as a potential hub for trans»»»
Saudi representative stresses need to ensure full, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s representative at a conference on the two-state solution in Brussels stressed the necessity of ensuring the full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on Monday. Manal bint Hassan Radwan also emphasized the importance of advancing early recovery and reconstructi»»»
Iraq reopens Rabia crossing after 13-year closure
Iraq revives key Syria trade route, boosts regional links Dubai: Iraq reopened a strategic border crossing with Syria on Monday, restoring a key trade and transit route that had been closed for more than a decade following the rise of ISIS. The Rabia crossing, located in Iraq’s north-western Nineve»»»
Arson attack targets car of professor linked to Tempe crash report
Authorities are investigating a suspected arson attack on the car of an Athens University professor who co-authored an expert report attributing the fireball that followed the deadly 2023 Tempe train crash to engine oils. The vehicle, belonging to Professor Dimitris Karonis, was set ablaze on the u»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Kuwait's Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received Monday a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait HE Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Discussion during the call dealt with the two countri»»»
ING Bank Romania in 2025: revenue of over RON 4 billion and more than 260,000 new customers
Our performance in 2025 was marked by sustained growth in our loan and deposit portfolio. The gross loan portfolio grew by 12%, bringing our market share to 11%, while deposits reached 72.4 billion lei, up 4% from the previous year, securing a market share of 10.7%. Operating expenses increased by »»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Kuwaiti Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received Monday a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait HE Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Discussion during the call dealt with the two countri»»»
Over $71 Bn Needed Over Next Decade to Rebuild Gaza, Say UN and EU
More than $71 billion will be needed over the next decade for recovery and reconstruction in war-ravaged Gaza, according to an EU-UN assessment published Monday. In their final Gaza Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA), the United Nations and the European Union said that more than two years of »»»
Erdogan Vows New Measures After Deadly Türkiye School Shootings
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that his government would introduce sweeping measures, including restrictions on gun ownership, after two school shootings last week that shocked Türkiye. Eight students aged 10 and 11 and a teacher were killed Wednesday when a 14-year-old student opene»»»