French UNIFIL soldier killed in Lebanon, Hezbollah responsible, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the death of a French UN peacekeeping soldier Saturday following an attack that also left three people wounded in southern Lebanon, saying that "everything suggests" Hezbollah being responsible for the attack. The Iran-backed group denied involve»»»
Bulgaria vote set to deliver Radev win but no clear majority
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev is on course to win a snap parliamentary election on April 19, according to a new opinion poll, in what could mark a political breakthrough after years of instability. A survey by Ma»»»
61,723 transactions completed at ACC's 'one-stop centre' in Q1 2026
AMMAN — The "one-stop centre" at Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC), which houses several ministries and official institutions, processed 61,723 transactions during the first quarter of this year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra reported.The comprehensive services facility houses; ACC's Labour Directora»»»
Aqaba Railway project: a transformational venture for Jordan’s economy
AMMAN — Jordan’s ambitious Aqaba Railway is not just a transportation initiative, it is a defining moment in the country's future economic growth, experts said, highlighting the mega project’s pivotal role in Jordan's broader economic strategy.Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and UAE Vice President, Dep»»»
Annaliza Diet: Building bridges through education and empowerment
Darlene Regis Doha A Filipina entrepreneur, educator, and community leader based in Qatar, Annaliza Diet (MA, MBA, CIPT, PhD Candidate) has emerged as a formidable force in global education and women’s empowerment. With influence that spans continents, she has built more than institutions — she has»»»
Qatar Foundation schools foster supportive learning environment with focus on student wellbeing
Tribune News Network Doha Schools within Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education ecosystem continue to foster a stable and supportive learning environment, placing student wellbeing and reassurance at the heart of the educational experience. This integrated approach strengthens community trust »»»
Mediation a responsibility and effective tool for conflict resolution: Dr Al Khulaifi
QNA Antalya Mediation is not viewed as a matter of media visibility or international competition, but rather as a responsibility and an effective tool for conflict resolution, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has said. Speaking »»»
At least five dead in Kyiv shooting, suspected gunman killed
At least five people were killed in a shooting Saturday in a residential neighborhood of Kyiv, and 10 were hospitalized, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. The suspected gunman was shot during an arrest attempt, officials said. A gunman opened fire in Kyiv on Saturday, killing at lea»»»
Adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at IPU reflects growing impact: Shura officials
QNA Doha Officials and members of the Shura Council stated that the adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reflects the growing impact of Qatari parliamentary diplomacy and its role in supporting national, Arab, and Islamic positions. They noted in statements to Q»»»
MESIS students shine at CBSE Class X examination
Tribune News Network Doha MES Indian School (MESIS) Abu Hamour Branch has once again upheld its tradition of academic excellence by achieving a remarkable 100 percent pass rate in the CBSE Class X Board Examination 2025–26. All 142 students who appeared successfully passed the examination. A total »»»
Qatar Charity inaugurates its newservice complex in eastern Ghana
QNA Accra Qatar Charity (QC) inaugurated a new service complex in North Tongu District in eastern Ghana, comprising a school, mosque, teachers’ accommodation and a borehole providing clean drinking water, benefiting more than 2,000 people, with support from donors in Qatar. The inauguration took pl»»»
Arab Book Award submissionsopen until May 28, 2026
QNA Doha The Arab Book Award announced that submissions for its fourth edition will remain open until May 28 via its official website. Launched by Qatar in March 2023, the award honours authors, publishers, and institutions contributing to Arabic book production. This year’s categories include ling»»»
QFFD advances youth empowerment at 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum
QNA New York The Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) participated in the 2026 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Convened under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030,” the Forum brought together youth, Me»»»
Parrotfish sighting signals healthy marine ecosystem in Qatar: MoECC
Tribune News Network Doha The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), represented by the Department of Wildlife Development, has recorded the appearance of parrotfish—locally known as “Al-Qin”—in Qatari waters, describing the sighting as a positive indicator of marine ecosystem health. »»»
Qatar strengthens global role through strategic diplomacy
Khaled Al Hameidi Doha In a period defined by geopolitical tension, shifting alliances, and complex security challenges, Qatar has emerged as a central diplomatic force guided by the vision and leadership of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Through calm d»»»
Qatar, others issue joint statement on DRC-M23 humanitarian access, judicial protection protocol
Tribune News Network DOHA The governments of the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Congo River Alliance (March 23 Movement), have issued a joint statement regarding the meetings »»»
Trust remains ‘essential currency’ of effective mediation: Al Khulaifi
QNA Antalya Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi has underscored that trust remains the cornerstone of effective mediation, describing it as the “essential currency” required to advance peace efforts and resolve conflicts. Speaking »»»
ICE detainee deaths skyrocket amid immigration crackdown - UPI.com
There were 33 deaths of ICE detainees in 2025, with 17 so far in 2026 The number of deaths of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees over the last year has skyrocketed amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which has led to the agency detaining more people that it has since i»»»
16 Arab and Islamic countries condemn in the strongest terms Israel's announcement of the appointment of a diplomatic envoy to the so-called "Somaliland"
Doha, Qatar: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of the Sudan, the State of Libya, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the People’s Democratic Republic of»»»
Joint statement on progress on protocol on humanitarian access and judicial protection between the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the AFC/M23, the operationalization of the ceasefire oversight and verification mechanism, and the releas
Doha: The following statement was released by the Governments of the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movement, on the meetings held Ap»»»
Qatar and other parties issue joint statement on progress made in humanitarian access, judicial protection protocol between DRC and M23 Movement
DOHA: The the governments of the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), Switzerland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Congo River Alliance (March 23 Movement), have issued a joint statement regarding the meetings held from April »»»
EU must be ready to fight Russia without US by 2030 – Belgian defense chief
European nations have around four years to build up their defenses enough to deter a Russian attack without US backing, Frederic Vansina, Belgium’s Chief of the General Staff, has said. Moscow has dismissed speculation that it plans to attack NATO as nonsense. In an interview with Le Soir published»»»
Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu was tunned when Donald Trump “prohibited” strikes in Lebanon, Axios says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers were caught off guard and “stunned” when US President Donald Trump said he would not allow Israel to conduct further strikes in Lebanon, Axios reports, citing two people familiar with the matter. On Friday, Trump said the US had “prohibited»»»
France withdraws controversial anti-Semitism bill ahead of debate
French lawmakers linked to President Emmanuel Macron have withdrawn a controversial bill aimed at expanding anti-Semitism laws in the country, which had been set for debate in parliament on Thursday. The “law to combat renewed forms of anti-Semitism” was drafted in 2024 by a group of MPs led by Car»»»
Slovakia said it will sue the EU over a ban on Russian gas imports
Slovakia will file a lawsuit with the EU’s Court of Justice challenging the bloc’s decision to ban imports of Russian gas, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. In January, the EU formally approved a plan to phase out Russian pipeline gas by 2027, overriding vetoes from Slovakia and Hungary. “We obj»»»
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Will Never Tolerate Israeli Violations of Ceasefire in Lebanon, Will Respond Accordingly
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed that the Resistance Party will never tolerate the Israeli violations in South Lebanon, adding that the battlefield has proven to have the final say, The field has proven that it has the final word, and successful policy is that which benefits »»»
Tornadoes cause damage in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois; no injuries - UPI.com
Storms tore through the upper midwest, causing damaging tornadoes Friday. Image courtesy of UPI April 18 (UPI) -- Tornadoes swept through several midwestern cities Friday leaving destruction and devastation in their wakes as a massive storm system tore through the area. Rochester, Minn., Lena, Ill.»»»
Three sentenced for fake bear attack insurance scam - UPI.com
Three people were sentenced to three months in jail and another is awaiting trial in an insurance scam based on staged bear attacks on luxury cars. Photo courtesy California Department of Insurance April 18 (UPI) -- Three people were sentenced this week in an insurance fraud scam that saw them wear»»»
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz If US Continues Its Naval Blockade - IRGC
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz from Saturday evening until the United States completely lifts its naval blockade, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command said on Saturday. "As a result of the violation of the ceasefire regime, the Strait of Hormuz »»»
Two Indian-flagged tankers fired upon in Strait of Hormuz as Iran asserts control over waterway
Two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil came under gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Iran declared it would control traffic through the vital waterway in retaliation for an ongoing US naval blockade. Following the attack, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Iran’s am»»»
Transport Ministry issues circular announcing regulating vessel activities in waters of Al Safliya Island
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Transport issued circular announcing that it is activating a plan to regulate marine vessel activities within the waters of Al Safliya Island. The circular addressed “all parties concerned, owners, operators, lessees of marine vessels, and marina officials,” and comes a»»»
STB Bank: Individual net profit falls 20% in 2025
Tunis, April 18 (TAP) – STB Bank closed the year 2025 with an individual net profit of 65.9 million dinars, down 20% compared to the 2024 financial year, according to a press release issued Friday evening by the bank following its Board of Directors...»»»
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages
Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire on the Lebanon front continue, as military operations and airstrikes persist against targets Israel claims are affiliated with Hezbollah. This has forced residents who had returned to some southern villages to leave again immediately, fearing a rapid »»»
Partly cloudy skies with local fog late Saturday night in western regions
Tunis, April 18 (TAP) - The weather on Saturday night will be characterized by partly cloudy skies across the country, with the possibility of local fog forming late at night, especially in western regions.Winds will blow from the north, gradually...»»»
Egypt steps up efforts to shield startups, SMEs from global headwinds: MSMEDA chief
Bassel Rahmy, CEO of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA), said state entities are working in close coordination to mitigate the impact of global economic challenges on startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt. He added that efforts are also focu»»»
Al-Sisi reviews housing, infrastructure projects, urges strict adherence to timelines
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stressed on Saturday the importance of adhering to defined timelines for the completion of housing and infrastructure projects, while removing obstacles facing investment in the sector, according to a presidential statement. During a meeting with Housing Mini»»»
Egypt unveils rare Roman-era tomb in Minya, illuminating ancient burial rituals
Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced a major archaeological discovery at the historic site of El-Bahnasa in Minya, offering new insights into funerary traditions during the Greek and Roman periods. The find was made by a Spanish mission from the University of Barcelona and the »»»
Pope Leo XIV flies to Angola, says he is not debating Trump - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV waves during a welcome ceremony at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda, Angola, Saturday. The Pope is on an 11-day trip to Africa, with stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. Photo by Jose Sena Goulao/EPA April 18 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV said h»»»
1 in 4 files online is exposing your data
Abu Dhabi: The Cyber Security Council (CSC) has warned that around 25 percent of publicly accessible files contain sensitive personal data, urging users to adopt secure practices when sharing files online. In its weekly message under the “Cyber Pulse” awareness campaign, the Council highlighted the»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Draw results released – did your numbers come up?
Dubai: In Saturday’s Dh30 million UAE Lottery’s Lucky Day draw, many participants have taken home cash prizes. During Draw No. 260418, the winning numbers in the Days section were 17, 11, 1, 20, 15, and 3, while the Months section winning number was 12. Additionally, three residents have each bagge»»»
Leon fires Sundowns into African Champions League final
Pretoria: Colombian Brayan Leon was the match-winner again for Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Saturday, April 18, 2026, scoring in a 1-0 CAF Champions League semi-final second leg win over Esperance of Tunisia. The 25-year-old, who joined the Pretoria club from Independiente Medellin three mo»»»
No permit, no Hajj: No matter the visa
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has introduced a strict set of measures ahead of this year’s Hajj season, warning that all visit visas, regardless of type, do not permit holders to perform the pilgrimage, as authorities intensify efforts to regulate access to Mecca and protect pilgrims. The Ministry of Interio»»»
Jordan’s Safadi: New Syria determined to rebuild state and avoid conflict
Antalya, April 18 (SANA) – Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Saturday that the new Syria is determined to rebuild its state and avoid entering into any conflict, stressing that countries around the world support Syria’s stability and sovereignty over all its territory. Speaking during»»»
Sofia Police Seize over 10 Kg of Fentanyl Worth EUR 500,000 Since Start of 2026
Sofia police have seized over 10 kg of fentanyl since the beginning of the year, the Interior Ministry said. Five investigations are underway and five people have been detained on suspicion of distribution. The seized quantity is equivalent to around 40,000 doses, with one dose averaging 0.25 grams»»»
At least 5 killed after gunman opens fire in Ukrainian capital
Kyiv, Ukraine: Five people were killed in Kyiv on Saturday, April 18, 2026, after a gunman opened fire and took hostages at a supermarket in the Ukrainian capital before being killed during an arrest attempt, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 10 people were h»»»
Turkmenistan, China Launch Expansion of World’s Second-largest Gas Field
Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field, strengthening Beijing's already dominant position in the secretive Central Asian nation's energy sector. The former Soviet republic, which holds the world's fourth-largest gas reserves, has ex»»»
CBE explains March 2026 inflation uptick amid rising food, service costs
Annual urban headline inflation accelerated to 15.2% in March 2026, up from 13.4% in February, according to the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). The increase was driven by rising food and non-food inflation, with food inflation climbing to 5.8% from 4.6%, while non-food inflation rose to 21.5% from 19.»»»
Suez Canal Bank signs tripartite protocol with eHealth, eAswaaq to drive healthcare digitalisation
Suez Canal Bank has signed a tripartite cooperation protocol with eHealth and eAswaaq—both affiliates of eFinance Investment Group—with the aim of supporting and developing Egypt’s healthcare sector by providing integrated financing solutions and accelerating digital transformation. The agreement w»»»
Ahmed Fouad appointed head of SME Committee at FEB
The Federation of Egyptian Banks (FEB), chaired by Mohamed El-Etreby, has approved the appointment of Ahmed Fouad as head of its SME Committee, in a move aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of specialised committees and renewing their leadership. The appointment comes as part of ongoing efforts to»»»
Middle East war live: French UNIFIL soldier killed in Lebanon, Hezbollah responsible, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that a French soldier who was part of international forces stationed in southern Lebanon was killed, adding that evidence suggests Hezbollah was responsible. Earlier, Iranian patrol boats fired at an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, accordi»»»