Pope Leo Downplays Feud with Trump, Says ‘Not in My Interest’ to Debate Him
Pope Leo sought to downplay his feud with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying reporting about comments he has made so far during his Africa tour "has not been accurate in all its aspects". Speaking to reporters in English aboard his flight to Angola for the third leg of his ambitious 10-d»»»
Man found unconscious at Patras house fire
A man was discovered unconscious at a house in the greater Patras area of western Greece early Sunday morning, after emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the property. Firefighters arriving at the scene, in the suburb of Aktaio, entered the scorched residence and located the man ins»»»
Velichie Leader Mihaylov Votes for "Returning the State to Bulgarian People"
Ivelin Mihaylov, leader of the Velichie party, which has the smallest of nine groups in Parliament, said: "Let's return the State to the Bulgarian people." He cast his ballot in the village of Neofit Rilski near Varna (on the Black Sea), Bulgarian National Television reported. "I am heading to Kard»»»
Siyanie Leader Popov Votes for "Pure and Sacred Cause"
Siyanie leader Nikolay Popov said he voted for "a pure and sacred cause, after casting his ballot in Sofia. He used a voting machine. "I want a fairer Bulgaria, one without corruption. I dream of a Bulgaria where our children live happily and freely, without being killed," said Popov, whose daughte»»»
Birla Public School announces academic brilliance in CBSE Grade X results
Doha, Qatar: Birla Public School unveils a spectacular display of academic brilliance at the Secondary School Examination of Grade X 2025-26 in the results declared by the CBSE Board on April 15, 2026. The exceptional students of BPS displayed their extraordinary standards of excellence with 100 pe»»»
DPS Monarch celebrates success in CBSE grade X exams
Doha, Qatar: DPS Monarch International School continues to shine as its students deliver outstanding performances, marking yet another year of academic distinction in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Grade 10 examinations for the academic year 2025-2026. "We are proud to announce tha»»»
Ceasefire clock ticks as Iran declares victory over US
Tehran: Iran had been "victorious in the field" during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday. The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a perma»»»
British Royals Choose Historian to Write Queen Biography
Britain's royal family said Sunday that historian Anna Keay would write an official biography of queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 after over 70 years on the throne. King Charles III had wanted a woman to write the definitive account of his mother's life, according to British media. Ke»»»
Iran Says Final Deal Still Far off as Hormuz Strait Shuttered
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»
Why Iran’s ‘Mosquito Fleet’ Remains a Potent Threat in the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian warships sunk by US and Israeli attacks litter naval harbors along the Gulf coast, but what is sometimes called a “mosquito fleet” lurks in the shadows. It is a flotilla of small, fast, agile boats designed to harass shipping, and it forms the heart of the naval forces deployed by the Irani»»»
Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
Tehran: The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level »»»
QU honours winners of 19th Education Excellence Award 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar University (QU) President, Dr. Omar Al-Ansari, honoured the winners of the 19th Education Excellence Award for 2026 in the presence of several vice presidents during a ceremony that reflects the university’s continued commitment to supporting excellence. This recognition comes as»»»
Qatar participates in IPU Assembly in Istanbul on peace, AI and reform
Istanbul: The 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has continued in its second day in Istanbul, with participation from the State of Qatar’s Shura Council. The Qatari delegation, led by Speaker H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, joined parliamentary leaders from around the »»»
Alliance for Rights and Freedoms Honorary Chairman Dogan Votes for Fairer Bulgaria with Stronger State Institutions
Ahmed Dogan, honorary chairman of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, said he voted for a fairer Bulgaria with more statehood. He cast a paper ballot in Sunday's snap parliamentary elections. Dogan said that when it comes to the rule of law, effective state institutions come first, adding that st»»»
Ambassadors of Korea, Japan visit ice rink at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah arena
Doha: Ambassador of Korea H E Yun Hyunsoo and Ambassador of Japan H E Naoto Hisajima visited the ice rink at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, located at Al Sadd Sports Club, to review the facilities dedicated to ice sports. The visit came in response to an invitation from the Qatar Winter Sports»»»
Indonesia rights body probing civilian killings in Papua
Jakarta: Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced Sunday that it has opened an investigation into reports that 12 civilians, including women and children, were killed during a military operation in the restive Papua region. The commission, abbreviated as Komnas HAM, sa»»»
Qatar stresses trust, dialogue in global mediation efforts at Antalya Forum
Antalya: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi participated in a high-level session on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) titled, “Emerging Partnerships in International Mediation for Peace.” In remarks delive»»»
Has Iran's ideology actually hardened?
Israel’s killings of Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi were meant to do more than remove two senior figures from the Islamic Republic’s political landscape. Within Tehran’s political and analytical circles, they were interpreted as an attempt to erase something less visible but more consequential: the»»»
How a tiny waterway put the global economy into a chokehold
In a 2020 survey of Americans, just over one in five could locate Iran on a map. With such a poor result for a Middle Eastern country that is roughly the size of the state of Alaska and twice the size of Texas, it is a safe wager that an even lower percentage of Americans would have ever heard of t»»»
Europe's far right leaders gather in Milan rally against immigration
Several thousand people gathered in Milan on Saturday for a large rally attended by several European far-right leaders who spoke on immigration, security, and against EU regulations. Far-right leaders from Europe gathered in Milan Saturday for a rally attended by thousands against irregular immigra»»»
Video: Hot Wheels thrills Doha with high-octane family experience
Doha, Qatar: Motorsport excitement has continued to shift into high gear as Qatar Calendar presents the adrenaline-charged Hot Wheels experience, bringing one of the world’s most iconic toy brands to life in an immersive, family-friendly event. Being held until May 2, at the Katara Village South Pa»»»
'Global South Pays the Price for Wars It Didn't Start' – Lula
During a speech at the 1st Progressive Mobilization Meeting in Barcelona, Spain, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the global order under US hegemony and its impact on the Global South, which he said is “treated as the backyard of the great powers.” He said that while "warlor»»»
Adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at IPU reflects growing parliamentary diplomacy impact
Doha, Qatar: 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 »»»
Video: MoI urges compliance with maritime safety regulations to prevent risks, legal liability
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has reiterated the importance of adhering to maritime safety regulations and official guidelines to ensure safe navigation and avoid potential risks or legal consequences during sea trips. The Ministry stressed that compliance with instructions issued by »»»
UN condemns killing of French soldier in Lebanon attack
New York: The United Nations strongly condemned the attack that resulted in the death of a French soldier from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the injury of three others during an incident that occurred yesterday, Saturday, in southern Lebanon. UN spokesperson Stephane Duja»»»
NCSA aims to empower public with data privacy rights guide
Doha, Qatar: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) announced yesterday a digital privacy initiative designed to clarify the specific rights individuals hold under the Personal Data Privacy Protection Law. In a post on X, NCSA stated that the campaign emphasises that under Law Number 13 of 2016,»»»
Brazil, Mexico, Spain Voice Concern Over Cuba Crisis, Call for Relief Measures
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Brazil, Spain and Mexico have expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Cuba and called for measures to improve it, as well as to avoid actions that worsen the living conditions of the Cubans, a joint statement published on the Spanish Foreign Ministry's website o»»»
Iran Warns of Response to US Moves in Hormuz — Parliament Speaker
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iran's armed forces are on full combat readiness despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict in the Middle East, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said. “If they don’t lift the blockade, traffic through the strait will defi»»»
Ministry of Education unveils 20 e-services as enrolment begins
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has unveiled 20 electronic services to streamline student enrolment in government schools, marking the start of the registration process for the 2026–2027 academic year. Delivered through the Maaref Portal, the initiative enables p»»»
US Renews Russian Oil Waiver for a Month to Curb Global Energy Prices
Washington renewed on Friday a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil at sea for about a month, even as lawmakers accused the government of going easy on Moscow as its war on Ukraine grinds on. The Treasury Department's waiver lets countries purchase Russian oil and petroleum prod»»»
Strait of Hormuz to Stay Closed Until Port Blockade Lifts, Iran Says
The crucial Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, Tehran said Saturday, as a top official warned that a final peace deal remained "far" off. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, said in a televised address that th»»»
North Korea Fires Multiple Ballistic Missiles into Sea
North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state. The Sunday launches add to a series of weapons tests Pyongyang has carried out in recent weeks, including ballistic missiles, »»»
Israeli Army Says Soldier Killed in Southern Lebanon
Israel's military said on Sunday that a soldier died during combat in southern Lebanon, where a temporary ceasefire had come into effect this week. "Lidor Porat, aged 31, from Ashdod, a soldier in the 7106th Battalion, 769th Regional Brigade, fell during combat in southern Lebanon," the Israeli mil»»»
Obama joins NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani for playful Bronx reading session
Former US President Barack Obama and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shared a light-hearted moment on Saturday during a visit to a child care centre in Bronx, where they read to children and joined a singalong. The pair met for the first time at the Learning Through Play Pre-K Center, engaging w»»»
Bulgaria Votes to Elect New Parliament
Bulgarians at home and abroad Sunday are voting to elect a new Parliament in what is the country's seventh snap vote since 2021. It is also the country’s 18th parliamentary elections since the start of democratic changes in 1989. Elections are held under the Election Code adopted in 2014 and last a»»»
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into sea: Seoul
North Korea test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state. The Sunday launches add to a series of weapons tests Pyongyang has carried out in recent weeks, including ballistic missiles, »»»
Western Japan lenders strike capital, business alliance
Japan's Shiga Bank (TYO: 8366) and Senshu Ikeda Holdings (TYO: 8714), the parent of Senshu Ikeda Bank, have agreed to a capital and business tie-up, marking the latest step in the consolidation trend among Japan’s regional lenders according to Jiji Press. »»»
Sunny skies today, changes coming later this week
Abu Dhabi: Fair to partly cloudy skies are expected across the UAE on Sunday, with light to moderate winds and generally calm sea conditions, as stable weather settles over much of the country. According to the general outlook from the National Centre of Meteorology, temperatures will remain warm, »»»
Live Updates: Iran fires on ships in Strait of Hormuz as it closes the critical chokepoint again – Ya Libnan
Share: A French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrols the area as displaced residents waving Hezbollah flags make their way back to their homes on a makeshift road on April 18, 2026.(photo credit: Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images). French president Macron b»»»
FAA accepting bids for AI system to assist air traffic controllers - UPI.com
The FAA is considering bids to develop an artificial intelligence system that could help air traffic controllers predict and correct potential issues hours earlier than they currently can. File Photo by Caroline Brehman/EPA April 18 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is working with three»»»
India to benefit from US extension of Russian oil waiver
The United States has opted to extend a waiver permitting limited transactions involving Russian oil, despite sustained political opposition from within Washington, Russia’s special presidential envoy for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries says. »»»
Iran's shadow oil trade endures near Singapore despite war
PARIS, France — Near Singapore, thousands of miles from the Strait of Hormuz, ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil have continued during the Middle East war, helping Tehran evade sanctions and maintain trade with China.Nearly 400 tankers are sanctioned by the United States, the European Union or B»»»
UAE raises AML compliance bar with tighter rules for banks
Dubai: The UAE has rolled out updated anti-money laundering and financial crime guidelines, tightening compliance expectations for banks and exchange houses, with a sharper focus on risk monitoring, customer verification and cross-border activity. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»
Life jacket of Titanic survivor sold for $900K at auction - UPI.com
A life jacket from a survivor of the Titanic tragedy sold at auction on Saturday for $906,000, and was among a collection of other artifacts from the doomed ocean liner. Photo courtesy Henry Aldridge & Sons April 18 (UPI) -- The only life jacket worn by a person who survived the sinking of the Tita»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
In many respects, despite three years of “orthodox” treatment, Turkey’s economy remains a basket case. But worse than that, from the point of view of the international investor, is that after 23 years of the Erdogan regime, no one trusts the Turkish courts. Make a major investment in Turkey and you»»»
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»»»