Why UAE currency swap talks reflect economic strength, not stress
Dubai: Discussions over a potential currency swap line between the UAE and the US have drawn scrutiny this week, with analysts and officials stressing the move reflects precautionary planning rather than any sign of financial strain in the economy. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf»»»
Profit up, net income down: Emirates Islamic’s Q1 results explained
Dubai: Customers of Emirates Islamic continued to borrow and deposit more in early 2026, helping the bank post a 7 per cent rise in operating profit to Dh1.1 billion for the first quarter, it said in its earnings report posted Thursday. The Dubai-based Islamic lender reported higher income from bot»»»
Back-to-school safety: Abu Dhabi Civil Defence promotes student safety
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has launched a safety awareness initiative to welcome students back to schools, focusing on building a culture of safety among young learners. The programme was carried out by the Authority’s Safety Patrol as part of the “Proud of the UAE” initiative, which aims to»»»
Hezbollah Condemns Killing of Journalist Amal Khalil: Israeli Terror Won’t Silence Voice of Truth - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Condemns Killing of Journalist Amal Khalil: Israeli Terror Won’t Silence Voice of Truth 23-04-2026 12:38 PM Hezbollah flag and th»»»
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun to pay official visit to Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan on April 23-28. He will also participate in a meeting of the heads of Defense Ministries of the SCO, the Chinese Ministry of Defense reported. «From April 23 to 28, at the invitation of the host countries, Chinese Defense Mi»»»
Ulan Mamatkanov appointed Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers - | 24.KG
Ulan Mamatkanov has been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic signed a corresponding decree. The new Deputy Cabinet Chairman will oversee the social sector. Ulan Mamatkanov is 44 years old. He was born in the village of Mady in Kara-Suu distric»»»
Women leaders on navigating crisis and uncertainty
When uncertainty hits, leadership stops being a title and starts showing its true shape. At the the Tristar presents Limitless: The UAE Power Women’s Forum in association with Gulf News, held at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, five women leaders cut through the noise on what it really takes to »»»
Man sleeping in dumpster survives rubbish truck ordeal
A homeless man who had fallen asleep inside a dumpster during a rainstorm in Thessaloniki narrowly escaped severe injury early Thursday when garbage collectors noticed him just as he was tipped into a rubbish truck, local reports said. The 46-year-old Romanian national, who is believed to have been»»»
Israeli forces arrest at least 15 Palestinians, including two children, in West Bank
Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli occupation forces launched an arrest campaign Thursday, April 23, 2026, targeting at least 15 Palestinians from various areas across the West Bank, following raids on and searches of their homes. Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that Israeli occupation forces arre»»»
Hezbollah “condemns in the strongest terms the treacherous and brutal crime” committed against Lebanese journalists: Media Relations statement - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah “condemns in the strongest terms the treacherous and brutal crime” committed against Lebanese journalists: Media Relations statem»»»
How Western Big Tech Drives Digital Colonization Through AI Tools
Silicon Valley giants have been quietly advancing digital colonialism in the Global South as data has become the new oil, Pavan Duggal, founder and chairman of the International Commission on Cyber Security Law, tells Sputnik. “Digital colonialism is being implemented through big tech companies, [t»»»
Bin Farhan meets Aoun and Berri ahead of Washington talks
President Joseph Aoun met Thursday with Saudi Foreign Ministry Advisor Prince Yazid bin Farhan in Baabda. Their discussions focused on the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to assist Lebanon in overcoming its prevailing hardships and regional challenges. Bin Farhan had arrived earlier in Beirut and met wit»»»
Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in upcoming World Cup, FT reports
A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s»»»
Jordan’s capital expenditure surges 60% in first 2 months of 2026
RIYADH: Jordan’s capital expenditure jumped 60.4 percent year on year in the first two months of 2026, reaching 1.98 billion Jordanian dinars ($2.79 billion) by the end of February, a move aimed at accelerating economic activity and improving public infrastructure. According to a Ministry of Financ»»»
Kostenets Municipality Prepares to Host Third Stage of Giro D'Italia in Bulgaria
Kostenets Municipality will host part of the third stage of Giro D'Italia in Bulgaria, the municipal press centre said on Thursday. To ensure safety, the route from Belovo through Pazara to the exit for Dolna Banya will be fully closed to traffic three hours before the cyclists pass. Local business»»»
Mother sentenced to life for brutal abuse, murder of 4-month-old son - UPI.com
Demonstrators calling for heavy punishment against a woman on trial for murdering her four-month-old son block an inmate bus carrying the woman near Gwangju District Court in Suncheon on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap A woman who brutally beat her four-month-old son and left him to die in a bathtub was »»»
S. Korean special envoy calls for safe Hormuz transit in meeting with Iran's FM - UPI.com
This photo, released by Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday, shows South Korea's special envoy, Chung Byung-ha (L), meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran. Photo Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran South Korea's special envoy to Iran has m»»»
NOC Chairman Suleiman meets representative of Nigeria’s Aiteo oil company – winner of exploration bid in Block M1, Murzuq Basin
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman, Masoud Suleiman, revealed yesterday that he had met with representatives of Nigerian company Aiteo, one of the companies that won the public bidding round for exploration, securing Block M1 in the Murzuq Basin. During the meeting, they discussed the »»»
Lebanon–Syria economic talks in Damascus target market integration
Damascus, April 23 (SANA) Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar met on Wednesday with Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Henry Quston in Damascus, where the two sides reviewed mechanisms to strengthen economic and investment cooperation between Syria and Lebanon. The discussions focused on enhanci»»»
QFMA and QFCRA Participate in International Week of Action
Doha: The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) participated in the second International Week of Action, a global campaign initiated by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority. Millions of consumers increasingly rely on social »»»
New Murakami novel in July to feature woman protagonist
Tokyo: Haruki Murakami's first novel in three years will hit shelves in Japan in July, starring a woman as the main character for the first time, his publisher said Thursday. Titled "The Tale of KAHO", the internationally renowned author's latest release will see the titular character as the first »»»
Denmark: Train Collision Leaves 17 Injured, 5 Are in Critical Condition
Two commuter trains collided head-on near the Danish capital on Thursday injuring 17, of whom five were in critical condition, emergency services said. "We can't provide any details for now about the cause of the accident," police official Morten Kaare Pedersen told reporters. He said police were a»»»
Qatar Airways to resume daily flights to UAE and Damascus as network restoration expands
DOHA: Qatar Airways has announced the resumption of flight operations between Doha and several key destinations across the Middle East, marking another step in the phased restoration of its global network. Beginning 23 April 2026, the national carrier will restart daily flights to Dubai (DXB) and S»»»
Syria central bank to launch foreign exchange and gold market in Damascus
Damascus, April 23 (SANA) The Central Bank of Syria announced on Thursday plans to launch the Damascus Market for Foreign Exchange and Gold in a move aimed at strengthening monetary policy and enhancing financial stability. Central bank governor Abdulkader Husrieh said the initiative is part of a b»»»
Lebanon and Israel to resume rare direct talks in Washington to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel were set to begin a second session of direct talks in Washington on Thursday to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and plans for future negotiations between the two neighbors with a long history of hostile relation»»»
Turkish Parliament Passes Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Under-15s
Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15, state media reported. The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity. Its passage comes a week after a 14-year-old»»»
US–Iran talks: Can a deal secure Gulf interests this time?
Amid clear signs of uncertainty and the continued “arm-wrestling”-style negotiations between the United States and Iran, the sudden decline in what only a few days ago was described as an imminent agreement or settlement to end the war between the two sides, mediated by Pakistan, raises many fundam»»»
Senate Republicans again block Democrats' bid to limit war powers - UPI.com
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a fifth Democrat bid to curb President Donald Trump's ability to wage war with Iran. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans have again blocked the Democrats from curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war»»»
Pleven Residents Hold Demonstration Demanding Justice for 12-Year-Old Car Accident Victim
Residents gathered in front of the Pleven Court demanding justice in the case of 12-year-old Siyana, who died in a high-profile car accident on March 31, 2025. The protest began half an hour before the starting time of the court session, when it also became known that experts who did a forensic tec»»»
Slovakia says getting Russian oil from repaired Ukraine pipeline
BRATISLAVA: Slovakia said it was receiving Russian oil on Thursday after Ukraine repaired the Druzhba pipeline which was damaged in a Russian attack in January. The pipeline has been at the center of a standoff between Ukraine, the European Union as well as Hungary and Slovakia, which still import »»»
UK Budget Deficit for 2025/26 Narrows to Six-year Low
Britain's budget deficit for the last financial year narrowed to a six-year low as a percentage of economic output although borrowing for March alone exceeded forecasts, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics reported 132.0 billion pounds ($178.1 billion) of public sec»»»
UAE Friday sermon to focus on loyalty, warns against betrayal of the nation
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (Awqaf UAE) has announced that this week’s Friday sermon across all mosques in the UAE will be delivered under the title: “Whoever betrays our nation is not one of us”. In guidance issued to imams, the authority stressed that betrayal o»»»
‘Strategic market’: PepsiCo highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in global growth
RIYADH: PepsiCo regards Saudi Arabia as a “strategic” market with growing opportunities for investment and innovation, as the Kingdom continues to be a key target for the company. The company says it has aligned closely with the Kingdom’s long-term goals, building on a presence that spans nearly se»»»
Minister of Oil and Gas Abdel Sadig receives delegation from French Company Beicip-Franlab to discuss cooperation
Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Khalifa Abdel Sadig, received today at the Ministry’s Tripoli headquarters a high-level delegation from the French company Beicip-Franlab, which specializes in technical consulting and technological solutions for the energy sector. The French delegation included Thi»»»
Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces torch a number of houses in the border village of Mais Al-Jabal - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces torch a number of houses in the border village of Mais Al-Jabal 23-04-20»»»
Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Al-Mousawi on Israeli crime against journalists in Al-Tiri: This latest crime adds another black mark to the enemy’s ongoing and escalating record of assassinating - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah MP Ibrahim Al-Mousawi on Israeli crime against journalists in Al-Tiri: This latest crime adds another black mark to the enemy’s o»»»
US says China used ‘intimidation’ to block Taiwan leader’s Africa trip
WASHINGTON: The United States slammed China’s “intimidation campaign” on Wednesday after several African countries were reportedly pressured by Beijing to derail an official trip by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te by revoking overflight permits. Taiwan announced Tuesday that Lai was postponing his »»»
Half of Argentina's children still poor as austerity bites
More than half of children and adolescents in Argentina were living in poverty in 2025, with nearly a third going without adequate food, according to a report by the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), underscoring the uneven social impact of President Javier Milei's austerity-driven economic o»»»
Dubai to host PFL MENA 2026 season opener
DUBAI: The Professional Fighters League has announced that PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia, the season opener, will take place on May 24 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. The event will feature athletes representing 11 nations across the region, highlighting the depth and unity of mixed martial arts in the Mi»»»
EU unlocks €90bn Ukraine loan and toughest Russia sanctions yet — with a crucial caveat
The European Union voted on April 22 to simultaneously unlock its long-delayed €90bn EU loan for Ukraine and adopt the stalled twentieth sanctions package against Russia, in a diplomatic double act that had been blocked for months by Hungary and Slovakia — both of which finally »»»
EU unlocks €90bn Ukraine loan and toughest Russia sanctions yet — with a crucial caveat
The European Union voted on April 22 to simultaneously unlock its long-delayed €90bn EU loan for Ukraine and adopt the stalled twentieth sanctions package against Russia, in a diplomatic double act that had been blocked for months by Hungary and Slovakia — both of which finally »»»
Qatar Airways resumes daily services to United Arab Emirates and Syria
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways has announced resumption of flight operations between Doha and key destinations across the Middle East, reinstating daily services to the United Arab Emirates and Syria. Starting April 23, 2026, Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to Dubai (DXB), and Sharjah (SHJ), wi»»»
Disputes Over Quotas Stall Iraq Government Talks
Rivalries within Iraq’s Shiite Coordination Framework have led to a political deadlock over naming a new prime minister, as internal disagreements persist over both the selection mechanism and the division of ministerial posts among the bloc’s factions. According to sources, a meeting of Coordinati»»»
Drones only with permission: Kyrgyzstan introduces strict flight rules - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan has put new aviation regulations, KRAE-2. Flight Rules, up for public discussion. These regulations significantly tighten requirements for airspace use, especially for drones. The document was developed in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and proposes a»»»
South Korea GDP surges as chip demand powers economy - UPI.com
South Korea’s economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly six years in the first quarter, central bank data showed Thursday, driven by strong chip exports. In this April 1 photo, containers are stacked at a port in Pyeongtaek. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, April 23 (UPI) -- South Korea's economy grew at it»»»
Saudi non-oil exports climb 15% in February to $8.27bn: GASTAT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, reached SR31.03 billion ($8.27 billion) in February, marking a 15.1 percent increase compared to the same month in 2025, official data showed. Preliminary figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that the UAE remai»»»
US says China used 'intimidation' to block Taiwan leader's Africa trip
Washington, United States: The United States slammed China's "intimidation campaign" on Wednesday after several African countries were reportedly pressured by Beijing to derail an official trip by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te by revoking overflight permits. Taiwan announced Tuesday that Lai was »»»
Saudi Arabia and Japan agree to work on regional stability
TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have agreed to help establish security in the region, including safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz amid the US and Israel’s war on Iran. According to the Foreign Ministry, the two officials spoke t»»»
Fallout from Iran War Casts Shadow over Egypt’s New Budget
The economic fallout from the Iran war has cast a shadow over Egypt’s new state budget, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk told parliament on Wednesday, as he presented the draft before it was referred to specialized committees for discussion, with the government pledging swift amendments “to enhance »»»
Libyan Export Development Authority calls for Gulf of Sirte to be assigned as an international nature reserve
The Libyan Export Development Authority (LEDA) called, last Tuesday (21 April), for the Gulf of Sirte to be assigned an international nature reserve. It said this is for the sake of our future generations and the sustainability of Libya’s marine resources. LEDA said the objective is to protect the »»»