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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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. »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 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’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»»»

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»»»

QNA Antalya Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, on Saturday. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations a»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The United States and Israel announced on Thursday evening that a ceasefire agreement had been reached in Washington between Lebanon and Israel, following historic direct talks between the two countries. Dany Moudallal, a journalist at the Lebanese daily L’Orient-Le Jour, spoke to France 24 to anal»»»

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggered by the war in the Middle East hasn't just affected oil prices. Despite a provisional reopening during the current 10-day ceasefire, global supplies of jet fuel, fertilisers, industrial CO2 and naphtha have already been affected, potentially leading to s»»»

A French soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Saturday 18, while serving with UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force. UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Tilak Pokharel was FRANCE 24’s guest this afternoon to explain what happened and what is currently known about those responsible.»»»

Gavin Lee is pleased to welcome former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Italy's former head of state offers an in-depth, insightful and thought-provoking reading of contemporary geopolitics, European cohesion, and leadership ethics. Speaking from the vantage point of a former leader of a major »»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are set to co-chair a gathering of left-wing leaders in Barcelona on Saturday aimed at countering the rise of the far right and strengthening democratic institutions. The meeting brings together figures from acro»»»

Dubai: Filipino workers in parts of the UAE whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the ongoing situation in the Middle East are set to receive temporary financial relief, following a new advisory issued by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Under the programme, q»»»

Dubai: Long before Dubai’s transformation into a global hub, British officials were already documenting the emergence of a young Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a “born leader,” according to official records dating back to the late 1960s. The papers, produced by government departments in L»»»

Energy giant Canada has emerged as the leading driver of efforts to build a formal middle-power coalition among like-minded Commonwealth nations, with Prime Minister Mark Carney using his first year in office to push the long-dormant CANZUK concept and a broader variable-geometr»»»

Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are feeding through into global macroeconomic expectations, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning of a broad-based slowdown and renewed inflation pressures that are already shaping Panama’s near-term outlook. »»»

Chile’s President José Antonio Kast has unveiled an ambitious package of more than 40 economic and regulatory reforms aimed at breaking what he described as a decade of stagnation, but the proposal has already triggered political resistance and street protests as it moves towards Congress. »»»

Iran has announced tax exemptions for families with three or more children under the country's Family Support and Youth Population Law, state media reported on April 18. The announcement comes as the Islamic Republic's tot»»»

The control of Russia’s internet, including the latest escalation of the war on VPNs, has reportedly shifted to the Federal Security Bureau’s (FSB) Second Service unit, headed by Colonel General Alexei Sedov, according to an investigation by The Bell. »»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The Hezbollah movement will not leave unanswered the Israeli strikes on Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement, Mahmoud Komati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said on Saturday. Since Friday, Lebanese media have reported multiple attacks by Israel on Lebane»»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed 15 bilateral agreements as Spain opened a summit of approximately 12 heads of state and government to build a broad alliance countering the policies of United States President Donald Trump, according to Bl»»»

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 »»»

Dubai: Dubai has, over the past two decades, demonstrated a consistent ability to navigate global financial crises and a pandemic. The current climate, however, feels distinct. There is a palpable gravity to today’s global headlines, yet on the ground in the UAE, the atmosphere remains one of focus»»»

ANTALYA: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi participated in a high-level session on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum titled 'Emerging Partnerships in International Mediation for Peace'. In his remarks during the session, D»»»

Imagine you know about a brutal gang of serial killers openly committing one sadistic crime after the other. Imagine you recognize your obvious moral obligation to do something to stop or at least impede these crimes as best you can, but your country’s morally perverse and politically corrupt autho»»»

Bulgarians are about to vote in the country’s eighth election in five years. Unpopular caretaker governments have come and gone, and now victory looks almost certain for former president, Ukraine skeptic and left-winger Rumen Radev. Read more Battle for Bulgaria: The EU opens a new front in its ele»»»

Dubai: Diners at Sushi Samba Dubai expected an evening of skyline views and Nikkei cuisine. What they did not expect was the quiet arrival of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the spontaneous swell of applause that followed»»»

London: UK counter-terror police were on Saturday investigating an arson attack on a London building that was formerly used by a Jewish charity, following similar incidents in recent weeks. No one was injured in the fire late Friday in Hendon, in the northwest of Britain's capital, the Metropolitan»»»

It has become common among analysts to say that the world has entered a new global order, where the logic of “might makes right” has replaced the “power of right,” and the old rules-based international system has faded. International relations are increasingly managed through power and influence ra»»»

Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday, April 18, 2026, preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a statement, the office of President HH Joseph Aoun sa»»»

Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam »»»

PoliticsGlobal issuesRecord fuel prices: How are governments responding?Jan D. WalterIn Germany, a liter of diesel costs up to 40% more than before the Iran war and other countries have seen even bigger price jumps. What are governments around the world doing to combat record fuel prices? https://p»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun vowed on Saturday to prosecute those who targeted French UN peacekeepers, killing one and wounding three. In a statement shared by the presidency, Aoun expressed his condolences to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call, condemning the incident and vow»»»

No date has been set for the next round of Iran-US peace talks brokered by Pakistan following the failure of an initial round, Iran's deputy foreign minister said on Saturday. "Until we agree on the framework, we cannot set a date," Saeed Khatibzadeh told journalists on the sidelines of an annual d»»»

The statei had said it planned to sue fossil fuel companies over climate change impacts. A judge on Friday blocked a lawsuit filed last year by former Attorney General Pam Bondi that attempted to prevent the state of Hawaii from filing suit against oil companies for their effects on climate change.»»»