France is ready to help Lebanon prepare negotiations with Israel, Macron tells Salam – Ya Libnan
Share: France’s President Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée presidential palace in Paris, April 21, 2026. © AFP Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the »»»
War with Pakistan halts school for Afghan border children
BARIKOT, Afghanistan: There are no children in the Afghan border village of Barikot, where the school has been smashed by shells and the playground sits deserted after weeks of war with Pakistan. Almost all of the 8,000 residents fled after the conflict erupted in late February, but AFP journalists»»»
Mbappé and Vinícius lift Real Madrid out of a 4-game slump with a 2-1 win over Alaves
MADRID: Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior each scored as Real Madrid ended a four-game winless streak by defeating Alaves 2-1 on Tuesday to move closer to Spanish league leader Barcelona. The victory at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium left Madrid six points behind Barcelona, which hosts sixth-placed »»»
Gun used to kill 8 children was stolen from truck, Louisiana man tells investigators
A man who previously had the assault-style gun used to kill eight children in Louisiana told investigators he believes Shamar Elkins stole it from his truck in the weeks before the rampage in a Shreveport neighborhood, according to court documents released Tuesday. Charles Ford told investigators h»»»
London hosts military talks on France and UK’s Hormuz mission
LONDON: Britain will host military planners from over 30 countries for two days of talks starting Wednesday on a multinational mission led by the UK and France to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry said. The ministry said the meeting would “advance detailed planning” o»»»
Trump: Government of Iran 'seriously fractured'
The government of Iran is "seriously fractured", the reason cited by US President Donald Trump for the US delaying a potential strike on Iran indefinitely. The US leader stated that the decision was also made after a request from Pakistan’s leadership. Meanwhile, the US Navy is keeping the Iran blo»»»
The 15-minute city: Dubai’s next urban shift explained
The “15-minute city” has gone from urban-planning buzzword to a rather sensible idea: if people can get to work, school, shops and parks without embarking on a daily expedition, cities become healthier, happier and less exhausting places to live. Before cities were carved up by zoning codes and lon»»»
DoE: Planned energy investments to reach Dh160 billion over five years
ABU DHABI: With planned energy-related investments approaching Dh160 billion across the UAE over the next five years, this reflects a clear commitment to delivering tangible sustainability outcomes grounded in measurable impact, according to senior energy official. Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Cha»»»
UK SAS troops resigning amid Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, and Syria war crimes probe – media
Soldiers from the UK’s elite SAS force are resigning in significant numbers over fears of prosecution following human rights investigations into alleged war crimes, British media reports. The probe largely focuses on British special forces operations in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2013, as well as mis»»»
Nigeria signs $1bn steel investment deal with India's Rashmi Metaliks Group
Nigeria has signed a $1bn investment agreement with India’s Rashmi Metaliks Group as Abuja steps up efforts to rebuild domestic steel production, reduce imports and expand higher-value industrial output from its mineral resources, Leadership has reported. »»»
Europeans fear Washington more than Beijing for the first time, Politico reports
For the first time in the history of transatlantic polling, more Europeans view the United States as a threat to their continent than view China in the same light, a seismic shift in public sentiment. A Politico Europ»»»
Argentina's Milei cements Israel alliance as self-declared world's most Zionist president
Argentine President Javier Milei signed a sweeping bilateral framework agreement with Israel and declared his unequivocal support for the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran during a three-day state visit to Jerusalem, as he received the country's highest civilian honour and planned to overse»»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
US and Cuba talk in Havana but cannot agree on what was said
Cuba has confirmed that senior officials from Havana and Washington held face-to-face talks on the island in early April, in the highest-level diplomatic encounter between the two governments in nearly a decade, as the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the communist-run island shows »»»
Developing countries skip landlines and go straight to mobile phones - OWID
The concept of “leapfrogging” is popular in development. It suggests that, as they develop, lower-income countries can skip intermediate technologies or systems and go straight to the modern equivalent, Our World in Data (OWID) reports. »»»
Nigeria signs $1bn steel investment deal with India's Rashmi Metaliks Group
Nigeria has signed a $1bn investment agreement with India’s Rashmi Metaliks Group as Abuja steps up efforts to rebuild domestic steel production, reduce imports and expand higher-value industrial output from its mineral resources, Leadership has reported. »»»
Atomic Eagle reports 28.0mn lb uranium oxide reserve at Zambia project, bolsters board
Atomic Eagle Ltd (ASX:AEU; FRA:6QZ0) has strengthened its board and advanced its flagship asset in Zambia, reporting a maiden ore reserve of 28.0mn pounds of triuranium octoxide (U₃O₈) – the most commonly traded and quoted form of uranium in the nuclear fuel cycle –alongside key leadership appointm»»»
Nigeria fintech Flutterwave denies $75mn government investment, imminent IPO plans
Nigerian fintech Flutterwave has denied reports that the country’s federal government plans to invest $75mn in the company, pushing back against claims that the move was linked to a potential initial public offering. Local»»»
Argentina eases glacier protection in $40bn mining push despite environmental fears
Argentina’s Congress has approved a reform to the country’s glacier protection law, relaxing restrictions on mining in high-altitude regions in a move aimed at attracting billions in investment, while drawing criticism from environmental groups concerned about water security. »»»
Brazil bets on AI data hub ambitions as companies pour billions into smart logistics
Brazil's government unveiled plans to position the country as a major global hub for artificial intelligence data processing and storage, just as Brazilian and multinational companies race to automate their logistics networks in a sign of the country's broader digital transformation ambitions. »»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
Truth or Fake - Was Donald Trump 'blocked' from using the nuclear codes against Iran?
Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson alleged on a podcast this week that President Donald Trump wanted to use the nuclear codes against Iran during an emergency White House meeting, but that he was stopped by General Dan Caine, Chairman of his Joint Chiefs of Staff. He described the interaction as "qui»»»
IRGC Aerospace Force: West Asia Oil Production to Be Crippled if Neighbors Aid US Attacks
The Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) warns that if Iran’s southern neighbors aid potential American attacks against the Islamic Republic, the country’s retaliation will rob them of the capacity to continue producing oil. “And let the southern neighbors know: If their te»»»
US-Iran talks are in doubt as ceasefire nears an end
US officials have announced that Vice President JD Vance's trip to Pakistan for peace talks with Iran is on hold, as a two-week truce was set to expire and both countries warned that, without a deal, they were prepared to resume fighting. Iran said on Tuesday it had still yet to decide whether to a»»»
Macron to host Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the president expected to reaffirm his support for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, three days after the death of a French peacekeeper in southern Lebanon.»»»
A propos - More than $71 billion needed over next decade to rebuild Gaza: UN, 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 »»»
France is ready to help Lebanon prepare negociations with Israel, Macron says
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace late on Tuesday, with the president reaffirming his support for the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, three days after a French peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon. French President Emmanue»»»
Press Review - 'Lame excuse': British papers not convinced by PM Starmer's Mandelson defence
PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, April 21: British broadsheets and tabloids mock Prime Minister Keir Starmer's address to the House of Commons, in which he defended himself over the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal. In France, former PM Gabriel Attal talks about "the love of his life", but a conflict of inte»»»
Full suspension of trade relations with Israel requires EU unanimity
Germany on Tuesday rejected calls from other EU member states to suspend the bloc's cooperation agreement with Israel due to concerns over Israel's conduct in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank. Spain and Ireland led proposals to suspend the deal, but Germany said doing so would be "inappropriate". Da»»»
UK police make eight further arrests after arson attacks on Jewish sites
British counter-terrorism officers have made a total of 23 arrests over a wave of arson attacks targeting Jewish sites and an Iran-critical media outlet in London, the Metropolitan police said Tuesday. Police are investigating whether Iran paid "criminal proxies" to carry out the attacks. UK counte»»»
Ukraine reopens damaged Druzhba pipeline to unlock €90 billion EU loan
Kyiv said Tuesday it has repaired the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline, clearing the last obstacle to a long-delayed €90 billion EU loan. The move forces Ukraine into the uncomfortable position of resuming Russian oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia even as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky presses al»»»
Israeli soldiers sexually assaulting Palestinians to force them from West Bank homes – report
Israeli soldiers and settlers are systematically using sexual violence and harassment to force Palestinians from their homes in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the West Bank Protection Consortium – a group of international humanitarian organizations. The report, published on Sunday»»»
Reports: Two CIA officers die in Mexico car crash after drug raid - UPI.com
John Ratcliffe, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, looks on as President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on Iran on April 6 in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Multiple sources reported Tuesday that two U.S. officials killed in a car crash»»»
Historic Great Lakes flooding shoves ice chunks into Michigan homes - UPI.com
Flooding sent giant chunks of ice into Michigan homes this week after record snowfall melt and rounds of heavy rain created dangerous flooding around the Great Lakes. The statewide flooding dashboard from the Michigan Police showed 40 counties under a state of emergency (red) and road closures due »»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
US and Cuba talk in Havana but cannot agree on what was said
Cuba has confirmed that senior officials from Havana and Washington held face-to-face talks on the island in early April, in the highest-level diplomatic encounter between the two governments in nearly a decade, as the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the communist-run island shows »»»
Russia expects resumption of Gulf diplomacy, Lavrov says
Russia expects positive news on the resumption of diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation around Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, state news agency TASS reported on April 21. Moscow has emerged a»»»
Russia expects resumption of Gulf diplomacy, Lavrov says
Russia expects positive news on the resumption of diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation around Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, state news agency TASS reported on April 21. Moscow has emerged a»»»
IDF soldier recieves 30-day military detention after smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
An Israeli soldier has been sentenced to 30 days of military detention after being photographed destroying a statue of Jesus in the Christian village of Debel in southern Lebanon, the IDF confirmed on April 21. The inciden»»»
COMMENT: Rising pressures on Iranians in the UAE
For over a century, the geographical gap between the southern coast of Iran and the bustling ports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was less a barrier and more a bridge. However, the recent war on Iran by the US and Israel and Iran's response to GCC neighbours has all but burnt that bridge. »»»
Panama Canal auction prices quadruple as Hormuz closure reshapes global energy flows
A Chinese-controlled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker paying $4mn to jump a queue is not the sort of detail that ordinarily surfaces in shipping intelligence reports. Yet the transit of the Gas Virgo, a Singapore-flagged vessel operated by Wanhua Chemical, through the Panama Canal on April 15 h»»»
Russia expects resumption of Gulf diplomacy, Lavrov says
Russia expects positive news on the resumption of diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation around Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, state news agency TASS reported on April 21. Moscow has emerged a»»»
UAE warns it could sell oil in yuan if dollar liquidity crunch hits
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has warned Washington it could switch to Chinese yuan or other currencies to settle oil sales if it faces a severe shortage of US dollars, Russian oil industry publication Neft i Kapital reported on April 21. »»»
The Kazakh fintech Freedom Holding sets its sights on the world
Freedom Holding Corp has undergone a transformation that few could have predicted. It listed on Nasdaq in 2019 as a mid-sized Kazakh brokerage, the first Kazakh brokerage ever to list in the US, yet today it is a $9.6bn fintech platform with operations spanning Central Asia, Europe, the US and the »»»
Atomic Eagle reports 28.0mn lb uranium oxide reserve at Zambia project, bolsters board
Atomic Eagle Ltd (ASX:AEU; FRA:6QZ0) has strengthened its board and advanced its flagship asset in Zambia, reporting a maiden ore reserve of 28.0mn pounds of triuranium octoxide (U₃O₈) – the most commonly traded and quoted form of uranium in the nuclear fuel cycle –alongside key leadership appointm»»»
Western Balkans risk losing €700mn in EU funds over delayed reforms
The European Union has warned Western Balkan countries they risk losing more than €700mn in growth package funding unless stalled reforms are accelerated, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported on April 20. European Commissioner»»»
Western Balkans risk losing €700mn in EU funds over delayed reforms
The European Union has warned Western Balkan countries they risk losing more than €700mn in growth package funding unless stalled reforms are accelerated, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported on April 20. European Commissioner»»»