Gulf trade faces new shock as Hormuz disruptions test global supply chains
Dubai: Trade flows across the Middle East face mounting strain as geopolitical tensions disrupt critical shipping routes, raising questions over whether the shock will reshape global commerce or prove temporary. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.A n»»»
Chile's Kast launches 40-measure reform package with staged corporate tax cut
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has formally filed the Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development Bill in the Chamber of Deputies, a 40-plus measure package including a staged reduction in corporate tax from 27% to 23% aimed at reviving growth and cutting unemployment, El Mercurio repor»»»
Rotating cast to fill-in for Karoline Leavitt during maternity leave - UPI.com
A rotating cast of people, which could include President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, will fill in for White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt when she takes maternity leave after her daughter is born. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- White House Press S»»»
The World This Week - Iran: Neither war nor Peace, Ukraine’s Lifeline, Starmer: “Just a Scratch”?
In a week where a stalemate appears to have developed after nearly two months of asymmetric conflict between the US and Iran, President Trump’s Truth Social posts have swung between belligerent maximalism and breezy deal-making—one minute suggesting a within-reach deal, and that Iranian forces woul»»»
'Communities Not Cages' anti-ICE protests planned nationwide on Saturday - UPI.com
Protests are planned nationwide on Saturday as part of the "Communities Not Cages National Day of Action" against the growth of ICE and millions of dollars being poured into new immigrant detention centers. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Hundreds of rallies are pla»»»
Tunisian journalist detained after criticizing judiciary, lawyer says
TUNIS: Prominent Tunisian reporter Zied Heni was detained on Friday after writing an article criticizing the judiciary, according to his lawyer, a move the journalists’ union said was part of a broader crackdown on free speech. The Tunisian public prosecutor ordered the arrest, lawyer Nafaa Larib»»»
US still delivering weapons to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says, as Prince Harry visits Kyiv
KYIV: US weapons deliveries to Ukraine haven’t stopped despite the Iran war, and Ukrainian long-range strikes continue to hammer Russian oil production and manufacturing plants, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday. “Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is v»»»
Morocco opens $700M skyscraper as it boosts global ambitions
CASABLANCA, Morocco: Towering over the Moroccan capital’s historic cityscape, a $700 million, 55-story skyscraper opened this week in a move that underscores the country’s expanding global ambitions. Named for King Mohammed VI and inspired by a rocket on its launchpad, the 820-foot Mohammed VI Towe»»»
IRGC Navy Seizes Epaminondas Container Ship in Strait of Hormuz
Exclusive images obtained by Tasnim show Epaminondas, a large MSC-operated containership, after it was intercepted and transferred to Iranian territorial waters by the IRGC Navy in the Strait of Hormuz as part of ongoing maritime security operations targeting violating ships. The IRGC Navy announce»»»
Wounded Lebanese journalist recounts hours of agony after Israeli strike killed colleague Amal Khalil
BEIRUT: A Lebanese journalist who was wounded in an Israeli airstrike that killed her colleague this week described hours of agony as they waited for help to arrive, in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. Zeinab Faraj, a young freelance photographer and video journalist, frequently mo»»»
Amir, US president discuss regional developments, maritime security and global supply chains
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the Saate of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a telephone call from President of the friendly United States of America, HE Donald Trump. The two sides reviewed the latest regional developments, particularly the ceasefire agreement between the United Stat»»»
WHO approves first malaria treatment for infants
GENEVA: The World Health Organization announced Friday that it had given prequalification approval to a malaria treatment for newborns and infants for the first time. Artemether-lumefantrine is the first antimalarial formulation designed specifically for the youngest victims of the mosquito-borne d»»»
Is Israel’s ‘buffer zone’ expansion a bid to control Lebanon’s offshore gas?
BEIRUT: Lebanon faces growing concern over what officials describe as potential Israeli encroachment onto its offshore energy resources, after the Israeli military published a map extending its buffer zone into the Mediterranean, raising questions about the fate of the Qana gas field. The map, rele»»»
Hundreds of alleged MS-13 members tried at mass hearing in El Salvador mega-jail
Hundreds of alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-A3) gang were tried at an El Salvador prison on Thursday, accused of collectively carrying out more than 29,000 murders. Mass trials are a centrepiece of President Nayib Bukele's "war" on gangs. Hundreds of alleged Mara Salvatrucha gang m»»»
Mass trial of MS-13 gang at CECOT prison
El Salvador has launched a mass trial of 486 alleged MS-13 members accused by prosecutors of thousands of murders and other crimes, as President Nayib Bukele continues his sweeping crackdown under a state of emergency that has sharply reduced crime, though human rights groups warn the measures—intr»»»
Stars and Stripes ombudsman fired by Department of Defense - UPI.com
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday fired Stars and Stripes' ombudsman, whose job it had to been to protect the newspapers' editorial independence and report to Congress if military officials were interfering with it. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Th»»»
Turkiye joins global push to shield children from harmful online content
LONDON: Turkiye has become the latest country to restrict children’s access to social media, passing legislation this week that prevents under-15s from opening accounts on major platforms and requires stricter controls on harmful content. The bill, now awaiting final approval from President Recep T»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have accu»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have»»»
Israeli fire kills five in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday, while in a separate incident in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a 15-year-old was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during an army raid, according to Palestinian health officials. Caroline Baum reports.»»»
Lebanon - Israel: Truce extended by three weeks
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire for three weeks, according to the White House, which hosted ambassadors from both countries, but fighting persists as Hezbollah, absent from the talks, has launched new waves of rockets and drones, while Israeli forces continue operations in sout»»»
Spotlight - Pope in Equatorial Guinea: Moral authority role risks being 'whitewashed & used to legitimise power'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Tutu Alicante, an international human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist. According to Alicante, the pope's visit to Equatorial Guinea presents a paradox: it offers a rare opportunity to spotlight injustice, yet risks being appropriated b»»»
Focus - Fleeing war in Sudan, refugees flock to Libya's Kufra province
For the past three years, war has been raging in Sudan betwe en the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, leading to more than 11 million Sudanese being displaced. After Chad, Libya is the largest host country of Sudanese refugees. In the southeastern Kufra province, 250 kilo»»»
French foreign minister Barrot voices concern about 'terrorist threat' in the Sahel
France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday voiced concern about the spread of Islamist extremism in west Africa, after talks with Togo's leader, Faure Gnassingbe. Violence by jihadist groups has blighted the Sahel region for the last decade, and is now spreading into northe»»»
Orient Express train exhibition in Paris
Finally, a legendary rail journey from Paris to Istanbul is in the spotlight as the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris hosts an exhibition dedicated to the Orient Express, with France 2 taking a closer look, in a report brought to us by Nick Rushworth.»»»
Iraq deadlock persists over next prime minister
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s main Shiite alliance failed on Friday to agree on a new candidate for prime minister after US pressure stymied the chances of frontrunner Nouri Al-Maliki. Leaders of the Coordination Framework — a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying ties to Iran who had initially nominate»»»
62,000 Somalis displaced by drought since beginning of year UN says
Geneva: The United Nations revealed Friday that the drought plaguing Somalia since the beginning of the year has displaced approximately 62,000 people across five regions. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), in its latest report, anticipates that the total number of displaced p»»»
Access Asia - India-Pakistan ties 'not good', a year after Kashmir attack
A year after the deadly terror attack in Kashmir, relations between India and Pakistan remain at an all-time low. Since then, Islamabad has emerged as a key mediator seeking to end the war in Iran. On Access Asia, we're joined by Indian MP Dr Shashi Tharoor to find out what India makes of Pakistan'»»»
WWF warns Mediterranean overfishing remains critical
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization show 58% of assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, meaning catches exceed sustainable limits, WWF Greece fisheries officer Michalis Margaritis said. The Mediterranean is among the world’s most overexploited seas, he added. Fish consumption»»»
SDAIA showcases Saudi Arabia’s AI governance model
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority participated in the 29th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, held in Geneva from April 20 to 24. Under the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation in the Age of AI,” the session gathered global repre»»»
Umluj: A sustainable tourism destination in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Umluj governorate is redefining its status on the global tourism map, leveraging its natural wealth and maritime heritage to create a sustainable, inclusive destination. Historically known as the “white city” for its pristine sands, Umluj’s modern identity is being shaped by national transf»»»
Macron bands Trump with Putin, Xi as ‘dead against’ Europe
ATHENS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday banded US President Donald Trump together with Russia’s Vladmir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping as world leaders who are “dead against” Europe. Macron’s bromance with the mercurial US leader has cooled in recent months, and the White House has made no»»»
Syrian forces arrest Amjad Youssef, suspect in 2013 Tadamon massacre - UPI.com
The Syrian Interior Ministry said Amjad Youssef had been hiding out in Hama province since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Syrian Interior Ministry/X April 24 (UPI) -- Authorities arrested a key suspect in the 2013 massacre of civilians in the Tadamon dis»»»
Reckless red light jumps caught on Sharjah Police cameras
Sharjah: Sharjah Police has released a powerful awareness video highlighting the deadly risks of jumping red lights, as part of ongoing efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic violations across the emirate. The video blends real-time surveillance footage with exclusive glimpses inside the»»»
Tête à tête - Humanitarian worker Mike Penrose on the 'Food from Ukraine' programme
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Mike Penrose, a veteran humanitarian worker and special adviser to the government of Ukraine on the "Food from Ukraine" humanitarian programme, explained that this initiative "increases the value of the aid that's being distributed" in an "era of diminishing amounts »»»
The 51% - First female coach of top European men's football team faces backlash
Marie-Louise Eta has broken barriers in football as the first woman to coach a top-tier European men's club at Union Berlin. But the historic appointment has also triggered a wave of misogynistic attacks. Also we all know it to be the case but now we have the data to back it up. A new report reveal»»»
Europe Rendezvous - Crossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 1)
In this two-part show, Armen Georgian takes viewers on a journey across the European Union, exploring mobility and transport projects funded by the EU’s cohesion policy. In the 2021-2027 budget, the EU has been using its cohesion funds to invest €63.2 billion in transport schemes.&nb»»»
Europe Rendezvous - Crossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 2)
In this second part of Europe Rendezvous, Armen Georgian is in Hungary and Austria on his whistle-stop journey across the EU, exploring mobility and transport projects funded by the EU's cohesion policy. Watch moreCrossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 1) Our journey continu»»»
Who Can Challenge West's Blackmail and Global Finance Control?
Freezing other nations’ assets and using them as leverage has long been a trademark negotiation tactic of the West, Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of research at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, tells Sputnik. While the chief depositories remain in the West, and the US dollar is s»»»
Full List of 240 MPs Elected on April 19
The Central Election Commission announced on Friday evening the names of the 240 MPs elected on April 19 to Bulgaria’s 52nd National Assembly. Progressive Bulgaria will have 131 MPs, GERB-UDF 39, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria 37, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms 21, and Vazrazhdane »»»
Aoun: Lebanon Rejects Being A Bargaining Chip in Regional Conflicts
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon “refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts,” stressing it “negotiates in its own name, in defense of its national interests and sovereignty,” as Beirut pursues a US-sponsored diplomatic track backed by European and Arab support to reach a last»»»
Sovereignty of Falklands rests with the UK, Britain tells US
LONDON: The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the US position on the Falklands as punishment for Britain’s stance on the Iran war. “We could not be clearer about»»»
Al-Ahli reaching back-to-back ACL finals is ‘incredible,’ says Mahrez
JEDDAH: Riyad Mahrez says Al-Ahli have achieved something “incredible” in reaching back-to-back Asian Champions League finals, but warned his side not to underestimate their opponents — Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia — in the Jeddah showdown on Saturday. Mahrez, 35, told a press conference in Jeddah on »»»
FDA begins push to study psychedelics for mental health disorders - UPI.com
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on researching the effects of psychedelic drugs in medical treatment on Saturday in the Oval Office. The FDA has begun to make changes to allow more research on the drugs for mental health treatment. Photo by Allison Robbert/UPI | License Photo April »»»
Tunisia and Serbia discuss cooperation in tourism sector
Tunis, April 24 (TAP) - Tunisia's Ambassador in Belgrade Imen Lajili Ammari, met on Wednesday with Serbian Minister of Tourism and Youth Husein Memić, to discuss bilateral tourism cooperation and explore ways to boost it. Both officials welcomed the...»»»
Gaza Reconstruction Back on the Table, Parallel Track to the Board of Peace
The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has returned to the agenda in recent days during Egyptian talks with international parties, amid a stalemate in implementing the ceasefire and earlier reports of funding problems facing the “Board of Peace” led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Those reports were »»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»