UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain during a fraternal visit to the country. The two sides discussed the close ties and cooperation between the UAE and Bahrain, as well as ways to further strengthen relations in a»»»

The Strait of Hormuz has once again returned to the centre of regional and international attention, not only because of the renewed media debate surrounding its legal status, but also due to the broader geopolitical tensions shaping discussions around it. A key point of dispute remains the strait i»»»

Ongoing military escalation in the Middle East puts tens of millions of people at risk of falling into poverty across 162 countries, according to new projections released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). While the impacts are concentrated in countries directly affected by t»»»

Tehran: The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed, and despite the Iranian military warning that it would treat any such action as an act of piracy. Trump had announced on social media he would blockade th»»»

The European Union's member states must coordinate on energy prices amid a 22 billion euro ($25.70 billion) increase in fossil fuel bills since the start of the Iran war, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday. "We're also looking into ... coordination of member states' gas sto»»»

Iran has "good contact" with the Indian government on passage of the South Asian nation's ships through the Strait of Hormuz and wants to help New Delhi, Iranian Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said on Monday, Reuters reported. The US-Israeli war on Iran, which began in February, has restricte»»»

London: London's Heathrow Airport announced Monday a 10 percent increase in transit passengers during March as the US-Iran war forced Gulf countries to close their airspace. Total passenger numbers, including those using Europe's busiest airport to transit, climbed 6.9 percent to 6.65 million last »»»

Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11-day tour of Africa, a landmark visit that underscores the continent’s growing importance to the Catholic Church — even as it unfolds under the shadow of geopolitical tensions. The trip, covering Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, is the first major interna»»»

Russia is ready to take in Iran's enriched uranium as part of a future peace deal with the United States, the Kremlin said on Monday. Failed talks between Iran and the United States over the weekend dashed hopes of a swift deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands and thrown the glo»»»

A man has been arrested after breaching security at Ireland’s Shannon Airport and damaging a US military aircraft, in an incident that briefly shut down operations and reignited scrutiny of America’s long-running use of the facility. Footage circulating online appears to show the intruder climbing »»»

Budapest: Congratulations from across Europe poured in Monday for Hungarian political newcomer Peter Magyar, who defeated nationalist Viktor Orban in elections seen as a blow to right-wing populism worldwide. Orban, a self-described "thorn" in the EU's side and defender of "illiberal democracy", lo»»»

Manila: The Philippines accused Chinese fishermen on Monday of pouring cyanide in waters in the Spratly Islands, a flashpoint in the disputed South China Sea that has been the site of violent confrontations with Chinese vessels. Beijing claims the strategic South China Sea in nearly its entirety, d»»»

Lebanese official media reported extensive Israeli strikes across the country's south on Sunday as the health ministry said at least five people were killed and the war's overall toll rose to 2,055 dead. Israel says the fragile Middle East ceasefire does not apply to its battle with the Iran-backed»»»

Jerusalem, Undefined 12/04/2026 - 20:31 (UTC + 3) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces had eliminated the threat of an invasion by Hezbollah fighters during an alleged visit to troops in southern Lebanon. His reported visit comes two days before officials from L»»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Sunday he was working to stop the Israel-Hezbollah war, even as Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in south Lebanon that the fight there was far from over. The Lebanese Red Cross said in a statement that one of its paramedics had been killed in the south.»»»

The Israeli military said on Monday its troops had completely surrounded a key town in southern Lebanon after killing more than 100 Hezbollah fighters there over the past week. The announcement marks a significant advance in Israel's ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon. "The forces of the 98th Div»»»

Türkiye's foreign minister said on Monday he believed both Iran and the United States remain "sincere" about reaching a ceasefire despite the failure of Pakistan-mediated talks on the weekend. He also stated that Israel "cannot live without an enemy" and its government is now trying to portray Türk»»»

France and Britain will work on a "peaceful multinational mission" to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but it would be "separate from the warring parties", French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday. US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February sparked a region-wide war and brought to»»»

The Israeli military said on Monday its troops had completely surrounded Bint Jbeil, a key town in southern Lebanon after killing more than 100 Hezbollah fighters there over the past week. The announcement marks a significant advance in Israel's ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon. "The forces of »»»

An Israeli airstrike killed at least three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, health officials said, as mediators met leaders from Hamas in an effort to shore up a US-brokered ceasefire deal. Medics said the strike had hit a group of men outside a school in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza »»»

Dubai: President Donald Trump has escalated the battle for the Strait of Hormuz, ordering a US naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iran — a move that risks sending global oil prices higher even as Washington says it wants the vital artery reopened. The contradiction is only apparent. Trump isn»»»

Ukrainian believers gather to mark Easter near the Church of the Archangel Saint Michael in the Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography in Pyrohovo village near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. A truce had been announced for the Easter holiday, during which both sides accused the other of violations. »»»

Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday excise taxes on LPG and kerosene would be trimmed to ease the fuel price shock wrought by the US-Israeli war on Iran. "We were hoping for a good outcome from the peace talks (between) the US and Iran, but it appears they were unable to strik»»»

Nearly two-thirds ‌of Israelis oppose the Iran ceasefire, but the public is divided over whether Israel should respect the two-week truce or resume attacks on Iran, according to a poll from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The poll was the first national survey of Israelis conducted after the US»»»

China urged calm and restraint by all sides on Monday, following US President Donald Trump's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz after the failure of weekend talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the Iran war. Before the war, most Iranian oil exports were shipped to China, the top global importer »»»

Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump, saying the Vatican’s calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and not political positioning. Speaking to The Associated Press aboard the papal plane, Leo said it was “not understanding what the message of the Gospel is” »»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been ousted after 16 years in power, marking a dramatic political shift in one of Europe’s most closely watched elections. In a high-turnout vote, Orban conceded defeat to conservative challenger Peter Magyar, ending a long period of nationalist rule that h»»»

Jordan and Syria signed more than 20 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding on Sunday, marking a significant step toward restoring strategic ties that had been frozen since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Jordanian diplomacy has dealt pragmatically with restoring relatio»»»

Dubai: When Kite Beach Dubai lit up at sunrise on Sunday, it wasn't just the morning light that made it glow. Nearly 1,500 runners, draped in red, white, green and black, moved together along one of the city's most iconic waterfronts in a unique show of unity and gratitude. The community event, Run»»»

The Philippines accused Chinese fishermen on Monday of pouring cyanide in waters in the Spratly Islands, a flashpoint in the disputed South China Sea that has been the site of violent confrontations with Chinese vessels. Beijing claims the strategic South China Sea in nearly its entirety, despite a»»»

Iraq’s oil exports plunged in March to 18.6 million barrels, down from 99.87 million in February – a drop of 81.3 percent - due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to official figures released Monday. The state-run Organization for Marketing of Oil said revenues also have fallen to ju»»»

A Russian drone attack killed one person in Ukraine's frontline eastern Donetsk region on Sunday, Ukrainian police said on Monday, before the expiry of a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter. Police said in a statement that an FPV (first-person-view) drone strike killed one person in the city of Druzh»»»

Two people ‌were killed and one injured by Russian troops in Ukraine's frontline eastern Donetsk region before the expiry of a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter, a local official said on Monday, One person was killed in the city of Kramatorsk and one in Druzhkivka on Sunday, regional governor Vadym»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that whatever the pressure, Britain would not be dragged into the Iran war and was not ⁠supporting a blockade of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Starmer ⁠said it was vital to get the Strait reopened. "It is, in my view, vital t»»»

The Pentagon under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Sunday that five people were killed in two strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Pacific. There was one reported survivor, but their condition was unknown. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. m»»»

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China this week, Beijing said on Monday, as the two sides hope to boost cooperation. "Russia's foreign minister Lavrov will pay an official visit to China from April 14 to 15," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference. Lavrov wil»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The continued crisis in the Middle East endangers the global food security, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Alexander Maslennikov said on Monday. "An additional negative factor for ensuring global food security is the significantly increasing cost of shipping fre»»»

Dubai: Companies across the UAE and global markets continue to expect export growth in 2026, even as the Middle East conflict reshapes financial conditions and risk dynamics across global trade. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The latest Allianz Trade Global Survey, wh»»»

Dubai: Oil prices climbed at the start of the week while global equities and bonds came under pressure, after the US confirmed plans to impose a blockade around Iranian ports, raising concerns over energy supply and market stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Bre»»»

President Lee Jae Myung (R) and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk shake hands after a summit at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Monday. Photo by Yonhap President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk agreed to upgrade the bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and bolster c»»»

A bread shortage in Gaza is worsening as Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies continue to affect bakeries that had reopened following an October ceasefire. The flow of aid and food supplies, including from the World Food Program (WFP), has declined further over the past month, amid Israeli»»»

Croatia expects a fierce competition for European tourists this summer as war and global instability disrupt travel patterns, even as the Adriatic destination leans on its reputation for safety to sustain visitor numbers. »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a visit to China on April 14-15, where he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on a number of issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. "On April 1»»»

When the US and Israel waged war on Iran on 28 February 2026, killing its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, two global powers watched intently from afar: China and Russia. Both had signed a trilateral strategic pact with Tehran just weeks earlier, pledging to deepen economic and defence ties (though off»»»

President Donald Trump returns to the White House in Washington, D.C., from Miami, Fla., on Sunday, the same night he chastised Pope Leo for criticizing the war in Iran. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 13 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope LeoXIV over his critici»»»

The Middle East war will dominate global finance officials' talks this week in Washington, but World Bank President Ajay Banga is sounding the alarm about a bigger, looming crisis: a huge gap in jobs for the 1.2 billion people who will reach working age in developing countries in the next 10 to 15 »»»

Dubai: There are ideas that take years to develop and there are ideas that arrive fully formed, urgent and impossible to ignore. The We Love Dubai initiative was the second kind. It started with a conversation. Marta Paniagua, Creative Director at Multilem Middle East, turned to her colleague Dorot»»»

Gold prices touched a near one-week low on Monday, pressured by a stronger dollar, while a surge in oil prices following failed US-Iran peace talks fueled inflation worries and dampened expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts this year. Spot gold was down 0.7% at $4,716.70 per ounce, as»»»

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday Australia had not received any request from the United States to help with its ‌planned blockade ‌of the Strait ‌of ⁠Hormuz, according to Reuters. "They have done ⁠that in a unilateral way, and we haven't been asked to participate. We've ⁠received no ‌»»»

The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports on Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed with President Donald Trump blaming Tehran's refusal to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Trump had announced on social media he would blockade the strategic Strai»»»