JEDDAH: Saudi authorities have begun early preparations for the Hajj season, launching coordinated initiatives aimed at improving service quality, crowd management and spiritual services for pilgrims. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah has inspected the readiness of camps in Mina during fi»»»

RIYADH: More than 1,000 people took part in a virtual seminar organized by Makkah’s education authority on Tuesday about Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the recent NASA moon mission. The session entitled “Saudi Arabia Towards Space … Contribution to the Artemis II Mission,” was attended by specialis»»»

ISTANBUL: Sadri Haghshenas spends her days selling borek — a layered, savory pastry — at a shop in Istanbul, but her mind is on her daughter in Tehran. The family had to send her home to Iran after they ran into difficulties renewing her visa, despite fears that a shaky ceasefire could soon collaps»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaApple switches CEO: What it means for the tech giantNik MartinApple's top hardware engineer John Ternus will lead the $4 trillion iPhone maker, as Tim Cook steps back. Will Apple chase rivals for the smartest intelligence, or deliver the best personal AI experience? »»»

Lebanon will request a one-month extension of the ceasefire during its meeting with Israel in Washington on Thursday, a Lebanese official told AFP. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the topic, said "Lebanon will request an extension of the truce for one»»»

In the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, a wedding album quietly claimed the room. When it appeared on the side table, roles were set: some turned the pages carefully, others recalled details the photographs could not. You weren’t just visiting — you were stepping into someone’s life, one frame at a time. T»»»

Share: A woman walks past an anti-US and anti-Israel mural, in Tehran on April 21 2026, amid a ceasefire in the region. © Atta Kenare, AFP Lebanon will ask for a one-month ceasefire extension in its talks with Israel in Washington on Thursday, according to an official. Earlier, Iran seized two ship»»»

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, known as Ithra, announced the qualification of 20 teams at the conclusion of the regional rounds of the fifth Saudi STEM Racing competition. The contest aims to raise awareness of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) among»»»

PARACIN - The Vaider Serbian Glass Factory opened a new production plant in Paracin, central Serbia, on Wednesday. Addressing the opening ceremony, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the company could count on government assistance and that he would ask the government to find a way to help the»»»

BUDAPEST/BRUSSELS: Russian oil flowed through the Ukrainian section of the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday after a halt lasting months, officials said, allowing Hungary to lift its veto on a 90 billion euro ($105.79 billion) EU loan urgently needed by Kyiv. The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the »»»

former Guatemalan President Vinicio Cerezo, a signatory of the Esquipulas peace accords, demonstrated how leadership can expand political space by prioritizing dialogue and regional peace over permanent confrontation. File Photo by Juan Pablo Pino/EPA April 22 (UPI) -- Latin America is moving throu»»»

Doha, Qatar: President of the Syrian Arab Republic HE Ahmed Al Sharaa departed Doha on Wednesday following a working visit to the country. His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Doha International Airport by Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohamm»»»

Kyiv/Moscow, April 22 (SANA) Fighting between Ukraine and Russia intensified on Wednesday, with both sides reporting casualties and damage as attacks expanded across several regions. Agence France-Presse quoted Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov as saying a civilian was killed and another »»»

A senior New Zealand minister has sparked outrage by deriding a planned free trade deal with India as a "butter chicken tsunami". Wellington is poised to sign a free trade agreement with India in New Delhi next week. Also Read: Australia: Albanese demands apology as senator’s anti-Indian remark spa»»»

Dubai: Pakistan is set to roll out a sweeping new five-year auto sector policy in consultation with the International Monetary Fund, aimed at slashing import tariffs, restructuring duties and opening up the vehicle market by 2030, The News reported on Wednesday. Under the $7 billion Extended Fund F»»»

Hezbollah on Wednesday said it targeted an Israeli artillery position in the southern town of al-Bayyada with an attack drone, adding that a control room went up in flames. The Israeli army had earlier said it "intercepted" a drone launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli troops in south Lebanon, calli»»»

Oil prices edged higher Wednesday while Europe's main stock markets eased on uncertainty surrounding the prospect of resumed Mideast peace talks following an extension to the US-Iran ceasefire. Asian equities had a mixed trading day as investors wait for clarity but broadly expect that both US Pres»»»

Dubai: Dubai-based dnata will invest around Dh77 million (A$32 million) to build a new cargo terminal at Western Sydney International Airport, strengthening air freight capacity in Australia’s busiest logistics corridor. The global air and travel services provider said the purpose-built facility wi»»»

Dubai has announced an ambitious new addition to its public transport network with the launch of the Gold Line metro project. Revealed on X by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai the Dh34 billion initiative will span 42»»»

Dubai: Anvith Yalamanchili, a 15-year-old student from Dubai, has developed a free ride-sharing platform that connects commuters travelling along similar routes, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and emissions this World Earth Day. In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Anvith said the idea, n»»»

The number of measles cases in Bulgaria has reached 159, said Iliya Tasev, Director of the Public Health Protection, Health Control and Patients’ Rights Directorate at the Ministry of Health, speaking to journalists on Wednesday. Tasev added that 20,000 children have been vaccinated against measles»»»

The West and the US have used their ability to maneuver through legalities since the end of WW2 to control the international justice system, international relations researcher Professor Eli Georgi Elias tells Sputnik. The goal of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is no longer to serve justice,»»»

BAGHDAD/DUBAI: The United States has halted a shipment of about $500 million in cash bound for Iraq and suspended parts of its security cooperation with Baghdad, in a move aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government over the actions of Iran-backed militias, Iraqi sources told Reuters. The measures wer»»»

THE HAGUE: International Criminal Court judges Wednesday threw out a challenge against the court’s jurisdiction by Rodrigo Duterte, meaning the former Philippines president could still stand trial over his war on drugs. The 81-year-old faces three counts of crimes against humanity at the internatio»»»

President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that the measures adopted by Cabinet must be "strictly enforced in Beirut," adding in a security meeting that "raids on locations containing weapons caches must be intensified." He added that the number of military and security forces deployed in the capital and»»»

Hanoi: Vietnam's top leader To Lam hosted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Hanoi on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, announcing a dozen cooperative agreements including on tech innovation and development of nuclear power plants. South Korea is Vietnam's biggest source of foreign investment and one»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announces the relocation of its headquarters in Lusail City starting from Sunday, April 26, 2026. In an announcement on social media, the Ministry also shared the exact location of its new headquarters in Lusail. The Ministry affirmed that all of i»»»

At a meeting of the Zhogorku Kenesh, deputies reviewed and adopted the draft law «On Amendments to the Law ’On Regulations of the Zhogorku Kenesh’» and the draft constitutional law «On Amendments to the Constitutional Law ’On the Central Commission for Elections and Referendums’» in their third rea»»»

The volume of remittances received by Kyrgyzstan in February 2026 amounted to $224.2 million, the National Bank reported. According to the bank, the bulk of this amount came from CIS countries—$208.2 million. Transfers from non-CIS countries amounted to $16 million. In February 2026, the volume of »»»

BusinessRussia to block Kazakh oil flows to Germany via key pipelineArthur SullivanGermany has confirmed that Russia will block flows of Kazakh oil to a vital refinery that supplies much of Berlin's energy needs from May 1. https://p.dw.com/p/5Ce5vThe PCK refinery is a vital energy hub for BerlinIm»»»

April 21 (UPI) -- Multiple roads were closed Tuesday in Albany, N.Y., when a black bear climbed a tree and spent hours lounging on a branch. The Albany Police Department said Second Avenue was closed between Hoffman Avenue and Frisbie Avenue, while Garden Street was closed at Raymo Street due to th»»»

The Finnish Air Force confirmed cadets on a training flight were disciplined for using their flight patterns to create the shapes of male genitalia in the sky. File Photo by Piotr Wittman/EPA April 21 (UPI) -- The Finnish Air Force confirmed cadets on a training flight were disciplined for using th»»»

China intensifies targeted "pinpoint" pressure on Japan as all-front tensions escalate across the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea The People's Liberation Army Navy Type 052C destroyer Haikou, NATO code name Luyang II class, sails into Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, China. Photo by JEROME FAVRE / E»»»

Dubai: For many parents in the UAE, the first signs of developmental delay in a child can bring uncertainty and often, hesitation. This Autism Awareness month, Abu Dhabi-based Filipina expatriate Lilac Schonberg is working to remove that hesitation by offering free applied behaviour analysis assess»»»

Athens: Greece's conservative government on Wednesday announced special payments to seniors and families with children, and the extension of a fuel subsidy for farmers, to help counter a cost-of-living crisis. The aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars came as the country's parliament voted on w»»»

Trump has given no indication of how long the extension will last. The US leader's ceasefire is therefore considered indefinite, ex-ambassador to Iran Asif Durrani points out. The second round of US–Iran talks in Islamabad did not take place, as the two sides failed to agree on preliminary conditio»»»

Nepal's home minister stepped down Wednesday over growing criticism of his finances after less than a month in office he won on an anti-corruption platform. Sudan Gurung, a key figure in the Gen-Z protests last September that toppled Nepal's previous government, said he was stepping down to ensure »»»

HAMBURG: The ‌lowest price offered in a tender from Tunisian state grains agency ONF on Wednesday to purchase around 27,000 metric tons of animal feed corn was believed to be $267.09 per ton, cost and freight (c&f) included, European traders said. No purchase has ‌yet been ‌reported and offers ‌are»»»

Lebanese Civil Defense personnel in the southern border town of Rmeish on Wednesday provided first aid to a wounded Hezbollah fighter who had crawled to Ain Ebel from Bint Jbeil, the National News Agency said. "They then contacted the Lebanese Red Cross to transport him to a safe area," NNA added. »»»

Chisinau: A Chisinau court sentenced oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc to 19 years in prison on Wednesday in a case linked to the disappearance of $1.0 billion from the Moldovan banking system. A former businessman, lawmaker and kingpin in the Democratic Party of Moldova, Plahotniuc fled the country in »»»

A US Army nuclear surety official has reportedly described the rampant corruption he witnessed in Ukraine since the administration of US President Barack Obama. The interview was released by the media group run by the controversial journalist James O’Keefe, whose modus operandi is to send reporters»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters targeted newely established Israeli artillery emplacement in Al-Bayyada with an attack drone, setti»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Casualties in Israeli strike on a vehicle on Tiri main road: Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon 22-04-2026 15:21 PM Latest News Urgent»»»

Katmandu: Nepal’s home minister stepped down Wednesday over growing criticism of his finances after less than a month in office he won on an anti-corruption platform. Sudan Gurung, a key figure in the Gen-Z protests last September that toppled Nepal’s previous government, said he was stepping down »»»

President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov arrived at the Regional Ecological Summit taking place in Astana. A welcoming ceremony was held at the EXPO International Exhibition Center by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, for President Sadyr Japarov. After a join»»»

Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has announced the adoption of the “Advanced Agriculture 4.0” system, as part of its efforts to support digital transformation in the agricultural sector. Officials said the system marks a shift from traditional farming methods to a more modern, data-d»»»

Doha, Qatar: Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) HE Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani met on Wednesday with Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the State of Qatar HE Mohammed Jaafar Al Sadr. During the meeting, they discussed aspects of cooperation and coordination between the two countries »»»

Kuwait’s Court of Appeal has sentenced a lawyer to three years in prison with immediate effect after convicting him of posting misleading and false information via X platform that sparked public confusion over citizenship revocation cases. The State Security Circuit found that the defendant had exc»»»

A 22-year-old woman was killed and four children seriously injured after part of an old house collapsed during a wedding gathering in Kirkuk, local authorities said. The incident occurred as guests were preparing to bring in the bride; a section of the ageing structure gave way, turning the celebra»»»