Thousands of London commuters walk to work in underground strike
London: Workers streamed into the British capital by foot, bike and bus Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as strike action on the London Underground train network disrupted services. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) walked out from 12:00pm (1100GMT) on Tuesday for 24 hours over plan»»»
Mesarovic, Guangzhou mayor discuss potential investments in Serbia
GUANGZHOU - Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic, who is on a visit to Guangzhou, China, met with the city's mayor Sun Zhiyang on Wednesday to discuss opportunities for investments in Serbia by Guangzhou-based companies. "This city is famous for research and development cent»»»
PIF backs State Street’s new Saudi equity ETF in latest global market push
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has become an anchor investor in a newly launched exchange-traded fund by State Street Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers. The newly launched ETF, State Street Saudi Arabia Enhanced Active Equity UCITS ETF, or SAQL, activel»»»
Makkah Route expands in Indonesia as first Hajj flights take off
JAKARTA: Indonesia started its Hajj flights on Wednesday with expanded access to the Makkah Route, as Saudi authorities added a new major Indonesian airport to the flagship initiative that streamlines immigration procedures for pilgrims. Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, will »»»
MOI adds ‘Other Vehicle Violations’ option to Metrash app
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior, MOI, announced the addition of a new feature on Metrash App that allows users to pay for family and friends’ traffic violations. The ministry in a social media post stated that to access this feature, users should log into the Metrash app, navigate to “Traffic»»»
UAE President, Moroccan King hold phone talks on Middle East developments
Abu Dhabi: President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed in a phone call on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, with King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco the developments taking place in the Middle East and their serious implications for regional and inter»»»
Putin: Russia Provides Full Assistance to Africa to Ensure Biological Security
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in his greeting to participants and guests of the second Russian-African international conference on combating infectious diseases that Russian agencies are providing full assistance to their African counterparts in biological security. "Ru»»»
China Has Developed Into Indispensable Nation for Green Transition in World
In an era marked by ecological challenges, development dilemmas and geopolitical dynamics are increasingly intertwined. Through a series of innovative practices, Chinese modernization offers a "green solution" to some of humanity's pressing questions of survival and development. Rooted in the wisdo»»»
Planning child travel? Philippines names pages to avoid fake travel clearance services
Dubai: Parents planning to send children to travel have been advised to avoid relying on unverified social media services, as Philippine authorities have officially named Facebook pages offering fake travel clearance assistance. The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), th»»»
ING Bank launches 3-year fixed-rate mortgage, with promotional interest rate starting at 4.79%
Customers can apply for the offer 100% online via Home’Bank and benefit from a transparent discount structure that helps them customize their interest rate. With these offers, ING Bank Romania ranks among the top three most competitive mortgage solutions on the local market, according to an analysi»»»
China denies US-detained ship in Middle East contained ‘gift’ for Iran
BEIJING: China on Wednesday denied again that a ship intercepted by the United States contained a “gift” from Beijing for Iran, a day after US President Donald Trump made the accusation. Trump had said that an Iranian-flagged ship seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday contained “a gift »»»
Riyadh and Beirut coordinate to extend truce ahead of Washington talks
Coordination is ongoing between Riyadh and the Lebanese state to extend the 10-day truce and ensure the success of direct negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv, informed Gulf sources told Nidaa al-Watan newspaper. Lebanese President's Advisor Andre Rahal had visited Saudi Arabia in the past hour»»»
Romanian companies expect stable hiring levels but shift in skill requirements as a result of AI integration
The implementation of artificial intelligence solutions in companies is still in its infancy, as 47.4% of employers participating in the most recent survey by eJobs Romania stated they use such solutions sporadically. This usage is often individual, at the employees’ initiative, rather than a resul»»»
Timișoreana celebrates its 20th anniversary alongside the Romanian Football Cup
Over the past 20 years, the Romanian Cup has offered Romanians some of the most intense and memorable moments in local soccer: spectacular comebacks, dramatic finals, first-time trophy wins, and editions that have gone down in history for the intensity with which they were played. From the remarkab»»»
Everything you need to know about the NBE’s 2026 Platinum triple savings certificate
The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) announced a new adjustment to interest rates on its three-year Platinum Certificate – one of the most prominent savings instruments in Egypt. This move reflects the banking sector’s efforts to keep pace with economic changes. The new rate adjustment offers customers»»»
Will Iran war reshape global trade more than COVID?
TradeGlobal issuesWill Iran war reshape global trade more than COVID?Nik MartinAs the Iran war simmers, trade experts wonder if this conflict will reshape supply chains more than the pandemic. Companies are already rethinking strategies to future-proof revenues from other geopolitical risks. https:»»»
PIF Anchors State Street’s Newly Launched Saudi Equity ETF
The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and State Street Investment Management (State Street IM), one of the world’s largest asset managers, launched on Thursday the State Street Saudi Arabia Enhanced Active Equity (SAQL) with PIF as anchor investor. The fund actively invests in equities of companie»»»
NATO ‘Will Always Defend’ Türkiye, Says Rutte
NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Wednesday the alliance would do "what's necessary to defend" its members including Türkiye after intercepting four missiles fired from Iran and head into Turkish air space over the past weeks. A member of the US-led defense alliance, Türkiye, which borders Iran, has be»»»
Report Says US Blocked $500M Cash Shipment to Iraq Over Pro-Iran Attacks
The United States blocked a plane carrying nearly $500 million in banknotes from delivering the cash to Iraq, US media reported on Tuesday, piling pressure on Baghdad to fight Iran-backed armed factions. The Wall Street Journal reported that Washington has suspended cash shipments to Iraq and froze»»»
US‑Iran ceasefire nears expiry as Islamabad talks cast into doubt
US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire with Iran. The move happened just hours before the fragile two-week truce had been set to expire on Wednesday. However, he has vowed to maintain the naval blockade, touting it as leverage to force Tehran to make a deal. “I have directed our Milit»»»
USFK commander says THAAD remains in Korea, 'munitions' await move - UPI.com
The United States has not moved its THAAD missile defense system to the Middle East, USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson said Tuesday. In this March photo, Brunson speaks to reporters during a combined military exercise in Yeoncheon. File Photo by Yonhap The United States has not moved its THAAD mis»»»
Childbirths grow at record high pace in Feb.: data - UPI.com
The number of babies born in South Korea rose at a record high pace in February of this year, government data showed Wednesday. In this photo, taken Wednesday, a nurse looks after newborns at a hospital in Goyang. Photo by Yonhap The number of babies born rose at a record high pace in February of t»»»
InRento enters Romania with a new financing solution for real estate project owners
InRento is a pan-European investment platform launched in 2020 in Lithuania, to provide financing for real estate developers who need speed, simplicity, and certainty. The FinTech company has already financed more than €90 million in investments and has returned over €28 million to more than 4.400 »»»
Measles Cases Registered in Bulgaria Reach 153
A total of 153 measles cases have been registered in Bulgaria, according to data as of April 21 published on the website of the Ministry of Health. Four new cases were reported on Tuesday. The regions of Vratsa, Lovech, Pleven, and Sofia-city have each registered one infected individual. The newly »»»
GERB: Sarafov's Resignation Is Dignified But Belated
The resignation of Borislav Sarafov is a dignified but belated personal act, according to a statement by GERB published on Facebook. The party said that institutions have always been their top priority. “The most important thing now is for the new National Assembly to begin work immediately so that»»»
Deputy Prosecutor General Stefanova Designated New Acting Prosecutor General
Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council Prosecutors Chamber unanimously decided on Wednesday to designate Deputy Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova acting prosecutor general. The decision comes in the wake of Borislav Sarafov's resignation as acting prosecutor general earlier today. The Prosecutors Cha»»»
Yes, Bulgaria Co-chairs on Prosecutor General's Resignation: "Heart of Peevski-Borissov Model Has Been Ripped Out"
Speaking at a briefing after the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov was announced, Yes, Bulgaria co-chairs Ivaylo Mirchev and Bozhidar Bozhanov said that "the heart of the Peevski-Borissov model has been ripped out, this is an achievement of the people who came out to protest»»»
Legality in Prosecutor’s Office's Governance Restored - Caretaker Justice Minister Yankulov
“What happened was the restoration of legality in the governance of the Prosecutor’s Office, and I believe that everyone is a winner as a result,” caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Andrey Yankulov commented to the media on the decision of the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the Suprem»»»
Pakistan's capital holds its breath with US-Iran talks in limbo
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan's capital was still locked in gear on Wednesday to host high-stakes US-Iran talks that were pushed back at the last minute overnight, but many residents began to tire of the heavy personal and economic toll of tight security restrictions. Markets were quiet, government»»»
Sakib Hussain: IPL quick whose mum sold her jewellery to fund cricket dream
New Delhi: Sakib Hussain's father is a labourer from India's poorest state and his mother sold her jewellery to buy him bowling boots. Their sacrifices -- and his tears -- paid off after the 21-year-old fast bowler made an instant impact in the Indian Premier League. He claimed 4-24 for Sunrisers H»»»
Lufthansa cuts 20,000 summer flights to save jet fuel costs – What's next for European airlines
Dubai: Lufthansa Group has slashed 20,000 flights from its summer schedule in a bid to cut jet fuel costs as the Iran conflict pushes jet fuel prices sharply higher, the airline announced late Tuesday. The move by the German aviation giant is now setting the tone for what could be a turbulent seaso»»»
Media Review: April 22
The topic of how the new parliament will look like after the elections dominates Wednesday’s news media. POLITICS 24 Chasa’s front-page article presents the governance programme of Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria, which won the April 19 elections under the headline, “Life according to Radev: Sta»»»
Saudi Arabia ramps up preparations as Hajj pilgrims begin arriving
Saudi Arabia has stepped up preparations for the 2026 Hajj season, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directing authorities to deploy all capabilities to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage as arrivals begin from around the world. Speaking on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Custodian of»»»
Iran ceasefire: Why the US hit pause instead of push
The United States’ decision to extend its ceasefire with Iran is less a sign of breakthrough than a reflection of a complex moment — one where diplomacy, pressure and uncertainty are all unfolding at once. President Donald Trump pushed back the end of the two-week truce to allow more time for negot»»»
NASA unveils new space telescope to give 'atlas of the universe'
United States: NASA unveiled a new telescope on Tuesday to scan vast swathes of the universe for planets outside our solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The Roman space telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of planets, possibly offering clarity abut ho»»»
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Drives up Costs at Panama Canal
The war in the Middle East has boosted demand to move vital cargo through the Panama Canal to such an extent that one vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) paid $4 million to skip the line and avoid a wait that can take up to five days, according to an official report. A surge in such payment»»»
Report: US Blocks Iraq’s Dollar Shipments to Squeeze Iran-Backed Factions
US President Donald Trump's administration has halted US dollar shipments to Iraq and frozen security cooperation programs with its military, as it presses Baghdad to dismantle Iranian-backed factions operating in the country, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing Iraqi and US offic»»»
World’s oldest doctor recognized by Guinness Book of Records
Doha, Qatar: Dr Howard Tucker has been officially recognised as the world’s oldest doctor ever, following a remarkable medical career that spanned more than seven decades and continued almost until his death at the age of 103. Late Dr. Tucker, from Cleveland, Ohio, practised medicine from 1947 to 2»»»
Cabinet approves joining International Transport Forum
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired on Wednesday the Cabinet's regular meeting at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohann»»»
China Warns Middle East at ‘Critical Juncture’ After Trump Extends Ceasefire
China warned on Wednesday that the situation in the Middle East was at a "critical juncture" after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire to allow Iran more time to negotiate. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the two-week truce on Tuesday with Tehran yet to respond but he said a US»»»
Bucharest set to receive EIB loan tranche of almost €266 million to upgrade tram network
Bucharest is set to receive a loan tranche of almost €266 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to upgrade the urban tram network. The city will use the financing to renovate around 50 kilometres of tram tracks. It will also introduce new tram vehicles and upgrade depots to increase speed»»»
Valdai Club Launches Third Recruitment for “Valdai – New Generation” ProjectOn
April 22, the Valdai Discussion Club opened the third recruitment round for its “Valdai – New Generation” project — a community of young but already accomplished researchers specializing in contemporary world politics, economics, and social relations. Participants will have the opportunity to publi»»»
Manila bets on chips, AI and critical minerals in 'hub' strategy — what it promises
Manila: The global race for microchips and AI hardware is reshaping Southeast Asia. Manila’s move to join "Pax Silica" and help build a 16.2-km2 "free zone" in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) forms part of a catch-up industrial strategy. The plan: Align the country towards advanced supply chains »»»
How farmers are rising to a fertilizer shortfall
Nature and EnvironmentGlobal issuesHow farmers are rising to a fertilizer shortfallJosh AxelrodThe war in Iran has sparked a global fertilizer shortage and is threatening food security. What are farmers around the world doing to save their crops? https://p.dw.com/p/5BqbIWhat can farmers do when fer»»»
Hormuz crisis forces Japan, South Korea to rethink strategy
ConflictsJapanHormuz crisis forces Japan, South Korea to rethink strategyJulian Ryall in TokyoThe Strait of Hormuz blockade has shaken Tokyo and Seoul, highlighting their dependence on maritime trade for essential goods including food and fuel. https://p.dw.com/p/5CaNZJapan gets more than 90% of it»»»
NASA Unveils New Space Telescope to Give 'Atlas of the Universe'
NASA unveiled a new telescope on Tuesday to scan vast swathes of the universe for planets outside our solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The Roman space telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of planets, possibly offering clarity about how many could b»»»
Extreme Heat Threatens Global Food Systems, UN Agencies Warn
Extreme heat is pushing global agrifood systems to the brink, threatening the livelihoods and health of more than a billion people, according to a new report by the UN's food and weather agencies. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Meteorological Organization (»»»
Dubai gold prices rise with global rates after Iran ceasefire extension
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai rose on Wednesday as global bullion gained following easing geopolitical tensions after a US move to extend a ceasefire with Iran. In Dubai, 24-carat gold climbed to Dh573.00 per gram in both morning and afternoon trade, up from Dh565.00 yesterday. The 22-carat variant r»»»
RAK Police alert drivers to fake insurance ads online
Ras Al Khaimah: Motorists in the UAE are being urged to stay vigilant after Ras Al Khaimah Police warned of a surge in fake car insurance advertisements circulating on social media. The authority said the scams are designed to deceive vehicle owners and drivers by offering unrealistically low insur»»»
Abu Dhabi's new HR regulations tighten rules on government appointments and promotions
Abu Dhabi: The Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi has issued the Executive Regulations of Law No. (8) of 2025 concerning Human Resources in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The regulations outline a set of conditions and controls governing employee selection, appointment, and promotion, ensu»»»