Security of Strait of Hormuz 'not free': Iran VP Mohammad Reza Aref amid rising US-Iran tensions
Tehran: Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Sunday (local time) warned that stability in the Strait of Hormuz comes at a cost, stating that the country cannot be expected to ensure maritime security while facing restrictions on its own oil exports, amid escalating tensions with the Un»»»
Supreme Court to hear Catholic school bid to reject LGBTQ parents' children - UPI.com
Denver-area organizations say the stance, which makes them ineligible for state universal pre-K funding, is unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday that it will hear a case brought by the Archdiocese of Denver and other Catholic preschools that object to the state refusing to fund t»»»
Justice ministry staff feted for completing leadership programme
QNA Doha Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi honoured a cohort of ministry staff who successfully completed a leadership development programme, in a move aimed at strengthening skills and enhancing government performance. Organised by the mi»»»
Aman Centre launches its 2026-2030 strategy
QNA Doha The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Centre (Aman), one of the centres affiliated with Qatar Foundation for Social Work, has launched its 2026-2030 strategy. The new strategy marks a significant milestone in the centre’s journey and reflects its vision to enhance social security, prote»»»
How GU-Q scholars became keyvoices explaining war on Iran
Tribune News Network DOHA Afternoon classes were underway on Sept. 9, 2025, when the building at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) began to shake. Students in a Gulf politics class watched as their professor, Dr. Mehran Kamrava, paused before saying, “That is a bomb, class is over.” Within minu»»»
HMC wins golden award among Qatar’s healthcare sector at 12th National Cyber Drill Ceremony
Tribune News Network Doha Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has been awarded the Golden Award by Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) at the 12th National Cyber Drill Ceremony (2025), recognising HMC’s outstanding performance across the entire healthcare sector. The National Cyber Drill, con»»»
QU honors outstanding students at annual event
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar University (QU) hosted its Annual Student Life Awards Ceremony, attended by academic and administrative leaders and marked by strong student participation. The ceremony reflects the University’s ongoing commitment to recognizing student excellence and reinforcing the»»»
‘Global Coalition for Implementation of Two-State Solution of vital importance’
QNA Brussels Qatar acknowledges the critical importance of continuing to hold regular meetings the Global Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, which contributes to strengthening international coordination and moving from political affirmations to practical steps leading to th»»»
Transport minister, Saudi counterpart discuss ties
Tribune News Network Doha Minister of Transport HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani met with Minister of Transport and Logistic Services of Saudi Arabia Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, via videoconference, on Monday. The two ministers discussed venues of bilateral cooperation in t»»»
Shura Council reviews real estate brokerage law amendment
During the session, the Shura Council reviewed a draft law amending some provisions of Law No 22 of 2017 to regulate the real estate brokerage activities, which was referred to it by the esteemed government, and decided to refer it to its Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to study and submit »»»
Philippines, US and allies start military exercises testing ‘real world’ readiness
MANILA: Philippine and US forces will carry out maritime strike drills on a remote Philippine island near Taiwan during annual exercises that started on Monday, which Manila’s military chief said would test their readiness under “real‑world conditions.” The April 20 to May 8 exercises known as “Bal»»»
An Iraqi captain sails through ‘ball of fire’ amid US-Iran tension
BAGHDAD: Aboard an oil tanker plying the tense waters between the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz, Iraqi Captain Rahman Al-Jubouri continues to work in one of the world’s most volatile maritime corridors, where the US-Israel war with Iran has disrupted global trade and left some crews strande»»»
Is petrodollar starting to crack? How Iran war puts world oil trade at risk
Dubai: The global financial system’s reliance on the US dollar for oil trade is being tested in real time as the Iran war approaches the two-month mark, with a fragile two-week ceasefire window now in focus. What began as a geopolitical shock has evolved into a deeper market shift, forcing investor»»»
Palestinian death toll in Gaza hits 72,553
LONDON: The death toll from the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip since Oct.7, 2023 has risen to 72,553, according to the Palestine news agency, Wafa. A total of 172,296 people have been injured in the conflict. Palestinian medical sources said on Monday that two people had been killed and 22 in»»»
Bohra Sultan pledges to boost tourism to Egypt as Al-Sisi vows support for mosque restorations
The Sultan of the Bohra sect, Mufaddal Saifuddin, confirmed plans to increase the number of Bohra tourists visiting Egypt, as President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi pledged the state’s continued assistance for the sect’s restoration of historic mosques, the Egyptian presidency said on Monday. During the ta»»»
Strategic plan to boost crime research, analytics framework in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif has approved a new strategic plan for the Crime Research Center. It was prepared with the help of experts in criminal research and analysis and supported by the ministry’s International Partnerships Program, the Saudi Pr»»»
Tigray restores contentious regional parliament
ADDIS ABABA: The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has announced the restoration of a regional parliament, the election of which was one of the triggers for the Tigray war, alarming observers fearing a resumption of the deadly conflict between the Ethiopian government and regional forces. The Tigray»»»
Mexico’s president says Chihuahua raid bypassed federal government - UPI.com
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said at a press conference Monday at the National Palace in Mexico City she has requested detailed information about a security operation in Chihuahua involving U.S. agents that left four people dead, including two Americans. Photo by Sáshenka Gutiérrez/EPA April»»»
When it Comes to the War and Negotiations With the US, IRGC is in Charge and Here’s Why
After Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top leaders and commanders were killed on February 28, “it took Iran 10 minutes to retaliate” and start targeting US bases across the Gulf and in Israel, says veteran war correspondent Elijah Magnier. “Therefore, the IRGC is the one running the show,” Mag»»»
Saudi Crown Prince meets Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council
Jeddah: HH Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met Monday with Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, who is visiting Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the latest developments in Sud»»»
$200 million World Bank grant allocated for Syria railway projects
Damascus, April 20 (SANA) Syria’s Ministry of Transport announced that around $200 million has been allocated through a World Bank grant to finance a number of railway infrastructure projects aimed at accelerating the country’s economic recovery. Ali Asbar, Director of Land Transport Affairs at the»»»
Egypt postpones 20 road projects to rationalise petroleum consumption and reduce import bill
Egypt will postpone the construction of 20 road projects and slow down the implementation of other government developments as part of an announced rationalisation plan to reduce petroleum consumption and lower the state’s import bill. Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir announced the suspension of»»»
Minister of Military Production explores expanded co-operation with GOEIC
Salah Gomaa, Minister of State for Military Production, held talks with Essam El-Naggar, Chairperson of the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), to explore avenues for enhanced joint co-operation. During the meeting, the minister reviewed the advanced technical and technologi»»»
Jordan’s king and president of Finland attend military exercise in Amman
LONDON: King Abdullah of Jordan and the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb, attended a military tactical exercise in Amman on Monday. It took place at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center, which trains special operations units at the regional and international levels. King Abd»»»
Syria’s return as a regional transport hub gains momentum
Damascus, April 20 (SANA) A series of recent diplomatic and economic developments is refocusing attention on Syria’s strategic location, as regional and international actors increasingly view the country not only through the lens of politics and reconstruction, but also as a potential hub for trans»»»
Saudi representative stresses need to ensure full, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s representative at a conference on the two-state solution in Brussels stressed the necessity of ensuring the full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on Monday. Manal bint Hassan Radwan also emphasized the importance of advancing early recovery and reconstructi»»»
Iraq reopens Rabia crossing after 13-year closure
Iraq revives key Syria trade route, boosts regional links Dubai: Iraq reopened a strategic border crossing with Syria on Monday, restoring a key trade and transit route that had been closed for more than a decade following the rise of ISIS. The Rabia crossing, located in Iraq’s north-western Nineve»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Kuwait's Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received Monday a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait HE Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Discussion during the call dealt with the two countri»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Kuwaiti Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received Monday a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait HE Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Discussion during the call dealt with the two countri»»»
Brunei showcases diverse tourism experiences
Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei highlighted its rich and diverse tourism offerings at the recent NATAS Travel Fair in neighboring Singapore, according to a press release issued by the Brunei Tourism Development Department on Monday. The showcase featured a wide range of experiences, from rainforest adv»»»
Sharjah Police promote safety as school reopen
Sharjah: Sharjah Police marked students’ return to in-person classrooms following a period of online learning with a series of outreach visits aimed at reinforcing national values and strengthening community engagement. Officers visited several educational institutions across the emirate, alongside»»»
Iran says 'no decision' on joining new talks, with US delegation set to depart
Iran said it had yet to decide whether to attend a new round of peace negotiations with the United States, as Washington's delegation prepared to depart for Pakistan on Monday. The uncertainty over the talks on ending the war that engulfed the region and rattled global markets came as U.S. Presiden»»»
UAE President receives Prime Minister of Albania
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, who is on a working visit to the UAE. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to further develop UAE–Albania relations across priority sectors, notably the econ»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Omani Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman HE Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi. The two sides discussed aspects of bilateral coopera»»»
Whale stranded on German coast swims off, gets stuck again
Berlin: Efforts to rescue a humpback whale stranded for weeks on Germany's Baltic Sea coast were complicated Monday when the animal unexpectedly swam away but then appeared to have got stuck again. The 13.5-metre (44-foot) whale and its struggle for survival have captured the hearts of the German p»»»
Venezuela in talks with Siemens, GE over power crisis - UPI.com
Avilio Troconiz (C), regional president of the Primero Justicia party in Zulia, speaks at a press conference in front of the Las Tarabas electrical substation in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela, on March 26. The party denounced the the electricity crisis, which has worsened in recent months. Phot»»»
UAE brings date palms into the AI era
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has unveiled a new digital platform designed to catalogue and safeguard the country’s diverse date palm varieties, harnessing technology to serve a sector long shaped by tradition. The “UAE Digital Platform for Date Palm Varieties”, announced on Monday, brings together a nationwi»»»
Shura Council holds weekly session
Doha: The Shura Council held on Monday its weekly session at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall, under the chairmanship of HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim. At the outset of the meeting, the Shura Council highlighted HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with HM S»»»
Foreign Leaders Congratulate Rumen Radev on Election Victory
Rumen Radev on Monday received congratulations from foreign leaders on his Progressive Bulgaria coalition winning the April 19 snap parliamentary election. Congratulations were cabled by European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary Gen»»»
Saudi Venture Capital backs Growth Catalyst Fund to boost mid-market growth
RIYADH: Saudi Venture Capital has announced an investment in the Growth Catalyst Fund, marking a continued push to expand private equity activity in Saudi Arabia’s mid-market segment. The fund, managed by Growth Catalyst Investment Co., will target growth-stage businesses across the Kingdom and the»»»
School safety in focus as Sharjah classes restart
Sharjah: Sharjah Civil Defence calls for strict safety compliance as students return to classrooms Officials urge schools, students and staff to build a culture of prevention and emergency readiness As students across Sharjah return to in-person classes, the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority has unde»»»
Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas Nigeria-Niger-Libya Gas Pipeline Project Committee holds technical and coordination meeting
Libya’s Ministry of Oil Gas reported yesterday that its Nigeria-Niger-Libya Gas Pipeline Project Committee held its meeting today as part of its ongoing technical and coordination work on the project. The meeting included a review and analysis of preliminary engineering studies and concepts, as wel»»»
OCA President discusses further olympic cooperation in talks with Malaysia's King and PM
Kuala Lumpur: HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Qatar Olympic Committee, has held high-level talks in Malaysia focused on strengthening Olympic movement across the continent. His Excellency has been welcomed by HM Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Kin»»»
Chairman of the Authority conducts inspection tour at Abu Samra Border Crossing
Doha, Qatar: Chairman of the General Authority of Customs HE Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Jamal, and a number of officials from the Authority, conducted an inspection visit yesterday morning at the Abu Samra Border Crossing, as part of following up on the implementation of work systems and inspection and »»»
Saudi–China talks signal urgent push to contain escalation,secure global shipping lanes
Riyadh, April 20 (SANA) Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, spoke by phone with Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Monday to discuss regional developments.According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the two sides reviewed the current situation and its security and economic repercussions at both r»»»
NHRC Chairperson meets Tajikistan's Ambassador, Director of ILO office in Doha
Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah met separately on Monday, April 20, 2026, with Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the State of Qatar HE Nurmurod Mahmadali and Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) O»»»
Egypt to Launch Listings of Banque du Caire and Misr Life Insurance by Mid-2026
Cairo — Egypt is moving forward with its state asset offering programme, with plans to initiate listings of stakes in Banque du Caire and Misr Life Insurance between May and June, according to Investment Minister Mohamed Farid. Speaking at an investor roundtable hosted by HSBC, the minister stated »»»
Damietta Governor Reviews MOPCO Complex, Highlights Role in Egypt’s Industrial Growth
Cairo — The Governor of Damietta, Hossam El-Din Fouzi, conducted an inspection visit to the industrial complex of Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO), underscoring its strategic role in supporting Egypt’s economy and advancing the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030. During the visit, company o»»»
UAE threatens to ditch petrodollar for yuan in currency swap talks – WSJ
The United Arab Emirates has warned the US Treasury that it could be “forced to use Chinese yuan” in oil trade, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama delivered what the newspaper described as an “implicit threat” against the dollar’s dominant po»»»
20 startups launched through university accelerator program
RIYADH: Some 20 startups launched into the Saudi market at the conclusion of the University Startup Accelerator Program, organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, also known as Monshaat. A special event was held at the University of Business and Technology in Jeddah, mark»»»