A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has taken effect with broad international support, but early violations and continued hostilities are already casting doubt on its durability ahead of talks scheduled in Islamabad. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi hailed the announcement as “wel»»»

The UAE is closely following the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and is seeking further clarification on the agreement’s provisions to ensure Iran’s full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the reg»»»

At a time when global supply chains are being reshaped by rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions to key routes, led by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a central player in redirecting trade flows. Leveraging a unique position linking East and West, and advanced logisti»»»

As Iranian officials link any halt in fighting with the US and Israel to all fronts of the so-called “axis of resistance,” with a focus on Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are negotiating a disarmament plan while pushing to retain part of their arsenal. Israel and »»»

Audit quality is the lifeblood of financial integrity, yet few in the profession openly discuss its most uncomfortable realities. In boardrooms and audit committee meetings, the narrative often centers on improvements, innovations, and assurances but beneath this polished surface lies a set of trut»»»

Gold is often described as a safe haven, but in practice it responds just as quickly as any risk asset when conditions shift unpredictably. Over the past 12 months, this has been particularly evident: after climbing from around $2,625 per ounce to a recent peak above $5,500 — a surge of more than 1»»»

Citizens gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Sofia on Tuesday to demand the launch of disciplinary proceedings against Emilia Rusinova and her dismissal as acting Sofia City Prosecutor. They also called for the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. The protest was organiz»»»

Rio de Janeiro's Military Police reported the seizure of approximately 48 tons of marijuana in the Nova Holanda community, in Complexo da Maré. Photo courtesy of Governo do RJ/X April 8 (UPI) -- Rio de Janeiro's Military Police reported the seizure of approximately 48 tons of marijuana in the Nova »»»

A police operation carried out Tuesday in Fyli, on the northwestern outskirts of Athens, resulted in 20 arrests linked to electricity theft and road traffic violations, authorities said. During the operation, a crew from DEDDIE, the electricity distribution network operator, removed more than 2 kil»»»

Uncertainty reveals what a business is genuinely made of. Across the region, recent developments have introduced pressure on supply chains and influenced how customers approach major decisions. But what we are witnessing is a recalibration. The fundamentals remain intact. Get updated faster and for»»»

Lebanon announced the reopening of the Masnaa border crossing with Syria starting Wednesday evening, state media said, after it had been closed for several days due to an Israeli threat to target it. "The Masnaa crossing will be reopened as of 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) today, with strict measures in place»»»

A US official said Wednesday that a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions that were agreed to by the White House for pausing the war. "The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework," the senior official said on condition of anonymity»»»

Lebanon was left outside contacts that produced a US-Iran ceasefire deal, despite reports it would be included and moves by Iran and Hezbollah suggesting otherwise. Hezbollah halted its military operations before the deal was announced early on Wednesday, while Lebanese officials scrambled to conta»»»

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire does not apply to Israel's strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios, contradicting statements from Iran and the Pakistani mediators. Israel's renewed attacks in Lebanon posed an immediate challenge to the stability of the »»»

Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador on Wednesday to demand an explanation over shots fired at an Italian convoy in a UN mission in Lebanon, the foreign minister said, warning Israeli forces had "no authority to touch" Rome's troops. The UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, is stationed in sout»»»

Share: Iran continues to control Hormu despite the ceasefire . Iran’s Foreign Minister has declared that vessels seeking to transit the Strait must coordinate directly with Iranian armed forces, subject to unspecified “technical limitations” SUMMARY Iran is accusing Israel of violating the conditio»»»

Manama: The Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has announced the reopening of airspace over the Kingdom of Bahrain, following a temporary closure that was implemented as a precautionary measure in light of recent developments in the region. Civil Aviatio»»»

Democratic congressman John Larson has filed articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump over his actions connected with the Iran war. Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, said on Tuesday he had filed 13 charges, accusing Trump of waging an “illegal war” and escalating threats against Iran»»»

Brazil is heading toward a highly competitive presidential election, with a statistical tie between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (pictured) and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, amid concerns over possible U.S. influence and geopolitical tensions tied to critical minerals. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI»»»

Dubai: Dubai Mall visitors were in for a surprise today as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured the mall accompanied by a number of senior officials. Sheikh Mohammed was seen walking through the mall, observing t»»»

Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning on Wednesday afternoon, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded. US President Donald»»»

Lebanon announced the reopening of the Masnaa border crossing with Syria starting Wednesday evening, state media said, after it had been closed for several days due to an Israeli threat to target it. "The Masnaa crossing will be reopened as of 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) today, with strict measures in place»»»

Acting on a motion by its President Galina Zaharova, Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) on Wednesday opened proceedings for the adoption of an interpretative judgment by the General Assembly of the SCC Criminal Chamber. The judgment is supposed to reconcile conflicting case law prompted by»»»

The U.S., Israel and Iran agree that a ceasefire is now in effect, but they're contradicting each other and themselves in terms of what's actually been agreed and what happens now, U.S. news portal Axios reported on Wednesday. Those differences will have to be reconciled at the negotiating table, b»»»

Doha: Global markets reacted quickly to the announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with oil prices falling, gold and stock prices rising, and the dollar weakening in Asian trading, raising hopes for a recovery in energy supplies, particularly those related to the Strait of»»»

US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the Iran war has undergone a striking shift — from threats of overwhelming destruction to projecting a “Golden Age of the Middle East” following a fragile ceasefire agreement. As Washington and Tehran enter a two-week truce aimed at paving the way for negotia»»»

China's government said that Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed not to escalate their conflict and to "explore a comprehensive solution” after several weeks of cross-border fighting between the two countries that has left hundreds of people killed. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wedn»»»

In Hungarian society, the rules of baseness have taken root: be ruthless, be selfish, lick upwards, kick downwards, despise the weak. We spoke with psychiatrist and writer Péter Hunčík about how society and political power have changed over the past 16 years of prime minister Viktor Orbán’s rule. F»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran Plans Military Response to Israeli Attacks on Lebanon, Considers even Exiting Ceasefire Agreement 08-04-2026 18:29 PM An informed Iran»»»

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a formal warning over serious labor and human rights violations in Cuba's overseas medical brigades, saying some cases may amount to forced labor or "contemporary forms of slavery." File Photo by Jose Valle/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- The Inter-American»»»

How Pakistan managed to succeed in mediating between the US and Iran and what this means for the country's image, explained to Sputnik Dr. Zahid Shahab Ahmed. What enabled Pakistan to step into a successful mediation role between the US and Iran—and how durable could that success prove to be? Dr. Z»»»

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised "ceasefire violations" by Israel with Pakistani mediators on Wednesday, an Iranian ministry statement said, as reports citing senior officials warned that Tehran could pull out of the truce over attacks on Lebanon. Araghchi "discussed the Zionist regim»»»

Acting on a motion by its President Galina Zaharova, Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) on Wednesday opened proceedings for the adoption of an interpretative judgment by the General Assembly of the SCC Criminal Chamber. The judgment is supposed to reconcile conflicting case law prompted by»»»

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has thanked Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, China and Egypt for supporting the ceasefire process. In a post on X, he said these countries extended “invaluable and all out support towards reaching the ceasefire” and gave “peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance t»»»

Dubai: A fragile ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran has brought a sense of relief to the UAE’s travel and hospitality sector. Now, industry leaders are pointing to cautious optimism, steady operations and a steadfast focus on recovery. While businesses say confidence is slowly returning, mos»»»

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announced the establishment of a Currency Swap Agreement between the UAE Dirham (AED) and the Bahraini Dinar (BHD) during a virtual signing ceremony. The agreement has a nominal value of Dh20 billion; BHD2 bi»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, on the first stop of a Gulf tour aimed at bolstering the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said. Starmer — on his first visit to the region since the US-Israeli war against Iran started on February 28 — was expect»»»

Argentina reached record oil production levels, with output climbing to 874,000 barrels per day, a 15.9% increase from a year earlier. File Photo by Juan Macri/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- Argentina reached record oil production levels, with output climbing to 874,000 barrels per day, a 15.9% increase from»»»

Caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov said on Wednesday that political parties do not provide support for vulnerable groups through hot meals, personal assistants or European Solidarity Corps programmes. Ademov was speaking in the southern town of Haskovo following reports of all»»»

1 of 4 | Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the United States suspending bombing in Iran for two weeks if the country reopens the Straight of Hor»»»

Dubai: Iran has warned ships near the Strait of Hormuz that they must seek permission from its naval forces before transiting the critical waterway, underscoring Tehran’s continued grip over the strategic chokepoint despite a ceasefire agreement. “You must receive permission from Iranian Sepah navy»»»

Lebanon's government said Wednesday Israeli strikes killed dozens and wounded hundreds across the country, with the capital Beirut hit by the most violent bombardment since the start of the war with militant group Hezbollah. AFPTV's live broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising over Beirut and the s»»»

Doha, Qatar: QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. Net profit for the three months ended 31 March 2026 reached QAR4.33 billion (USD1.19 billion), an increase of 2% compared to same perio»»»

There is little doubt that the influence of Hezbollah in Lebanon, or more precisely, Iranian influence, represents one of the most dangerous consequences of Iran’s expansion beyond its borders. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Tehran has persistently sought to export instability and conflict thro»»»

Doha, Qatar: Chairman of the Qatar Chamber (QC) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Thani met on Wednesday with Ambassador of Malaysia to the State of Qatar HE Mohammad Faizal Razali. The meeting discussed economic and trade cooperation between both countries, as well as ways to enhance th»»»

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, seen here in 2025, is set to visit Washington to soothe tensions with the cornerstone of the defensive pact after amid threats by Trump to pull out. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was set to kick»»»

Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, hours after the United States and Iran reached a Pakistani-mediated two-week cease-fire. Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 8 (UPI) -- Israel carried out intensive, large-scale airstrikes on Wednesday, targeting several neighborhoods »»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut received Swiss Ambassador to Belgrade Anne Lugon-Moulin on Wednesday to discuss further development of bilateral cooperation and, in particular, investments and new projects. Macut and Lugon-Moulin noted that successful operations of Swiss companies in Serbia were »»»

Iranian forces downed an Israeli-made Hermes drone flying above the town of Lar in the south of the country on Wednesday, state television said, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards. "Minutes ago, an advanced Hermes 900 drone was intercepted and destroyed in the sky over Lar, Fars Provi»»»

Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said he expects fuel prices at gas stations to ease in the coming period, pointing to a sharp decline in international oil markets. He noted that crude prices have already dropped by around 15% to 20% following what he described as a two-week ceasefire ag»»»