Stocks soared and oil plunged in early trade in Asia on Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Tehran temporarily to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz. On oil markets, the US crude benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) tumbled 16.56 percent to $96.39 per b»»»

Dubai: Amid the widespread cancellation of school board examinations in the UAE amid regional tensions, universities in the country have responded swiftly, pivoting admission processes online and rolling out a raft of student-friendly measures to ensure no one loses their place in higher education.»»»

Universities are often seen as places of discovery, intellectual growth, and personal transformation. Yet their true value becomes most visible during times of crisis. Wars, regional tensions, and global disruptions test not only governments and institutions, but also the resilience of individuals »»»

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States, Iran, and their allies, saying it covers “everywhere,” including Lebanon. Shehbaz Sharif said on X: “I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America»»»

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif announced early Wednesday that a two-week Iran-U.S. ceasefire would also include Lebanon. "With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an imme»»»

Oil futures tumbled sharply Wednesday as President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of US attacks on Iran and progress toward a long-term peace agreement, easing fears of prolonged disruption to Middle East energy supplies. West Texas Intermediate crude for near-term delivery fell $18.9»»»

The U.S. has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran proposed by Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday night. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran's acceptance and said Iran would allow "safe passage" of the Strait of Hormuz during those two weeks "via coordination»»»

Iran’s foreign minister confirmed that passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be permitted for the next two weeks under Iranian military management, following the acceptance of a temporary ceasefire. Also Read: Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire: Full statementThe Supreme National Security Counc»»»

Shortages have been worsening at filling stations across France, with around 18% of them having run out of at least one type of fuel, Energy Minister Delegate Maud Bregeon has said. Demand has risen amid capped prices, as Middle East war disruptions have pushed global energy costs up. The disruptio»»»

Iran’s foreign minister has shared a statement on behalf of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council declaring that “if attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.” “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be po»»»

The United Arab Emirates says its air defence systems are actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, amid rising regional tensions. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the country were caused by air defence systems interce»»»

US President Donald Trump says he agrees to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for a period of two weeks. This is a developing story...»»»

Israel has agreed to participate in the two‑week ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump just 90 minutes before his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face escalated strikes on civilian infrastructure, a senior White House official told CNN. Get updated faster and for FREE»»»

US President Donald Trump said he is scaling back threats to target bridges, power plants, and other civilian infrastructure in Iran, contingent on Tehran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media post Tuesday evening, Trump stated that Iran could consen»»»

President Donald Trump has suspended his looming attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure, announcing a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a long-term peace agreement based on a “workable” 10-point proposal from Tehran. Just hours after warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran refuse»»»

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad did not immediately release a comment on the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson. File Photo by Maj. Charlie Dietz/U.S. Army | License Photo April 7 (UPI) -- An Iranian-backed militia freed an American journalist it kidnapped last month in a prisoner exchange»»»

Khaled Al Hameidi Doha Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), has reaffirmed that Qatar’s position on mediation remains unchanged, expressing full support for ongoing negotiations led by Pakistan despite D»»»

The conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has intensified sharply as a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for Tehran to accept U.S. demands approaches, with escalating threats targeting critical infrastructure and limited signs of de-escalation. »»»

Share: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir By Ali Hussein, Lebanese Political analyst The whole world is watching. Not just wh»»»

The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that air defence systems are actively responding to incoming missile and drone threats launched from Iran, amid ongoing regional hostilities. Authorities have urged residents to stay in safe locations, follow verified government updates, and remain alert as the»»»

Dubai: Global market volatility tied to tensions involving Iran triggered one of the sharpest short-term swings in billionaire wealth this year, wiping out more than $100 billion from the world’s richest individuals in March before a rapid rebound in April restored most of those losses. Data from F»»»

A woman holds a placard with a picture of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris during a rally for Kohler's birthday at Place de la Nation in Paris in September 2025. The couple has been released, French authorities announced. File Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA April 7 (UPI) -- Two French people held in Ir»»»

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday that "diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," despite the unprecedented tensions in th»»»

Trump's threat to bomb Iran "like never before" would likely fail not just because of Iran's military defenses, but due to the resilience of its power grid, according to a former Pakistani Air Force colonel. "Targeting a nation's power grid is not a one-strike operation," Sultan M. Hali told Sputni»»»

At a church in the mountains outside Beirut, Raymonda Mouawad raged as she buried her brother, killed by an Israeli strike in a war against Hezbollah that he had nothing to do with. "We shouldn't be forced to bear the guilt of others' mistakes," she said, her voice filled with anger and sorrow. "We»»»

Doha: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari reaffirmed that the State of Qatar’s position regarding mediation has not changed, noting its full support for the ongoing mediation efforts led by the Islamic Republic»»»

An aid convoy organized by the Vatican envoy to Lebanon headed for Christian villages in the country's south had to turn back on Tuesday after it came under fire, a security source told AFP. Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Borgia, who was travelling in the convoy, was being escorted by French peacekeepers f»»»

Progress has been made in the past 24 hours in the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, though reaching a ceasefire deal by U.S. President Donald Trump's 8pm ET deadline still looks like a long shot, a U.S. official, an Israeli official and two other sources with knowledge of the talks told U.S.»»»

Dubai: Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has urged citizens and residents to remain indoors and avoid leaving their homes except in cases of extreme necessity, as part of a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. The advisory will be in force from midnight tonight until 6am tomorrow. Authorities»»»

Polish ultramarathon runner Dominika Stelmach claimed a standout victory at the Alanya Ultra Trail, underlining her position among the world’s top endurance athletes. Held in southern Turkey, the race spans dramatic terrain between the Mediterranean coast and the Taurus Mountains. Starting at sea l»»»

According to Al Jazeera, the White House has denied that it has any plans to use nuclear weapons against Iran as a deadline imposed by President Donald Trump for Tehran to make a deal or face a massive onslaught looms. The denial from Washington came on Tuesday, as the president employed apocalypti»»»

A multi-layered structure run by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is taking shape in Lebanon, spanning Lebanese and Palestinian arms across intertwined security, military, and political roles. The model echoes Syria before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024, raising fears that Lebanon is shift»»»

American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week, has been released, an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anon»»»

At a church in the mountains outside Beirut, Raymonda Mouawad raged as she buried her brother, killed by an Israeli strike in a war against Hezbollah that he had nothing to do with. "We shouldn't be forced to bear the guilt of others' mistakes," she said, her voice filled with anger and sorrow. "We»»»

Destroying Iran’s power grid and bridges is easier said than done, according to former Pakistan Air Force colonel Sultan M. Hali. Here’s why:No Yugoslav-style campaign: Iran’s vast size and limited tanker basing options rule out a repeat of the 1999 Kosovo air warVulnerable tankers: Long distances »»»

A multi-layered structure run by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is taking shape in Lebanon, spanning Lebanese and Palestinian arms across intertwined security, military, and political roles. The model echoes Syria before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024, raising fears that Lebanon is shift»»»

The office of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is seen in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC on Jan. 6, 2026. Greene's resignation from Congress became effective the night before. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 7 (UPI) -- Wisconsin and Georgia are fac»»»

UNITED NATIONS, (Sputnik) - Russia condemns the ongoing joint US-Israeli military aggression on Iran, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday following the failure of a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution on the Strait of Hormuz. "The Russian Federation voted a»»»

Russia and China on Tuesday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz that had been repeatedly watered down in hopes those two countries would abstain. The vote — 11-2, with two abstentions from Pakistan and Colombia— took place just hours before an 8 p.m. East»»»

Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Tuesday that the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran was "approaching a strategic crossroads" and vowed to "intensify the damage inflicted on the regime". "We are approaching a strategic crossroads in the joint campaign against Iran. »»»

The Iran-backed Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement on Tuesday that it will release American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week. The group said its decision came “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister," Moham»»»

The UN rights chief decried Tuesday the "incendiary rhetoric" in the Middle East war, warning that deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure was "a war crime". "Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime," UN high commissio»»»

A handout satellite image made available by Copernicus, the European Union's Earth Observation Program, shows Kharg island, Iran, on March 7. U.S. military officials said the United States conducted airstrikes on the site Tuesday morning. Photo courtesy Copernicus April 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. military»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 15:50 on Tuesday 07-04-2026 a gathering of “Israeli” enemy army soldiers in Taybeh town with a rock»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv after missile fire from Iran: Israeli media 07-04-2026 18:27 PM Latest News Urgent News Sirens sounded in Tel Av»»»

Iran's hardline judiciary chief on Tuesday urged courts to speed up verdicts linked to the US-Israeli war, including capital punishment, as activists sounded the alarm about surging hangings of convicts seen as political prisoners. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has hanged seven people in»»»

‌French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are "free and on their way to France after three and a half years of detention in Iran", President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday in a post on X, adding that Oman had mediated their release. The couple had been held by Iran since 2022 on charges of»»»

The White House denied Tuesday that remarks by Vice President JD Vance about military operations in Iran had contained any suggestion of a U.S. nuclear strike against the Islamic republic. After Vance said U.S. forces have tools they "so far haven't decided to use" to enforce a dramatic ultimatum f»»»

While the US is stepping up attacks on Iranian civilian infrastructure, the Hormuz Strait toll scheme in yuans and stablecoins is gaining steam. Iran's strategy "significantly weakens 'maximum pressure' by bypassing dollar-based systems," Dr. Alam Saleh, a political analyst at the Center for Arab a»»»

US President Donald Trump has threatened to jail the journalist who first reported the details of a rescue mission for the two crew members of the US F-15E Strike Eagle which was shot down over Iran last week, unless they reveal the source of their information. Speaking at a White House press confe»»»