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US President Donald Trump hinted at a new round of negotiations between his country and Iran, saying, “Something could happen over the next two days in Pakistan.”Trump told a New York Post reporter in Islamabad, “You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there.”Asked about the possibility of holding a new round of talks between the two countries in Geneva, the US president said, “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it”The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire but talks in Pakistan last week failed to produce any significant progress. In response, the US president ordered a blockade of Iranian ports to increase pressure on Tehran. Source link
Motorists ride along a road on Islamabad’s Constitution Avenue on April 14, 2026. As the clock ticked down to US President Donald Trump’s deadline to destroy…
A woman sun-dries paddy as a part of the harvesting process, in Birulia, in the outskirts of Dhaka. (Reuters/File Photo) Bangladesh launched a “Farmers’ Card” scheme Tuesday aimed at expanding direct support to millions of farmers and streamlining subsidies, as part of efforts to modernise the agriculture sector.The scheme focuses on small farmers, including sharecroppers who often lack access to banks and other institutional support, agriculture ministry officials said.Farmers registered under the programme will also gain access to subsidised fertiliser and seeds, agricultural machinery, low-interest loans, crop insurance and advisory services, among other benefits, cutting out intermediaries.”If farmers of this country are well-off, if the farmers of this country survive, then the whole of Bangladesh will do well and the people of entire Bangladesh will live well,” Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said at the scheme’s official launch in Tangail district, central Bangladesh.The event drew thousands of farmers and supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party, many wearing traditional straw hats to keep out the sun.”For the first time I am feeling proud to be a farmer. This initiative will help us to grow,” said Julekha Akhter, who has a small piece of land in Tangail that she cultivates.The scheme will be rolled out in phases, beginning with a pilot covering more than 22,000 farmers in selected areas.The government plans to expand it nationwide over the next five years, ultimately bringing approximately 27.5mn farmers under the system, Rahman said.The scheme will also connect farmers to digital information on the weather, market prices and crop management, helping improve productivity and planning.Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s economy, contributing around 11-12% of gross domestic product and employing a large share of the workforce in a country of 175mn people. Related Story Source link
Speaking on Tuesday at the fifth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, he lauded the advances in racial justice and equality that have…
The sporting icon wasn’t there to talk tactics, but to lead his lifelong club, Flamengo, into a global pact to tackle some of the planet’s biggest…
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (Reuters/File photo) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz made it hard to be optimistic about the fallout from the Iran war, warning that high oil prices and supply-chain strains were likely to persist for some time.Lee told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday the government should treat prolonged disruption in global energy and raw materials markets as a given and reinforce its emergency response system.”For the time being, difficulties in global energy and raw materials supply chains and high oil prices will continue,” Lee said.”I ask that we pursue the development of alternative supply chains, medium- to long-term industrial restructuring, and the transition to a post-plastic economy as top-priority national strategic projects.” Lee also urged ministries to move quickly to deploy a supplementary budget passed in response to the war.At the meeting, ministers outlined steps to contain the economic shock from the conflict, including support for crude imports, controls against hoarding of petrochemical feedstocks and medical supplies, and expanded financial assistance for affected companies.Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz were still affecting supplies and that even if the passage normalises, it could take around 20 days for Middle Eastern cargoes to reach South Korea.The government is prioritising support for the passage of seven South Korea-bound oil tankers stuck in the Gulf area, a document shown during the cabinet meeting said. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told the meeting that the ministry had sent officials to the Congo, Algeria and Libya in a bid to secure energy supplies, in addition to presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik travelling to countries such as Kazakhstan since last week.”I also urge the parties to this war to take courageous steps toward the peace the world so desperately wants, based on the principles of protecting universal human rights and the lessons of history,” Lee said. South Korea’s energy ministry said on Tuesday it would begin rolling out a revised seasonal and time-of-use electricity pricing system to shift power demand away from evening peak hours toward midday, when solar generation is higher. The new rates take effect for large industrial users from April 16 while weekend discounts for electric-vehicle charging will begin on April 18. Meanwhile, Middle Eastern oil producers are in contact with South Korea about using the country’s petroleum storage facilities as disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz continue, a South Korean industry ministry official said on Tuesday, signalling growing interest in offshore crude storage hubs.Yang Ki-wook, a senior official at the industry ministry, told a briefing that Middle Eastern countries were showing increased interest in storing oil outside the strait because a prolonged disruption in logistics would hit their economies and pre-positioning crude could reduce export risks.Yang said that in addition to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), which already has a joint stockpiling agreement with South Korea, other Middle Eastern producers were also in contact, though he did not identify them. Related Story Source link
The destroyer Choe Hyon conducting a test-fire of a missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Sunday. (AFP) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw new tests of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles launched from a naval destroyer, state media reported Tuesday.The weapons tests occurred on Sunday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, and are the latest in a string of recent missile launches by the nuclear-armed nation.Two strategic cruise missiles each flew for just over two hours, according to KCNA, while the anti-warship missiles flew for 33 minutes.The missiles flew “along the flight orbits set in the sky above the West Sea of Korea and struck the targets with ultra-precision hit accuracy”, KCNA said, using its preferred name for the Yellow Sea.The tests were carried out from the Choe Hyon, one of two 5,000-tonne destroyers in the North’s arsenal, both launched last year as Kim seeks to ramp up the country’s naval capabilities.A photo released by KCNA showed a missile in its initial flight stage after being launched from the warship, with an orange flame trailing from its tail.KCNA said Kim was also briefed on planning for the weapons systems of two more destroyers under construction, referred to simply as “Nos 3 and 4”.Kim reportedly “expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the preparedness of our army’s strategic action has been strengthened”.He reiterated that bolstering the North’s nuclear deterrent was the “most important priority task”. Related Story Source link
Peter Magyar, leader of the pro-European conservative TISZA party, delivers a press conference at the HUNGEXPO Congress and Exhibition Center in Budapest, yesterday. (AFP) Hungarian pro-EU prime minister-elect Peter Magyar pledged yesterday to usher in a “new era” after defeating long-time nationalist leader Viktor Orban in elections seen as a blow to hard-right populism.Orban, a self-described “thorn” in the European Union’s side who was backed by US President Donald Trump and maintained close ties to Moscow, was ousted in Sunday’s ballot after 16 years in power. Hungarians fed up with corruption handed conservative former government insider Magyar a decisive victory, with a two-thirds majority in parliament. The vote saw a record turnout.Magyar, 45, said he would do “everything in our power” to ensure the “beginning of a new era”, adding Hungarians “didn’t vote for a mere change of government, but for a complete regime change.” In power since 2010, Orban has transformed the central European country of 9.5mn people into a model of “illiberal democracy”, making wide-ranging reforms that restricted civil rights and the independence of the judiciary, media and academia.In that, he frequently clashed with Brussels, which has frozen billions of euros in funds over rule-of-law concerns. Magyar said he was “willing to take on” reforms, including anti-graft measures, to seek to unlock the funds.He urged President Tamas Sulyok, an Orban ally, to convene parliament “as soon as possible”. The president has 30 days, or until May 12, to do so.Sulyok on Facebook said he had invited the leaders of parliamentary parties to a meeting tomorrow. “Our country has no time to waste. Hungary is in trouble in every respect. It has been plundered, looted, betrayed, indebted and ruined,” Magyar told reporters.Many EU leaders welcomed Magyar’s win, while the Kremlin said Moscow hoped for “pragmatic” relations with Hungary’s new government and China — which Orban also courted — congratulated Magyar.Magyar thanked both Moscow and Beijing for “being open to pragmatic co-operation, just as Hungary is.” Orban, 62, conceded defeat on Sunday, saying the message was “painful but unambiguous”.Magyar was a supporter of Orban for years before emerging as his most serious challenger. He stepped into frontline politics just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services.He garnered support against a backdrop of economic stagnation and despite an electoral system skewed in favour of Orban’s Fidesz. Ahead of the vote, US Vice-President JD Vance, one of the most fervent supporters of far-right parties in Europe, visited Hungary last week to attend a rally with Orban.His boss, Trump, had promised to back Hungary with the United States’ “economic might” if Orban’s party won. The election “could mark a real turning point for Donald Trump’s culture war in Europe”, said Pawel Zerka, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.It gave “confidence (to) pro-European forces across the continent” and meant that association with Trump’s culture war was now becoming “more of a liability than an asset”, he said. Orban, who repeatedly blocked EU moves to help Ukraine fight Russia’s invasion, made Ukraine a central campaign issue, portraying Kyiv as “hostile” to Hungary. Like Orban, Magyar opposes sending EU military aid to Ukraine or offering Ukraine a fast-track route to join the 27-nation bloc. He reiterated that stance yesterday, saying: “We are talking about a country at war. It is completely out of the question for the European Union to admit a country at war.”On election night, jubilant supporters poured into the streets to celebrate in the capital, Budapest.“At long last it feels so good to be Hungarian. It’s like a weight lifted off our shoulders,” Csilla Bekesi, 25, told AFP. Source…
Two very large crude carriers loaded with Iranian oil have reached Indian ports, ship tracking data from LSEG shows, as local refiners utilise a temporary waiver granted by the US last month to resume purchases from Tehran for the first time in seven years. The current waiver is due to expire on April 19. The Iran-flagged Felicity has reached Sikka Port in western India, while the Curacao-flagged Jaya is at the eastern port of Odisha, the data shows. A VLCC carries 2mn barrels of oil.India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received a cargo from Iran since May 2019 after coming under US pressure not to buy the country’s crude. Indian Oil Corp, the country’s top refiner, has bought Iranian oil loaded on the Jaya, a vessel under US sanctions, Reuters reported last week. India has also allowed Reliance Industries Ltd, the operator of the world’s biggest refining complex, to buy Iranian oil loaded on the Comoros-flagged aframax Kaviz, Curacao-flagged VLCC Lenore and Iran-flagged VLCCs Felicity and Hedy, all of which are more than 20 years old and are also under US sanctions. Source link
Swiss International University (SIU) is proud to announce that it has been ranked 3rd among the Best Transnational Universities worldwide by the QRNW Ranking. This recognition highlights SIU’s growing international presence, cross-border academic model, and commitment to providing accessible, flexible, and globally connected higher education. The recognition reflects Swiss International University’s ongoing efforts to build an academic environment that supports students from different countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds. With its international outlook and commitment to educational development, SIU continues to strengthen its position as a modern institution serving learners across borders. The QRNW Ranking is managed by ECLBS European Council of Leading Business Schools, an organization that is a member of the IREG International Ranking Expert Group – IREG Observatory on Academic Ranking and Excellence in Belgium, Europe, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Quality International Group (CIQG) in the United States, and the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) in Europe. This broader international engagement adds relevance to the ecosystem in which the ranking is developed and presented. For Swiss International University, this ranking is more than a number. It represents recognition of a mission centered on internationalization, academic innovation, and the advancement of transnational education. In a time when students increasingly seek institutions that can offer global access, flexible study pathways, and multicultural academic experiences, SIU’s position in the ranking reflects its role in responding to these evolving expectations. Being placed among the top transnational universities also underlines SIU’s vision of education without borders. The university has worked to expand its educational reach and create opportunities for students who value international perspectives and modern learning structures. This achievement supports SIU’s broader goal of contributing positively to global higher education through academic cooperation, institutional development, and student-centered learning. Swiss International University views this recognition as an encouragement to continue expanding its international academic role and to further invest in quality, innovation, and educational accessibility. The university remains dedicated to serving students and academic communities through a model that reflects the realities of a connected and globalized world. This accomplishment marks an important milestone in SIU’s journey and reinforces its commitment to excellence in transnational higher education. Swiss International University also shared reflections from its leadership and academic community on this recognition. Rector Dr. Abdiev Murad. stated that this achievement reflects the university’s long-term commitment to building an institution that serves students across borders with flexibility, academic seriousness, and an international vision. He noted that being recognized among the leading transnational universities is an encouraging sign that SIU’s efforts in educational development and global outreach are moving in the right direction. Commenting on the significance of the ranking, Dr. Habib Al Souleiman, one of SIU’s in Osh City academic lecturers, said that transnational education is becoming increasingly important in a world where students seek quality, accessibility, and international relevance at the same time. He added that this recognition highlights the value of academic models that connect different cultures, markets, and learning environments, while also encouraging institutions to continue investing in innovation and meaningful student support. From the university’s UAE operations, Mr. Noah Muller, Academic Supervisor of the Dubai branch, said that the recognition is a positive moment not only for the university as a whole, but also for its regional branches that work closely with diverse student communities. He emphasized that Dubai plays an important role in supporting SIU’s international presence and expressed confidence that this milestone will further motivate the institution to strengthen its services, expand opportunities, and continue contributing to modern cross-border education. About Swiss International University Swiss International University (SIU) is a global academic network formed through the merger of seven academies and institutes, with some roots dating back to 1999 and online education offered since 2013. Today, SIU welcomes more than 3,800 students each year from over 120 countries, reflecting its strong international reach and multicultural academic identity. SIU operates through a network of institutions and academies across Bishkek, Lucerne, Zurich, Dubai, Riga, London, Ajman, and other locations.Because each country has its own legal and educational framework, the institutions within the SIU network operate under different local structures, including university-level, institute-level, vocational, and professional education formats. The main university entity is licensed and accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, providing SIU qualifications with a recognized legal academic foundation and supporting their international acceptance. In Switzerland, the network includes ISBM Business School in Lucerne and Autonomus Academy in Zurich.In Dubai, SIU operates through ISB Academy with approved and permitted diploma activities from KHDA, Dubai Educational Authority. In Latvia, Amber Academy Riga is officially registered in the State Register of Educational Institutions under the State Education Quality Service (IKVD), supervised by the Ministry of Education and Science. In the United Kingdom, OUS Academy London is registered in the UK Register of Learning Providers and also holds CPD Certification Service recognition. In Ajman, VBNN FZE LLC, part of VBNN Smart Education Group, operates as a licensed educational entity within the UAE. Through this international structure, SIU continues to advance flexible, globally connected, and career-oriented education.Its network reflects a modern academic vision that combines international reach, local compliance, and student-focused learning opportunities across multiple jurisdictions. Source link