Dubai’s Burj Al Arab to close for first-ever 18-month refurbishment amid tourism slowdown
Dubai’s most iconic hotel, the Burj Al Arab, is set to close for the first time since opening in 1999 as it begins an extensive 18-month refu...
South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has urged the reopening of dialogue with North Korea, saying channels of communication must stay open despite Pyongyang’s recent rejection of talks.
Woo made the appeal on Wednesday during the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Switzerland, Yonhap News Agency reported.
He noted that both sides had halted loudspeaker broadcasts, propaganda leaflets and jamming signals, describing these measures as symbolic of confrontation and hostility.
“Despite the difficulties, channels for dialogue must remain open,” Woo said.
His comments came two days after Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissed Seoul’s offer for talks and criticised President Lee Jae-myung’s efforts to ease military tensions.
Since taking office last month, President Lee has suspended border propaganda broadcasts and called on civic groups to stop anti-Pyongyang activities, signalling a commitment to restoring dialogue.
Kim Yo Jong said Pyongyang would not engage with Seoul, accusing Lee of maintaining the same stance as his predecessor by adhering to the South Korea-U.S. alliance and pursuing confrontation.
Relations between the two Koreas remain strained, with formal talks stalled since 2019 after failed nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea.
A preliminary round of Lebanon-Israel talks has concluded in Washington, marking a tentative diplomatic step as regional tensions rise. The development comes as the United States launches a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Greenland’s prime minister has appointed his predecessor to oversee foreign affairs, as pressure from Washington intensifies over the Arctic island’s future.
Spain’s plan to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants is facing early resistance, with immigration officers warning they may strike over a lack of preparation and resources.
The U.S. and Iran could resume peace talks over the next couple of days, U.S. President Donald Trump has said. Talks between Israel and Lebanon were held in Washington yesterday. Fuel prices have dropped below $100 a barrel. U.S. blockade on Iranian ports completes first day.
An Indian healthcare provider plans to invest $50 million in diagnostic and pharmaceutical projects in Uzbekistan’s Namangan region, aiming to expand access to advanced medical services between 2026 and 2028.
France is set to vote on a controversial law targeting what it calls “new forms” of antisemitism, sparking sharp divisions and raising concerns over free speech, criticism of Israel and the protection of Jewish communities.
Hungary’s election winner, Péter Magyar, said on Wednesday his cabinet could be sworn in by mid-May, with Magyar taking office as prime minister, and pledged swift action to unlock billions in suspended European Union funding.
A former NATO chief and senior figure the UK's ruling Labour Party has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing his government of failing to adequately fund defence.
Russia has signalled it is ready to increase energy supplies to China, underscoring deepening ties between the two powers ahead of an expected visit by President Vladimir Putin.
Germany has announced an additional €20 million in humanitarian support for Sudan as Berlin hosts a major international conference aimed at raising more than $1 billion to address one of the world’s most severe and increasingly overlooked crises.
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