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UAE says Iran cannot be trusted over Hormuz, peace efforts at an impasse

By Humeyra Pamuk, Ahmed Elimam and Ahmed Tolba

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 1 (Reuters) - A senior United Arab Emirates official said on Friday Tehran could not be trusted over any unilateral arrangements it makes for the Strait of Hormuz, in a sign of deep mistrust on all sides as efforts to end the Iran war remained at an impasse.

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, May 1, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Gaza activists disperse after flotilla halted by Israel off Crete

Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces off Crete left their boats on Friday, many taken to hospital on the Greek island while others were flown out.

Greek officials said 31 of the roughly 175 activists had been taken to hospital on Crete. Turkish officials said about 60 had arrived by plane in Istanbul on Friday evening.

More than 50 vessels had set sail from ports in France, Spain and Italy with the aim of breaking the blockade of Gaza and bringing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.

The flotilla comprising more than 50 vessels set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy

Dubai chefs shrink menus as Iran war makes tomatillos, scallops harder to source

DUBAI, May 1 (Reuters) - Dubai chef Shaw Lash at Mexican restaurant Lila Molino flies in her avocados and tomatillos, small, tart green fruits native to Central America that are a staple of Mexican cuisine and key for her colourful and spicy dishes.

Now the two-month-old war in Iran is making such ingredients harder to source and more expensive, Lash and other chefs said, as the Gulf grapples with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz sea route and spiking jet fuel prices push up air freight costs.

Dining tables are seen outside a restaurant, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 28, 2026. REUTERS

Iran war redraws sea routes with Africa as the pivot

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as tensions in the Red Sea are reshaping trade routes, with Africa becoming a hub of global container ship traffic, according to logistics and maritime sources.

Over the past two months, the blockade has also pushed shipowners to find alternative land corridors to deliver foodstuffs and manufactured goods by truck, as they can no longer reach the Gulf's coastal countries by sea.

- What are the alternative routes for delivering to Gulf countries? -

The war in Iran has reshaped trade routes in the Gulf

S&P 500, Nasdaq end at fresh records on tech earnings strength

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 soared to fresh records Friday, cheering mostly strong earnings from tech giants and continuing to shrug off the prolonged US-Iran war that has lifted oil prices.

The records came on the heels of upbeat results from Apple, which rose 3.2 percent, extending the positive sentiment on Wall Street on a day when several leading bourses in Europe and Asia were closed.

"The war is not over but the market doesn't care," said Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments.

Strong Apple results boosted shares 3.2 percent, contributing to records for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq

For War Powers Resolution purposes, US hostilities with Iran that began in February have 'terminated', official says

WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - For War Powers Resolution purposes, the United States' hostilities with Iran that started in February have "terminated", a senior Trump administration official said late on Thursday.

"Both parties agreed to a 2-week ceasefire on Tuesday, April 7 that has since been extended," the official said. "There has been no exchange of fire between U.S. Armed Forces and Iran since Tuesday, April 7."

(Reporting by Bo Erickson in Washington; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

An Iranian flag, amid a ceasefire between U.S. and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 27, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

Palestinian football chief slams Israeli official at FIFA meeting

Palestinian football federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to take part in a photo opportunity with Israel soccer official Basim Sheikh Suliman in a tense incident at the end of FIFA's Congress on Thursday.

After both Rajoub and Suliman had addressed delegates, FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited both men to stand alongside him.

However Rajoub declined the gesture, refusing repeated attempts by Infantino to encourage him to participate in the moment.

At one point Rajoub could be heard to say: "We are suffering."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino invited President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub and Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman to stand alongside him, but Rajoub declined

Soccer-'They are not representing Iran': Protesters urge FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup

By Rory Carroll

VANCOUVER, April 30 (Reuters) - Iran's soccer team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran, and FIFA should ban the team from participating in the upcoming World Cup, protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver said on Thursday.

"This is not Iran, this is the Islamic Republic's team. This is IRGC's team," said Pouria Mahmoudi, an organiser with Mission for My Homeland, which brought together about 30 protesters draped in Iranian flags and holding signs supporting Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.

Soccer Football - 76th FIFA Congress - Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada - April 30, 2026  A protester holds demonstration placards outside the Vancouver Convention Centre during the 76th FIFA Congress REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

Soccer-Palestinian FA chief hits out at Israeli counterpart at FIFA Congress

VANCOUVER, April 30 (Reuters) - Palestinian soccer federation President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Israel FA Vice-President Basim Sheikh Suliman in a heated moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.

Both men were called to the stand by FIFA President Gianni Infantino but Rajoub declined to shake hands with Arab-Israeli Suliman.

Soccer Football - 76th FIFA Congress - Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada - April 30, 2026  FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestine Football association during the congress REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

At Iranian film's Berlin premiere, calls not to forget Iranian people

The Iranian film crew behind "Roya", which recounts the torment and trauma of a political prisoner in Tehran's Evin prison, urged the Iranian people "not to be forgotten" at the film's German premiere.

Director Mahnaz Mohammadi, 51, likened the "existence of the Iranian people today" to the unbearable life endured by the film's imprisoned protagonist, Roya.

Mohammadi, in an interview with AFP on Wednesday at the screening at a Berlin cinema, said Iranian prisoners are being put to death every four to six hours in the country "without justice".