On This Day, April 16: MLK Jr. writes 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' - UPI.com
On April 16, 1963, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter from Birmingham Jail" while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation. 1 of 7 | The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is seen as cherry blossoms begin to bloom in Washington, D.C., on March 27, 2025. On April 16, 1963, MLK wrote »»»
President Iotova Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Singer Margret Nikolova
President Iliaana Iotova has expressed condolences to the family and relatives of singer Margret Nikolova, the presidential press office said. Margret Nikolova, one of the most prominent and iconic voices in Bulgarian popular music, died at the age of 97, the Bulgarian National Television reported »»»
Younousse, Tijan seal Samila Open title
Doha, Qatar: Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered their way to gold with a commanding run at the AVC Beach Tour 25th Samila Open, sealing victory in the men’s final in Songkhla yesterday. The Qatari duo capped an impressive campaign with a hard-fought win over Australia’s Ben Hood-Thomas Hodges»»»
Ghanem storms late to win Rodat Al Maida Cup at Al Rayyan
Doha, Qatar: Ghanem, ridden by Marco Casamento, produced a commanding late surge to capture the Rodat Al Maida Cup, winning the Purebred Arabian Handicap 85-105 (Class 2) at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. The six-year-old bay, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, was held off the early pace over the 1700»»»
Al Rayyan beat Muaither to clinch QSL Cup
Doha, Qatar: Roger Guedes and Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in each half as Al Rayyan produced a commanding display to defeat Muaither 2-0 in the QSL Cup final at Al Bayt Stadium yesterday. The victory delivered Al Rayyan’s first trophy of the season and the first silverware for new coach Vicente More»»»
How China’s Weapons Transfers to Iran Have Evolved Over Decades
Washington: David Pierson For much of the last two decades, China has maintained a delicate balance in its military relationship with Iran, offering often indirect assistance instead of arms sales. That approach is now drawing renewed attention after US officials said intelligence agencies were ass»»»
California high court disbars John Eastman over fake electors scheme - UPI.com
John Eastman, a former lawyer to President Donald Trump, was disbarred in California on Wednesday over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. File Photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA April 16 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court has disbarred John Eastman, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, ove»»»
Dispute over solidarity contribution threatens capital’s finances
“If the Treasury continues its current practice regarding the solidarity contribution, salaries for 27,000 municipal employees may not be paid in May.” As Mayor Gergely Karácsony said at a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday, he has asked the Treasury in a letter to refrain from “placing anothe»»»
Dubai homebuyers can now secure mortgages earlier when buying off-plan properties
Dubai: Dubai Holding Real Estate and Emirates NBD have launched a new financing model that will allow buyers of off-plan homes in Dubai to secure mortgage approval earlier in the purchase process. Dubai Holding Real Estate and Emirates NBD have launched a new financing model that will allow buyers »»»
Primark opens second Dubai store at City Centre Mirdif in partnership with Alshaya Group
Kuwait: Primark, the international fashion retailer known for its affordable fashion and everyday essentials, has officially opened its second store in Dubai in partnership with Alshaya Group, at City Centre Mirdif. Arriving just two weeks after Primark’s highly anticipated UAE debut at Dubai Mall,»»»
Prestigious May 9 military parades may be cancelled in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions
Amid growing fears that Ukraine’s long-range drones could strike deep into northern Russia, military authorities have decided to cancel one of the country’s most symbolic displays of military power: the May 9 Victory Day parade. There will be no traditional May 9 parade in Mirny, a closed military »»»
Court overturns property gifts to daughter in Dh19m embezzlement case
The Dubai Civil Court of First Instance has ruled that property gifts made by a convicted embezzler to his daughter cannot be enforced against creditors, ordering the assets to be restored to his name to allow recovery of funds. The court found that the defendant, previously convicted of embezzling»»»
Romania to attend 2026 Paris Book Festival
Romania will participate, April 17-19, in the Festival du Livre de Paris, the Paris Book Festival, the most important international event dedicated to books in the French capital, whose guests includes authors Gabriela Adamesteanu, Mircea Cartarescu and Matei Visniec.Romania's participation is orga»»»
Electricity price increases by more than 57% in March
Electricity continued to record the largest price increase over the past year, rising by 57.2% in March 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, following the removal of the price cap scheme, according to data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) and sent toon Tuesday.Among food»»»
Trump's Triumphal Arch Gets Official Name
It's been dubbed the "Arc de Trump." But now President Donald Trump's latest building project has an official name -- the "United States Triumphal Arch." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the formal title on Wednesday, saying the giant structure was being built to mark the 250th»»»
CC-DB Organizes “Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe” March in Sofia
The Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition is organizing a march under the slogan “Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe,” set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Sofia on Thursday, the coalition’s press office said. The procession will start from St. Nedelya Square and proceed to the Nation»»»
Qatar banks’ total assets reach QR2.173 trillion in Feb 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s banking sector total assets reached QR2.173 trillion in February 2026. The total assets expanded by 5 percent over the past five years (2020-2025). The liquid assets to total assets stood at healthy 30 percent in February this year, according to a report released by QNB Financi»»»
Kyrgyzstan will abolish regions and districts, creating 20 okrugs — President - | 24.KG
Regions and districts will be abolished in Kyrgyzstan, and 20 okrugs will be created in their place. President Sadyr Japarov announced the second stage of administrative reform at a meeting with residents of Nookat district. According to him, there are currently 44 districts and 33 cities in the re»»»
Much-hyped Alzheimer's Drugs Do Not Help Patients, Review Finds
Drugs once hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's disease do not meaningfully help patients, a major review found Thursday, however some experts criticized the research. The review by the Cochrane organization -- which is considered the gold standard for analyzing existing eviden»»»
Vietnam leads Asean Committee in Doha to advance cooperation agenda
Doha, Qatar: Ambassador of Vietnam to Qatar H E Nguyen Huy Hiep chaired the 74th meeting of the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD), marking the start of Vietnam’s Chairmanship for 2026. The meeting focused on shaping and endorsing the ACD’s Calendar of Activities for 2026, which will serve as a roadmap »»»
Judiciary highlights reconciliation efforts to back family stability
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to support the family as a cornerstone of society and a driver of stability and balanced development. In a statement marking Qatar Family Day on April 15, the SJC said it strengthens family ties through the Family C»»»
Gold is climbing again in Dubai — here’s why Iran war tensions are pushing prices higher today
Dubai: Dubai gold prices rebounded on Thursday morning as renewed caution over the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict pushed investors back toward bullion. This reversed Wednesday’s softer trend when easing ceasefire hopes had briefly cooled safe-haven demand. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, along»»»
Qatar participates in the third International Conference on Sudan
Berlin: The State of Qatar participated in the Third International Conference on Sudan, currently being held in the German capital, Berlin. The State of Qatar was represented at the conference by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of F»»»
China's Economy Beats Forecasts, but War Darkens Outlook
China's economy expanded more than expected in the first three months of the year, with official data Thursday indicating resilience in the face of a Middle East crisis that threatens to hit global growth. The figures came despite a surge in world energy prices caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, »»»
Qatar rejects claims over Iran tensions at IPU meetings
Istanbul, Turkiye: The State of Qatar has reiterated its commitment to diplomacy and regional stability during high-level parliamentary meetings held in Istanbul, as part of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). A delegation from Qatar’s Shura Council, led by Speaker H »»»
‘Qatar’s environmental status stable, no cause for concern’
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has reassured the public that the country’s environmental condition remains stable, emphasizing that there are no indicators or phenomena that warrant concern. In an interview with Qatar Telev»»»
Qatar emerges as key player in next-gen financial infrastructure
Doha, Qatar: Venture capital investment across the Gulf, especially Qatar, is undergoing a significant transformation, moving away from opportunistic funding toward more strategic, long-term deployment aligned with national economic agendas, according to market experts. Speaking to The Peninsula on»»»
European Council President reaffirms solidarity with Qatar, Gulf states
Doha, Qatar: European Council President António Costa (pictured) yesterday underscored the European Union’s unwavering support for Qatar and other Gulf nations amid regional tensions, stressing the need for a stable ceasefire and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Spe»»»
50,000 Dubai government staff set for AI training programme
Dubai has launched a new initiative to train 50,000 government employees in artificial intelligence as part of efforts to modernise public services and improve efficiency. The programme, called the AI Workforce Transformation Programme (AI+), is being led by Digital Dubai in partnership with the Du»»»
Filipino indie film star Sue Prado dies at 44, industry mourns beloved Cinemalaya mainstay
Dubai: Sue Prado, an acclaimed indie Filipino film actress, died at 44 with her family confirming her death. Her sister, May Shareen Prado, took to Facebook saying her beloved family member died on April 14. No cause of death has been revealed. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf New»»»
Senate Blocks Move to Halt US War Against Iran
The US Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have blocked any further US strikes on Iran without approval from Congress. The initiative was opposed by 52 senators and supported by 47 senators. The vote marks the fourth time this year lawmakers have effectively allowed the US-Israeli war of»»»
Peru’s Sanchez to face Fujimori in runoff as rival signals protests over fraud
Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez moved into second place in Peru’s presidential election, setting up a June runoff with conservative Keiko Fujimori, as a rival threatened protests over alleged fraud. With over 90% counted, Fujimori led with about 17%, followed by Sanchez on 12% and Rafael Lopez »»»
Tête à tête - 'If we don't divide the land we're heading to apartheid': Ex-head of Israel's Shin Bet
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, warned that Israel is "heading to apartheid" unless it divides the land with the Palestinians. He argued that "there is a limit to what we can achieve by the use of military power" in Iran and»»»
Truth or Fake - 'L’Abuso': Real Italian magazine cover of Israeli settler sparks online storm
Prominent left-leaning Italian weekly L’Espresso is at the centre of a diplomatic storm online, after the Israeli ambassador to Italy slammed its choice of front cover as "manipulative." The magazine titled its latest edition “L’Abuso” or “The Abuse,” illustrating the cover with a photo of an armed»»»
Pakistani Army Chief Visits Tehran in Bid to Broker Renewed Talks between US and Iran
Pakistan’s army chief is set to meet with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions in the Middle East and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran after almost seven weeks of war. The White House said any further talks would likely take plac»»»
Sudan slams Berlin donor conference as ‘unacceptable’ as devastating war enters fourth year
Sudan’s government on Wednesday slammed a donor conference hosted by Germany as “surprising and unacceptable”, saying the event meddles in the country’s internal affairs and was organised without consulting Khartoum. The conference is being held as the brutal war between the army and the paramilita»»»
Pope Leo lands in Cameroon with message of peace as separatists announce 3-day truce
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon Wednesday for the next stop on his 11-day apostolic journey across Africa. Separatist groups in the English-speaking west declared a three-day ceasefire to allow the pontiff to travel to the conflicted region. Crowds lined the roads to welcome Pope Leo XIV to »»»
Sudan's forgotten war: three years on, humanitarian catastrophe has no end in sight
Three years into a war that has displaced 11 million people and killed tens of thousands, Sudan’s conflict remains deadlocked, with civilians trapped in a cycle of violence and deprivation and no viable path to peace. On the third anniversary of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and »»»
French minister seeks to ban Kanye West concert in Marseille over anti-Semitic remarks
Controversial US rapper Kanye West is facing the possible cancellation of his planned June concert in Marseille as France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez moves to block the performance over the artist’s anti-Semitic remarks. France's interior minister is seeking to block US rapper Kanye Wes»»»
France in focus - Montparnasse Tower: Paris's most unpopular landmark gets a facelift
France's controversial Montparnasse Tower is entering a new era. A stark symbol of post-war modernism in the heart of Paris, the skyscraper inaugurated in 1973 is set to get a facelift. Work is expected to begin this summer and continue until at least 2030. We tak»»»
Riyadh Backs Seoul with 250 Million Barrels of Crude Oil
South Korea has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil from the Middle East and Kazakhstan through the end of the year, with supplies routed outside the Strait of Hormuz, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said on Wednesday. Asia's fourth-largest economy has also secured 2.1 million metric»»»
Back to school UAE: How parents are navigating the 'separation anxiety reset’ after distance learning
How do you tell your three-year-old that it’s time to go back to school, just after she’s grown comfortable being at home? Swaleha Madani, assistant professor, cardiac rehabilitation specialist based in Al Ain, knows the challenge that lies ahead, as schools gear up to open after weeks of distance »»»
Italy suspends defence agreement with Israel as Lebanon attacks stoke tensions
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government has suspended Italy's defence cooperation agreement with Israel amid rising tensions between the two countries after Rome accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Italy has suspended its defence agre»»»
Spain launches programme to offer amnesty to 500,000 undocumented migrants
As countries on both sides of the Atlantic ramp up deportations of undocumented migrants, Spain’s left-wing government on Tuesday prepared to give legal status to hundreds of thousands of irregular workers. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has championed the amnesty as a way to not only give informal w»»»
Business - 'War is development in reverse,' UNDP chief tells FRANCE 24
Amid uncertainty over the war in Iran, the International Monetary Fund has downgraded its outlook for the global economy under three different scenarios depending on how long the conflict will last. Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme is warning that even if hostilities were to end »»»
Turkish automaker Tofas obtains €276mn BBVA loan to produce new K9 LCV models for Stellantis
Turkish automaker Tofas has signed an agreement with BBVA (Madrid/BBVA) to obtain a €276mn export credit agency (ECA) loan, including an insurance premium, according to a company stock exchange filing. Tofas expects to uti»»»
Australia, Singapore increase energy ties
Australia and Singapore have agreed to reinforce energy co-operation, pledging to maintain flows of refined fuel and LNG as both nations work to navigate international and regional energy issues on the back of the conflict in the Middle East. »»»
Turkish automaker Tofas obtains €276mn BBVA loan to produce new K9 LCV models for Stellantis
Turkish automaker Tofas has signed an agreement with BBVA (Madrid/BBVA) to obtain a €276mn export credit agency (ECA) loan, including an insurance premium, according to a company stock exchange filing. Tofas expects to uti»»»
India’s bank credit growth seen at 13% in FY27
India’s bank credit growth is expected to be around 13% this fiscal year (FY27), driven by robust growth in the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) and retail sectors. Another major factor driving this growth is corporates' continued preference for bank credit over bond issuance amid the prev»»»
Trump says China agreed to stop arming Iran in exchange for reopening of Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said China had agreed not to send weapons to Iran in return for Washington's efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, posting on his Truth Social account on April 15. "China is very happy that I am»»»