Chile's Kast launches 40-measure reform package with staged corporate tax cut
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has formally filed the Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development Bill in the Chamber of Deputies, a 40-plus measure package including a staged reduction in corporate tax from 27% to 23% aimed at reviving growth and cutting unemployment, El Mercurio repor»»»
The World This Week - Iran: Neither war nor Peace, Ukraine’s Lifeline, Starmer: “Just a Scratch”?
In a week where a stalemate appears to have developed after nearly two months of asymmetric conflict between the US and Iran, President Trump’s Truth Social posts have swung between belligerent maximalism and breezy deal-making—one minute suggesting a within-reach deal, and that Iranian forces woul»»»
US still delivering weapons to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says, as Prince Harry visits Kyiv
KYIV: US weapons deliveries to Ukraine haven’t stopped despite the Iran war, and Ukrainian long-range strikes continue to hammer Russian oil production and manufacturing plants, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday. “Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is v»»»
Morocco opens $700M skyscraper as it boosts global ambitions
CASABLANCA, Morocco: Towering over the Moroccan capital’s historic cityscape, a $700 million, 55-story skyscraper opened this week in a move that underscores the country’s expanding global ambitions. Named for King Mohammed VI and inspired by a rocket on its launchpad, the 820-foot Mohammed VI Towe»»»
Justice Department ends death penalty moratorium, rescinds Biden-era commutations - UPI.com
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the Department of Justice is ending it moratorium on seeking the death penalty in federal capital cases, reinstating the use of single-chemical lethal injection and adding firing squad to methods of execution. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | »»»
Kyrgyzstan's agricultural production doubles in Q1 2026: official
Bishkek: The gross domestic product of agricultural production in Kyrgyzstan amounted to 47.923 billion soms (approximately 547 million U.S. dollars) in January-March, an increase of 102.8 percent year on year, the country's Kabar news agency reported Friday, citing the Ministry of Water Resources,»»»
Wounded Lebanese journalist recounts hours of agony after Israeli strike killed colleague Amal Khalil
BEIRUT: A Lebanese journalist who was wounded in an Israeli airstrike that killed her colleague this week described hours of agony as they waited for help to arrive, in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday. Zeinab Faraj, a young freelance photographer and video journalist, frequently mo»»»
Is Israel silencing witnesses? Rising journalist deaths raise accountability concerns
DUBAI: The killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil on Wednesday has renewed scrutiny over the rising number of media workers killed in conflicts involving Israel, with press freedom groups questioning accountability and transparency. Khalil, a correspondent for Al-Akhbar, was reportedly shelteri»»»
Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games: Qatari Men's Beach Volleyball Teams Qualify for Round of 16
Sanya, China: The Qatari men's beach volleyball teams have qualified for the Round of 16 at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games, after securing two more victories today in the final matches of the second round of the preliminary stage. The first team, comprised of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, def»»»
Is Israel’s ‘buffer zone’ expansion a bid to control Lebanon’s offshore gas?
BEIRUT: Lebanon faces growing concern over what officials describe as potential Israeli encroachment onto its offshore energy resources, after the Israeli military published a map extending its buffer zone into the Mediterranean, raising questions about the fate of the Qana gas field. The map, rele»»»
Hundreds of alleged MS-13 members tried at mass hearing in El Salvador mega-jail
Hundreds of alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-A3) gang were tried at an El Salvador prison on Thursday, accused of collectively carrying out more than 29,000 murders. Mass trials are a centrepiece of President Nayib Bukele's "war" on gangs. Hundreds of alleged Mara Salvatrucha gang m»»»
Trump administration reclassifies medical marijuana as a 'less-dangerous drug'
President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday reclassified state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, easing research barriers and granting tax relief. The change falls short of federal legalisation but marks a major shift in US cannabis policy. President Donald Trump's acting»»»
US soldier bet on Maduro capture on Polymarket
A US Special Forces soldier involved in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with multiple crimes, including unlawful use of classified government information, after allegedly using insider knowledge to place bets on Polymarket that earned him over $400,000.»»»
Sanchez brushes off reported Pentagon email mulling suspending Spain's NATO membership
Spain's centre-left Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday declined to comment on a reported Pentagon email written by top policy adviser Elbridge Colby raising the possibility of suspending Madrid from the NATO military alliance. The note reportedly also suggested reconsidering US suppor»»»
Tornado barrels through Oklahoma
A tornado tore through the US state of Oklahoma on Thursday, ripping roofs off homes and damaging power infrastructure as it struck parts of Enid, a town of about 50,000 near the northern border, with no fatalities reported but residents trapped in their homes and extensive damage recorded, accordi»»»
Turkiye joins global push to shield children from harmful online content
LONDON: Turkiye has become the latest country to restrict children’s access to social media, passing legislation this week that prevents under-15s from opening accounts on major platforms and requires stricter controls on harmful content. The bill, now awaiting final approval from President Recep T»»»
Israel, Lebanon extend ceasefire as Trump says ‘great chance’ for peace deal
Israel and Lebanon extended their ceasefire by three weeks on Thursday following a meeting of officials from both sides at the White House. US President Donald Trump said he believed there was a "great chance" the two countries would agree on a peace deal, even though Israel and Hezbollah have»»»
Strait of Hormuz: Iran, US seize ships
US President Donald Trump says he is not rushing into a peace agreement with Iran, downplaying concerns over Iranian small boats even after they seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and arguing that Tehran is unable to strike a deal due to divisions within its leadership, an accusati»»»
Hormuz standoff chokes 20% of oil supply
In the Strait of Hormuz, the United States and Iran are locked in a struggle for influence over one of the world’s most strategic waterways, with Washington emphasizing ship seizures to demonstrate its ability to disrupt maritime traffic, while a parallel on-the-water confrontation unfolds over dem»»»
Spotlight - Pope in Equatorial Guinea: Moral authority role risks being 'whitewashed & used to legitimise power'
François Picard is pleased to welcome Tutu Alicante, an international human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist. According to Alicante, the pope's visit to Equatorial Guinea presents a paradox: it offers a rare opportunity to spotlight injustice, yet risks being appropriated b»»»
French foreign minister Barrot voices concern about 'terrorist threat' in the Sahel
France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Friday voiced concern about the spread of Islamist extremism in west Africa, after talks with Togo's leader, Faure Gnassingbe. Violence by jihadist groups has blighted the Sahel region for the last decade, and is now spreading into northe»»»
France reaches its "overshoot" day
This Friday, April 24, marks Earth Overshoot Day in France, a date that arrives earlier each year and signals that from now until December 31, the country is living beyond its environmental means, as explained by Elitsa Gadeva and our colleagues from France 2.»»»
Orient Express train exhibition in Paris
Finally, a legendary rail journey from Paris to Istanbul is in the spotlight as the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris hosts an exhibition dedicated to the Orient Express, with France 2 taking a closer look, in a report brought to us by Nick Rushworth.»»»
'I wasn't in politics before and I'm not going to be after': Macron to quit politics in 2027
French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that he will quit politics in 2027 as the final year in his second term approaches. He added that at this late stage in office, the "hardest thing" was to strike a balance between defending his record and acknowledging what "didn't work out".»»»
Iraq deadlock persists over next prime minister
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s main Shiite alliance failed on Friday to agree on a new candidate for prime minister after US pressure stymied the chances of frontrunner Nouri Al-Maliki. Leaders of the Coordination Framework — a ruling coalition of Shiite groups with varying ties to Iran who had initially nominate»»»
Ex-Philippine president Duterte to stand trial at ICC over deadly ‘war on drugs’
The International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, paving the way for a landmark trial. Duterte is accused of murder and attempted murder linked to his anti-drugs campaign, in a major test for the court amid mo»»»
Tokyo urges government workers to swap suits for shorts to counter energy costs
Government workers in Tokyo have new dress code rules that allow them to wear shorts to the office in a bid to cut air conditioning costs, an official said on Friday, as the Middle East war drives up energy costs around the world. Tokyo's metropolitan government is encouraging staff to wear shorts »»»
WWF warns Mediterranean overfishing remains critical
Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization show 58% of assessed Mediterranean fish stocks are overfished, meaning catches exceed sustainable limits, WWF Greece fisheries officer Michalis Margaritis said. The Mediterranean is among the world’s most overexploited seas, he added. Fish consumption»»»
Venezuela ends amnesty after thousands are freed - UPI.com
Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez said that the amnesty, enacted into law and intended to pardon alleged political crimes committed since 1999, “has come to an end.” Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA April 24 (UPI) -- Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced she was ending t»»»
Conflict and climate crisis push 266m into acute food insecurity
ROME: Two-thirds of people facing food crises globally last year lived in just 10 countries, with a third of them in Sudan, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a UN-backed yearly report said on Friday. Conflict remained the main driver of acute food insecurity, according to the Global Re»»»
Syrian forces arrest Amjad Youssef, suspect in 2013 Tadamon massacre - UPI.com
The Syrian Interior Ministry said Amjad Youssef had been hiding out in Hama province since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Syrian Interior Ministry/X April 24 (UPI) -- Authorities arrested a key suspect in the 2013 massacre of civilians in the Tadamon dis»»»
Press Review - After losing her son, healthy British woman will legally end her life in Swiss clinic
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, April 24: We look at reactions in the German, Russian and Kazakh press after an important oil pipeline from Russia is suspended to Germany. Russia says it's for "technical" reasons, but the German press say it is "political". Also: the press is divided over the case of a»»»
Tête à tête - Humanitarian worker Mike Penrose on the 'Food from Ukraine' programme
In an interview with FRANCE 24, Mike Penrose, a veteran humanitarian worker and special adviser to the government of Ukraine on the "Food from Ukraine" humanitarian programme, explained that this initiative "increases the value of the aid that's being distributed" in an "era of diminishing amounts »»»
Reporters - Why are so many Colombians fighting for Ukraine?
On the most dangerous parts of Ukraine's front line, it's almost as common these days to hear Spanish as Ukrainian. Many Colombian soldiers are now fighting in Ukraine, lured by the comparatively high salaries, but also by a sense of adventure and of helping a good cause. Our reporters Gulliver Cra»»»
The 51% - First female coach of top European men's football team faces backlash
Marie-Louise Eta has broken barriers in football as the first woman to coach a top-tier European men's club at Union Berlin. But the historic appointment has also triggered a wave of misogynistic attacks. Also we all know it to be the case but now we have the data to back it up. A new report reveal»»»
Revisited - 'Baseball bat years' continue to haunt eastern Germany, 30 years on
In the 1990s, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the former East Germany experienced a wave of far-right racist and political violence. In Germany, this period is known as the "baseball bat years" – a dark period that still haunts the country today. After the fall of »»»
Europe Rendezvous - Crossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 1)
In this two-part show, Armen Georgian takes viewers on a journey across the European Union, exploring mobility and transport projects funded by the EU’s cohesion policy. In the 2021-2027 budget, the EU has been using its cohesion funds to invest €63.2 billion in transport schemes.&nb»»»
Europe Rendezvous - Crossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 2)
In this second part of Europe Rendezvous, Armen Georgian is in Hungary and Austria on his whistle-stop journey across the EU, exploring mobility and transport projects funded by the EU's cohesion policy. Watch moreCrossing borders: The EU powers your mobility (part 1) Our journey continu»»»
Who Can Challenge West's Blackmail and Global Finance Control?
Freezing other nations’ assets and using them as leverage has long been a trademark negotiation tactic of the West, Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of research at the Russian Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, tells Sputnik. While the chief depositories remain in the West, and the US dollar is s»»»
Peruvian police raid ex-election chief's home in probe - UPI.com
Piero Corvetto, head of Peru’s National Office of Electoral Processes, resigned Wednesday amid mounting political and legal pressure over logistical failures on election day, Photo by John Reyes Mejía/EPA April 24 (UPI) -- Peru's National Police raided the home of former election chief Piero Corvet»»»
Aoun: Lebanon Rejects Being A Bargaining Chip in Regional Conflicts
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Lebanon “refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts,” stressing it “negotiates in its own name, in defense of its national interests and sovereignty,” as Beirut pursues a US-sponsored diplomatic track backed by European and Arab support to reach a last»»»
Sovereignty of Falklands rests with the UK, Britain tells US
LONDON: The sovereignty of the Falkland Islands rests with Britain, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday after an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing the US position on the Falklands as punishment for Britain’s stance on the Iran war. “We could not be clearer about»»»
Meta to cut workforce by 10% as artificial intelligence spending surges
Meta outlined plans to cut about 8,000 jobs on Thursday as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence. The move comes as part of a broader tech-sector shift towards cost control, with Microsoft also weighing voluntary buyouts ahead of next week’s earnings reports. Meta plans to cut a tenth of it»»»
FDA begins push to study psychedelics for mental health disorders - UPI.com
President Donald Trump signs an executive order on researching the effects of psychedelic drugs in medical treatment on Saturday in the Oval Office. The FDA has begun to make changes to allow more research on the drugs for mental health treatment. Photo by Allison Robbert/UPI | License Photo April »»»
Gaza Reconstruction Back on the Table, Parallel Track to the Board of Peace
The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip has returned to the agenda in recent days during Egyptian talks with international parties, amid a stalemate in implementing the ceasefire and earlier reports of funding problems facing the “Board of Peace” led by U.S. President Donald Trump. Those reports were »»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»
Which countries have fertility rates above the replacement level - OWID
Fertility rates — which measure the average number of children per woman — have been falling worldwide. Since 1950, global fertility rates have halved, from almost 5 children per woman to 2.2, Our World in Data (OWID) reports. »»»
Which countries have fertility rates above the replacement level - OWID
Fertility rates — which measure the average number of children per woman — have been falling worldwide. Since 1950, global fertility rates have halved, from almost 5 children per woman to 2.2, Our World in Data (OWID) reports. »»»
Heidelberg Materials acquires Turkish partner Sabanci’s 40% stake in cement maker Akcansa for $437mn
Heidelberg Materials (Frankfurt/HEI) has agreed to acquire a 39.72% stake in Akcansa (AKCNS) from Turkish partner Sabanci Holding (SAHOL), Heidelberg has announced. SAHOL, meanwhile, said separately that HEI, its part»»»