A 10-day Ceasefire Agreed on By Israel and Lebanon Goes into Effect
A 10-day truce began in Lebanon on Friday that could pause fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire »»»
Kyrgyzstan may become observer in Organization of American States - | 24.KG
During a visit to Washington, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev met with Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States. The two sides discussed expanding cooperation and Kyrgyzstan’s possible permanent observer status with the organizati»»»
Poland’s growth test
Poland is outpacing much of the EU, with GDP rising 3.6% in 2025 versus 1.6% across the bloc, and nominal output surpassing $1 trillion. Strong exports—worth PLN 1.426 trillion in the first eleven months of 2025—underscore its deep integration into European supply chains. Foreign media, particularl»»»
Video: US forces divert ship in Gulf of Oman amid US blockade on Iran ports
The US says its maritime enforcement operation targeting Iranian ports remains in place, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting that multiple vessels have been diverted in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said on Friday that a US Navy destroyer redirected a merchant vessel as part of ongoing measures»»»
U.S. bars entry to 26 people as visa restriction policy expands - UPI.com
The Department of State under Secretary Marco Rubio (L) announced an expansion to an existing policy to restrict visas to anyone in the Western Hemisphere it accuses of working to forward the interests of U.S. adversaries. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Trump ad»»»
Eye on Africa - South African opposition leader Malema gets jail sentence
In tonight's edition, South Africa’s firebrand, leftist leader Julius Malema is sentenced to five years in prison convicted of firearm offences. Also, on a visit to Cameroon, Pope Leo condemns so-called "tyrants" driving global wars and the exploitation of Africa’s resources. And we’ll have a »»»
Jet fuel supplies are lagging: What it means for airlines and travellers
A looming jet fuel shortage across Europe and Asia, triggered by the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could disrupt global travel within weeks if oil flows are not restored soon. The pressure on supplies risks higher airfares and potential flight cancellations as the peak»»»
M.E. war live updates: Lebanese army accuses Israel of ceasefire violations – Ya Libnan
Share: Israeli soldiers next to artillery vehicles ( SIGMA 155) deployed in the Upper Galilee near the Israel-Lebanon border on April 16, 2026. © Jalaa Marey, AFP A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the US, went into effect at 5pm EST on Thursday. Lebanon’s army soon after re»»»
Flood control scam: Fugitive Filipino ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co arrested in Prague Philippines moves to extradite him
Manila: Former Zaldy Co, a fugitive at the center of a sprawling corruption scandal, has been detained by Czech authorities in Prague, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Thursday night, ending months on the run. Marcos posted on social media that Co had been arrested, added that th»»»
10-day Lebanon-Israel ceasefire begins after weeks of conflict
A ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday as US President Donald Trump pushes for broader regional diplomacy, including a possible first-ever leaders’ meeting. The truce comes amid efforts to end wider conflict involving Iran and follows weeks of intense fighting and heav»»»
Breaking the negative narrative: How the Gulf changed the region’s story
The words we hear in our childhood rarely pass through our lives unnoticed. They linger like a cloud in the mind, reminding us — every time the rain of their conversations falls — of the thorns of negativity. For years, that narrative persisted in the minds of many across the region we share in lan»»»
A propos - France finance minister says Hormuz must open 'but not at any price'
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, says that t»»»
Emergency services in Ukraine 'need armored vehicles' as Russia targets rescue workers
Russia hit civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 100 others, officials said Thursday. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Mark Owen, Paul Vazeux, founder of Dignitas Ukraine, which brings mobile clinics to Eastern Ukraine, »»»
France to reimburse young women for reusable menstrual products
France announced Tuesday that it will expand access to sustainable menstrual products by reimbursing reusable cups and underwear for eligible young women and low-income groups. The move, aimed at tackling period poverty, is expected to benefit millions once implemented through the country’s social »»»
Business - US jury rules Live Nation is illegal monopoly
A federal jury in New York finds for the plaintiffs in an antitrust lawsuit against concert giant Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster. We take a closer look. But first: the IMF warns on mounting public debt amid a global energy crisis, and China's economy beats expectations as growth accelerates d»»»
House extends deportation protection for Haitians in the United States - UPI.com
The House on Thursday passed a bill to extend temporary protected status for Haitians that currently live in the United States on a bipartisan vote, but the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate and may be vetoed by the White House if it is sent the President Donald Trump's desk. File Photo by »»»
Friday Sermon, April 17, 2026: 'Say: All praise belongs to Allah'
First Sermon (Khutbah One)All praise is for Allah, and again all praise is for Allah. O Allah, to You belongs all praise as befits the majesty of Your Face and the majesty of Your dominion. Glory be to You—we cannot enumerate praise of You; You are as You have praised Yourself. We bear witness that»»»
Police: Virginia ex-Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills his wife and then himself — he was once a rising star before scandal sank his career
In the days after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam became engulfed in a scandal over a racist photo on his medical school yearbook in 2019, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax looked poised to ascend to the post and become the state’s second Black governor. That never happened. Soon after, Fairfax dealt with his ow»»»
Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation: Regional developments have no impact on private sector jobs
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has affirmed the continued stability of the labour market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the uninterrupted continuity of business operations despite ongoing regional developments. This reflects the strength and diversity of»»»
PepsiCo's sales jump after it cuts prices
PepsiCo's decision to lower prices and cut artificial ingredients paid off in the first quarter, boosting demand for its snacks and drinks. Revenue jumped 8.5% to $19.44 billion in the January-March period compared to the same period a year ago, the Purchase, New York, company said Thursday. That h»»»
France finance minister says Hormuz must open, 'but not at any price' — G7 ready to mitigate war fallout
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any price," adding that G7 leaders stand ready to mitigate the war's economic fallout. Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven advanced economies added i»»»
RFK, Jr. defends decisions at HHS in Congressional testimony - UPI.com
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, one of seven Congressional committees he testified before on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April»»»
US sanctions two children of Nicaraguan presidential couple
The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against two sons of Nicaragua's presidential couple, both of whom hold government posts, as well as several enterprises involved with gold mining in the Central American country. Washington has branded the government of President Daniel Ortega and h»»»
Behind the scenes of the Israel-Lebanon 10- day ceasefire – Ya Libnan
Share: President Joseph Aoun refused to call Israeli PM Netanyahu to ask for a truce in Lebanon. US President Donald Trump pressured Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon During a security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu was asked what led to the sudden change and Israel’s decision to agree to a cea»»»
QSCCB seminar provides guidanceon managing stress during crises
QNA Doha The Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind (QSCCB) organised a special awareness seminar on psychological resilience and smart coping in times of crisis. The session was presented by disability expert, psychological consultant, and advisor to the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of»»»
Doha holds virtual draw ceremony for team sports of 4th GCC Games
Tribune News Network Doha The Organizing Committee of 4th GCC Games – Doha 2026 staged the official draw ceremony for the team sports competitions on Thursday via advanced virtual communication technology. Held at Lusail Hall at the Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters, the event brought together h»»»
QNL team wins Gold Award at NationalCyber Security Drill
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar National Library (QNL) has won the Gold Award at the National Cyber Security Drill 2025, ranking first in the Education Sector. Organised by the National Cyber Security Agency under the theme ‘Cross-Border Attacks’, the event aimed to strengthen national defences aga»»»
NCSA president honours National Cyber Drill 2025 top achievers
Tribune News Network Doha Entities that passed the 12th edition of cyber drill with the highest evaluative scores across the participating sectors, were honoured on Thursday by Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki, president of the National Cyber Security Agency. The entities that participa»»»
Israel's Netanyahu says he agrees to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he has agreed to a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon. In a video statement, Netanyahu said he was taking the step in an attempt “to advance” peace efforts with Lebanon.FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem. FRANCE 24's Fraser Jackson r»»»
Truth or Fake - Israeli military admit to posting AI photo of Lebanese journalist it killed
The Foreign Press Association has accused the Israeli military of discrediting a Lebanese journalist it killed in March, by using an AI-generated photo to present him as a “Hezbollah terrorist.” The Israel Defence Forces claimed responsibility for killing Ali Shoeib in a targeted Israeli airst»»»
France finance minister says Hormuz must open 'but not at any price'
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, says that t»»»
The Debate - Leo and "the tyrants": Does new pope's defiant message resonate?
A new U-S-born Pope on a first-ever visit to Cameroon’s restive English-speaking northwest, and who’s not turning the other cheek: “Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that »»»
Israel, Lebanon agree to 10-day cease-fire - UPI.com
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a cease-fire for 10 days to allow for talks about ejecting Hezbollah from that country, which Israel said is its primary goal in strikes launched on its neighbor over the last six weeks. File Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- President Do»»»
Iranian embassy shares AI clip of Jesus slapping Trump
An Iranian embassy has shared an AI-generated video depicting Jesus casting Donald Trump into hell, following backlash over a social media post in which the US president appeared to portray himself as a Christ-like healer. Trump posted the image on Truth Social on Sunday but deleted it the followin»»»
Netanyahu says Lebanon truce opportunity for 'historic peace'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Lebanon, but insisted that the disarmament of Hezbollah remained a precondition. "We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement wi»»»
Arsenal ex-goalkeeper Manninger dies after car struck by train
Vienna: Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who played for Austria at Euro 2008, died on Thursday after his car was hit by a train, his former club Red Bull Salzburg said. The 48-year-old died when a train hit his car while crossing the tracks in the Salzburg region, the Austrian news ag»»»
Trump says Iran agrees to hand over enriched uranium, believes deal 'close'
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on the Islamic republic and m»»»
Sharjah Police add off-road Grenadier for fast response
Sharjah: In a move aimed at strengthening frontline policing, Sharjah Police has introduced the rugged “Grenadier” vehicle into its operational fleet, enhancing officers’ ability to respond swiftly and safely across challenging environments. Developed for endurance and reliability, the Grenadier is»»»
Trump says Iran to hand over uranium as ceasefire talks advance
Washington, United States: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on t»»»
South Korea pet insurance market grows but uptake remains low - UPI.com
Pet insurance grows 3.5-fold in three years... insurance industry moves to boost awareness A chart shows the number of pet insurance policies in South Korea rising sharply from 51,727 in 2021 to 251,961 in 2025. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI April 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's pet »»»
UAE has right to guarantees, compensation after Iranian aggression, says Gargash
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the UAE has the right to seek guarantees to prevent the repetition of cowardly Iranian attacks and to be compensated after the Iranian aggression against GCC countries. “The Iranian regime has attacked everyone in the Gulf, ev»»»
Fine Arts Commission OKs Trump's arch project - UPI.com
1 of 4 | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds an illustration on Wednesday of the proposed Triumphal Arch that President Donald Trump wants to build. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to OK President Donald Trump's pla»»»
GOP blocks House war powers resolution for second time - UPI.com
Republicans in the House of Representatives voted down a war powers resolution that would rein in President Trump's ability to wage war in Iran for a second time, although with just a one-vote margin this time. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Republican members of th»»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine Prices Hospitals Pay
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Thursday expressed concern over what he described as systemic abuses within Bulgaria’s healthcare financing system, where hospitals exploit legal loopholes in order to maximize their profit and not to improve patient care, and demanded changes in the applicable»»»
Top schools honored by Sharjah EPAA for green efforts
Sharjah : Seventy schools and nurseries from across the UAE took part in the third edition of the “My Green Environment is My Future” initiative, it was revealed when the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah honoured winners during a closing ceremony at Al Dhaid Wildlife Muse»»»
Focus - Spain at risk of housing bubble as Madrid attracts wealthy foreigners
In the last few years, Madrid has become a destination of choice for wealthy Latin American investors, as well as for young Americans. The latter are settling in the most historical areas of the Spanish capital, driving up prices in an already competitive housing market. FRANCE 24's Maude Petit-Jov»»»
BlackRock among big funds backing Uzbek state’s first foray on to global equity markets
BlackRock, Inc (NYSE: BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, is among big funds that have signalled their support for the Uzbek state’s first foray into global equity markets by signing cornerstone agreements that will back a National Investment Fund of the Uzbek Republic (UzNIF) initial public o»»»
Middle East Matters - 'Lebanon is being held hostage by Hezbollah acting at Iran's behest'
Hezbollah plunged Lebanon into war with Israel in early March. Six weeks later, the group, which had suffered setbacks in 2024, is still putting up a fight. But how? And can the Lebanese government succeed in getting the militant group to disarm? In this edition of Middle East Matters, we are »»»
The Observers - ‘We're asking for our husbands' salaries’: The plight of soldiers' widows in eastern DR Congo
Plastic sheeting serving as tents and mattresses laid on the ground: in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo, the widows of fallen soldiers are struggling to survive in a makeshift camp. They say they fled the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, after it fell to the M23 rebels in January 2025. Left»»»
Chilean government offers reforms package to revive economy - UPI.com
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast (C) arrives by car at the Metropolitan Cathedral to attend aass and a 'Prayer for the People of Chile and the New Government' in Santiago on Sunday. Photo by Allen Diaz/EPA SANTIAGO-Chile, April 16 (UPI) -- Chilean President José Antonio Kast announced a package »»»