A critically endangered Borneo orangutan has been born at Madrid's zoo, described by keepers as strong and developing normally. After an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy, mother Surya gave birth to a male weighing about 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) on April 2, the Madrid Zoo Aquarium said in a statement.»»»

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), through the university’s Center of Excellence for Smart Health (KCSH), have developed a new method to improve the formation and control of stem cell-derived embryo models, enabling unprecedented insights into the early stage»»»

The caretaker Government will discuss adopting a National Tuberculosis Prevention Programme for 2026–2030 at Thursday's cabinet meeting. The draft plan includes measures such as early diagnosis, screening of vulnerable groups, timely treatment, medical training, and increased public awareness. Cabi»»»

The U.S. military struck a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific on Wednesday, killing three people. Image courtesy of U.S. Southern Command/X April 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. military killed three people Wednesday in its fifth strike in five days targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Lebanese movement Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that Israel also observe it, Mahmoud Komati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said on Wednesday. Hezbollah has agreed to a ceasefire with Israel on the condition that both sides adhere to it.“We agree»»»

On April 15, Marlen Mamataliev, Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan, participated in the opening session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Istanbul. The event, which is taking place from April 15 to 19 under the motto «Cultivating Hope, Ensuring Peace and Justice for Future Gene»»»

Russian strikes killed at least 12 people in Ukraine, local authorities said on Thursday, after Moscow pummeled its neighbor in overnight attacks. Missile and drone attacks on the southern port city of Odesa killed six people, the head of the city's military administration Sergiy Lysak wrote on Tel»»»

AMMAN — Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, Sami Smirat, and Syrian Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdul Salam Haikal, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in the postal services sector.The agreement»»»

AMMAN — Partners Jordan announced on Wednesday the results of the Open Budget Survey 2025 for Jordan.The results show that Jordan scored 62 out of 100 in the transparency pillar, placing it in the "sufficient" category for the publication of budget information, compared with 18 out of 100 in the pu»»»

AMMAN — Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian company operating Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), announced a major milestone in its journey, with QAIA ranking among the Skytrax World’s Top 100 Airports 2026 for the first time in its history.This reflects the airport’s commitment »»»

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»»»

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Australia has secured an additional supply of some 100 million litres of diesel from Brunei and South Korea, as the country looked to boost precarious reserves, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday. "I can announce that my government has secured an additional 100 mi»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

Stuart Norval is pleased to welcome Alon-Lee Green, National Director for Standing Together. He's advocating for a fundamentally different paradigm, one rooted in diplomacy, equality, and the end of occupation. According to Green, the ongoing military campaigns are not only strategically ineffectiv»»»

François Picard welcomes Farès Boueiz, former Lebanese minister of foreign affairs. The ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks cannot be described as a "breakthrough", Boueiz argues, but rather as a technical prelude to meaningful negotiations. What we are witnessing, he suggests, is the exploratory stage »»»

François Picard welcomes Farès Boueiz, former Lebanese minister of foreign affairs. The ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks cannot be described as a "breakthrough", Boueiz argues, but rather as a technical prelude to meaningful negotiations. What we are witnessing, he suggests, is the exploratory stage »»»

Social media users are claiming that Apple has intentionally removed towns in southern Lebanon from its Maps app, sparking allegations of a link to the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict. Apple has denied the claims, stating the locations were never indexed to begin with and citing longstanding covera»»»

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»»»

Between Tehran and Washington's blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, the number of ships passing through the critical waterway has slowed to a trickle. Here's what marine tracking data tells us about the situation. A trickle of ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday and Wednesday as a US blockade»»»

Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Bilal Y. Saab, Senior Managing Director of TRENDS Research and Advisory. According to Saab, Lebanon is at a crossroads: the government is committed to reform, is fundamentally “pro-Lebanese” and rejects interference from external actors. The central challenge re»»»

Iran proving that missiles don't need to travel thousands of kilometres. Across the Gulf is all it takes to force the world’s mightiest army to the bargaining table. Pressure on the choke point for one-fifth of the planet’s oil and gas exposing the vulnerability of Arabian peninsula monarchies. The»»»

The health of jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is critical after she suffered a heart attack last month, supporters said on Wednesday. Her family and lawyers, allowed a second prison visit, reported a sharp deterioration in her condition, with her physical state now descri»»»

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»»»

Syria began loading its first tanker carrying Iraqi oil on Wednesday at the Baniyas port refinery, according to state media. With maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, Iraq's exports came to a halt and oil storage tanks began filling up rapidly, forcing Iraqi authorities to large»»»

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»»»

The administration of US President Donald Trump wants automakers to play a greater role in the production of weapons and military equipment, American media reported. The US is urging major manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, to expand their role in weapons production as conflicts in U»»»

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»»»

On the third anniversary of the start of the war in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands of people, an aid worker from one of the main NGOs still there has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the starvation of the people. She also spoke about the incredible way the Sudanese come together to try to help »»»

This Wednesday marks three years since the start of the civil war in Sudan, a conflict that has forced 14 million people to flee their homes. Some 4 million of them have left their country altogether. While many have fled to neighbouring countries, some have chosen Kenya. The capital Nairobi has be»»»

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 »»»

As Sudan's brutal civil war enters its fourth year, Angela Diffley is joined by Idil Absiye, Regional Policy Advisor for Women, Peace and Security at the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office. Drawing on field data, partner testimonies, and recent institutional reporting, she examines h»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

When you think of a steaming hot drink in France, you probably think of coffee. French cafés are indeed everywhere. But in this edition we're focusing on a hot drink that's less associated with France: tea! We speak to Erika Le Noan, the CEO of French tea maker Dammann Frères. She tells us how to m»»»

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»»»

French MPs have introduced a bill, aimed at removing the statute of limitations for crimes against children. Under current legislation, survivors of rape can pursue legal action up to 30 years after the day they turn 18. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks with Mié Kohiyama, co-founder of the Brave M»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, April 15, 2026: First, the Italian front pages rally around Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she stands up to US President Donald Trump. Next, war robots in Ukraine have captured Russian positions for the first time in history. Meanwhile, the war in Sudan enters its f»»»

François Picard is pleased to welcome Zsuzsanna Szelényi, foreign policy specialist, former politician, author and founding director of the CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy. For more than three decades, she observed, first-hand, Hungary’s political transformation from within. There was no»»»

A flotilla of dozens of boats set sail for Gaza from Barcelona on Wednesday in a fresh bid to break an Israeli blockade and deliver aid supplies. Last year, another flotilla of about 50 boats was boarded by the Israeli navy, resulting in crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg,»»»