With just one year left in his second five-year term, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will quit politics in 2027 -- leaving observers and supporters guessing about his next moves. "I wasn't in politics before and I'm not going to be after," Macron said Thursday during a visit to a high»»»

French television channel M6 has aired a report comparing two unlawfully installed Christian crosses to an act of neo-Nazi vandalism, drawing sharp criticism, according to Tribune Chretienne. The controversy followed a Wednesday broadcast in which sociologist Erwan Lecoeur drew parallels between th»»»

A German court on Friday sentenced a supporter of Lebanon's Hezbollah to more than three years in jail Friday over for "illegal access to weapons" and social media posts supporting the group. Earlier in the same trial the 30-year-old was acquitted on charges of actually fighting for Hezbollah and b»»»

Dubai: A UAE court has convicted a husband and wife of mutual assault after finding that both parties physically harmed each other during a domestic dispute, imposing a fine of Dh3,000 on each while suspending the sentence for three years in a move aimed at preserving the marital relationship. Cour»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the charter of the state enterprise Center for the Admission of Foreign Students. Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation of Kyrgyzstan Durus Kozuev said at a briefing. According to him, the new center will serve as a unified coordination hu»»»

Tunis, April 24 (TAP) - The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) is keen to continue supporting Tunisia and to examine new programmes and projects, said Head of the IsDB's Rabat Regional Hub, Ahmed Ag Aboubacrine. Received on Friday by Economy and...»»»

Authorities have added 13 beaches to a list of beaches on which umbrellas, food trucks and recreational vessels are prohibited, along with vehicle access, organized gatherings of more than ten people, and the use of music, speakers or amplifiers. With the latest additions, the total number of prote»»»

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed Friday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heading to Pakistan for talks and will also stop in Oman and Russia. The trip to Pakistan comes as officials there have been trying to get the United States and Iran to a second round of ceasefire ne»»»

LONDON: A group of prominent writers, artists, musicians and academics including Greta Thunberg, Sally Rooney and Brian Eno have written to the UK Court of Appeal in support of the protest group Palestine Action, ahead of a hearing next week on the legality of its ban and its designation as a terro»»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has played down a leaked Pentagon email suggesting his country could face being suspended from NATO for not supporting the United States in its conflict with Iran. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sa»»»

Abu Dhabi: A new UAE-mediated exchange between Russia and Ukraine has led to the release of 386 prisoners, split equally between both sides. The UAE said the exchange involved 193 detainees from the Russian side and 193 from the Ukrainian side, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged throu»»»

ROME: Italy’s government on Friday rushed through a decree amending rules that offered financial rewards to lawyers helping to repatriate migrants, after the scheme drew criticism from opposition parties who said it could be unconstitutional. The measure was part of a broader security package that »»»

BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping met Taiwan’s opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, telling the visiting delegation he had “full confidence” that Taiwanese and Chinese people would be united.Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng is the party’s first leader to visit China in a »»»

Damascus: Syrian authorities said Friday they have arrested a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades fatally shooting dozens of people during the country's conflict. Amjad Yousef was arrested in the central province of »»»

Dubai: A mother has lost custody of her two daughters after Dubai’s highest court ruled that the children’s welfare must take precedence over the interests of either parent, affirming a decision to transfer their care to their father. In a final judgment, the Dubai Court of Cassation rejected the m»»»

TUNIS, April 24, 2026 (TAP) – A team of Tunisian researchers has successfully completed the full genetic sequencing of two durum wheat varieties, “Mahmoudi” and “Chili,” in a move aimed at supporting scientific research and strengthening food...»»»

ISTANBUL: Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15, state media reported. The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity. Its passage comes a week after a 1»»»

Algeria: Algeria today hosted the official signing of the second phase of the “Baladna Algeria” project. This includes a new set of contracts for the integrated farm project, alongside the launch of an airlift program to import dairy cows from the United States, starting in November 2026. The step »»»

ALGIERS: Algeria has hosted the official signing of the second phase of the 'Baladna Algeria'project. This includes a new set of contracts for the integrated farm project, alongside the launch of an airlift program to import dairy cows from the United States, starting in November 2026. The step ref»»»

Dubai: AMIS Development has recently received another tranche of funding from a leading Singaporean investment fund, further solidifying the ongoing partnership between the Dubai-based developer and the fund. Such investments and the continued flow of global capital into Dubai are vital in maintain»»»

In an increasingly cautious global economic environment, businesses are re-evaluating expansion strategies, prioritising sustainability, cost control, and operational flexibility. Demonstrating resilience in such conditions, FDI Zone (Rep office of Ajman Nuventures Center in Dubai) has adopted a me»»»

Members of the non-profit Dignity in Dying campaign group protest outside Parliament in London on Friday where the House the Lords was holding its final debate on an assisted-dying bill before it runs out the clock in the legislative timetable of the current session of parliament, which is due to e»»»

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BEIRUT: The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, announced on Friday that an Indonesian blue helmet died in hospital of wounds suffered on March 29 in an attack on his base. “UNIFIL deplores the passing today of Corporal Rico Pramudia, who was critically injured following a projectile explosio»»»

MANILA: Doctors from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program have given Maurice Ann and Klea Misa a chance each to live their own distinct lives, their mother told Arab News on Friday following successful separation surgery in Riyadh. The 7-year-old girls, who are from Lubang, a municipality on the Phili»»»

President Joseph Aoun met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Nicosia, on the sidelines of a European summit. European leaders vowed during the summit to do more to de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East, as they prepared for discussions with regional counterparts from Egypt, Lebanon »»»

Skopje, 23 April 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has said the caretaker government will remain in place for the next elections, after which it will be cancelled, as per the changes to the Law on Government. PM Mickoski told Sitel the opposition and its leader Venko Filipche oppose th»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic hosted a reception on Thursday evening to mark April 23 - Serbian Armed Forces Day. The reception, held in the Large War Room of the Old General Staff building, was also attended»»»

The figures highlight the growing importance of calendar-driven travel moments, as more travelers take advantage of extended weekends to plan quick, efficient trips abroad. A perfect setup for short getaways With a natural window of four to five days, the May 1st holiday is ideally suited for city »»»

JEDDAH: Sarah Alabdali is presenting her third solo exhibition, “The Legends of Motherland,” until May 24 at Al-Balad’s Al-Falah School in Jeddah. The exhibition brings together paintings, prints, and collaborative works that reflect Alabdali’s journey as an artist and researcher whose work explore»»»

The Chairman of the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Anwar Bousta, received the Chargé d’affaires and Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Libya, Daniel Schemsky, at the Chamber’s Tripoli headquarters yesterday. The Chamber’s Board members Essam Al-Jahani and Saad Al-Dhawi were also present. The meeting aim»»»

The Libyan-Spanish Economic Forum (23-24 April), organized by the Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce in conjunction with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, commenced yesterday in Madrid. The General Union of Chambers said the forum saw high-level participation from government officials and »»»

Political developments involving Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria electoral dominance and Borislav Sarafov’s resignation as acting prosecutor general dominate Friday’s news media, highlighting broader debates on power consolidation and judicial independence in Bulgaria. POLITICS Capital leads wit»»»

French energy major TotalEnergies on Friday said it would invest in a Kazakhstan-based onshore wind and energy storage project, valued at $1.2 billion, and plans to sell the produced electricity to the country's government under a 25-year agreement signed in 2023. The Mirny project, which is schedu»»»

Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Sept. 15, 2025, for questioning over unfair stock trading allegations. File Photo by Yonhap Prosecutors said Friday they have rejected a police request for an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, cha»»»

The Director of the National Housing and Real Estate Development Programme, Faisal bin Dardaf, held a meeting last Tuesday (21 April) with the Korean Ambassador to discuss resuming and reactivating stalled housing projects to ensure their completion according to approved plans. The meeting emphasiz»»»

The African Development Bank reports that it concluded a three-day workshop with Libya’s Tripoli based Ministry of Transport to define the roadmap for implementing a strategic transport sector study aimed at supporting the country’s economic recovery. Held at the Bank’s North Africa regional office»»»

Dubai: For many residents in the UAE, stories of opportunity, safety, and belonging are deeply personal. But this Dubai-based choir is bringing those stories to life through music. Dubai Camerata Singers has released “Shukran, UAE: A Tribute of Gratitude,” a non-commercial video built around a chor»»»

Doha, Qatar: The 11th round of the 9th edition of Qatar Equestrian Tour - Longines Hathab kicked off at the main arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation (QEF) yesterday. The three-day 11th round began with the Amateur Round at a height of 100cm, followed by the Silver Round at a height of 130cm, w»»»

President of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Qatar Olympic Committee H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani met with Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China H E Feng Fei, Governor of Hainan Province H E Liu Xiaoming, and Secretary of the Sanya Municipal Committ»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions stood at SR12.3 billion ($3.2 billion) in the week ending April 18, boosted by a 9.9 percent surge in hotel spending. According to the latest Saudi Central Bank data, hotel spending was among the few categories to record gains during the week.»»»

Doha: Qatar Navigation (Milaha), the industry-leading provider of maritime and logistics solutions in the region, announced a strategic realignment of its business segments. As part of this initiative, Milaha has restructured its operational and financial reporting segments to align more closely wi»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar witnessed a total value of transactions across various payment systems worth QR150.910bn with total number of transactions reaching 70.964 million in March 2026. The recent data from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) highlights notable shifts in the country’s payment ecosystem, with s»»»

The National Council of the Yes, Bulgaria party, which is part of Democratic Bulgaria in its CC-DB coalition with Continue the Change, has adopted a decision tasking the party with proposing a formal coalition agreement to its partners in CC-DB, the party’s press office announced Friday. According »»»

NICOSIA: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday it was in “everyone’s interest” for stability to return to the Middle East, as the spillover of the Iran war rattles the global economy. “It is in everyone’s interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world’s economies to b»»»

Doha: The world marks World Book and Copyright Day (WBCD) on April 23, an annual observance established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to celebrate books and authors and recognise their contribution to cultural progress, intellectual development, an»»»

Doha, Qatar: In line with its ongoing efforts to enhance community awareness and promote a culture of prevention, the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Juvenile Police Department, organised an awareness exhibition at Villaggio Mall. The exhibition aimed to instill positive behavioural values»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Centre for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) continues to advance its mission of empowering senior citizens across Qatar through an integrated vision focused on inclusion, accessibility, and active participation in society. In an interview with Qatar TV, Salem Hussein Al-»»»

RIYADH: Saudi riyal-denominated government sukuk is approved for inclusion in the J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Government Bond Index and the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index. According to a statement, J.P. Morgan confirmed that Shariah-compliant bonds from the Kingdom will »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has reinforced its commitment to human rights and the empowerment of persons with disabilities through a comprehensive package of initiatives and streamlined measures implemented during the first quarter of 2026. This effort reflects the Minist»»»