Trump's 'gold card' visa starting at $1 million granted to just 1 person so far, White House says
President Donald Trump's “gold card” visa, where a foreigner can shell out at least $1 million to legally live and work in the U.S., has been approved for one person, said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Thursday — appearing to fall a bit short of an earlier claim. After it launched in December, »»»
Hezbollah fires rockets at northern Israel – Ya Libnan
Share: President Trump meets with U.S., Israeli and Lebanese officials in the Oval Office on April 23. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Hezbollah said on Thursday it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to the country’s ceasefire “violations”, as Lebanon and Israel’s US ambassadors were set to»»»
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks – Ya Libnan
Share: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio standing behind him, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 23, 2026. SUMMARY Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a mee»»»
India accelerates transport electrification as fuel supply risks mount
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has shown how vulnerable India is in securing oil and gas supplies. The South Asian country is the world’s third-largest consumer of oil and imports about 85% of its demand. Prior to the conflict, nearly half of those imports passed through the Strait of Horm»»»
India accelerates transport electrification as fuel supply risks mount
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has shown how vulnerable India is in securing oil and gas supplies. The South Asian country is the world’s third-largest consumer of oil and imports about 85% of its demand. Prior to the conflict, nearly half of those imports passed through the Strait of Horm»»»
EIB Group accelerates Europe’s clean energy drive as part of €10 billion in new financing
BRUSSELS: The Board of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group approved a total of €10 billion in financing, including almost €2 billion for initiatives to expand Europe’s clean energy investments, ensure affordability and bolster competitiveness. The Board of the EIB endorsed loans to support the»»»
Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon extended by three weeks: White House
WASHINGTON: Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a meeting in the White House with top U.S. officials, President Donald Trump said. Trump’s post Thursday afternoon said that “High Ranking Representatives” of the two countries met with him, Vice President JD V»»»
Trump promotes new drug price deal with Regeneron - UPI.com
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in December 2025 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. Trump announced a drug price deal with drug company Regeneron on Thursday. File Photo by Will Oliver/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced a»»»
WHO says billions saw health gains in 2025 despite funding cuts
GENEVA: Despite significant funding cuts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was able to support significant national health gains for hundreds of millions of people in 2025, according to its annual Results Report released on Thursday. "The Results Report 2025 shows that with support from WHO and »»»
Meta slashes 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its workforce, as Microsoft offers buyouts
Meta is laying off about 8,000 workers, or about 10% of its workforce, the company said Thursday as it continues to ramp up spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and highly paid AI-expert hires. The company said it was making the cuts for the sake of efficiency and to allow new in»»»
Emirates Agriculture Conference & Exhibition 2026 highlights economic value of local products, investment in food industries
AL AIN: On the second day of the Emirates Agriculture Conference and Exhibition 2026, discussions centred on strengthening national food industries, creating value chains for local products, and attracting investment in agriculture. These efforts aim to boost the competitiveness of Emirati products»»»
Trump considers a taxpayer takeover of Spirit Airlines and would aim to resell carrier
NEW YORK: President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines with the intent of reselling the struggling budget carrier after oil prices drop. The president confirmed his continued interest in offering Spirit a financial lifeline after a lawyer t»»»
Trump says Lebanon and Israel agree to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by 3 weeks
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday. Trump said the meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon to the United States went "very well." The meeting was t»»»
Germans turned into ‘cash cows’ for Ukraine – Sahra Wagenknecht
Veteran German politician Sahra Wagenknecht has lashed out at Chancellor Friedrich Merz after a €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan to Ukraine, which Berlin had been actively promoting, was approved by the bloc. On Thursday, the European Council announced that the interest-free loan has been »»»
White House to host Israel, Lebanon talks Thursday - UPI.com
President Donald Trump is expected to briefly take part in negotiations between Israel and Lebanon's ambassadors at the White House on Thursday. File Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- Diplomats from Israel and Lebanon were expected to hold talks at the White House on Thurs»»»
How Georgetown Qatar community shows up forone another amid crisis
Daphne Soriano (Class of 2028) Doha When Farkhunda Fazelyar (GU-Q’26) left Doha for a class trip to Cape Town, she expected an immersive academic experience. The war reshaped her trip almost immediately. “The strikes started on the first day of the programme,” she said. “I remember going through th»»»
Sheikh Joaan’s leadership strengthens Asian unity: OCA Director-General
Tribune News Network Doha Husain Al Musallam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has said that the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026 represents a significant milestone in the journey of Asian Olympic work, under the leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Presi»»»
Customs and Qatar Aviation Services to ease personal import clearances
QNA Doha The General Authority of Customs and Qatar Aviation Services on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in general customs clearance for personal imports, aiming to improve service quality, simplify procedures, expedite transactions, and enhance the effic»»»
Industrial Security honours outstanding personnel
Tribune News Network Doha As part of commitment to promoting a culture of professional excellence, the Ministry of Interior’s (MoI) General Directorate of Industrial Security honoured a number of its personnel from various affiliated departments for outstanding efforts in fulfilling their duties an»»»
Where We Are Going Today: ‘No Moo’
With the fun slogan of “No moos allowed: Plant-based drinks made from your favorite seeds,” and its vibrantly-colored packaging, this emerging Saudi-made brand is making an ethical splash into mugs and cups throughout the Kingdom. Currently available in four flavors, each with its own singular-colo»»»
SFDA chief advances food safety regulatory integration in New Zealand
AUCKLAND, New Zealand: Dr. Hisham Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, held a series of strategic bilateral meetings with international regulatory counterparts on the sidelines of the 7th International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) in Auckland. Aljadhey held talks with Katie P»»»
Al Rayyan crowned GCCL winners after defeating Saudi Al Shabab 3-0
Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan crowned Gulf Champions League (GCCL) winners for the first time in their history after defeating Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the final of the 32nd edition, held at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. The goals for Al Rayyan were scored by Spaniard David Garcia, Serbian Aleksandar Mit»»»
OCA Director-General commends Sheikh Joaan's efforts in ensuring continuity of sports cooperation
Sanya, China: Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Husain Al Musallam commended the efforts of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, President of both the OCA and the Qatar Olympic Committee, whose vision has contributed to strengthening the unity of Asian countries and ensuring the »»»
Al Rayyan eclipse Al Shabab 3-0 to lift Gulf Club Champions League trophy
DOHA: Impressive Al Rayyan blanked Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia 3-0 to lift the Gulf Club Champions League 2025-26 season trophy at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday.The highly entertaining final was tight-fisted for an hour before The Lions roared to humble their rivals, who were laid low after t»»»
Is the Iran conflict sidelining the unresolved Gaza crisis?
LONDON: As the US-Israeli war with Iran consumes diplomatic attention and rattles global markets, many fear Gaza is once again being pushed to the margins. More than six months into a ceasefire that has seen continued violations, hundreds of thousands in Gaza are living in dire conditions, with aid»»»
Trump to attend Israel-Lebanon talks on ceasefire extension: White House
WASHINGTON: Lebanon and Israel were set to begin a second session of direct talks at the White House on Thursday to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and plans for future negotiations between the two neighbors with a long history of hostile»»»
Syria repatriates bodies of 76 victims of Israeli attacks in Lebanon
LONDON: Syrian authorities have repatriated the bodies of 76 nationals killed during Israeli attacks in Lebanon since early March. The General Authority for Borders and Customs confirmed that 180 bodies of victims killed by Israeli shelling have been transported across the Syrian-Lebanese border. A»»»
How augmented reality is transforming ancient Arab heritage sites into immersive visitor experiences
DUBAI: Tourists visiting some of the Arab world’s most iconic archeological sites are increasingly seeing things that are no longer there — on purpose. Across some of the region’s most prominent heritage sites — from Petra and AlUla to major museums in Cairo — immersive technologies are beginning t»»»
Foreign ministers of Muslim, Arab countries condemn Israeli violations of religious sites in Jerusalem
RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and several other Muslim countries on Thursday condemned repeated violations of the legal status quo of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. The continued storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli settlers and e»»»
Saudi Arabia confirms coaching change as Donis replaces Renard ahead of World Cup
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia made its coaching change official Thursday by firing Herve Renard and replacing him with Georgios Donis less than two months before the start of the World Cup. The 56-year-old Donis, a former Greece international, joins from Al-Khaleej, his fourth Saudi Pro League club. “He has»»»
Iraq Ruling Alliance Nears Critical Constitutional Deadline
Iraq’s Coordination Framework is set to meet on Friday, the final day of the constitutional deadline to name a prime minister-designate, as disputes persist among Shiite factions over both the selection mechanism and the final nominee, threatening to push the country into a new constitutional crisi»»»
DOJ Inspector General to audit release of Jeffrey Epstein files - UPI.com
Todd Blanche is the acting U.S. attorney general since the firing of Pam Bondi. The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General will do an audit of the Justice Department's release of the files of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 23 »»»
OpenAI says new model adept at making AI better
San Francisco, United States: OpenAI released a new model it touts as its best yet for handling research work like making improved versions of itself, as rapid-fire releases by AI rivals pick up pace. GPT-5.5 was billed as a "new class of intelligence" and comes just months after the launch of its »»»
Georgetown Qatar community shows up for one another amid crisis
DOHA: When Farkhunda Fazelyar (GU-Q’26) left Doha for a class trip to Cape Town, she expected an immersive academic experience. The war reshaped her trip almost immediately. “The strikes started on the first day of the program,” she said. “I remember going through the District Six Museum when a Stu»»»
Attempt to smuggle amphetamines foiled by Saudi authorities in Eastern Province
DAMMAM: The General Directorate of Narcotics Control, in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, has foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,733,648 amphetamine pills concealed within a shipment of printing paper at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam. The intended recipients were arrested in Riya»»»
OpenAI says new model adept at making AI better
SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI released a new model it touts as its best yet for handling research work like making improved versions of itself, as rapid-fire releases by AI rivals pick up pace. GPT-5.5 was billed as a “new class of intelligence” and comes just months after the launch of its predecessor. “W»»»
Cruise Saudi appoints acting CEO
JEDDAH: Cruise Saudi, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has announced the appointment of Taha Omar Nazar as acting CEO. The board paid tribute to outgoing CEO Lars Clasen, crediting him with laying the groundwork for Aroya Cruises and expanding the company’s cruise tourism fo»»»
Will Syria’s Parliament Meet on Sharaa’s Timeline?
Holding the first session of Syria’s parliament, the People’s Assembly, on the timeline set by Ahmed al-Sharaa in Antalya will require faster efforts to select representatives from Hasaka, as the Supreme Elections Committee moves to resolve key issues delaying the launch. Al-Sharaa said at the Anta»»»
Kuwait airport to resume flights after weeks-long airspace closure
Kuwait has reopened its airspace at Kuwait International Airport starting this evening after a nearly two-month closure, with flights set to resume gradually, the state-run news agency Kuna said on Thursday. The move marks the start of a phased restart of operations following a temporary precaution»»»
Iran war's fertiliser shock sets the stage for a slow-burning food inflation crisis
The Iran war's most insidious economic aftershock may not be measured in oil price spikes or shipping costs, but in the price of the nutrients that grow the world's food. A sharp and sustained surge in fertiliser prices, d»»»
Italian UNIFIL troops replace statue of Jesus destroyed by Israeli soldier in Lebanon
Italian troops serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have replaced a statue of Jesus destroyed by an Israeli soldier in a southern Lebanese village, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said, ANSA reported on April 23. »»»
Italian UNIFIL troops replace statue of Jesus destroyed by Israeli soldier in Lebanon
Italian troops serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have replaced a statue of Jesus destroyed by an Israeli soldier in a southern Lebanese village, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said, ANSA reported on April 23. »»»
Israel's Lebanon offensive threatens to unravel US-brokered gas deal and block Beirut's energy future
Israel's military occupation of southern Lebanon is threatening to upend a landmark 2022 US-brokered maritime border agreement and derail Lebanon's best remaining hope of tapping its offshore gas wealth. On April 19, the I»»»
Italian UNIFIL troops replace statue of Jesus destroyed by Israeli soldier in Lebanon
Italian troops serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) have replaced a statue of Jesus destroyed by an Israeli soldier in a southern Lebanese village, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said, ANSA reported on April 23. »»»
Israel's Lebanon offensive threatens to unravel US-brokered gas deal and block Beirut's energy future
Israel's military occupation of southern Lebanon is threatening to upend a landmark 2022 US-brokered maritime border agreement and derail Lebanon's best remaining hope of tapping its offshore gas wealth. On April 19, the I»»»
VIDEO: US Navy seizes Iran-linked tanker Majestic X
US forces boarded and seized the sanctioned oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean overnight, the third Iranian oil vessel intercepted by the US military in five days, the US Department of War said on April 23. »»»
MOSCOW BLOG: EU unblocks Ukrainian loan, twentieth sanctions package, as Kyiv builds a robot army
Phew. That was an effort. EU leaders met in Brussels yesterday and signed off on releasing the €90bn loan for Ukraine that will keep it in the fight with Russia for another two years. They also passed the twentieth sanctions package on Russia, however, that was gutted of some of its most painful me»»»
From South Asia to MENA: Can Pakistan Now Become the Gulf's Back Office?
The World Bank has quietly reclassified Pakistan from being part of South Asia to being part of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. What seems like a bureaucratic tweak actually opens the door to regional financing and investment mandates.Pakistani start-ups and IT companies gain formal»»»
Gradual Escalation in South Lebanon Complicates Diplomatic Efforts
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in southern Lebanon are running up against a gradual escalation on the ground, as fighting expands beyond the border area following four days of Israeli violations, with Hezbollah beginning limited attacks on Israeli forces deeper inside Lebanon and along th»»»
Kuwait reopens airspace starting this evening
Kuwait: Director of the Public Authority of Civil Aviation of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, announced Thursday, April 23, 2026, the reopening of airspace at Kuwait International Airport starting this evening. He told KUNA that in coordination with relevant inte»»»