Wildfires spread towards northern Japan town
Tokyo: Flames from raging wildfires in northern Japan were spreading towards the centre of a town Friday, April 24, 2026, with authorities urging more than 2,500 people to evacuate their homes, media reports and the government said. As of Friday morning, fires in the mountainous areas of Iwate regi»»»
Hungary’s economic recovery expected to remain sluggish
Hungary’s economy is expected to grow only modestly this year, with consumption remaining the main driver of expansion, while investments are likely to pick up more meaningfully only in 2027, according to the Equilibrium Institute (ESI). For 2026, the Equilibrium Institute (ESI – Institute for Equi»»»
Fidesz prepares for complete renewal after defeat
Chancellery Minister Gergely Gulyás answered journalists’ questions after consultations on preparations for the next legislative term, addressing the causes of the election defeat and what comes next. Asked whether Viktor Orbán would also step down as leader of Fidesz, Gulyás referred to the party »»»
South Korea prosecutors seek 30 years for Yoon over drone flights into North
SEOUL: South Korean special prosecutors requested a further 30-year term on Friday for jailed ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol for allegedly sending military drones into North Korea in 2024. Yoon is accused of ordering the incursion to help create the pretext for his failed declaration of martial law tha»»»
Trump threatens Starmer with ‘big tariff’ over tech tax, Telegraph reports
US President Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on Britain if Prime Minister Keir Starmer does not drop the digital service tax, The Telegraph reported on Friday, citing an interview with the president. Trump told The Telegraph he would “put a big tariff on the UK” if it did not drop its»»»
Romanian PM installs interim cabinet, announces reforms after PSD withdrawal
Romania’s Social Democratic Party (PSD) withdrew its six ministers from Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s cabinet on April 23, triggering a shift to an interim government and deepening the political standoff at the centre of the ruling coalition, according to a PSD statement. The move comes as the»»»
Saudi Arabia, Switzerland Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Protection of Investments
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Minister of Investment Fahad Al-Saif have participated in the Saudi-Swiss Investment Roundtable Meeting in Jeddah, which was followed by the signing of an investment agreement between the two countries. The meeting took pla»»»
Canadians prefer joining the EU to getting absorbed by the US. Both options suck
As a Canadian who has spent 17 years working in Europe, I feel qualified to speak on behalf of the few remaining brain cells still on active duty (that would be just 40% of all Canadian neurons, according to a recent poll): Canada has zero interest in joining the European Union. All some Canadians »»»
Cabinet of Ministers to form portfolio of 200 major investment projects - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan intends to compile a portfolio of 200 major investment projects. A government working group led by Special Representative of the President for Special Assignments Bakyt Torobaev has completed regional visits, during which initiatives proposed by local authorit»»»
King Charles to visit US as political ties fray under Trump
London: King Charles III heads to the United States on Monday with transatlantic tensions over the Iran war and the Epstein scandal's long shadow threatening to intrude on the landmark visit. Both Buckingham Palace and the British government have said the four?day trip will honour the historic rela»»»
EU approves a $106 billion loan package to help Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto
Brussels: The European Union on Thursday approved a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) loan package to help Ukraine meet its economic and military needs for two years after oil began flowing through a key pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia, ending months of political deadlock. The EU also approved a new »»»
Lebanon and Israel: negotiations and the end of Hezbollah
The meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington on 23 April, held under US sponsorship, was the first such encounter in decades. Despite fierce opposition and violent threats from Iran and Hezbollah, Beirut pressed ahead with what was an exceptionally difficult decision. Leba»»»
UAE in food security 'golden age'
AL AIN: The Sharjah Department of Agriculture and Livestock stated that the current agricultural and food sector landscape is characterised by a wide range of service providers, research institutions, and development platforms, all working together to explore opportunities for integration. Dr Khali»»»
58-year-old Woman Killed in Bear Attack in Poland
A 58-year-old woman was killed by a bear in Southeastern Poland on Thursday, Pawel Giba, press officer for the District State Fire Service Headquarters in Sanok, told AFP. A report received by the fire department "indicated that in the village of Plonna a woman was allegedly attacked by a bear," he»»»
Soldier charged with using classified information to bet on Maduro capture - UPI.com
A U.S. Army soldier has been indicted on allegations of using his knowledge about the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to make profitable wages on Polymarket Photo via Donald Trump/Truth Social/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army special forces soldier who partici»»»
Mass Poisoning Suspected as 18 Wolves Die in Italian National Park
Italian authorities are investigating the deaths of at least 18 wolves and several other wild animals found in recent days in a national park, in what conservation groups say is one of the worst attacks on wildlife in Italy. The carcasses were discovered across several locations in and around the A»»»
Largest catch-up initiative delivers over 100 million childhood vaccinations
GENEVA: The Big Catch-Up (BCU), a historic multi-year, multi-country effort to address vaccination declines driven largely by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged 1 to 5 across 36 countries. More than 100 million doses of life-saving vaccines were dispatched, h»»»
Italy dismisses replacing Iran at the World Cup after suggestion by Trump official
ROME: Italian sports officials say four-time champion Italy is not interested in replacing Iran at the upcoming World Cup following a suggestion to that effect by a Trump administration official. Iran has not withdrawn from the World Cup, and the team is preparing to play in the US despite the war »»»
Oil prices rise, stocks mostly fall as US-Iran peace talks stall
Oil prices jumped on Friday as Iran vowed it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil is shipped, as long as the United States blocks its ports. The price of US crude oil WTI increased 1.23% to $97.03 per barrel early on Friday; Brent crude, the international sta»»»
Truth or Fake - Both Trump and Iran share false information about 8 women facing execution by the regime
This Wednesday Donald Trump claimed that out of respect for him, Iran had agreed to spare the lives of 8 young Iranian women facing execution. But he was quickly struck with accusations that the women were AI-generated. Iran gave conflicting information, both mocking the AI claims but also dec»»»
Federal officials charge US soldier with using classified intel to win over $400K bet on Maduro raid
WASHINGTON: A US soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announced Thursday. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part o»»»
US says Iran players welcome at World Cup amid Italy uproar
WASHINGTON: Iran’s footballers will be welcome at this year’s World Cup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday, distancing the US government from a proposal that Italy could take their place in the tournament. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Rubio denied that Washington had asked t»»»
Child vaccine catch-up drive on course to hit target: UN
GENEVA: The United Nations on Friday said a three-year effort to immunize children who missed routine vaccinations due to the Covid-19 crisis was on course to reach the 21 million target. The pandemic, which swept around the world in 2020, severely strained health systems and disrupted vaccination »»»
US soldier charged with using classified intel to win $400K Polymarket bet on Maduro raid
WASHINGTON: A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announced Thursday. Gannon Ken Van »»»
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, »»»
Friday Sermon, April 24, 2026: ‘Whoever betrays our homeland is not one of us’
First Sermon (Khutbah One) All praise is due to Allah, who has commanded fidelity and trustworthiness, and has forbidden treachery and betrayal. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah alone, without partner—Glory be to Him—“He does not guide the plan of the treacherous” (Q»»»
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»»»
Anthropic disputes Pentagon allegations in court
AI developer Anthropic insists it has no backdoor or “kill switch” for its Claude AI once it is deployed in classified Pentagon military networks, according to a new court filing. The US military and the tech firm found themselves embroiled in a policy dispute earlier this year, with the Pentagon i»»»
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»»»
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»»»
‘Smoking Gun’? Philippine lawmakers cite AMLC data showing billions in bank flows vs. Sara Duterte’s statement of assets, liabilities
Manila: Bank transactions worth billions of pesos linked to Vice President Sara Duterte did not appear to match the assets she declared annually, lawmakers said, citing records presented during House hearings on impeachment complaints. The disparity could be the “smoking gun” behind allegations of »»»
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 »»»
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»»»
CCQ and QSC sign MoU to advance innovation
Tribune News Network Doha Reflecting a shared commitment to integrating the roles of academic and scientific institutions across Qatar, the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) and the Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). It aims to strengthen collaboration in technic»»»
Qatar Tourism launches Nami Beach in Doha
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Tourism has announced the launch of Nami Beach, a new beachfront destination developed in collaboration with Loft A Trading and Contracting, introducing a refined seaside experience in the heart of Doha. Designed as a contemporary city escape, Nami Beach combines coa»»»
Trump says Israel and Lebanon agree to extend ceasefire by 3 weeks
Washington: President Donald Trump says 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 says the meeting between Israel’s and Lebanon’s ambassadors to the United States went “very well.” The meeting w»»»
QC explores investment prospects with Uzbekistan to boost ties
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Chamber (QC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Uzbekistan during a high-level meeting with Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Qatar HE Ashraf Khodjaev. The ambassador was received by Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Obaidli, QC Board Member and H»»»
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»»»
What the Palantir CEO’s ‘manifesto’ tells us about the changing face of war
A Palantir post citing CEO Alex Karp's book called for mandatory military service and closer ties between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon while criticizing "hollow pluralism" and warning of a new AI arms race. But Palantir is just one of the tech companies blurring the lines between Silicon Valley »»»
CBS refutes circular attributed to money exchange company as inaccurate
Damascus, Apr.24 ( SANA) The Central Bank of Syria ( CBS) said on Thursday that the circular attributed to a money exchange company is inaccurate, as it was issued before any official decision by the bank, and it included a claim that all remittances to be delivered in Syrian pounds, which is incor»»»
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»»»
Kuwaiti-American journalist detained for 52 days acquitted - UPI.com
April 23 (UPI) -- A Kuwaiti-American journalist was acquitted Thursday after he had been detained for 52 days in Kuwait for social media posts about the war in Iran, his family revealed. Ahmed Shihab-Eldin was arrested March 3, an attorney for his two sisters, Caoilfhionn Gallagher said in a statem»»»
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»»»
Half of Argentina's children still poor as austerity bites
More than half of children and adolescents in Argentina were living in poverty in 2025, with nearly a third going without adequate food, according to a report by the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), underscoring the uneven social impact of President Javier Milei's austerity-driven economic o»»»
Snow leopard habitat threatened by China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan rail project, argues research paper
The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway megaproject poses a threat to the habitat of the snow leopard in Kyrgyzstan, according to an in-depth report that is causing disquiet in European capitals. The concer»»»