Amir leaves Muscat
MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani left Muscat, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of O»»»
Glimpses of Bush's Iraq debacle appear in Trump's foray into Iran
In a speech in Riyadh in May 2025, US President Donald Trump appeared to criticise his White House predecessors, including fellow Republican President George W. Bush, for invading Iraq in 2003, bringing down Saddam Hussein’s regime, and trying to rebuild the Iraqi state. Trump’s barb was at “so-cal»»»
Pope Leo XIV touts peace in area hit by separatist fighting in Cameron - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV waves to supporters as he leaves after his visit to the Ngul Zamba orphanage in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday. Pool photo by Alberto Pizzoli April 16 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV spent his second day in Cameroon in the city of Bamenda, the center of separatist fighting, calling for pe»»»
Bulgaria Opens Consulate in Turkiye's Izmir
The Council of Ministers Thursday adopted a decision to open a Bulgarian consulate in Turkiye, headed by an honorary (non-career) consular officer, with its seat in Izmir and a consular district covering the territories of the provinces of Izmir, Sakarya, Bilesik, Eskisehir, Kocaeli, and Kutahya. T»»»
Trump speaks with President Aoun, announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, to begin on Thursday at 5pm ET. Why it matters: The U.S. has been pressing for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for several days, while working in parallel on a potential peace deal with Iran. “I just had e»»»
Delcy Rodríguez hires U.S. lobbyist for possible presidential campaign - UPI.com
The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, speaks at a pro-government event in Caracas on Monday to commemorate National Dignity Day, which marks the return of the late former president Hugo Chavez to the presidency after being ousted in a coup. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA April 16 (UPI)»»»
Cabinet Approves Agreement with International Bank for Economic Co-operation
At a meeting here on Thursday, the Council of Ministers approved an agreement with the International Bank for Economic Co-operation (IBEC) settling the mutual obligations arising from the country’s withdrawal from the agreement on IBEC's organization and activities and from its membership in the IB»»»
Bulgaria Opens Honorary Consulate in Mozambique's Maputo
The Council of Ministers Thursday adopted a decision to open an honorary consulate in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, and to appoint Boris Atanasov as honorary consul based in Maputo, with a consular district covering the entire country. Bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Mozambique are based»»»
From rekindled love story to ICE 'nightmare': France calls on US to release 86-year-old
The French government on Thursday said it was pushing for the release of an 86-year-old French citizen who has been detained by ICE since early April. Marie-Thérèse Ross, who is now widowed, moved to the US last year to marry her sweetheart from the 1950s. French officials have said they»»»
Growing discontent as 36 Democrats back Bernie Sanders’ bid to block arms sales to Israel
More than three dozen Democrats backed a bid by Senator Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to block US arms sales to Israel, reflecting growing unease over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conflicts in Gaza and Iran. The measures failed, opposed by Republicans, but underscored rising dissent within t»»»
Israel-Lebanon peace talks: Future negotiations depend on 'confidence-building measures'
Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Bilal Y. Saab, Senior Managing Director of TRENDS US.Former Pentagon Official in the first Trump administration. According to Saab, Lebanon is at a crossroads: the government is committed to reform, is fundamentally “pro-Lebanese” and rejects interference from e»»»
Middle East war live: Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that would come into effect at 5pm EST. Trump said he had earlier spoken with both Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Follow our liveblog for the latest upd»»»
Spotlight - Sudan civil war: Civilians caught in the deadly crossfire of a ruthless army-RSF power struggle
François Picard welcomes Dallia Abdelmoniem, Political / Media Analyst and Commentator on African and Middle Eastern affairs. Sudan is a war-torn nation unraveling in real time, warns Abdelmoniem. She says that we are not just witnessing a conflict between rival armed factions; it is a systematic w»»»
Press Review - Russia warns drone companies in Europe could be 'potential targets'
PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, April 16: We take a look at the latest coverage from the Russian independent papers. Next: a story about how new technologies are helping the elderly to combat loneliness. Also: a baby elephant has a similar story to that of Punch the monkey. Finally, why did a British»»»
Israel, Lebanon Agree to Begin 10-Day Ceasefire on Thursday - Trump
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed to begin a 10-day ceasefire on Thursday evening in order to achieve peace, US President Donald Trump said. "I just had excellent conversations with the Highly Respected President Joseph A»»»
US senators back Donald Trump’s arms sales to Israel
The US Senate has voted against two resolutions blocking American arms sales to Israel put forward by independent lawmaker Bernie Sanders. The resolutions received support from some 75% of Democrats during the votes on Wednesday, but still failed to pass as the Republicans almost unanimously reject»»»
BBC to cut roughly 10% of workforce amid budget pressures
British state broadcaster the BBC is set to cut between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs – about 10% of its 21,500 workforce. Interim Director General Rhodri Talfan Davies informed employees of the planned downsizing on Wednesday, citing “significant financial pressures... production inflation remains very hig»»»
Total of EUR 466 at Risk due to Delay of Anti-corruption and Prosecutor General Investigation Mechanism Legislation, Deputy PM Says
A total of EUR 466 million under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is at risk due to the failure to implement reforms related to anti-corruption legislation and the mechanism for investigating the prosecutor general, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for European Funding Maria Nedina s»»»
Mali: NIS licence due to be extended by end of day, MOL representatives to visit Belgrade
WASHINGTON - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, who is on a visit to Washington, said on Thursday he expected the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to extend an operating licence for the Serbian oil company NIS by the end of the day and announced that representatives»»»
US-Iran talks in Pakistan reportedly near breakthrough
The US-Iran talks being mediated by Pakistan to end the latest Middle East conflict are nearing a breakthrough, Al Jazeera has reported. The likelihood of a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program has improved significantly, the news outlet reported, citing Pakistani sources. Iran’s nuclear program has be»»»
Syria, Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation in transport sector
Damascus, April 16 (SANA) Syrian Minister of Transport, Yarub Badr, held a video meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, to explore ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in land and rail transport. Minister Badr emphasized the importance of developing regional connecti»»»
S. Korea tourist arrivals hit record high in Q1, up 23% on-year
South Korea recorded a first-quarter record of 4.76 million foreign tourist arrivals, up 23 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. The figure represents the highest first-quarter total on record, achieved despite geopolitical tensions in the Mid»»»
Voting Machines to Be Moved Friday Evening, Will Reach Polling Sites on Saturday
A voting machine was demonstrated to journalists here on Thursday at the warehouse where the devices are kept. On Friday evening, the voting machines will be transported to municipalities countrywide and are expected to reach the voting sections on Saturday, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy»»»
Djuric: Visit to Czechia exceptional, our friendship deeply rooted
PRAGUE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric wrapped up an official visit to Czechia, during which he met with Czech counterpart Petr Macinka and Chamber of Deputies President Tomio Okamura. At a working lunch hosted for him by Okamura, Djuric also held a discussion with other top-ranking officials of the Czec»»»
Amir leaves Muscat
Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani left Muscat on Thursday, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman. Also, present w»»»
Magyar begins dismantling Orbán’s legacy (four days after the election)
Our weekly series on Hungarian politics continues so we can report on developments after these historic elections and on events around the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: We may know the final election result on Saturday (18 April). Tisza’s victory has re»»»
UAE steps up global financial partnerships in Washington meetings
Dubai: The UAE has held a series of high-level meetings with global finance leaders in Washington, focusing on strengthening financial partnerships, expanding tax frameworks and reinforcing its role in supporting international financial stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»
Macinka: Czechia recognised so-called Kosovo under pressure
PRAGUE - Czech FM Petr Macinka said on Thursday the issue of Serbia's autonomous province of Kosovo-Metohija should be resolved through compromise and added that it was, above all, a Serbian and regional issue, rather than an international one, noting that Czechia should have acted more cautiously »»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine that 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»»»
Finland proposes 'civic knowledge' test for citizenship
Helsinki: The Finnish government on Thursday proposed that a test covering knowledge of Finnish society would be required for gaining citizenship, as the country continues to tighten its immigration policy. The proposed citizenship test -- to be completed in either of Finland's two main official la»»»
Syria Says Has Taken Control of All Bases Previously Operated by US Forces
Syria on Thursday said it had taken control of all military bases previously hosting US forces, who had long been in the country leading an international coalition against the ISIS group. The foreign ministry in a statement said it "welcomes the completed handover of military sites where United Sta»»»
IEA Chief Says Europe Has 'Maybe 6 Weeks or So' of Jet Fuel Left
Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday in a wide-ranging Associated Press interview, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a»»»
Indonesia to send fertiliser to Australia amid shortfall
Canberra: Australia has brokered a deal for Indonesia to supply 250,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Australian farmers facing shortfalls, officials said Thursday, as the Middle East crisis disrupts supply. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the deal, which fills 20 percent of the fertilise»»»
Dimitrieska-Kochoska attends IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings
Skopje, 14 April 2026 (MIA) – Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, is visiting Washington, D.C., USA from April 14 to 18 to take part in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). While in Washington D.C., the Ministry of Finance said»»»
South African politician Julius Malema sentenced to 5 years - UPI.com
President of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema greets the crowd at the party's final election rally in 2024. Malema was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for firing a gun into the air at a rally. He is appealing. File Photo by Stringer/EPA April 16 (UPI) -- South African politic»»»
Keir Starmer tells social media firms he is considering a child ban - UPI.com
Europe, Middle East and Africa President of Snap, Ronan Harris (L), and Wifredo Fernandez, director of global government affairs at X, leave No. 10 Downing Street in London on Thursday morning after meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss ways to protect children safe when they are on social»»»
EU spells out how Google must share data with rivals
Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission set out Thursday how it wants Google to make a wide range of data accessible to rival search engines in order to comply with the bloc's digital rules. The announcement forms part of amicable proceedings launched in January to ensure Google meets its obliga»»»
Syria welcomes complete handover of U.S.-held military sites
Damascus, April 16 (SANA) Syria’s Foreign Ministry welcomed the transfer of military sites previously operated by U.S. forces to the Syrian government, saying the move marks a step toward restoring state control over all territory. In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said the handover reflects»»»
Amir, Sultan of Oman discuss regional developments, de-escalation efforts
Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, discussed developments in the region amid rising regional tensions. The two sides met at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat, where they exchanged views on current developments, particularl»»»
Op-ed | Marcelo Castellanos (IFC): How sustainable logistics infrastructure can strengthen Romania’s role in European value chains
Industrial and logistics infrastructure is a quiet enabler of modern economies — and a critical foundation for job creation. From manufacturing and e-commerce to export competitiveness, high-quality logistics networks underpin productivity, resilience, and integration into global value chains that »»»
Djuric: Czechia a friendly country, we will work on advancement of cooperation
PRAGUE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday in Prague Serbia considered Czechia and its current government as friendly and noted that Serbia and Czechia were focusing on advancement of political, economic and cultural cooperation, besides cooperation on the European aspect and regional affair»»»
Lebanon's Aoun will Not Hold a Call with Israel's Netanyahu in the Near future, Three Lebanese Officials Say
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun will not hold a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future, three Lebanese officials told Reuters on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump said leaders of both countries would speak. Two of the Lebanese officials said that the Lebanese»»»
Prediction markets create forum for trading on non-public information - UPI.com
1 of 3 | The rise in prediction markets and an email to White House staff have lawmakers weighing how to regulate prediction markets and prevent government officials from trading using nonpublic information. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The rise in prediction mark»»»
Pakistani army chief in Iran to discuss new round of US talks
The influential chief of Pakistan's armed forces visited Iran to meet the head of Tehran's negotiators on Thursday, as Washington considers agreeing to another round of peace talks in Islamabad. Iranian state television showed Field Marshal Asim Munir meeting Iran's speaker of parliament, Mohammad »»»
Senate rejects effort to halt arms sales to Israel, but most Democrats vote to block them
More than three dozen Democrats supported an effort by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to block arms sales to Israel, signaling a growing discontent in the party with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the wars in Gaza and Iran. The two resolutions to block U.S. sales of bulldozers and »»»
Amir arrives in Muscat
MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman. HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival by HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, along with Deputy Prime M»»»
Hungary’s incoming PM Peter Magyar pledges crackdown on critical media
Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has pledged to suspend the news operations of the state broadcaster following two tense interviews he gave on Wednesday. Magyar’s Tisza party secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, effectively ensuring he will form the next go»»»
EU spied on Hungary’s Viktor Orban for years – former Slovak minister
The EU spy campaign that helped bring down Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a lesson to anyone who defies Brussels, former Slovak Interior Minister Vladimir Palko has warned. “What they did to Orban yesterday, they can do to you tomorrow,” he told the outlet ‘Marker’ on Monday. Orban’s Fide»»»
BSP Leader Zarkov: While Others Talk About Compensations or Promotions, We Talk About Reforming Entire Systems
While others are talking about compensations or promotions, we are talking about reforming entire systems, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Krum Zarkov said in Samokov on Thursday. He took part in the closing event of the election campaign of BSP – United Left for the Sofia region. "Unlike ot»»»
What should families do if they rely on school buses and cannot arrange alternative transport?
UAE schools are heading back to in-person learning from Monday, April 20, but the return looks different depending on which school your child attends. While some schools have told parents their campuses will not be opening on that date, others are requiring students who travel by private transport »»»