This article was originally published on April 4, 2026 – French lawmakers are on Thursday set to debate a controversial bill that proposes labeling any implicitly expressed "hatred" against the state of Israel as anti-Semitic, making it a crime under the country’s terrorism laws»»»

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 Mo»»»

In the coming weeks, the streets of Bishkek will begin to visibly transform as the city prepares for one of its most colorful seasons. Municipal services have begun a large-scale planting of annual flowers that will decorate the capital all summer long. According to the press service of the City Ha»»»

Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his opposition to Taiwanese independence during a meeting with Cheng Li-wun, leader of Taiwan's pro-Beijing opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party. Her official trip to Beijing, the first such visit in a decade, sparked controversy in the self-ruled»»»

London: British no-frills airline EasyJet on Thursday said it expects to post a deeper first-half loss compared with one year earlier after the Middle East war sent jet fuel prices soaring. EasyJet said it expected a headline loss before tax of between GBP540 million and GBP560 million ($733 millio»»»

The Israeli military killed four Lebanese rescue workers and wounded six others in three consecutive, targeted strikes Wednesday, paramedic groups said, a stark illustration of the human cost of the Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon a day after Lebanon and Israel held historic talks in »»»

Central Asia is becoming one of the world’s most promising tourism regions. Cordula Wohlmuther, Regional Director for Europe of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, stated speaking at Turkmentravel 2026 conference. «Central Asia is today becoming one of the world’s most promising tourism »»»

US House Democrats introduced six articles of impeachment against Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing him of "high crimes and misdemeanors" including waging war on Iran without congressional approval. The impeachment resolution is led by Yassamin Ansari, a Democratic Congresswoman fr»»»

An opinion poll, conducted by Market Links and co-financed by bTV, indicates that five political formations would enter the new Bulgarian parliament, while four others remain near the 4% threshold, show the survey’s results, which were circulated to the media on Thursday. The national quantitative »»»

London, United Kingdom: United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer will hold talks on Thursday with representatives from social media firms to press them to do more to keep children safe online, as calls grow for a ban on under-16s using the platforms. "Today is about making sure social media compa»»»

On April 13, Maksat Tentimishov, Consul General of the Kyrgyz Republic in Yekaterinburg, received Alexey Kabanov, CEO of Voyager. During the meeting, the company’s CEO expressed gratitude to the Consulate General for its assistance, which resulted in the restart of production at Kadamdzhai Antimony»»»

Kyrgyzstan has begun conducting DNA testing within the country. This was announced during a meeting between the President and residents of Nookat district. The medical examinations will be conducted at facilities of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS). Previously, such tests were perfo»»»

Former deputy chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS), Timur Shabdanbekov, has been remanded in custody until June 13. This decision was made by the Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek on April 15. According to the court’s press service, Timur Shabdanbekov is ch»»»

A severe traffic accident resulting in fatalities has occurred on Balykchy—Ton road. According to preliminary reports, the driver of a passenger car lost control and crashed into a tree. A video from the scene of the accident is circulating on social media. The footage shows the victims. The exact »»»

A meeting of the Tripoli Libyan government team tasked with following up on the US State Department’s Investment Climate Report was held in Tripoli last Monday, pursuant to Prime Minister’s Resolution No. (593) of 2025. The meeting was attended by the team leader and Minister of Economy and Trade, »»»

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, reversing earlier declines, on skepticism that peace talks between the US and Iran will reach a deal to end the war that has bottled up oil output from the key Middle East producing region. Brent crude futures were down 26 cents to $94.67 a barrel at 0611»»»

A U.S. official says President Donald Trump would welcome an end to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict as part of a broader peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon but has not specifically asked for one. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Trump administration’s position d»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli Channel Kan: Around 04:00 on Thursday, a Hezbollah surface-to-surface missile landed in Atlit area, south of Haifa 16-04-2026 10:19»»»

Philip Morris International released its Value Report 2025, offering a holistic perspective on the company’s approach to sustainable value creation. The report marks the completion of PMI’s 2025 Roadmap, communicating achievements for each aspiration introduced by the company in 2020, and introduce»»»

Romania has made significant progress in the process of aligning with the standards of developed economies and joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), having already obtained 24 of the 25 formal opinions required within the OECD committees. The completion of the a»»»

The United States is discussing a possible second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and is optimistic about reaching a deal, U.S. officials said, as Tehran threatened to shut down Red Sea trade unless Washington lifted a naval blockade of its ports. A Pakistani delegation arrived in Tehran»»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar condemned and denounced the shooting incident that occurred in a school in Kahramanmaras province in the fraternal Republic of Turkiye, which resulted in deaths and injuries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated in a statement today the State of Qatar's firm stance ag»»»

Turkey: Turkey will hold funerals for nine victims killed in a school shooting by a 14-year-old, an attack that has sent shockwaves across the country, with authorities saying the suspect had referenced a US mass killer in a WhatsApp profile image. The attack in the southern province of Kahramanmar»»»

TotalEnergies expects a significant increase in first-quarter earnings from a strong trading performance, as well as in its upstream production and oil sales due to higher prices caused by the war in Iran, even as the conflict shut down 15% of the French group's overall production, it said on Thurs»»»

Australia will raise defense spending to 3.0 percent of GDP by 2033 as armed conflicts flare worldwide, Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday. The new commitment follows pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration for Canberra to boost military expenditure as a share of total a»»»

Turkiye: Turkiye will hold funerals for nine victims killed in a school shooting by a 14-year-old, an attack that has sent shockwaves across the country, with authorities saying the suspect had referenced a US mass killer in a WhatsApp profile image. The attack in the southern province of Kahramanm»»»

Natural gas remained the largest source of electricity generation in the United States, underscoring the fuel’s central role in meeting demand as utilities balance affordability, reliability and the shift toward cleaner energy. Nuclear power held steady as the second-largest source, according to En»»»

New York, April 16 (SANA) Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said transitional justice and redress for victims of crimes committed against Syrians form the foundation for building a new Syria. Speaking at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednes»»»

Turkish police said on Thursday they had ordered dozens of arrests for people accused of posting controversial content on social media after two deadly school shootings this week. "Arrest orders were issued for 83 individuals found to have engaged in posts and activities praising crime and criminal»»»

The US attorney’s office in Washington has requested that a federal appeals judge overturn convictions for members of far-right groups Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, who had been found guilty of seditious conspiracy over the January 2021 Capitol Hill riots. The members of the groups were granted »»»

The Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, announced that he has received official confirmation from the Government of the United States of America granting a waiver from the sanctions against Lukoil, allowing Romania to restart the Petrotel-Lukoil refinery, which, through this mechanism, will be able to»»»

The e-Mobility state aid scheme will include a new category of eligible expenses, namely investments in the production of energy from renewable sources and in storage systems, directly integrated with the recharging infrastructure, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Ciprian Serban, annou»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini has warned his side face an even greater challenge against Japan’s Vissel Kobe in their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah as they look to build on their dramatic Round of 16 triumph. “W»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) has unveiled a new design and upgraded format for the H H the Amir Basketball Cup 2025–2026 season, signalling a fresh push to elevate one of Qatar’s most prestigious domestic basketball competitions. The announcement was made at a press conference»»»

Doha, Qatar: Roger Guedes and Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in each half as Al Rayyan produced a commanding display to defeat Muaither 2-0 in the QSL Cup final at Al Bayt Stadium yesterday. The victory delivered Al Rayyan’s first trophy of the season and the first silverware for new coach Vicente More»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun hailed on Wednesday the “balanced and wise” efforts made by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, saying his endeavors have created an “atmosphere to support stability, which Lebanon appreciates as a source of pride”. In a post on media platform X»»»

Washington: David Pierson For much of the last two decades, China has maintained a delicate balance in its military relationship with Iran, offering often indirect assistance instead of arms sales. That approach is now drawing renewed attention after US officials said intelligence agencies were ass»»»

John Eastman, a former lawyer to President Donald Trump, was disbarred in California on Wednesday over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. File Photo by Michael Reynolds/EPA April 16 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court has disbarred John Eastman, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, ove»»»

Tisza Party chairman Péter Magyar announced on Wednesday that President Tamás Sulyok will entrust him with forming a government. Magyar spoke to journalists after consultations with the head of state at the Sándor Palace. Leaving the building, the politician said the president had informed him abou»»»

“If the Treasury continues its current practice regarding the solidarity contribution, salaries for 27,000 municipal employees may not be paid in May.” As Mayor Gergely Karácsony said at a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday, he has asked the Treasury in a letter to refrain from “placing anothe»»»

Dubai: Philippine authorities have warned that a new form of human trafficking is emerging, with Filipinos being lured with fake overseas employment offers and, in some cases, allegedly forces them into foreign military service upon arrival. The alert has been issued by the Inter-Agency Council Aga»»»

The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan announces the launch of a specialized call center for farmers and agricultural producers. The new service is designed to provide prompt information, practical assistance, and direct communication with the ministry. »»»

Dubai: Dubai Holding Real Estate and Emirates NBD have launched a new financing model that will allow buyers of off-plan homes in Dubai to secure mortgage approval earlier in the purchase process. Dubai Holding Real Estate and Emirates NBD have launched a new financing model that will allow buyers »»»

Kuwait: Primark, the international fashion retailer known for its affordable fashion and everyday essentials, has officially opened its second store in Dubai in partnership with Alshaya Group, at City Centre Mirdif. Arriving just two weeks after Primark’s highly anticipated UAE debut at Dubai Mall,»»»

The Dubai Civil Court of First Instance has ruled that property gifts made by a convicted embezzler to his daughter cannot be enforced against creditors, ordering the assets to be restored to his name to allow recovery of funds. The court found that the defendant, previously convicted of embezzling»»»

The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, together with ABank OJSC and Eldik Bank OJSC, announces the launch of an electronic queuing system for obtaining preferential loans. A tripartite agreement was signed between the ministry and partner banks»»»

Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare held talks in Washington with the leadership of US EXIM Bank on financing new strategic projects in energy and infrastructure, aimed at accelerating investments and strengthening Romania's role in regional energy security."I had another meeting in Washington with J»»»

Bogdan Ivan, the energy minister, who is on an official visit to the US, announced on Tuesday night that the main target was to make Romania the first country in the world where the World Bank finances the production of nuclear energy. “My task in Washington is clear: Romania must be the first coun»»»

It's been dubbed the "Arc de Trump." But now President Donald Trump's latest building project has an official name -- the "United States Triumphal Arch." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the formal title on Wednesday, saying the giant structure was being built to mark the 250th»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Center emphasised that celebrating Family Day in Qatar represents a significant national occasion to honour the deeply rooted values that form the core of national identity. It reflects the strength of close family bonds that underpin the cohesion of Qatari society, whi»»»