US President Donald Trump said Lebanese and Israeli leaders will speak for the first time in decades on Thursday, while Pakistan said peace in Lebanon was essential for talks it is mediating between Washington and Tehran on ending the Iran war. The Lebanon conflict spiraled out of the US-Israeli wa»»»

Two streets in the heavily congested downtown Athens district of Kypseli have been closed to traffic since Wednesday afternoon, following a leak of liquid cement linked to construction work on Athens’ new metro Line 4. The leak is thought to have originated from works taking place between the under»»»

As southerly winds continue to blanket skies in many parts of Greece with dust from the Sahara Desert, health experts are revising public health warnings. The new guidelines issued by the Public Health Organization (EODY) expand the focus from vulnerable individuals already diagnosed with asthma or»»»

The Bulgarian Constitution is a stepping stone for Bulgaria’s development as a nation and a state, said National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan on Thursday in her address during celebrations of the Day of the Bulgarian Constitution in Veliko Tarnovo. The event, held at the Revival and Constituent Ass»»»

Santo Domingo: Heavy rains and flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti have killed at least 19 people and displaced thousands more on April 16, 2026, according to the latest toll by officials and the Red Cross. Powerful storms that began April 7 have continued dumping rain on the neigboring Ca»»»

Dubai: Tovino Thomas’ political drama Pallichattambi was UAE's Vishu release and naturally the expectations of a solid comeback were high. But if early reviews are anything to go by, this period drama isn’t exactly the rousing return fans were hoping for. He's in terrific form, but the story report»»»

Shanghai: A Chinese automaker has patented a toilet concealed beneath a sliding car seat that can be operated using voice commands, according to a government database. Electric vehicle company Seres received patent approval for its mobile latrine earlier this month, public records show. Get updated»»»

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»»»

Over 4 million people are set to be newly displaced around the world by the end of next year as donors step back from providing life-saving aid, the Danish Refugee Council said on Thursday. There are already some 117 million people forcibly displaced worldwide as the number of conflicts has surged »»»

Two U.S. nationals were sentenced to federal prison for helping North Korean operatives obtain remote IT jobs, the Justice Department said Wednesday. This photo from the Department shows North Korean IT workers that were allegedly part of a scheme to help Pyongyang fund its weapons programs. Photo »»»

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 »»»

Ghaziabad District, Afghanistan: In the jagged Hindu Kush in eastern Afghanistan, hundreds of men dug into the rocky bed of the Kunar River searching for a few grams of gold dust as an alternative source of income. At the foot of imposing peaks, some still covered in snow in April, they toiled near»»»

Pontianak, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities are searching for a helicopter with eight people on board after they lost contact with the chopper on Thursday, a rescue official told AFP. The helicopter, owned by local firm Matthew Air Nusantara, took off from the West Kalimantan province on the Borne»»»

Dubai: A striking fusion of science and creativity is taking centre stage in Amsterdam, where ancient fossils are being transformed into captivating works of art. The “Relics” exhibition at Art Zoo showcases nine pieces by creative duo Jaap Sinke and Ferry van Tongeren, blending natural history wit»»»

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»»»

DOHA: The Community Policing Department at the Ministry of Interior, in cooperation with the Behavioral Healthcare Center (Daam), organised a training workshop titled 'Building Positive Behavior Within the Family'. The workshop addressed several specialized topics in the field of behavioral health,»»»

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 bus veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in southern Ecuador Wednesday, killing 14 people and injuring at least 29, emergency officials said. The accident happened in the Molleturo area in the Andean province of Azuay, whose capital Cuenca is Ecuador's third most populous city, AFP repor»»»

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»»»

A three-year-old girl has suffered serious injuries after being attacked by a lion cub during a souvenir photo session at Egypt’s National Circus in the Agouza district of Giza. The incident occurred at the headquarters of the Artistic House for Folk and Performing Arts, widely known as the “Nation»»»

Dubai: UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has officially stepped into the UAE’s booming real estate sector through a strategic long-term partnership with DIA Holding, marking his first major venture in the region’s property market. The collaboration debuts with the launch of LuzOra Residences, a premiu»»»

The Labour Ministry is continuing its efforts to stop harmful practices involving pressure on vulnerable citizens through the social system, said caretaker Labour Minister Hasan in a televised interview on Thursday. The goal is to bring these practices to light so they are not repeated. Ademov adde»»»

A London dry gin from the “Milijaš” distillery in Srbac has won a gold medal at the prestigious international competition in Frankfurt, which featured more than 3,300 samples from around the world. In addition to the gold medal awarded at the “Frankfurt International Trophy”, “D Gin” also received »»»

Doha, Qatar: General Authority of Customs participated in the 17th meeting of the Executive Council of the Customs Union Authority of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held virtually, and chaired by President of the General Authority of Customs and Chairman of the Union’s Executive Council H E Ah»»»

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»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian border guard troops have been recruiting Colombians into the Ukrainian armed forces at the border with Poland, a source linked to the Colombian recruitment circles in Ukraine and the Middle East told Sputnik. "Once mercenaries reach the Polish-Ukrainian border, they are»»»

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»»»

A new public health initiative titled “Hayat” has been launched in Dubai, bringing together global expertise across pharmaceutical research, body composition technology, and clinical practice in a structured effort to enhance public understanding of obesity. The three-month initiative is supported »»»

Police in London arrested two people on Wednesday over an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in the north of the city, amid an upsurge in “antisemitic” incidents in Britain. The pair -- a 47-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man -- were detained in Watford, north of the capital, and are being hel»»»

The leader of Progressive Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, told election campaign meetings in Kyustendil (Southwest Bulgaria) and Pernik (West Bulgaria) that political circles have the “ill ambition” to discredit the elections because they realize they cannot win them, Progressive Bulgaria said on Thursday. »»»

Periods of change and disruption place leadership under sharper focus, testing the ability to respond with clarity, speed and conviction. Recent regional developments have created one of the most critical strains in recent times, emphasising the importance of firm response under pressure. To highli»»»

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»»»

UAE: Joyalukkas, the world's favourite jeweller operating across 12 countries with 190 showrooms worldwide, has unveiled its exclusive Akshaya Tritiya 2026 collections and cashback celebrations, offering customers an opportunity to invest in eternal radiance during the most auspicious day for jewel»»»

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»»»

Lebanon is "not aware" of any upcoming contact with Israel, an official source told AFP, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the leaders of leaders of Lebanon and Israel would speak on Thursday. "We are not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side, and we have not been informed of any »»»