Trump says Israel, Lebanon have agreed ceasefire, invites Aoun and Netanyahu to White House
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a ceasefire Thursday, and said he was trying to set up the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the two countries. Following what he called "excellent" phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Leb»»»
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»»»
Tension, Veiled Threats Mark al-Hayya’s Meeting with US Official in Cairo
Cairo is seeing renewed diplomatic momentum on Gaza, with mediators working to narrow gaps between Hamas and Israel, alongside the United States and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza at the Board of Peace. A meeting in Cairo on Tuesday brought together Hamas chief negotiator Khali»»»
Hezbollah MP says group will respect ceasefire if Israel stops attacks
Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi told AFP on Thursday that the Lebanese group would respect a ceasefire with Israel announced earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump if Israeli attacks on the militants stopped. "We in Hezbollah will cautiously adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that it i»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
They splurged for Coachella tickets; They got scammed instead
Matt Rossi spent about $1,700 on StubHub for access to the first weekend of Coachella, which wrapped up Sunday, traveling from Manhattan to the California desert for the popular annual music festival. He received a wristband (the festival’s form of ticket) in the mail with a handwritten note from h»»»
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»»»
Pentagon says 13 ships turned away from Strait of Hormuz blockade - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz since in began on Monday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. bloc»»»
Meghan Markle claims to be 'most trolled person' in world
Sydney: Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle claimed Thursday she has been "bullied and attacked" on social media every day for a decade and was "the most trolled person in the entire world". The 44-year-old former American actress made the comments during the couple's four-day tour of Australia, as t»»»
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»»»
Russian Missile Strikes Would Bury EU’s Drone Scheme for Ukraine Instantly - Expert
The key vulnerability in this plan lies in the gap between the European assembly of the "carcasses" and the Ukrainian installation of the "brains,” suggests military journalist Aleksey Borzenko, deputy chief editor of the Literary Russia newspaper. Speaking to Sputnik, Borzenko argued that the arra»»»
Bayern fans apologise after photographers injured at Real game
Munich, Germany: Bayern Munich supporters have apologised after several photographers were injured when fans stormed over barriers at the end of Wednesday's home Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. With scores level in the tie, Bayern's Luis Diaz and Michael Olise both scored late i»»»
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»»»
Trump aims to “rewire” global oil flows away from Hormuz, with Europe set to be hit hardest, expert says
US President Donald Trump is making “a big move towards controlling the marginal barrel of oil,” attempting to shift the world’s energy focus from the Persian Gulf region to the Gulf of Mexico, “where oil tankers are now lining up,” geopolitical analyst Tom Luongo told RT in an interview on Wednesd»»»
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth faces impeachment articles over Iran war
A US lawmaker has introduced six articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over actions tied to the war on Iran. The resolution, submitted earlier this week by Democratic Representative Yassamin Ansari and backed by eight Democratic co-sponsors and several anti-war groups, outli»»»
New Dubai law: Parents liable for kids’ scooter misuse
Dubai: Parents in Dubai could soon be held legally responsible for their children’s unsafe use of electric scooters, under a new draft law aimed at curbing rising safety risks on the roads. The proposed legislation—prepared by Dubai Police in coordination with key partners including the Roads and T»»»
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»»»
Qatar Airways expands global network to over 150 destinations
DOHA: Qatar Airways announced it is expanding its international flight network, with services to over 150 destinations from 16 June 2026, connecting more passengers to more of the world this summer. The carrier said in a press statement that the updated schedule, valid until 15 September 2026, intr»»»
If Iran Refuses US Proposal, Israel Vows 'Even More Painful' Strikes
Israel's defense minister warned Iran on Thursday against rejecting a US proposal focused on renouncing "nuclear armament" and vowed to stage "even more painful" strikes on new targets if it did so. "Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear ar»»»
Israel vows 'even more painful' strikes, if Iran refuses US proposal
Israel's defense minister warned Iran on Thursday against rejecting a U.S. proposal focused on renouncing "nuclear armament" and vowed to stage "even more painful" strikes on new targets if it did so. "Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear »»»
Lula Says Trump Has 'No Right' to Threaten Countries
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized US President Donald Trump, saying the US leader has "no right" to threaten other nations, in an interview published in Spain on Thursday. Lula's comments come after Trump this month warned that a "whole civilization will die" in Iran if the c»»»
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 »»»
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 »»»
Pakistan: Lebanon Part of Broader Ceasefire
Pakistan stressed on Thursday that Lebanon remains part of the ceasefire agreement in place between the United States and Iran, stressing that stability in Lebanon is essential for the success of peace talks in the region. “Lebanon, in our interpretation, is part of the broader ceasefire,” Foreign »»»
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 »»»
Dana Nae Popa (pastel): Clients are looking for clarity, perspective and ideas that can make a real difference
In our recently launched series of interviews dedicated to the MarComm industry, BR sat down with Dana Nae Popa, Owner & Managing Director pastel and President Asociatia pastel and talked about the agency celebrating 20 years, top moments during this time, clients and what they are looking for, tre»»»
Pope blasts ‘tyrants’ ravaging the Earth during his visit to Cameroon
Bamenda: Pope Leo XIV blasted the “handful of tyrants” who are ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, as he preached a message of peace Thursday in the epicentre of a separatist conflict considered one of the world’s most neglected crises. Leo travelled to the western Cameroon city of Bamenda, w»»»
Roxana Memetea (DDB): In a world where everyone can produce quickly, the role of the idea is more important than ever
In a new series of interviews launched today, BR set down with Roxana Memetea, Managing Director DDB, and talked about her wishes for 2026, both for the agency and the advertising industry, clients and what they are looking for, trends and many more. By Romanita Oprea How did you start the year / W»»»
Distance learning to continue for some UAE schools on Monday
Dubai/ Sharjah: As UAE schools prepare for the gradual return to in-person learning from Monday, April 20, some schools have informed parents they will not be reopening their campuses on that date — while certain schools have made physical attendance compulsory for students who travel by private tr»»»
Sig Sauer CEO Ron Cohen visits Cugir to built partnership
His itinerary included Cugir, Alba County, and Bucharest, with the objective to assessing the potential for industrial partnerships with Romanian defense manufacturers and opening a series of bilateral discussions with relevant industry and institutional stakeholders. The visit has three concrete o»»»
Women’s seats, bigger India Parliament: What’s changing?
India is moving towards one of the most significant changes to its parliamentary structure since independence, with plans to expand the size of Parliament while reserving one-third of seats for women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched the move as a “historic step” to empower women and reshap»»»
US Treasury Starts Operation 'Economic Fury' to Maximize Pressure on Iran - Hegseth
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Treasury is launching Operation "Economic Fury" against Iran to maximize economic pressure on the country, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Thursday. "At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at Treasury are launching Operation 'Econ»»»
Watch: Falling ice chunk crashes through roof, lands on living room couch - UPI.com
April 15 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles County supervisor is calling for a Federal Aviation Administration investigation after a chunk of ice crashed through the roof of a house. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared photos on social media showing the dirt-covered ice chunk that crashed through »»»
Justice Ministry Proposes Legal Safeguards against Abusive Lawsuits Targeting Public Participation
The Justice Ministry announced Thursday that it has introduced a set of proposed amendments to the Civil Procedure Code aimed at strengthening protections against abusive lawsuits, commonly known as SLAPP cases (from "Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation"). These cases are typically used»»»
Qatar Airways expands global network to over 150 destinations
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways is expanding its international flight network, with services to over 150 destinations from June 16, 2026, connecting more passengers to various destination across the the world this summer. The updated schedule, valid until September 15, 2026, introduces new routes and in»»»
Kyrgyzstan’s nuclear choice: Without it, the country risks staying in the dark - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan’s energy system is undergoing a deep transformation amid rising demand and deteriorating infrastructure. In an interview with 24.kg news agency, Kubatbek Rakhimov, an expert on infrastructure projects in Central Eurasia and head of Applicata Center for Strategic Solutions, explained why »»»
Automobile market in Kyrgyzstan grows by 50 percent since start of 2026 - | 24.KG
In the first quarter of 2026, the turnover of wholesale and retail trade, as well as automobile repair, in Kyrgyzstan amounted to 465,267.6 billion soms. Compared to 2025, this figure increased by 12.1 percent, the National Statistical Committee reported. Automobile market The most active growth wa»»»
Hopes for deal to end Iran war grow, but nuclear issues unresolved – Ya Libnan
Share: Israeli soldiers next to artillery vehicles near the Israel-Lebanon border, in northern Israel, April 15, 2026. REUTERS/Florion Goga Optimism grew on Thursday that the Iran war may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator having made a breakthrough on “sticky issues”, a source said, alt»»»
Live updates- Israel-Lebanon leaders will talk today, Trump says – Ya Libnan
Share: Photo- Israel claims killing a key member of Quds force in Lebanon. Iran’s IRGC is reportedly commanding Hezbollah war with Israel according to Lebanese government sources Lebanon earlier cast doubt on Donald Trump’s claim that the leaders were due to hold talks On Wednesday night in the US,»»»
Russia Has Been Living Under Illegal Sanctions for Years, Has Learned to Minimize Impact - Kremlin
"We have already learned to act in a way that minimizes the consequences of such measures for our interests. We will continue to do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US would not extend licenses that temporarily allowed purchases of Russ»»»
In Lebanon Shelters, Women Care for Tiny Babies, Face Pregnancy
Mariam Zein cradled her 11-week-old son on a mattress on the floor where she and her family have sheltered near Beirut since the Israel-Hezbollah war upended her young family's life. "I was really excited when I was in my ninth month of pregnancy... I never thought he'd be born and there'd be war,"»»»
Iran considering petrochemical imports after Israeli strikes hit output
Iran may be forced to ramp up imports of petrochemical products to supply feedstock for downstream industries after US-Israeli air strikes hit its main production hubs earlier this month, a government spokesperson said, in remarks carried by state news on April 16. »»»
Iran considering petrochemical imports after Israeli strikes hit output
Iran may be forced to ramp up imports of petrochemical products to supply feedstock for downstream industries after US-Israeli air strikes hit its main production hubs earlier this month, a government spokesperson said, in remarks carried by state news on April 16. »»»
Lebanon Ceasefire Deal Could Take Effect This Week - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Amid mounting US pressure to calm the Middle East, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon could go into effect as soon as this week, Lebanese officials have told news outlets. A truce between Israel and the Lebanese-based movement Hezbollah could come into force once Israeli grou»»»