Venezuela unblocks some censored news sites
Rights groups welcome step, warn many independent news sites stay blocked Venezuela has unblocked some news sites that had been censored for years, its telecom regulator said Thursday, just as US-backed political transition talks were set to resume. Caracas censored hundreds of websites under presi»»»
Inside the Dubai playbook: How Apparel Group’s Nilesh Ved is using Carrefour to crack India’s complex retail market
Inside Ved’s high-speed bid to make Carrefour India’s next one-stop destination Dubai: There is a particular kind of energy that follows Nilesh Ved around, the sort that comes from a man who married off his daughter 45 days ago and is now, without missing a beat, opening one of the biggest Carrefou»»»
At least 48 dead in Nigeria after consuming drink suspected to contain methanol, authorities say
Nigeria’s methanol poisoning tragedy exposes risks of unregulated local drinks ABUJA, Nigeria: At least 48 people have died and around 100 others are receiving treatment in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic concoction suspected to contain methanol, officials said on Thursd»»»
The Debate - The Ceuta effect: how far will Europe's anti-migrant backlash go?
As the United States threatens Europe with more tariffs and eyes Greenland, as Russia tests the continent’s resolve over Ukraine, as the planet overheats, where do citizens sense the biggest threat? In her Wednesday state of the EU speech, the Commission president addressed Ursula von der Ley»»»
US targets Iran’s crypto lifeline: BitBank sanctioned over alleged IRGC, Hormuz payments
Operation Economic Outcast zeroes in on Tehran’s growing use of digital assets The US has sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchange BitBank and its alleged network, accusing the platform of moving hundreds of millions of dollars to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and processing pay»»»
Business - French fishermen to end blockades over fuel prices
French fishermen have agreed to lift their blockades at fuel depots and ports including Nice, after talks with the government over financial aid. They say soaring fuel prices since the start of the war with Iran are pushing them to the brink. Also in the segment - India could be hit by fresh US tar»»»
Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan
US President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to cut trade with the European Union after the bloc proposed to make Canada its first ever associate member. "I think it's laughable," Trump told reporters when asked about the plan. "If they do that, if I think it's at all a hostile act, I will put»»»
Russia and China veto US proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran
US push to extend Iran sanctions watchdog fails as Russia and China wield veto UNITED NATIONS: Russia and China vetoed a United Nations resolution Thursday that would have authorised UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions that were reimposed against Iran last year over its nuclear program. The UN »»»
Russia and China veto US proposal for UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions on Iran
US push to extend Iran sanctions watchdog fails as Russia and China wield veto UNITED NATIONS: Russia and China vetoed a United Nations resolution Thursday that would have authorised UN experts to keep monitoring sanctions that were reimposed against Iran last year over its nuclear program. The UN »»»
Qatar finalised preparations for 81st UNGA session: Al Ansari
QNA Doha Qatar has finalised preparations for high-level participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81), which begins this September at the UN headquarters in New York. Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr»»»
MoJ, Qatar TV launch drive to enhance legal awareness
QNA Doha In cooperation with Qatar Television, the Ministry of Justice launched a programme under the title of “Rule of Law,” as part of a partnership aimed at enhancing legal culture and spreading awareness of rights, duties, and legal procedures related to the daily lives of citizens and resident»»»
Sheikha Hind calls for global coalition to advance social development through sport at QF-Wilton Park Dialogue
Tribune News Network West Sussex, UK Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, vice-chairperson of Qatar Foundation, has called on international sporting, government, policy, development, and civil society leaders to join a global coalition focused on harnessing sport as a driver of social d»»»
Two global rights covenants constitute pivotal documents: Qatar at Human Rights Council
QNA Geneva The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva participated on Thursday in a high-level panel discussion marking the 60th anniversary of the two International Covenants on Human Rights, held under Agenda Item Three»»»
UDST, Sasol sign MoU to advance sustainability, research, innovation
Tribune News Network Doha The Universityof Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and Sasol Middle East and India (Sasol) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for collaboration across areas of mutual interest, with a focus on sustainability, decarbonisation, appl»»»
Aspetar laboratory earns seventh consecutive CAP re-accreditation
Tribune News Network Doha Aspetar Laboratory has secured re-accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for the seventh consecutive two-year cycle, reinforcing its position as a trusted diagnostic partner for elite international athletes. CAP accreditation is globally recognised a»»»
Philippines: From 15-year phone waits to a telecom 'revolution': How the back of PLDT’s monopoly was broken
How one 'Executive Order' helped break PLDT’s grip on Philippine telecommunications MANILA: Today's young Filipinos are constantly hooked to the web with their gadgets. It was not always been the case. Yes, the technology has evolved; but so did the rules. And that's what happened in the Philippine»»»
Philippines: Oil, gas basin surveys revived after 46 years
₱2.8B project will map 2 basins to attract investors, boost oil and gas exploration Manila: The Philippines is restarting large-scale mapping of its oil and natural gas "basins" after more than four decades, with a new survey aimed at identifying potential domestic energy resources and attracting p»»»
EU Social Media Law: What would change for children?
Strasbourg, France: The EU laid out plans Thursday for strict age limits for children to access social media, games and AI assistants -- and on forcing companies to make platforms safe before minors use them. The rules for platforms would include a ban on addictive features, so-called endless scrol»»»
Qatar, Türkiye discuss strengthening education cooperation
DOHA: Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater received a telephone call from Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye HE Yusuf Tekin. During the call, the two ministers reviewed the existing cooperation between Qatar and Türkiye in th»»»
Türkiye's road to COP31: From Ankara’s zero-waste ambitions to a greener Black Sea
There are easier ways to explain climate policy than standing beside a landfill outside Ankara. But there may be few more effective ones. Over four days in September, the Road to COP31: Sustainable Future International Media Programme took us journalists from Türkiye’s capital to the Black Sea city»»»
Off-duty Sharjah Police officer saves family holiday with late-night rescue
Officer leaves home on weekend to print renewed driving licence hours before Europe trip Sharjah: A Friday night call for help turned into a race against time for a UAE family heading to Europe, after a car rental company refused to accept the traveller’s newly renewed digital driving licence. With»»»
Why Israel wants more one-ton bombs from the U.S. and why the sale is controversial – Ya Libnan
Share: Palestinians walking in front of buildings partly destroyed by the Israeli bombing of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, in December 2023.Credit…Yousef Masoud for The New York Times The Trump administration plans to deliver 60,000 of the powerful munitions at a time when opposition is growing i»»»
Gaza documentary 'NAZA' sparks political storm, threats against directors in Israel
The award-winning documentary "NAZA" featuring anonymous military sources speaking about Israel's mass killing of civilians in Gaza has sparked a political firestorm in Israel. The film's directors and their families have received a wave of threats, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced»»»
'Stalemate' in Lebanon: Hezbollah justifies weapons, citing Israeli occupation and ongoing attacks
Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Dr Filippo Dionigi, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol. According to Dr. Dionigi, the central obstacle to Hezbollah’s disarmament is not simply the military capacity of the Lebanese state, but the absence of a po»»»
Shehadeh highlights economic reforms, investment opportunities in London Conference
AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Economic Affairs Muhannad Shehadeh, alongside Jordan Securities Commission Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Emad Abu Haltam, participated in the J.P. Morgan Emerging and Frontier Markets Opportunities Conference in London from September »»»
Licensed building areas rise 4.7% in first seven months — DoS
AMMAN — The total area of licensed buildings in Jordan reached 5.84 million square metres during the first seven months of 2026, up 4.7 per cent from 5.58 million square metres during the same period of 2025, according to the Department of Statistics (DoS).A total of 14,361 building permits were is»»»
Erdogan to sidestep Turkey’s constitutional term limits in early 2028 vote, adviser says
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to run in an early election in 2028 in order to circumvent the constitutional term limits he would face if he serves out his full current term, a top adviser said Thursday. Under Turkey's constitution, parliament can trigger early elections given »»»
Health Committee Approves Bill Extending Public Procurement Rules to Private Hospitals
The parliamentary Health Committee approved at first reading a bill amending the Public Procurement Act, submitted by Progressive Bulgaria MP Georgi Iliev and a group of MPs. The bill seeks to introduce requirements aimed at ensuring greater transparency, accountability and competitiveness in the s»»»
Bulgaria Mentioned in Highly Positive Context in von der Leyen’s Speech, President Iotova Says
Commenting on Wednesday’s speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President Iliana Iotova said in an interview for bTV on Thursday that she is proud of what she heard. "What I heard and, as a Bulgarian, cannot help but feel proud of, is that our country was mentioned in an exc»»»
On Second Anniversary of Israeli “Pager Massacre”: The Wounded Affirm Pursuit of Resistance Path
On the Second Anniversary of the Israeli Pager Massacre, the Wounded sent a message to affirm steadfastness and allegiance to the Resistance path, command and community. What follows is the full text of the message: On the second anniversary of the epic of patience and blood, when betrayal wore the»»»
Estithmar Holding announces 48.68% stake transfer in Shahba Bank to Masaref Holding, a subsidiary of Estithmar Capital
DOHA: Estithmar Holding QPSC, listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately USD 5bn, announced the completion of the transfer of a 48.68% stake in the share capital of Shahba Bank to Masaref Holding LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Estithmar Capital, Estithmar Ho»»»
Estithmar Holding announces completion of 48.68% stake transfer in Shahba Bank to Masaref Holding, a subsidiary of Estithmar Capital
Doha, Qatar: Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C., listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately USD 5 Bn, announced the completion of the transfer of a 48.68% stake in the share capital of Shahba Bank to Masaref Holding LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Estithmar Capital, »»»
Thunderstorms expected Thursday night over north and centre
TUNIS, Sept. 17, 2026 (TAP) - Thunderstorms are still expected Thursday night over the north and centre. Showers will be locally heavy over western regions, particularly the north of Sfax in the early evening, partly cloudy elsewhere.The wind will...»»»
Ivory Coast cracks down on illegal gold mining
Abidjan: Ivorian authorities on Thursday announced measures to eradicate illegal gold mining across the West African country within six months through tougher surveillance and penalties. Illegal gold mining harms the environment, resulting in water and soil contamination, and serves as a source of »»»
Israeli occupation forces arrest 6 Palestinians south of hebron in West Bank
Occupied Jerusalem: Israeli occupation forces arrested six Palestinians on Thursday following an attack by settlers on them in Khallat al-Hummus area, south of Yatta in the Hebron Governorate of the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that a group of armed settlers attac»»»
Emirates, Medical Tourism Association ink partnership to capture industry growth
The move will help grow the airline's footprint in the medical tourism sectors Dubai: Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) signaling a strategic move to grow the airline's footprint in the medical tourism sectors. The agreement, signed on the »»»
EU Arctic Strategy Puts Security and Military Power at the Center
The EU’s Arctic policy is becoming increasingly important amidst global competition driven by both climate change and the region’s strategic significance. Melting Arctic ice is opening new maritime transport routes, facilitating access to abundant natural resources, and creating conditions for expa»»»
Reallocation Underway at State Intelligence Agency, Not Linked to Funds from Vacant Positions, Chair Gechev Says
A redistribution of resources is underway at the State Intelligence Agency (SIA), but it is not related to funds that had been allocated but remained unused due to vacant positions, SIA Chair Antoan Gechev said on Thursday. He was speaking before the parliamentary Committee for Oversight of the Sec»»»
Budapest workers’ November salaries could be at risk without government deal
Budapest says it may be able to cover October salaries, but November pay could be at risk if the city fails to reach an agreement with the government over its finances. The warning comes after the capital repaid a HUF 67 billion (EUR 185 million) bank loan and faces another major payment in October»»»
A cat mistaken for a pet leads scientists to a new wild species in Bolivia
Doha, Qatar: Scientists have identified a new species of wild cat living in Bolivia’s cloud forests, marking the first time a living cat species has been formally described by science in more than a century. The newly identified feline, named Leopardus tilcayo, or the tilcayo cat, lives in the Yung»»»
Why Israel wants 60,000 one-tonne US bombs — and why the deal is controversial
$2.8b deal would replenish depleted stocks as concerns grow over use in populated areas Dubai: The United States is preparing a massive new weapons package for Israel that would supply it with 60,000 one-tonne munitions, replenishing stocks depleted by years of fighting across the Middle East — but»»»
Real Madrid's Mbappé draws criticism from far right over Ceuta t-shirt controversy
Real Madrid's forward Kylian Mbappé has been heavily criticized by Spanish and French far right politicians for refusing to fully wear a t-shirt supporting residents of Ceuta, a Spanish territory bordering Morocco grappling with a migration crisis. Mbappé said he wore the t-shirt partially rol»»»
Grain collection reaches 11 million quintals in 2025-2026 season
TUNIS, Sept. 17, 2026 (TAP) - Grain quantities collected during the 2025-2026 season are estimated at 11 million quintals, including 8.1 million quintals of durum wheat, which will cover the market needs until January 2027, CEO of the Grain...»»»
Russian Central Bank Challenges EU Regulation Blocking $230Bln Claim Against Euroclear
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Central Bank on Thursday challenged an EU regulation that prevents it from recovering 200 billion euros ($229.8 billion) from the Belgium-based Euroclear depository, which has indefinitely frozen Russian sovereign assets. Earlier in the day, the Russian regulator said»»»
Sayyed Al-Houthi: Yemeni People Confront Ongoing Aggression and an Unjust Blockade
Leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, affirmed that the victories achieved—with the help of God—come within the framework of the Yemenis’ just cause. In a speech addressing the latest developments, Sayyed Houthi stated that the Yemeni people are confronting ongoing ag»»»
English village votes to leave UK over migrant housing plan
An English village has overwhelmingly voted to “secede” from the UK in protest over government plans to house more than 1,200 male migrants at a nearby former military base. The referendum in Piddington, Oxfordshire has no legal force but drew nearly 92% turnout. The result announced on Wednesday s»»»
SANS Undergoing Internal Restructuring, Chairman Plamen Tonchev Says
The State Agency for National Security (SANS) is undergoing internal restructuring, including the removal of a large number of management positions, SANS Chairman Plamen Tonchev told here on Thursday the Parliamentary Committee for Control of the Security Services, the Application and use of the Sp»»»
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max arrives tomorrow: What’s different for UAE buyers this year
Launch-day guide: prices, stock, colours and key upgrades for UAE buyers Dubai: The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will officially go on sale in the UAE tomorrow, September 18, with buyers heading to Apple stores to get their hands on Apple's latest flagship smartphones. Pre-orders opened on S»»»
Civil partnership from abroad not enough to stay in EU country, according to ECJ preliminary opinion
A new opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) says that a civil partnership with an EU citizen is not enough in itself to get residence status in an EU country. The opinion – which is usually followed by the court – from advocate general Laila Medina on Thursday (September 17), was in resp»»»
Water Assets in Hungary: 3 Reasons the Value Stays Hidden
For decades, the premium property market has operated on a single premise: land is value. That is true, but it is increasingly incomplete. Hungary’s natural capital extends far beyond farmland. Beneath the Carpathian Basin lies a resource that is rare in Europe, attracts growing attention from glob»»»