Lebanon to press Israel to halt attacks on journalists, medics during Washington talks
BEIRUT: Lebanon will formally urge Israel to immediately halt attacks on journalists and paramedics during US-sponsored talks in Washington, a day after an Israeli strike killed a Lebanese reporter and wounded another in southern Lebanon. An official source told Arab News that the demand was added »»»
Senate passes resolution to begin budget reconciliation to fund DHS - UPI.com
Senate Republican Leader John Thune, R-S.D., helped the Senate pass a bill to begin the budget reconciliation process early Thursday Morning. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans were up all night voting, eventually adopting a budget reconciliation pack»»»
French, UK defense chiefs eye 'real progress' in Hormuz plan
Britain and France Thursday voiced hope that a military plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz was coming together and would succeed in restoring trade flows through the vital passage. At a two-day meeting in London, a dedicated operational planning group on Wednesday presented a decision brief to mi»»»
Saudi Arabia tops key global rankings in GEM entrepreneurship report
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has secured top rankings in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025-2026 report, reflecting a highly competitive environment and reinforcing its position as a premier hub for entrepreneurship. The Kingdom led all high-income economies in entrepreneurial finance, highlighting t»»»
Belgrade Tower observation deck opens at ceremony attended by Vucic, Alabbar
BELGRADE - A 360-degree observation deck on top of Belgrade Tower, situated in the Belgrade Waterfront complex, was opened on Thursday at a ceremony also attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Eagle Hills founder and CEO Mohamed Alabbar. Accessed via lifts directly from the Galerija mal»»»
Democrats in the US Coalesce Against “Israel” Amid Deepening Party Shift: WSJ - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Democrats in the US Coalesce Against “Israel” Amid Deepening Party Shift: WSJ 23-04-2026 17:07 PM WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19: U.S. Sen. B»»»
US military says it seizes another oil tanker associated with Iran
DUBAI: The US military on Thursday seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Iran a day after its paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Defense Department released video footage of U»»»
Bangladesh measles crisis deepens as child deaths reach 194
DHAKA: Bangladesh has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases has exceeded 28,000, government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children have died from the disease every day for the past week. Five childr»»»
Defying Hezbollah, Israel and Lebanon start talking
For the first time in decades, Israeli and Lebanese civilian officials sat across a table in Washington and began talking. The discussions—convened in the shadow of a wider war with Iran, mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and given a 10-day ceasefire window by Donald Trump—are truly histo»»»
Are Damascus and Hezbollah headed for confrontation?
Since the fall of the Assad regime in Syria on 8 December 2024, the country’s border with Lebanon has been subject to an unprecedented mobilisation, with Damascus ramping things up in recent weeks by sending heavy reinforcements to the frontier to confront Hezbollah’s smuggling operations. Under As»»»
Round 2: Lebanon-Israel talks inch forward
Today (23 April), the US hosts the second round of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington. The first meeting of these diplomats on 14 April was significant, not because it was the first direct legal contact between senior officials of these states since 1993, or because th»»»
Mojsilovic: Security situation in Serbia stable
BELGRADE - Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic says the security situation in Serbia is stable but that certain challenges and risks do exist, above all, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija, and noted that the Serbian Armed Forces are fully capable of executing a»»»
Lebanon decries Israeli demolition of homes in areas occupied after ceasefire
BEIRUT: Spread across a hillside of southern Lebanon, the tiny village of Beit Lif had been almost entirely flattened. Once home to a few thousand people, nearly every house had been reduced to piles of concrete by Israeli military demolitions. “They were demolishing it gradually until they reached»»»
Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,109
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Thursday, losing 135.40 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 11,109.59. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.02 billion ($1.6 billion), as 45 of the stocks advanced and 212 retreated. Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel mar»»»
US military says it seizes another oil tanker associated with Iran
The U.S. military on Thursday seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratcheting up a standoff with Iran a day after its paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Defense Department released video footage of U.S. f»»»
What Does the Inclusion of Saudi Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Index Mean?
Saudi Arabia’s debt market is set for a strategic shift in early 2027, following J.P. Morgan’s announcement that local-currency bonds will be included in its global emerging markets bond index. The move represents a vote of confidence in the Kingdom’s structural reforms and is expected to open the »»»
Bangladesh measles crisis deepens as child deaths reach 194
Dhaka: Bangladesh has recorded 194 child deaths due to measles in an outbreak that began last month, while the number of suspected child cases has exceeded 28,000, government data showed on Thursday. Between three and five children have died from the disease every day for the past week. Five childr»»»
Mesarovic meets with top BYD executives in Shenzhen
SHENZHEN,- Serbian Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Adrijana Mesarovic met with top executives of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD in Shenzhen on Thursday to discuss active inclusion of Serbian automotive companies in a sustainable supply chain of a BYD factory in Szeged, Hungary, due to »»»
Sri Lanka Plans to Pay for Russian Oil in Chinese Yuan - Reports
NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Sri Lanka is planning to pay for future imports of Russian crude oil in Chinese yuan, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Thursday, citing the country's new energy minister, Aruna Karunatilake. The discussions on the matter are still ongoing, the minister said. "We expect t»»»
US Navy secretary exits administration effective immediately
US Navy Secretary John C. Phelan has stepped down in an abrupt move announced by the Pentagon without any public explanation or indication that his exit was linked to the naval blockade of Iran. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that Phelan was “departing the administration” at on»»»
58-year-old woman killed in bear attack in Poland
Warsaw: A 58-year-old woman was killed by a bear in Southeastern Poland on Thursday, Pawel Giba, press officer for the District State Fire Service Headquarters in Sanok, told AFP. A report received by the fire department "indicated that in the village of Plonna a woman was allegedly attacked by a b»»»
Salam says Lebanon won't sign any agreement without Israel's full withdrawal
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has urged the Trump administration to pressure Israel to scale back its demands and end its military invasion of the country. In an interview with the Washington Post, Salam said Lebanon could not sign any agreement that does not include a “full withdrawal” of Israeli for»»»
Independent Arabia wins top Fetisov prize for Egypt adoption-brokers investigation
LONDON: Independent Arabia has won a Fetisov Journalism Award prize for its investigation into an adoption-brokers network in Egypt, adding to the outlet’s growing list of honors since its launch in 2019. Journalist Salah Labban won the 2025 prize in the civil rights category for his investigation,»»»
Adwan decries parliament inaction over war decisions, says LF to have a major stance later
MP George Adwan said Thursday at a press conference held by the Strong Republic bloc in parliament that "what happened over the past two years is that a certain faction dragged Lebanon into a war in support of Gaza, and the result was the destruction of Gaza and hundreds of thousands of martyrs. Th»»»
Five new sheep pox cases recorded in two weeks
Five new cases of the deadly livestock disease sheep pox have been recorded in the second fortnight of April, authorities said Thursday, while a total 486,666 animals have been culled since the epidemic started. The Rural Development ministry said 2,152 cases of sheep or goat pox have been recorded»»»
UK agrees ban on cigarette sales for people born after 2008
London: Both chambers of Britain's parliament have approved a bill that would ban children aged 17 and under from buying cigarettes during their lifetime. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to stop anyone born after January 1, 2009 (now aged 17) from taking up smoking. Health minister Wes Streeting ca»»»
Cricket’s battle not to be overshadowed by the IPL
On April 25, the Indian Premier League will be halfway through its 19th edition. Coverage of it dominates the Indian-owned and based cricket media. Last week, Harsha Bhogle, one of its long-serving commentators and journalists, declared that the IPL “has to be one of the greatest sporting phenomena»»»
Journalist Gabriela Naplatanova Elected to Chair Council for Electronic Media
Journalist Gabriela Naplatanova has been elected to chair the Council for Electronic Media (CEM). She was nominated for the position by the previous leader, Simona Veleva, and by member Kadrinka Kadrinova. During a CEM meeting on Thursday, Naplatanova was also supported by Prolet Velkova, while Gal»»»
MOL plans to retain Pancevo refinery for long term if it acquires NIS
BUDAPEST - The Hungarian oil firm MOL said on Thursday it would retain the Pancevo oil refinery for the long term if it became the majority owner of the Serbian oil company NIS. MOL said the refinery had a very important strategic role in ensuring stable and uninterrupted energy supply. "MOL's obje»»»
Ali Azaizeh shines for Al-Shabab to set international sights
BARCELONA: A feature of Jordan’s rise to footballing prominence over the past two years has been their fearsome attacking triumvirate. Stade Rennais’ Musa Al-Taamari might win all the plaudits but his partners in crime, Ali Olwan and Yazan Al-Naimat, scored the goals that delivered World Cup qualif»»»
Some 21.2% of Bulgaria's Population Lived below Poverty Line in 2025
In 2025, the national poverty line in Bulgaria was set at BGN 866.67 per person per month, with 1,368,700 people, or 21.2% of the population, living below it, according to data published on Thursday by the National Statistical Institute. Compared with the previous year, the poverty line increased b»»»
US–Iran war clock: May 1 deadline puts Trump under pressure
As the United States edges closer to a critical May 1 deadline in its war with Iran, a decades-old law is quietly becoming one of the most consequential forces shaping the next phase of the conflict. Nearly eight weeks after Washington joined Israeli strikes against Iran, President Donald Trump fac»»»
GCC female workforce participation exceeds 39%, hits 7.3m
RIYADH: Female labor force participation across Gulf Cooperation Council countries climbed to 39.3 percent in 2025, as employment gains and falling joblessness signal steady progress in the region’s workforce diversification efforts. The number of employed women rose to 7.3 million in 2025 from 5.7»»»
Haaretz: Prolonged War, Failing Command Drive Israeli Army Looting in South Lebanon
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that regular and reserve soldiers in the Israeli army have been looting civilian property from homes and shops in southern Lebanon, with the knowledge of their commanders and without any prevention or accountability. Citing testimonies, the Israeli paper said »»»
Egypt sets LE4 trillion revenue target in 2026/27 budget
Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk affirmed that the new fiscal year 2026/2027 budget aims to meet citizens’ basic needs, improve services, and support economic activity. During his presentation of the financial statement for the 2026/2027 draft budget before the House of Representatives on Wednesday,»»»
Media Review: April 23
The results of the April 19 parliamentary elections and the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov dominate Thursday’s news media. POLITICS & ELECTION RESULTS Dnevnik.bg has an article about the news members of Parliament who were elected on April 19. The 52nd National Assembly w»»»
Official talks between IMF mission, Serbian delegation begin in Belgrade
BELGRADE - Official talks between an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and representatives of the Republic of Serbia began with a plenary meeting at the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) on Thursday. The Serbian delegation is headed by NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic, who is also Serbia's gov»»»
Lulu Chairman assures food security in meet with ministers
Lulu Group Chairman M.A. Yusuff Ali held a meeting with Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef and Minister of Investment Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif. During the meeting, Ali briefed the ministers on the steps taken by Lu»»»
Doctors Assess Mladić’s Condition as Serious; Legal Request for Transfer Expected
Serbian General Ratko Mladić is in the most severe condition he has ever been in, according to assessments by Serbian doctors who examined him in the detention unit of the Hague tribunal, his son Darko Mladić said in a statement to SRNA, stressing that the authorities in the Hague have effectively »»»
Women leaders on navigating crisis and uncertainty
When uncertainty hits, leadership stops being a title and starts showing its true shape. At the the Tristar presents Limitless: The UAE Power Women’s Forum in association with Gulf News, held at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, five women leaders cut through the noise on what it really takes to »»»
Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in upcoming World Cup, FT reports
A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s»»»
NOC Chairman Suleiman meets representative of Nigeria’s Aiteo oil company – winner of exploration bid in Block M1, Murzuq Basin
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman, Masoud Suleiman, revealed yesterday that he had met with representatives of Nigerian company Aiteo, one of the companies that won the public bidding round for exploration, securing Block M1 in the Murzuq Basin. During the meeting, they discussed the »»»
Lebanon and Israel to resume rare direct talks in Washington to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel were set to begin a second session of direct talks in Washington on Thursday to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and plans for future negotiations between the two neighbors with a long history of hostile relation»»»
Turkish Parliament Passes Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Under-15s
Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15, state media reported. The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity. Its passage comes a week after a 14-year-old»»»
US–Iran talks: Can a deal secure Gulf interests this time?
Amid clear signs of uncertainty and the continued “arm-wrestling”-style negotiations between the United States and Iran, the sudden decline in what only a few days ago was described as an imminent agreement or settlement to end the war between the two sides, mediated by Pakistan, raises many fundam»»»
Senate Republicans again block Democrats' bid to limit war powers - UPI.com
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a fifth Democrat bid to curb President Donald Trump's ability to wage war with Iran. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo April 23 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans have again blocked the Democrats from curbing President Donald Trump's ability to wage war»»»
UK Budget Deficit for 2025/26 Narrows to Six-year Low
Britain's budget deficit for the last financial year narrowed to a six-year low as a percentage of economic output although borrowing for March alone exceeded forecasts, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics reported 132.0 billion pounds ($178.1 billion) of public sec»»»
US says China used ‘intimidation’ to block Taiwan leader’s Africa trip
WASHINGTON: The United States slammed China’s “intimidation campaign” on Wednesday after several African countries were reportedly pressured by Beijing to derail an official trip by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te by revoking overflight permits. Taiwan announced Tuesday that Lai was postponing his »»»
Half of Argentina's children still poor as austerity bites
More than half of children and adolescents in Argentina were living in poverty in 2025, with nearly a third going without adequate food, according to a report by the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), underscoring the uneven social impact of President Javier Milei's austerity-driven economic o»»»
Military use of Caspian Sea is intolerable, says Kazakhstan’s leader
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 22 called on countries to refrain from using the Caspian Sea for military purposes. Tokayev did not name any particular countries in his appeal, though since Russia lau»»»