Norway said on Friday it would present a bill in parliament by year-end to ban children from using social media until they turn 16, making technology companies responsible for the task of age verification. Several European nations seeking to rein in children's ⁠use of social media ⁠after Australia »»»

Oslo: Norway said Friday, April 24, 2026, it will present a bill this year making it the latest country seeking to ban social networks for under 16s, adding that technology companies will be responsible for verifying the age of its users. "We are introducing this legislation because we want a child»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar witnessed a total value of transactions across various payment systems worth QR150.910bn with total number of transactions reaching 70.964 million in March 2026. The recent data from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) highlights notable shifts in the country’s payment ecosystem, with s»»»

Abu Dhabi: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of direct flights to Amman Civil Airport (ADJ) in Jordan, with the new service set to begin on May 1, 2026. The route will operate three times a week between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Amman Civil Airport, offering passenger»»»

The 13 candidates for Parliament, who stood simultaneously in two constituencies and were elected in both, have until Friday to determine the constituency which they will represent in the 52nd National Assembly, the Central Election Commission said. A total of 1,019 candidates ran in two constituen»»»

The National Council of the Yes, Bulgaria party, which is part of Democratic Bulgaria in its CC-DB coalition with Continue the Change, has adopted a decision tasking the party with proposing a formal coalition agreement to its partners in CC-DB, the party’s press office announced Friday. According »»»

The Israeli army targeted Friday the southern villages of Touline and Kherbet Selem despite residents returning home to their southern towns and villages after a 3-week extension of the ceasefire. Hezbollah said on Thursday it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to the country's ceasefire »»»

CTM360, a Bahrain-based cybersecurity company, showcased its global presence as a Platinum Sponsor at the FIRST Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Conference 2026, held in Munich, Germany. The event, organized by the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), brought together leading cyber»»»

The Tax Service officials in Kyrgyzstan have uncovered violations related to the illegal circulation of excisable products in Chui and Jalal-Abad regions. The agency’s press service reported. Tobacco products without excise stamps were found in a store in Kant town. More than 5,500 packs of cigaret»»»

A three-judge panel of the International Criminal Court has ruled there is enough evidence to try Rodrigo Duterte, seen here as the president of the Philippines in 2019, on charges of committing crimes against humanity. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- A three-judge pa»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan delivered a strong second-half performance to thrash Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab 3-0 in the final and lift the Gulf Club Champions League (GCCL) trophy at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday. David Garcia, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Roger Guedes scored in the second half to delight the»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Palestinian sources: Israeli occupation forces open heavy fire east of Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, torch a number of homes in th»»»

Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Ayatollah Sayyed Mujtaba Khamenei praised the powerful effect of national unity in the Islamic Republic, saying the Iranian nation’s solidarity has significantly undermined enemy ranks. “Due to the strange unity created among compatriots, a fracture has occu»»»

NICOSIA: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday it was in “everyone’s interest” for stability to return to the Middle East, as the spillover of the Iran war rattles the global economy. “It is in everyone’s interest for stability to return as soon as possible and for the world’s economies to b»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House on Thursday. Trump said the meeting between the ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon to the United States went "very well." The meeting was t»»»

Doha: The world marks World Book and Copyright Day (WBCD) on April 23, an annual observance established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to celebrate books and authors and recognise their contribution to cultural progress, intellectual development, an»»»

Doha, Qatar: In line with its ongoing efforts to enhance community awareness and promote a culture of prevention, the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Juvenile Police Department, organised an awareness exhibition at Villaggio Mall. The exhibition aimed to instill positive behavioural values»»»

Kamdesh,: Afghan villagers in isolated mountain areas, cut off from the world by the conflict with neighbouring Pakistan, finally saw relief this week after nearly two months without vital supplies. Some residents in the remote border village of Kamdesh, nestled in the peaks of Nuristan province, s»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Ex-Israeli DM Avigdor Lieberman: Once again, residents of the north are left to learn their fate through English-language news channels, th»»»

The United States has placed a $10 million bounty on the leader of an Iranian-backed Shiite group in Iraq. The US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program issued a notice it sought the leader of Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada. It said Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji led the group, whose members “kill»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Centre for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) continues to advance its mission of empowering senior citizens across Qatar through an integrated vision focused on inclusion, accessibility, and active participation in society. In an interview with Qatar TV, Salem Hussein Al-»»»

Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie met yesterday with Ambassador of Georgia to the State of Qatar H E Varlam Avaliani. During the meeting, they discussed opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of environment, »»»

Doha: Al Markhiya Gallery has opened a joint exhibition featuring works by prominent Qatari artist Yousef Ahmed and late Egyptian artist Hazem El Mestikawy at the Fire Station: Artists’ Residence. The exhibition presents 15 works by Ahmed and 12 by El Mestikawy, with both artists drawing inspiratio»»»

RIYADH: After three decades of absence, the critically endangered Arabian Bream is being brought back from the brink through a joint breeding program between the National Center for Wildlife and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The effort has achieved a 90 percent survival rate a»»»

RIYADH: Saudi riyal-denominated government sukuk is approved for inclusion in the J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Government Bond Index and the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Currency Government Index. According to a statement, J.P. Morgan confirmed that Shariah-compliant bonds from the Kingdom will »»»

In a video message on Facebook, Interior Ministry's acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev said that he had been pressured. "Yesterday [Thursday], I received my own message: 'Go home!' Those who have long relied on silence and obedience are trying the same approach again - with the same words and t»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has reinforced its commitment to human rights and the empowerment of persons with disabilities through a comprehensive package of initiatives and streamlined measures implemented during the first quarter of 2026. This effort reflects the Minist»»»

DUBAI: Abdullah Alshaikh (who goes by his family name only) is one of the rising stars of the Kingdom’s hip-hop scene. He released his debut EP, “Karma — The Rise of the Ascent,” on MDLBEAST Records on April 22. “I get my inspiration for my music from my city, Jeddah,” Alshaikh tells Arab News. “My»»»

DUBAI: Kuwait reopened its airspace at Kuwait International Airport on Thursday night, as the fragile ceasefire between US-Israel and Iran appears to be holding following the outbreak of the conflict on Feb. 28 which forced a two-month closure of the facility. The reopening is part of a “phased pla»»»

BANGKOK: A Thai court decided on Friday to hear a case against 10 MPs, including the leader of the largest opposition party, for trying to reform the royal insult law, but refrained from suspending them. The progressive People’s Party, led by Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, came second in February’s gen»»»

MANILA: The Philippines, this year’s chair of the regional bloc ASEAN, on Friday encouraged more prisoner releases in ‌Myanmar, ‌including ousted ‌former leader ⁠Aung San Suu ⁠Kyi and described a recent amnesty as a positive step ⁠toward an ‌inclusive national ‌dialogue. “We reaffirm ‌our commitmen»»»

Doha, Qatar: Aspire Academy has completed the European debut of its flagship “Aspire in the World Fellows – The Workshop Tour” in Bucharest, Romania, reinforcing Qatar’s growing role in global youth football development and international sports cooperation. The three-day programme, held from April »»»

Singapore: The US dollar was on track for its first weekly gain in three weeks on Friday, as persistent uncertainty following the collapse of US-Iran peace talks dampened expectations for a swift easing of Middle East tensions. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of major »»»

Dubai: Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group has initiated international arbitration proceedings against the Lebanese Republic, escalating a long-running dispute over its investments in the country. The UAE conglomerate said late last night that it has formally filed a Request for Arbitration with the Inter»»»

Oil prices rose on Friday as tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz despite a extended ceasefire between Iran and the US. Iran on Thursday released footage of commandos boarding a ship in the vital oil shipping route as Tehran’s air defences engaged “hostile targets”. Follow our liveblog for »»»

Minister of State for Interior Affairs H E Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani met with Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the State H E Mohamed Mohamed Abdullah Bebane. During the meeting, cooperation between the two countries in the security fields were reviewed, an»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has released its latest statistics on building permits and technical affairs for the first quarter of 2026, highlighting sustained momentum across the construction and urban development sectors. According to the report, a total of 1,777 building permits wer»»»

Damascus: Syrian Minister of Finance H E Mohammed Yasser Barnieh affirmed that cooperation with the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) in the project to assess the financial and banking sector represents an important strategic step in a qualitative transformation phase that the Syrian economy is wit»»»

Dubai: In a small art studio in the Gaza Strip, children are finding comfort and joy through an unusual form of therapy — interacting with animals. Rabbits, dogs, hedgehogs and birds are part of structured psychological support sessions designed to help children cope with stress. Project leader Ras»»»

Doha, Qatar: Reflecting a shared commitment to integrating the roles of academic and scientific institutions across Qatar, the Community College of Qatar (CCQ) and the Qatar Scientific Club (QSC) have signed a memorandum of understanding. It aims to strengthen joint collaboration in technical train»»»

On April 24, 2005, Benedict XVI was installed in Rome as the 265th Roman Catholic pope. 1 of 4 | Pope Benedict XVI leads the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's square in the Vatican on May 1, 2011. On April 24, 2005, Benedict XVI was officially installed in Rome as the 265th»»»

Almost 400 participants and 55 international and local speakers are participating, on Thursday and Friday, at the Romanian Cities Summit TILIA (Today's Ideas and Leadership In Action), an event organized in Iasi, at the Palace of Culture, which aims to bring together leaders from public administrat»»»

Total industrial turnover (domestic and foreign markets) fell, in nominal terms, by 3.3% in the first two months of this year compared with the same period in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) data.The decline was driven by negative developments in the extractive industr»»»

Manufacturers' new orders in Romania (domestic and foreign markets) decreased in nominal terms by 4.2% in the first two months of 2026, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).The negative trend was a result of decreases in the intermediate goods indust»»»

The concept of sustainable construction is familiar to 86% of Romanians, well above the European average of 69%, according to the 2026 edition of the Sustainable Construction Barometer, published on Thursday by the Sustainable Construction Observatory by Saint-Gobain.Globally, awareness of the conc»»»

The Government on Thursday adopted an emergency ordinance on access for foreign workers to Romania's labour market, Government spokesperson Ioana Dogioiu announced.The normative act aims to reduce illegal migration, protect foreign workers and safeguard the interests of Romanian workers, she told a»»»

Minister of National Defense Radu Miruta met on Thursday with the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Romania, Evangelia Lili Grammatika, for discussions that focused on strengthening defense cooperation, the Ministry of National Defense said in a release.According to the release, the minister h»»»

Vice premier Oana Gheorghiu considers that the Romanian state continues to pay for destroyed infrastructure and a company which, in reality, has not existed for almost twenty years. She claims that the Romanian government pays nearly 28,000 euros annually for a pipeline that hasn’t carried anything»»»

The Custodian of the Crown, Margareta, hosted, on Thursday, in the Hall of Kings, the Elisabeta Palace Evening dedicated to the French Republic, on which occasion Her Majesty was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honor, in the rank of Officer.In his speech, the French Ambassador to Romani»»»

Political uncertainties increase the probability of fiscal slippage with budgetary deficit over the announced target and put pressure on the Romanian-lei denominated bonds, warn the Citigroup analysts. The domestic government securities market is the main source of funding for the government’s borr»»»