Manila: Filipino billionaire Enrique 'Ricky' Razon Jr.’s energy firm is pressing beyond the aging Malampaya gas field in a bid to expand the country’s long-term domestic gas supply and reduce reliance on imported fuel. Prime Energy Resources Development B.V., the Razon-led operator of Malampaya, sa»»»

A 10-day truce began in Lebanon on Friday that could pause fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and boost attempts to extend the ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of devastating war. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement as a ceasefire »»»

The US says its maritime enforcement operation targeting Iranian ports remains in place, with US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting that multiple vessels have been diverted in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM said on Friday that a US Navy destroyer redirected a merchant vessel as part of ongoing measures»»»

Polska Grupa Energetyczna expects capital expenditure to rise by several dozen percent this year, driven mainly by renewables, offshore wind, and grid expansion, said CFO Przemysław Jastrzębski. Distribution spending alone should exceed PLN 5 billion. Group capex reached PLN 11.54 billion in 2025, »»»

A looming jet fuel shortage across Europe and Asia, triggered by the Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could disrupt global travel within weeks if oil flows are not restored soon. The pressure on supplies risks higher airfares and potential flight cancellations as the peak»»»

Share: Israeli soldiers next to artillery vehicles ( SIGMA 155) deployed in the Upper Galilee near the Israel-Lebanon border on April 16, 2026. © Jalaa Marey, AFP A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, mediated by the US, went into effect at 5pm EST on Thursday. Lebanon’s army soon after re»»»

GENEVA: New data released today by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, shows that lower income countries have collectively contributed over US$ 300 million towards Gavi-supported immunisation programmes for 2025, setting a new record for annual country investment in vaccines. This performance reflects the »»»

A ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Friday as US President Donald Trump pushes for broader regional diplomacy, including a possible first-ever leaders’ meeting. The truce comes amid efforts to end wider conflict involving Iran and follows weeks of intense fighting and heav»»»

The words we hear in our childhood rarely pass through our lives unnoticed. They linger like a cloud in the mind, reminding us — every time the rain of their conversations falls — of the thorns of negativity. For years, that narrative persisted in the minds of many across the region we share in lan»»»

A federal jury in New York finds for the plaintiffs in an antitrust lawsuit against concert giant Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster. We take a closer look. But first: the IMF warns on mounting public debt amid a global energy crisis, and China's economy beats expectations as growth accelerates d»»»

Dubai: The UAE has introduced sweeping changes to tax penalties, cutting fines and revising how violations are handled, with the Federal Tax Authority positioning the move as a step towards easing compliance and encouraging businesses to correct past errors. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»

The House on Thursday passed a bill to extend temporary protected status for Haitians that currently live in the United States on a bipartisan vote, but the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate and may be vetoed by the White House if it is sent the President Donald Trump's desk. File Photo by »»»

In the days after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam became engulfed in a scandal over a racist photo on his medical school yearbook in 2019, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax looked poised to ascend to the post and become the state’s second Black governor. That never happened. Soon after, Fairfax dealt with his ow»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has affirmed the continued stability of the labour market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the uninterrupted continuity of business operations despite ongoing regional developments. This reflects the strength and diversity of»»»

South Korean government secures alternative oil supplies of 27 million barrels in June, expands support to diversify imports amid Middle East disruptions. Trade, Industry and Resources Minister Kim Jung-kwan attends a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea. Photo »»»

A man accused of coordinating a 1982 attack on a Jewish restaurant in Paris that killed six people arrived in France Thursday after being extradited by the Palestinian Authority. Hicham Harb, one of four suspects sought in connection with the August 9, 1982 attack, was detained on arrival at an air»»»

Share: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 10, 2026. REUTERS/Raghed Waked/File Photo Summary A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has come into effect»»»

The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against two sons of Nicaragua's presidential couple, both of whom hold government posts, as well as several enterprises involved with gold mining in the Central American country. Washington has branded the government of President Daniel Ortega and h»»»

Wall Street stocks ended higher Thursday (April 17), adding to records as investors greeted optimistic comments from US President Donald Trump about negotiations with Iran while shrugging off a jump in crude prices. After veering between gains and losses much of the day, all three major US indices »»»

Share: President Joseph Aoun refused to call Israeli PM Netanyahu to ask for a truce in Lebanon. US President Donald Trump pressured Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Lebanon During a security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu was asked what led to the sudden change and Israel’s decision to agree to a cea»»»

A 7-month-old child was found unresponsive in a hot car outside the Monterey Public Library in Tennessee on Wednesday afternoon. The child later died, according to local reports, marking at least the second child hot car death in the United States this year. The Monterey Police Department responded»»»

Tribune News Network Doha The Gold and Jewelry Committee of the Qatar Chamber (QC) recently held a joint meeting with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) to review key challenges facing the sector and explore practical solutions to support its growth and sustainability. The meeting was cha»»»

Ashraf Siddiqui Doha Naveed Kamran Baloch, Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, has stated that his office plans to engage with embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a broader outreach strategy. In his maiden interview since taken over present responsibilities with Qatar Tribune in Islamabad, Bal»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Airways is expanding its international flight network, with services to over 150 destinations from June 16, 2026, connecting passengers to more of the world this summer. The updated schedule, valid until September 15, 2026, introduces new routes and increased frequen»»»

A surge of oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is crowding the Panama Canal, as shifting global energy routes driven by conflict in the Middle East push the strategic waterway to near-maximum capacity. Videos circulating online this week show long lines of vessels waiting to transi»»»

The Foreign Press Association has accused the Israeli military of discrediting a Lebanese journalist it killed in March, by using an AI-generated photo to present him as a “Hezbollah terrorist.” The Israel Defence Forces claimed responsibility for killing Ali Shoeib in a targeted Israeli airst»»»

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a cease-fire for 10 days to allow for talks about ejecting Hezbollah from that country, which Israel said is its primary goal in strikes launched on its neighbor over the last six weeks. File Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- President Do»»»

An Iranian embassy has shared an AI-generated video depicting Jesus casting Donald Trump into hell, following backlash over a social media post in which the US president appeared to portray himself as a Christ-like healer. Trump posted the image on Truth Social on Sunday but deleted it the followin»»»

1 of 2 | Noemi Guzman, 31, attempts to stab Cyler Hillman, 3, just before being shot to death by Omaha police. Cyler suffered a slash on the cheek. Photo courtesy of Omaha Police Deptartment body-worn camera April 16 (UPI) -- Omaha police have released more details about the kidnapping and assault »»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon offered an opportunity for a "historic peace agreement" with Lebanon, but insisted that the disarmament of Hezbollah remained a precondition. "We have an opportunity to make a historic peace agreement wi»»»

Israeli rescue services said on Thursday that one person was seriously injured in northern Israel after shelling from Lebanon that came less than two hours before the start of a truce agreed with Lebanon. In the Karmiel area, rescuers "are providing medical treatment on site to a 25-year-old man in»»»

Vienna: Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who played for Austria at Euro 2008, died on Thursday after his car was hit by a train, his former club Red Bull Salzburg said. The 48-year-old died when a train hit his car while crossing the tracks in the Salzburg region, the Austrian news ag»»»

Sharjah: In a move aimed at strengthening frontline policing, Sharjah Police has introduced the rugged “Grenadier” vehicle into its operational fleet, enhancing officers’ ability to respond swiftly and safely across challenging environments. Developed for endurance and reliability, the Grenadier is»»»

AMMAN — Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreissat on Thursday said Jordan’s agricultural sector continues to post strong performance, underpinned by improved supply chains and growing domestic production.Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, Khreissat described the sector as a "success story" despite limited nat»»»

April 16 (UPI) -- Westlake Ohio Police were relieved when a recent welfare check on an elderly woman found her safe and playing video games. Officers said concerns were raised April 9 after a 91-year-old resident enrolled in the city's voluntary Confirm OK program did not answer her check-in phone »»»

Pet insurance grows 3.5-fold in three years... insurance industry moves to boost awareness A chart shows the number of pet insurance policies in South Korea rising sharply from 51,727 in 2021 to 251,961 in 2025. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI April 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's pet »»»

Sharjah : Seventy schools and nurseries from across the UAE took part in the third edition of the “My Green Environment is My Future” initiative, it was revealed when the Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) in Sharjah honoured winners during a closing ceremony at Al Dhaid Wildlife Muse»»»

Anti-money laundering measures dominated talks in Washington between governor of the Central Bank of Libya Naji Issa and US officials, as prosecutors pursue corruption cases. The central bank said Issa outlined efforts to strengthen anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing systems, expa»»»

The International Monetary Fund said the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan were facing a pivotal and exceptionally difficult moment in their modern economic history after the war that broke out on Feb. 28, 2026, describing it as a severe and multifaceted shock to one of the world’s most strat»»»

The Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a draft Act on Tackling Corruption of Public Office Holders, the Government Information Service said in a press release. The new bill has been drafted implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and the recommendations of the European »»»

Washington, April 16 (SANA) US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday an agreement for a ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. “I had excellent talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and they agreed that in order to achieve peace betwe»»»

The Council of Ministers Thursday approved a Strategy for the Development of the Bulgarian Defence Technology Industrial Base, the Government Information Service reported. The need to develop a new strategy to replace the existing one stems from the mismatch between the current strategic framework »»»

Pope Leo XIV condemned "a handful of tyrants" that were ravaging the world with war on Thursday, calling instead for the billions spent every year on weapons to go instead towards healthcare and education. The pontiff's strident comments came during a visit to Cameroon's separatist west, where thou»»»

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The ongoing blockade by the US Navy of Iranian waters is a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said on Thursday. "The imposition of a maritime blockade announced by the United States constit»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The Council of Ministers Thursday adopted a decision to open a Bulgarian consulate in Turkiye, headed by an honorary (non-career) consular officer, with its seat in Izmir and a consular district covering the territories of the provinces of Izmir, Sakarya, Bilesik, Eskisehir, Kocaeli, and Kutahya. T»»»

Share: President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, to begin on Thursday at 5pm ET. Why it matters: The U.S. has been pressing for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon for several days, while working in parallel on a potential peace deal with Iran. “I just had e»»»

The acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, speaks at a pro-government event in Caracas on Monday to commemorate National Dignity Day, which marks the return of the late former president Hugo Chavez to the presidency after being ousted in a coup. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez/EPA April 16 (UPI)»»»

Four people, including a 15-year-old boy, have been identified and charged with scamming an elderly woman in northern Greece out of more than €18,000 worth of gold coins and jewellery, police said Thursday. A police statement said the phone scammers swindled the woman in Kilkis in March, using a co»»»