China’s “Petroyuan” Gains Traction Amid Gulf Tensions
Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region are breathing new life into China’s long-standing ambition to expand the role of the yuan in global energy trade, reviving discussions around the so-called “Petroyuan” as an alternative to the Dollar-dominated system. Recent developments surroundi»»»
India wealth shake-up: Gautam Adani becomes Asia’s richest, overtakes Mukesh Ambani
Gautam Adani has emerged as Asia’s richest individual, with his net worth rising to $92.6 billion, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He is now ranked 19th globally. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Ambani slips to second in Asia»»»
Mandelson files fallout: Why Starmer is under pressure again
A senior UK Foreign Office official has resigned over the growing scandal surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Olly Robbins, the Foreign Office’s top civil servant, stepped down after it emerged t»»»
Wolf captured, returned to zoo 9 days after escape - UPI.com
Neukgu lies anesthetized at Daejeon O-World theme park on Friday, following his capture, in this photo provided by Daejeon city government. Photo courtesy of Daejeon Metropolitan Government/Yonhap A young wolf that broke out of a zoo in the central city of Daejeon was captured Friday, nine days aft»»»
Back to school, back to life
Throughout this conflict, one of the biggest impacts on many of our lives has been the forced and necessary closure of schools. The education establishments have done a commendable job of switching to online learning, especially in such challenging circumstances. However, we all know how important »»»
Media Review: April17
The upcoming April 19 early parliamentary elections and the anticipated results is a major topic for Bulgarian media on Friday. POSSIBLE OUTCOMES – ANALYSIS Capital: “At this stage, we do not have a clear political partner, because all of them, in one way or another, have entered into harmful allia»»»
Deal or delay: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire holds amid big questions
A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon appeared to be holding early Friday, raising cautious hopes of a broader de-escalation across the Middle East after weeks of intense fighting. The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump and agreed by Israel and Lebanon, took effect overni»»»
Gold Holds Steady, Eyes Fourth Weekly Gain on US-Iran Peace Deal Hopes
Gold held largely steady on Friday and was on track for a fourth straight weekly gain, as hopes for a US-Iran peace deal eased fears of higher inflation and elevated interest rates. Spot gold eased 0.1% to $4,784.72 per ounce by 0646 GMT, but was up about 1% so far this week. US gold futures for Ju»»»
Beirut Conference Sees Wide Consensus Over Weapons-free Capital
Beirut MPs representing most of Lebanon’s political parties met in the capital to support a government move declaring the city “safe and weapons-free,” following recent security incidents and Israeli strikes. The conference brought together most factions, except MPs from Hezbollah, the Amal Movemen»»»
Temperatures expected to rise slightly on Friday
Tunis, April 17 (TAP)-The weather on Friday is cloudy to sometimes very cloudy with scattered showers in the far southeast and temporarily cloudy elsewhere.The wind is blowing north relatively strong near coasts and light to moderate inland. .The...»»»
Nearly 35 Tonnes of Food Will Be Destroyed from Shutdown Slaughterhouse Near Plovdiv
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has suspended the operations of a meat processing facility in the village of Radinovo, near Plovdiv, after an inspection found multiple violations of hygiene requirements and meat without documentation, the agency said. In three cold storage rooms, inspectors»»»
Netflix star Robbie Collins on performing now in Dubai: 'I don’t believe everything I see in the news'
Dubai: At a time when headlines feel heavier than usual, South African comedian Robby Collins arrives in Dubai with none of the noise and with a very clear goal: make people laugh. The towering comic, currently performing with The Laughter Factory this weekend in Dubai, is in town during what many »»»
Pakistani-flagged Tanker Exits Gulf Via Hormuz with UAE Crude, Data Shows
Pakistani-flagged tanker Shalamar has exited the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz carrying crude loaded from the United Arab Emirates, shipping data from Kpler and LSEG showed. The Aframax tanker exited the waterway on Thursday laden with about 440,000 barrels of Abu Dhabi's Das Blend crude loaded ea»»»
Hidden Cave, Hippo Bones Under Welsh Castle May Rewrite History
A prehistoric hidden cave and hippo bones found beneath a Welsh castle could transform understanding of ancient life in Britain, researchers said Thursday, calling the site a "once-in-a-lifetime discovery". Previous small-scale excavations at Pembroke Castle have already uncovered evidence of early»»»
Alpha Research Poll: 3.3 Million Expected to Vote on Sunday, Five Parties Certain to Enter Next Parliament
A higher voter turnout is expected compared to the previous elections, with over 3.3 million people projected to go to the polls on April 19, around 60% of eligible voters living in the country, compared to 2.57 million who voted in the last parliamentary elections in October 2024, according to a p»»»
Police officers detained for taking bribes in Jalal-Abad - | 24.KG
Law enforcement officers have been detained in Jalal-Abad region for taking a bribe, the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) reported. According to the investigation, a deputy head of the regional police department and an investigator demanded $2,000 in exchange for terminati»»»
UAE motorist alert: Partial road closures this weekend
Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (AD Mobility) has announced temporary road closures around Wahat Al Karama for the “Run for the Nation” 5km community race on Saturday, April 18. The event, organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in partnership with the Zayed Charity Run, will begin at 8am»»»
Bolojan Rejects Resignation Pressure Amid Coalition Tensions
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) threatens government collapse, demands Ilie Bolojan resignation amid ultimatum claims. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan paid a late-night visit to the National Liberal Party (PNL) headquarters in Bucharest, where some party members had gathered for their “traditional Ea»»»
Penalty heartbreak for Al Sadd as Vissel Kobe reach ACL Elite semis
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd SC suffered a heartbreaking exit from the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite, going down 5-4 on penalties to Vissel Kobe after a pulsating 3-3 draw in the quarter-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah yesterday. Substitute Jean Patric scored the winning»»»
Nicusor Dan: We are at the beginning of a political crisis; I am trying to maintain my role as mediator
President Nicusor Dan declared on Thursday that, at this moment, there is a conflict within the governing coalition between PSD and PNL, and he is trying to maintain his role as a mediator.Nicusor Dan was asked if he is taking the side of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in his dispute with PSD, which i»»»
Macron, Starmer Rally Allies to Mull Hormuz Mission
French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday chair a meeting of allies to consider sending a multinational force to ensure security and free-flowing trade in the Strait of Hormuz once the current conflict between Iran and the US and Israel ends. Iran imposed the blo»»»
Myara Poll: Five Parties Certain to Enter Parliament, Three Near Threshold
Five parties are certain to enter the next parliament, while three remain close to the 4% electoral threshold, according to a survey by the Myara polling agency. The data were collected for Bulgarian National Radio. The nationally representative survey was conducted between April 4 and 13 among 1,0»»»
De Lepine guides Samha Alseej to Al Bidda Cup win
Doha, Qatar: Samha Alseej stormed to victory in the Al Bidda Cup, producing a blistering late burst under jockey Arnaud de Lepine to land the Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate feature at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. Making a winning debut, the filly – owned and trained by Jassim bin Hamad Al-A»»»
Right-wing community needs complete renewal, says Orbán
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, also the leader of Fidesz, spoke about the need for a complete renewal of the right-wing community in an interview broadcast on the Patrióta YouTube channel on Thursday. He described the election outcome as a clear defeat for the governing parties and took full responsi»»»
More ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz despite blockade, tracking data shows
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for oil and gas exports, has shown signs of increased vessel movement in recent days despite ongoing military tensions and a US naval blockade targeting Iranian ports. Maritime tracking data and reporting indicate that a growi»»»
Did Pete Hegseth read Pulp Fiction-style Bible verse at Pentagon?
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked discussion after delivering remarks at a Pentagon prayer service that closely echoed dialogue from Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, blending military ceremony with language widely recognised from the film. Pentagon prayer service remarksDuring the serv»»»
After a paralyzing stroke, a South Korean pianist recreates himself as a one-handed performer
SEOUL, South Korea: When a major stroke paralysed South Korean pianist Lee Hun's right side in 2012, he first worried about whether he would ever walk again. Playing the piano wasn't even a consideration. He returned to the piano only after a mentor told him about a large number of piano pieces for»»»
A 10-day Ceasefire Agreed on By Israel and Lebanon Goes into Effect
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 »»»
Poland’s growth test
Poland is outpacing much of the EU, with GDP rising 3.6% in 2025 versus 1.6% across the bloc, and nominal output surpassing $1 trillion. Strong exports—worth PLN 1.426 trillion in the first eleven months of 2025—underscore its deep integration into European supply chains. Foreign media, particularl»»»
US issues text of Lebanon Israel ceasefire agreement – Ya Libnan
Share: THE US State Department revealed the following on Friday “The text of the following statement was agreed to by the Government of Israel and Government of Lebanon: ” Following productive direct talks on April 14 between the governments of the Republic of Lebanon (hereinafter “Lebanon”) and th»»»
M.E. war live updates: Lebanese army accuses Israel of ceasefire violations – Ya Libnan
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»»»
Flood control scam: Fugitive Filipino ex-lawmaker Zaldy Co arrested in Prague Philippines moves to extradite him
Manila: Former Zaldy Co, a fugitive at the center of a sprawling corruption scandal, has been detained by Czech authorities in Prague, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Thursday night, ending months on the run. Marcos posted on social media that Co had been arrested, added that th»»»
Breaking the negative narrative: How the Gulf changed the region’s story
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»»»
House extends deportation protection for Haitians in the United States - UPI.com
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 »»»
Police: Virginia ex-Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills his wife and then himself — he was once a rising star before scandal sank his career
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»»»
Iran war live: Lebanon truce begins at midnight as US blockades Iran for deal – Ya Libnan
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»»»
Hezbollah reacts to ceasefire announcement
Hezbollah said in a statement that “any ceasefire must be comprehensive across all Lebanese territory and must not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement.” Hezbollah added that “Israeli occupation on our land grants Lebanon and its people the right to resist it, and this matter will be det»»»
EU chief welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire as 'a relief'
European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen welcomed a 10-day ceasefire declared Thursday between Israel and Lebanon that was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. "This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives," von der Leyen wrote on X, adding that it must l»»»
Arsenal ex-goalkeeper Manninger dies after car struck by train
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»»»
Trump says Iran agrees to hand over enriched uranium, believes deal 'close'
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on the Islamic republic and m»»»
UAE welcomes move to end hostilities between Lebanon and Israel
The UAE has welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, commending the diplomatic efforts that led to the breakthrough. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the development would represent a positive step»»»
Trump says Iran to hand over uranium as ceasefire talks advance
Washington, United States: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on t»»»
UAE has right to guarantees, compensation after Iranian aggression, says Gargash
Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said the UAE has the right to seek guarantees to prevent the repetition of cowardly Iranian attacks and to be compensated after the Iranian aggression against GCC countries. “The Iranian regime has attacked everyone in the Gulf, ev»»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine 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»»»
What have Lebanon and Israel agreed to?
Lebanon and Israel have agreed to observe a 10-day ceasefire that begins at midnight Beirut time, the United States said. Below is the full text of the statement that was agreed to by the Government of Israel and Government of Lebanon, as published by the U.S. State Department: "Following productiv»»»
Scattered rain Thursday night with local fog expected in Northwest
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - Weather conditions Thursday night will be characterised by passing clouds, sometimes dense, over the northern coastal regions and the far Southeast, with scattered showers and local fog expected in the Northwest, according to...»»»
Cabinet Approves Draft of New Counter-Corruption Act
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 »»»
Treti Mart Top Candidate in Stara Zagora Yankova Presents Her Priorities for Region
Boyanka Yankova, top-of-the-list candidate of the Treti Mart [March 3] coalition in Stara Zagora, presented her priorities for the regional city here on Thursday, the coalition said in a press release. Yankova highlighted energy independence, a decent standard of living in rural areas, and a return»»»
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»»»
Pope Leo blasts 'handful of tyrants' ravaging world during Cameroon visit
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»»»