Jordan–Saudi economic partnership entres advanced stage, says minister of investment
AMMAN — Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jordan marks a "further" step in deepening investment ties between the two countries, as bilateral cooperation shifts toward implementation across key sectors.Investment Minister, Tareq Abu Ghazaleh, said the agreem»»»
Agricultural exports hit a record high last year, says minister of agriculture
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»»»
Look: 'Project Hail Mary' trailer stunt earns Guinness World Record - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Ryan Gosling attends the New York premiere of "Project Hail Mary" in March. File Photo by Serena Xu Ning/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Project Hail Mary has earned a Guinness World Record following its publicity stunt in space. Sony announced Thursday that the movie was awarded the»»»
South Korea pet insurance market grows but uptake remains low - UPI.com
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 »»»
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»»»
Fine Arts Commission OKs Trump's arch project - UPI.com
1 of 4 | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds an illustration on Wednesday of the proposed Triumphal Arch that President Donald Trump wants to build. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to OK President Donald Trump's pla»»»
Cash and Lists of Names Found in Candidate for MP Car, Acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Says
Cash and lists of names were found in the car of a candidate for MP, acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev announced on Facebook. "During a routine check by colleagues in Veliko Tarnovo today, a car was stopped. The driver turned out to be a candidate for MP. His passenger was a »»»
Shura Council participates in 217th Session of Governing Council, committee meetings of IPU in Istanbul
Istanbul: The Shura Council participated Thursday in the 217th session of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as part of the 152nd Assembly of the IPU, currently underway in Istanbul, Turkiye. The Shura Council was represented at the event by Deputy Speaker of the Shura Co»»»
GOP blocks House war powers resolution for second time - UPI.com
Republicans in the House of Representatives voted down a war powers resolution that would rein in President Trump's ability to wage war in Iran for a second time, although with just a one-vote margin this time. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Republican members of th»»»
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»»»
Top schools honored by Sharjah EPAA for green efforts
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»»»
European Commission welcomes ceasefire in Lebanon
Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed Thursday the 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, announced by US President Donald Trump. In a statement, von der Leyen affirmed that Europe will continue to demand respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and te»»»
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...»»»
BlackRock among big funds backing Uzbek state’s first foray on to global equity markets
BlackRock, Inc (NYSE: BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, is among big funds that have signalled their support for the Uzbek state’s first foray into global equity markets by signing cornerstone agreements that will back a National Investment Fund of the Uzbek Republic (UzNIF) initial public o»»»
Libya, US Hold Talks on Money Laundering, Terror Financing
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»»»
Minnesota charges ICE agent with assault for pointing gun - UPI.com
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer takes part in a stop in Minneapolis on January 9. Hennepin County prosecutors announced charges against an ICE officer accused of pointing his weapon at people in a moving vehicle in February. File Photo by Craig Lassig/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UP»»»
Mail-order marijuana ploy backfires
A man has been arrested in Athens for mail-ordering nearly two kilograms of marijuana from abroad, police said Thursday. The 27-year-old was taken into custody after trying to pick up the package that had already been detected and opened by police. A police statement said a search of the suspect’s »»»
Cabinet Approves Reforms to Make Prosecutor General Investigation Mechanism Workable
The government has adopted a package of legislative amendments aimed at establishing an effective and functional mechanism for investigating the prosecutor general, the Council of Ministers reported on Thursday. The package introduces mandatory judicial review of decisions to terminate or suspend c»»»
IMF: Middle East Faces Pivotal Economic Moment
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»»»
Middle East Matters - 'Lebanon is being held hostage by Hezbollah acting at Iran's behest'
Hezbollah plunged Lebanon into war with Israel in early March. Six weeks later, the group, which had suffered setbacks in 2024, is still putting up a fight. But how? And can the Lebanese government succeed in getting the militant group to disarm? In this edition of Middle East Matters, we are »»»
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 »»»
The Observers - ‘We're asking for our husbands' salaries’: The plight of soldiers' widows in eastern DR Congo
Plastic sheeting serving as tents and mattresses laid on the ground: in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo, the widows of fallen soldiers are struggling to survive in a makeshift camp. They say they fled the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, after it fell to the M23 rebels in January 2025. Left»»»
Army Chief of Staff discusses file of border and smuggling with Lebanese delegation
Damascus, April 16 (SANA) Chief of the General Staff of the army, Major General Ali Al-Naasan, and a number of officers received on Thursday a delegation from the Lebanese Army, headed by Liaison Officer Brigadier General Michel Boutros. During the meeting, which was characterized by understanding »»»
Chilean government offers reforms package to revive economy - UPI.com
Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast (C) arrives by car at the Metropolitan Cathedral to attend aass and a 'Prayer for the People of Chile and the New Government' in Santiago on Sunday. Photo by Allen Diaz/EPA SANTIAGO-Chile, April 16 (UPI) -- Chilean President José Antonio Kast announced a package »»»
EU’s Population Projected to Drop by 11.7% by 2100, in Bulgaria by 28%
According to the latest population projections from Eurostat, the EU population is expected to decline by 11.7% between 2025 and 2100. This translates to a predicted decrease of 53.0 million people in the EU by the start of the next century. This information comes from the population projections pu»»»
Middle East Conflict Severely Impacting Global Energy Security - Top Chinese Diplomat
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The protracted Middle East conflict has had significant impact on international energy security and the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. "The US-Israel war against Iran should never have started. The protracted conflic»»»
Cabinet Approves Agreement on Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity within UN Law of the Sea Convention
The caretaker Government Thursday approved an Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement), signed by the Republic of Bulgaria on September 20, 2023. The Government proposes that the Nat»»»
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»»»
US Blockade of Iranian Waters Infringes Upon Iran's Sovereignty - Iranian Envoy to UN
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»»»
Date for Second Round of US-Iran Talks Yet to Be Set - Pakistani Foreign Ministry
NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - The date for the second round of negotiations aimed at resolving the Middle East conflict, hosted by Pakistan as a mediator, has not yet been determined, Tahir Andrabi, the official spokesperson for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday. "The dates for the next round o»»»
Government Approves Draft Amendment to International Agreement with US on Stryker Armoured Vehicles
At a sitting on Thursday, the Council of Ministers adopted a report approving Draft Amendment and Supplement No. 1 to the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) BU-B-UCR Procurement of Ammunition for Stryker Vehicles. Proposing amendments and supplements to existing contracts under the Foreign Milita»»»
Nation's Main Priority Is Addressing Country's Demographic Crisis, Top-of-the-List Candidate for Varna Says
Dimitar Karbov, the top-of-the-list candidate of Nation for Varna, is quoted by the party’s press office as saying that "Children are our greatest treasure and hope for Bulgaria’s future, which is why addressing the country’s demographic crisis is a top priority for Nation." Karbov added that solvi»»»
Fourth round of Tunisian-Greek political consultations held in Athens
Tunis, April 16 (TAP) - Athens, the capital of Greece, hosted on Thursday the fourth round of Tunisian-Greek political consultations, chaired by Nabil Ben Khedher, Director-General for Bilateral Relations with European Countries at the Ministry of...»»»
Amir leaves Muscat
MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani left Muscat, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of O»»»
Glimpses of Bush's Iraq debacle appear in Trump's foray into Iran
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»»»
Tension, Veiled Threats Mark al-Hayya’s Meeting with US Official in Cairo
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»»»
Pope Leo XIV touts peace in area hit by separatist fighting in Cameron - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Pope Leo XIV waves to supporters as he leaves after his visit to the Ngul Zamba orphanage in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday. Pool photo by Alberto Pizzoli April 16 (UPI) -- Pope Leo XIV spent his second day in Cameroon in the city of Bamenda, the center of separatist fighting, calling for pe»»»
Bulgaria Opens Consulate in Turkiye's Izmir
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»»»
Trump speaks with President Aoun, announces 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon – Ya Libnan
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»»»
Delcy Rodríguez hires U.S. lobbyist for possible presidential campaign - UPI.com
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)»»»
Former landfill in Evkarpia transformed into major forest park
A large peri-urban forest project in western Thessaloniki is set to open June 6, as work nears completion on a 3,000-stremma green space being developed on former landfill land in Evkarpia in the municipality of Pavlos Melas. So far, 100,000 trees and 220,000 shrubs have been planted at the site, w»»»
Tsvetan Predov Closes There Is Such a People's Election Campaign in Sliven
Tsvetan Predov, the top-of-the-list-candidate of There Is Such a People in Sliven, concluded the political party’s election campaign in the region with an address to the residents of the area, the campaign headquarters announced. In his message, Predov highlighted his years of experience in the soc»»»
Cabinet Approves Agreement with International Bank for Economic Co-operation
At a meeting here on Thursday, the Council of Ministers approved an agreement with the International Bank for Economic Co-operation (IBEC) settling the mutual obligations arising from the country’s withdrawal from the agreement on IBEC's organization and activities and from its membership in the IB»»»
Sharjah Science Museum marks three decades of success
Sharjah: Sharjah Museums Authority is marking the 30th anniversary of Sharjah Science Museum under the slogan “Thirty Years of Scientific Achievement”, celebrating three decades since the museum first opened its doors on April 17, 1996, and its continued role in promoting hands-on learning and scie»»»
Hezbollah MP says group will respect ceasefire if Israel stops attacks
Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim al-Moussawi told AFP on Thursday that the Lebanese group would respect a ceasefire with Israel announced earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump if Israeli attacks on the militants stopped. "We in Hezbollah will cautiously adhere to the ceasefire on the condition that it i»»»
From rekindled love story to ICE 'nightmare': France calls on US to release 86-year-old
The French government on Thursday said it was pushing for the release of an 86-year-old French citizen who has been detained by ICE since early April. Marie-Thérèse Ross, who is now widowed, moved to the US last year to marry her sweetheart from the 1950s. French officials have said they»»»
Growing discontent as 36 Democrats back Bernie Sanders’ bid to block arms sales to Israel
More than three dozen Democrats backed a bid by Senator Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to block US arms sales to Israel, reflecting growing unease over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conflicts in Gaza and Iran. The measures failed, opposed by Republicans, but underscored rising dissent within t»»»
Turmoil at publisher owned by French billionaire Bolloré sparks exodus of top authors
More than 100 authors said they would leave France's Grasset publishing house on Thursday after the surprise departure of its long-time CEO, thought to be sparked by a disagreement with billionaire owner Vincent Bolloré. Critics accuse Bolloré of championing far-right views in his media e»»»