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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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-»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 Commission for Juridical Affairs of the European Parliament favorably approved with 17 votes for and a single abstention, the report requesting that the immunity of European deputy Diana Ivanovici Sosoaca be lifted, Brussels sources declared. The report made by European deputy Dominik Tarczynsk»»»

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday that he has taken note of the resignations submitted by the PSD-backed ministers and will send President Nicusor Dan the proposals for their replacements."I have taken note of the resignations of the PSD-backed ministers, which were registered around noo»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Chairman of the Committee for Developing and Enhancing Quran and Arabic Language Education, Professor Dr. Sultan Ibrahim Al-Hashimi, has announced that the “Quran Teacher” programme will officially begin implementation in schools from Sunday as part of a national effort to strength»»»

The Kraken is a huge tentacled sea monster from Norse folklore that drags ships and sailors down into the deep. During the age of dinosaurs, new research shows, there existed a creature as close to a real-life Kraken as you could possibly get - an enormous octopus that prowled the seas as an apex p»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Higher Education Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education held a recognition ceremony on Wednesday for participants in the 2026 “Ruwwad” programme, implemented by the British Council in partnership with the British Embassy in Doha and the Ministry. During th»»»

Interviewed on Bulgarian National Television on Friday, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy Chair and spokesperson Rositsa Mateva said there were no reports of vote rigging during the April 19 parliamentary elections. She added that she could comment on hypothetical assumptions about manipulat»»»

Doha, Qatar: As part of its commitment to fostering a culture of professional excellence, the General Directorate of Industrial Security at the Ministry of Interior honoured a number of its personnel from various affiliated departments in recognition of their outstanding performance and dedication »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli enemy forces conducted demolition operations in Bint Jbeil and Hanin on Friday morning: Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon 24-»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe US President Donald Trump: Ceasefire in Lebanon has been extended by three weeks 24-04-2026 00:55 AM Latest News Urgent News Maariv’s Avi A»»»

Although US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have made the ultimate war and ceasefire decisions regarding Iran, The Jerusalem Post revealed the details and extent to which Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, a»»»

Airlines worldwide have begun canceling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up prices — but the disruption doesn’t end there. For travelers, it can mean having to navigate a confusing web of passenger protections that vary widely depending on where they’re fly»»»

Dubai: Filmmaker and former Bigg Boss Malayalam winner Akhil Marar has come under fire for his recent comments on pregnancy, with women, doctors, and activists in Kerala strongly pushing back against his views. In a recent interview, Marar described pregnancy as a “natural process” that has been tu»»»

At the European Economic Congress in Katowice, Rafał Brzoska said Poland’s biggest barrier to investment is not access to capital, but slow administrative procedures that delay projects and discourage investors. He argued that projects which can be completed within a year often wait several years f»»»

Poland’s National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW) plans a record PLN 37 billion budget in 2026 to finance the energy transition and environmental projects. A major share will support thermal upgrades to public buildings, including schools and hospitals, alongside tr»»»

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced policymakers in Asia to face questions over the security of other maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Malacca, which is the world's busiest waterway for international trade. Importance of The Malacca Strait The 900-km (550-mile) long Malacca »»»

The number of people receiving social benefits in Kyrgyzstan has been decreasing each year. Deputy Minister of Labor, Mirlan Baigonchokov, said today during a meeting of Ishenim parliamentary group. According to him, at year-end 2025, the number of benefit recipients had reduced by nearly 196,000 c»»»

Previously used foot-and-mouth disease vaccines in Kyrgyzstan have proven less effective due to a virus mutation. It was announced at a meeting of El Umutu — Ata Zhurt parliamentary group, where MP Saltanat Amanova raised the issue of the quality of the vaccines being used. According to Ishenbek Al»»»

Washington - Robert Jimison Over nearly eight weeks of war in Iran, Republicans in Congress have turned back repeated efforts by Democrats to halt the operation and force US President Donald Trump, who began the conflict without congressional authorization, to consult with lawmakers on the military»»»

Moldova’s industrial production (chart) increased by 2.4% year-on-year in January-February 2026, supported by strong growth in the energy sector, while a steep contraction in extractive industries weighed on overall performance, the National Bureau of Statistics (BNS) reported. »»»

Singapore: Gold held near flat in early Asian trade on Friday, April 24, 2026, but was on track for a weekly decline, pressured by rising oil prices and persistent inflation concerns, while ongoing tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz added to market »»»