LUASANNE: The IOC on Thursday lifted its ban on Belarusian athletes competing in the Olympics, although restrictions on Russian athletes remain in place. Competitors from Russia and their allies Belarus had been banned from international competition following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, alth»»»

The US State Department will begin revoking the US passports of thousands of parents who owe a significant amount of unpaid child support. The department told The Associated Press on Thursday that the revocations would begin Friday and be focused on those who owe $100,000 or more. That would apply »»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio paid a fence‑mending visit to the Vatican on Thursday, highlighting close ties between the two sides after President Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his opposition to the Iran war angered the Holy See and triggered an ongoing public spat.  The US S»»»

The World Health Organization said Thursday that more cases of the hantavirus could emerge but expected the outbreak to be "limited" if precautions are taken, after the disease killed three passengers from a cruise ship. Countries around the world moved on Thursday to contain the further spread of »»»

Not far from the North Pole, in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, lies a piece of Russia. In NATO member state Norway, two Russian villages, or "settlements" as Moscow calls them, have been active for decades. This frozen, hostile land at the ends of the Earth has caught Moscow's int»»»

Doha: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved the establishment of the “Permanent Committee for Managing the Entry of Visitors and Applicants for Premium Residency in the State of Qatar (Hayya Platform)” under the Ministry of Interior. According to a decision published in the Official Gazette on May 7, 2026, »»»

The Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius is anchored off the coast of the city of Praia on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde, on after Monday three people died onboard from an acute respiratory syndrome. The World Health Organization reported one confirmed case and five additional suspected cases of hanta»»»

Long dismissed as unfeasible, the project to bridge the Indian and Pacific Oceans across southern Thailand has now become significantly relevant. The Thai Land Bridge is “very ambitious”; “it will require a lot of resources and a lot of time to implement something of that magnitude and scale,” Prof»»»

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has enhanced direct communication channels with pilgrims through a unified number, 1966, available around the clock in 11 languages. The ministry said the service allows pilgrims to obtain information, request assistance and report service-related issues, w»»»

Jeddah, May 7 (SANA) Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, officially inaugurated the Consulate General of the Syrian Arab Republic in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Thursday.The ceremony was attended by a high-level official delegation from the Ministry of Fore»»»

Gold rose on ​Thursday on optimism over a potential US-Iran peace deal, easing concerns about inflation and prolonged higher interest rates, though gains were capped after a report said Tehran would not allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Spot gold was up 0.3 percent at $4,700.98 per ounce»»»

JERUSALEM: An Israeli settler suspected of kicking and wounding a French Catholic nun in Jerusalem will go on trial for assault motivated by hostility towards a religious group, Israel’s justice ministry said Thursday. The assault on the nun, a 48-year-old researcher at Jerusalem’s French School of»»»

Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector has shifted from an activity with limited influence to one of the main drivers of economic diversification under Vision 2030. After years in which the sector was viewed as marginal or seasonal, it has become an integrated industry covering m»»»

1 of 3 | Pope Leo XIV (L) talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a private audience in Vatican City on Thursday. Photo courtesy Vatican Media/EPA May 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Thursday with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, a moment of diplomacy in the wake of Presiden»»»

“If you must fall, be a meteor.” The phrase was written on a mural inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. Beside it was a drawing of faceless fighters in helmets, carrying rifles. They looked ready to fight on several fronts. Senior officials and officers in Baghdad likely pass the mural on their way to gove»»»

Despite the complexity of the situation on the ground in Sudan, Washington still believes the de-escalation effort has a chance of succeeding. Massad Boulos, senior adviser to President Donald Trump for Arab and African affairs, believes there is no military solution to the conflict that has raged »»»

Rising construction material prices are putting growing pressure on the profitability of Polish construction companies, whose margins already fell sharply in 2025 compared with 2024. Higher oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East have pushed up the costs of asphalt, steel, aggregates, insu»»»

EY Polska found that 71% of Polish service-sector companies have either implemented or are currently deploying AI solutions. While 37% have already introduced AI tools and 34% are still implementing them, 18% halted their AI projects, the highest share among surveyed industries. The report notes th»»»

NEW YORK: From Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, just in time for the FIFA World Cup, emerges a familiar global superstar: Shakira. The Colombian singer shared a minute-long teaser clip on Thursday of a new song, writing on social media, “From Maracaná Stadium, here is “Dai Dai,” the FIFA World C»»»

MADRID: Real ‌Madrid’s simmering tensions spilled over on Thursday when Federico Valverde and Frenchman Aurelien Tchouameni were involved in a dressing-room fight that left the Uruguayan in hospital with a deep cut to the head, several club sources said. The incident unfolded at the club’s Valdebeb»»»

New York: President Donald Trump said in an interview published Thursday that he would not pay the $1,000-plus ticket price for the United States' first World Cup match, piling pressure on FIFA over its sky-high costs. "I did not know that number," the billionaire Trump told the New York Post, addi»»»

Geneva: The World Health Organization hailed on Thursday good collaboration with the United States and US institutions over a deadly hantavirus outbreak, despite Washington's announced withdrawal from the UN agency. Three people have died and five others have been sickened in a rare hantavirus outb»»»

A tow truck driver in Saskatchewan, Canada, used his truck to rescue a moose he found stuck in ice. Photo courtesy of Rebel Towing A tow truck driver in Saskatchewan, Canada, is going viral after turning an ordinary service call into a rescue for a stranded moose. Clint Gottinger, owner of Rebel To»»»

May 7 (UPI) -- A Florida woman who thought an intruder was trying to break into her home investigated the ruckus on her lanai and found something more surprising: two alligators fighting. Kayla Burress said she was inside her Ave Maria home with her sleeping baby recently when she heard a loud nois»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 16:30 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, a gathering of Israeli enemy army soldiers at Alman-Qusayr triangle»»»

JEDDAH: The ongoing Jeddah Beauty Show has transformed the Superdome into a showcase of makeup, skincare, fragrance and wellness innovations. Opening at the weekend and running until May 10, the event has brought together local and international brands, industry specialists and emerging entrepreneu»»»

A man was arrested near the home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor yesterday after he rushed the disgraced brother of King Charles III while he was walking his dogs, police said. File Photo by Julien Warnand/EPA May 7 (UPI) -- A man was arrested for public order offense and possession of a weapon near »»»

She also urges Washington to recognize the severity of the U.S. drug consumption crisis and strengthen efforts to stop the illegal flow of firearms into Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in her morning press conference Thursday, rejected criticism from the President Donald Trump over her»»»

Abu Dhabi: Building on the longstanding strategic partnership between the United Arab Emirates and the French Republic, and under the guidance of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, the 18th session of the UAE–France Strategic Dialogu»»»

FRANKFURT: A German holidaymaker has won almost 1,000 euros in compensation after lodging a legal complaint about other tourists reserving all the sun loungers at his hotel with towels, a court said Thursday. He went on a package holiday costing over 7,000 euros with his family to the Greek island »»»

LONDON: More than 75 survivors have been awarded “full compensation” for suffering sexual abuse at the hands of late Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, and nearly another 200 claims are being processed, a company scheme told AFP Thursday. “We can confirm that 259 survivors have entered the process, ma»»»

DHAKA: Bangladesh and Pakistan open their two-match Test series in Mirpur on Friday, with the hosts aiming to complete a remarkable double after their historic away whitewash in 2024. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has made no secret of his ambitions, insisting his side must post big firs»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani affirmed that Qatar, in coordination with Gulf countries, is prioritizing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the regional crisis and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview wit»»»

Joe Jackson London: Britain accused China on Thursday of breaching UK sovereignty and vowed to summon its ambassador after two Chinese-British dual nationals were convicted of spying on Hong Kong dissidents on Beijing's behalf. A London jury found the pair -- a retired Hong Kong policeman and a for»»»

Tunis, May 7 (TAP) - The correctional chamber of the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced journalist Zied El Heni to one year in prison on Thursday evening for “offending others via public communication networks,” a judicial source told TAP news...»»»

London - GBRLondon, May 7, 2026 (AFP) - - A serving officer with London's Metropolitan Police and four ex-officers are being investigated for their handling of sexual abuse allegations against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, a watchdog said Thursday.The probe centres on the quality of police»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Sri Lankan armies on Thursday concluded a two-week joint counter-terror exercise “Shake Hands II” in the northwestern Tarbela city, the Pakistani military’s media wing said, noting that the event was aimed to harnessing military-to-military ties between both nations. Pakist»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Lusail SC has launched a new five-year strategy aimed at developing sporting talent and strengthening institutional growth, following the football team's historic promotion to the country's top division. The strategy for 2026-2030 was unveiled during a ceremony in Doha on Thurs»»»

Umm Al Quwain : Umm Al Quwain Police has honoured three Emirati motorists with the “Ideal Driver” award for 2026 in recognition of their decades-long commitment to safe driving and strict adherence to traffic laws. The recognition ceremony was held at the office of Major General Sheikh Rashid bin A»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is looking to restart Project Freedom this week after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait lifted restrictions on US access to military bases and airspace, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. On Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump announced Project Freedo»»»

ALGIERS: Algeria face a goalkeeping crisis for the ‌World Cup that they are hoping to alleviate with the return of a player from retirement. Oussama Benbot, retired from the national team after being an unused substitute at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the end of the year, could prove th»»»

ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran discussed diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the region, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday, amid hopes that a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran would end months of fighting that have disrupted global shipping lines and d»»»

Sofia, May 7 (BTA) - Caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski's team on Thursday presented a report on its activity, the Health Ministry said on Facebook. During the last two months, the Ministry terminated dubious public procurements lacking clarity and predictability. To protect the public int»»»

Washington, United States: The United States on Thursday urged Iran to free jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi after her supporters warned she was at risk of dying in custody. Mohammadi, 54, a human rights activist who has spent much of the past two decades behind bars, is believed to»»»

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her last press briefing before maternity leave at the White House in Washington on April 27. She gave birth to her second child May 1. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo May 7 (UPI) -- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Th»»»

Dubai: It began as a lesson in saving lives — and suddenly became a real-life emergency. At a training class in Appleton, emergency medical instructor Karl Arps was demonstrating the signs of cardiac distress to students when he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest — collapsing in front of the ver»»»

Tunis, May 7 (TAP) - “Boosting domestic tourism and neighbouring-country tourism is a priority at the current stage,” Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Sofiene Tekaya said at the opening of the first edition of the Tunisian Travel Market (TTM) on...»»»

Two Hamas sources told Asharq Al-Awsat the group’s leadership is weighing a temporary suspension of negotiations, citing what one source called “Israel’s lack of seriousness” in taking any steps to stop “its crimes and daily killings in Gaza.” Talks on the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which took effec»»»

An 85-year-old woman who used a wheelchair died on Thursday afternoon after becoming trapped inside an elevator at the apartment building where she lived in Kifissia, northern Athens. The circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear. According to initial reports, the woman’s wheelchair bec»»»

Tunis, May 7 (TAP) - The Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia (CONECT) warned against the increasing "cashification" of the Tunisian economy, considering that the simultaneous implementation of several reforms, in a context of strong...»»»