First lady Melania Trump, pictured last month during the Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit at the White House, on Thursday delivered a statement denying a friendship with deceased sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, in addition to denying that she "was a victim" of his or that he intr»»»

Paris, France: From bistro counters to luxury hotels, the humble Parisian ham sandwich or "jambon beurre" has undergone a dramatic luxury makeover. Once the no-frills lunch of hurried, cash-strapped workers, the humble ham and butter baguette has in recent years become a gourmet classic. When he wa»»»

“Mexico must guarantee its sovereignty. And a fundamental part of sovereignty is energy sovereignty,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated. Photo by Isaac Esquivel/EPA April 9 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a major shift in the country's energy policy aimed at r»»»

DOHA: A team of four, including referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim from Qatar have been named among a record 170 match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the decisive rounds of the AFC Champions League. FIFA on Thursday named 52 referees for the World Cup in the summer, including Poland's Szymon»»»

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Spain’s Repsol Libya Branch (REMSA) announced a new oil discovery yesterday within REMSA’s contractual obligations with the NOC. The discovery follows the drilling of the exploratory well “J1-4/130” in Contract Area “131/130” in the Murzuq Basin (800 km so»»»

Commenting on yesterday’s three announcements of new oil and gas discoveries by Sonatrach, Repsol and Eni, the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Masoud Suleiman, affirmed that the new discoveries made in the Murzuq and Ghadames basins, as well as the offshore area, reflect the signifi»»»

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Italy’s Eni North Africa announced yesterday the successful drilling of a new gas discovery in offshore Block D (Contract D). The NOC and Eni North Africa, the operator of Contract 4/16, have successfully completed drilling the exploration well (J1-4/16), resu»»»

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) has convened the Industrial Resilience and Supply Chain Continuity Forum in Abu Dhabi, bringing together ministers, senior officials, industry leaders, and financial institutions to accelerate coordinated responses to mounting global trade an»»»

Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group has announced plans to develop a new commercial tower within Al Habtoor City in Dubai, with an investment exceeding Dh5 billion. The project forms part of the group’s broader expansion strategy in the UAE, as it continues to strengthen its footprint in key sectors acros»»»

A demonstrator faces off with police officers during a protest against Glacier Law reform near Congress in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA April 9 (UPI) -- Argentina's Chamber of Deputies approved Thursday a reform of the Glacier Law that loosens environmental protect»»»

Doha, Qatar: FIFA has announced the list of referees appointed to officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup finals, which will kick off next June and be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with an expanded 48-team tournament for the first time in its history. The list included a notable »»»

By a final ruling issued on Thursday, Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) left without consideration two motions entered by the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) in a case concerning Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov. A duplicate copy of the ruling will»»»

The social system in Bulgaria has been left to drift instead of addressing people's problems, said Ivaylo Papov, top-of-the-list candidate of Vazrazhdane in the 6th multi-member constituency in Vratsa, the party's press office said on Thursday. According to Papov, the system tends to sustain proble»»»

Skopje, 7 April 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska met Tuesday in Washington with representatives of the Chevron Corporation, dedicated to the enhancement of energy cooperation and ensuring stable and diversified supply with oil and liquified natural gas»»»

Former New York Police Department Sgt. Erik Duran was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the killing of 30-year-old Eric Duprey in 2023. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- A former New York Police Department sergeant was sentence»»»

People flee from areas the Israeli army has warned could come under attack in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday. Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 9 (UPI) -- Lebanese officials engaged Thursday in intensive diplomatic contacts to confirm the country's inclusion in the Pakistan-mediated U.»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have intensified their visible security presence across the emirate, deploying 379 mounted patrols during the first quarter of 2026, covering residential, commercial and tourist areas. The patrols, carried out by the Mounted Police Station, are part of ongoing efforts to enhance»»»

Writer Lyuben Dilov Jr, top-of-the-list candidate of GERB-UDF for Burgas constituency, has donated nearly 500 books, including signed editions, to the Regional Library Peyo K. Yavorov in Burgas, the institution said. The donation includes works by Bulgarian authors such as Dora Gabe, Elisaveta Bagr»»»

Traffic has been building up on major routes out of Athens, as thousands of holidaymakers leave the capital for the Greek Easter. By Thursday afternoon, vehicles were moving at slow speeds on key motorways amid increasing congestion. Along Kifissos Avenue, traffic heading north towards Lamia had co»»»

The Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastian Elcano, carrying Spanish Crown Princess Leonor, arrives in the port of El Callao in Peru in April 2025. File Photo by John Reyes/EPA April 9 (UPI) -- Peru's government approved issuing sovereign bonds worth up to about $1.2 billion to finance expansion »»»

As Israeli forces press deeper into Syrian territory along the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights, a Syrian official source told Asharq Al-Awsat that increased patrols by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) stem from the 1974 disengagement agreement, not new understand»»»

Damascus, April 9 (SANA) With the participation of more than 120 local, Arab, and international companies, the 4th Syria International Exhibition for Agricultural Mechanization, Livestock, and Agricultural Production Supplies, themed “Agro Syria,” opened Thursday at Damascus Fairgrounds. The event »»»

A total of 101 cases of measles have been registered in Bulgaria, the Health Ministry announced on Facebook on Thursday. The cases have been reported in five regions of the country. The biggest number of cases have been registered in Vratsa - 80. Twelve cases have been reported in the Pleven Region»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has recorded three violations at a central market involving pricing non-compliance, commercial fraud, and misleading practices. In a statement on social media, the Ministry said that legal measures have been taken against the Al Sailiya Cent»»»

1 of 3 | Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber arrives at the COP28 Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 30, 2023. As CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, he said the Strait of Hormuz is not unconditionally open. File Photo by Ali Haider/EPA-EFE April 9 (UPI) -- The Strait of Hormuz is not »»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible if the United States complies with its obligations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday. "Safe passage of vessels through this waterway, based on regulations and in coordination with the Ir»»»

1 of 2 | Disney plans to lay off up to 1,000 employees and cut their positions, focusing largely on its marketing department. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- Disney plans to lay off up to 1,000 employees and cut their positions, focusing largely on its marketing de»»»

In a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he authorized direct negotiations “as soon as possible” with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the two countries. "In light of Lebanon'»»»

Tunis, April 9 (TAP) - President Kais Saied on Thursday presided over a ceremony at the Martyrs’ Garden in Sijoumi, Tunis, to mark the 88th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day, which commemorates the events of 9 April 1938.The Head of State saluted the flag...»»»

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the new Wages Protection System in the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced the inclusion of four new financial institutions in the system, further strengthening wage management efficiency and expanding options for employers.»»»

A 300-million-year-old tentacled sea creature has lost its crown as the world’s oldest octopus, after scientists found evidence that it’s not an octopus at all. Newly published research concludes that fossilized remains listed by Guinness World Records as the earliest known octopus belong instead t»»»

The administration of US President Donald Trump is “weaponizing Christianity” to justify its actions in the Middle East, while Israel continues to act with impunity as much of the West turns a blind eye, Irish activist and satirist Tadhg Hickey has said. Appearing on RT’s East Meets West show, host»»»

On 28 February 2026, the first day of the US-Israeli war, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, along with several senior military figures and members of his family. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was wounded in the same strike that also killed Mojtaba’s mother, Mansoureh Khojast»»»

NEW YORK - Addressing a UN Security Council session on the work of UNMIK, the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday its presence continued to serve as a key guarantee of peace, stability and protection of the fundamental human rights of Serbs living in the province»»»

Not so long ago, US President Donald Trump openly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the Hungarian parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. From a diplomatic standpoint, urging citizens of another country to vote for a specific candidate is contentious, to say the least.»»»

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is seeking to have OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman fired as part of his lawsuit against the artificial intelligence giant, court documents filed on Tuesday show. The mogul sued OpenAI in 2024, accusing it of defrauding him of $38 million in initial fundi»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahariya and its surroundings 09-04-2026 18:58 PM Latest News Urgent News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Football Association's (QFA) Referees Committee held its ninth meeting today to discuss several agenda items, as part of its ongoing efforts to monitor progress and develop the refereeing system. During the meeting, the committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting, »»»

Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev met his supporters at Festivalna Sports Hall in Vidin, the coalition’s campaign headquarters announced on Thursday. Radev presented the formation as an alternative for restoring trust in the state. Among the main priorities, Radev highlighted the "dismantling»»»

Israeli forces shot and killed a young female student on Thursday while she was attending a class held in a tent in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, health and education officials said. The education ministry said third-grade student Ritaj Rihan was hit by a bullet in front of he»»»

At a campaign rally in Sopron, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech centered on national sovereignty, economic security, and the stakes of the upcoming election, presenting the vote as a decisive choice about Hungary’s future. Opening his remarks, Prime Minister Orbán stressed that the ca»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 15:45 on Thursday 09-04-2026 Misgav Am settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage: statem»»»

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Deputy Chair Atanas Merdzhanov told the leadership of the National Hunters' and Anglers' Union (NHAU) that protecting Bulgaria's nature, its forests and biodiversity are inherently left-wing values which the BSP – United Left coalition will uphold in the next parliam»»»

Public officials are attempting to exert improper influence over the electoral process, Bulgaria’s caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said at a briefing in Ruse. He cited specific cases involving a mayor in northwestern Bulgaria and a deputy mayor in a border town. “In one case in northwestern»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 15:00 on Thursday 09-04-2026 a Merkava tank on the Taybeh–Deir Siryan road near the school with a l»»»

London: A man who stole a handbag containing a Faberge egg and watch worth at least $2.8 million (£2.0 million) from a London establishment was jailed on Thursday for more than two years. Enzo Conticello, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and three counts of fraud. He wa»»»

Paris, France: The Cannes Film Festival unveiled its roster of films for this year's edition on Thursday packed with historical dramas, "gentleness" and even football, with the absence of major Hollywood studios set to dial down the American razzle-dazzle of previous editions. Festival director Thi»»»

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before the closing bell at the NYSE on Wall Street on March 3, in New York City. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revised the rate of economic growth for the fourth quarter of 2025 down Thursday due largely to slower-than-expected investm»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s real estate sector recorded a strong start to 2026, with total transactions reaching Dh252 billion in the first quarter, marking a 31 per cent year-on-year increase in value and a 6 per cent rise in volume. Data released by the Dubai Land Department showed that 60,303 real estate tra»»»

Dr. Akhtar described the situation the US finds itself in as "a strategic failure on all accounts." The United States is ready to make concessions to one degree or another, Professor of Political Economy Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar told Sputnik, commenting on Iran's 10-point settlement plan.Iranian dem»»»