Pakistan rejects reports of politically motivated UAE deportations as ‘fake news’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior ministry on Friday rejected reports circulating on social media that Pakistani nationals were being deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for political reasons, describing the claims as “vicious propaganda” and “fake news.” The statement came after a number of »»»
UAE, Austria energy ties grow as ADNOC expands OMV partnership
Abu Dhabi: Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker visited the headquarters of ADNOC in Abu Dhabi during his official trip to the UAE, as both countries strengthened their cooperation in energy, fuels and industrial sectors. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The visit cam»»»
Presidents of UAE and Finland discuss bilateral ties and regional developments
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call from Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, during which they discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties in support of mutual interests. The two sides affirmed their shared commit»»»
MoU signed on establishment of St Sava University
BELGRADE - The Republic of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church signed on Friday a MoU on cooperation on the establishment of a St Sava Serbian Orthodox University. The MoU was signed by Serbian Patriarch Porfirije and Serbian PM Djuro Macut at the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate in Belgrade. The s»»»
Maktoum bin Mohammed meets with CEO of Cartier
Dubai: Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, met Louis Ferla, CEO of luxury jewellery and watchmaker Cartier, to discuss opportunities in the UAE’s luxury retail sector. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»
Mbappe and Tchouameni join Real Madrid training ahead of Clasico
Paris, France: Kylian Mbappe trained on Friday after recovering from a hamstring injury ahead of the Clasico against Barcelona, with Aurelien Tchouameni also involved following his bust-up with teammate Federico Valverde. Top goalscorer Mbappe had been sidelined for two weeks but Real said the Fren»»»
Kuwait invests $3.7bn in Egypt
The Kuwaiti investments in Egypt amounted to $3.7 billion in the past year, increasing by $500 million until February 2017, the Egyptian attache in Kuwait, Medhat Adel, said according to the local Kuwaiti newspaper Alanba. He noted that the trade exchange between the two nations has reached $500 mi»»»
PM Radev Lists Recovery and Resilience Plan Funding and Reforms as Cabinet Priorities
Securing payments under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) and implementing real reforms are among the key priorities of Bulgaria’s new government, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during the cabinet’s first regular meeting. Radev highlighted the government's main focus areas, including»»»
U.K. health authorities: Third British national may have hantavirus - UPI.com
Ambulances and police at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport stand by to transport a British hantavirus patient evacuated from the cruise ship Hondius. On Friday, British authorities said they believed a third Briton had contracted the virus. File Photo by Michel van Bergen/EPA May 8 (UPI) -- A third Brit»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 13:15 on Friday 08-05-2026 a force belonging to the “Israeli” enemy army on Al-Bayyada–Buyout Al-Sayyad road with bombs dropped by a glider, directly hitting them: statement 7 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 13:15 on Friday 08-05-2026 a force belonging to the “Israeli” enemy army on Al-Bayyada–Buyout Al-Sa»»»
Man dies after fall from balcony in Athens’ Zografou district
A 62-year-old man died on Friday after falling from a second-floor balcony in Athens’ Zografou district, police said. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Initial findings have not indicated any signs of criminal activity.»»»
Greece probes mystery drone found off Ionian Sea island
Athens, Greece: Greece's military on Friday examined a sea drone found by fishermen off the Ionian island of Lefkada, the coastguard said. "After being alerted by the fisherman, a coast guard patrol vessel recovered this drone before handing it over to the defence ministry," a coastguard source tol»»»
U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased 115,000 in April; unemployment unchanged - UPI.com
Jobs in transportation and warehousing ticked up by 30,000 in April. As a whole, the sector is down by 105,000 jobs since February 2025. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo May 8 (UPI) -- Nonfarm payrolls in the United States increased more than expected in April, the Bureau of Labor S»»»
Brnabic receives UAE ambassador
BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with UAE Ambassador to Belgrade Ahmed Hatem Almenhali on Friday. They discussed an upcoming visit to Serbia by the speaker of the UAE Federal National Council, Saqr Ghobash, and "the next steps concerning the organisation of his stay in Belgrade»»»
‘Scapegoating’: Iran’s Bahais feel brunt of crackdown
PARIS: Peyvand Naimi was at work on January 8 when they came for him. Naimi, a member of Iran’s Bahai religious minority from Kerman in southeastern Iran, was hauled away to prison, accused of offenses he could not have committed and subjected to torture, according to supporters. When allowed a bri»»»
Shanto hits century as Bangladesh reaches 301-4 at stumps on 1st day of opening test vs. Pakistan
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s century put Bangladesh in a strong position on the opening day of the first cricket test against Pakistan on Friday. Shanto made 101 off 130 balls, including 12 fours and two sixes, to steer Bangladesh to 301-4 at stumps. Mominul Haque missed out h»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 15:10 on Friday 08-05-2026 a gathering of vehicles and soldiers belonging to the “Israeli” enemy army in Rashaf town with a rocket barrage: statement 8 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 15:10 on Friday 08-05-2026 a gathering of vehicles and soldiers belonging to the “Israeli” enemy ar»»»
Ivan Shishkov Takes Over as Bulgaria’s Regional Development Minister, Outlines Road Infrastructure Priorities
The newly appointed Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Shishkov, officially took over the post from his predecessor Nikolay Naydenov during a symbolic ceremony at the ministry on Friday. Shishkov said that among his first tasks will be addressing the poor condition of regional »»»
Spain reports suspected hantavirus case linked to cruise ship outbreak
Madrid, Spain: Spanish Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla said on Friday that the health authorities had taken relevant measures after detecting a suspected case of hantavirus in Alicante. The person traveled several weeks ago on the same flight as one of the infected individuals, Padilla»»»
Situation at Bushehr NPP in Iran Generally Calm - Rosatom CEO
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The situation at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Iran is generally calm, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Friday. "The situation at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant site is generally calm," Likhachev said, as quoted by Rosatom, adding»»»
Bournemouth drops Jiménez from the squad while investigating social-media posts
BOURNEMOUTH, England: Bournemouth have dropped Álex Jiménez from their squad for the Premier League game against Fulham on Saturday while the club investigate social-media posts involving the Spanish right back. Bournemouth said in a statement on Friday they were “aware of posts circulating on soci»»»
Saudi team departs for ISEF 2026
RIYADH: A 42-strong team of Saudi students set off for the US on Friday to compete against more than 1,700 participants from 70 countries at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2026, which takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, from May 9-15. Representing the Kingdom through the Mini»»»
Lebanese President Meets Delegation Chief ahead of Direct Israel Talks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday met with veteran diplomat Simon Karam, the head of the delegation headed to Washington for planned talks with Israel next week. Lebanon and Israel's US ambassadors had previously met twice in Washington over the past weeks, in an attempt to end the war that »»»
UK PM Starmer 'takes responsibility' for Labour election losses
London: UK leader Keir Starmer said Friday he took responsibility for "very tough" local election results that saw the hard-right make big gains, but vowed to carry on as prime minister. "I'm not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos," Starmer said, after his ruling Labour party lost»»»
Not Just Another Rocket: Why Fateh-3 Is Pakistan's First True Cruise Missile
The missiles represent a qualitative leap forward in the Fateh family — moving from rocket artillery to true cruise missile technology, an expert says. Pakistan has shown off its latest homegrown weapon: the Fateh-3, a supersonic cruise missile.Here’s what makes it stand out, according to media rep»»»
Lebanese president meets delegation chief ahead of direct Israel talks
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday met with veteran diplomat Simon Karam, the head of the delegation headed to Washington for planned talks with Israel next week. Lebanon and Israel’s US ambassadors had previously met twice in Washington over the past weeks, in an attempt to end the w»»»
Botswana ex-president Mogae dead at 86
GABORONE: Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae, who led the southern African country for a decade from 1998, winning praise for the fight against HIV/AIDS, has died at the age of 86, the presidency said on Friday. An economist who studied in Britain, he oversaw strong economic growth during his»»»
Iva Petrova Takes Over Energy Ministry, Pledges Focus on Stability and Security
"I wish you success and the will to endure," caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said on Friday, handing over the post to his successor in the newly elected regular government, Iva Petrova, the Energy Ministry reported. During a ceremony at the Ministry, Traikov outlined the main aspects of h»»»
Economy Minister Outlines Priorities As Food Inflation, Fuel Prices and Public Sector Oversight
Combating inflation in essential food products, measures against rising fuel prices, and a review of the activities of public enterprises, structures and agencies are among the main priorities of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry Alexander Pulev in the governmen»»»
Vucic, Belarusian ambassador discuss bilateral cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Belarusian Ambassador to Belgrade Sergey Malinovsky on Friday to discuss further advancement of bilateral cooperation, as well as important regional and global affairs. In an Instagram post, Vucic wrote that they had discussed cooperation in ed»»»
Rubio on Possible Troop Pullout From Europe: US Resources Not Unlimited
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, commenting on a possible troop pullout from Europe, that resources of the United States are limited and should be reassigned in line with national interests. "Our resources are not unlimited. We have to always assign resources»»»
Tokayev to Take Part in Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow - Kazakh President's Office
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Press Secretary of the Kazakh president Aibek Smadiyarov said on Friday. "President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the celebrations in Moscow commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Great »»»
Spain readies for evacuations as a hantavirus-hit cruise ship heads for the Canary Islands
MADRID: Spanish authorities on Friday were preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands, where health officials have said they will perform careful evacuations. The vessel is expected to reach the Spanish isl»»»
Sudan was already at war and hungry, and now its farmers are hit by another conflict
OMDURMAN: Two years after Sudan ‘s war forced him from his land, Omer Al-Hassan returned to rebuild his farm. But now a new conflict in the Middle East threatens to push him deeper into financial loss and food insecurity as fuel and fertilizer prices rise. Al-Hassan and other farmers in Sudan are b»»»
Israeli strikes kill 5 in south Lebanon including women, paramedic
An Israeli strike on Friday killed four people including two women in the southern Lebanon town of Toura, the health ministry said, as state media and AFP correspondents reported Israel was conducting widespread strikes. The Health Ministry in Lebanon said that an Israeli airstrike on the southern »»»
Rubio says U.S. won't negotiate with Hezbollah but with Lebanese state
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed Hezbollah Friday for the situation in Lebanon, accusing the group of being fully dependent on Iranian support. "The reason why Lebanon faces bombings, the reason why Lebanon faces violence, is because of Hezbollah. It is Hezbollah that’s imposing this on t»»»
Tunisia boosts renewable energy drive with planned solar projects in Sidi Bouzid, Gafsa, and Gabès
Tunis, May 8 (TAP) – The National Council of Regions and Districts will hold a plenary session on May 13 to examine and approve five draft laws related to concession agreements for electricity generation from photovoltaic power plants in the...»»»
Three-Member Committee Negotiates With Washington on Disarming Iraqi Factions
Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that an Iraqi committee comprising three senior figures is close to finalizing an “executive plan” to disarm armed factions, ahead of presenting it to US officials in the coming days. As the process coincides with expected changes in the leadership of key security agenci»»»
In photos: May the 4th: Fans celebrate 'Star Wars' in Japan - All Photos - UPI.com
By Wade SheridanFans in costume gather to celebrate "Star Wars Day" in Yokohama, Japan, on Monday. The May the 4th event drew crowds of all ages paying tribute to the iconic sci-fi saga with cosplay and galactic flair. A "Star Wars" fan takes a selfie with another fan dressed as Chewbacca during a »»»
Trump threatens 'much higher' EU tariffs if deal not signed by July 4 - UPI.com
President Donald Trump warned of higher tariffs against the European Union if it does not agree on the terms of the Turnberry Accord by July 4. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo May 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs to "much higher levels" on the European Union if»»»
Amnesty International Researcher Calls for Halt to Arms Transfer to ‘Israel’
One month after Israeli so-called “Eternal Darkness” operation unleashed the largest coordinated wave of strikes across Lebanon, justice remains out of reach for the victims, said Sahar Mandour of Amnesty International on Friday. “On April 8, Israeli forces struck around 100 sites across Lebanon wi»»»
US military says over 70 ships blocked from entering or leaving Iranian ports
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said more than 70 vessels are currently being prevented from entering or leaving Iranian ports as part of an ongoing US-led maritime blockade. In a post on X, CENTCOM said: “There are currently more than 70 tankers that US forces are preventing from entering or leaving »»»
Pakistan firms explore US investment opportunities at business summit in Maryland
ISLAMABAD: Sixteen Pakistani companies participated in the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit in the US state of Maryland this week, exploring investment and expansion opportunities in sectors ranging from technology and textiles to food processing and manufacturing, according to a statement issued o»»»
UAE banks rolled out Dh6.2b in relief support, here’s who benefited
Abu Dhabi: Central Bank of the UAE announced on Friday the latest results of its comprehensive proactive support package aimed at strengthening the resilience of financial institutions and supporting customers affected by economic disruptions. The central bank said the total value of facilities ben»»»
Election Commission Announces New MPs Who Will Replace Cabinet Ministers in Parliament
The Central Election Commission announced on Friday the names of the members of parliament who will take the places of the nine deputies from Progressive Bulgaria who were elected as ministers in the cabinet of Rumen Radev. Under the Constitution, members of parliament may not hold another public o»»»
Armed Forces Modernization and Infrastructure Improvement Top New Defence Minister's List of Priorities
Care for defence personnel, modernization of the Bulgarian Armed Forces and the improvement of infrastructure will be the main priorities in the work of the new Minister of Defence, Dimitar Stoyanov, his ministry reported on Friday. Taking over from Atanas Zapryanov, who held the post in the outgoi»»»
Qatar urges diplomacy and collective security at Italy Forum on EU-GCC relations
Milan, Spain: - Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Majed Mohammed Al Ansari has called for greater international cooperation and renewed diplomatic engagement to address growing regional and global instability. Speaking at a session in Milan titled»»»
South Africa’s top court revives Ramaphosa cash scandal, paving way for impeachment
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s highest court has set aside lawmakers’ vote to reject a report that found credible evidence of wrongdoing by President Cyril Ramaphosa related to a long-running cash scandal, paving the way for impeachment proceedings against him. Ramaphosa survived a motion to face imp»»»
Rubio says US expecting Iran response Friday
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday slammed Iranian efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz, following a report that Tehran has created an authority to approve transit through the vital waterway. "Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control, an international waterway.»»»
'Secret Highway' to Mars Could Cut Journey Time to 153 Days
Astronomers have identified a new space corridor that could cut hundreds of days from the journey to Mars by taking advantage of a natural route followed by some asteroids as they travel between planets. The distance between Earth and Mars constantly changes depending on their positions and orbital»»»