LONDON: When Omnicom Advertising and Google launched what they describe as the first artificial intelligence-powered creative intelligence system in the Middle East this April, the promise was unusual: that a machine could tell a creative director not just what was weak in an ad, but what it would »»»

BEIJING: Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Friday after spending nearly seven months in space and completing the handover with another crew earlier this week. The craft carrying Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang of the Shenzhou 21 crew touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in nor»»»

PARIS: Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine beat Viktorija Golubic 6-4, 6-3 Friday to reach the fourth round at the French Open for the second time, setting up a big match against four-time champion Iga Swiatek. The 15th-ranked player is in an excellent run of form and extended her winning streak on clay to 15»»»

Asharq Al-Awsat has obtained a document recently sent by Hamas to mediators regarding the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where escalating Israeli violations have killed more than 930 Palestinians since the deal took effect on October 10. Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday evening, cit»»»

Thai rescuers pulled a man from a cave in central Laos after he and six others had been trapped for nine days. Photo by Metta Tham Kalasin Rescue/EPA May 29 (UPI) -- One Laotian miner has been pulled from a cave in central Laos after being trapped for nine days underground, a Laotian rescue organiz»»»

Doha, Qatar: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani met with Singapore’s Minister for Defence and Coordinating Minister for Public Service HE Chan Chun Sing. The meeting took place on the sidelines of HE Deputy Prime Minist»»»

Finance ministers from the EU's six biggest economies (E6) agreed among themselves on Friday to support more centralized capital markets supervision, in a breakthrough crucial for deeper integration of Europe's fragmented capital markets. The push for financial market players to be supervised at a »»»

The Kardzhali District Prosecutor's Office issued an official statement in support of Deputy Prosecutor Dafin Kamenov regarding public statements made on May 28, 2026, concerning legal proceedings in the municipality of Kardzhali, in which his name was mentioned, the Plovdiv Appellate Prosecutor's »»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev Friday said that the European Commission would publish a report on June 3, launching an excessive deficit procedure against Bulgaria, which would lead to regular monitoring, restrictive measures and possible sanctions. "According to calculations and actual data submitted »»»

Four men were involved in a violent altercation in one of Budapest’s outer districts, during which firearms and knives were reportedly used. Several individuals were taken to hospital following the incident. Bladed weapons produced and shots fired in Budapest According to a police statement issued »»»

US President Donald Trump said he would make a final decision on Friday over a deal with Iran to extend their ceasefire that would need to include opening the Strait of Hormuz and dismantling Tehran's capacity to make a nuclear weapon. "I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final »»»

ANDORRA LA VELLA - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, who is on an official visit to Andorra, met with the country's FM Imma Tor Faus on Friday to discuss opportunities for strengthening political dialogue, cooperation in tourism, education and sustainable development, as well as EU integratio»»»

AMMAN: Jordan play at their first World Cup determined to show they belong at football’s top table and with Lionel Messi’s Argentina presenting the most daunting of prospects. Jamal Sellami’s side face Austria in a tough Group J on their World Cup debut on June 16, followed by Algeria and then reig»»»

* Hamas says Netanyahu’s plan equates to ethnic cleansing* Ceasefire deal left contentious issues unresolved* Analysts warn move risks ‌increase in violenceGAZA/CAIRO: Hamas said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that his country would expand its area of control»»»

BUDAPEST: Paris Saint-Germain’s injury worries have cleared up ahead of the Champions League final against Arsenal on Saturday. PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé has been managing a calf issue in the final weeks of the season but the reigning Ballon d’Or winner said Friday he is “100 percent ready and ra»»»

The United Nations on Friday added Israel and Russia to a UN blacklist of countries suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict zones, a move that prompted Israel's foreign ministry to say it would sever all ties with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Guterres' annual report to the UN »»»

Towns and villages in more than half of France have smashed temperature records for the month of May over the past week during an unusually early heatwave, a climatologist said Friday. "More than half of France has experienced at least one monthly heat record -- whether in minimum and/or maximum te»»»

The Regional Forestry Directorate in Varna has issued a ten-day deadline for the removal of fences surrounding illegal structures in the Baba Alino area near the coastal city, Agriculture and Food Minister Plamen Abrovski told a parliamentary hearing on Friday. Earlier this week, Abrovski, along wi»»»

Widespread reporting on Thursday that the Department of Justice was investigating Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll is being denied Friday by the U.S. Attorney out of Chicago. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo May 29 (UPI) -- Reports that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago is investig»»»

AUCKLAND: Auckland FC goalkeeper Michael Woud has ‌had to put his wedding plans on hold after being selected in New Zealand’s squad for the World Cup, but he says taking part in soccer’s biggest tournament is not a bad reason to cancel. Woud got engaged a year ago when he had little inkling he woul»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was now making a “final” decision on whether or not to strike a peace deal with Iran. “I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination,” Trump said in a lengthy social media post, stressing that Iran must agree neve»»»

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was now making a "final" decision on whether or not to strike a peace deal with Iran. "I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination," Trump said in a lengthy social media post, stressing that Iran must agree never to have nu»»»

Eleven children have been killed or injured on average every 24 hours in Lebanon over the last week, the UN's children's agency said on Friday, as Israel has expanded strikes across the country despite a ceasefire. Heavy Israeli strikes hit towns and villages in southern Lebanon overnight on Wednes»»»

The UN warned on Friday that an Israeli plan to take control of 70 percent of Gaza is sure to increase suffering among children already hit by the impacts of severe overcrowding. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had ordered the military to take control of more terr»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday that a ceasefire with Israel was crucial, as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations meet at the Pentagon. A statement from Aoun's office said that during a phone call, the president "emphasized the need to exert all »»»

US President Donald Trump is set to escalate Washington’s economic pressure campaign on Cuba in an attempt to force regime change, Axios reported on Friday, citing sources. The island is already enduring near-total fuel starvation and daily blackouts stretching up to 20 hours. The US has thus far o»»»

This week, as UK Labour’s destructive leadership contest intensified, former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair staged a remarkable intervention in which he single-handedly sought to save the party from political oblivion. Blair’s dramatic intrusion into Labour politics took the form of a 5,600-word »»»

MINA: This year’s Hajj pilgrims completed the second day of Tashreeq on Friday, following the ritual stoning of the three pillars at the Jamarat complex in Mina. Almost 1.71 million pilgrims have performed Hajj this year, with the majority taking part in the stoning ritual with ease and comfort, th»»»

Parliament on Friday adopted conclusively an Act on Counteracting Corruption among Persons Holding Public Office, which establishes a new Anti-Corruption Commission. The Commission’s members are to be elected within one month of the Act’s entry into force. One member will be elected by the National»»»

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev held a meeting with investors led by He Ruqiu, a representative of the Chinese mining company Hunan Global South Industry. The Cabinet of Ministers’ press service reported. The parties discussed the possibility of implementing mi»»»

Paris, France: Towns and villages in more than half of France have smashed temperature records for the month of May over the past week during an unusually early heatwave, a climatologist said Friday. "More than half of France has experienced at least one monthly heat record -- whether in minimum an»»»

Hamas said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration that his country would expand its area of control in Gaza was a dangerous escalation, as residents of the Palestinian territory also voiced alarm at the plan. Under a ceasefire deal in October Israel's military was to»»»

MINA: The Grand Mosque is undergoing intensive operational preparations to manage pilgrims’ movement during Tawaf Al-Wada, the farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba, which marks the conclusion of Hajj for most of this year’s 1.71 million pilgrims. In Islamic jurisprudence, pilgrims who perform»»»

The Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) opened the two-day regular session of its 68th General Assembly here on Friday. Among the participants were BRC Chairman Hristo Grigorov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy Nataliya Efremova, Deputy Health Minister Petko Salchev, State Agency for Refugees Chairman Iv»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov spoke at the expanded meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, calling for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to become a platform for technological partnership and joint innovation. According to the head of state, the global economy is under»»»

Match of the national football team of Kyrgyzstan against Kenya, scheduled for June 3 in Bishkek, has been cancelled. According to the Kyrgyz Football Union, the game was scheduled to be held as part of the international Three Nations Cup tournament. The match’s cancellation was confirmed by an off»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Ports Group and NYU Abu Dhabi are partnering to develop an artificial intelligence-powered system designed to improve ship arrival planning, berth allocation and port efficiency. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The multi-year research collaboration»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese and Israeli military delegations got security talks at the Pentagon underway on Friday, during which Beirut will demand Israel halt its attacks, which have intensified in recent days. The talks come as the US and Hezbollah’s backer Iran were negotiating, with Tehran insisting the f»»»

QUITO: Children of all ages rush ‌on to a soccer field in southern Quito to train, inspired by the achievements of their biggest role model, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo, and driven by the dream of one day playing in a World Cup like their idol. The children, aged between five and 16, have bee»»»

Dubai: UAE travellers heading to Europe should gear up for a long wait of at least five to six hours at European airports, as the rollout of the EU’s new electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) plunges major hubs into operational disruptions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»

Parliament approved on first reading a bill amending the Water Act, submitted by Georgi Chakurov and a group of MPs. The proposed amendments were backed by 120 lawmakers from Progressive Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), while 54 MPs from GERB-UDF, Democratic Bulgaria, We Con»»»

A fire in a New York train tunnel Friday morning injured five and shut down commutes between New York and New Jersey. File Photo by Justin Lane/EPA May 29 (UPI) -- An early morning fire in an Amtrak contractor maintenance vehicle has injured five people and suspended all Penn Station service betwee»»»

BELGRADE - In a temporary measure, a Hamburg court has banned Germany's Der Spiegel magazine from continuing to publish and disseminate allegations creating a suspicion of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's involvement in an alleged "human safari" during a wartime siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, »»»

MADRID: Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez is stepping down, two days after the modest Spanish club lost the Conference League final. Pérez led Rayo, a small neighborhood-based club from Madrid, to their first major final where they fell 1-0 to Crystal Palace. Rayo president Martín Presa confirmed Fr»»»

BUENOS AIRES: ‌World Cup fever in Argentina, home of the defending champions, has boosted sales of counterfeit jerseys and soccer trading cards, sparking protests from retailers who are already under pressure from President Javier Milei’s market-opening policies. The main shopping streets of Buenos»»»

LONDON: Erling Haaland propelled Norway back to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and spearheads a golden generation ready to thrive on the global stage. Despite a tough draw alongside one of the tournament favorites France, African powerhouses Senegal and Iraq, a Norway side also contai»»»

MOSCOW: A court in Russia’s Moscow region has sentenced a manager at The Walt Disney Company to two years and six months in prison on drugs charges, Russia’s state TASS news agency said Friday. The employee, named in Russian media outlets as 46-year-old Jugal Daterao, was found in possession of “na»»»

MINA: Saudi Arabia has delivered more than 712 million essential items to markets and retail outlets in Makkah and the holy sites as part of a large-scale supply operation to serve pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season. “The supplies included more than 328.9 million bottles of drinking water, 153»»»

HAKIMPUR: Hasina Bibi clutched her hungry four-year-old daughter as she waited at an India-Bangladesh border post, trying to leave as fears grow of an Indian crackdown on undocumented migrants. She is among the hundreds of Bangladeshis who have gathered over two days at Hakimpur in India’s West Ben»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE and Eswatini have signed a memorandum of understanding on the mutual exemption of entry visa requirements, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and facilitating travel between the two countries. The agreement was signed on behalf of the UAE by Sheikh Shakhboot bin»»»