Hamas described as “positive” an initial meeting held by its delegation on Wednesday evening with mediators in Egypt to discuss a new Gaza ceasefire proposal. Asharq Al-Awsat reviewed a message sent by Hamas to Palestinian factions describing the talks as “a preliminary, frank, clear and brief meet»»»

The Israeli army said Thursday that a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, the fourth such death since a fragile ceasefire took effect there earlier this month. Sergeant Liem Ben Hemo, 19, "died in combat in the south of Lebanon", the army said in a statement, adding that another soldier was wou»»»

US President Donald Trump faces a deadline on Friday to end the Iran war or make the case to Congress for extending it, but the date is most likely to pass without altering the course of a conflict that has lapsed into a standoff over shipping routes. Ending the war appears highly unlikely. Instead»»»

Britain and other north European states will create naval force outside of NATO to counter Russia, first sea lord and chief of naval staff in the UK, General Gwyn Jenkins, has said. Moscow has repeatedly denied what it calls ‘hysterical’ claims it plans to attack NATO states or anywhere in Western »»»

Pakistan's IT minister, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, says the government has signed agreements with Central Asian states, aiming to establish Pakistan as a regional hub for data transit. Pakistan's IT minister, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has announced that agreements have been signed with Central Asian countri»»»

MADRID: A disciplined Mirra ‌Andreeva saw off a late challenge from Hailey Baptiste to prevail 6-4 7-6(8) in a battle of nerves on Thursday to reach the final of the Madrid Open. Andreeva, who turned 19 on Wednesday, will face Marta Kostyuk or Anastasia Potapova in the final of the claycourt tourna»»»

Israel on Thursday said that dozens of activists intercepted by the Israeli military from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters off Crete would be taken to Greek shores where they would disembark. Israel's foreign ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 2»»»

BRUSSELS: The Iran ‌war is “supercharging” the world’s shift to renewable energy, as countries scramble to reduce their exposure to volatile oil and gas markets, the ​UN climate secretary said on Thursday. The US-Israeli war with Iran has upended oil and gas supplies, prompting some countries to ra»»»

Omoda and Jaecoo, the dual-brand venture from Chinese auto giant Chery Group, has announced that its cumulative global sales, as of April 2026, have surpassed 1 million units, setting the fastest million-unit record for a young automotive brand in global industry history. The landmark achievement w»»»

LONDON: Amazon said on Thursday that restoring cloud computing ​operations in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which have been damaged during the conflict in the Middle East, is expected to take several months. Amazon’s data centers in the region were hit by Iranian ‌drone strikes in early ‌Ma»»»

BRUSSELS: The Iran ‌war is “supercharging” the world’s shift to renewable energy, as countries scramble to reduce their exposure to volatile oil and gas markets, the ​UN climate secretary said on Thursday. The US-Israeli war with Iran has upended oil and gas supplies, prompting some countries to ra»»»

Dozens of residents and local officials from southern Lebanon gathered in Beirut on Thursday to protest Israel's destruction of their villages, which has been ongoing despite a fragile ceasefire. Before and after the truce agreed on April 17 in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has been »»»

Israel's defense minister on Thursday said his country may soon have to "act again" against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic "does not once again become a threat to Israel". "US President Donald Trump, in coordination with (Israeli) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading the efforts to a»»»

Dozens of residents and local officials from southern Lebanon gathered in Beirut on Thursday to protest Israel's destruction of their villages, which has been ongoing despite a fragile ceasefire. Before and after the truce agreed on April 17 in the war between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has been »»»

Dubai: US President Donald Trump has been labelled “NACHO” — short for “Not A Chance Hormuz Opens” — as criticism grows over his handling of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Coined by Javier Blas, the term reflects scepticism that Washington can secure a breakthrough as the on-and-off blockade disrupts»»»

A US naval blockade of Iranian ports has shrunk Tehran's oil exports, stranding a growing stockpile of crude on tankers as Iranian storage sites run out of space, shipping data showed and analysts said. With some vessels switching off tracking systems and US forces turning back Iranian tankers, how»»»

Washington, United States: Spotify on Thursday unveiled a new verification system designed to help listeners distinguish human musicians from AI-generated content, as artificial intelligence floods streaming platforms with a growing volume of synthetic tracks. The Swedish streaming giant said its "»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC Aerospace Force Chief: US Warships’ Fate to Be Like That of US Bases 30-04-2026 19:08 PM The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard»»»

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum EPA-EFE/Sashanka Gutierrez April 30 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly backed Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Justice accused him of alleged ties to organized crime. During her morning press conference, Sh»»»

As geopolitical instability exposes the deep entanglement between energy, food systems, and global security, Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Delphine Lévi Alvarès, Petrochemicals Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Joining us from a high-level summit in Col»»»

BERLIN: Four teams are vying to join Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League next season and a host more are fighting for survival in the Bundesliga. Last-placed Heidenheim could be relegated this weekend, possibly replaced by second-division leader Schalke, which can seal promo»»»

Even as Iran squeezes world energy supplies with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, its own oil industry is increasingly being threatened by an American blockade. With no way to export the oil it is pumping out and diminishing room to store it at home, Iran may be forced to dramatically reduce »»»

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ‌on Thursday that the billions of dollars the United States owes to the world body is “non-negotiable,” after reports that Washington had placed ​conditions on releasing the funds. The development newswire Devex reported this week that two dipl»»»

MILAN: Inter Milan could be Serie A champion before they even kick a ball against Parma on Sunday. Cristian Chivu’s team have a 10-point advantage over second-placed Napoli and 12 over AC Milan, with four rounds remaining. A home win on Sunday night would guarantee Inter the title. A point could ev»»»

NEW YORK CITY: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday he was “deeply concerned” that disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz were inflicting damage that will be felt for years. Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, he said that although a fragi»»»

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said ‌on Thursday that the billions of dollars the United States owes to the world body is “non-negotiable,” after reports that Washington had placed ​conditions on releasing the funds. The development newswire Devex reported this week that two dipl»»»

Dubai: On a regular Thursday evening, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, took to X with a message that was short but struck a deep chord. "The soul of Dubai is found in »»»

CAIRO — Egypt has secured a significant new industrial investment as Alpha Smart signed an agreement with the Suez Canal Economic Zone to develop an integrated ready-factories complex in the Sokhna industrial zone, according to an official statement issued by the authority. The signing ceremony, he»»»

Global gold prices showed relative stability on 30 April 2026, following recent declines, as investors recalibrated expectations around US monetary policy and escalating geopolitical risks in the Middle East. Gold traded near $4,550–$4,590 per ounce, after falling by 3.4% over three sessions and br»»»

The US dollar surged sharply against the Egyptian pound in mid-session trading on Thursday, nearing the EGP 54 level, driven by a combination of domestic liquidity pressures and sustained global dollar strength. According to latest bank data, the National Bank of Egypt recorded EGP 53.77 for buying»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, April 30, 2026: First, the Golders Green attack features on all the British front pages. Next, King Charles's speech to the US Congress is hailed as a master class in subtle diplomacy. In Germany, papers discuss the latest feud between the US president and the German c»»»

Greece ranks as the worst offender in the EU on media freedoms, followed closely by Cyrus — which currently holds the bloc’s six-month rotating EU presidency. The findings, published on Thursday (30 April) by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, point to an unprecedented global decline in pre»»»

NEW YORK: UN experts on Thursday expressed grave concern that sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians has become a systematic tool of control, warning it is contributing to displacement and may amount to serious violations of international law. The experts said such violence is being »»»

Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and special presidential representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries was right in his forecast of rising oil prices and its consequences, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said. “Kirill Dmitrie»»»

Windrose, a pirate-themed survival game, developed by Uzbekistan’s Kraken Express Studio, generated revenue of $30mn within 10 days of release, Rutab.net has reported. On early-access release, the video game repo»»»

HARET SAIDA, Lebanon: The warnings to flee come suddenly: Texts pinging thousands of phones, automated calls from strange numbers, hard-to-read maps shared on social media by an Israeli military spokesperson. Some maps cover broad swaths of Lebanon; others show specific buildings. Sometimes there i»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said Thursday it will fund LIV Golf only through the remainder of the 2026 season, according to a statement seen by Arab News. PIF said the level of long-term investment required by LIV Golf was no longer aligned with its current strategy, citing shifti»»»

The bluebuck, an antelope with a silvery slate-blue coat and striking horns, inhabited the coastal grasslands of South Africa's southwestern Cape region until European settlers hunted it to extinction in around 1800. A US company now plans to resurrect the bluebuck as part of its de-extinction effo»»»

Overlapping media leaks from within Hezbollah on activating “martyrdom fighters” (suicide operatives) have raised questions about the next phase on the southern front, amid talk of non-traditional combat options that echo the warfare of the 1980s. Media leaks citing military sources within Hezbolla»»»

Some of the 20 ships hoisting the Palestinian flag dock in the port in Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 1, 2025. The Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces on Thursday near the Greek island of Crete. File Photo by Quique Garcia/EPA April 30 (UPI) -- Israeli forces intercepted and boarded»»»

Sheriff Susan Hutson has been charged with 30 felonies in the May 2025 escape of 10 jail prisoners. Photo courtesy of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department April 30 (UPI) -- A New Orleans sheriff and her jail's chief financial officer face multiple charges relating to a May 2025 escape of 10 inma»»»

The leaders of major media companies around the world, including The Associated Press, are calling on Israel's government to lift a ban keeping foreign journalists from being able to independently enter and report from Gaza, a barrier that's been in place since the war's start in 2023 and continues»»»

Italy’s Culture Ministry is investigating the Venice Biennale, the world's most prestigious art festival, after event organizers announced that Russia would be allowed to return to the event after a 4 year ban, Italian media reported on Wednesday. Russia’s group exhibition, “The tree is rooted in t»»»

A gas station in Berlin, Germany, displays the latest per liter prices for petrol, diesel and LPG on Thursday after oil prices on global markets surged to their highest level since 2022. Photo by Filip Singer/EPA April 30 (UPI) -- Oil prices briefly topped $126 a barrel in Asian trade overnight as »»»

Dubai: Dubai Miracle Garden, the world's largest natural flower-themed garden, is preparing to wrap up its Season 14 with a farewell celebration throughout the month of May. As the garden begins its seasonal transition and preparations for the next Season 15, visitors are invited to make the most o»»»

CAIRO: Egypt has collected about 729,344 metric tons of locally grown wheat since its domestic procurement season opened two weeks ago, official data showed on Thursday. The cumulative ‌intake from ‌local farmers is ‌13 percent ⁠ahead of the same ⁠period in 2025 but 26.9 percent below 2024 levels. »»»

Former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes resigned from his post as CEO of Trump Media and Technology Group Wednesday as the company’s losses topped $1 billion. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo April 22 (UPI) -- Former Republican Rep. Devin Nunes resigned from his post as CEO of Trump Media an»»»

The EU Pay Transparency Directive will help businesses attract and retain top talent by introducing clear rules and fairness in remuneration, Deputy Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova said at the Next Level HR forum, the Ministry's press centre reported on Thursday. Efremova noted »»»

In a corner of the courtyard of a public school in Sanaa, a woman dressed in black stands, once used to seeing her son in the morning assembly line. Today, she returns to the same place not as a mother, but as a cleaner trying to keep what remains of her life intact. She wipes the ground in heavy s»»»

The price of Brent crude oil rose to $126 on Thursday as US-Iran talks stalled and reports that US President Donald Trump may extend the blockade of Iranian ports. It hit $126.3 for the first time since March 2022, when the Ukraine conflict escalated. Prices later eased to $125.30. The price of Wes»»»