US President Donald Trump has publicly mocked his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron’s relationship with his wife, Brigitte, sparking outrage in France. Trump made the remarks during a private White House lunch on Wednesday, the feed from which may have been accidentally posted online. Trump was he»»»

US President Donald Trump has called the war on Iran an investment in the future of American children as he delivered his first address to the nation since the start of the conflict a month ago. In his speech on Wednesday, Trump claimed that Washington was never looking for regime change in Tehran,»»»

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has ordered the administrative closure of Desert Breeze Cafe in the Al Dhafra region, citing repeated food safety violations that pose a risk to public health. The outlet, located in Madinat Zayed Western Souk, was found to be in breach of Abu Dha»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 20:00 on Thursday, 02-04-2026, a gathering of “Israeli” enemy soldiers and vehicles in Shamaa town »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Yemeni Ballistic Missiles Hit Tel Aviv, Armed Forces Consider Updating Strikes 02-04-2026 22:07 PM The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out on T»»»

Eighteen European countries on Thursday urged Israel and Hezbollah to stop fighting as their latest conflict reached one month and with fears over Israeli plans to control part of southern Lebanon post-war. "Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Hezbollah's attacks must cease," the foreign min»»»

U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher on Thursday expressed concern that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon could be long-lasting, potentially resulting in a "fresh occupation." "One depressing impression I had, and I think it's shared by so many people in Lebanon -- there was a se»»»

International Organization for Migration chief Amy Pope told AFP on Thursday in Beirut that the prospects for prolonged mass displacement in Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah are at war, were "very alarming". "I think those prospects are very alarming because you look right now at the level of de»»»

Amid mounting geopolitical tensions threatening global supply chains, particularly disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia is stepping up efforts to shield its economy by strengthening private sector readiness to withstand external shocks. Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that the Federation o»»»

New measures for the hospitality sector and wider economy announced this week by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, are set to strengthen business resilien»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday the tallest bridge in Iran had been destroyed, hours after threatening to bomb the country "back to the Stone Ages." Trump posted footage on social media of smoke rising from the B1 bridge in Karaj, around 20 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of Tehran -- and»»»

1 of 3 | Police in California responded to a report of a trespasser drinking outside a resident's home and discovered an April Fools' Day dummy. Photo courtesy of the Laguna Beach Police Department April 2 (UPI) -- Police in California responded to a report of a trespasser drinking outside a reside»»»

The fire service received more than 1,100 calls between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon as Storm Erminio continued to sweep across much of Greece, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and widespread disruption, largely from trees toppled by strong winds. The storm has claimed one life – a man found unde»»»

For families with children under the age of 18, the main risk cited is that of a difficult situation arising within the family. In this context, the analysis revealed that life insurance has great potential and can be an important financial solution for alleviating concerns about insufficient incom»»»

1 of 5 | Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives to hear President Donald Trump deliver a prime-time address to the nation from the Cross Hall in the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday. Pool photo by Alex Brandon/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump fired Attorney Genera»»»

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev met with Japan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Chikahisa Sumi on Thursday to discuss cooperation opportunities in key areas that included infrastructure development, improvement of urban environment, and cultural exchange and education, the municipality reported. The Mayor prese»»»

The Arab League strongly condemned on Thursday the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a law allowing the execution of Palestinian prisoners. It urged the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council, to act urgently to compel Israe»»»

Dubai: UK exam board OxfordAQA has cancelled all International GCSE and International A Level exams in the UAE for the May/June 2026 series. The announcement came in an email to UAE schools on Thursday, signed by Rob Bryson, Director of International Delivery, and seen by Gulf News. “After consulti»»»

Iranian authorities Thursday executed a teenager convicted over January protests after a fast-track trial rights groups labelled as "grossly unfair", as the country ramps up executions during the war with the US and Israel. Amir Hossein Hatami, 18, was sentenced to death in February along with six »»»

The East Wing of the White House was demolished in October. The National Planning Commission will meet today to vote on the ballroom plans. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 2 (UPI) -- The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on President Donald Trump»»»

A month into Israel's war against Hezbollah, invading Israeli troops are gradually advancing in south Lebanon, raising fears for the area's fate following the last Israeli occupation that lasted nearly two decades. Since war erupted last month, Israeli officials have said Israel intends to establis»»»

Copenhagen: More than 200 years after being sunk by Adm. Horatio Nelson and the British fleet, a Danish warship has been discovered on the seabed of Copenhagen Harbor by marine archaeologists. Working in thick sediment and almost zero visibility 15 meters (49 feet) beneath the waves, divers are in »»»

Caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev Thursday said that public trust in the Ministry’s new leadership has increased. He pointed to what he described as a several-fold increase in alerts about election-related crimes compared to the October 2024 parliamentary elections. Dechev noted that the Mini»»»

Iran fired more missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states Thursday, demonstrating Tehran’s continued ability to strike its neighbors even as US President Donald Trump claimed the threat from the country was nearly eliminated. Iran’s attacks on Gulf states along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hor»»»

Democrats have filed a lawsuit seeking to block US President Donald Trump’s latest executive order restricting mail-in voting, arguing that the Constitution gives states and Congress – not the president – the authority to decide voter eligibility for mail ballots. Trump on Tuesday signed an executi»»»

The US has removed the sanctions on interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The move was announced on Wednesday and marks a significant policy shift as Washington builds closer ties with Caracas after kidnapping Venezuel»»»

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has denied claims that he told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that up to 80% of Syrians living in Germany could be convinced to return home within three years. Merz cited the figure and timeline on Monday during a joint press conference with al-Sharaa, a former jihad»»»

Greece’s top administrative court has ordered the state to pay €10,000 in compensation to four residents over delays in enforcing a ruling to demolish upper floors of a controversial hotel in central Athens. The case concerns the Coco-Mat Athens BC in the Makriyianni district, a 10-storey building »»»

Doha, Qatar: A delegation from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), headed by Dr Ghanim Ali Al Mannai, Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Regulatory Affairs, conducted an inspection visit to the MoPH food and medicine inspection units and the Food Safety Laboratory at the Abu Samra border cro»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering of IOF soldiers at the Ras Al-Naqoura Israeli site with a rocket barrage: Military Media Statement »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli enemy soldiers and vehicles at the Friz Hill and Ghadmatha Hill in the town of A»»»

Emergency medical needs in Iran are rising exponentially, and stocks of trauma kits and other gear could run low if the war persists, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation there said on Thursday. More than 1,900 people have been killed since the»»»

A complaint filed Thursday in France seeks a war crimes investigation into an Israeli strike on a Beirut apartment building in November 2024 said to have killed seven civilians including the parents of a French-Lebanese artist, a human rights group said. The artist, Ali Cherri, and the Internationa»»»

Dubai: UK exam board Pearson Edexcel on Thursday confirmed the cancellation of school exams across the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Lebanon for the May/June 2026 series. All International GCSE, International A Level and iPLS qualifications will be cancelled, according to an announcement made by Emma Wh»»»

Acting Education and Science Minister Sergei Ignatov said Bulgaria and Switzerland are cooperating successfully in education and science, with a key focus of their joint work on the development of dual education and support for scientific research. He met with Swiss Ambassador Pierre Hagmann and Th»»»

Germany does not allow the establishment of polling stations in more than 40 locations, although more than one voting section may be set up at some of them, Central Election Commission (CEC) spokesperson Rositsa Mateva said on Thursday at a regular weekly briefing on the April 19 elections. On Wedn»»»

US-Israeli strikes hit a bridge near Tehran on Thursday, which had already been hit around an hour earlier, Iranian state TV reported. "A few minutes ago, the American-Zionist enemy once again targeted the B1 bridge in Karaj," a city west of Tehran, state TV said, adding that the first strike had c»»»

On April 1, the Federation threatened possible disciplinary action against 15-year-old Russian gymnast Sofia Ilteryakova after she failed to turn toward the flags raising behind her at an awards ceremony at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria on March 30. The event was Ilteryakova’»»»

1 of 6 | The Earth is seen from NASA’s Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the Artemis II test flight. NASA astronauts launched at 6:35 p.m. EDT on Wednesday for a 10-day mission around the Moon and back to Earth. Image courtesy of NASA April 2 (UPI) -- The Artemis II astronauts h»»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»

Dubai: Cambridge International Education has announced that schools in the UAE will not sit traditional exams in the June 2026 series, replacing them with a portfolio of evidence route for all candidates. The decision, made in coordination with the UAE Ministry of Education, affects students taking»»»

Hezbollah has, in recent days, activated the use of surface-to-air missiles to target Israeli drones, in addition to firing them at helicopters and fighter jets, according to statements it issued. It reported the downing of several drones in southern Lebanon and damage to a helicopter, while expert»»»

Greece’s “deport or jail” migration policy is failing in practice, data shows. Greek police issued 26,527 removal orders in 2025, but completed only 5,736 actual deportations. Roughly 1,800 migrants are held in pre-departure detention centers, with another 200 in police stations — far short of what»»»

London: Shipping companies from Greece, the UAE and China are most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from Bloomberg and marine traffic organisations. Around 670 commodity vessels sent signals from west of the Strait of Hormuz over the last day, with companies from t»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Lebanese Health Ministry reports 1,345 martyred and 4,040 wounded since the onset of Israeli aggression 02-04-2026 17:22 PM Latest News Urg»»»

Paris, France: Citigroup has urged staff in Paris and Frankfurt to work from home, a company spokeswoman said Thursday, as US banks step up security following a thwarted attack against another US financial institution over the weekend. "The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov has announced that authorities have seized more than half a million euros in what he described as funds intended to influence or distort the outcome of the upcoming elections in Bulgaria. In a recorded video message distributed on social media, he said the gov»»»

Dubai: Airfares from the UAE are climbing sharply as airlines grapple with a surge in jet fuel prices, tighter capacity and operational disruptions linked to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East. For travellers planning summer holidays or last-minute trips, the message is becoming »»»

Sharjah: A 12-year-old boy has died after drowning in Wadi Al Helo in the Kalba area of Sharjah, prompting Sharjah Police to issue an urgent warning against swimming in wadis and rainwater pools. Police said the incident was reported at 7:05pm on Wednesday, when the operations room received a call »»»

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Thursday there was no end in sight to a war that had already displaced a million people over the last month, as families fleeing Israeli strikes said they were exhausted by repeated rounds of conflict. Lebanon is entering the second month of conflict betw»»»