After looping around the Moon and completing its primary objectives, NASA’s Artemis II mission is now on its return journey to Earth, marking a critical milestone in humanity’s push to send astronauts deeper into space than at any time in the past half-century. Artemis II is the first crewed missio»»»

Dubai: While millions of Keralites headed to polling booths across the state on Thursday, one Indian expat in the UAE did something that raised eyebrows and then smiles. Dubai resident Babu MC cast not one, but two votes in the Kerala Assembly Election 2026. And every bit of it was legal. Babu, who»»»

Share: Israel launched a blitz of air strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday, hitting over 100 targets in 10 minutes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his government to begin direct talks with Lebanon, he said in a statement on Thursday. Netanyahu said the talks would focus on the disa»»»

Dubai: Rain showers and unusually cool temperatures across the UAE this week may feel surprising for April, but meteorologists say such conditions are a natural part of the country’s spring transition between winter and summer. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said the country is experienci»»»

Although people in Generation Z -- those born between 1997 and 2012 -- continue to use artificial intelligence tools at a steady clip, there is growing skepticism among people in their teens and 20s about the benefits and harms of the technology. File Photo by Wu Hao/EPA-EFE April 9 (UPI) -- Use of»»»

Flowers are left near the scene after a gunman shot multiple people on April 17 at Florida State University, in Tallahassee. File Photo by Don Hayes/EPA-EFE April 9 (UPI) -- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced plans Thursday to open investigations into the artificial intelligence plat»»»

Kagoshima: The wreckage of a Shidenkai fighter plane of the former Imperial Japanese Navy has been salvaged from the waters where it sank off Kagoshima Prefecture toward the end of World War II. About 400 Shidenkai planes were produced, intended to be a vital element of homeland defense. The nonpro»»»

As regional economies reel from a complex and uncertain geopolitical landscape, with shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz adding pressure, the latest World Bank report points to standout resilience in Saudi Arabia’s economy. The data show the kingdom on a fiscal consolidation path to s»»»

In Beirut, Lebanon’s leadership signaled it is moving forward with its decision to keep negotiations in official hands, alongside efforts to place all weapons under state control. The government took a further step by ordering the army and security forces to immediately reinforce full state authori»»»

Liverpool: Andy Robertson will bring down the curtain on his nine-year career at Liverpool at the end of the season, the faltering Premier League champions announced on Thursday. The 32-year-old has made 373 appearances for the club, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League as a k»»»

Poland’s central bank will report a PLN 35.7 billion loss for 2025, Governor Adam Glapiński confirmed, ruling out any transfer to the state budget. The deficit—larger than expected—stems from a stronger złoty and high interest costs tied to liquidity operations. The last payout to the government wa»»»

From Leadership Expectations to Market Realities and the Needs of HR and Administration This event is for you because every move counts! The Tenant Academy at SkyHall in Warsaw is a meeting for those in administration and HR who understand that office design isn't a simple move, but a complete game»»»

April 9 (UPI) -- Eli Lilly announced that its GLP-1 weight-loss pill is available for purchase in the United States starting Thursday, little more than a week after the Food and Drug Administration approved it. The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company said orforglipron, which goes by the brand»»»

US First Lady Melania Trump on Thursday made a surprise statement denying unspecified allegations about her and Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that her husband President Donald Trump has long downplayed. The 55-year-old former model's on-camera remarks at the White House came out of the blue, with no e»»»

The EU is relying on non-governmental organizations, bankrolled by billionaire financier George Soros, as well as controlled media to justify its push for more online surveillance and censorship, Telegram founder Pavel Durov has said. On Wednesday, state-owned broadcaster France 24 reported on a st»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Leader: Iran’s Heroic People Definitive Victors in Third Imposed War 09-04-2026 21:47 PM New Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Say»»»

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»»»

The Italian Trade Agency (ITA), in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Libya and the Libyan Board of Architecture (LBA), announced this week a national competition for final-year students in Architecture, and Urban Design. Theme: Design an Eco-Urban Park on the Waterfront in a Libyan coastal»»»

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»»»

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was fired by President Donald Trump last week, will not be required to testify about her handling of the investigation into late financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the Justice Department (DOJ) has announced. In a letter explaining the decisi»»»

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»»»

Share: Tehran chose Hormuz over its proxies—proving once again that its wars are never its own, but fought by others to serve its interests alone By : Ali Hussein- Lebanese Political Analyst If anyone is still confused about whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire deal, Iran’s actions—not its»»»

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.»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The European development bank said Thursday it was unlocking five billion euros ($5.9 bn) to help shore up economies hit by the Middle East war. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it will "deploy EUR5 billion in 2026 in economies impacted by Middle East conflict". The »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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. Boyko Takov: Analytical and empirical results from ongoing projects constitute a solid information base A significant number of projects are implemented in Bulgaria every year, financed through European programs, the national budget, and various other international sources. They are developed a»»»

The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has announced the launch of a new competency-based regulatory framework under the Qudorat Program for the registration of occupational safety and health (OSH) practitioners and service providers, in a step towards enhancing professional competency standard»»»

Dubai: Dubai is moving to capture a larger share of global shipping revenue by bringing trade, finance and maritime services into a single ecosystem, with the launch of a new Maritime Centre at DMCC. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The initiative is designed to go beyo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Following the announcement of alternative assessment, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has issued a clarification that this announcement does not signal a transition to distance learning after the extended weekend leave. It further confirmed that the mode of study for the»»»

Dubai: The Philippines has expressed "cautious optimism" over the announcement of peace talks between the US and Iran, facilitated by Pakistan, calling for a permanent end to the ongoing conflict. In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has expressed hope that the move will lea»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have called on motorists to exercise heightened caution during rainfall, urging strict adherence to traffic laws and preventive safety measures. Drivers are advised to reduce speed, maintain safe distances between vehicles, and remain fully focused on the road, avoiding any form»»»

Washington, United States: The International Monetary Fund expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the Middle East conflict, its managing director said on Thursday, with the crisis likely to have lasting economic effects. "Given the sp»»»

Voters across India’s Assam and Kerala states, along with the Union Territory of Puducherry, turned out in large numbers on Thursday in closely watched Assembly elections seen as a key test of political momentum for both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition alliances. With polling»»»

Dubai: Behind the strength and stamina of Dubai athlete Nikola Aleksic lies a five-year battle with a rare autoimmune condition. On May 24, he will be marking his birthday by running 100 kilometres across the city, not just to test his limits, but to raise awareness for the struggles of people livi»»»

The International Monetary Fund expects to have to provide up to $50 billion in immediate financial assistance to countries affected by the Middle East war, its managing director said on Thursday, with the crisis likely to have lasting economic effects. "Given the spillovers of the Middle East war,»»»

The World Bank has cut its 2026 growth forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.1%, down from 2.4% recorded last year, warning that the region faces a toxic combination of weak investment, tight fiscal space, and persistent productivity deficits that no amount of industrial policy can easi»»»

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has been added to Brazil's official forced labour blacklist after 163 Chinese workers were found in conditions analogous to slavery at the construction site of its new factory in Camaçari, Bahia, in 2024. »»»

The World Bank has cut its 2026 growth forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.1%, down from 2.4% recorded last year, warning that the region faces a toxic combination of weak investment, tight fiscal space, and persistent productivity deficits that no amount of industrial policy can easi»»»