EU leaders vowed to boost security and economic ties with Middle East partners and push for a diplomatic end to the Iran war, after talks in Cyprus focusing on the fallout from the conflict. Leaders from Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and Jordan as well as the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Counc»»»

Tunis, April 24 (TAP) - The weather Friday night will be characterised by storm cells and rain over the central-western and southern regions, with hail in some places and temporary cloudy elsewhere, according to forecasts from the National Institute...»»»

April 24 (UPI) -- A tornado touched down in Enid, Okla., injuring at least 10 people and causing extensive damage to homes in the area, local authorities said. About 40 homes were damaged in the Enid area Thursday evening. The city is in north-central Oklahoma. Local news said the tornado passed th»»»

Led by Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, a multidisciplinary team aims to strengthen Mexico’s position on key issues, including automotive rules of origin and steel tariffs. File Photo by Jeff Kowalsky/EPA April 24 (UPI) -- Mexico's government has assembled a high-level economic team with a»»»

Dubai: “Life never stops. We don’t believe in that. Here in the UAE, life goes on, and every challenge is just one more step towards more strength, right?” That unflinching belief from Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi defines the mood at the on-going DIFC Art Nights, where crowds and creativity co»»»

Gaza: Two Palestinians were killed and others wounded Friday in an Israeli airstrike north of Gaza City. The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that Israeli drones targeted a group of civilians near the Bahloul intersection in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, killing two and woundi»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and the European Union signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on partnership in critical minerals. "We are the largest customers and users of the world [of critical minerals], [we make] sure that these supplies and minerals are available for ou»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discussed by the phone the situation in the Persian Gulf, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. "On April 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Fore»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States is moving forward to strengthen federal death penalty, including through streamlining internal processes to expedite executions and introducing additional methods such as as the firing squad. "Today, the Department of Justice acted to restore its solemn duty»»»

KYIV/MOSCOW: Ukraine and Russia conducted a prisoner of war swap on Friday, sending back 193 captured personnel each in an exchange both sides said was facilitated by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. “It is important that ‌there are ‌exchanges and that our people ‌are ⁠returning home»»»

1 of 3 | Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., on March 18. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said she would restart the criminal investigation into Powell if need be. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April »»»

Sharjah: A key interchange near the Sharjah Grand Mosque has been temporarily closed to traffic as part of ongoing Etihad Rail infrastructure works, the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority announced. The closure, which began at midnight on Friday, affects the exit ramp from Emirates Road (E611) t»»»

Police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a series of suspected thefts and robberies at kiosks and petrol stations in the southern suburbs of Athens, authorities said. The incidents are believed to have taken place mainly during overnight hours. The suspects, aged 16 and 17, were brough»»»

Police arrested seven people Thursday morning on the western outskirts of Athens, in Megara and Nea Peramos, in connection with illegal activities including traffic violations, illegal firearm possession, and electricity theft. The arrests followed a coordinated police operation in the area. Author»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Friday that the European Union could ease sanctions on Tehran as part of a comprehensive deal that would end the Iran war, but other EU leaders struck a more cautious note. The 27-nation EU has imposed sanctions on Iran for years, including travel bans »»»

A German court on Friday sentenced a supporter of Lebanon's Hezbollah party to more than three years in jail Friday over for "illegal access to weapons" and social media posts supporting the group. Earlier in the same trial the 30-year-old was acquitted on charges of actually fighting for Hezbollah»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah on Friday of trying to "sabotage" efforts to reach a peace agreement with Lebanon. "We have started a process to reach a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it's clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this," he said in»»»

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah on Friday of trying to “sabotage” efforts to reach a peace agreement with Lebanon. “We have started a process to reach a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it’s clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this,”»»»

The Israeli military said its forces killed six Hezbollah fighters in the flashpoint southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Friday during a clash that included a firefight. According to the Israeli military, troops identified six Hezbollah fighters operating Bint Jbeil, an area that saw heavy figh»»»

The Chair of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member Evelina Slavcheva, met on Friday with Algeria’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Asma Babouche, the Academy’s press service reported. During the meeting, held at the Academy, the two discussed ways to strengthen scientific cooperation betw»»»

A zoo in Florida has two reasons to celebrate — the first birth of a koala and a newly renovated habitat for the cuddly creatures is opening to the public on Saturday. “For the zoo and for us here, it’s the very big deal,” said Amarylis Celestina, who oversees carnivores and koalas at the Palm Beac»»»

With just one year left in his second five-year term, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will quit politics in 2027 -- leaving observers and supporters guessing about his next moves. "I wasn't in politics before and I'm not going to be after," Macron said Thursday during a visit to a high»»»

A lecturer at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has said that he was detained by police for wearing a kippah with the Israeli and Palestinian flags on it. Alex Sinclair said in a post on Facebook on Thursday that he had been sporting the kippah for 20 years due to “a messy ambivalence of my Jewish»»»

French television channel M6 has aired a report comparing two unlawfully installed Christian crosses to an act of neo-Nazi vandalism, drawing sharp criticism, according to Tribune Chretienne. The controversy followed a Wednesday broadcast in which sociologist Erwan Lecoeur drew parallels between th»»»

A German court on Friday sentenced a supporter of Lebanon's Hezbollah to more than three years in jail Friday over for "illegal access to weapons" and social media posts supporting the group. Earlier in the same trial the 30-year-old was acquitted on charges of actually fighting for Hezbollah and b»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah on Friday of trying to "sabotage" efforts to reach a peace agreement with Lebanon. "We have started a process to reach a historic peace between Israel and Lebanon, and it's clear to us that Hezbollah is trying to sabotage this," he said in»»»

MOSCOW: Russia said on Friday that it stood in solidarity with Cuba and would continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island republic, rejecting what it described as blackmail and threats from Washington. US President Donald Trump has said that he expects to have the honor of “tak»»»

MILAN: Claudio Ranieri has left his role as senior advisor to Roma's billionaire American owners, the Serie A club said on Friday, after a public row with coach Gian Piero Gasperini meant only one of the pair could stay. In a brief statement, Roma said that "the relationship with Claudio Ranieri ha»»»

LONDON: Everton manager David Moyes returns ‌to the London Stadium on Saturday armed with the inside knowledge that could harm West Ham United’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation. Moyes had two spells as West Ham manager, saving them from relegation in his first short stint before leading»»»

Rome: A new global food crises report has warned that conflict, drought and falling aid will keep hunger at dangerous levels in 2026, with worsening conditions in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. The report found that around 266 million people across 47 countries faced acute food insecu»»»

What's all the buzz about? Melania Trump on Friday announced that she is expanding the White House honey program by adding a beehive in the shape of the White House to two other beehives that have been on the south grounds since 2009. The existing hives can swell to about 70,000 bees during peak su»»»

The UN human rights office said on Friday it has documented patterns of attacks on civilians in populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel that may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, »»»

Switzerland said Friday it had begun sending staff back to Tehran and would gradually reopen its embassy, enabling it to continue as a facilitator for diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran. For decades, neutral Switzerland has played a central role in maintaining basic diplomatic contac»»»

Dubai: A UAE court has convicted a husband and wife of mutual assault after finding that both parties physically harmed each other during a domestic dispute, imposing a fine of Dh3,000 on each while suspending the sentence for three years in a move aimed at preserving the marital relationship. Cour»»»

DOHA: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission on the occasion of the »»»

Houssam Naddaf said no words could capture the shock of seeing an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his family's private garden in the southern Lebanese village of Debel — an image he recognized instantly as it spread online. "I saw it on the internet like everyone else," he said. Naddaf had not »»»

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the charter of the state enterprise Center for the Admission of Foreign Students. Deputy Minister of Science, Higher Education and Innovation of Kyrgyzstan Durus Kozuev said at a briefing. According to him, the new center will serve as a unified coordination hu»»»

DOHA: The Qatar Sports for All Federation has launched a new training run as part of its 365 Days of Activity program, an initiative aimed at encouraging healthier lifestyles through daily exercise in public parks. The first session took place on the green fields of Al Rayyan Park, where more than »»»

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press briefing Friday that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has gone global after seizing two vessels in the Indo-Pacific region this week. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a p»»»

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that he was recently treated for prostate cancer. Pool photo by Ilia Yefimovich/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday he was treated for early-stage prostate cancer. Netanyahu, 76,»»»

Grand Hotel Therme in the village of Banya attracts visitors with healing mineral water and fresh mountain air. The hotel complex features numerous pools and thermal facilities, and covers a total area of over 6,000 sq. m. Pulse Therme Banya is the largest spa centre in Bulgaria, hotel management t»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) unanimously adopted a decision here on Friday announcing the names of the 240 Members of Parliament elected on April 19 to the 52nd National Assembly. The decision is to be published on the CEC’s website and promulgated in the State Gazette. /RY/»»»

Addis Ababa: The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) announced that more than 50.5 million voters have registered to take part in Ethiopia's upcoming general election, scheduled for June 1. Briefing media on Thursday, NEBE Chairperson Melatwork Hailu said that a total of 50,514,155 citizens »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The conflict in the Middle East has deprived the world of approximately 120 billion cubic meters (bcm) of total liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies between 2026 and 2030, accounting for about 15% of expected global supplies during that period, according to a report by the Intern»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Northern Sea Route is becoming an increasingly appealing logistics route amid events in the Middle East, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has said. "Amid international turbulence in various regions of the world, the Northern Sea Route is becoming an increasin»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States would welcome a "serious" European effort regarding the Strait of Hormuz instead of "silly" conferences, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Friday. Last week, the United Kingdom and France held an international conference on Strait of Hormuz navigation»»»

This is the first instance of a Central Asian country shipping goods to Pakistan in its own truck. The QTTA route now serves as a stable alternative for any kind of cargo. Pakistan has achieved a major milestone in regional connectivity. The first truck from Kyrgyzstan has arrived in Pakistan throu»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Bilateral military cooperation between Russia and China is becoming increasingly important in the context of the constantly changing military and political situation, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said on Friday. Earlier in the day, Belousov held talks with Chinese Def»»»

War-torn Gaza is heavily contaminated by unexploded ordnance, which frequently kill and maim people and could threaten recovery efforts far into the future, the UN said Friday. Unexploded ordnance, ranging from undetonated bombs or grenades to simple bullets, has become a common sight in the Gaza S»»»

A high-level country session «Mountains and Climate Change: From Vulnerability to Sustainable Development» was held in Astana as part of the Regional Ecological Summit, the press service of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. The event served as a platform for developing joint solutions »»»