Italy summoned the Israeli ambassador on Wednesday to demand an explanation over shots fired at an Italian convoy in a UN mission in Lebanon, the foreign minister said, warning Israeli forces had "no authority to touch" Rome's troops. The UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, is stationed in sout»»»

Share: Iran continues to control Hormu despite the ceasefire . Iran’s Foreign Minister has declared that vessels seeking to transit the Strait must coordinate directly with Iranian armed forces, subject to unspecified “technical limitations” SUMMARY Iran is accusing Israel of violating the conditio»»»

Washington, United States: During their historic lunar flyby, astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission witnessed meteorites striking the rugged surface of the Moon, a sight that has piqued scientists' curiosity. "That was definitely impact flashes on the moon. And Jeremy (Hansen) just saw another on»»»

1 of 3 | Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a dinner at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 19. Now that she's no longer attorney general, Bondi won't give a deposition to the House Oversight Committee, the Justice Department said. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI)»»»

Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning on Wednesday afternoon, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded. US President Donald»»»

Lebanon announced the reopening of the Masnaa border crossing with Syria starting Wednesday evening, state media said, after it had been closed for several days due to an Israeli threat to target it. "The Masnaa crossing will be reopened as of 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) today, with strict measures in place»»»

Doha: Global markets reacted quickly to the announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with oil prices falling, gold and stock prices rising, and the dollar weakening in Asian trading, raising hopes for a recovery in energy supplies, particularly those related to the Strait of»»»

US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the Iran war has undergone a striking shift — from threats of overwhelming destruction to projecting a “Golden Age of the Middle East” following a fragile ceasefire agreement. As Washington and Tehran enter a two-week truce aimed at paving the way for negotia»»»

There is a growing trend toward offering fully personalized services that meet today’s travellers’ high expectations, Penelope Palace Apart Hotel management told BTA. This individual approach is becoming a key factor in ensuring consistent hotel occupancy rate throughout the year, they added. Inter»»»

How Pakistan managed to succeed in mediating between the US and Iran and what this means for the country's image, explained to Sputnik Dr. Zahid Shahab Ahmed. What enabled Pakistan to step into a successful mediation role between the US and Iran—and how durable could that success prove to be? Dr. Z»»»

Argentina reached record oil production levels, with output climbing to 874,000 barrels per day, a 15.9% increase from a year earlier. File Photo by Juan Macri/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- Argentina reached record oil production levels, with output climbing to 874,000 barrels per day, a 15.9% increase from»»»

Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Wednesday, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries, the Italian government said. Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the incident was "unacceptable" while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government »»»

Glavatarski Han Hotel Complex, located on the shores of the Kardzhali Reservoir, is designated as a wellness centre and is a popular choice both for relaxation and business conferences and private celebrations. The most popular services at the hotel’s spa centre are the massages and the hammam. The»»»

Scottish national Steven Lyons is escorted by police officers at the Bali Police headquarters in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on March 31. Indonesian immigration officials arrested him at Bali Airport on March 28, acting on an Interpol Red Notice following his arrival from Singapore. Lyons was extrad»»»

1 of 4 | Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with the United States suspending bombing in Iran for two weeks if the country reopens the Straight of Hor»»»

Lebanon's government said Wednesday Israeli strikes killed dozens and wounded hundreds across the country, with the capital Beirut hit by the most violent bombardment since the start of the war with militant group Hezbollah. AFPTV's live broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising over Beirut and the s»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with US President Donald Trump by telephone on Wednesday afternoon after the latter's ceasefire with Iran, two German government source told Reuters. According to Germany's Bild newspaper, whichfirst reported the call, the conversation was brief and friendly, »»»

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Nikolay Naydenov Wednesday presented to the press a new interactive road map that, for the first time ever, makes public details about road repairs in Bulgaria. The aim is to improve transparency about how taxpayer money is spent by the Road Infrastruc»»»

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, seen here in 2025, is set to visit Washington to soothe tensions with the cornerstone of the defensive pact after amid threats by Trump to pull out. File Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was set to kick»»»

India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations annual climate Conference Of the Parties (COP33) in 2028, two government officials familiar with the matter told Reuters. India communicated its decision to not host the conference this month, the officials said, but it was not immediately cl»»»

Brentas SPA Resort in Tsigov Chark offers facilities for tourism and relaxation, combining modern comfort with the natural environment of the Rhodope Mountains. Spa centre with a variety of services is available to guests, Maya Uteva from the hotel’s marketing department told BTA. Services include »»»

Bangkok: Nearly 70 young Thai men sat on flimsy plastic chairs, faces tense as they waited to draw their fate from a jar -- an annual ritual deciding whether they will serve in the military. The conscription lottery, held across Thailand each April, has taken on added weight this year following sev»»»

Rex Heuermann, of Massapequa Park, Long Island, is expected to plead guilty Wednesday to the killing of seven women. File Photo courtesy of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office April 8 (UPI) -- A man who allegedly killed seven women and discarded their bodies in the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island i»»»

Bulgaria is intensifying preparations for the early parliamentary elections on April 19, with authorities emphasizing fairness, technical readiness, and the prevention of electoral violations both domestically and abroad. “It is extremely important to see whether we have fulfilled our promise to co»»»

After the close of polls on April 19, section election commissions (SECs) will be checked to ensure that the live online video broadcast of ballot counting and tally sheet completion has been activated, caretaker Minister of e-Government George Sharkov said during a meeting with President Iliana Io»»»

TradeIranIs Iran cashing in millions from Strait of Hormuz blockade?Nik MartinAn Iranian lawmaker claims Tehran is quietly charging tankers up to $2 million for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The move threatens to turn the key waterway into a high-stakes toll booth. https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»

After the close of polls on April 19, section election commissions (SECs) will be checked to ensure that the live online video broadcast of ballot counting and tally sheet completion has been activated, caretaker Minister of e-Government George Sharkov said during a meeting with President Iliana Io»»»

April 7 (UPI) -- A woman who jumped into the water to rescue her dog in Florida ended up needing to be rescued alongside the canine. Body camera footage released by the Hallandale Beach Police Department shows police and Broward Fire Rescue personnel lowering a ladder from the Intracoastal Waterway»»»

A woman who has been playing the Michigan Lottery's Lotto 47 twice a week for decades had her persistence pay off with a $1.1 million Lotto 47 jackpot. Photo courtesy of the Michigan Lottery April 6 (UPI) -- A woman who has been playing the Michigan Lottery's Lotto 47 twice a week for decades had h»»»

Amy Dyson earned the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Tomb Raider games. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records April 7 (UPI) -- A British woman showed her love of her favorite video game series by earning the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Tomb Raider game»»»

Iran could open the Strait of Hormuz in a limited and controlled way on Thursday or Friday ahead of a meeting between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official, involved in the talks, told Reuters on Wednesday. "If an understanding on a framework for talks is reached, the stra»»»

Overnight stays at the Kamengrad Hotel in Panagyurishte have tripled – from about 20,000 to 60,000 per year, Nikolay Ivanov, manager of Thracian Hoteliers chain, which the Kamengrad Hotel is part of, told BTA. He said that apart from tourists, one of the main target groups are corporate clients, wh»»»

Bangkok: Thailand's foreign minister confirmed on Wednesday the deaths of three Thai crew members of a cargo ship struck by Iran while transiting the Strait of Hormuz a month ago. US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February prompted Tehran to respond by effectively closing the strait, a crucial art»»»

A gas station in London, England, displays the latest price for a liter of regular unleaded on Wednesday morning hours after crude oil prices fell sharply on news disruption to the global supply of oil caused by the Iran war may be about to ease. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- Global oil p»»»

“It is extremely important to see whether we have fulfilled our promise to conduct fair and transparent elections,” President Iliana Iotova said during a meeting with the institutions responsible for organizing the early parliamentary elections. “It is crucial to assess how far we have come in prep»»»

US President Donald Trump allegedly conceded in private that Canada is unlikely to become part of the US, despite previously hinting at annexing the neighboring country, a snippet from an upcoming book by British journalist Robert Hardman has indicated. Over the past year, Trump has on multiple occ»»»

Hezbollah legislator Ibrahim Al-Moussawi has warned of a response from Iran and its allies if Israel "does not adhere to a ceasefire." His comment to local television channel Al-Jadeed is the first from the militant group in Lebanon after the U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by »»»

French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire agreement between the U.S., Israel and Iran "fully includes Lebanon," which is in opposition to the stance taken by Israel as it continues an offensive there. Macron said the inclusion of Lebanon in the deal is "a good and even essential thing." "»»»

An Israeli strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon, the health ministry said Wednesday, as the United States and its allies agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. "The Israeli enemy's strike on Sidon, south Lebanon, resulted in a preliminary toll of eight citizens martyred and 22 wounded»»»

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing," but said he wishes it will include Lebanon. "We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations»»»

Hezbollah on Wednesday told people displaced by war with Israel to refrain from returning to their homes before a ceasefire is announced in Lebanon, while claiming to be nearing a "historic victory". "Today, we stand on the threshold of a great and historic victory," the Iran-backed group said in a»»»

The spa centre at the Olymp Spa Hotel in Velingrad is the only one in the city to offer bioenergetic massage with silver thread gloves, spa centre manager Gergana Popova told BTA. She said that this is a new technology combined with traditional Chinese medicine that has a beneficial effect on inter»»»

Dubai: US President Donald Trump’s strategy was simple: Escalate to the extreme, force a crisis, then step back. It worked — tactically. But strategically, little appears to have changed. Iran’s leadership remains in place, its security apparatus led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains»»»

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the US-Iran-Israel deal to reach a ceasefire also covered the fighting in Lebanon. He said, however, that Israel did not abide by the two-week ceasefire, in violation of the agreement. Berri said the deal clearly include»»»

Bangkok: A Thai court has fined a man $300 after he broke into the enclosure of Moo Deng, an endangered baby pygmy hippo and internet sensation, the zoo director said Wednesday. Moo Deng has gained global attention thanks to social media videos showing her adorable antics, drawing tens of thousands»»»

Kolkata, India: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that "the use of reptiles" was discu»»»

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that “no one negotiates for Lebanon except for the Lebanese state” - in his first comments since the two-week ceasefire was reached between the US and Israel over Iran. Addressing the debate over whether Lebanon was included in t»»»

A criminal network linked to Bulgaria has been accused of defrauding dozens of elderly people in northern Greece through an elaborate telephone scam that resulted in losses exceeding 600,000 euros, according to Kathimerini. Investigators say the operation was active between September 2021 and Augus»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia hopes that US negotiators will have more opportunities to participate in trilateral negotiations on Ukraine in the foreseeable future, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "We hope that in the foreseeable future they [the US negotiators] will have more time a»»»

During their historic lunar flyby, astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission witnessed meteorites striking the rugged surface of the Moon, a sight that has piqued scientists' curiosity. "That was definitely impact flashes on the moon. And Jeremy (Hansen) just saw another one," mission commander Reid »»»