1 of 5 | Earthset is captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT Monday during the Artemis II crew's flyby of the moon. On Wednesday, the crew prepared for the return to Earth set for Friday. Photo courtesy of NASA | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- On Wednesday, two days after thei»»»

BP has announced a new gas discovery in the Eastern Mediterranean, offshore Egypt, following the successful drilling of the El-Dennis West-1 exploration well in the El-Tamsah concession area. The El-Dennis West-1 discovery is located approximately 70 kilometres offshore in water depths of around 95»»»

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has taken effect with broad international support, but early violations and continued hostilities are already casting doubt on its durability ahead of talks scheduled in Islamabad. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi hailed the announcement as “wel»»»

Egypt’s Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar called for stronger international cooperation to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), stressing that the challenge demands integrated action across health, environmental, and agricultural sectors. Speaking at a ministerial session of the One Health Sum»»»

Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem held an expanded meeting with Mohamed El-Sewedy, Chairperson of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and members of the Handicrafts Chamber, headed by Mohamed Sakr, to discuss mechanisms to develop Egypt’s handicrafts and heritage industries and enhance their co»»»

Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, met with Chitose Noguchi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Egypt, to explore opportunities for joint cooperation in energy, digital transformation, and data systems development in support of sustainab»»»

In a move to strengthen cooperation between national development institutions and international partners, the Medium, Small, and Micro Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Outreach Egypt, the implementing partner of the Orange Corners Egypt initiative backe»»»

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has instructed banks not to grant or renew credit facilities to non-banking credit providers unless they are officially registered, assigned a CBE code, and recorded on its information network as well as with the Egyptian Credit Bureau. In a circular addressed to ban»»»

EDECS, a leading regional engineering and contracting group, and MEDLOG, the global logistics arm of MSC Group, have signed an agreement to launch a major dry port project in 10th of Ramadan City. Spanning 189,000 square meters, the facility will be delivered under a design-and-build contract cover»»»

The UAE is closely following the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and is seeking further clarification on the agreement’s provisions to ensure Iran’s full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the reg»»»

At a time when global supply chains are being reshaped by rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions to key routes, led by the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a central player in redirecting trade flows. Leveraging a unique position linking East and West, and advanced logisti»»»

Gaza: Journalist Mohammed Washah was martyred in the Gaza Strip, and another person was injured Wednesday evening, as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the vehicle they were traveling in in Gaza City. Qatar News Agency (QNA) correspondent, citing family sources, reported that journalist Washah wa»»»

As Iranian officials link any halt in fighting with the US and Israel to all fronts of the so-called “axis of resistance,” with a focus on Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are negotiating a disarmament plan while pushing to retain part of their arsenal. Israel and »»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Republic of Turkiye HE Hakan Fidan. During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region in light of th»»»

At a meeting with the leadership of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria on Wednesday, Progressive Bulgaria coalition leader Rumen Radev said that the coalition’s programme is focused on the standard and quality of life of Bulgarian citizens – high and stable incomes and pensio»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a telephone call from his brother President of the Republic of Turkiye HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the call, they reviewed regional developments, particularly the latest developments regarding the ceasefire agreement between the »»»

Audit quality is the lifeblood of financial integrity, yet few in the profession openly discuss its most uncomfortable realities. In boardrooms and audit committee meetings, the narrative often centers on improvements, innovations, and assurances but beneath this polished surface lies a set of trut»»»

April 8 (UPI) -- An ostrich escaped from an animal cafe in Thailand and ran nearly 10 miles on a busy highway before being safely captured. Isara Boriboon, who owns a cat cafe in Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, said one of his two ostriches, named B1 and B2, darted through an open gate Tuesday and followed»»»

Life at sea places people under a unique form of pressure, combining physical demands, emotional strain, and prolonged separation from family. Offshore assignments often involve long rotations, confined living conditions, and limited privacy, creating an environment that places sustained physical a»»»

Gold is often described as a safe haven, but in practice it responds just as quickly as any risk asset when conditions shift unpredictably. Over the past 12 months, this has been particularly evident: after climbing from around $2,625 per ounce to a recent peak above $5,500 — a surge of more than 1»»»

Citizens gathered outside the Palace of Justice in Sofia on Tuesday to demand the launch of disciplinary proceedings against Emilia Rusinova and her dismissal as acting Sofia City Prosecutor. They also called for the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. The protest was organiz»»»

Rio de Janeiro's Military Police reported the seizure of approximately 48 tons of marijuana in the Nova Holanda community, in Complexo da Maré. Photo courtesy of Governo do RJ/X April 8 (UPI) -- Rio de Janeiro's Military Police reported the seizure of approximately 48 tons of marijuana in the Nova »»»

On April 7, 1990, arson fires aboard the ferry Scandinavian Star killed at least 159 people in Scandinavia's worst post-war maritime disaster. 1 of 6 | The MS Scandinavian Star is towed into Lysekil harbor in Sweden after a fire on board the ferry on April 7, 1990, killed 159 people. File Photo by »»»

Dubai: In its first Wednesday show, a number of participants have walked away with cash prizes in the Dh30 million UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw. During Draw No. 260408, the winning numbers from the Days section were 4, 20, 17, 18, 9, and 19, while 1 was drawn as the winning number in the Months secti»»»

A police operation carried out Tuesday in Fyli, on the northwestern outskirts of Athens, resulted in 20 arrests linked to electricity theft and road traffic violations, authorities said. During the operation, a crew from DEDDIE, the electricity distribution network operator, removed more than 2 kil»»»

Uncertainty reveals what a business is genuinely made of. Across the region, recent developments have introduced pressure on supply chains and influenced how customers approach major decisions. But what we are witnessing is a recalibration. The fundamentals remain intact. Get updated faster and for»»»

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, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a telephone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Republic of Turkiye HE Hakan Fidan. During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region in »»»

A US official said Wednesday that a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions that were agreed to by the White House for pausing the war. "The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework," the senior official said on condition of anonymity»»»

Lebanon was left outside contacts that produced a US-Iran ceasefire deal, despite reports it would be included and moves by Iran and Hezbollah suggesting otherwise. Hezbollah halted its military operations before the deal was announced early on Wednesday, while Lebanese officials scrambled to conta»»»

Share: Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir By Nazih Osseiran, Alexander Dziadosz and Alexander Cornwell Summary Israel launches heaviest Lebanon strikes despite Iran ceasefire Hezbollah halts attacks as Israel presses campaign Leb»»»

BSP will be represented in the next parliament, said left-wing leader Krum Zarkov during a visit to Targovishte. The chair of BSP’s National Council and of the BSP – United Left coalition commented on current political issues ahead of the snap parliamentary elections on April 19. Together with parl»»»

Amman, April 8 (SANA) A delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Defense, headed by Chief of the General Staff, Major General Ali al-Naasan, visited on Wednesday the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Members of the Syrian delegation met with Chairman of the Jordanian Joint Chiefs of Staff, Major General Y»»»

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire does not apply to Israel's strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios, contradicting statements from Iran and the Pakistani mediators. Israel's renewed attacks in Lebanon posed an immediate challenge to the stability of the »»»

Tunis, April 8 (TAP) - The overall growth in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAAP) region (excluding Iran) is expected to slow from 4.0% in 2025 to 1.8% for 2026. This forecast stands 2.4 percentage points below the World...»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Democratic congressman John Larson has filed articles of impeachment against US President Donald Trump over his actions connected with the Iran war. Larson, a Connecticut Democrat, said on Tuesday he had filed 13 charges, accusing Trump of waging an “illegal war” and escalating threats against Iran»»»

Brazil is heading toward a highly competitive presidential election, with a statistical tie between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (pictured) and Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, amid concerns over possible U.S. influence and geopolitical tensions tied to critical minerals. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI»»»

Dar es Salaam: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday ordered government officials to travel in a single bus during official trips to reduce fuel consumption, amid shortages caused by the Middle East conflict. Fuel prices in the east African nation have soared by about one-third since»»»

President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on Iran at the White House on Monday. On Wednesday, he announced that any country supplying weapons to Iran will face a 50% tariff. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump announced Wednesday morning that any c»»»

Dubai: Dubai Mall visitors were in for a surprise today as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, toured the mall accompanied by a number of senior officials. Sheikh Mohammed was seen walking through the mall, observing t»»»

BAKU - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic met on Wednesday in Baku with Azerbaijani government officials and representatives of the country's energy company SOCAR to discuss the supply of natural gas and implementation of a project to build a gas-fired power plant ne»»»

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»»»

The U.S., Israel and Iran agree that a ceasefire is now in effect, but they're contradicting each other and themselves in terms of what's actually been agreed and what happens now, U.S. news portal Axios reported on Wednesday. Those differences will have to be reconciled at the negotiating table, b»»»

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»»»

Three men aged 59, 50 and 35 were arrested on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of trafficking large quantities of drugs in the wider Athens area, police said. Authorities seized significant quantities of cocaine and cannabis, with an estimated street value of €2.5 million. In the lead-up, intelligenc»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani received several messages and cables from Their Highnesses and Excellencies, Ministers of Interior and security officials from fraternal and friendly countries,»»»