The ongoing war between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah is far from the first conflict between them. The two have an enmity that goes back more than four decades, with outbursts of fighting or outright war punctuated by periods of tense calm. Here is a timeline of some significant eve»»»

STARKE, Florida: A Florida man convicted of beating and choking his brother's 13-year-old stepdaughter to death nearly 50 years ago was executed Thursday evening. James Ernest Hitchcock, 70, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was co»»»

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman has issued Royal Decree No. (50/2026) on establishing an Artificial Intelligence Special Zone in the Governorate of Muscat, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. According to the Decree, the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Econo»»»

1 of 6 | CJ ENM premiered its AI-hybrid film "The House" in Seoul Thursday, presenting the low-budget occult thriller as a test case for AI use in Korea's struggling film industry. Photo by CJ ENM SEOUL, May 1 (UPI) -- South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM premiered its AI-hybrid feature film The»»»

The Coliboaia Cave in the western Bihor Mountains, reknown for its cave drawings over 30,000 years old, among the top five oldest caves in the world, was recently included on Romania's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, a first step towards official recognition as a world heritage site.The infor»»»

The UN Security Council voted Thursday to reduce the ceiling for the peacekeeping force in conflict-torn South Sudan from 17,000 to 12,000 troops with a mandate to prevent a return to civil war in the world's newest nation. The vote on the US-drafted resolution was 13-0 with Russia and China abstai»»»

Dubai: The UAE has barely turned the corner into May, yet temperatures across the country are already running well above seasonal norms. Across the UAE, temperatures have surged above what is typical for April, with the mercury breaking 44°C in parts of the country. The National Centre of Meteorolo»»»

US President Donald Trump congratulated Ali al-Zaidi on his nomination to be next prime minister of Iraq on Thursday, saying that he looked forward to a highly productive new relationship. Iraq's alliance of Shiite political blocs, the Coordination Framework, on Monday named Zaidi as its ‌nominee f»»»

UK police said on Friday they had charged a 45-year-old man over the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London, the latest in a string of hate attacks. "Essa Suleiman... has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relati»»»

A police vehicle burns as community members clash with authorities outside Alice Springs Hospital in Alice Springs, Australia, on Thursday. Photo by Rhett Hammerton/EPA May 1 (UPI) -- Authorities in central Australia called for calm Friday after police and rioters clashed overnight in remote Alice »»»

Israel responded on Thursday to Lebanon’s demands for de-escalation with more evacuation warnings for southern towns that will increase internal pressure on the Lebanese state. It issued the warnings even as Lebanese and United Nations proposals have been relayed to Israel over consolidating the ce»»»

ATLANTA: Walking through the frame of his soon-to-be new home on a recent morning, an excited Ozzy Herrera could envision the future. A brown leather sofa to match the floors. Terra-cotta-colored walls. A bar cart near the kitchen. Herrera, who works two jobs at Atlanta's airport, never imagined he»»»

Brazil's Congress approves plan to drastically cut Bolsonaro's jail term 9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleToby Mann Getty Images Brazil's Congress has overturned a veto of a bill that would dramatically reduce former president Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence for plotting a coup afte»»»

China scraps tariffs for all but one African nation 6 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleKelly Ng Getty ImagesSino-African trade is marked by a growing imbalance in China's favour China will scrap tariffs for all African countries from Friday – except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Ta»»»

In a propaganda message released to the public, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei promised "new chapter" and "bright future" for the Gulf — "one without the United States". In his statement, Khamenei signaled a sweeping plan to assert Tehran’s authority over the strategic Strait of H»»»

BusinessGlobal issuesGender investment gap — Are women catching up with men?Kyra KrallOnline brokers are tapping into the potential of female investors. Tailor-made products and branding campaigns are on the rise. Will this help bridge the gap between women and men when it comes to investing? https»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Protection and Social Rehabilitation Centre (Aman), one of the centres under the Qatar Social Work Foundation, has announced the winners of its “Journey of Safety” competition, which attracted strong participation from students across all educational stages. Launched in mid-January»»»

The head of Syria's committee for combating illicit enrichment, Basel Al-Suwaidan, has revealed that settlements reached with prominent businessmen accused of ties with former president Bashar Al-Assad had returned to the state treasury as assets belonging to the Syrian people. In remarks to Asharq»»»

The Devil Wears Prada 2 review: Chic, relevant, but not sharp enoughDirector: David FrankelCast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stantly Tucci, Justin Theroux, Simone Ashley, Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu★★★Dubai: The timing couldn’t have been more uncanny. With Amazon powerhouses Jeff Bezos »»»

FORT COLLINS, Colorado: President Donald Trump granted a key approval Thursday for a major new oil pipeline from Canada into the US that’s been dubbed “Keystone Light” over its similarities to a contentious project blocked by the Biden administration. The three-foot-wide Bridger Pipeline Expansion »»»

TEHRAN: Tehran’s air defenses were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday, as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war. The Tasnim and Fars news agencies reported that air defense systems, heard in some parts of the Ir»»»

WASHINGTON: Many Republicans who have been uneasy with President Donald Trump’s war in Iran emphasized that there would be a May 1 deadline for Congress to intervene. But the date is now set to pass with no action from GOP lawmakers who continue to defer to the White House. Under the War Powers Res»»»

PARIS: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as tensions in the Red Sea are reshaping trade routes, with Africa becoming a hub of global container ship traffic, according to logistics and maritime sources. Over the past two months, the blockade has also pushed shipowners to find alternative l»»»

Iran’s supreme leader defiantly vowed Thursday to protect the country’s nuclear and missile capabilities, which US President Donald Trump has sought to curtail through airstrikes and as part of a wider deal to cement the war’s shaky ceasefire. In a statement read by a state television anchor, Mojta»»»

The US embassy in Lebanon on Thursday urged a meeting between Lebanese and Israeli leaders as the health ministry said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed at least 17 people despite an ongoing ceasefire. Israeli and Lebanese representatives this month have met twice in Washington -- the f»»»

Iran said on Thursday it would respond with "long and painful strikes" on US positions if Washington renewed attacks and restated its claim to the Strait of Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway. Two months into the US-Israeli war with Iran, the vital sea channel rema»»»

RIYADH: Khalid Al-Ghannam is making a compelling case for a return to the Saudi national team in time for the World Cup this summer, not least after his starring role in Al-Ettifaq’s 3-1 away victory over Al-Okhdood in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday. It was the 11th league goal of the season for »»»

A psychologist testified at the trial over Diego Maradona’s death, saying the football legend had bipolar disorder, narcissistic personality traits and addiction issues on Thursday in Buenos Aires. The comments came during proceedings into alleged medical negligence following his 2020 death at age »»»

Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has not cut jobs despite fluctuations in demand linked to the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, which has disrupted regional travel and mobility patterns. The DFM-listed company’s chief executive told Gulf News that business has remained “f»»»

In a sharp social media jab amid escalating US-Iran tensions, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament and a former IRGC commander, mocked American efforts to pressure Tehran through naval blockade and sanctions. Ghalibaf posted a map overlay comparing Iran’s extensive borders to hypo»»»

U.S. lawmaker pledges to be 'voice' for defectors, expand broadcasts 1 of 4 | Rep. Young Kim, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, leads a roundtable with 11 North Korean defectors at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington on Tuesday. Photo by Asia »»»

President Donald Trump said Thursday he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the Iran war, a day after proposing a similar reduction in Germany. "Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?" Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would consider »»»

WASHINGTON: Federal prosecutors released a video Thursday showing the moment authorities say a man armed with guns and knives tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and attempt to kill President Donald Trump. Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for Washington, posted the video»»»

Dubai: The United States is considering deploying one of its most advanced weapons systems in the Iran conflict — a hypersonic missile known as “Dark Eagle” — in a move that could signal a new phase of escalation even as a fragile ceasefire holds, media reports said. The system, formally called the»»»

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration is arguing that the war in Iran has already ended because of the ceasefire that began in early April, an interpretation that would allow the White House to avoid the need to seek congressional approval. The statement furthers an argument laid out by Defense Secr»»»

GENEVA: Rainfall is likely to be below normal during the June–September 2026 southwest monsoon season across much of South Asia, with the strongest signal over central regions, according to a new seasonal forecast which will help millions of people prepare. A few parts of the north-western, north-e»»»

FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup after a backlash over soaring prices for the 2026 tournament in North America, as officials defended costs as a reflection of demand while acknowledging fan anger. FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strateg»»»

A fresh Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Black Sea ​port of Tuapse, the fourth in the past week, sparked a fire at the sea terminal but caused no injuries, local officials said early on Friday. Tuapse has come under repeated attack, particularly the Black Sea port’s oil terminal. The strikes have»»»

NEW YORK: A massive, fiery explosion at a house in Queens sent several New York City police officers flying through the air early Thursday morning as they were responding to a call of a man inside armed with a knife and the smell of gas. Eight officers were treated for minor injuries — including bu»»»

WASHINGTON/DUBAI: Iran said on Thursday it would respond with “long and painful strikes” on US positions if Washington renewed attacks and restated its claim to the Strait of ​Hormuz, complicating US plans for a coalition to reopen the waterway.Aerospace Force Commander ​Majid Mousavi was quoted by»»»

VANCOUVER: FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer. Infantino confirmed he ‌would run ‌for the 2027–2031 term in ​the ‌closing ⁠moments ​of the ⁠FIFA Congress in Vancouver,»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Thursday continued his attacks on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying he was “doing ​a terrible job” with his own country and should spend “less time on interfering” with Washington’s effort to tackle “the Iran nuclear threat.” Trump has been sparring w»»»

Dubai: Nearly nine weeks into the Iran conflict, Washington’s strategy has shifted from rapid escalation to a prolonged economic squeeze — raising a critical question: How long can the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz last, and is the war sliding into a “frozen conflict”?»»»

A Ukrainian drone attack has killed two teenagers on a motorcycle in Russia's Belgorod region, the local governor said early on Friday. "In the village of Volchya Alexandrovka, a Ukrainian Armed Forces drone deliberately attacked a motorcycle carrying two young men. Aged 18 and 15," Belgorod govern»»»

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump made a series of claims about Iran, its internal situation, and ongoing Washington's actions there, asserting that American intervention has prevented mass executions and significantly degraded Iran's military capabilities. Speaking during an executive order»»»

Militants on Thursday called for a united front to depose Mali's ruling junta and to proceed with a "peaceful and inclusive transition," according to a statement which follows weekend attacks by militants and Tuareg separatists against key junta positions. The JNIM urged "all sincere patriots, with»»»

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday hiked the minimum wage package by 26.3 percent, to $240, in an attempt to quell growing discontent over difficult living conditions. Addressing thousands of government supporters in Caracas on the eve of International Workers' Day, Rodriguez,»»»

The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to "severe" after two men were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday. The government says the increase is not solely due to the stabbings, adding that the threat has been "rising for some time". Speaking from Downing Street earlier, the Prime Minister K»»»

WASHINGTON: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has moved to address staffing issues that triggered concern and uncertainty among and about its workforce, including reinstating employees put on leave for publicly opposing agency policies, and extending contracts for some workers whose terms wer»»»

VANCOUVER: FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Gr»»»