AlUla Manara Team Hosts Lyrid Meteor Shower Observation
AlUla Manara team hosted an educational astronomy evening yesterday near the iconic Arch Rock, aimed at promoting astrotourism and scientific awareness. The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution to provide residents and visitors with an immersive celestial experie»»»
Netanyahu says he was successfully treated for prostate cancer
TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he had received successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, without specifying when the treatment took place. In a statement on social media, as his annual medical report was released, Netanyahu, 76, said an early »»»
Aoun: Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts
President Joseph Aoun told a non-official EU summit in Cyprus on Friday that Lebanon has engaged in a diplomatic negotiation process under the auspices of the U.S. and with the support of the European Union and Arab states in order to "reach a sustainable solution that puts an end to Israeli aggres»»»
Italy urges end to settlements, West Bank violence
Rome: Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reaffirmed his country's firm rejection of any Israeli move to annex parts of the West Bank. Speaking during a Senate session, Tajani said Rome is considering restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements, aiming to curb fun»»»
UAE mediates Russia–Ukraine swap freeing 386 prisoners
Abu Dhabi: A new UAE-mediated exchange between Russia and Ukraine has led to the release of 386 prisoners, split equally between both sides. The UAE said the exchange involved 193 detainees from the Russian side and 193 from the Ukrainian side, bringing the total number of prisoners exchanged throu»»»
MP Candidates Elected in Two Multi-Member Constituencies Declare Which List They Will Enter Parliament From
Candidates for members of parliament who were elected in two multi-member constituencies (MMCs) have declared from which list they wish to enter the 52nd National Assembly. The decisions of a total of 14 individuals were announced by the Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) during »»»
Nearly hill lakes rehabilitated across Tunisia in 2024–2025 season
Tunis, April 24 (TAP) – The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries announced on Friday that around 110 hill lakes have been rehabilitated across the country during the 2024–2025 season. It also revealed plans to launch a dedicated...»»»
’Worrying’ scale of Signal phishing attacks on German MPs: lawmaker to AFP
BERLIN: The scale of a suspected Russian phishing attack using the Signal messaging app on German lawmakers is “extremely worrying” and calls into question the security of government communications, a senior MP told AFP Friday. “The scale of the latest Signal hack that has come to light so far is e»»»
Rubio: Iran operation to conclude in weeks, not months
PARIS: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday the US expects its operation in Iran to conclude in “weeks, not months” after he met with G7 foreign ministers in France.Rubio also said Iran may decide to set up a tolling system for the Strait of Hormuz.- More to follow»»»
Italy amends contested migrant repatriation bonus scheme
ROME: Italy’s government on Friday rushed through a decree amending rules that offered financial rewards to lawyers helping to repatriate migrants, after the scheme drew criticism from opposition parties who said it could be unconstitutional. The measure was part of a broader security package that »»»
Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks and condemns capital punishment
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE: Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war Thursday and condemned capital punishment, in a wide-ranging press conference en route home from his trip to Africa. Leo also asserted that countries have the right to control their borders but m»»»
Saudi crown prince, Ukrainian president Zelensky hold talks in Jeddah
JEDDAH: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Jeddah on Friday for his second visit to Saudi Arabia in a month. During the visit, Zelensky met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen ties between Kyiv and Riyadh and expand cooperat»»»
Chinese, Taiwanese will unite, Xi tells Taiwan opposition leader
BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping met Taiwan’s opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, telling the visiting delegation he had “full confidence” that Taiwanese and Chinese people would be united.Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng is the party’s first leader to visit China in a »»»
Nike announces 1,400 job cuts as sales lag - UPI.com
Nike is cutting 1,400 jobs, it announced Thursday, as sales lag. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Sportswear giant Nike announced Thursday it's cutting about 1,400 jobs in its operations division, mostly tech workers. COO Venkatesh Alagirisamy said in a note to employee»»»
Crete 5.1 aftershock strengthens view 5.7 quake was main event
A 5.1-magnitude aftershock recorded at midday Friday off the coast of Ierapetra, southeastern Crete, is reinforcing – but not confirming – the view that the earlier 5.7-magnitude earthquake was the main shock, according to seismologists monitoring the area. Scientists describe the aftershock sequen»»»
Syria detains ex-intelligence officer linked to massacre footage
Damascus: Syrian authorities said Friday they have arrested a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades fatally shooting dozens of people during the country's conflict. Amjad Yousef was arrested in the central province of »»»
Council of Europe urges Serbia to change judicial laws
BELGRADE: Serbia’s recent judicial reforms were rushed through without adequate public debate, a Council of Europe expert body warned on Friday, as it suggested revisions to some of the controversial aspects of the law. Serbia’s parliament adopted the package of changes in late January without cons»»»
Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran ‘going global’
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that a US blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a “good deal” with Washington.“Our blockade is growing and going global,” Hegseth told reporters.“No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the wo»»»
What did Saudi envoy discuss in Beirut?
Saudi envoy Prince Yazid bin Farhan has met in Beirut with army chief Rodolphe Haykal and a number of Lebanese MPs, including Fouad Makhzoumi, Faisal Karami, and Elias Bou Saab. Prince Yazid bin Farhan affirmed KSA's support for the implementation of the Taif Agreement, full withdrawal of Israel fr»»»
Four in court over fatal stabbing of 27-year-old in Athens park
A 20-year-old man has appeared before a naval court in Piraeus after confessing to the fatal stabbing of a 27-year-old man whose body was discovered in a park in the Athens suburb of Agios Dimitrios earlier this week. The suspect, who is currently serving in the Greek Navy, was brought before Pirae»»»
'Raw and honest': India climbers face obstacles in race to the top
Pune, India: Blink and you might miss Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh scaling a wall five buses high in five seconds. India, a country obsessed with cricket, has seen a surge in popularity in climbing but those who want to compete internationally have had to crowdfund and there is little governm»»»
Dubai court awards father custody, child welfare first.
Dubai: A mother has lost custody of her two daughters after Dubai’s highest court ruled that the children’s welfare must take precedence over the interests of either parent, affirming a decision to transfer their care to their father. In a final judgment, the Dubai Court of Cassation rejected the m»»»
Japanese Writer Sayaka Murata Visits Bulgaria for First Time During Literary Talks Festival
World-renowned Japanese writer Sayaka Murata visited Bulgaria for the first time during the Literary Talks Festival (April 23–25) in Sofia's City Stage on Thursday. Moderator of the discussion was Bulgarian literary critic Darin Tenev, with interpretation from the Japanese by Albena Todorova. Often»»»
Dacic, Dendias meet in Athens
ATHENS - Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic met with Greek Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Dendias in Athens on Friday to discuss possibilities for advancement of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of security. The ministers agreed th»»»
Tunisia achieves full genetic sequencing of two durum wheat varieties
TUNIS, April 24, 2026 (TAP) – A team of Tunisian researchers has successfully completed the full genetic sequencing of two durum wheat varieties, “Mahmoudi” and “Chili,” in a move aimed at supporting scientific research and strengthening food...»»»
Chinese EVs, flying cars take centre stage at world's biggest auto show
Beijing: Thousands squeezed into the world's biggest car show Friday, snapping selfies beside Chinese electric vehicles as automakers showcased AI, humanoid robots and flying-car ambitions in a cut-throat market. Rows of influencers posed in front of gleaming models at the capital's cavernous inter»»»
Qatar to promote daily physical activity, launches community running sessions
Doha, Qatar: 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 mor»»»
FSB major general Vladimir Shchemelinin appointed to chief position at Russia’s border with ‘difficult Nordic neighbours’
The senior officer, who has been accused by Ukrainian military intelligence of involvement in criminal activities on European territory, has been appointed head of the FSB Border Guard Directorate for Karelia. Vladimir Shchemelinin is the new head of the FSB directorate responsible for guarding the»»»
In south Lebanon's Tyre, man seeks family mementos after deadly Israeli raid
Tyre, Lebanon: Clutching a battered photo album, Mohamad Ali Hijazi searched a mountain of rubble in south Lebanon's Tyre for mementoes of his family, killed in an Israeli strike minutes before a ceasefire took hold. "I'm trying to find my mother's hairbrush... and a bottle of perfume that she love»»»
Tunisia’s food trade surplus widens to TND 798.3 million at end-March 2026 (ONAGRI)
TUNIS, April 24, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisia’s food trade balance posted a surplus of TND 798.3 million during the first three months of 2026, up from a surplus of TND 615.7 million in the same period a year earlier, according to data released Friday by...»»»
NATO 'Must Remain United', Says Italy PM Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday urged NATO allies to stick together, after a report that the United States was mulling action against Spain over its refusal to support operations against Iran. "NATO must remain united. I believe it is a source of strength," Meloni told reporters as »»»
Review: ‘A Gorilla Story’ — Attenborough catches up with old friends in this moving documentary
DUBAI: Almost 50 years ago, the now-almost-100-year-old broadcaster and natural historian David Attenborough and his team shot one of the most famous sequences in documentary history: an encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda who allowed Attenborough to approach them, whereupon the smallest »»»
UAE says rebuilding trust with Iran will take ‘ages’
CHANTILLY, France: Rebuilding trust between Abu Dhabi and Tehran will take “ages and ages,” UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said Friday, after Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates during the Middle East conflict. “You can’t be attacked with 2,800 missiles and drones and then talk to me abo»»»
Iran foreign minister expected in Islamabad Friday night
Iran’s top diplomat is expected to travel to Pakistan by this weekend for talks, two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on Friday, raising hopes for revived negotiations in the Iran-U.S. war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to be accompanied by a small government del»»»
Palestinians mourn third teenager killed in occupied West Bank this week
Three Palestinian teenagers have been killed in the occupied West Bank this week in a spike of renewed violence, the latest shot dead by Israeli forces during a mid-week raid. Palestinians in the northern West Bank village of Tell mourned the death of Youssef Shtayyeh on Friday after health officia»»»
Hezbollah MP says Israel talks 'will in no way enjoy Lebanese consensus'
Lawmaker Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, called on Friday for Lebanon to "withdraw" from direct talks with Israel that U.S. President Donald Trump says have a "very good chance" of achieving peace. "The authorities ought to feel ashamed before their people and withdraw from w»»»
Israel military issues evacuation warning for south Lebanon Deir Aames village
The Israeli military on Friday warned residents of a village in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate, the first such warning since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a three-week ceasefire extension. "Urgent warning to the residents of the area of Deir Aames. Due to Hezbollah's terrorist act»»»
'Really big pig' seen wandering loose in North Carolina - UPI.com
View this post on Instagram A post shared by DurhamSheriff (@durhamsheriff) April 23 (UPI) -- Authorities in North Carolina are asking local residents to keep an eye out for a "really big pig" seen wandering loose in Durham County. The Durham County Sheriff's Office said on social media that the "n»»»
South Korea raises fines on illegal fishing by foreign boats - UPI.com
Penalty for unauthorized vessels in EEZ jumps to 1.5 billion won The Korea Coast Guard conducts a drill on waters off Socheong Island to simulate a crackdown on supposed Chinese boats' illegal fishing in South Korean waters, in Incheon, South Korea, 09 April 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA April 23 (As»»»
ZATCA thwarts attempt to smuggle captagon pills, seizes contraband
RIYADH: Officials from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Al-Haditha border crossing have foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge cache of captagon pills. The authority, which seized the contraband, said on Friday: “ZATCA, in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, thwarted»»»
Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia's talks with Hungary about NIS making progress
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Friday Serbia's talks with Hungary about an acquisition of a Russian majority stake in the Serbian oil company NIS by Hungary's MOL were making progress and that the details of an agreement among the shareholders »»»
Total of 193 Russian Soldiers Returned From Kiev-Controlled Territory - Russia's Defense Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A total of 193 Russian soldiers have returned from the Kiev-controlled territory and 193 Ukrainian POWs have been transferred in return to Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "On April 24, 193 Russian servicepeople were returned from the territory controlled by »»»
Yes, Bulgaria! Accuse Prosecutors of Being Used to Target Reformers After Pressure Claims by Interior Ministry Official
The Yes, Bulgaria party accused prosecutors on Friday of being used, "once again", to target officials working for institutional reform. Their statement followed claims by Interior Ministry acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev that he had come under pressure and was smeared through false testimon»»»
Qatar Post wins top EMS Awards
Bern: Qatar Post secured two major international honors at the 2025 EMS Awards, winning the Gold Customer Care Award and the Performance Award, underscoring its leadership in operational excellence and customer experience. The Gold award recognized outstanding service quality, communication, and re»»»
Drought displaces tens of thousands in Somalia: UN
GENEVA: Drought displaced nearly 62,000 people in just five Somali districts since the start of the year, the UN said Friday, estimating that the countrywide number could be in the hundreds of thousands. The United Nations’ migration agency said that in the five out of Somalia’s 90 districts that i»»»
Kuwait says drones coming from Iraq target border posts
Kuwait City, Kuwait: The Kuwaiti military said on Friday that two drones coming from the direction of neighboring Iraq struck border posts on its northern frontier with the country, causing damage but no casualties. “This morning, two of Kuwait’s northern land border posts were targeted in a crimin»»»
Flights are back, Kuwait Airways resumes 17 routes
Kuwait Airways will resum operations from Terminal 4 at Kuwait International Airport, restoring flights to 17 destinations from Sunday, 26 April, following the reopening of the country’s airspace after a temporary suspension. The move comes after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation lifted res»»»
Fresh earthquake hits Crete within hours; no damage reported
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck the southern island of Crete on Friday just before midday, hours after a stronger tremor rattled the same area earlier in the morning, authorities said. According to the National Observatory of Athens’ Geodynamics Institute, the latest quake hit about 18 kilometers s»»»
Lengthy sentences for two women in 2024 Athens apartment blast case
An Athens court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to two women convicted over a fatal blast in the Ambelokipi district in October 2024 in which one man was killed accidentally when the bomb he was handling exploded. The Three-Member Felony Appeals Court sentenced the injured partner of the m»»»
Russia Hopes US and Iran Reach Final Deal After Ceasefire Extension - MFA Spokeswoman
IZHEVSK, Russia (Sputnik) - Russia hopes that the United States and Iran will be able to reach a final agreement amid the ceasefire extension announced by US President Donald Trump, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. "We hope that they will be able to resolve the e»»»