CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi chaired a meeting of the National Defense Council on Sunday, during which Egypt reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and pledged all necessary support to protect the Kingdom’s security and stability amid escalating regional tensions. Presid»»»

MANAMA (Sputnik) - Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to even advance on the subject of agreements, since he understands that any agreement would mean the end of his regime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. "The fact that Zelensky does not want to even move toward agreements is »»»

RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council and Russia discussed the need to continue diplomatic efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in the straits of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab during a ministerial meeting in Manama on Sunday.Diplomatic efforts to establish peace in the region were also discussed at th»»»

LONDON: A total of 3,917 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem from June 1967 to October 2026, according to Jordan’s Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs. The committee’s secretary-general, Abdullah Kanaan, said on Sunday that home demolition is a»»»

Egypt’s real estate sector needs a clearer regulatory framework to protect buyers, strengthen developer accountability and support sustainable investment, participants at the second Osoul Masr forum said, as government officials and industry executives discussed proposals to address delayed deliver»»»

STM Investment has announced the launch of Kayan City, a mixed-use urban development spanning more than 22,000 feddans in East Cairo, featuring approximately 40,000 residential units, two hotels with a combined capacity of 1,000 rooms, and commercial, educational, healthcare and recreational facili»»»

ADEN: Yemen’s armed forces said on Sunday they had carried out 1,326 strikes against Houthi targets over 24 hours, claiming about 370 militia members had been neutralized and dozens of military vehicles and other assets destroyed or disabled. In a statement on Operation “Dawn of Yemen,” the militar»»»

Energy costs surge as Middle East conflict impacts global markets UAE residents are facing renewed uncertainty around regional trade and energy costs as fighting escalates sharply in Yemen, Iran threatens tighter controls on the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices climb back above $100 a barrel. The UA»»»

RIYADH: The president of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, Fahad Alajlan, emphasized the need to balance energy security with sustainability, sustain investment in the oil and gas sector, and pursue economically viable solutions to reduce emissions. Alajlan made the remarks w»»»

SALT LAKE CITY: Muslim World League Secretary-General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has called for greater contributions from religious leaders to global peace and social cohesion, warning against polarization, incitement and violence. Al-Issa, who also heads the Association of Muslim Scholars, d»»»

NCM urged the public to exercise caution in rain and avoid areas prone to flash flooding Dubai: Hail fell on Margham in Dubai on Sunday afternoon, while rain was reported on Khor Fakkan Road and in Al Ajili, east of Shuka, in the Eastern Region, according to a post on X by Storm_centre. The Nationa»»»

Moscow: Russian air defense forces intercepted over 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight during an attack across multiple regions from Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to statements released by the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry said Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia's Be»»»

LONDON: Hundreds of Palestinians attended a mass funeral on Sunday for 75 people whose remains were recovered from beneath buildings’ rubble destroyed by Israeli bombings in Gaza City’s Al-Daraj neighborhood. An estimated 8,000 bodies are still believed to be buried beneath the rubble across the Ga»»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) highly value Russia's calls for de-escalation in the Middle East, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said on Sunday. "The countries of the Cooperation Council highly value Russia's calls for de-escalation,»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - If the US fulfills Iran's conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened on the sixth day, and on the seventh day negotiations will begin, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday. "In our view, the seven-day plan is on the table, and if there is honesty on the par»»»

Energy costs surge as Middle East conflict impacts global markets UAE residents are facing renewed uncertainty around regional trade and energy costs as fighting escalates sharply in Yemen, Iran threatens tighter controls on the Strait of Hormuz and oil prices climb back above $100 a barrel. The UA»»»

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Sunday appointed Omar Al-Halabi as chairman of the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Syria’s sovereign fund sits at the heart of the country’s attempts to bring in foreign capital after 13 years of war, and was created to oversee investment projects and »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums today announced two exhibitions opening at Fahad Bin Ali Palace: Wooden Doors of Qatar: From Storage to Stories and Atharna 2026: Life and Death in Pre-Islamic Qatar. Wooden Doors of Qatar will present 52 pieces from the National Collection of Historic Doors, held by the »»»

Gaza: The Israeli occupation army on Sunday conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing a Palestinian woman and injuring others on Al-Sikka Street, east of Khan Younis in the southern enclave, according to the latest update from medical sources. In Gaza City, a Palestinian was killed and others»»»

TEHRAN: Newly appointed Iranian defense minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi threatened on Sunday to inflict “enormous damage” on the United States and its allies in the Middle East if Washington resumes its military campaign against the country. “People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to»»»

BRUSSELS: The European Union said Sunday that it “strongly condemns” an attack the previous day by a group of Israeli settlers on visiting European diplomats. “The EU strongly condemns the latest attacks by violent settlers in the West Bank, including on European diplomats,” the foreign service sai»»»

Zelensky’s diesel-fueled burnout READ MORE: Zelensky has made his choice, now America must make its own This week did not start well for Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who was apparently blindsided by US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend sanctions on Russian diesel supplies after ta»»»

Paris, France: France was reeling on Sunday from widespread damage caused in violent protests the day before that saw 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched and widespread looting. "It's like we had a war," a 78-year-old resident in central Paris, Mehmet Ozeden, told AFP amid burnt str»»»

Gaza’s Ministry of Health announced on October 18 that thStrip’s hospitals received seven martyrs and 25 injured Palestinians within the past 24 hours. One of the martyrs was a Palestinian girl, Misk al-Dallu, who was martyred on Sunday after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on tents shelterin»»»

Massive wildfires in Indonesia show no sign of letting up. The environmental disaster is turning into a pollution crisis across Southeast Asia, as toxic haze from the blazes spread to neighbouring countries.    Also on the show:  The much delayed Yalu River Bridge linking China and N»»»

Gqeberha: Rain delayed the start of play after Australia won the toss and decided to bowl in the second Test against South Africa at St George's Park on Sunday. Play eventually got under way at noon, two hours after the scheduled start, with 75 overs due to be bowled in the day. South Africa reache»»»

Drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea are threatening Bulgaria’s exports and tourism, with financier Nikola Yankov warning on bTV that a lack of insurance could effectively shut the ports of Varna and Burgas, while grain producers say five million tonnes of wheat are awaiting export »»»

BRUSSELS: The European Union “strongly condemns” attacks by violent settlers in the West Bank, including against European diplomats, the bloc’s foreign policy spokesperson said on Sunday. The ‌statement came ‌a day ‌after Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Israeli settlers attacked Palesti»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s energy investments helped limit the impact of the global energy shock, while structural reforms and financial buffers have strengthened the Kingdom’s ability to navigate regional uncertainty, the finance minister said. Speaking at the closing press conference of the Internati»»»

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has reported that the country's current account deficit reached 8.1% of gross domestic product over the 12 months to July, its highest level since 2009, while forecasting economic growth of 2.8% for 2026. The BNB Governing Council said economic activity continued t»»»

London: Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said he would be fit to return "in a few weeks" following surgery on a fractured jaw sustained during his team's 2-0 Premier League win at Everton. The Argentina international was taken to hospital after colliding with Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite»»»

MANAMA (Bahrain) (Sputnik) - Russia supports the peacekeeping efforts of Arab countries aimed at preventing the return of a full-scale war to the Middle East region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday. The Russian foreign minister is in Bahrain's capital, Manama, participating in»»»

Authorities target violations as e-scooter misuse endangers road safety Abu Dhabi Police seized 9,237 electric scooters in violation of traffic rules and regulations during the first 10 months of 2026, following their use on public roads, between vehicles and on routes not designated for them, posi»»»

Beijing, Oct. 18 (SANA) China’s exports of refined oil products surged 39.4% year on year in September, as the war in the Middle East disrupted global energy supplies, customs data showed on Sunday. Exports of refined petroleum products, including diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and marine fuel, rose 19»»»

RIYADH: The Houthi militia’s heinous attacks constitute criminal behavior that required a firm international stance, Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said on Sunday as Gulf foreign ministers met in Manama to discuss regional and international developments. “T»»»

DUBAI: Iran’s offer to the United States to reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz ‌within seven ‌days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media outlets ‌on ‌Sunday. If Washington ‌accepts ‌Tehran’s conditions, the strategic waterway would be ‌open within six days and US-Iran t»»»

Jakarta, Indonesia: Dozens of critically endangered orangutans have been rescued in recent weeks from rampant wildfires burning across Indonesia that have cloaked the region in toxic haze, conservation groups said. The fires have triggered a months-long pollution spell that has closed schools, fuel»»»

CAIRO: Egypt ​will provide ‌Saudi ‌Arabia ​with all ‌necessary ⁠and ​possible support ⁠to ⁠defend ‌its ‌security ​and stability, ‌its ‌presidency ‌said on Sunday. The Egyptian presidency also said it will continue and intensify political and diplomatic efforts in coordination with regional and inte»»»

RIYADH: The Houthi militia’s heinous attacks constitute criminal behavior that required a firm international stance, Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said on Sunday as Gulf foreign ministers met in Manama to discuss regional and international developments. “T»»»

Rabbi Elie Abadie left his native Lebanon more than five decades ago and has not even visited since, but his Lebanese roots remain an integral part of his identity. He has 3,000 Arabic songs on his smart phone. His wife, an American, learned from his mother how to cook the Lebanese dishes he loves.»»»

President Joseph Aoun has met visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Baabda, saying he would welcome any effort to prevent a security vacuum in the south if U.N. peacekeepers withdraw as planned at the end of the year. Barrot is in Beirut for a two-day visit to discuss "mechanisms for»»»

Tehran: Iranian lawmakers on Sunday approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi as the country’s new defense minister, replacing his predecessor who was killed on the first day of the war with the United States. “Members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly today gave vote of confidence to Mehrdad Akhlaghi, the nomi»»»

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Army deployed extensively across Beirut’s southern suburbs on Saturday morning, patrolling streets following protests by Hezbollah supporters that saw dozens of motorcyclists descend on the capital, gathering along a major thoroughfare and chanting slogans in support of the gro»»»

Kuala Lumpur: Toxic haze from wildfires burning in Indonesia has spiked a demand for oxygen tanks and air purifiers across the region, manufacturers say, as they work the clock on equipment providing life-saving clean air. The months-long haze has blanketed parts of Southeast Asia, forcing school c»»»

RIYADH: Gulf foreign ministers will meet in Manama on Sunday to discuss regional and international developments, and ways to strengthen political coordination and joint action, as a new round of the Gulf-Russian Strategic Dialogue takes place as part of efforts by both sides to expand cooperation a»»»

IATA data shows jet fuel at $190.18 a barrel with Europe highest and Middle East cheapest Dubai: Global jet fuel prices have surged more than 111 per cent over the past year, climbing above $190 a barrel and intensifying pressure on airlines as they grapple with rising operating costs and the prosp»»»

Four firefighters and volunteers died battling a wildfire in East Java's national park Abu Dhabi: The UAE has expressed its solidarity with Indonesia following fires in East Java Province, which resulted in a number of deaths. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sin»»»

Doha, Qatar: Brent touched $110 a barrel for the first time since May on Friday on worries that escalating tensions in the Middle East could further tighten supplies, while investors assessed how much diesel Russia could supply to the global market. Brent crude futures settled at $109.86 a barrel, »»»

Saudi flight disruptions, security alerts and Iran war: Key developments for UAE residents UAE residents are keeping a close watch on the latest regional developments on Sunday, October 18, as updates emerge on flights, maritime security and diplomatic efforts across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia has repo»»»

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Sunday that it had received a report of an incident northeast of Khor Fakkan in the UAE, where a marine tug sailing south was struck by two projectiles of unknown origin. The authority added that the incident resulted in one minor inj»»»