MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The United States will face severe retaliation if it tries to kill Iran's new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali told Sputnik. When asked what Iran's response would be if the US and Israel attempted to assassinate Iran's new Supreme Leader»»»

Iran has officially agreed to grant safe passage to Bangladeshi oil and LNG ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East Monitor has reported. As per the new deal, Bangladeshi ships need to inform Iranian author»»»

India now sources approximately 70% of its crude oil imports via supply lines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, significantly cutting the country’s exposure to disruptions resulting from the prevailing tensions in the Middle East, the government of India said in a recent press release. »»»

Iran has officially agreed to grant safe passage to Bangladeshi oil and LNG ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East Monitor has reported. As per the new deal, Bangladeshi ships need to inform Iranian author»»»

Iran has officially agreed to grant safe passage to Bangladeshi oil and LNG ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Middle East Monitor has reported. As per the new deal, Bangladeshi ships need to inform Iranian author»»»

India now sources approximately 70% of its crude oil imports via supply lines that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, significantly cutting the country’s exposure to disruptions resulting from the prevailing tensions in the Middle East, the government of India said in a recent press release. »»»

Beirut – As Israel steps up its bombing campaign on Lebanon, many hospitals have had to close, leaving only a handful of healthcare facilities still operating. For patients with chronic illnesses — and the doctors and nurses treating them — every trip to the hospital now carries»»»

In tonight’s edition: a new report warns that trafficking routes from Latin America to Europe are increasingly passing through West Africa. The new US ambassador to South Africa has backtracked on his criticism of the "Kill the Boer" chant. And more than a month after Cyclone Gezani devastated east»»»

The first meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, could potentially take place this year during the Caspian Summit in Tehran, Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali told Sputnik. "Of course, all this should be put aside for when we're pas»»»

EU states on Friday supported new rules banning AI tools that generate sexualised deepfakes, following a backlash over images made with Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok. EU nations on Friday backed a ban on AI systems generating sexualised deepfakes, after an outcry over such images produced by Elon Mus»»»

Abu Dhabi: A woman in Abu Dhabi has been ordered to pay Dh50,000 ($13,600) in compensation after ruling that she violated another woman’s privacy by publishing her photograph on Instagram without consent. The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil and Administrative Cases Court found that the defendant had unlawf»»»

ADDIS ABABA: The death toll from floods and landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen to 80, with many individuals still missing and thousands displaced as search and rescue operations continue. Ethiopian media reported that the House of Peoples' Representatives has declared three days of national »»»

Share: By Ali Hussein, Lebanese Political Analyst Israeli Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tapped former minister and longtime aide Ron Dermer to handle the Lebanon file for the duration of the ongoing Mideast war. Dermer will reportedly be leading the talks with the U»»»

Dubai: Some relief, some disappointment, and a need for clearer answers. That is how students and school leaders in the UAE are responding to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations' (CISCE) decision to cancel all 2026 ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) board examinations in the »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Prepared for Prolonged Battle Against Israeli Enemy, Lebanese Government’s Diplomacy Failed 13-03-2026 23:07 PM He»»»

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a multibillion-dollar plan to increase the country’s military presence in the Arctic. NATO, of which Canada is a member, has been actively ramping up its military footprint in the strategically important region in recent years, citing a perceived Ru»»»

1 of 2 | A damaged building stands in the Dubai International Financial Center. The damage was caused by debris from the interception of an Iranian drone attack in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday. Those in the UAE are being warned not to take photos or videos of damage or they could be charged »»»

A motorcycle policeman was arrested Friday for alleged dangerous driving that led to a collision in central Athens with another motorcyclist who was fatally injured. A police statement Friday said the officer faces charges of negligent manslaughter and reckless driving. The suspect was riding his p»»»

Before a March 10 phone call between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss regional developments and their impact on the security and stability of both countries and the wider region, it appeared the two leaders had not been in direct contact since each assu»»»

March 13 (UPI) -- An Australian businessman was found guilty Friday of selling information to two people believed to be Chinese spies. Alexander Csergo, 59, was convicted of reckless foreign interference in a Sydney court after compiling reports for two people he knew as Ken and Evelyn in Shanghai »»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have announced a comprehensive security and traffic plan to ensure public safety and smooth movement across the emirate ahead of the 27th night of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid Al Fitr celebrations. The General Command of Sharjah Police said the plan aims to enhance security »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on Friday that the Nordic nation will not acquire or deploy a nuclear weapon on its territory during peacetime. On March 5, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that the government has suggested allowing the import, transportation, d»»»

Israel has rebuffed a historic offer of direct talks from Lebanon, deeming it too little too late from a government that shares its goal of disarming Hezbollah but cannot act against the heavily armed Lebanese group without risking a civil war. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed the state's w»»»

BusinessUS eases oil sanctions, boosting RussiaArthur SullivanThe US has further eased sanctions on Russian oil in an attempt to bring soaring energy prices down. The news is a huge boost to the Kremlin, just when it needed one. https://p.dw.com/p/5AM3iA tanker carrying Russian oil, pictured on Jan»»»

"I don't even think it was his message," an Iranian woman in her 40s told the BBC after her country's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei gave his first official address in the form of a statement read out on state TV. Having not seen him since he was named leader, some are now casting doubts on wh»»»

Bulgaria recorded a decline in exports to European Union countries in 2025, while imports from the bloc continued to rise, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). Over the year, Bulgarian exports to EU member states fell by 3.8 percent compared to 2024, reaching a total val»»»

Bulgaria and Turkiye are exploring opportunities to strengthen defence cooperation against the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and Iran. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Turkiye’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Mehmet Sait Uyanik at the Co»»»

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is defending a new state law that invalidated the driver's licenses of trans residents against a lawsuit filed in Douglas County, Kan. File Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA March 13 (UPI) -- A new state law in Kansas has invalidated the driver's licenses and other gove»»»

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Radi Naydenov met with Emil Jacota, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova, at Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry on March 12, the Ministry said in a press release on Friday. The two discussed the excellent bilateral relations between Bulg»»»

Caretaker Innovation and Growth Minister Irena Mladenova met with Japan's Ambassador to Bulgaria Chikahisa Sumi to discuss opportunities to deepen cooperation in investment, innovation, high technologies and digitalization, the ministry's press centre said on Friday. Mladenova stressed that Japan i»»»

In the final quarter of 2025, farm gate prices for agricultural products across the European Union declined by nearly 1.9% compared to the same period in 2024, according to Eurostat. This follows a period of steady increases in the first three quarters of the year. Bulgaria, however, saw a slight r»»»

Canberra, Mar 13, 2026 (SANA) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Friday that Australia has asked its non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave the country due to the deteriorating security situation in the region. According to Reuters, Wong said that a limited number of officials»»»

Games which feature loot boxes will soon be given an age rating of 16 across Europe, including in the UK, under a host of changes by the European video game ratings organisation. The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI)'s age ratings are displayed on games sold in the UK and other countries in»»»

Beirut: Israel expanded its strikes in Lebanon on Friday, targeting multiple areas including a bridge over the Litani river that it said Hezbollah had been using as a passageway for its fighters. The raids came after Israel threatened to also carry out a ground operation to disarm Hezbollah if the »»»

During a working visit to Issyk-Kul region, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev inspected the state of medical facilities in Karakol city. The Cabinet’s press service reported. Adylbek Kasymaliev visited the regional hospital, main building of which was built in 19»»»

The Iranian Chargé d'Affaires in Lebanon, Tawfiq Samadi, appeared Friday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the summons of Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji. He was met by the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Ambassador Abdel Sattar Issa, who raised "a series of serious questions regarding statem»»»

Hartwig Löger, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Vienna Insurance Group, on the Group’s performance: “VIG achieved an outstanding Group result in 2025, once again driven by strong growth and high levels of profitability in all countries. Based on this result and our strong capital position,»»»

The Bulgarian Ambassador to Moldova is not defending Bulgaria’s national interests, Vazrazhdane said in a declaration on Friday. Speaking from the parliamentary rostrum, the Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that they had prepared a declaration aimed at defending the rights of Bulga»»»

Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave, Canberra's foreign minister said Friday, after issuing the same command to diplomats in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In a post on X, top diplomat Penny Wong said they had been ordered to depart due to the "deteriorating »»»

Gold prices were on track for a second consecutive weekly drop, despite edging up on Friday, as surging energy prices due to the Middle East war dimmed prospects for near-term US interest rate cuts. Spot gold was up 0.3% at $5,095.55 per ounce, as of 0633 GMT on Friday. US gold futures for April de»»»

Dubai: The Singapore government has assisted 24 Filipinos who have been stranded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by facilitating their transit through Singapore on their travel back to the Philippines. The group, nine men and 15 women, arrived in Singapore on March 13 aboard a Singapore-chartered evacuati»»»

”The consumer price index in February 2026 compared to January 2026 was 100.59%. The inflation rate since the beginning of the year (February 2026 compared to December 2025) was 1.5%. The annual inflation rate in February 2026 compared to February 2025 was 9.3%. The average rate of change in consum»»»

Sydney: Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave, Canberra’s foreign minister said Friday, after issuing the same command to diplomats in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In a post on X, top diplomat Penny Wong said they had been ordered to depart due to the “deteri»»»

Australia has ordered all non-essential officials in Lebanon to leave, Canberra's foreign minister said Friday, after issuing the same command to diplomats in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. In a post on X, top diplomat Penny Wong said they had been ordered to depart due to the "deteriorating »»»

Dubai: The Philippines has declared Friday, March 20, as a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid Al Fitr, the Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan. The announcement has been made during a grand iftar gathering at the presidential palace, where Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, organised a Ramadan lecture titled “Ramadan: The Month of Mercy and Forgiveness” on February 27, 2026, targeting English-speaking residents. The event attracted mo»»»

The Trump administration denounced CNN on Thursday for airing a portion of the new Iranian supreme leader's public statement, the second time in three days that he's targeted the network for reporting on how the regime is responding to the American attacks. The attack illustrated the care news outl»»»

On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1 of 4 | President Donald Trump, joined by members of his administration, declares a national emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic during a news conference at the White House in Washingto»»»

Lebanon has started to make preparations ahead of the possibility of holding direct negotiations with Israel, based on an initiative proposed by President Joseph Aoun to end Israel’s war on Lebanon. Diplomatic and political contacts have also been intensifying amid the rapid developments in Lebanon»»»

Iran’s secretive new leader issued his first public statements Thursday, resolving to keep fighting, promising more pain for Gulf Arab states and threatening to open “other fronts” in a war that has already disrupted world energy supplies, the global economy and international travel. Early Friday, »»»