France's New Nuclear Strategy to Weaken Security in Europe - Russian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The security of non-nuclear European countries will ultimately be weakened by France's plans to deploy nuclear weapons on their territory, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said in an interview with Sputnik. "As a result, instead of the French declaring a strength»»»
Counterpoint: Philippines cannot afford romantic anti-development politics
Manila: Fiery attacks or protests against the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and the idea of “Pax Silica” Initiative (PSI) tap into a familiar reflex in Philippine politics. Last week (April 2026), Manila signed up as the 13th member of PSI, resulting in the planned establishment of a "giant" 16 km²»»»
UK's Starmer to face grilling from MPs over Mandelson vetting scandal
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will face questions from members of parliament on Monday in the wake of revelations that former US ambassador Peter Mandelson failed the vetting process for his position. Starmer's govenment has been embriloed in controversy since new details emerged about the depth o»»»
ElbitSystems reaffirms commitment to deliver WatchkeeperX systems by mid-year, subject to coordination between parties involved
Elbit Systems reaffirms its commitment to deliver the Watchkeeper X tactical unmanned aircraft systems by mid-year, subject to final coordination between all parties involved, the company announced in a release.Elbit Systems President Bezhalel Machlis, together with Lior Ben Dor, Ambassador of the »»»
Dutch ambassador: NATO cooperation key as Ukraine war felt at Romania's border
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania, Willemijn van Haaften, said on Friday that she witnessed explosions from a Russian attack in Ukraine overnight from her hotel room in Tulcea, near the Romanian border.The diplomat met local authorities in Tulcea in recent days, visited th»»»
Dozens attend English-language religious lessons
Doha, Qatar: The English-language religious lessons held in mosques, organised by the Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center for Muslim communities have continued with the attendance of dozens of people. These sessions aim to enhance religious awareness among participants and c»»»
British PM Starmer Faces Angry Lawmakers Over Mandelson’s Appointment as Ambassador
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will try on Monday to get a grip on a crisis that has left power slipping from his grasp. Starmer will face a tough barrage of questions in Parliament when he stands up to explain why Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished politician and friend of Jeffrey Epstein, »»»
RAGOZIN: Budanov, Ukraine’s president-in-waiting
While president Volodymyr Zelenskiy maintains a show of defiance, Ukraine is being steered towards a difficult postwar period by the new presidential office chief who might also rule the country one day. »»»
Taiwan Business Group Urges Beijing, Taipei to Keep Politics Out of Trade
The head of one of Taiwan's top business groups said on Monday both Beijing and Taipei should leave politics out of resuming normal trade and tourism exchanges, after China unveiled new incentives for the island. China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, announced meas»»»
Eight Children Dead in US Domestic Violence Shooting
A man shot dead eight children -- seven of them his own -- early Sunday in the southern US state of Louisiana in an incident of domestic violence that spanned three locations, police said. The early morning massacre at a gray house in the city of Shreveport was the deadliest mass shooting in the Un»»»
Two U.S. Embassy staffers, Mexican officers die in Chichuahua crash - UPI.com
Chihuahua Attorney General Cesar Jauregui tells reporters Sunday that Two Mexican law enforcement officers and two U.S. Embassy staffers were killed in a car accident. Photo courtesy Chihuahua Attorney General's Office/Release April 20 (UPI) -- Two employees of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and two Me»»»
Allies Fear a Rushed US–Iran Framework Deal Could Backfire, Leaving Technical Deadlock
European allies fear an inexperienced US negotiating team is pushing for a swift, headline-grabbing framework deal with Iran that could entrench rather than resolve deeper problems, diplomats with past experience dealing with Tehran said. They worry Washington, eager to claim a diplomatic win for P»»»
Iranian Armed Forces Vow Swift Response to US Seizure of Iranian Vessel in Gulf of Oman
A spokesman for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Military Command said that Iran would respond swiftly to the seizure of an Iranian vessel by the US military in the Gulf of Oman. Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the seizure of the Iranian merchant vessel Touska, which was attempting to break »»»
Hungarians take home more: Net earnings outpace inflation
Full-time employees’ average gross earnings were HUF 725,500 and average net earnings reached HUF 509,200 in February 2026. Average gross earnings grew by 9.7%, net average earnings increased by 12.0% and real earnings were 10.5% higher than a year earlier. The increase in net average earnings exce»»»
Argentina's Milei says US-Israel war against Iran 'right thing to do'
Argentine President Javier Milei declared on Sunday that the joint US-Israel war against Iran was the "right thing to do", as he signed on to the so-called Isaac Accords aimed at deepening bilateral ties between Israel and Latin American countries. Making his third visit to Israel as president, Mil»»»
QMC CEO MEETS JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR
CEO of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani met with Ambassador of Jordan to Qatar HE Zaid Mufleh Al Lawzi in Doha on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in various media fields. (QNA)»»»
Iran war: Over $1 billion made from suspiciously timed oil price tips—who's behind them?
Dubai: A string of unusually timed oil trades totalling over $1 billion is drawing scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers, after they were placed just before major war-related announcements that sent global prices sharply lower. These were not routine trades. They were large, high-risk predict»»»
Non-banking SME financing rises to EGP 25bn in January 2026: FRA
The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) said non-banking financing extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by companies and associations under its supervision reached EGP 25bn in January 2026, up from EGP 16.2bn a year earlier, an increase of EGP 9.8bn. The number of beneficiaries ro»»»
Iran Rejects Second Round of Talks With US - Reports
MOSCOW, April 19 (Sputnik) - Iran has refused to participate in the second round of negotiations with the United States, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Sunday. Earlier in the day, Donald Trump said his representatives were heading to Islamabad to take part in a new round of negotiations on Iran.S»»»
Ministry highlights progress in e-commerce strategy, launches regional digital trade project
AMMAN — Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Secretary-General Dana Alzoubi on Sunday said that the launch of the "Digital Trade in the South Mediterranean" project marks a strategic step toward building an integrated digital trade ecosystem that promotes sustainable economic growth and keeps pac»»»
ICAO chief commends Egypt for accommodating emergency flights during regional airspace closures
The head of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) praised Egypt for successfully accommodating a surge of emergency and rescheduled flights forced by airspace closures during the recent regional conflict. ICAO Secretary-General Juan Carlos Salazar commended the Egyptian Ministry of C»»»
Russia offers to take Iran’s uranium as US-Iran talks hit impasse
Russia stands ready to help remove Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, Aleksey Likhachev, CEO of the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has said. Tehran’s nuclear program remains a key sticking point in talks with Washington. US President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran dismantle its nuc»»»
Bahrain King addresses repercussions of war
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain received senior officials, during which several matters related to national affairs were reviewed as part of efforts to continue the Kingdom's progress and fulfil the aspirations of its citizens. According to Bahrain News Agency, King Hamad expressed pride i»»»
Trump Says US Negotiators Will Head to Pakistan on Monday for Talks with Iran
President Donald Trump said US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday even as Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not immediately confirm t»»»
US Ambassador to UN Says Washington Considering All Options Regarding Iran
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz on Sunday said that Washington is considering all options regarding possible actions against Iran, including destroying its infrastructure. "Unlike his predecessor, [US] President [Donald] Trump doesn't publicly take options off »»»
Electronic Governance Ministry: 99.5% of Voting Machines Work Without Issues
Around 99.5% of voting machines are functioning without issues on election day, the Ministry of Electronic Governance said on Sunday. The Ministry reported that faults have been recorded in fewer than 1% of all devices, with technicians from Ciela Norma, the contractor responsible for machine maint»»»
Lebanese Army says dismantled 5 bombs left over by Israeli aggression in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Lebanese Army says dismantled 5 bombs left over by Israeli aggression in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) 19-04-2026 13:10 PM Latest News»»»
'They are stealing the election': How Armenia became the next Russia-EU battlefield
Armenians are set to head to the polls in June for their parliamentary elections, which the EU and Russia are closely watching. With support for joining the bloc at an all-time high, this could be a sign that the former Soviet country is moving away from Moscow, one of its closest allies. But forei»»»
QMC CEO meets Jordan Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: CEO of Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) HE Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al-Thani, met on Sunday, April 19, 2026, with the Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Zaid Mufleh Al-Lawzi. The two sides discussed media cooperation between the two countries and ex»»»
Bulgaria heads to the polls for eighth general election in five years
Voters in Bulgaria headed to the polls Sunday for an eighth general election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev tipped to win on anti-corruption pledges. The election comes after unrest toppled Boyko Borissov’s rule and left the pro-European GERB party trailing. Bulgarians began head»»»
Electronic Government Ministry: 99.5% of Voting Machines Work Without Issues
Around 99.5% of voting machines are functioning without issues on election day, the Ministry of Electronic Governance said on Sunday. The Ministry reported that faults have been recorded in fewer than 1% of all devices, with technicians from Ciela Norma, the contractor responsible for machine maint»»»
UAE growth accelerates in early 2026 driven by banking and trade gains
Dubai: UAE economic growth accelerated in the early months of 2026, driven by expanding banking activity, rising foreign trade flows, and sustained investment momentum, according to official data and international reports. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply cli»»»
Driver killed in seven-car accident during Verstappen race at Nuerburgring
Nuremberg, Germany: Veteran endurance driver Juha Miettinen was killed in a seven-car pile-up during a race at Germany's Nuerburgring on Saturday. The race, which also featured four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, was halted after the accident with organisers suspending the event. I»»»
Security lockdown in Islamabad, Rawalpindi as US-Iran talks expected
Dubai: Pakistan has placed its twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on high security alert, deploying tens of thousands of personnel and suspending transport services ahead of a possible second round of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, according to reports. More than 10,000 »»»
UK Ministers Back Starmer Amid Fresh Calls to Quit
British government ministers on Sunday backed embattled premier Keir Starmer as he struggles to shake off a scandal over long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson. Starmer is due to face lawmakers in parliament on Monday to explain how Mandelson was appointed Britain's ambassador to the U»»»
Representing the UAE abroad, new ambassadors sworn in
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the swearing-in of a number of newly appointed UAE ambassadors. During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohamed wished the ambassadors success in carrying out their duties and in strengthening bilateral relations in line with th»»»
Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirms its commitment to promoting stability, development and resolving conflicts peacefully
ANTALYA:The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to fostering a stable and secure environment and to pursuing constructive policies based on development and prosperity, rather than onwars and conflicts. This commitment aims to strengthen mutual trust with regional and»»»
Hormuz turns into gunboat bargaining table as escalation risks mount
Dubai: The Strait of Hormuz is no longer a shipping lane — it is now a gunboat-enforced negotiating table. What unfolded over the past 36 hours has stripped away any lingering illusion that the waterway is returning to normal. A brief window of optimism — sparked by Iran’s signal that the strait wa»»»
Iran Stands Firm: No Concessions in War Talks, Sovereignty Over Hormuz Non-Negotiable
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran affirmed that Iran’s negotiating delegation will make no concessions in talks aimed at ending the war, underscoring its full commitment to safeguarding national rights and defending the interests of the Iranian people. In a statement, the council said T»»»
Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»
As Iran War Strains Ties with Trump’s US, UK Looks to Europe
Britain's government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war sours the UK's so-called special relationship with the United States. President Donald Trump's unpredictability and stream of insults towards America's historic ally is a»»»
Hezbollah warns truce with Israel cannot be one-sided, tensions remain high
Beirut: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted on Saturday that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a unilateral arrangement. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Qassem vowed that his fighters are prepared to retaliate against any Israeli strikes targeting Lebanese territory. In his init»»»
Ceasefire clock ticks as Iran declares victory over US
Tehran: Iran had been "victorious in the field" during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday. The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a perma»»»
Iran Says Final Deal Still Far off as Hormuz Strait Shuttered
The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»
Iran says final deal still far off as Hormuz Strait shuttered
Tehran: The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level »»»
Ambassadors of Korea, Japan visit ice rink at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah arena
Doha: Ambassador of Korea H E Yun Hyunsoo and Ambassador of Japan H E Naoto Hisajima visited the ice rink at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, located at Al Sadd Sports Club, to review the facilities dedicated to ice sports. The visit came in response to an invitation from the Qatar Winter Sports»»»
Indonesia rights body probing civilian killings in Papua
Jakarta: Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced Sunday that it has opened an investigation into reports that 12 civilians, including women and children, were killed during a military operation in the restive Papua region. The commission, abbreviated as Komnas HAM, sa»»»
Qatar stresses trust, dialogue in global mediation efforts at Antalya Forum
Antalya: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi participated in a high-level session on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) titled, “Emerging Partnerships in International Mediation for Peace.” In remarks delive»»»
Europe's far right leaders gather in Milan rally against immigration
Several thousand people gathered in Milan on Saturday for a large rally attended by several European far-right leaders who spoke on immigration, security, and against EU regulations. Far-right leaders from Europe gathered in Milan Saturday for a rally attended by thousands against irregular immigra»»»
Brazil, Mexico, Spain Voice Concern Over Cuba Crisis, Call for Relief Measures
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - Brazil, Spain and Mexico have expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Cuba and called for measures to improve it, as well as to avoid actions that worsen the living conditions of the Cubans, a joint statement published on the Spanish Foreign Ministry's website o»»»