MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian special services are targeting the Russian merchant fleet with coordination and intelligence support of NATO, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Marine Board Nikolai Patrushev said on Monday. "The risks of illegal actions and terrorist attacks aga»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority has recently announced the new law on excise tax, introducing new measures targeting sugary drinks and revising how taxes on sweetened beverages are calculated. The authority stated that the changes aim to curb the consumption of high-sugar products and promot»»»

Dubai: Women’s roles within the home are being re-examined across the region, with schools updating Arabic language teaching to better reflect their influence in shaping both families and wider society. The change comes amid growing conversations in the UAE about recognising women not simply as “ho»»»

Ongoing military escalation in the Middle East puts tens of millions of people at risk of falling into poverty across 162 countries, according to new projections released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). While the impacts are concentrated in countries directly affected by t»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia and Indonesia will be able to find a solution to maintain a stable trade situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. "Unfortunately, there was some adjustment at the beginning of this year, but the intergovernmental commission is actively working with us, a»»»

A statement by members of the Yes, Bulgaria party, released on Monday, comments on recent political developments in Hungary, arguing that the country is undergoing a historic turning point and a shift away from what they describe as a “captured state” model. The statement claims that Hungary’s gove»»»

Tehran: The US military said it would begin a blockade of all Iranian ports Monday, after talks between the warring sides in Pakistan collapsed, and despite the Iranian military warning that it would treat any such action as an act of piracy. Trump had announced on social media he would blockade th»»»

Dubai: The Egyptian Embassy in Algeria has announced the launch of a new long-term entry visa for Algerian citizens, aimed at facilitating travel and strengthening ties between the two countries. According to the announcement, the visa will be valid for up to five years and will allow multiple entr»»»

Dubai: Jet fuel shortages are fast becoming one of the biggest hidden pressures on global aviation, affecting everything from airline profitability to the price travellers pay for tickets. While passengers may only notice the impact when fares suddenly rise, the causes run much deeper — from refine»»»

U.S. warships were due to begin blocking vessels of all nations from leaving or entering Iran's ports on Monday in line with a blockade ordered by President Donald Trump in response to failed peace talks in Pakistan at the weekend. File Photo by MC3 Amber Smalley/U.S. Navy/UPI | License Photo April»»»

Tsvetan Predov, a parliamentary candidate of There Is Such a People (TISP) in Sliven, called for the resignation of caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov over delayed social payments, his campaign team said. Predov argued that the National Assembly had approved a TISP proposal to»»»

Accra: A Ghanaian Premier League footballer, Dominic Frimpong, has been killed after armed robbers attacked his team on the way back from an away fixture on Sunday, the Ghana Football Association said Monday. Berekum Chelsea FC said in a statement that "masked men wielding guns and assault rifles" »»»

Dubai: Actor-turned-politician Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is intensifying his campaign for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election with high-energy public outreach. As part of his unique campaign style, Vijay has been riding a bicycle through crowded street»»»

Tsvetan Predov, a parliamentary candidate of There Is Such a People (TISP) in Sliven, called for the resignation of caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov over delayed social payments, his campaign team said. Predov argued that the National Assembly had approved a TISP proposal to»»»

“Yesterday, Hungarians chose democracy over authoritarianism, Europe over Russia, and a better economic future instead of remaining the poorest country in the European Union,” the statement of Continue the Change says, referring to the recent election results in Hungary. According to the party, the»»»

Pope Leo XIV has begun an 11-day tour of Africa, a landmark visit that underscores the continent’s growing importance to the Catholic Church — even as it unfolds under the shadow of geopolitical tensions. The trip, covering Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, is the first major interna»»»

Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba welcomed last Saturday (11 April) the signing of the US-brokered (Unified Development Programme) between the two politically split Libyan western and eastern Libyan administrations. Aldabaiba said ‘‘After 13 years of political deadlock, we h»»»

Dubai: After months of delays, ‘Mera Lyari’ is finally set for its global premiere, stepping into the spotlight as Pakistan’s response to India’s Dhurandhar films and their ‘negative’ portrayal of Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood. The sports drama will debut at the UK Asian Film Festival on May 2 at t»»»

Doha, Qatar: If you are searching for Qatar offers today, you are not looking for more noise. You are trying to make a fast, confident buying decision without wasting time on scattered flyers, endless tabs, and promotions that may not even apply to you. That is the real problem with modern deal hun»»»

Russia is ready to take in Iran's enriched uranium as part of a future peace deal with the United States, the Kremlin said on Monday. Failed talks between Iran and the United States over the weekend dashed hopes of a swift deal to permanently end the war that has killed thousands and thrown the glo»»»

A man has been arrested after breaching security at Ireland’s Shannon Airport and damaging a US military aircraft, in an incident that briefly shut down operations and reignited scrutiny of America’s long-running use of the facility. Footage circulating online appears to show the intruder climbing »»»

BusinessGermanyLufthansa pilots strike for 2 days, flights severely hitMark Hallam with AFP, dpaPilots who are members of the Vereinigung Cockpit trade union are striking on Monday and Tuesday. It's the fourth strike to hit Lufthansa and some of its subsidiaries this year, just days after cabin cre»»»

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi called for accelerating work on the Assiut diesel production complex to help reduce imports and boost local supply. During a virtual meeting of Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC), the minister said that the project plays an import»»»

Budapest: Congratulations from across Europe poured in Monday for Hungarian political newcomer Peter Magyar, who defeated nationalist Viktor Orban in elections seen as a blow to right-wing populism worldwide. Orban, a self-described "thorn" in the EU's side and defender of "illiberal democracy", lo»»»

One person was killed and five others were injured Saturday night during a shooting a Chik-fil-A restaurant in New Jersey. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 12 (UPI) -- At least six people were shot, and one killed, after several people wearing masks entered a Chick-fil-A restaura»»»

Tokyo: A volcano in southern Japan has erupted for the second time in four months, sending huge plumes of ash billowing kilometres into the sky, the weather agency and local media reported. Sakurajima, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, erupted after noon on Saturday, sending ash soaring up to 3»»»

Lebanese official media reported extensive Israeli strikes across the country's south on Sunday as the health ministry said at least five people were killed and the war's overall toll rose to 2,055 dead. Israel says the fragile Middle East ceasefire does not apply to its battle with the Iran-backed»»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Sunday he was working to stop the Israel-Hezbollah war, even as Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in south Lebanon that the fight there was far from over. The Lebanese Red Cross said in a statement that one of its paramedics had been killed in the south.»»»

The Israeli military said on Monday its troops had completely surrounded a key town in southern Lebanon after killing more than 100 Hezbollah fighters there over the past week. The announcement marks a significant advance in Israel's ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon. "The forces of the 98th Div»»»

Türkiye's foreign minister said on Monday he believed both Iran and the United States remain "sincere" about reaching a ceasefire despite the failure of Pakistan-mediated talks on the weekend. He also stated that Israel "cannot live without an enemy" and its government is now trying to portray Türk»»»

A 48-year-old influencer and trainer was arrested in Koropi early Saturday morning for driving under the influence and dangerous driving. Police said the woman failed to stop at a traffic police check after being observed performing a number of dangerous driving manoeuvres. She was finally stopped »»»

A 12-year-old boy suffered a serious injury to his hand when he lit a firecracker that exploded outside a church in Menidi, western Attica, state-run broadcaster ERT reported. The accident happened outside the Church of Agios Vlasios on Sunday, which was Orthodox Easter in Greece. The minor has suf»»»

The Israeli military said on Monday its troops had completely surrounded Bint Jbeil, a key town in southern Lebanon after killing more than 100 Hezbollah fighters there over the past week. The announcement marks a significant advance in Israel's ongoing invasion of southern Lebanon. "The forces of »»»

An Israeli airstrike killed at least three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Monday, health officials said, as mediators met leaders from Hamas in an effort to shore up a US-brokered ceasefire deal. Medics said the strike had hit a group of men outside a school in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza »»»

Dubai: President Donald Trump has escalated the battle for the Strait of Hormuz, ordering a US naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iran — a move that risks sending global oil prices higher even as Washington says it wants the vital artery reopened. The contradiction is only apparent. Trump isn»»»

Egypt is set to introduce a new EGP 2 coin as part of a broader initiative to modernise its circulating currency system and improve the availability of small denominations, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Finance Egypt reported by Arab Finance. The move is designed to facilita»»»

Ukrainian believers gather to mark Easter near the Church of the Archangel Saint Michael in the Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography in Pyrohovo village near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. A truce had been announced for the Easter holiday, during which both sides accused the other of violations. »»»

Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Monday excise taxes on LPG and kerosene would be trimmed to ease the fuel price shock wrought by the US-Israeli war on Iran. "We were hoping for a good outcome from the peace talks (between) the US and Iran, but it appears they were unable to strik»»»

Nearly two-thirds ‌of Israelis oppose the Iran ceasefire, but the public is divided over whether Israel should respect the two-week truce or resume attacks on Iran, according to a poll from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The poll was the first national survey of Israelis conducted after the US»»»

China urged calm and restraint by all sides on Monday, following US President Donald Trump's threat to blockade the Strait of Hormuz after the failure of weekend talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the Iran war. Before the war, most Iranian oil exports were shipped to China, the top global importer »»»

Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against criticism from US President Donald Trump, saying the Vatican’s calls for peace are rooted in the Gospel and not political positioning. Speaking to The Associated Press aboard the papal plane, Leo said it was “not understanding what the message of the Gospel is” »»»

Dubai: The death of Asha Bhosle on April 12, 2026, prompted an outpouring of tributes across India from politicians and industry veterans to a younger generation of actors eager to be seen marking the moment. But amid the grief, one post stood out and not in a way anyone intended. Actor Athiya Shet»»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been ousted after 16 years in power, marking a dramatic political shift in one of Europe’s most closely watched elections. In a high-turnout vote, Orban conceded defeat to conservative challenger Peter Magyar, ending a long period of nationalist rule that h»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Meteorology Department said that the country may experience strong northwesterly winds on April 15 and 16, 2026. According to the Department, winds will range from fresh to strong, raising the likelihood of dust in the air and reduced visibility in several areas. The department a»»»

Jordan and Syria signed more than 20 bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding on Sunday, marking a significant step toward restoring strategic ties that had been frozen since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Jordanian diplomacy has dealt pragmatically with restoring relatio»»»

An Egyptian blogger has died after jumping from the 13th floor of a residential building in Alexandria’s Smouha district during a live broadcast on Facebook Reels, in an incident that has sparked widespread reaction and renewed debate over mental health and online safety. Authorities identified the»»»

DOHA: Driven by international expansion and record-breaking results Estithmar Holding has decided to distribute20% of capital as share dividends to shareholder for the year ended December 31, 2025 Estithmar Holding’s General Assembly approved a 20% profit distribution of the company’s capital to sh»»»

A total of 17 notebooks and one ledger containing lists of names with corresponding sums, 113 sample ballots for the upcoming elections, and EUR 4,115 in cash have been seized in Pleven Region, acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev said in a Facebook post on Monday. The evidence »»»

Iraq’s oil exports plunged in March to 18.6 million barrels, down from 99.87 million in February – a drop of 81.3 percent - due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to official figures released Monday. The state-run Organization for Marketing of Oil said revenues also have fallen to ju»»»

A Russian drone attack killed one person in Ukraine's frontline eastern Donetsk region on Sunday, Ukrainian police said on Monday, before the expiry of a ceasefire to mark Orthodox Easter. Police said in a statement that an FPV (first-person-view) drone strike killed one person in the city of Druzh»»»