Indonesian authorities said Wednesday they have arrested six people allegedly involved in smuggling endangered Komodo dragons native to the archipelago and destined for Thailand. Two suspects were arrested in February in the port city of Surabaya on the east coast of Java island as they got off a s»»»

In a packed hall in Qamishli's sports stadium in northeast Syria, Firas Ahmad is one of dozens of Kurds waiting to apply for citizenship after many in the minority were barred from doing so for decades. Since last week, "unregistered" Kurds, who have been stateless since a controversial 1962 census»»»

Doha, Qatar: Ambassador of Vietnam to Qatar H E Nguyen Huy Hiep chaired the 74th meeting of the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD), marking the start of Vietnam’s Chairmanship for 2026. The meeting focused on shaping and endorsing the ACD’s Calendar of Activities for 2026, which will serve as a roadmap »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to support the family as a cornerstone of society and a driver of stability and balanced development. In a statement marking Qatar Family Day on April 15, the SJC said it strengthens family ties through the Family C»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a communications radar in Katsavia barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan with a rocket barrage: Statem»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the headquarters of the 146th Division in Ga’aton settlement with a swarm of loitering drones: Stateme»»»

Berlin: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, met separately with His Excellency Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan »»»

Dubai: The Philippine Embassy in Oman has issued a clarification in response to circulating online reports suggesting that Filipino nationals travelling to Oman may be required to undergo HIV testing prior to departure. The embassy has noted that it has been receiving a number of inquiries from mem»»»

The fundamental vulnerability of the US Multi-Domain Operations doctrine is “centralization and the idea that the entire battle space can be effectively managed from the top,” retired USAF Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former DoD analyst, tells Sputnik. Kwiatkowski calls it “a kind of arrogance and»»»

In accordance with the adoption of the Law «On Livestock Breeding in the Kyrgyz Republic,» the country plans to develop a unified state information system aimed at digitalizing livestock breeding. The Ministry of Agriculture reported. According to the ministry, the new information system will ensur»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices rebounded on Thursday morning as renewed caution over the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict pushed investors back toward bullion. This reversed Wednesday’s softer trend when easing ceasefire hopes had briefly cooled safe-haven demand. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, along»»»

Spanish energy group Repsol is poised to take back operational control of its Venezuelan oil assets and boost production following a deal signed with the South American government, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. Repsol is expected to announce the agreement as early as Thursday, FT added,»»»

Berlin: The State of Qatar participated in the Third International Conference on Sudan, currently being held in the German capital, Berlin. The State of Qatar was represented at the conference by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State at the Ministry of F»»»

Chingiz Aidarbekov has submitted a statement canceling his registration as a candidate for deputy of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan, sources informed. Chingiz Aidarbekov himself confirmed on his Facebook page that he submitted a statement to the Central Election Commission on April 16. A meeting»»»

China's economy expanded more than expected in the first three months of the year, with official data Thursday indicating resilience in the face of a Middle East crisis that threatens to hit global growth. The figures came despite a surge in world energy prices caused by the US-Israel war on Iran, »»»

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan has held a series of meetings in Washington, D.C. to discuss strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and addressing challenges facing the global economy. Al-Jadaan began his meetings on Wednesday by holding talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bes»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Foundation is advancing its decade-long vision for inclusive autism support across education, research, and community development with its new Autism Community Hub – a digital platform that unites services, resources, and expertise, making coordinated care and guidance more acces»»»

Istanbul, Turkiye: The State of Qatar has reiterated its commitment to diplomacy and regional stability during high-level parliamentary meetings held in Istanbul, as part of the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). A delegation from Qatar’s Shura Council, led by Speaker H »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Social and Cultural Center for the Blind (QSCCB) organised a specialised awareness seminar that discussed the topic of psychological resilience and smart coping in times of crisis, presented by disability expert, psychological consultant, and Advisor to the Qatar Society for »»»

A critically endangered Borneo orangutan has been born at Madrid's zoo, described by keepers as strong and developing normally. After an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy, mother Surya gave birth to a male weighing about 1.5 kilos (3.3 pounds) on April 2, the Madrid Zoo Aquarium said in a statement.»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie has reassured the public that the country’s environmental condition remains stable, emphasizing that there are no indicators or phenomena that warrant concern. In an interview with Qatar Telev»»»

Doha, Qatar: Venture capital investment across the Gulf, especially Qatar, is undergoing a significant transformation, moving away from opportunistic funding toward more strategic, long-term deployment aligned with national economic agendas, according to market experts. Speaking to The Peninsula on»»»

Doha, Qatar: European Council President António Costa (pictured) yesterday underscored the European Union’s unwavering support for Qatar and other Gulf nations amid regional tensions, stressing the need for a stable ceasefire and the restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Spe»»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Lebanese movement Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on the condition that Israel also observe it, Mahmoud Komati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said on Wednesday. Hezbollah has agreed to a ceasefire with Israel on the condition that both sides adhere to it.“We agree»»»

On April 15, Marlen Mamataliev, Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan, participated in the opening session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Istanbul. The event, which is taking place from April 15 to 19 under the motto «Cultivating Hope, Ensuring Peace and Justice for Future Gene»»»

Russian strikes killed at least 12 people in Ukraine, local authorities said on Thursday, after Moscow pummeled its neighbor in overnight attacks. Missile and drone attacks on the southern port city of Odesa killed six people, the head of the city's military administration Sergiy Lysak wrote on Tel»»»

AMMAN — Partners Jordan announced on Wednesday the results of the Open Budget Survey 2025 for Jordan.The results show that Jordan scored 62 out of 100 in the transparency pillar, placing it in the "sufficient" category for the publication of budget information, compared with 18 out of 100 in the pu»»»

AMMAN — Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian company operating Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), announced a major milestone in its journey, with QAIA ranking among the Skytrax World’s Top 100 Airports 2026 for the first time in its history.This reflects the airport’s commitment »»»

Dubai has launched a new initiative to train 50,000 government employees in artificial intelligence as part of efforts to modernise public services and improve efficiency. The programme, called the AI Workforce Transformation Programme (AI+), is being led by Digital Dubai in partnership with the Du»»»

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Australia has secured an additional supply of some 100 million litres of diesel from Brunei and South Korea, as the country looked to boost precarious reserves, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday. "I can announce that my government has secured an additional 100 mi»»»

Dubai: Sue Prado, an acclaimed indie Filipino film actress, died at 44 with her family confirming her death. Her sister, May Shareen Prado, took to Facebook saying her beloved family member died on April 14. No cause of death has been revealed. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf New»»»

The US Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have blocked any further US strikes on Iran without approval from Congress. The initiative was opposed by 52 senators and supported by 47 senators. The vote marks the fourth time this year lawmakers have effectively allowed the US-Israeli war of»»»

Left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez moved into second place in Peru’s presidential election, setting up a June runoff with conservative Keiko Fujimori, as a rival threatened protests over alleged fraud. With over 90% counted, Fujimori led with about 17%, followed by Sanchez on 12% and Rafael Lopez »»»

François Picard welcomes Farès Boueiz, former Lebanese minister of foreign affairs. The ongoing Israeli-Lebanese talks cannot be described as a "breakthrough", Boueiz argues, but rather as a technical prelude to meaningful negotiations. What we are witnessing, he suggests, is the exploratory stage »»»

Social media users are claiming that Apple has intentionally removed towns in southern Lebanon from its Maps app, sparking allegations of a link to the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict. Apple has denied the claims, stating the locations were never indexed to begin with and citing longstanding covera»»»

In an interview with FRANCE 24, Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, warned that Israel is "heading to apartheid" unless it divides the land with the Palestinians. He argued that "there is a limit to what we can achieve by the use of military power" in Iran and»»»

Between Tehran and Washington's blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, the number of ships passing through the critical waterway has slowed to a trickle. Here's what marine tracking data tells us about the situation. A trickle of ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday and Wednesday as a US blockade»»»

Angela Diffley is pleased to welcome Bilal Y. Saab, Senior Managing Director of TRENDS Research and Advisory. According to Saab, Lebanon is at a crossroads: the government is committed to reform, is fundamentally “pro-Lebanese” and rejects interference from external actors. The central challenge re»»»

Iran proving that missiles don't need to travel thousands of kilometres. Across the Gulf is all it takes to force the world’s mightiest army to the bargaining table. Pressure on the choke point for one-fifth of the planet’s oil and gas exposing the vulnerability of Arabian peninsula monarchies. The»»»

The health of jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is critical after she suffered a heart attack last month, supporters said on Wednesday. Her family and lawyers, allowed a second prison visit, reported a sharp deterioration in her condition, with her physical state now descri»»»

Prominent left-leaning Italian weekly L’Espresso is at the centre of a diplomatic storm online, after the Israeli ambassador to Italy slammed its choice of front cover as "manipulative." The magazine titled its latest edition “L’Abuso” or “The Abuse,” illustrating the cover with a photo of an armed»»»

Syria began loading its first tanker carrying Iraqi oil on Wednesday at the Baniyas port refinery, according to state media. With maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, Iraq's exports came to a halt and oil storage tanks began filling up rapidly, forcing Iraqi authorities to large»»»

Pakistan’s army chief is set to meet with Iranian officials in Tehran on Thursday in a bid to ease tensions in the Middle East and arrange a second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran after almost seven weeks of war. The White House said any further talks would likely take plac»»»

The administration of US President Donald Trump wants automakers to play a greater role in the production of weapons and military equipment, American media reported. The US is urging major manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, to expand their role in weapons production as conflicts in U»»»

Sudan’s government on Wednesday slammed a donor conference hosted by Germany as “surprising and unacceptable”, saying the event meddles in the country’s internal affairs and was organised without consulting Khartoum. The conference is being held as the brutal war between the army and the paramilita»»»

On the third anniversary of the start of the war in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands of people, an aid worker from one of the main NGOs still there has spoken to FRANCE 24 about the starvation of the people. She also spoke about the incredible way the Sudanese come together to try to help »»»

This Wednesday marks three years since the start of the civil war in Sudan, a conflict that has forced 14 million people to flee their homes. Some 4 million of them have left their country altogether. While many have fled to neighbouring countries, some have chosen Kenya. The capital Nairobi has be»»»

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon Wednesday for the next stop on his 11-day apostolic journey across Africa. Separatist groups in the English-speaking west declared a three-day ceasefire to allow the pontiff to travel to the conflicted region.  Crowds lined the roads to welcome Pope Leo XIV to »»»

As Sudan's brutal civil war enters its fourth year, Angela Diffley is joined by Idil Absiye, Regional Policy Advisor for Women, Peace and Security at the UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office. Drawing on field data, partner testimonies, and recent institutional reporting, she examines h»»»

Three years into a war that has displaced 11 million people and killed tens of thousands, Sudan’s conflict remains deadlocked, with civilians trapped in a cycle of violence and deprivation and no viable path to peace. On the third anniversary of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and »»»