ST. PETERSBURG, (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called for decisive action against attempts to disrupt the Russian merchant fleet, treating such acts as piracy. Speaking on Navy Day in St. Petersburg, Putin heard reports from fleet commanders via video link. He mentioned atte»»»

DAMASCUS: United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged the removal of all sanctions imposed on Syria during the era of ousted ruler Bashar Assad, as he concluded a two-day visit to the country. Syria’s new authorities, who took power in December 2024, are trying to turn the page after more»»»

RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, represented by the religious attache at the Saudi Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has inaugurated the preliminary rounds of the Fourth International Holy Qur’an Competition for the Balkan Countries in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. The ministry i»»»

Iranian Zulfiqar road-mobile, ballistic missiles are displayed during a pro-government demonstration in Tehran on Friday. Photo by Behnam Tofighi/UPI | License Photo July 26 (UPI) -- After nearly two weeks of nightly bombing, the United States and Iran entered their second day of no new attacks Sun»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance ties across various fields in a phone call. The discussions aimed to further serve the mutual interests of both countrie»»»

Dhaka: Chronic gas shortages in Bangladesh, already compounded by the Middle East war, have worsened after an industrial accident disrupted supplies, affecting homes, businesses and key sectors such as the textile industry. Jubaida Anjum Saba, an NGO worker in the capital Dhaka who cooks for her ex»»»

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief established a new camp in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip to shelter displaced people, particularly those with visual impairments and their families. The camp provides safe and stable accommodation for people whose homes were destroyed during the war in the»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Minister of Labor HE Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri met on Sunday with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the State of Qatar HE Dr. Mahmood Yakubu. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed areas of cooperation between both countries and discussed ways to further develo»»»

DOHA: Qatar Customs has announced the release of an enhanced version of its 'AI-Nadeeb' application, extending its services to other government agencies as part of efforts to strengthen digital transformation and improve the delivery of government e-services. The upgraded application introduces a r»»»

MANILA: Oman wants to expand partnerships with the Philippines in the sectors of food security and the blue economy, its top diplomat said on Sunday after a meeting with his Philippine counterpart in Manila. Oman Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro met o»»»

Hungary’s Minister for Transport and Investment, Dávid Vitézy, has pledged that by September no Volánbusz service should be cancelled because of spare parts shortages, after inheriting what he described as a severe maintenance and procurement crisis. During a visit to one of Volánbusz’s largest mai»»»

Dubai: Dubai Municipality has opened the Animal Welfare Shelter, a new integrated pet shelter at the Birds and Pets Market in the Warsan area, expanding the emirate's veterinary services while promoting animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and adoption. The project is designed to provide a saf»»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have held virtual talks on boosting bilateral cooperation in trade and logistics. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs HE Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed and Vice Minister of Transport and Logistics Service»»»

Tehran: Iran said on Sunday it has halted retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Middle East after Washington stopped its strikes on the country for the past two nights. The Iranian declaration came after Washington paused a war nearing its fifth month and reports emerged that concerns over d»»»

MADINAH: A diverse program of cultural and interactive events that combine shopping with family-friendly experiences have ensured Madinah Dates Season continues to attract residents and visitors. Celebrating the date palm as a defining symbol of the city's heritage and identity, the event features »»»

RIYADH: The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture, known as Estidamah, welcomed 94 students from the Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, giving them a firsthand look at the innovative technologies and research driving sustainable agriculture in Saudi Arabia. The prog»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 37.27 points, or 0.34 percent, to close at 10,766.84. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.37 billion ($632 million), with 98 stocks advancing and 158 declining. Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market No»»»

The Russian Navy plays a vital role in achieving the objectives of the special military operation and remains a key element in ensuring Russia's security, President Vladimir Putin said. "Today, we not only remember outstanding geographical discoveries, key battles, and the victories of our illustri»»»

DUBAI: Al-Hilal have broken into the list of the top 20 highest-spending clubs in the world during the current summer transfer window, according to Saudi business daily Al-Eqtisadiah. The window only opened in Saudi Arabia three days ago, but Al-Hilal’s spending has already hit $79.2 million after »»»

RIYADH: Saudi universities won multiple awards at the finals of the International AI on Education Competition in Hong Kong, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing role in developing artificial intelligence solutions for education. Organized by the Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance»»»

Washington, United States: One hundred days before the US midterm elections, President Donald Trump's Republicans are staring down polling that points to the loss of the House of Representatives and a ferocious battle to retain the Senate. Trump will not appear on the ballot on November 3, but the »»»

GABORONE: The State of Qatar has reiterated its support for peace efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during high-profile talks in Botswana aimed at advancing the African Union (AU)-led peace process. The Gulf state took part in a coordination and planning meeting in Gabor»»»

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Russia sees dualism in US President Donald Trump's position on the Ukrainian conflict, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "We see such dualism in the American position. On the one hand, they supply weapons to Ukraine, although President Trump say»»»

Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has revealed that if he eventually steps away from frontline politics, he would like to work at the football academy he founded, while also spending more time with his six grandchildren and returning to teaching. Speaking in an exclusive interview with H»»»

TUNIS, July 26, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisia was re-elected on July 24, 2026, to a new term on the Administrative Council of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) for the 2027-2030 mandate during the 7th Conference of Plenipotentiary Delegates held in...»»»

London: London's Gatwick Airport said Sunday it was suffering from "a water supply issue", with toilets reported to be out of order and restaurants closed at Britain's second busiest air hub. The issue impacting both terminals at the airport south of the capital -- served by several no-frills carri»»»

Accra, Ghana: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Africa World Airlines, the Accra-based carrier that has connected Ghana and the wider West African region for more than a decade, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic partnership spanning codeshare and »»»

Changzhou, China: Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen overpowered his opponent in the China Open men's singles final on Sunday, becoming the oldest tournament champion in the category at age 36. World number six Chou vanquished 27-year-old Toma Junior Popov of France in three games, 21-15, 7-21, 21-13, to clai»»»

London: London's Gatwick Airport said Sunday it was suffering from "a water supply issue", with toilets reported to be out of order and restaurants closed at Britain's second busiest air hub. The issue impacting both terminals at the airport south of the capital -- served by several no-frills carri»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has expressed its solidarity with Syria over the victims of a collision between two passenger buses on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor highway, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the »»»

Former caretaker prime minister Andrey Gurov said the decision on whether he would run for president should be made carefully and thoughtfully, rather than hastily. "This decision takes time. It must be made carefully and thoughtfully, not hastily, and when I have something to say, I will say it," »»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have discussed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments during talks in Doha. Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Sunday with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Ara»»»

Dubai: Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion has banned the sale and circulation of the "Na! Na! Na! Surprise" interactive baby doll after identifying potential health risks linked to its chemical composition. In a consumer warning issued on Sunday, the ministry urged the p»»»

Budapest: The Bahrain Grand Prix, which was cancelled in April due to the Middle East war, will be held in Malaysia in early October, Formula One organisers announced on Sunday. "Formula 1 and the FIA can confirm that Malaysia will host the... Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit »»»

The Lebanese Army issued on Sunday a statement that highlights the continuation of the Israeli enemy attacks and violations of existing understandings and international law. The statement affirmed that the Israeli attacks hinder the army’s full deployment according to existing agreements and preven»»»

The Northern Fleet already has a regiment equipped with unmanned surface and underwater vehicles, with a similar unit planned for the Pacific Fleet next year, the Russian Navy’s Commander-in-Chief, Alexander Moiseyev, told Russian media. Moiseyev also said that Russia will build a new, ocean-going »»»

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Team Vision claimed a 3-0 victory over Aurora Gaming to take the Teamfight Tactics title at the Esports World Cup 2026, along with the $150,000 grand prize and 1,000 Club Championship points. Team Vision secured the trophy after five days of competition at Allianz Vault in Par»»»

Beijing: A flash flood caused by heavy rain struck a tourist site in northwest China on Sunday, killing 10 people and injuring 23, state media reported. "A mountain torrent triggered by short-term heavy rainfall at a scenic spot in Weiyuan County, Dingxi City, trapped some campers" at the location »»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have discussed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments during talks in Doha. Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met on Sunday with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sa»»»

Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu has joined the contest to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, the seventh contender to succeed Antonio Guterres when he steps down at the end of this year. Otunnu, a former UN under-secretary-general who served as a special representative for child»»»

BORDEAUX: The mayor of Bordeaux in southwest France said on Sunday authorities had no current plans to evacuate the population of the UNESCO-listed city due to raging forest fires but were “ready for anything.” Firefighters have been battling to hold the blazes back from Bordeaux, which lies at the»»»

Gaza: Five UAE humanitarian aid convoys entered the Gaza Strip, consisting of 76 trucks carrying 938 tonnes of humanitarian assistance as part of ''Operation Chivalrous Knight 3''. The convoys, which entered Gaza during this week, are part of the ongoing efforts of the United Arab Emirates to suppo»»»

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language in Riyadh has provided 11,249 free consultations through its Language Consultant platform over two months. It is part of the academy’s efforts to promote Arabic and provide reliable answers to linguistic questions from individuals and insti»»»

Dubai: Filipinos planning overseas holidays this summer have more destinations they can visit with fewer visa requirements. The Philippine passport climbed three places to 72nd in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, up from 75th last year and its best showing since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Filipin»»»

RIYADH: Cargo movement between Saudi Arabia and Australia is set to accelerate after Saudia Cargo launched a direct freighter service between Riyadh and Melbourne, enhancing bilateral trade and supply chain connectivity. The scheduled service, which began on July 25, is operated by a Boeing 747-400»»»

JEDDAH: Three young Saudi boxers gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate before the international stars stepped into the ring at Jeddah Dome on Saturday night at “The Comeback.” Sultan Mohammed, Mohammed Alakel and Ziad Al-Maayouf all emerged victorious in the opening bouts, a clean sweep that high»»»

ABU DHABI: Thousands of fans packed Etihad Arena for an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action featuring thrilling finishes, memorable performances and exciting bouts. Abu Dhabi Showdown Week came to a spectacular close with UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs Guskov, where the main event saw fo»»»

RIYADH: Integrated national efforts to prevent drowning have contributed to a 31 percent decline in drowning deaths across the Kingdom since the National Drowning Prevention Policy was adopted in 2021, according to the Public Health Authority. The decline, through the end of 2025, also helped avert»»»

The Syrian interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa dismissed any military intervention in Lebanon, highlighting contacts with the Lebanese government to discuss solutions that will help bring Lebanon to safety. In a televised interview, Al-Sharaa said, “The Lebanese solution may not be military; anarchy »»»

The Tourism Ministry said additional medical teams and ambulances will be deployed along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast from August 1 under its joint initiative with the Health Ministry. This will provide faster access to medical care during the peak of the summer season, when the number of tourists»»»