For Pakistan, it's critically important not only to serve as a peacemaker, but also to succeed as a peacemaker, economic policy analyst Syed Ali Ehsan told Sputnik. As the world watches the US-Iran conflict de-escalate, Pakistan finds itself trapped in a paradox. It is both one of the crisis' most »»»

Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc issued on Friday a statement that underlined how the authorities in Lebanon endangered the nation and its integrity by holding direct negotiations with the the Israeli enemy. The Lebanese authority has involved the nation in a stage that endangers its existence as a s»»»

Dubai: Court of Cassation in Dubai has ruled that WhatsApp messages must be carefully examined in divorce disputes when presented as evidence, underscoring their potential legal weight in family law proceedings. Appeal overturned over unexamined digital evidenceIn a significant judgment, the Dubai »»»

During the presentation of the company’s annual results, Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH, stated: “As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping trends in the fields of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as»»»

Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping, marking a significant shift after weeks of disruption during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The move comes as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon appears to be holding, raising cautious hop»»»

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Residents of Beirut's heavily populated southern suburb were returning to their homes on Friday following the entry into force of a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a Sputnik correspondent said. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun a»»»

MANILA: In Philippine folklore, the agimat or anting-anting is a talisman believed to make its bearer bulletproof, invisible to enemies — or mysteriously protected from harm. In modern Philippine politics, some officials seem to wear a different kind of anting-anting: impunity. Also Read: Flood con»»»

Oil futures tanked on Friday following a statement by Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reflecting trader relief that the immediate risk of a supply shock had receded. The move marks a notable de-escalation by Tehran. Brent crude fell (down 11.26% to $84.03 as of 9.50 Beijing time); US West Tex»»»

House Speaker Mike Johnson failed to shepherd an 18-month reauthorization of a key part of FISA through Congress after struggling to find enough votes early Friday, but managed to secure a 10-day extension to allow more time for negotiations. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) »»»

Bulgarians at home and abroad are going to the polls on Sunday to elect their new lawmakers. These will be the country's eighteenth parliamentary elections since the start of democratic changes in 1989 and the seventh snap ones in a row since 2021. The Election Code that regulates the process was a»»»

Oil futures tanked on Friday following a statement by Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reflecting trader relief that the immediate risk of a supply shock had receded. The move marks a notable de-escalation by Tehran. Brent crude fell (down 11.26% to $84.03 as of 9.50 Beijing time); US West Tex»»»

Beirut MPs representing most of Lebanon’s political parties met in the capital to support a government move declaring the city “safe and weapons-free,” following recent security incidents and Israeli strikes. The conference brought together most factions, except MPs from Hezbollah, the Amal Movemen»»»

Saudi Arabia’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) held a virtual meeting to consider a package of strategic reports outlining the Kingdom’s economic and development trajectory. The council issued the 2025 annual report on Saudi Vision 2030, showing clear progress across its three pi»»»

Russia has sent an important message to the world by sending a ship with oil to Cuba last month as the US blockades the island, Havana’s envoy to New Delhi has said. Moscow shipped 100,000 tons of oil required for Cuba’s normal functioning after the US imposed restrictions, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguil»»»

Berlin: A private rescue attempt for a whale stranded off Germany's Baltic coast has entered a "decisive phase", officials said Friday, with the sea mammal showing more activity than in recent days. The 13.5-metre (44-foot) humpback whale's ordeal first began in late March when it was spotted stuck»»»

Washington, April 17 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh and Central Bank Governor Abdulkader Husrieh discussed investment opportunities in Syria during a visit to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings. The meeting included repr»»»

Montreal: The head of the International Air Transport Association has warned that parts of Europe could begin canceling flights from late May due to potential jet fuel shortages, raising concerns about disruption during the busy summer travel season. Speaking on Friday, Director General Willie Wals»»»

Beirut, Leabnon: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has described ongoing direct negotiations with Israel as "delicate and pivotal", urging national unity as Lebanon navigates a crucial phase under international scrutiny on Friday, April 17, 2026. In remarks released by the Lebanese presidency on Frida»»»

New Bulgarian University (NBU) is hosting a two-day international conference in Sofia marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, bringing together leading scholars from Europe, the United States and Bulgaria to reassess the political, social and health impacts of one of the wor»»»

After 17 years in journalism, spanning local newsrooms, radio, and national television, Teodora Tompea is stepping into a new rhythm at Observator 16, where speed meets meaning and news reporting blends with storytelling. On March 16, she also hosted the 21st edition of the Business Review Awards G»»»

Jeddah: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed deep concern over the worsening conditions of more than 9,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, including women and children, in addition to detainees from Gaza whose numbers remain unknown. In a statement, the OIC warned of se»»»

Hisense, a leading global brand in consumer electronics and home appliances, has unveiled its new 2026 RGB MiniLED TV range at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, underlining not only its latest advances in display technology but also the strength and maturity of its long-standing partnership with FIFA ahe»»»

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reaffirmed its deepening programmatic engagement with Egypt, stating that the $8.1 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) remains the cornerstone of the nation’s macroeconomic stability. In its latest assessment, the Fund emphasized that the program continues»»»

Agriculture Minister Margaritis Schinas is expected to urge livestock farmers of Lesvos on Friday to comply with biosecurity measures aimed at containing foot-and-mouth disease, as authorities seek to curb its spread quickly. A delegation from the island has been invited to meet at 11 a.m. at the a»»»

The Court of Audit has raised serious concerns about efforts to hastily complete the national cadastre, warning of prolonged uncertainty over property ownership and a surge in court appeals. In a report, the watchdog said recent measures allowing the register to operate before objections are examin»»»

Israel's defense minister said on Friday that the campaign against the militant group Hezbollah was not yet complete, just hours after a 10-day ceasefire came into force in Lebanon. "The ground maneuver into Lebanon and the strikes on Hezbollah have achieved many gains, but they are still not compl»»»

Milan: Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has encountered some jet fuel shortages at three airports in Italy, its chief executive said Friday, following warnings about supplies because of the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. "We had problems because of a shortage of jet fuel in three Italian airp»»»

London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday he was "furious" after it emerged his sacked US ambassador Peter Mandelson was appointed despite failing security vetting, as the scandal again threatens his hold on power. The beleaguered British leader, who has been dogged for months by the contr»»»

‎Libya’s Airports Authority reported last Wednesday (15 April) ‎that a specialized committee from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) visited Mitiga International Airport to determine the extent of compliance with ICAO’s international standards and recommended practices(SARPs). The»»»

Macquarie invested in Evryo Group in 2021. Evryo Group is the owner of Distributie Energie Oltenia (DEO), a regulated electricity distribution network active in the south-western Romanian region of Oltenia. DEO develops, maintains, and operates the grid to safely supply electricity across 80,000 ki»»»

Doha, Qatar: The world observes World Heritage Day on April 18 each year, an initiative launched by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 to raise awareness of shared cultural and historical heritage. This year’s theme, "Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts»»»

Kuwait: Kuwait welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, praising the efforts of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. In a statement on Friday, Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its support for Lebanon in all measures»»»

Abu Dhabi: Travellers flying from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and Delhi in India will experience improved travel comfort. UAE’s national carrier Etihad Airways announced Friday that it plans to introduce the game-changing Airbus A321LR twice daily to these two Indian cities, complementing two daily wide-bo»»»

Dubai: Dubai Safari Park has been accepted as an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) on March 19, 2026, marking a step in its efforts to align with international standards in animal welfare and conservation. WAZA is a global organisation representing zoos and »»»

The leaders of France and the U.K. gathered dozens of countries — but not the United States — on Friday to push forward plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route choked off by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. The Paris meeting is part of attempts by sidelined nations to ease the impact of »»»

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters regarding Iran on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday before departing on Marine One to travel to Las Vegas for a Republican Party event. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump an»»»

Abu Dhabi Police has warned the public about fake links appearing in search engine results, saying they are increasingly being used by fraudsters to steal personal and banking information. Authorities urged users to be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links, especially those claiming to be»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - There are currently no concrete initiatives for ending the Ukrainian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. "We have informed our colleagues about the recent developments regarding efforts to address the Ukrainian crisis. No concrete initiatives are on t»»»

Dubai:HONOR a global AI device ecosystem has kicked off its latest campaign, “Dream Big with HONOR 600,” in celebration of the launch of the HONOR 600 Series, inviting people across the GCC to share their dreams and express their creativity. Running for six weeks from April 15, the campaign combine»»»

Property Concept, one of the leading companies in Romania specialized in turnkey real estate investments, offering integrated services including sales, interior design, and property management, is rebranding as Alera, marking a new stage in its development. The company is targeting accelerated grow»»»

WASHINGTON - At a reception in Washington, Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali urged international companies to become a part of EXPO 2027 Belgrade and Serbia's accelerated growth. "The EXPO in Belgrade is the biggest event in our history, but it is also the biggest event that »»»

Kuwait Airways has announced the resumption of its commercial flights to and from Dhaka via Dammam International Airport in Saudi Arabia, with services set to operate twice weekly from April 24. Acting CEO Abdulwahab Al Shatti said the relaunch reflects the importance of the Dhaka route for passeng»»»

Disruptions to fertilizer supplies caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran risk triggering a multi-year food crisis globally, World Central Kitchen (WCK) founder Jose Andres has warned. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have already driven up energy prices and rattled the global economy, disrupting»»»

The United Arab Emirates, as part of “Operation Chivalrous Knight 3,” continues its ongoing humanitarian efforts through the Humaid Air Bridge, delivering 100 tonnes of urgent relief aid to the people of the Gaza Strip, in line with its sustained support and commitment to alleviating humanitarian s»»»

Dubai: In a move to address the growing concerns over global energy security, Japan has announced a major regional initiative aimed at protecting Asian economies from supply disruptions, particularly those linked to key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz. During an online meeting held on »»»

Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region are breathing new life into China’s long-standing ambition to expand the role of the yuan in global energy trade, reviving discussions around the so-called “Petroyuan” as an alternative to the Dollar-dominated system. Recent developments surroundi»»»

Cairo — Egypt expects its economy to grow between 4.8% and 5% in the third quarter of the current 2025/2026 fiscal year, reflecting continued resilience despite global uncertainty, according to Ahmed Kouchouk in statements reported by Asharq Bloomberg. Speaking on the sidelines of the Spring Meetin»»»

Dubai: UAE banks are rolling out a series of relief measures — from free loan deferrals to zero-interest payment plans — as residents navigate mounting financial pressures amid the ongoing crisis. In return, lenders are widening support across housing, healthcare and everyday expenses. Banks are in»»»

Skopje, 15 April 2026 (MIA) - The situation with the oil derivatives is stable and unchanged, with not a liter from the oil reserves spent, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Wednesday, adding that fuel prices would remain as they are or go down considering oil stock prices. Regarding the pi»»»

The body of a young woman was found floating Friday morning in the waters of the Corinth Canal, authorities said. According to initial information, the victim is a 17-year-old resident of Athens district Psychiko, whose disappearance had been reported Thursday night at the local police station. Sea»»»