Russia vows to help Cuba withstand US ‘blackmail and threats’
MOSCOW: Russia said on Friday that it stood in solidarity with Cuba and would continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Communist-run island republic, rejecting what it described as blackmail and threats from Washington. US President Donald Trump has said that he expects to have the honor of “tak»»»
West Ham wary of Moyes’ inside track ahead of vital Everton clash
LONDON: Everton manager David Moyes returns to the London Stadium on Saturday armed with the inside knowledge that could harm West Ham United’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation. Moyes had two spells as West Ham manager, saving them from relegation in his first short stint before leading»»»
UN Says Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, Hezbollah Rockets into Israel May Breach International Law
The UN human rights office said on Friday it has documented patterns of attacks on civilians in populated areas and residential buildings in Lebanon and Israel that may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law. The report covers the first three weeks of the latest escalation, »»»
UK lawmakers call for sanctions against Kyrgyzstan’s officials - | 24.KG
A group of British lawmakers has urged the UK Foreign Secretary to impose personal sanctions on several senior officials from Kyrgyzstan. The Guardian reported. The letter was reportedly signed by 26 members of Parliament and the House of Lords. According to the document submitted to the House of C»»»
Key Go-Between Switzerland to Reopen Embassy in Iran
Switzerland said Friday it had begun sending staff back to Tehran and would gradually reopen its embassy, enabling it to continue as a facilitator for diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran. For decades, neutral Switzerland has played a central role in maintaining basic diplomatic contac»»»
UAE court fines couple Dh3,000 each in assault case
Dubai: A UAE court has convicted a husband and wife of mutual assault after finding that both parties physically harmed each other during a domestic dispute, imposing a fine of Dh3,000 on each while suspending the sentence for three years in a move aimed at preserving the marital relationship. Cour»»»
Debel resident recognizes family crucifix smashed by Israeli soldier in viral image
Houssam Naddaf said no words could capture the shock of seeing an Israeli soldier smash a crucifix in his family's private garden in the southern Lebanese village of Debel — an image he recognized instantly as it spread online. "I saw it on the internet like everyone else," he said. Naddaf had not »»»
Israeli strike kills three in Gaza, medics say
CAIRO: An Israeli strike killed at least three in Gaza on Friday, according to Palestinian health officials. The strike hit a crowded area in Gaza City near an area where local police are stationed to guard a bank, said the medics and eyewitnesses. Gaza’s interior ministry said that the strike h»»»
Hegseth says Strait of Hormuz blockade will last ‘as long as it takes’ - UPI.com
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a press briefing Friday that the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has gone global after seizing two vessels in the Indo-Pacific region this week. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a p»»»
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he was treated for prostate cancer - UPI.com
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that he was recently treated for prostate cancer. Pool photo by Ilia Yefimovich/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday he was treated for early-stage prostate cancer. Netanyahu, 76,»»»
Amusement Park Among New Features at Grand Hotel Therme in Village of Banya
Grand Hotel Therme in the village of Banya attracts visitors with healing mineral water and fresh mountain air. The hotel complex features numerous pools and thermal facilities, and covers a total area of over 6,000 sq. m. Pulse Therme Banya is the largest spa centre in Bulgaria, hotel management t»»»
Northern Sea Route Becoming More Attractive Amid Hormuz Crisis - Deputy Foreign Minister
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Northern Sea Route is becoming an increasingly appealing logistics route amid events in the Middle East, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko has said. "Amid international turbulence in various regions of the world, the Northern Sea Route is becoming an increasin»»»
Macut: We will boost cooperation with Srpska in infrastructure, education
BELGRADE - Serbia and Republika Srpska will boost cooperation in infrastructure and education, Serbian PM Djuro Macut said on Friday, announcing joint construction of roads, rail lines and a border crossing, as well as establishment of daily flights between Serbia and Srpska. Addressing a press con»»»
Turkish ambassador says Tadamon massacre among Syria’s worst atrocities
Damascus, April 24 (SANA) Turkish Ambassador to Syria Nuh Yilmaz said the arrest of Amjad Youssef has revived memory of the Tadamon massacre, describing the 2013 killings as one of the most heinous crimes committed in Syria. In a post on X, Yilmaz congratulated Syrian Internal Security Forces after»»»
Hezbollah’s Raad: Fake Truce Covers iSraeli Violations, Lebanese Gov’t Must Undo Sin of Direct Talks with Israeli Enemy
Head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance Parliamentary bloc in Lebanon, Hajj Mohammad Raad, issued on Friday a statement to warn the Lebanese government against insisting on the direct talks with the Zionist enemy. “Any presumed truce that grants the occupying enemy in Lebanon a special exception »»»
Egyptian Party Leader Blows Open the Neocolonial Formula To Loot Developing Nations
Major powers seize the resources of developing countries, using that leverage to force them into borrowing from international institutions — which then impose crippling economic policies, head of Egypt’s National Conciliation Party Mohamed Mahmoud Rifaat tells Sputnik. The scheme works like this:Ke»»»
Tunisia buys about 25,000 metric tons feed barley in tender, traders say
HAMBURG: Tunisia’s state grains agency is believed to have purchased about 25,000 metric tons of animal feed barley in an international tender on Friday, European traders said. The barley was said to have been bought in one consignment at an estimated $265.45 a ton cost and freight (c&f) in»»»
British Airways owner IAG to raise ticket prices amid jet fuel shortage crisis
Dubai: International Airlines Group (IAG) announced Friday it will raise ticket prices to offset rising jet fuel costs linked to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, even as it says supply remains stable, according to a Reuters report. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The ai»»»
Pedro Sanchez brushes off rumors Spain facing possible NATO suspension - UPI.com
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has played down a leaked Pentagon email suggesting his country could face being suspended from NATO for not supporting the United States in its conflict with Iran. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sa»»»
Trump administration extends Jones Act waiver by 90 days - UPI.com
The Trump administration announced Friday that it is extending its waiver of the Jones Act by 90 days to combat high oil prices. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 24 (UPI) -- The Trump administration announced Friday that it is extending its waiver of the Jones Act by 90 days to combat»»»
Logistic Support 26-1 Military Exercise to Take Place from April 27 to 30
The Logistic Support 26-1 tactical-special exercise will take place from April 27 to April 30 at the Todorovo training ground. The theme of the exercise is "Deployment of a convoy support centre to ensure the movement of allied forces within the country." Up to 200 military personnel and up to 50 p»»»
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he was treated for prostate cancer
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that he has undergone treatment for prostate cancer in his first public acknowledgment of the diagnosis. He said that roughly a year-and-a -half ago he had prostate surgery. Then two-and-a-half months ago, his doctors discovered and t»»»
Netanyahu says he was successfully treated for prostate cancer
TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he had received successful treatment for early-stage prostate cancer, without specifying when the treatment took place. In a statement on social media, as his annual medical report was released, Netanyahu, 76, said an early »»»
Aoun: Lebanon refuses to be a bargaining chip in regional conflicts
President Joseph Aoun told a non-official EU summit in Cyprus on Friday that Lebanon has engaged in a diplomatic negotiation process under the auspices of the U.S. and with the support of the European Union and Arab states in order to "reach a sustainable solution that puts an end to Israeli aggres»»»
Italy urges end to settlements, West Bank violence
Rome: Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reaffirmed his country's firm rejection of any Israeli move to annex parts of the West Bank. Speaking during a Senate session, Tajani said Rome is considering restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements, aiming to curb fun»»»
Rubio: Iran operation to conclude in weeks, not months
PARIS: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday the US expects its operation in Iran to conclude in “weeks, not months” after he met with G7 foreign ministers in France.Rubio also said Iran may decide to set up a tolling system for the Strait of Hormuz.- More to follow»»»
Italy amends contested migrant repatriation bonus scheme
ROME: Italy’s government on Friday rushed through a decree amending rules that offered financial rewards to lawyers helping to repatriate migrants, after the scheme drew criticism from opposition parties who said it could be unconstitutional. The measure was part of a broader security package that »»»
Pope urges US and Iran to return to peace talks and condemns capital punishment
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE: Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war Thursday and condemned capital punishment, in a wide-ranging press conference en route home from his trip to Africa. Leo also asserted that countries have the right to control their borders but m»»»
Crete 5.1 aftershock strengthens view 5.7 quake was main event
A 5.1-magnitude aftershock recorded at midday Friday off the coast of Ierapetra, southeastern Crete, is reinforcing – but not confirming – the view that the earlier 5.7-magnitude earthquake was the main shock, according to seismologists monitoring the area. Scientists describe the aftershock sequen»»»
Council of Europe urges Serbia to change judicial laws
BELGRADE: Serbia’s recent judicial reforms were rushed through without adequate public debate, a Council of Europe expert body warned on Friday, as it suggested revisions to some of the controversial aspects of the law. Serbia’s parliament adopted the package of changes in late January without cons»»»
Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran ‘going global’
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that a US blockade on Iran is going global, adding Tehran had a chance to make a “good deal” with Washington.“Our blockade is growing and going global,” Hegseth told reporters.“No one sails from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the wo»»»
Dubai court awards father custody, child welfare first.
Dubai: A mother has lost custody of her two daughters after Dubai’s highest court ruled that the children’s welfare must take precedence over the interests of either parent, affirming a decision to transfer their care to their father. In a final judgment, the Dubai Court of Cassation rejected the m»»»
Chinese EVs, flying cars take centre stage at world's biggest auto show
Beijing: Thousands squeezed into the world's biggest car show Friday, snapping selfies beside Chinese electric vehicles as automakers showcased AI, humanoid robots and flying-car ambitions in a cut-throat market. Rows of influencers posed in front of gleaming models at the capital's cavernous inter»»»
NATO 'Must Remain United', Says Italy PM Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday urged NATO allies to stick together, after a report that the United States was mulling action against Spain over its refusal to support operations against Iran. "NATO must remain united. I believe it is a source of strength," Meloni told reporters as »»»
UAE says rebuilding trust with Iran will take ‘ages’
CHANTILLY, France: Rebuilding trust between Abu Dhabi and Tehran will take “ages and ages,” UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said Friday, after Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates during the Middle East conflict. “You can’t be attacked with 2,800 missiles and drones and then talk to me abo»»»
Hezbollah MP says Israel talks 'will in no way enjoy Lebanese consensus'
Lawmaker Mohammad Raad, head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, called on Friday for Lebanon to "withdraw" from direct talks with Israel that U.S. President Donald Trump says have a "very good chance" of achieving peace. "The authorities ought to feel ashamed before their people and withdraw from w»»»
ZATCA thwarts attempt to smuggle captagon pills, seizes contraband
RIYADH: Officials from the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Al-Haditha border crossing have foiled an attempt to smuggle a huge cache of captagon pills. The authority, which seized the contraband, said on Friday: “ZATCA, in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, thwarted»»»
Djedovic Handanovic: Serbia's talks with Hungary about NIS making progress
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Friday Serbia's talks with Hungary about an acquisition of a Russian majority stake in the Serbian oil company NIS by Hungary's MOL were making progress and that the details of an agreement among the shareholders »»»
Kuwait says drones coming from Iraq target border posts
Kuwait City, Kuwait: The Kuwaiti military said on Friday that two drones coming from the direction of neighboring Iraq struck border posts on its northern frontier with the country, causing damage but no casualties. “This morning, two of Kuwait’s northern land border posts were targeted in a crimin»»»
Russia says participation of Japanese navy in joint drills with US is cause for concern
MOSCOW: Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday that the participation of the Japanese navy in joint drills with the US is a cause for concern and increases tensions. Philippine and US forces began annual exercises on Monday in which Japan is taking active p»»»
SR100,000 fine for illegal Hajj housing, Saudi warns
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced fines of up to SR100,000 for individuals who shelter visitors holding visit visas in violation of Hajj regulations, Okaz newspaper reported. The penalty applies to anyone who accommodates such visitors in hotels, apartments, private residence»»»
Marshall Islands May Run Out of Fuel Within 2 Months Amid Middle East Conflict
JAKARTA (Sputnik) - The remote Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands has no guarantee of fuel supplies for the next two months due to the Middle East conflict, Finance Minister David Paul said. "In order to be realistic, everything is still fluid, and anything can happen. I really cannot pr»»»
US Embassy in Ukraine Paid $40M to Firm That Recruited Former Child Soldiers
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Department of State spent $39.7 million on Aegis Defense Services, a firm with a documented history of recruiting former child soldiers from Sierra Leone to reduce labor costs during the Iraq War. The contract for professional security services at the US Embassy in Kiev wa»»»
How Filipino workers abroad can turn job experience into college degrees
Dubai: Filipino workers abroad can now convert their years of job experience into formal college degrees, following the launch of a new online enlistment system by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The platform, introduced early this April during a forum in Manila, has been desi»»»
UAE says rebuilding trust with Iran will take 'ages' after Mideast war
Rebuilding trust between Abu Dhabi and Tehran will take "ages and ages", UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said Friday, after Iran targeted the United Arab Emirates during the Middle East conflict. "You can't be attacked with 2,800 missiles and drones and then talk to me about trust. That will»»»
British assisted-dying bill falls after runing out the clock - UPI.com
Members of the non-profit Dignity in Dying campaign group protest outside Parliament in London on Friday where the House the Lords was holding its final debate on an assisted-dying bill before it runs out the clock in the legislative timetable of the current session of parliament, which is due to e»»»
Agentic AI is coming to UAE government services: What will change for residents
Dubai: The UAE plans to shift 50% of government services to AI within two years, a move that signals a deeper change in how residents interact with everyday processes such as visas, licensing, and document renewals. At first glance, this may sound like another phase of digital government, but the u»»»
Shoulder driving could cost you Dh1,000: Abu Dhabi Police warn
Abu Dhabi: Motorists in Abu Dhabi have been warned against stopping or overtaking on the road shoulder, with authorities highlighting the serious safety risks associated with the practice. Abu Dhabi Police said that stopping on the shoulder can endanger both the driver and other road users, particu»»»
Main Suspect in Syria's Tadamon Massacre Arrested, Ministry Says
Syria's Interior Ministry said on Friday it had arrested the main suspect in the 2013 Tadamon massacre, one of the worst acts of violence attributed to the former government of Bashar al-Assad, in which 288 civilians were killed. The ministry released footage of Amjad Yousef’s arrest in the Al-Ghab»»»
Filipino conjoined twins get ‘new chance’ in life after successful surgery in Riyadh
MANILA: Doctors from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program have given Maurice Ann and Klea Misa a chance each to live their own distinct lives, their mother told Arab News on Friday following successful separation surgery in Riyadh. The 7-year-old girls, who are from Lubang, a municipality on the Phili»»»