Zelensky's Position on Diesel Deal Shows He Is Not Ready for Constructive Dialogue - Lavrov
BAKU (Sputnik) - Vladimir Zelensky has demonstrated through his position on the Russia-US diesel deal that he is not ready for constructive engagement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday. The diesel fuel deal proposed by the United States, and Russia supported it, the minister »»»
Syria to rejoin Arab constituency at IMF after 14 years
RIYADH: Syria will rejoin the Arab constituency at the International Monetary Fund from Nov. 1, ending its membership in the Russian Federation’s group, which it joined in 2012, the Syrian Finance Ministry said. The announcement followed a meeting between Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, Cen»»»
Sharjah bets on ports, logistics as trade routes shift
The 9th Sharjah investment forum puts ports, rail and logistics at the heart of its pitch. Sharjah: The Emirates of Sharjah is putting ports and logistics at the front of its investment pitch as geopolitical tension reshapes global trade routes. H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, CEO of the Sharjah Invest»»»
What visitors are saying as Global Village opens
Visitors share their excitement as Dubai’s Global Village opens Season 31 Dubai: Excitement, international food, and the promise of new experiences marked the opening of Global Village Season 31, as visitors arrived at the Dubai attraction to explore its mix of cultures, cuisines, shopping, and ent»»»
Lebanon:Hezbollah MP Fadlallah: Reverse Your Measures Agains...
Translated by Al-Ahed News, Hezbollah Media Relations Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc warned the Lebanese authorities against escalating measures targeting the Resistance and its fighters, demanding that they reverse their actions and cautioning »»»
Two dead as Istanbul endures heaviest rainfall in 80 years
Istanbul was on Thursday battling to recover from flooding caused by what officials said was the heaviest rainfall in the city since records began more than 80 years ago, as the downpour continued. The rain began lashing Turkiye’s largest city in earnest on Wednesday morning and intensified through»»»
IMF identifies 6 buffers helping Gulf economies withstand oil shocks
RIYADH: Gulf economies have remained resilient through one of the oil sector’s biggest crises in decades, with six key economic buffers helping to limit the impact on economic activity and prices, according to an International Monetary Fund official. In an interview with Asharq Bloomberg on the sid»»»
Palestinians fear violent olive harvest ahead of Israeli elections
Burqa: With a black eye and a bandage covering his face, Palestinian farmer Abdellatif Bazzari looks out at his rows of olive trees that are half harvested before the season has even started. Bazzari, who was injured in a raid on the fields by Israeli settlers that killed his cousin, is afraid to r»»»
Media Review: October 15
POLITICS/NATIONAL SECURITY Thursday's news coverage is dominated by the government's planned increase in the minimum monthly wage from EUR 620 in 2026 to EUR 660 in 2027, representing a 6.4% rise. Mediapool.bg reports that the proposed amount is below both the EUR 672 ceiling under the revised form»»»
Bulgarian Party Says Putin Escalates War in Order to Close Black Sea to Commercial Shipping
In recent weeks, Russia has been losing territory it previously seized in Ukraine. Putin is escalating the war and has an apparent goal of closing the Black Sea to commercial shipping, MP Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria told a briefing on the sidelines of the National Assembly. “Our goal shou»»»
No: 197, 15 October 2026, Regarding Colombia’s Decision to Relocate its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem
We condemn Colombia’s decision to relocate its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This step violates relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, particularly UN Security Council resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980), and contradicts the legal principles set out in the advisory opinion of the Interna»»»
Eisenkot claims worked on attack '50 times bigger' than pagers operation
Israeli opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Miniter Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival in upcoming elections, has revealed that Israel could have executed the 2024 pager attacks against Hezbollah much earlier and on a far larger scale, but claimed that Netanyahu delayed its execution. "I pressu»»»
Saudi Arabia’s FDI inflows jump 33.5% to $42.4bn: GASTAT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign direct investment inflows grew 33.5 percent year on year in 2025 to SR159.1 billion ($42.26 billion), with construction and manufacturing sectors accounting for the largest shares, official data showed. According to the latest report by the General Authority for Stati»»»
Arab countries condemn Colombia’s embassy opening in occupied Jerusalem
Cairo/Kuwait, Oct. 15 (SANA) Arab countries have condemned Colombia’s opening of an embassy in occupied Jerusalem, saying the move violates international law and United Nations resolutions, undermines the city’s legal and historical status, and infringes on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian »»»
Hezbollah says explosives shipment seized by authorities belongs to group
BEIRUT: A Hezbollah MP acknowledged Thursday that a 500-kilogram shipment of explosives seized last week by Lebanese authorities belonged to the group, a rare admission by the Iran-backed militants. “The vehicle and its cargo belong to the resistance” against Israel, lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said.»»»
Dubai regulator fines company Dh1.67 million for operating without registration
DFSA says DIFC-based firm provided company setup services to 71 clients without approval Dubai: The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has imposed a Dh1.67 million ($454,367) financial penalty on HAYMAN-WOODWARD GLOBAL MOBILITY SERVICES (DIFC) LTD. for providing company formation and related»»»
Romania opens RON 759 million state aid scheme for manufacturing investments
Romania’s Finance Ministry has opened applications for a RON 759 million state aid scheme supporting manufacturing investments in sectors where the country records significant trade deficits. Starting on 15 October 2026, companies can apply for funding for new production facilities and other eligib»»»
Voices:Azerbaijan’s Hijab Crackdown: When Secularism Becomes...
A Muslim Nation Confronting Its Own Faith Azerbaijan’s government has turned a school dress code into a confrontation over religious freedom, exposing the contradictions of a predominantly Muslim nation whose leaders see independent religious expression as a political threat. In a country of about »»»
Burnham’s ‘Russia did Brexit’ ruse crumbles
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s attempt to blame Russia for the Brexit vote is a crude attempt to undo the referendum and tie the UK back to Brussels. It’s also imploding dramatically. In an appearance on the ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast on Sunday, Burnham said that he sought answers about »»»
Dubai cybersecurity company Dynova crosses $500,000 ARR in first year without venture capital
Gives start-ups, SMEs complete security function as single subscription from $2,500/ month Dubai-based cybersecurity company Dynova has crossed $500,000 in annual recurring revenue in its first year, while remaining profitable, fully bootstrapped and without raising venture capital. Founded by secu»»»
Venezuela May Hike Oil Output By 200,000 Barrels Per Day in One Year - Chilean Ex-Minister
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Venezuela may increase oil production by up to 200,000 barrels per day over the coming year under favorable conditions, former Chilean Energy Minister Ricardo Raineri told Sputnik. "The additional growth of approximately 100,000-200,000 barrels per day over the coming six to 12 m»»»
International Conference on Constitutional Court's 35th Anniversary Held in Sofia
An international conference marking the 35th anniversary of Bulgaria's Constitutional Court took place in Sofia on Thursday. The theme of the conference was "The Role of Constitutional Courts in Guaranteeing the Rule of Law". The event was attended by official representatives and delegations of con»»»
UN says wants Lebanon stability as end of peacekeepers' mandate looms
A visiting senior United Nations official reaffirmed the body's commitment to stability in Lebanon as the mandate of its peacekeeping force in the country is set to expire this year. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix met officials as well as representatives of countri»»»
Russian Energy Ministry Says Expects Slight Decline in Coal Output in Country in 2026
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Energy Ministry expects a slight decline in coal production in the country in 2026 to 430 million tonnes from 434 million in 2025, Russian Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov said. "I said that our main task is to maintain the production volume. And I already mentio»»»
US Shipping Regulator Proposes $200,000 Fee on Spanish Ships
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Federal Maritime Commission has proposed introducing a $200,000 fee for Spanish vessels entering US ports and restricting imports of Spanish goods in response to the closure of ports to US-flagged ships. "In order to address these unfavorable conditions created by Spain, t»»»
Bucharest Stock Exchange seeks Romania’s next IPO candidates through revamped BVB Arena programme
The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) has opened nominations for the 2026 edition of BVB Arena, its flagship programme dedicated to Romanian entrepreneurial companies with growth potential and an interest in accessing capital market financing. The revamped programme will select 40 companies for indivi»»»
Opposition Says Putin Escalates War In Order To Close Black Sea to Commercial Shipping
In recent weeks, Russia has been losing territory it previously seized in Ukraine. Putin is escalating the war and has an apparent goal of closing the Black Sea to commercial shipping, MP Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria told a briefing on the sidelines of the National Assembly. “Our goal shou»»»
Strasbourg court rules against Orbán: His government unlawfully restricted Hungarian teachers’ right to strike
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Hungary’s former government unlawfully restricted teachers’ right to strike, with Education and Child Affairs Minister Judit Lannert welcoming the decision and pointing to reforms introduced by the new government. The European Court of Human Rights »»»
Israeli army chief says reinforcing troops on all fronts
Israel's army chief said that the military was reinforcing troop levels "across all fronts", citing an increased risk of escalation as Israel heads into elections this later month. On a visit to the occupied West Bank, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the potential for incidents on Israel's borde»»»
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
No evidence offered that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China New York: The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration. Katie Zacharia has long described her»»»
Parliament Approves Project for Five More Air Defence Systems
Parliament approved an updated air defence investment project on Thursday, revising the first stage for one IRIS-T SLM system and adding a second for five more. The updated Acquisition of Surface-to-Air Missile Systems project provides for warranty and initial logistical support, the delivery of gu»»»
Saudi coalition says missile intercepted in Medina region
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi-led military coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis on Thursday said it had intercepted a cruise missile in the Medina region -- home to one of Islam's holiest cities that the Houthis previously vowed not to target. "Interception and destruction of a cruise missile in th»»»
DAMAC says nearly 3,000 employees have joined its digital recognition platform
Dubai developer plans AI-powered employee feedback, performance tools and a 24/7 chatbot Dubai: DAMAC Properties said 94 per cent of its employees adopted its digital recognition and rewards platform within its first year, as the Dubai-based developer plans to expand the use of artificial intellige»»»
Palestine:Report: “Israeli” Guards Shoot Palestinian Detaine...
By Staff, Agencies “Israeli” prison guards have shot Palestinian prisoners with rubber bullets, causing severe injuries that included the surgical removal of a testicle and an operation for a fractured shin, according to a report published by “Israeli” daily “Haaretz” on Wednesday, citing medical r»»»
Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed but 'no hurry' to decide: AFC
Zurich: The Asian Cup scheduled for January in Saudi Arabia could be moved back a year to 2028 "if we need to", the continent's top football official said, following a series of Houthi attacks on the country. But AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa also said they were in "no hurry" t»»»
UAE weekend weather update: Rain forecast for five days as unsettled conditions persist until Monday
NCM predicts afternoon showers, dusty winds of up to 45km/h and early morning fog Dubai: Parts of the UAE could experience rainfall over the next five days as convective clouds develop over eastern areas before spreading to some inland and western regions, according to the National Centre of Meteor»»»
Sharjah Police bust 4 global crime networks, uncover Dh8.8 billion money laundering
Operation leads to 33 suspects and seizure of Dh200 million in funds Sharjah: Sharjah Police have dismantled four interconnected international criminal networks involved in cyberattacks, digital wallet theft, money laundering, online fraud, extortion and violent assaults, arresting 33 suspects from»»»
Prime Minister Radev in Brussels: Unacceptable Aggression Against Civilian Ships in Black Sea Must Stop
“This unacceptable aggression against civilian vessels in the Black Sea must stop,” Prime Minister Rumen Radev urged Thursday upon arriving in Brussels to attend a two-day meeting of the European Council. “I have spoken with the Prime Minister of Romania, and today I will speak with the Romanian Pr»»»
Three children die, 14-year-old sister hospitalised after bedroom fire in Saudi Arabia
Electrical short circuit sparks deadly blaze while parents were away at medical clinic Dubai: Three children have died and their 14-year-old sister was injured after a fire broke out in their bedroom in Saudi Arabia's Medina, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit. The tragedy occurred at»»»
Why does China dominate consumer technology, from smartphones and EVs to smart devices?
BusinessChinaHow China came to dominate consumer technologyBenjamin BathkeFrom action cameras and smartphones to EVs and robot vacuums, Chinese brands are gaining ground worldwide despite privacy and security concerns. What's driving their rise, and can European rivals keep up? https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»
Fine of up to QR25,000 for withholding employees’ passports in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: Employers in Qatar who fail to return workers’ passports after completing residence permit issuance or renewal procedures may face fines of up to QR25,000, reminded the Ministry of Interior official. Speaking during a Ministry of Interior webinar, Head of the Detention Section at the S»»»
Musk says Zelensky should 'go' as doubts grow over US support for Ukraine
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "go" after Kyiv raised doubts over US support for his country against the Russian invasion. A day earlier, Musk said any restrictions on Ukraine's use of the Starshield system would be due to decisions made b»»»
North Korea Accuses US of Helping Japanese Militarists to Build Nuclear Weapon - Reports
SEOUL (Sputnik) - North Korea suspects Japanese militarists of seeking to build a nuclear weapon with the help of the United States under the pretext of developing nuclear-powered submarines, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday, quoting a security analyst. Japan's authorities»»»
Romania Proposes Rotating NATO Command for Black Sea Security to Bulgaria
Romania has proposed that Bulgaria join it in asking NATO to establish a military command in the Black Sea, while Sofia and Bucharest are also preparing to seek a dedicated discussion of regional security at the upcoming EU summit following a series of drone and maritime incidents. Romanian Defense»»»
EU leaders head into high-stakes budget battle as elections loom
EU leaders head to a summit on Thursday seeking a deal on the bloc’s nearly €2 trillion budget for 2028-2034 by Christmas amid deep divisions over spending and fears that upcoming elections, particularly in France, could strengthen eurosceptic forces. EU leaders on Thursday head for their biggest c»»»
Haze turns Indonesia skies orange, shuts schools in East Timor
Fires burning for months in Indonesia have sent smoke across the region Palangkaraya: Thick haze turned the skies in Indonesia’s Palangkaraya apocalyptic shades of yellow and orange on Thursday, reducing visibility to a few dozen metres as wildfires cause a regional air pollution crisis. Kuala Lump»»»
Syria, Sweden discuss voluntary returns and reintegration in Damascus
Damascus, Oct. 15 (SANA) Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs discussed cooperation with a Swedish delegation on migration, voluntary return and reintegration, focusing on facilitating the safe return of Syrians abroad and improving services for returnees at border crossings. The meeting»»»
WHO urges action on lead poisoning dangers
Geneva, Switzerland: The World Health Organization on Thursday told countries to do more to prevent lead exposure, with hundreds of millions of children affected worldwide. "Lead poisoning is one of the world's most serious yet overlooked environmental health threats," said Bruce Gordon, head of th»»»
"In terms of readiness, we've never been more ready", says CEO of Ethara on F1 2026
Preparations for Abu Dhabi's F1 Grand Prix 2026 finale are on track, says CEO Abu Dhabi: With 50 days to go until Formula 1 closes its 2026 season on Yas Island, Ethara CEO Saif Rashid Al Noaimi said preparations for the finale are on track and that this year's Grand Prix could be bigger than last »»»
United States:Trump: Qatar Offered to Gift US a Boeing 747 A...
By Staff, Agencies US President Donald Trump said Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, offered to give the United States a Boeing 747 aircraft after Trump initially asked to borrow it for temporary use as Air Force One. Speaking at a rally in Arizona on Wednesday, Trump said he approached»»»