Sweden's centre-left leader Andersson tasked with forming government after election
Sweden's parliament speaker on Friday tasked opposition leader Magdalena Andersson with forming a government after an election gave the left-wing bloc a narrow majority, setting the stage for difficult coalition talks. Andersson, a former prime minister, must bridge deep differences between four pa»»»
US approves $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 warplanes to Saudi Arabia
The United States on Thursday said it had approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia. Israel has previously voiced concerns about Riyadh buying F-35s, despite a push to normalise relations. The United States has approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 stea»»»
OCA president joins Asian Games torch relay in Nagoya
NAGOYA: President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani took part in the final stage of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games torch relay on Friday. The relay was held at Hisaya Odori Park in Nagoya, with the participation of OCA vice presid»»»
At least 37 suspected illegal miners die in custody in central Nigeria
Nigerian authorities launched an investigation Thursday after 37 suspected illegal miners died in a civil defence detention facility in central Niger state, with conflicting accounts blaming either a disease outbreak or overcrowding and poor ventilation. The governor of a central Nigerian state sai»»»
Iran War Updates: 2 ships attacked in Hormuz as Trump says next move could be to “annihilate” regime – Ya Libnan
Share: HERE IS THE LATEST: A U.K. navy agency said a second tanker was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz early Friday, hours after reporting another vessel coming under attack in the vital waterway. Iran claimed to have struck a ship attempting an “illegal crossing” of the strait. Preside»»»
OCA President Joins Asian Games Torch Relay in Nagoya
Nagoya: President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani took part in the final stage of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games torch relay on Friday. The relay was held at Hisaya Odori Park in Nagoya, with the participation of OCA vice presid»»»
Bank of Japan raises interest rate to highest level in 31 years
Tokyo, Sept. 18 (SANA) The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate on Friday from 1.0% to 1.25%, marking its highest level in 31 years to counter inflationary pressures, particularly driven by rising energy costs. The decision was approved by a 7–2 vote following a two-day policy meeting, »»»
More US Troops Have Died amid Iran War than Pentagon Has Disclosed Publicly: Washington Post
More American service members have died in the Middle East during the ongoing Iran war than the Pentagon has disclosed publicly, according to six U.S. officials familiar with the Defense Department’s internal casualty accounting data, The Washington Post reported. Five of the officials said there h»»»
Qatar rejects claims Gaza aid reached Hamas, says assistance was coordinated with Israel
Qatar says money, food, medicine and fuel entered Gaza with Israeli coordination Dubai: Qatar has rejected reports in Israeli media about the destination of its humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying the claims were false and insisting that assistance was directed to Palestinian civilians through mechani»»»
Putin: Russian Defense-industry Workers Make an Enormous Contribution to Strengthening Country’s Security
Russian defense-industry workers continuously supply units of the Russian Armed Forces participating in the special military operation with the weapons they need most, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The president emphasized that the Russian defense industry’s export order book is growing, m»»»
Ryanair boss apologizes for calling other airlines 'rapists'
BusinessIrelandRyanair boss apologizes for calling other airlines 'rapists'Wesley Dockery with AFP, dpaThe airline CEO had used the term to describe other airlines with high fares. His comments were criticized by officials both in Ireland and the UK. https://p.dw.com/p/5MsQFO'Leary has been Ryanair»»»
Russian Military Must Be Ready to Respond Quickly to Potential External Threats – Putin
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces and security agencies must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to potential external threats, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. Speaking at a meeting of the Military-Industrial Commission, Putin said that the agenda included dis»»»
Qatar takes part in IMO talks on maritime safety and alternative fuels
London: Qatar has taken part in an International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting aimed at boosting maritime safety. Qatar's permanent delegation to the IMO joined the 12th Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 12), held in London from September 14 to 18. Discussions covered r»»»
The Pentagon is moving forward with mandatory testosterone testing for most male troops
New Pentagon hormone policy sparks debate over science, readiness and risk The Pentagon has rolled out formal guidance for mandatory testosterone testing for male service members 30 and older, a policy that leaves out women for now and faces questions from medical experts about the need and efficac»»»
Qatar International Media Office issues statement in response to false claims and fabricated reports in Israeli media
Doha, Qatar: The International Media Office of the State of Qatar released a statement in response to false claims and fabricated reports in Israeli media. "Reports circulating in the Israeli media about the destination of humanitarian aid provided by Qatar to Gaza are categorically false. These al»»»
Dubai Mallathon concludes second edition with record turnout
Community-wide challenge advances Dubai’s 2033 sports and quality of life goals Under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the second editio»»»
Nigeria miners struggled to breathe in cell before 37 died: survivors
Tinubu orders urgent inquiry into deaths of suspected illegal miners in custody Survivors of a Nigerian disaster that saw 37 suspected illegal gold miners die while in the custody of a paramilitary civil defence group recounted their panic on Friday as they struggled to breathe inside the cell. Pol»»»
Economy Ministry Says Over EUR 300 Mln in Fuel Aid Has Stabilizing Effect on Social Sector, Economy
A position issued by the Economy, Investments and Industry Ministry on Friday in response to statements by opposition leaders notes that the more than EUR 300 million in government assistance provided in response to rising fuel prices to support public transport, bus operators, agricultural produce»»»
The 51% - A Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral: Are we all just being played?
Another Sydney Sweeney ad goes viral – this time promoting a sports betting application almost naked. The campaign sparked fury among female athletes who said it undermines decades of progress in women's sports. Yet is the outrage itself part of the overall marketing strategy and ‘feminist-bai»»»
Macron orders plan to protect France's critical infrastructure against 'Russian hybrid attacks'
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday said he had ordered measures to protect France's critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from "Russian hybrid attacks", adding that the threat from Moscow had intensified in recent weeks. France was threatened by Russian hybrid att»»»
Macron convenes French party leaders as soaring energy prices put focus on wars in Iran and Ukraine
Haxie Meyers-Belkin is pleased to welcome Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University’s Management School in the UK. According to Foucart, France’s energy and economic crises expose a deeper collision between economic constraints, political accountability and an approaching»»»
India vows to protect energy security after new US tariffs over Russian oil
India has warned Washington that new measures to levy tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil could impact bilateral ties, the South Asian nation's foreign ministry said on Thursday, hours after the U.S. made a new move to punish such buyers. Earlier in the day, the U.S. House of Representatives»»»
Russia votes in parliamentary election as war in Ukraine drags on
Polls opened in Russia's Far East on Friday as the country began three days of voting for its parliamentary election, the first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin's main party, United Russia, is poised to keep its grip on power alongside other parties aligned with»»»
Police move hundreds of migrants still in Ceuta off beaches in Spanish enclave
Spanish police in Ceuta on Friday morning started moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches of the Spanish enclave to a new tented area. Several thousand migrants remain in Ceuta after tens of thousands of people crossed the border with Morocco in late July. Police on Friday began moving h»»»
Talking Europe - Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth State of the Union speech: A grand sweep, but thin on details?
In this episode, we debrief one of the key annual events in the EU calendar: the State of the Union speech. It was Ursula von der Leyen’s sixth such address as President of the European Commission, and the second State of the Union speech of her second mandate. We home in on the key innovations sin»»»
Talking Europe - We’re ideally placed to chair EU budget negotiations, says Irish Minister of State
Ireland is managing a jam-packed agenda as the current holder of the rotating presidency of the EU. We caught up with the country’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, who was in Strasbourg for the 2026 State of the Union speech and debate with EU Commission President Ursula von d»»»
Financial Experts Warn Prices Will Keep Rising in Bulgaria: "They Can't Be Stopped"Opinions
Financial experts say Bulgaria has limited ability to contain rising prices as higher oil and energy costs continue to put pressure on consumers. “There is no way for the state to counter rising oil and energy prices. We have to learn to live with these prices,” financial analyst Max Baklayan said »»»
Accessibility of Natural Gas in Russia Higher Than in Any Other Country - Gazprom CEO
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is unmatched globally in terms of accessibility of natural gas to its population, Russian energy giant Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller said on Friday. "On January 1, 2026, we set a new record in supplying piped natural gas for our consumers in Russia. Its level amounted to 91.2%»»»
Vucic, Zelenskyy discuss issues important for Serbia, Ukraine and region
HUTA, Ukraine - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of a Carpathian Initiative summit in Huta, Ukraine, on Friday to discuss issues important for the two countries and the entire region. "Grateful to President Zelenskyy for the hospit»»»
Ukraine receives EUR 3.3 billion from EU to meet defense needs
Kyiv: The Ukrainian government announced today that it had received a new tranche of EUR 3.3 billion from the European Union (EU), part of the "Ukraine Support" loan, to meet defense needs. Ukrainian Prime Minister, Serhiy Koretskyi stated in a post on Telegram that the country would allocate these»»»
Spanish Police Use Force Against Migrants Trying to Reach Reception Center in Ceuta
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Spanish police had to use force against a group of migrants trying to break out of encirclement and reach a new reception center in the Ceuta's port, European news agency reported on Friday. The migrants who attempted the mass breakthrough were among those held in groups at a pol»»»
US War Department Releases 6th Tranche of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Files
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Department of War on Friday said it released its sixth batch of files disclosing Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). "The Department of War just released the sixth tranche of records under PURSUE [Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters]," the d»»»
UAE participates in 4th China Air Transport Association Conference
AI governance, safety and sustainability top UAE agenda at Beijing aviation meet Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority, affirmed that artificial intelligence holds significant potential to drive comprehensive transformation across the civil aviation ecos»»»
Russian Weapons, Equipment Considered Among Most Reliable, Effective in World - Putin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian weapons and equipment are considered to be among the most reliable and effective in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. "Modern and largely unique weapons and equipment are being created, which are rightfully considered among the most reliable and »»»
Europe takes the risk at NATO’s Copenhagen meeting
At NATO’s first high-level summit since Ankara, the bloc’s new, Europe-centric incarnation is taking shape. But it’s ordinary Europeans who stand to lose their future, and potentially their lives. READ MORE: Europe’s military future is starting to take shape NATO’s Military Committee is meeting in »»»
UAE President and Indian Prime Minister discuss bilateral ties and regional developments
Phone call focuses on deepening economic ties and bolstering regional stability UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call today with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, to discuss opportunities to further strengthen bilateral ties under the Comprehensive St»»»
Syrian megastar Assala returns to Damascus stage for first time after 15-year exile
Syrian singer receives a hero’s welcome at sold-out concert after years abroad Syrian megastar Assala Nasri has returned to Damascus for the first time in 15 years, receiving a warm welcome from thousands of fans at a sold-out concert in the capital. The 57-year-old singer, known simply as Assala, »»»
Bank of Japan hikes rates to highest level in 31 Years
Tokyo: The Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent on Friday, the highest level in 31 years, while signaling that further hikes still remain on the table. The central bank lifted the rate again after bringing it up to 1.0 percent in June, marking the shor»»»
US-Iran war: 5 things UAE residents need to know today
From shipping to flights, four pressure points UAE residents must watch A fresh tanker incident in the Strait of Hormuz has underlined just how fragile the situation remains in the Gulf, even as oil prices ease and diplomatic efforts offer some hope of a way out of the conflict. For UAE residents, »»»
Tens of thousands perform Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Tens of thousands of Palestinians performed Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, despite the Israeli occupation forces imposing a blockade on the vicinity of the Old City and the mosque, just a day before the so-called Jewish Day of Atonement. The Islamic Endowment Department in Jer»»»
Gates used foundation wealth to pressure governments to promote vaccination, Angela Merkel says
Bill Gates turned the vast financial resources of his foundation into political leverage, using its wealth to pressure governments to spend more on vaccination, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said. In the Meckel & Matthes podcast released by Handelsblatt earlier this month, Merkel warne»»»
Zelensky launches new Carpathian Eight alliance with Hungary on board
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a new regional cooperation format bringing Ukraine together with seven European countries, including Hungary, as well as the European Union. First C8 summit held in Ukraine Zelensky announced the launch of the Carpathian Eight, or C8, on 18 Septe»»»
More than 1,417 worker accommodation buildings surveyed as Dubai raises living standards
Dubai upgrades worker housing with minimum space and new community facilities Dubai: Workers’ accommodation in Dubai must provide a minimum sleeping area of 3.7 square metres per person, under planning standards highlighted by Dubai Municipality as part of a wider programme to improve living condit»»»
The world is just enough: Ursula von der Leyen goes Bond villain
As a historian who also happens to be German, that was my spontaneous reaction to Ursula von der Leyen’s annual grand – and always grandiloquent – “state of the union” address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It’s not really a “union,” of course, and not really a “parliament,” either: tech»»»
Lindsey Graham sanctions bill risks ‘ever-higher’ US gas prices – Russian Embassy
The “Russophobic” new sanctions bill empowering US President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on buyers of Russian energy will lead to ever-higher prices at the pumps for Americans, the Russian Embassy in Washington has warned. The legislation was championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, »»»
Agriculture Ministry Urges Against Distorting Facts on Fuel Aid Allocation
The Agriculture and Food Ministry called for an objective account of the allocation of State fuel aid, without political distortion ahead of the elections. The ministry sent an official position to BTA in response to comments by political leaders on the government's fuel aid package, aimed at suppo»»»
Vucic meets with Zelenskyy in Huta
HUTA, Ukraine - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Ukrainian mountain village of Huta on Friday. Earlier in the day, Vucic attended a Carpathian Initiative summit hosted by Zelenskyy in Huta. Vucic: I had very important, substantial discussion»»»
Aldar launches Yas Riva Reserve, a waterfront villa community with villas starting at Dh8.5 million
292 villas from Dh8.5m go on sale September 26, with 45 on the waterway Aldar has launched Yas Riva Reserve, a gated villa community on the northeast waterfront of Yas Island, adding to a growing string of low-rise developments the company has rolled out across the destination in recent years. The »»»
Laura Napolitano, Italian Cultural Institute Bucharest: Contemporary Italian design is much more plural than the traditional image of “Made in Italy”
Part of Bucharest Design Festival’s Professional Format, the exhibition FRANCO RAGGI. Nomadic Digressions on Design, presented by Francesca Molteni together with Muse Factory of Projects and Franco Raggi, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Bucharest, aimed to highlight design c»»»
Competition investigations in the age of WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram: why ‘Delete’ might be a costly mistake
The transition to digital communication has fundamentally transformed the way in which companies conduct their business. Commercial discussions, negotiations and information exchange are increasingly taking place via electronic means of remote communication. Authors: Cătălin Suliman (partner), Bian»»»