MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia views the quasi‑indifferent response of Western countries to Russia’s tests of the Sarmat missile system with irony, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday. On Tuesday, Commander of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces Sergei Karakayev reported to »»»

The Libyan-Egyptian Joint Economic Chamber alerted the Libyan side that some Egyptian private companies are inspecting certain goods imported into Libya, such as cement, paint, cleaning materials, and others. These so-called inspection companies are collecting fees in US dollars ranging from $150 t»»»

DOHA: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Chamber HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Chamber and Qatar Financial Centre, which aims to cooperate in supporting the national private sector and enhancing its c»»»

Iraq exported 10 million barrels of oil via the Strait of Hormuz in April, down from about 93 million barrels monthly before the Iran war, the country's new oil minister, Basim Mohammed, ‌said at ‌a press conference on ‌Saturday. The ⁠closure of the ⁠Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has curtail»»»

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu and the west African country's military on Saturday confirmed the killing in Nigeria of a senior ISIS leader in a joint operation with US forces. "Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joi»»»

Damascus: The UAE has announced the restoration of the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The move was suppored by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme C»»»

Dubai: Kuwait has officially announced a reduction in working hours across government entities to six hours a day during the summer months as part of efforts to reduce electricity consumption and support the stability of the national power grid. The decision came after the Civil Service Council app»»»

The Libyan-Turkish Business Forum for Building Materials and Construction Supplies commenced last Tuesday (12 May) in Benghazi. Several Turkish companies specializing in the building materials sector participated. The forum aims to strengthen economic cooperation, open new avenues for investment an»»»

Melbourne, Australia: Scientists in Australia have identified an immune system overreaction as a key driver of life-threatening influenza complications during pregnancy, offering a potential new target for treatment ahead of the winter flu season. While influenza typically remains confined to the u»»»

As Israel’s military grapples with a severe manpower shortage estimated at 15,000 troops — a situation Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has described as “dangerous for the future of the Jewish state” — Israeli ultra-Orthodox parties continue to reject military service in favor of Torah study even as Israe»»»

Former Rapid Support Forces (RSF) field commander Brigadier General Ali Rizqallah, known as “Savannah,” arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum days after announcing his split from the paramilitary force led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), in a move observers say highlights growing divisions w»»»

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces killed a man on Saturday on the outskirts of the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank. The health ministry in Ramallah identified the victim as 34-year-old Nour al-Din Kamal Hassan Fayyad, saying he was "killed by occupation forces' »»»

A couple in China turned their wedding reception into a wrestling arena — with household chores at stake. The unusual celebration took place in Zunyi, Guizhou province, where professional wrestler He Yinsheng and his bride staged a wrestling match during their wedding banquet, according to the Sout»»»

Seoul, Republic of Korea: Son Heung-min was named in the Republic of Korea's squad for his fourth World Cup on Saturday. Captain Son will turn 34 in July and he is now playing for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, having left Tottenham Hotspur and the English Premier League a year ago. He head»»»

As Poland faces mounting pressure to recognise same-sex marriages registered in the EU, one young activist from Warsaw tells EUobserver how conservative forces are trying to resist reform. A landmark ruling by the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg on 25 November 2025 said Warsaw’s refusal to regist»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China on May 19 for a two-day visit, hot on the heels of US President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing, the Kremlin said on Saturday. During the trip, the Russian leader will discuss with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping how to "further strengthen the»»»

Sri Lanka slapped a 50 percent surcharge on customs duties on vehicles Saturday in a bid to discourage imports and ease currency pressure stemming from the Middle East conflict. The increase in taxes comes as the local rupee has sharply depreciated since the start of US and Israeli attacks on Iran,»»»

Colombo, Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka placed a 50 percent surcharge on customs duties on vehicles Saturday in a bid to discourage imports and ease currency pressure stemming from the Middle East conflict. "Given the current pressure on foreign exchange, we want people to delay their imports (of vehicles) b»»»

The Tripoli based Libyan Ministry of Health reported last Thursday (14 May) that its Minister, Mohamed Al-Ghouj, oversaw the ‘‘strategic event’’ in the largest reopening at 13 model clinic complexes (the “Golden Complexes”) in several cities and regions. The Ministry said this step aims to bring ab»»»

BAGHDAD: Loud bangs heard on Saturday in the center of Baghdad were artillery being fired to celebrate the formation of the new government, a security source told AFP. The three blasts, heard by an AFP reporter, marked the establishment of a government under newly selected Prime Minister Ali Al-Zai»»»

DUBAI: Dubai Police issued a traffic advisory following a road accident on Sheikh Zayed Road after Expo Bridge in the direction of Abu Dhabi. Motorists have been urged to exercise caution, follow traffic instructions, and allow safety teams to manage the situation. Authorities also advised drivers »»»

Syrian Kurdish groups on Friday rejected the allocation of only four seats for Kurds in Syria’s 210-member parliament, saying the move does not reflect the true size of the Kurdish population in the country. The position came as Kurds marked “Kurdish Language Day” amid disputes with the Syrian gove»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has advised people living with celiac disease to take preventive measures against gluten cross-contamination as the world marks International Celiac Disease Awareness Day on May 16 each year. In a social media post, the Ministry urged patients to en»»»

Dubai: The UAE recorded fresh growth in its skilled private-sector workforce during the first quarter of 2026, with numbers rising by 1.5 per cent, thanks to the continued momentum of the country’s labour market and its ability to attract specialised talent from around the world despite ongoing glo»»»

BAGHDAD: Loud bangs heard on Saturday in the center of Baghdad were artillery being fired to celebrate the formation of the new government, a security source told AFP. The three blasts, heard by an AFP reporter, marked the establishment of a government under newly selected Prime Minister Ali Al-Zai»»»

The prestigious Gulf News Edufair Abu Dhabi got under way this morning at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi Corniche, drawing students, parents and educators to one of the capital’s leading higher education events. More than 25 universities and higher education institutions from the UAE an»»»

Dubai: What should have been a joyful homecoming for dozens of Yemeni travellers turned to catastrophe on Friday evening after a horrific road collision claimed seven lives and injured many more on the international highway linking Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The crash occurred in Al Abr region, north »»»

Mohammad Ali Jafari, former commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iran would not enter negotiations with the United States before Washington implements “preconditions” and “confidence-building measures.” In an interview with the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency, Jafa»»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a new procedure for purchasing fuel and lubricants for state and municipal enterprises. According to the resolution, Kyrgyz Munayzat Corporation LLC has been designated as the primary supplier of fuel and lubricants and petroleum products for a nu»»»

By Ahmad Abu el-Hamd The nation’s struggling economy, housing crisis, and credit crunch have undeniably impacted many citizens. The tough nature of our turbulent economy makes many consumers feeling confused and powerless. While it’s important for consumers to try to understand what’s going on in o»»»

Russia told the truth about the US-controlled bioweapon labs found in Ukraine, and the West should apologize for peddling the political smokescreen of ‘Russian disinformation,’ Jeff J. Brown, curator of the Bioweapon Truth Commission, tells Sputnik. However, behind the global biosecurity facade lur»»»

The Justice Department is preparing to seek an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Friday, as President Donald Trump threatens possible military action against the communist-run island. One of the people told the »»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to China on May 19 and 20, the Kremlin has said. The Russian president has been invited to the country by his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, it said in a statement on Saturday. During the trip, Putin and Xi are expected to discuss bilat»»»

Baghdad, Iraq: Loud bangs heard on Saturday in the centre of Baghdad were artillery being fired to celebrate the formation of the new government. The three blasts, heard by an AFP reporter, marked the establishment of a government under newly selected Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi»»»

On May 16, 1985, the NBA named the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan rookie of the year after he led all players in points. 1 of 5 | Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan jams for two of his game-high 50 points during fourth-quarter action November 21, 1997, to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 111-102 in t»»»

RAMALLAH: Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces killed a man on Saturday on the outskirts of the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank. The health ministry in Ramallah identified the victim as 34-year-old Nour Al-Din Kamal Hassan Fayyad, saying he was “killed by occupatio»»»

SYDNEY: A ‌man attacked by a shark off Western Australia’s coast on Saturday died of ​his injuries, police said, in what is the second fatal shark attack in Australia so far this year. The 38-year-old victim, yet to be identified, was bitten on Saturday morning at Horseshoe ‌Reef near ‌Rottnest Isl»»»

President Sadyr Japarov signed a law ratifying the agreement between Kyrgyzstan and the Benelux countries on the readmission of persons who entered or resided without authorization. The document concerns Kyrgyzstan’s cooperation with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg on the return of citizen»»»

Young Kyrgyzstani Malika Moldogazieva won silver at the Asian Youth Boxing Championships in Uzbekistan. The World Boxing U15 tournament concluded in Tashkent. The athlete competed in the 35-kilogram weight class. In the semifinals, she competed with her opponent from India, Jiya Jiya, and won by a »»»

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has abolished the mechanism for banking support for procurement contracts for state and municipal enterprises. The corresponding resolution declared the procedure for banking support for procurement, approved in February 2026, to be no longer in effect. Furthe»»»

BEIJING, May 16 (SANA) Syria and China are moving to strengthen economic cooperation and unlock new investment channels, following high-level talks between trade representatives in the Chinese capital. Anas al-Bou, Head of foreign relations at the Syrian Chamber of Commerce Federation, met with the»»»

Abu Dhabi, May 16 (SANA) The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed on Saturday its commitment to regional security and stability in coordination with international partners. In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as Iranian attacks targeting the UAE and other regi»»»

A ‌man attacked by a shark off Western Australia's coast on Saturday died of his injuries, police said, in what is the second fatal shark attack in Australia so far this year. The 38-year-old victim, yet to be identified, was bitten on Saturday morning at Horseshoe ‌Reef near ‌Rottnest Island, abou»»»

Moscow, Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to China on May 19 for a two-day visit, hot on the heels of US President Donald Trump's trip to Beijing, the Kremlin said on Saturday. During the trip, the Russian leader will discuss how to "further strengthen the comprehensive partnersh»»»

Members of the European Parliament visited the Ombudsman Institute of Kyrgyzstan and met with Ombudsperson Jamilya Jamanbaeva. The delegation included the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur for Kyrgyzstan Nacho Sanchez Amor, MEP Kristian Vigenin, and the EU Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Rémi Dufl»»»

First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Daniyar Amangeldiev held talks with Artem Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia, and Oleg Nikolaev, Leader of the Chuvash Republic, as part of the International Economic Forum Russia — Islamic World: KazanForum 2026. During the meet»»»

Colombo, Sri Lanka: Twelve passengers were injured after a train derailed in western Sri Lanka on Saturday morning, police said. Police media spokesperson F.U. Wootler said one carriage overturned after the train derailed between Wanawasala and Hunupitiya, in Western Province. The injured passenger»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Biolabs in Ukraine secretly developed offensive capabilities, ret. US Army Lt. Col. Earl Rasmussen told RIA Novosti. "The bottom line is that there was biomass in Ukraine and other places developing potential biological offensive capabilities. In some cases, there was rumored»»»

Iraq’s ruling pro-Iran Coordination Framework appears to be on the verge of collapse after Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government was approved by parliament on Thursday. The PM submitted an incomplete lineup, but it still earned the vote of confidence. The parliament approved 14 ministers out of »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar Correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targeted the area between Arnoun and YOhmar al-Shaqif 16-05-2026 09:24 AM Latest News Urgent N»»»