NEW YORK (Sputnik) - Washington is open to engaging with Russia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday. "If there's another opportunity for them [Russia] to meet, and there's a purpose behind the meeting that would be good ... We'll remain open to engaging," Rubio said in response to »»»

London: Stock markets fell on Wednesday and oil prices rose as investors weighed the chances of a deal to end the Mideast war, after US President Donald Trump said US and Iranian representatives held "very good" talks at the United Nations. Trump added that a three-hour meeting Tuesday was "very pr»»»

Death of Indian sailor in Strait of Hormuz attack sparks demands for safe passage One Indian national was killed after the vessel MV Cape Dao was attacked while en route to India, the Indian Embassy in Oman confirmed on Wednesday. The Embassy of India in Muscat said: "We are closely monitoring the »»»

Bulgaria's Parliament voted 121-42, with 23 abstentions, to repeal its October 31, 2025 resolution imposing a temporary ban on exports and intra-Community supplies to EU Member States of petroleum products, mainly diesel and aviation fuel. The draft resolution, submitted by the Council of Ministers»»»

Doha, Qatar: In a step that strengthens investment in digital skills development and digital capacity building in the State of Qatar, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in collaboration with Google Cloud and through Qatar Digital Academy, has launched a national upski»»»

Doha: Qatar Media Corporation has launched a new initiative aimed at promoting responsible digital content and strengthening national identity and values across social media platforms. The Nahj (approach) initiative, launched in Doha on Wednesday, is being carried out in partnership with Qatar Univ»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) drew the ballot numbers for the candidates running in Bulgaria’s presidential and vice-presidential election on October 25, 2026. The draw was public and broadcast online. Representatives of the parties, coalitions and initiative committees registered with the »»»

Damascus, Sept. 23 (SANA) Syria plans to build or rehabilitate about 2 million homes by 2035 to cut its housing deficit by more than 70%, as authorities seek to address a shortage estimated at 1.9 million units in 2025. The housing gap could widen to 2.5 million units by 2030 unless supply increase»»»

Veit-Ulrich BraunMillions of charter overnight stays add pressure to the Adriatic. A floating hub offers sewage disposal, freshwater and waste services closer to boats. https://p.dw.com/p/5N2U8AdvertisementCroatia's Adriatic coast is one of Europe's top tourism destinations, attracting millions of »»»

New York: Qatar's Free Zones Authority (QFZ) chief has discussed potential cooperation with Hillwood and The Perot Group on the sidelines of the Qatar Economic Forum Special Edition at UNGA 2026. CEO of QFZ HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Faisal Al-Thani met with Ross Perot Jr., the chairman of Hi»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Pezeshkian addresses UNGA, stresses readiness for defense: Mehr News Agency 23-09-2026 17:37 PM Latest News Urgent News Pezeshkian addresse»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Wednesday that the authorities are working with partner services to trace businesses, assets, properties and activities abroad as part of ongoing efforts to uncover possible corruption schemes. Radev was speaking to reporters at the Slivnitsa Training Centre, wher»»»

The parliamentary Committee on Economic Policy, Investments, and Industry approved at first reading on Wednesday the bill ratifying Amendment No. 1 to the Framework Agreement between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Bulgaria and Lockheed Martin Global, Inc. regarding the F-16 Block 70 Ind»»»

Lagos: Nigeria and the French firm TotalEnergies announced Wednesday a deal to invest $800 million in an offshore natural gas field to advance the country's hydrocarbon ambitions. Since his election in 2023 President Bola Tinubu has promised to boost Nigeria's oil and gas production, which despite »»»

Doha: Qatar Chamber hosted a dialogue session organized by the Women Entrepreneurs Community (WEC), an initiative of the Youth Initiatives Incubator under the Ministry of Sports and Youth, in cooperation with the Young Entrepreneurs Club, women entrepreneurs to exchange experiences. The Chamber's h»»»

NEW YORK, (Sputnik) - A meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ended in New York after approximately one hour. Lavrov arrived in New York City on Tuesday to participate in the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. H»»»

Trump sees momentum after indirect Iran talks as oil falls and aviation sanctions bite The US-Iran conflict has entered a potentially significant diplomatic phase, with the two sides holding their first indirect talks in months on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. US President D»»»

Hungary could soon have 12 official public holidays instead of 11, as lawmakers from the governing Tisza Party have submitted legislation to make Christmas Eve a permanent day off. If approved, the change could take effect before Christmas 2026, while most shops would be required to close on 24 Dec»»»

The International Criminal Court on Wednesday convicted former Central African Republic militia commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani of torture and unlawful imprisonment. Said oversaw a detention centre in the capital Bangui infamous for its brutal conditions during the country's sectarian civil war. »»»

Israeli officials have hit back at French President Emmanuel Macron after he criticised Israel’s conduct in the occupied West Bank during his address to the UN General Assembly. But while Macron used strong words against Israel, France allowed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane to fly throug»»»

Defense funding will rise in Bulgaria’s 2027 budget, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said, although he did not give a specific percentage for the increase. Radev said the higher allocation is both necessary and required under the coalition agreement. "This is not merely a necessity dictated by the secur»»»

NEW YORK - Serbian caretaker FM Marko Djuric met on Wednesday in New York with St Lucia's FM Alva Romanus Baptiste and thanked the country for supporting the preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia. The ministers met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly sessi»»»

The most powerful venture capital firm in Silicon Valley is starting a two-year private school for young people intended to replace college, as some U.S. tech elite question the benefits of a classical university education. The Horowitz Andreessen Academy, or HAA, is backed by veteran investors Mar»»»

Baku: Two-time champion Fernando Alonso on Wednesday said some of Formula One's most classic circuits had been "assassinated" in the modern era of hybrid cars and called for change. The Aston Martin driver's remarks came after his home Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring circuit was criticised for a »»»

The Foreign Affairs magazine published an article titled, “The Stalemate With Iran Is Not Sustainable,” to discuss the diplomatic strategy to end the war. “For six months, the war with Iran was disruptive but manageable. The Strait of Hormuz was largely closed to maritime traffic, blocking a transi»»»

The United States has delivered 16 million rounds of ammunition to the Lebanese Army, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said on Wednesday. “Over the past 6 years, the United States has delivered more than $800 million dollars in military assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces to build their long-term rea»»»

Doha, Qatar: Xiaomi today unveiled the new REDMI Note 17 Series, introducing three smartphones designed around long-term durability, extended battery life and flagship-grade experiences. The lineup includes the first-ever REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G, alongside REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G and REDMI Note 17 5G»»»

Papers on constitutional battle over Election Commission to be placed before Chief Justice Who should choose the officials entrusted with overseeing elections in the world’s largest democracy? That question is at the heart of an important constitutional battle before India’s Supreme Court, where tw»»»

TUNIS, Sept. 23 (TAP) - The number of assaults against journalists and photojournalists dropped in August 2026, with eight assaults reported among the 10 cases received by the monitoring unit of the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT),...»»»

Workers urged to stay hydrated, take breaks and use protection during outdoor duties. Dubai: Dubai Police has reached 120 workers through a “Sun Protection” initiative aimed at preventing heat stress and other health risks linked to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. The community campaign focu»»»

Satellite-to-phone tech promises full coverage beyond the limits of 4G and 5G Before you picture streaming Netflix from the middle of the empty quarter, here's the new picture of connectivity in dead zones. Oceans, deserts, and mountain ranges, make up most of the earth’s surface, yet the people an»»»

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, has said that Hezbollah has conducted a deep review of the course adopted since October 8, 2023, objectively identifying any flaws or shortcomings in its performance. In an interview with the al-Modon news portal, Raad noted that Hezboll»»»

A delegation from the “Sunni MPs bloc” visited President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday to discuss with him the issue of the suspended amnesty law. “The law reducing sentences does not apply to criminals and a balance must be struck between justice and the public interest,” Aoun told the delegation. “Ter»»»

BELGRADE - It is shameful and deeply hypocritical that Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic is lecturing Serbia on EU integration while his government is openly obstructing regional cooperation and rehabilitating ustasha symbols, says Serbian Progressive Party leader Milos Vucevic, who is also adviser to t»»»

Branches barred from financial transactions with Iran following regulatory examinations The Central Bank of the UAE has announced the imposition of strict enforcement measures against the branches of Bank Melli Iran operating in the UAE, in accordance with Article (168-1-C) of Federal Decree-Law No»»»

Albania’s government has temporarily delegated the administrative powers of the head of the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) to Elvis Lila, director of the agency’s Operations Department, following the dismissal of Vlora Hyseni, according to an order published in the Official Gazette. Prime Minis»»»

Business and philanthropy leaders discuss water financing ahead of December UN conference New York: Global business, investment and philanthropy leaders have called for stronger private-sector involvement in water infrastructure as the world faces an annual investment gap of up to $141 billion to a»»»

Parliament on Wednesday backed first-reading amendments to the Insurance Code allowing the Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) to act on its own initiative when funds managed by the Guarantee Fund face a shortfall. The bill was tabled by Daniel Parushev of Progressive Bulgaria and a group of MPs»»»

The fight against the oligarchy waged at the expense of the poorest Bulgarians continues, MP Tsoncho Ganev of the Vazrazhdane party told journalists in Parliament on Wednesday. "Having 'frozen' the pensions and maternity benefits of 'oligarch-pensioners' and 'oligarch-mothers,' the government and t»»»

More than 550,000 low-income people will receive a one-off payment of EUR 50 to help offset higher consumption costs resulting from increased fuel prices, under a new government measure adopted by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. Eligible recipients include people and families with incomes be»»»

The installation of the antennas for the LOFAR-BG radio telescope at Bulgaria’s Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory has been completed, said Kamen Kozarev, Director of the Institute of Astronomy at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, on Wednesday. Kozarev emphasized that LOFAR-BG is Bulgaria’s »»»

Additional budget allocations for the Ministry of the Interior for 2026 were approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The funding, totalling EUR 63,486,235, is designated to support the implementation of a centralized personalization system for Bulgarian identity documents. An additional »»»

A total of 18,430 Bulgarian citizens from 66 countries had registered by 11 a.m. on Wednesday to vote abroad in Bulgaria's October 25 presidential election, Boriana Stoynova, head of the Information and Communication Systems Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a briefing on the pre»»»

Yemeni factions fighting the Iran-backed Houthis are united mainly in one thing — their opposition to the rebels who control the country's north and have recently advanced along its Red Sea coastline. But beyond that, the groups fighting under the banner of Yemen's internationally recognized govern»»»

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa insisted at the U.N. Wednesday that the Golan Heights region will remain Syrian after Colombia last month recognized Israeli sovereignty over the strategically important territory. "Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, violate international law, will be stoppe»»»

“With solid sales growth in the first half of the year, we see ourselves on the home stretch for 2026, but we still need a strong finish,” said Markus Forschner , the chief financial officer and deputy chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, while presenting half-year figures for »»»

The meeting comes as part of Russia's participation in the 81st session of the organization. Sputnik is live from New York where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is holding talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.The two top diplomats are expec»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's adversary attempted to interfere with and disrupt the elections, but the lines at polling stations indicate that Russia cannot be intimidated, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. "It is well known that they tried to interfere with and disrupt these electi»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A US-registered NATO Saab 340B ISR reconnaissance aircraft has been flying near the borders of Russia's Kaliningrad region for a third consecutive day, according to flight data reviewed by Sputnik on Wednesday. The aircraft took off at approximately 07:56 GMT from an airbase east»»»

Lithuania’s parliament has backed a constitutional amendment that would lift a ban on nuclear weapons, thus bringing the NATO member a step closer to hosting them on its territory. Russia has warned the Baltic country, which borders its Kaliningrad Region, that such a move would have significant se»»»