An Australian former soldier charged with committing war crimes in Afghanistan vowed on Sunday to clear his name, saying he had never "run from a fight" in his first public comments since his arrest. "For the past 10 years, my family and I have been subject to a campaign to convince Australians tha»»»

Dubai: The Strait of Hormuz is no longer a shipping lane — it is now a gunboat-enforced negotiating table. What unfolded over the past 36 hours has stripped away any lingering illusion that the waterway is returning to normal. A brief window of optimism — sparked by Iran’s signal that the strait wa»»»

Twenty-four years after the arrest of Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, now 67, and after long stretches in solitary confinement, he remains a central figure in Palestinian politics. His influence has outpaced that of other officials in decision-making roles, and he has topped Fatah elections in»»»

As she wen to cast her vote in the April 19 snap parliamentary elections Sunday, President Iliana Iotova said her vote went "to have a working Parliament soon, and a strong government". "I voted so that Bulgaria has a working National Assembly soon, which will elect a leadership swiftly and skip th»»»

Routine maintenance work at Islam’s holiest site has been completed to the highest international standards, Saudi authorities said, as the Kingdom simultaneously began welcoming the first wave of pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj season. The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the P»»»

Lebanon's president and prime minister have discussed preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades. In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted "an assessment of the post-ceasefire phase and the ongoing efforts to con»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Ahli and Al Sadd secured their places in the semifinals of the Amir Cup basketball competition for the 2025–2026 season after quarterfinal wins over Al Wakrah and Al Shamal at Al Gharafa Hall yesterday. Al Ahli defeated Al Wakrah 85-72 in a tightly contested game. Al Ahli led 18–10 »»»

The Supreme National Security Council of Iran affirmed that Iran’s negotiating delegation will make no concessions in talks aimed at ending the war, underscoring its full commitment to safeguarding national rights and defending the interests of the Iranian people. In a statement, the council said T»»»

SocietyAustriaAustria: Police find rat poison in recalled baby food jarRana Taha with AFP, ReutersThe Germany-based HiPP had recalled the jars, suggesting they were tampered with. The contaminated jars were also found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. https://p.dw.com/p/5CRMhPolice examined a sam»»»

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday condemned the easing of sanctions on Russian oil after the United States extended a waiver meant to soften surging energy prices driven by the Middle East war. "Every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war" and is used for devastating strik»»»

Doha, Qatar: In many technical projects, failure is not caused by a lack of talent, but by a lack of structure. Despite the availability of skilled professionals across various disciplines, projects can still face delays, misalignment, or incomplete delivery due to the absence of an organized execu»»»

The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»

Having cast his ballot in Sofia, Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev said: "Today Bulgaria has a historic chance to break once and for all with the Peevski-Borissov oligarchic model, and this is an opportunity we must not miss." He was referring to Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan»»»

Doha, Qatar: India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and rapidly transforming into an engine of global growth. During the 2000-2025, which includes the volatile years of the Global Financial Crisis and the Covid-pandemic, the average growth rate for the South-Asian giant was 6.3»»»

Doha, Qatar: The FEI Regional Group VII Finals for Juniors, Cadets, and Young Riders, featuring qualifiers from the 2025-2026 equestrian season, concluded with thrilling action at the Longines Arena in Al Shaqab after four days of competition. The event brought together more than 100 riders represe»»»

Doha: Commercial Bank has announced key appointments to its senior management team, reinforcing its leadership structure to support strategic priorities, sustainable growth, and its continued commitment to developing national talent in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. As part of these appointm»»»

Israeli occupation army announced on Sunday a reservist was killed and nine others were wounded, including one seriously, after being hit by an explosive device in southern Lebanon a day earlier. The slain soldier was named as a sergeant first class reservist of the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade’s»»»

On contaminated land that is too dangerous for human life, the world’s wildest horses roam free. Across the Chernobyl exclusion zone, Przewalski’s horses — stocky, sand-colored and almost toy-like in appearance — graze in a radioactive landscape larger than Luxembourg. On April 26, 1986, an explosi»»»

Britain's government is set to announce legislation next month to move the country closer to the European Union, as the Iran war sours the UK's so-called special relationship with the United States. President Donald Trump's unpredictability and stream of insults towards America's historic ally is a»»»

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has quipped at Kaja Kallas, who urged Iran to adhere to international law and open the Strait of Hormuz. “Oh, that 'international law'?! The one that the EU dusts off to lecture others while quietly green-lighting a US-Israeli war of aggression—a»»»

Vienna: Austrian police have found rat poison in a baby food jar, they said late Saturday, April 18, 2026, in a probe that has seen the supplier recall the line over suspected tampering. The Germany-based HiPP brand announced the recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria late Friday over the possibili»»»

Belarusian President ‌Alexander Lukashenko said he would be ready to meet US President Donald Trump once a "big deal" between the two countries has been prepared. "We are ready for a deal, but it needs to be prepared in a way that reflects the interests of both the United States and Belarus," Lukas»»»

Ukraine's military hit a drone manufacturing plant in the city of Taganrog in ‌Russia's Rostov ‌region overnight, ‌the ⁠military said on Sunday. "The ⁠destruction of this facility will reduce the ⁠enemy's capacity to ‌produce ‌drones and ‌weaken the ‌Russian aggressor's ability to carry out strikes»»»

Vienna: Austrian police have found rat poison in a baby food jar, they said late Saturday, in a probe that has seen the supplier recall the line over suspected tampering. The Germany-based HiPP brand announced the recall at SPAR supermarkets in Austria late Friday over the possibility that "a hazar»»»

Kyiv: Ukraine announced Sunday that its air defenses intercepted a Russian drone attack last night, shooting down 203 drones launched at various locations across the country. Ukrainian news agency reported that its air defenses successfully downed 203 out of 236 drones. According to preliminary dat»»»

As the master developer behind The Pearl and Gewan Islands, United Development Company (UDC) is shaping one of Qatar’s most distinctive urban destinations—where premium living, environmental responsibility, and community engagement are fully integrated. Across these flagship developments, UDC is ad»»»

The View Hospital Reinforces Its Standing Through Innovation and Human-Centered Care Doha, Qatar: In light of recent regional developments and the challenges faced across the region, Apex Health, the fastest-growing healthcare groups in the region, continues to reinforce its readiness and ability t»»»

Beirut: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted on Saturday that the current 10-day truce with Israel cannot be a unilateral arrangement. According to a report by Al Jazeera, Qassem vowed that his fighters are prepared to retaliate against any Israeli strikes targeting Lebanese territory. In his init»»»

Seoul, South Korea: The Republic of Korea expressed concern over the increasing frequency of ballistic missile launches by North Korea, and urged Pyongyang to immediately halt provocations that clearly violate UN Security Council resolutions. The presidential Office of National Security on Sunday, »»»

Yemen’s Ansarllah revolutionary group has warned that Sana’a could move to shut down the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, declaring that such a move would be impossible for any force to reverse and urging an immediate end to US President Donald Trump’s policies undermining peace. In a post on X, Senior Ansaru»»»

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed global energy and food security to the brink. Saudi Arabia responded by positioning itself as a stabilizing force, turning its western coastline into a lifeline that not only protected its domestic market but also helped offset shortages in neighboring»»»

On the banks of Iraq's Tigris River, Haidar Kazem mourned 300 tons of the fish he had carefully raised in ponds wiped out by a flood of polluted water. Water supplies in Iraq, the eastern half of what is known as the region's fertile crescent and which the United Nations ranks among the countries m»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened the completed Hessa Street Development Project, a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic flow across one of the city’s key arterial corridors. The project covers a 4.5-kilometre stretch b»»»

Washington: The US Central Command has said that the dock landing ship USS Rushmore is conducting blockade operations in the Arabian Sea. Earlier Saturday (local time), it was said on social media that a guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney is patrolling regional waters in support of the blockade »»»

Aesthetic medicine in the United Arab Emirates is one of the most competitive and strictly regulated markets in the world. Becoming a leader in Dubai requires not only impeccable skills but also extensive international experience. This is precisely the path taken by Gulzhan Saipova, a cosmetologist»»»

On April 19, 2021, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter flew for 39 seconds on the surface Mars, the first powered aircraft to take flight on another planet. 1 of 6 | On April 19, 2021, NASA's Ingenuity helicopter flew for 39 seconds on the surface Mars, the first powered aircraft to take flight on another »»»

The Ministry of Marine Resources and UNDP Libya signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tripoli last Thursday (16 April) to advance Libya’s Blue Economy. The UNDP said with its extensive Mediterranean coastline, Libya is strategically positioned to diversify its economy, create employment, and ensu»»»

Madrid: The governments of Brazil, Mexico, and Spain expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis facing the Cuban people, calling for urgent measures to alleviate their suffering. In a joint statement published by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the three countries urged the »»»

Pope Leo sought to downplay his feud with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying reporting about comments he has made so far during his Africa tour "has not been accurate in all its aspects". Speaking to reporters in English aboard his flight to Angola for the third leg of his ambitious 10-d»»»

Tehran: Iran had been "victorious in the field" during weeks of war and had only agreed to a temporary truce with the United States because its demands had been met, the Iranian parliamentary speaker said on Saturday. The two-week ceasefire is set to end Wednesday unless it is renewed, with a perma»»»

Britain's royal family said Sunday that historian Anna Keay would write an official biography of queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022 after over 70 years on the throne. King Charles III had wanted a woman to write the definitive account of his mother's life, according to British media. Ke»»»

The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level talks in»»»

Iranian warships sunk by US and Israeli attacks litter naval harbors along the Gulf coast, but what is sometimes called a “mosquito fleet” lurks in the shadows. It is a flotilla of small, fast, agile boats designed to harass shipping, and it forms the heart of the naval forces deployed by the Irani»»»

Tehran: The strategic Strait of Hormuz was again closed on Sunday in the stand-off between Iran and the United States, with Iran's powerful parliament speaker signalling a final peace deal remained "far" off despite some movement in negotiations. As mediation efforts continued following high-level »»»

Jakarta: Indonesia’s National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced Sunday that it has opened an investigation into reports that 12 civilians, including women and children, were killed during a military operation in the restive Papua region. The commission, abbreviated as Komnas HAM, sa»»»

Antalya: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi participated in a high-level session on the sidelines of the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) titled, “Emerging Partnerships in International Mediation for Peace.” In remarks delive»»»

Israel’s killings of Ali Larijani and Kamal Kharazi were meant to do more than remove two senior figures from the Islamic Republic’s political landscape. Within Tehran’s political and analytical circles, they were interpreted as an attempt to erase something less visible but more consequential: the»»»

In a 2020 survey of Americans, just over one in five could locate Iran on a map. With such a poor result for a Middle Eastern country that is roughly the size of the state of Alaska and twice the size of Texas, it is a safe wager that an even lower percentage of Americans would have ever heard of t»»»

Several thousand people gathered in Milan on Saturday for a large rally attended by several European far-right leaders who spoke on immigration, security, and against EU regulations. Far-right leaders from Europe gathered in Milan Saturday for a rally attended by thousands against irregular immigra»»»

Doha, Qatar: Officials and members of the Shura Council stated that the adoption of Qatar’s emergency item at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) reflects the growing impact of Qatari parliamentary diplomacy and its role in supporting national, Arab, and Islamic positions. They noted in statements »»»