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»»»

Ilhan Omar accuses Trump of political intimidation amid criminal investigation Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker's phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed»»»

The MOAB delivers a massive blast, but it is not designed to destroy deeply buried sites The United States is considering using a weapon known as the “Mother of All Bombs” in potential renewed strikes against Iran, according to CNN. The report concerns military contingency plans. It does not establ»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Activate Capital (Activate), a US-based growth equity firm investing in intelligent energy and infrastructure technology, announced on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that Activate has joined QIA’s USD 3 billion Fund of Funds. Activate invests in compan»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Israeli opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, Prime Miniter Benjamin Netanyahu's main rival in upcoming elections, vowed Thursday to defeat Hamas in Gaza if he becomes prime minister following the October 27 vote. "Today I give a public commitment: from the moment I enter the Prime Minister's Office»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia's Ministry of Environmental Protection approved on Wednesday an environmental impact assessment study for a project to build a trunk oil pipeline between Serbia and Hungary. The fully underground pipeline will connect the area of the Serbia-Hungary border near Horgos, northern Ser»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Hassan Fadlallah, a lawmaker for the Lebanese group Hezbollah, said on Thursday that a car carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, seized by Lebanese security forces earlier this week, indeed belongs to the Iran-backed group, at a time when the government is moving forward with its efforts to»»»

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»»»

Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov said on Thursday he would assess whether he had grounds to appeal Deputy Prosecutor General Magdalena Lazarova-Prodanova's selection as acting Prosecutor General and whether an appeal would be appropriate. He spoke to reporters after the Plenum of the Supreme Judic»»»

The Plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Thursday voted 17-2 to elect Magdalena Lazarova-Prodanova as acting Prosecutor General. The decision may be appealed within 14 days. Under the Judiciary System Act, one person may serve as acting President of the Supreme Administrative Court, acting »»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar expressed its condemnation and denunciation of the Republic of Colombia's opening of its embassy to Israel in the city of occupied Jerusalem, describing this step a violation of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions, particularly UN Secu»»»

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 »»»

Saqr Ghobash denounces Houthi violations, backs Saudi measures for security Abu Dhabi: Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), affirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist group against civilians and»»»

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»»»

Household electricity consumption in Romania fell by 11.3% in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, nearly three times the rate of decline recorded nationally, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Overall electricit»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3931 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative»»»

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»»»

By Staff, Agencies “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc has lost four seats in Hebrew Channel 13’s latest weekly poll, leaving it with 51 seats and well short of the parliamentary majority required to form a government, as the alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eise»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank unveiled a global roadmap to fight online financial fraud as increasingly sophisticated scams undermine confidence in digital finance. The “Bangkok Blueprint” developed in coordination with the Bank of Thailand and released during the institutions’ ann»»»

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»»»

The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) is working with Romania’s Investments and European Projects Ministry on potential guarantee mechanisms for municipal bonds under the European Union’s next multiannual financial framework, according to BVB CEO Remus Vulpescu. The initiative aims to expand local aut»»»

RIYADH: Non-oil trade between Dubai and China reached 2.1 trillion Emirati dirhams ($571.8 billion) from 2016 to 2025, according to the chairman of the emirate's commerce body. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency at the Dubai Business Forum – China in Shenzhen, Sultan bin Saeed Al-Mansoori said bi»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria's Parliament Thursday conclusively adopted amendments to the Insurance Code allowing third-party liability insurance policies for certain vehicles, including motorhomes and motorcycles, to be issued for periods of at least 30 days. The revisions were introduced by Daniel Parushev and MPs f»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have liberated the settlements of Nefedovka and Chernoye in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. This allows to expand the security zone Russia is establishing to prevent Ukrainian shelling of Russia's territories.Ukraine los»»»

Damascus, Oct. 15 (SANA) Syria’s Grain Establishment has signed a memorandum of understanding with Al-Jaraki Investment Company to rehabilitate, upgrade and operate six mills under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement, the establishment said Thursday. The agreement covers the rehabilitation o»»»

DOHA: Qatar University has underscored the importance of strengthening digital awareness among families and young people as rapid advances in technology, digital platforms and generative artificial intelligence expose children to increasingly complex online risks. The focus comes amid national effo»»»

Security data released on Wednesday indicated that at least 10 vessels have been attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz since last Sunday the highest toll recorded since the outbreak of the war involving Iran on February 28, 2026. According to data from the security firm Vanguard, the Internation»»»

“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»»»

RIYADH: Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, on Thursday said that a cruise missile was intercepted and destroyed in the Madinah region. The Saudi Civil Defense earlier lifted warnings it issued for Najran City and Jizan City, saying on its social m»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation edged up to 1.9 percent in September, driven primarily by higher housing, transport and food costs, while consumer prices remained unchanged from the previous month. The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category recorded the largest annual inc»»»

Damascus, Oct. 15 (SANA) Gold prices in Syria fell by 100 Syrian pounds per gram on Thursday compared with Wednesday’s rates, according to the General Authority for Precious Metals Management. Syrian gold prices decline The authority’s daily bulletin put the selling price of a gram of 21-karat gold»»»

By Staff, Agencies Chief of Staff and Deputy Coordinator of Iran's Army Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and that any passage through it must be coordinated. Speaking to reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of a ceremony honoring army nurses, Sayyari s»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian oil companies are ready to start exporting diesel fuel, and all the necessary procedures will take two to three weeks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday. Negotiations are currently underway on commercial contracts for the supply of diesel fuel»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has ridiculed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over Washington’s predictions of Iran’s economic collapse, pointing to rising US inflation and a series of deadlines that passed without the forecast outcomes materializing. “Let’s ‘play the percen»»»

By Staff, Agencies Eight US states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, accusing the company of putting children at risk through its ChatGPT chatbot and misleading parents about the platform’s safety. The lawsuits were announced or filed on Wednesday. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and West Virginia announc»»»

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»»»

The global programme will support 100 aspiring entrepreneurs with $10,000 each and more Dubai: Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to turn their media and content creation ideas into businesses will have the opportunity to receive funding, mentorship, and support to establish companies in the UAE throug»»»