Friday, April 17, 2026

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Zelensky rules out any compromise with Putin, pointing to Wagner boss death

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin – the Russian mercenary leader whose plane crashed weeks after he led a mutiny against Moscow’s military leadership – shows what happens when people make deals with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Gaza exports to resume after Israel agrees to reopen key crossing

Israel will reopen the main commercial crossing to Gaza on Sunday after a few days of closure that was imposed earlier this week.

Number of executions by Saudi Arabia in 2023 topped 100: Report

The number of executions conducted by Saudi Arabia this year has surpassed 100, according to the rights group Amnesty International, which raised concerns that the death penalty is being used in the kingdom in violation of international law.

Report: Fresh Anti-government protests hit Syria’s Sweida

At least 2,000 people marched in the city of Sweida in southern Syria in a new round of anti-government demonstration, an activist and a witness have confirmed.

Russia summons Armenia’s envoy over ‘unfriendly moves’

Armenian Ambassador to Moscow Vagharshak Harutiunyan has been summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry for a stern remonstration amid “Yerevan’s unfriendly actions”, the diplomatic agency has announced in a statement.

Analyst: JCPOA revival shrouded in ambiguities, questions

The landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the West, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is a thing of the past at the current stage but paradoxically it still casts shadow on the relations between Tehran and Europe as well as the United States.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 563

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Iran seeking joint action with Saudi Arabia on sand storms

Iran mulls a joint action with Saudi Arabia to contain the sand and dust storms that emanate from the Arab country’s Empty Quarter desert, according to head of the Iranian Department of Environment.

Fears of further escalation rise as dozens die in fighting between Kurdish fighters, Arab tribal militias in Syria

The ongoing fighting that erupted between Arab tribal militias and members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria has killed dozens of people as fears of further escalation grow.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 562

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Vast majority of Russians support turning away from west: Survey

A vast majority of Russians are supportive of Moscow’s policy that prioritizes the development of ties with the countries of the global East rather than the West, a new poll by the state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center (WCIOM) shows.

Azerbaijan concentrates forces on border with Armenia, near Nagorno-Karabakh: PM

Azerbaijan has amassed its troops on the border with Armenia and the demarcation line with Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told a Cabinet meeting. He has described the situation as explosive.

Iranian wrestlers runner-up at world deaf championships

Iranian Greco-Roman wrestlers with hearing impairments have won eight medals at the 5th edition of World Deaf Cadet and Junior Greco-Roman & Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Kyrgyzstan, and finished as the overall vice champion of the competition.

Death toll from Turkey floods rises to 7

At least seven people were killed as heavy rains triggered flash floods in northwest Turkey, state news agency Anadolu has reported.

Israel’s treatment of Palestinians amounts to apartheid: Ex-Mossad chief

A former head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has stated that Tel Aviv is enforcing an apartheid system against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Western officials in UAE amid concerns over supply of technology to Russia

Representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have landed in the United Arab Emirates to discuss the implementation of sanctions on Russia as part of broader efforts with a range of “partner” countries, a US embassy spokesperson told CNN on Thursday.

Pro-Palestine campaigners snubbed by UK MPs over anti-BDS bill

Palestinian advocacy organisations have not been invited to give evidence in person to a parliamentary committee scrutinising proposed legislation which would ban public bodies in the United Kingdom from disinvesting from Israel due to concerns over the abuse of Palestinian rights.

Live Update: Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine; Day 561

Russia, wary of NATO’s eastward expansion, began a military campaign in Ukraine in February 2022 after the Western-leaning Kiev government turned a deaf ear to Moscow’s calls for its neighbor to maintain its neutrality. In the middle of the mayhem, Moscow and Kiev are trying to hammer out a peaceful solution to the conflict. Follow the latest about the Russia-Ukraine conflict here:

Iranian students grab 4 medals at International Olympiad in Informatics

Iran has won four medals, one gold and 3 silvers, at the 35th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Szeged, Hungary, further strengthening the confidence of high-achieving Iranian students taking part in global competitions.

Saudi Arabia, Russia extend oil supply cuts

Oil prices hit a new high for the year so far after Saudi Arabia and Russia — the world’s biggest crude exporters — announced they would extend output cuts by at least another three months.

At least 2 killed in Turkey flash floods

Two people were killed after flash floods devastated some districts in Turkey’s largest metropolis Istanbul late Tuesday.

Russia hits back at Armenian PM over Caucasus

Moscow does not intend to abandon Armenia or the South Caucasus region, contrary to what Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stressed.

Iran-Saudi rapprochement ‘positive step’ towards promotion of regional security, stability: Iraq

Iraq's President Abdul Latif Rashid has hailed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh as a “positive step” that works to enhance security and stability in the West Asia region.

Pakistan hit by protests over surging energy costs

Demonstrations against rising electricity and petrol prices have rocked Pakistan, with thousands taking to city streets and setting their electricity bills alight.

Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian youth, damage refugee camp

Israeli soldiers have killed a young Palestinian man and seriously injured another during a large raid on a refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem, damaging infrastructure in the camp.

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