Taiwan to significantly outpace South Korea by widening GDP per capita margin
South Korea’s real GDP per capita is projected to fall more than $10,000 behind Taiwan’s within five years, according to the International Monetary Fund, underscoring a widening divergence between the two export-led economies. »»»
UPDATE: Bulgaria’s Radev wins election, set for parliamentary majority
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev is on course to secure a parliamentary majority in the country’s snap election, according to parallel vote counts, in what would be the first single-party majority since 1997. With a»»»
Taiwan to significantly outpace South Korea by widening GDP per capita margin
South Korea’s real GDP per capita is projected to fall more than $10,000 behind Taiwan’s within five years, according to the International Monetary Fund, underscoring a widening divergence between the two export-led economies. »»»
Central Election Commission Starts Publishing Interim Results
The Central Election Commission (CEC) has begun publishing interim results from the parliamentary elections held on April 19. Data for some regions show less than one percent of votes processed, while for other regions no results are available yet. With 7.08% of section election commission protocol»»»
Four or Five Parties and Coalitions in Next Parliament According to Parallel Count, Progressive Bulgaria Is Clear Winner
Four or five parties and coalitions have cleared the 4% barrier for entry in the legislature. The parallel count results show that Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition is the clear winner in Bulgaria's snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, with around 45% of the votes, according to pollin»»»
Indonesia to halt diesel imports from July 1
Jakarta: Indonesia has announced that it will stop importing diesel starting July 1, the date the country launches its B50 biodiesel program. The announcement was made by Indonesia's Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran in a press statement on Sunday. This marks the country's shift towards using B50,»»»
Parallel Count Results: Four or Five Parties and Coalitions in Next Parliament, Progressive Bulgaria Is Clear Winner
Four or five parties and coalitions have cleared the 4% barrier for entry in the legislature. The parallel count results show that Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition is the clear winner in Bulgaria's snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, with around 45% of the votes, according to pollin»»»
Eight children killed in Louisiana domestic violence mass shooting
Eight children died in a domestic-related mass shooting Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana. The victims' ages ranged from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in domestic violence shootings at two different»»»
Trump sending US delegation for Iran talks in Pakistan
US President Donald Trump said US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday even as Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. There is currently no decisi»»»
Culture ministry marks World Heritage Day, highlights heritage preservation efforts
DOHA: The Ministry of Culture marked World Heritage Day 2026 with a series of cultural events and activities aimed at showcasing the richness of Qatari folklore and highlighting national efforts to preserve and sustain cultural heritage. The event was held in the presence of Undersecretary of the M»»»
UK Middle East Minister reaffirms continued support for Syria
London, April 19 (SANA) U.K. Minister of State for the Middle East, Hamish Falconer, reaffirmed that Britain will continue to support Syria. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on its account on X that Falconer participated in a discussion session on Syria at the Antalya Diplom»»»
UPDATE: Bulgaria’s Radev wins decisive election victory, exit polls show
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev is on course for a decisive victory in the country’s snap parliamentary elections, with the latest parallel vote counts pointing to an unexpected outright majority that would allow him to form a government without coalition partners. »»»
Tariff refund portal to go live on Monday - UPI.com
Customs and Border Protection's website to refund Trump administration tariffs that were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court is set to go live on Monday. File Photo by Angelina Katsanis/UPI | License Photo April 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expected to launch a website on Monday»»»
Rumen Radev: "We Defeated Apathy but Mistrust in Politicians Remains"
Rumen Radev delivered a brief statement following exit poll results indicating a strong lead for his Progressive Bulgaria coalition in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections, thanking voters and calling the outcome "a victory of hope over mistrust, of freedom over fear and ethics". "We defeated apat»»»
Syria’s gene bank expands role in protecting agricultural biodiversity
Damascus countryside, April 19 (SANA) Syria’s national gene bank is reinforcing its strategic role in protecting agricultural biodiversity and supporting food security by preserving thousands of plant genetic resources, many of them linked to crops historically rooted in the region and adapted to h»»»
Iran war: Over $1 billion made from suspiciously timed oil price tips—who's behind them?
Dubai: A string of unusually timed oil trades totalling over $1 billion is drawing scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers, after they were placed just before major war-related announcements that sent global prices sharply lower. These were not routine trades. They were large, high-risk predict»»»
Delyan Peevski Thanks MRF Voters
The leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), Delyan Peevski, thanked his supporters after the end of election day in a statement distributed by the party’s press office. MRF is expected to have 20 to 25 seats in the next Parliament, according to the parallel count, down from 29 in the »»»
FM launches electronic portal to document missing and detained Syrians abroad
Damascus, Apr. 19 (SANA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates on Sunday launched an electronic portal titled “Missing/Detainee Report,” marking a new gateway of hope aimed at ending the suffering of thousands of Syrians. The initiative targets individuals who, over the past fourteen year»»»
Guardiola warns title not won yet as Man City hunt down Arsenal
Manchester, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola said that Manchester City's vital 2-1 victory over Arsenal has only given his side "hope" in the Premier League title race as they look to hunt down the Gunners. City are three points behind the leaders but have a game in hand and would go top for the first»»»
145 private-sector firms benefit from remote work — Labour Ministry
AMMAN — Around 145 private-sector companies have adopted the flexible work system introduced under Articles 2 and 140 of Labour Law No. (8) of 1996, integrating it into their internal policies during 2025 and 2026, including 45 companies in 2026 alone, the Ministry of Labour reported.Secretary-Gene»»»
US seizes Iran flagged vessel in Gulf of Oman amid navy blockade
The US has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman as it tried to pierce the American naval blockade around Iran, President Donald Trump has announced. DETAILS TO FOLLOW»»»
Rumen Radev: "Victory of Hope" as His Progressive Bulgaria Leads Snap Elections
Rumen Radev delivered a brief statement following exit poll results indicating a strong lead for his Progressive Bulgaria coalition in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections, thanking voters and calling the outcome "a victory of hope". According to exit polls, Progressive Bulgaria gets over 38% of t»»»
Parallel Count Results: Five Parties and Coalitions Clear 4% Barrier for Entry to Legislature
Five parties and coalitions have cleared the 4% barrier for entry in the legislature. 50% parallel count results show that Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition is leading by a wide margin in Bulgaria's snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, with nearly 44%, according to polling agency Alph»»»
IPU General Assembly adopts emergency item resolution submitted by Qatar
Istanbul: On its closing day in Istanbul, Turkiye, the 152nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) unanimously adopted the resolution on the emergency item submitted by the State of Qatar along with a number of other countries, entitled: "the urgent need for coordinated parliament»»»
FM represents Tunisia at Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa
Tunis, April 19 (TAP) - On the instructions of President Kais Saied, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Mohamed Ali Nafti will take part in the 10th edition of the Dakar International Forum for Peace and Security in Africa,...»»»
Blue Origin launches New Glenn rocket, puts satellite in wrong orbit - UPI.com
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launched on Sunday morning with the AST SpaceMobile BlueBird-7 satellite on board from Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This was Blue Origin's third New Glenn launch but its first attempt at launching a previously flown booster. Photo b»»»
Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria: Voters Turn Page on GERB and MRF, Say Leaders
The leaders of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) held a briefing for the media, following the announcement of the first results from polling agencies on the early parliamentary elections. "Bulgarian citizens came out, voted, and left GERB and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) i»»»
Bulgaria’s Radev set for election win, exit polls show
Bulgaria’s former president Rumen Radev took a commanding lead in snap parliamentary elections on April 19, exit polls showed, putting him on course to win but likely short of an outright majority. Exit polls from fiv»»»
INTERVIEW: After Orbán, can Hungary reclaim its media?
It took Viktor Orbán 16 years of relentless, meticulous work to morph Hungary's media ecosystem into a formidable organism designed to perpetuate his unchecked power and serve the interests of his associates. Now, incoming»»»
Petroleum Minister urges Egyptian Drilling Company to expand global partnerships
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi has underscored the pivotal role of the Egyptian Drilling Company (EDC) in delivering the government’s five-year plan to boost domestic oil and gas production, highlighting its central role in executing well drilling programmes. He called on »»»
Non-banking SME financing rises to EGP 25bn in January 2026: FRA
The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) said non-banking financing extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by companies and associations under its supervision reached EGP 25bn in January 2026, up from EGP 16.2bn a year earlier, an increase of EGP 9.8bn. The number of beneficiaries ro»»»
Agriculture Minister approves EGP 154m in new funding for National Veal Project
The National Veal Project, chaired by Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, has approved new financing worth EGP 154m for 110 beneficiaries, including small-scale breeders and young graduates, to support the rearing of 2,200 head of livestock. The move falls within the framewor»»»
Over 46 million Ethiopians register for upcoming general election
Addis Ababa: More than 46 million voters have registered, out of a population of about 130 million, to take part in Ethiopia's upcoming general election, scheduled for June 1, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has disclosed. In a statement issued Saturday, NEBE said that of the 46.7 mi»»»
Halan AZ REIT closes first hospitality tranche through Brassbell partnership
Halan AZ Real Estate Investment Fund (REIT) has announced the successful closing of its inaugural hospitality investment tranche, executed in partnership with Brassbell Hospitality Group, marking the fund’s first deployment into professionally managed hospitality assets. The fund, established by MN»»»
Egypt’s real estate market remains resilient amid regional uncertainty: Savills
Egypt’s real estate market continues to demonstrate resilience despite ongoing regional uncertainty, according to Savills Egypt. While geopolitical tensions persist, market activity remains largely unaffected, with developers maintaining project pipelines and demand holding steady. Savills notes th»»»
Wadi Degla Developments records EGP 5.6bn in 2025 sales
Wadi Degla Developments recorded total sales of EGP 5.6bn in 2025, alongside the delivery of 1,500 residential units, maintaining a steady execution pace of around three units per day. This marks the third consecutive year the company has sustained this delivery rate, standing out in a market where»»»
Madaar Developments unveils The Hillage in Sheikh Zayed with EGP 15bn investments
Madaar Developments has officially launched its latest residential project, The Hillage, in the heart of Sheikh Zayed City, positioning it as one of the final prime land opportunities in the area. The project comes with total investments exceeding EGP 15bn and introduces a boutique, low-density com»»»
Egyptian-Italian alliance targets $10bn mega projects across Egypt, Gulf
Precision Consulting Engineering (PCE) has announced a strategic partnership with RECS Architects to expand integrated architectural and consultancy services across Egypt and Gulf markets. The agreement, signed by PCE Chairperson Waleed Sweida and Pier Maria Giordani, aims to establish a cross-bord»»»
Al-Sisi reaffirms Egypt’s support for Kuwait’s security, calls for deeper economic ties
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has reaffirmed Egypt’s full support for Kuwait’s security and stability, rejecting any violation of its sovereignty and stressing that the security of Kuwait and other Arab states is integral to Egypt’s national security. According to the Egyptian presidency, »»»
US renews Russian oil sanctions waiver and reneges on Bessent’s pledge
The US has renewed a sanctions exemption allowing Russian crude and petroleum products already loaded onto tankers to be delivered and sold freely, the US Treasury Department has announced. The move came despite a pledge by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made two days prior that the waiver would »»»
Italian deputy PM calls for return to Russian energy imports
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has called on the EU to resume imports of Russian oil and gas, arguing that the bloc should prioritize energy security. The war in the Middle East has exacerbated Europe’s energy crisis, as disruptions to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz – a key r»»»
SCB, World Bank agree on technical support for reserves management
Damascus, Apr.19 (SANA) Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Husriya, held talks with Katarzyna Zajdel-Kurowska the Director of the World Bank Group Treasury’s Partnerships and Advisory Department and the accompanying delegation, ways to enhance the capabilities of the banking sector »»»
Vazrazhdane Thanks its Voters, Awaiting Final Election Results
Following the announcement of the first results from polling agencies on the early parliamentary elections, Vazrazhdane thanked its voters in a Facebook post, adding that the party is awaiting the final results of the parliamentary elections. "We thank each and every one of you who voted for the on»»»
Iran Rejects Second Round of Talks With US - Reports
MOSCOW, April 19 (Sputnik) - Iran has refused to participate in the second round of negotiations with the United States, Iran's IRNA news agency reported Sunday. Earlier in the day, Donald Trump said his representatives were heading to Islamabad to take part in a new round of negotiations on Iran.S»»»
GERB Leader Borissov: "Elections Decide Who Comes in First, but Negotiations Will Decide Who Governs"
GERB leader Boyko Borissov, in a Facebook post, following the announcement of the first results from polling agencies on the early parliamentary elections, thanked voters for their support for the party and congratulated the election winner. GERB would not take part in coalitions or alliances that »»»
Interior Minister Announces Parties Featured in Election Offence Alerts
Shortly after the end of the election say on Sunday, acting Interior Minister Emil Dechev announced what parties were featured in alerts for election-related irregularities, including vote buying and provided detailed data about the results of the Ministry efforts to ensure fair elections. The Move»»»
Hormuz crisis dominates IMF, World Bank Spring Meetings
Washington, April 19 (SANA) The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz overshadowed discussions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings, which concluded in Washington on Sunday after six days of deliberations amid growing concern over energy markets and global econo»»»
Consular day in Rouen for Tunisians residing there (Tunisian Consulate in Paris)
Tunis, April 19 (TAP) - The Tunisian Consulate General in Paris on Sunday organised a consular day in the French city of Rouen for Tunisians residing in this city and its surrounding areas, as part of the continuation of the campaign to bring...»»»
Haaland gives Man City edge over Arsenal in Premier League title showdown
Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester City are breathing down Arsenal's necks after Erling Haaland's strike beat the Gunners 2-1 on Sunday to land a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race. Pep Guardiola's men close to within three points of the leaders and have a game in hand w»»»
Ministry highlights progress in e-commerce strategy, launches regional digital trade project
AMMAN — Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply Secretary-General Dana Alzoubi on Sunday said that the launch of the "Digital Trade in the South Mediterranean" project marks a strategic step toward building an integrated digital trade ecosystem that promotes sustainable economic growth and keeps pac»»»