Norway set to make formal complaint to FIFA over Balogun red card saga
London: Norway's football chief told The Times they are set to make a formal complaint to FIFA over the suspension of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban because it has put "the whole game at risk". Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), says she will seek the backing»»»
Colosseum Mall strengthens its international tenant mix with the opening of MR.DIY
Colosseum Mall announces the official opening of MR.DIY, one of the world’s leading home improvement and lifestyle retailers, marking an important new step in the shopping centre’s ongoing tenant mix refinement and retail diversification strategy. The opening of MR.DIY’s store is part of a consiste»»»
Systemic use of 'goons' in Kenya amplifies political repression
With one year to go before Kenya's 2027 presidential election, human rights organizations are sounding the alarm. They are denouncing the rise of “goons”—henchmen recruited by political leaders to infiltrate rallies, sow chaos, and intimidate opponents. This is a long-standing phenomenon that has w»»»
Eye on Africa - Ebola outbreak kills over 1,000 people in DR Congo
In tonight's edition, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC has crossed a devastating threshold, with more than 1,000 lives lost. Also, in Kenya, human rights groups warn that political “goons” are increasingly being used to disrupt rallies ahead of elections next year. And, in Senegal, four years after de»»»
Pleven Medical University Hosts Over 1,500 International Students
Pleven Medical University currently has 1,563 foreign students, with most of the studying in English and 38 of them studying in Bulgarian, the university press office told BTA. The university emphasized that it was the first medical school in Bulgaria to introduce English-language medical education»»»
Parliament Debates 2026 State Budget Bill with 5.7% Deficit at Second Reading
Parliament on Thursday began the second-reading debate on the 2026 State Budget Bill, which envisages a budget deficit of 5.7%. The debate is expected to continue on Friday. The Budget and Finance Committee approved the bill on second reading at an over 12-hour extraordinary meeting which ended in »»»
Thousands of tourists forced to evacuate as fire rages in southwest France
Just under 12,000 people, most of them tourists, were evacuated on Thursday in southwest France as a wildfire ravaged a forest in Le Porge. The fire started midday on Wednesday, and hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to the region. France has experienced three heatwaves sinc»»»
French modelling scout linked to Epstein found dead
Daniel Siad, a modelling scout with ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead at his home outside Paris, prosecutors said on Wednesday. Siad's body was discovered on Monday evening. An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death, the Nanterre »»»
India urges caution for ships entering Black Sea
New Delhi, India: India issued a security warning Thursday for ships venturing into the Black Sea that are locally flagged or employ its seafarers. The advisory follows a Russian attack Sunday on a cargo ship leaving Ukraine's port of Odesa that killed four Indian nationals. The "highest degree of »»»
Syrian worker killed in south Lebanon amid Israeli incursions and detonations
Israeli forces infiltrated Thursday the southern town of Serbine amid heavy machine gun fire. Nearby in al-Tiri, forces carried out a large-scale detonation. In Ibl-al Siqi, a Syrian worker was killed as Israeli forces fired machine guns, and detonated houses in the village.»»»
Modi vows punishment for exam fraud as 'Cockroach' protests spread
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally broken his silence on the student protest movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party. He said that his government will move to swiftly punish those responsible for the leak of answers that forced the cancellation of the country's undergrad medical ex»»»
Need a US visa urgently? America is trialling a $750 fast-track option
Dubai: The United States has officially launched the new pilot programme allowing some tourist and business visa applicants to pay an additional $750 for an earlier visa interview, on top of the initial fee of $185. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Announced by the US D»»»
EU to Freeze Russian Oil Price Cap for 1 Year – von der Leyen
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The European Union is going to freeze the oil price cap adjustment mechanism, applied to Russian oil under the new package of sanctions, for one year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, EU ambassadors agreed on the 21st packa»»»
Russia Continues Dialogue With US on Ukraine Settlement Via Working Channels - Kremlin
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Russia continues dialogue with the United States on the Ukrainian settlement through working channels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "We are continuing our dialogue with the Americans through existing working channels," Peskov told reporters. Moscow expects t»»»
Sweden to ban 'forever chemicals' in clothing
Stockholm: Sweden said Thursday it plans to ban so-called "forever chemicals" in consumer products such as clothing and kitchenware as early as 2028, before expected European Union regulation comes into force. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS "have no place in clothing, cosmetics, cookwa»»»
Opella appoints Radu Stănescu as Country Head Romania & Moldova
Opella, the consumer healthcare company with the third-largest portfolio in the Over the Counter (OTC) and Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally, announces the appointment of Radu Stănescu as Country Head for Romania & Moldova. In this role, he will drive operational excellence and»»»
Lockheed Martin expands strategic industry partnerships in Romania with Aerostar and MarcTel
Lockheed Martin signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Aerostar and MarcTel at the 2026 Farnborough Air Show, July 21, to support industrial cooperation for future AN/TPQ-53 radars in Romania. These signings establish agreements for direct work and sustainment activities while expandin»»»
Befit expands its Bucharest network with four new clubs following an investment of over €2.5 million
Befit, the fitness brand operating in the accessible segment of Romania’s fitness market, launched by Vectr Holdings, is expanding its Bucharest network with four new clubs: Befit Mpark Titan, Befit Pipera Plaza, Befit Șoseaua Giurgiului, and Befit Bd. Timișoara, following an investment of over €2.»»»
From risk to resilience: building climate-resilient value in AI-era data center infrastructure
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, launched today new findings showing climate risk is not yet fully priced into physical asset valuations, and that structured resilience investment reduces climate exposure by a third. The research, conducted by the Schneider Electric Research I»»»
US 'not willing to put pressure on Russia' despite wanting progress in Ukraine
Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit on July 23, in a first since September 2025 as Washington has shifted its focus from Ukraine to the war in the Middle East. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us what to expec»»»
Bulgaria: Trust in the Radev Government Falls for the Second Month
Trust in Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s government has continued to decline for a second consecutive month, according to a nationally representative survey by the Market Links polling agency conducted in partnership with bTV. The survey was carried out between July 11 and 19 among 1,002 adult Bulgari»»»
Orbán Viktor at the White House: What we know
The prospect of Orbán Viktor at the White House has returned to the Hungarian political agenda after an American newspaper reported that the former prime minister visited both the White House and the US State Department during a recent trip to the United States. However, it remains unclear whether »»»
New AI centre to monitor Abu Dhabi's 45,000sqkm waterways
Abu Dhabi has launched a new Waterway Monitoring and Control Centre, an AI-powered platform that will oversee more than 45,000 square kilometres of waterways to improve maritime safety, strengthen emergency response and manage public maritime services across the emirate. The centre was inaugurated »»»
Bulgarian Journalist Christo Grozev Criticizes UK Over Release of Russian Spy ConvictsOpinions
Investigative journalist Christo Grozev has criticized British authorities for failing to inform him in advance about the release and deportation to Bulgaria of two Bulgarians convicted of espionage for Russia, who were part of a network that also monitored him. Grozev said the lack of warning from»»»
Jordan, Kuwait say intercepted Iranian attacks
The Jordanian and Kuwaiti militaries reported intercepting fresh salvos of Iranian missiles and drones on Thursday. Jordan said it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, as Tehran responded to U.S. airstrikes by hitting Washington's allies in the region. The Jordanian army said in a statement»»»
New threat by Houthis could widen Iran war, put another trade chokepoint at risk
The Houthi rebels' threat to blockade Saudi Arabia has the potential to widen the Iran war and further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade. The Iran-backed rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yeme»»»
India's Gen Z protesters on whats driving them to join CJP movement
New Delhi: Student protests in India demanding education reforms grew on Thursday despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing a crackdown following a string of exam paper leaks. Five Gen Z protesters at the main protest site in the capital New Delhi spoke to AFP about what was driving them to join »»»
Iran claims US radars suffered a ‘dark night’ of strikes in Kuwait and Jordan
Iran’s latest round of missile and drone strikes disabled multiple US radar, communications, and air-defense systems in Kuwait, according to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC which claimed American bases across the region had suffered a “dark night.” In a series of statements carried»»»
Turkiye targeting $10bn in trade volume with Syria, official reveals
RIYADH: Turkiye aims to increase its trade volume with Syria to $10 billion as bilateral commerce surged more than 40 percent year on year to a record $3.75 billion in 2025, an official revealed. Speaking at a meeting titled Free Trade and Industrial Zones in Syria and the Investment Environment in»»»
Russian Forces Moving Civilian Population From Konstantinovka - Deputy Commander of Unit
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces are moving the civilian population from the city of Konstantinovka (Kostyantynivka), and any assistance is being provided to them, the deputy commander of the Yug (South) group of forces' unit said on Thursday. "At the moment, we are already at the stage»»»
Jana Nayagan box office Day 1: Vijay’s farewell film opens to packed houses, targets Rs800 million worldwide debut
Dubai: Thalapathy Vijay's swansong, Jana Nayagan, has hit cinemas with the kind of fanfare reserved for the biggest stars. Directed by H. Vinoth, the political action drama opened to packed theatres across Tamil Nadu and key overseas markets on Thursday, with fans celebrating the release with firew»»»
EU fines Google $1b over Google Search and Play Store competition
Brussels: The European Union on Thursday hit Google with a fine of 890 million euros ($1 billion) after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by using Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers towards its own services and apps, to the detriment o»»»
Proud of UAE forum brings together diplomats, business leaders
Dubai: Business leaders, diplomats and entrepreneurs gathered in Dubai to celebrate the UAE’s remarkable transformation into a global hub for investment, innovation and opportunity at a special “Proud of UAE” forum organised by the Diplomat Business Club. The event brought together investors, CEOs,»»»
Hiring in the UAE? Employers must now secure worker insurance before a work permit can be issued
Abu Dhabi: Private sector employers in the UAE must purchase an insurance policy for every employee before obtaining a work permit, under a labour protection scheme that guarantees workers' financial entitlements, including unpaid wages of up to Dh20,000 over a 30-month period if an employer fails »»»
Ukraine strikes more Wildberries warehouses
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk overnight, with the Nevinnomyssk facility left fully ablaze, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said on Telegram on July 22, adding that staff had been evacuated and some workers injured. The strikes are the latest in an »»»
Minister of Interior attends graduation of Security Command and Staff Programme
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Police Academy, HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, attended the graduation ceremony of the second batch of the Security Command and Staff Programme, in th»»»
Philippines to open new airport lounge at Clark to support overseas Filipino workers
Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) departing from Clark International Airport in Pampanga, Philippines will soon have a dedicated space where they can rest, grab a meal, and seek assistance before boarding their flights. The new OFW Lounge at Clark International Airport's Terminal 2 has been s»»»
UN Syria inquiry commission looks to work with People’s Assembly
New York, July 23 (SANA) The U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said on Thursday it looks forward to cooperating with Syria’s newly formed People’s Assembly, describing its establishment and inaugural session as an important milestone in the country’s current transition. »»»
Minister of Justice meets UAE, Kuwait Ambassadors
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi held Thursday bilateral meetings with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Qatar HE Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi and Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Qatar »»»
Cash held by citizens of Kyrgyzstan grows to 286 billion soms - | 24.KG
The amount of cash held by the population in Kyrgyzstan continues to increase, while the activity of cash and settlement transactions at commercial banks is growing, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan reported. Total money supply and non-banking sector As of July 1, 2026, the total amount of cash in c»»»
EU fines Google €890 million over competition rules
PoliticsEuropeEU fines Google €890 million over competition rulesSaim Dušan Inayatullah with AP, AFP, dpa, ReutersThe European Commission said it found that Google had preferenced its search engine and app store in ways that unfairly harmed competition. https://p.dw.com/p/5HcuoThe EU has again fine»»»
Nearly 300 fires extinguished by Civil Protection in 24 hours
TUNIS, July 23 (TAP) – Civil Protection units carried out 939 interventions across Tunisia over the past 24 hours, including 296 firefighting operations, amid a continuing heatwave that has contributed to a rise in fire outbreaks.In addition to...»»»
SCNS holds large-scale anti-terror exercises at school - | 24.KG
The Anti-Terrorism Center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS), together with the agency’s department for Chui region, conducted anti-terror exercises Chui-Interaction — 2026. According to the security service, the drills were held at the Zhaiyl Baatyr secondary school »»»
EXPO opening up opportunities for joint projects, Vucic says after meeting with Babis
BELGRADE - After meeting with Czech PM Andrej Babis in Belgrade on Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed the confidence the upcoming EXPO 2027 in Belgrade would be an opportunity to showcase innovation, connect the Serbian and Czech economies and open up new opportunities for joint»»»
RSV 421 to Celebrate Bulgaria's National Day in 2027 with Diaspora in Buenos Aires
Bulgaria's research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) is expected to celebrate Bulgaria's National Day, March 3, in Buenos Aires in 2027, together with the Bulgarian diaspora there, Rear Admiral Prof. Kalin Kalinov, Commandant of the Naval Academy in Varna, said here on Thursday. Kalinov als»»»
Governance and transparency, key conditions for success of 2026–2030 Development Plan: IACE
TUNIS, July 23 (TAP) – The success of Tunisia’s future 2026–2030 Development Plan will depend not only on the quality of technical planning, but also on the country’s ability to establish a governance model based on performance, accountability and...»»»
83 large acacia trees planted in Bishkek ahead of SCO summit - | 24.KG
Improvement of the city in preparation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit continues in Bishkek. According to the municipal enterprise Bishkekzelenstroy, 83 large acacia trees with closed root systems were planted on Zhaiyl Baatyr Street—from Chortekov Street to Alykulov Street. »»»
Should a Business Lease a Copier? Weighing the Real Costs
For most businesses, a reliable copier or multifunction printer is not a luxury but a daily necessity. Contracts, invoices, marketing materials, and everyday paperwork all depend on it. Yet when the time comes to acquire one, companies face a deceptively tricky decision: should they buy the machine»»»
Dentons advises Biofarm and its majority shareholders on acquisition by Polpharma through voluntary public takeover offer
Global law firm Dentons has advised Biofarm S.A., a leading Romanian pharmaceutical company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, and its majority shareholders, Longshield Investment Group S.A. and Lion Capital S.A., on the acquisition of Biofarm by Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. through a»»»
Romanian holidaymakers favour local destinations and short stays – survey
Most Romanians choose to spend their holidays in the country, opt for stays of three to four days and prefer to organise their trips independently rather than use travel agencies. Domestic destinations were selected by almost three times as many respondents as foreign ones, according to a survey co»»»