Lack of Young Professionals, Aging Infrastructure Among Most Pressing Challenges for Bulgaria’s Water Supply Sector
A shortage of young professionals, significant water losses, and aging infrastructure continue to be among the most pressing challenges for Bulgaria’s water supply sector, said Bulgarian Water Association Chair Ivan Ivanov on Thursday in Ruse during a professional competition for water utility empl»»»
Media Review: April 23
The results of the April 19 parliamentary elections and the resignation of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov dominate Thursday’s news media. POLITICS & ELECTION RESULTS Dnevnik.bg has an article about the news members of Parliament who were elected on April 19. The 52nd National Assembly w»»»
Minister of State for Interior Affairs meets Mauritanian ambassador
DOHA: Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al Thani met with Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the state HE Mohamed Mohamed Abdullah Bebane. During the meeting, relations between the two brotherly countries in the security field were r»»»
Endowments ministry strengthens efforts to support human rights and empower people with disabilities
DOHA: As part of its firm commitment to human rights principles and its keenness to promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs continued to implement an integrated package of quality initiatives and programs, across its various»»»
Official talks between IMF mission, Serbian delegation begin in Belgrade
BELGRADE - Official talks between an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission and representatives of the Republic of Serbia began with a plenary meeting at the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) on Thursday. The Serbian delegation is headed by NBS Governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic, who is also Serbia's gov»»»
Organised crime turns UK mini-marts into drug trade hotspots
Dubai A shocking investigation by the BBC has uncovered how illegal drugs — including cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription pills — are being openly sold in mini-marts across UK High Streets, exposing what officials describe as a growing “cancer” of organised crime. Undercover reporters »»»
Al-Rahi says negotiations 'necessity not concession' after meeting Aoun
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said Thursday that negotiations are a necessity, not a concession, after he met President Joseph Aoun in Baabda ahead of a second session of direct talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington. "Negotiations are the only path toward ending wars and destruction, »»»
Zambia says it has custody of ex-president’s body in dispute with family over burial
JOHANNESBURG: The Zambian government says it has taken custody of former President Edgar Lungu’s body from his family in a long-running dispute over where he should be buried after he died in South Africa nearly a year ago. In a statement Wednesday, Zambia’s attorney general said the government had»»»
Ex-Philippine president Duterte to face trial on crimes against humanity charges
THE HAGUE: Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he allegedly oversaw while in office. A three-judge panel found unanimously there were “substantial ground»»»
Doctors Assess Mladić’s Condition as Serious; Legal Request for Transfer Expected
Serbian General Ratko Mladić is in the most severe condition he has ever been in, according to assessments by Serbian doctors who examined him in the detention unit of the Hague tribunal, his son Darko Mladić said in a statement to SRNA, stressing that the authorities in the Hague have effectively »»»
Sustainability in agriculture tested by costs and market dynamics – insights from Re:Focus on Agribusiness 2026
Re:Focus on Agribusiness 2026, the agribusiness event organised by Business Review this week, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders in Bucharest for a day of discussions on the structural challenges and strategic direction of Romanian agriculture. Against a backdrop »»»
'You feel like a supercar': Inside Dubai Autodrome’s community nights
Dubai: On a Wednesday evening at Dubai Autodrome, an 80-year-old man walks briskly ahead of his daughter, lapping the circuit with more energy than people half his age. Nearby, a 13-year-old cyclist carves through the track he has been dreaming of riding for years. A triathlete spots a friend, then»»»
A taste of the Philippines in Abu Dhabi as Filipino flavours fill night market
Dubai: A vibrant celebration of Filipino cuisine and culture has been held in the UAE capital as a night market at Madinat Zayed Exhibition brought Philippine flavours, culture, and entrepreneurship together in celebration of Filipino Food Month. The event has been visited by the Philippine ambassa»»»
Environment Ministry bill paves way for more construction within protected areas to end ‘disorder’
What would it take to curb planning chaos and better protect the natural environment? Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy argues the answer is not stricter limits on out-of-plan construction, but allowing limited urban development within parts of protected Natura 2000 areas. The provision i»»»
EIB Vice-President visits Romanian site forming central part of A1 motorway project
European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris today visited a site near the Romanian city of Curtea de Argeș where a section of the country’s first motorway across the Carpathian Mountains is being built. He observed work on a tunnel that is part of the planned A1 motorway, which i»»»
Analysis: Gold market undergoes normal consolidation despite talk of collapse
Recently, headlines have increasingly focused on the decline of gold, with some even suggesting a ‘collapse’ of 20% to 25%. However, when looking at the full picture, the situation is different. Gold underwent a correction after hitting an all-time high at the beginning of 2026, but has since recov»»»
Vucic: Army a strong, dependable pillar of security, peace
BELGRADE - Today, the Serbian Armed Forces represent a strong and dependable pillar of security and peace in Serbia, and a symbol of the country's strength and support to all citizens, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday, congratulating Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, Serbian Arme»»»
Flights are back: Qatar Airways restarts daily UAE routes
Dubai: Travellers in the UAE will once again have more flight options as Qatar Airways resumes daily services to Dubai and Sharjah from April 23, marking a key step in restoring regional connectivity. The airline confirmed it has restarted daily flights between Doha and both Dubai International Air»»»
UK supports displaced families of Lebanese Armed Forces
UK Chargé D’Affaires Victoria Dunne and Deputy Defense Attaché Thomas Hobbs met Thursday senior officers of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), to deliver UK relief assistance to displaced LAF families, at the LAF logistics hub in Beirut. The UK Ministry of Defense is providing essential and practical»»»
Real estate trading exceeds QR400 million in one week
Doha, Qatar: The volume of real estate trading in sales contracts at the Department of Real Estate Registration at the Ministry of Justice during the period from April 12 to April 16, 2026, reached QR404,182,279. Meanwhile, the total sales contracts for residential units in the Real Estate Bulletin»»»
Surgery Begins in Riyadh for Most Complex Conjoined Twins Cases in the World
The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program began on Thursday the separation surgery for the Filipino conjoined twins Klea and Maurice Ann, who are joined at the head, at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. The surgery is in »»»
Why UAE currency swap talks reflect economic strength, not stress
Dubai: Discussions over a potential currency swap line between the UAE and the US have drawn scrutiny this week, with analysts and officials stressing the move reflects precautionary planning rather than any sign of financial strain in the economy. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf»»»
Profit up, net income down: Emirates Islamic’s Q1 results explained
Dubai: Customers of Emirates Islamic continued to borrow and deposit more in early 2026, helping the bank post a 7 per cent rise in operating profit to Dh1.1 billion for the first quarter, it said in its earnings report posted Thursday. The Dubai-based Islamic lender reported higher income from bot»»»
Back-to-school safety: Abu Dhabi Civil Defence promotes student safety
Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has launched a safety awareness initiative to welcome students back to schools, focusing on building a culture of safety among young learners. The programme was carried out by the Authority’s Safety Patrol as part of the “Proud of the UAE” initiative, which aims to»»»
Hezbollah Condemns Killing of Journalist Amal Khalil: Israeli Terror Won’t Silence Voice of Truth - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Condemns Killing of Journalist Amal Khalil: Israeli Terror Won’t Silence Voice of Truth 23-04-2026 12:38 PM Hezbollah flag and th»»»
NATO nation defense chief defends handling of drone scare
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken has defended the drone scare which gripped the country last year and cost some €50 million ($58.5 million) in emergency spending, offering a lackluster apology for personally disseminating images purporting to show the UAVs, which turned out to be false. The d»»»
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun to pay official visit to Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan on April 23-28. He will also participate in a meeting of the heads of Defense Ministries of the SCO, the Chinese Ministry of Defense reported. «From April 23 to 28, at the invitation of the host countries, Chinese Defense Mi»»»
Women leaders on navigating crisis and uncertainty
When uncertainty hits, leadership stops being a title and starts showing its true shape. At the the Tristar presents Limitless: The UAE Power Women’s Forum in association with Gulf News, held at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, five women leaders cut through the noise on what it really takes to »»»
Man sleeping in dumpster survives rubbish truck ordeal
A homeless man who had fallen asleep inside a dumpster during a rainstorm in Thessaloniki narrowly escaped severe injury early Thursday when garbage collectors noticed him just as he was tipped into a rubbish truck, local reports said. The 46-year-old Romanian national, who is believed to have been»»»
Hezbollah “condemns in the strongest terms the treacherous and brutal crime” committed against Lebanese journalists: Media Relations statement - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah “condemns in the strongest terms the treacherous and brutal crime” committed against Lebanese journalists: Media Relations statem»»»
How Western Big Tech Drives Digital Colonization Through AI Tools
Silicon Valley giants have been quietly advancing digital colonialism in the Global South as data has become the new oil, Pavan Duggal, founder and chairman of the International Commission on Cyber Security Law, tells Sputnik. “Digital colonialism is being implemented through big tech companies, [t»»»
Bin Farhan meets Aoun and Berri ahead of Washington talks
President Joseph Aoun met Thursday with Saudi Foreign Ministry Advisor Prince Yazid bin Farhan in Baabda. Their discussions focused on the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to assist Lebanon in overcoming its prevailing hardships and regional challenges. Bin Farhan had arrived earlier in Beirut and met wit»»»
Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in upcoming World Cup, FT reports
A top envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The plan is an effort to repair ties between Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the American president’s»»»
Former head of Kok-Boru Federation sentenced - | 24.KG
On April 23, the Chui Regional Court sentenced Talas Begaliev, former president of the Kok-Boru Federation of Kyrgyzstan. The court’s press service reported. He was found guilty under several serious articles of the Criminal Code, including extortion, participation in a criminal organization, finan»»»
Jordan’s capital expenditure surges 60% in first 2 months of 2026
RIYADH: Jordan’s capital expenditure jumped 60.4 percent year on year in the first two months of 2026, reaching 1.98 billion Jordanian dinars ($2.79 billion) by the end of February, a move aimed at accelerating economic activity and improving public infrastructure. According to a Ministry of Financ»»»
Kostenets Municipality Prepares to Host Third Stage of Giro D'Italia in Bulgaria
Kostenets Municipality will host part of the third stage of Giro D'Italia in Bulgaria, the municipal press centre said on Thursday. To ensure safety, the route from Belovo through Pazara to the exit for Dolna Banya will be fully closed to traffic three hours before the cyclists pass. Local business»»»
Sheikh Joaan meets Chinese officials
SANYA: President of the Olympic Council of Asia HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani met separately in Sanya City, People's Republic of China, with HE Feng Fei, Secretary-General of the Central Commitee of the Communist Party of China in Hainan Province; HE Liu Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province; »»»
17 injured in Danish train collision, five critical
Hillerød, Denmark: Two commuter trains collided head-on near the Danish capital on Thursday injuring 17, of whom five were in critical condition, emergency services said. "We can't provide any details for now about the cause of the accident," police official Morten Kaare Pedersen told reporters. He»»»
Real Estate trading exceeds QR 465 million in one week
Doha, Qatar: The volume of real estate trading in sales contracts at the Department of Real Estate Registration at the Ministry of Justice during the period from April 12 to April 16, 2026 reached QR 465,782,068. Meanwhile, the total sales contracts for residential units in the Real Estate Bulletin»»»
Kyrgyzstan cuts cattle imports fourfold - | 24.KG
In January—February 2026, foreign trade in live animals in the Kyrgyz Republic showed a sharp decline in cattle imports while maintaining an export focus on neighboring markets. Data from the National Statistical Committee say. Imports: falling demand In the first two months of the year, cattle imp»»»
Mother sentenced to life for brutal abuse, murder of 4-month-old son - UPI.com
Demonstrators calling for heavy punishment against a woman on trial for murdering her four-month-old son block an inmate bus carrying the woman near Gwangju District Court in Suncheon on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap A woman who brutally beat her four-month-old son and left him to die in a bathtub was »»»
S. Korean special envoy calls for safe Hormuz transit in meeting with Iran's FM - UPI.com
This photo, released by Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday, shows South Korea's special envoy, Chung Byung-ha (L), meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran. Photo Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran South Korea's special envoy to Iran has m»»»
NOC Chairman Suleiman meets representative of Nigeria’s Aiteo oil company – winner of exploration bid in Block M1, Murzuq Basin
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman, Masoud Suleiman, revealed yesterday that he had met with representatives of Nigerian company Aiteo, one of the companies that won the public bidding round for exploration, securing Block M1 in the Murzuq Basin. During the meeting, they discussed the »»»
Lebanon–Syria economic talks in Damascus target market integration
Damascus, April 23 (SANA) Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar met on Wednesday with Lebanese Ambassador to Syria Henry Quston in Damascus, where the two sides reviewed mechanisms to strengthen economic and investment cooperation between Syria and Lebanon. The discussions focused on enhanci»»»
Russia Raises Alarm Over NATO Drills Aiming to Strangle Kaliningrad Region
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Western countries are rehearsing scenarios for a naval blockade and the seizure of the Kaliningrad region during the Joint Expeditionary Force exercises, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik. "NATO is purposefully pursuing a path of mounting confrontatio»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.4158
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.4158 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 0.1 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative»»»
Video: Strait of Hormuz blockade drives surge in Panama Canal traffic
Dubai: The war in the Middle East has boosted demand to move vital cargo through the Panama Canal to such an extent that one vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) paid $4 million to skip the line and avoid a wait that can take up to five days, according to an official report. The change follo»»»
QFMA and QFCRA Participate in International Week of Action
Doha: The Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) and the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) participated in the second International Week of Action, a global campaign initiated by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority. Millions of consumers increasingly rely on social »»»
New Murakami novel in July to feature woman protagonist
Tokyo: Haruki Murakami's first novel in three years will hit shelves in Japan in July, starring a woman as the main character for the first time, his publisher said Thursday. Titled "The Tale of KAHO", the internationally renowned author's latest release will see the titular character as the first »»»
Denmark: Train Collision Leaves 17 Injured, 5 Are in Critical Condition
Two commuter trains collided head-on near the Danish capital on Thursday injuring 17, of whom five were in critical condition, emergency services said. "We can't provide any details for now about the cause of the accident," police official Morten Kaare Pedersen told reporters. He said police were a»»»