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»»»
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»»»
Syria central bank to launch foreign exchange and gold market in Damascus
Damascus, April 23 (SANA) The Central Bank of Syria announced on Thursday plans to launch the Damascus Market for Foreign Exchange and Gold in a move aimed at strengthening monetary policy and enhancing financial stability. Central bank governor Abdulkader Husrieh said the initiative is part of a b»»»
Lebanon and Israel to resume rare direct talks in Washington to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel were set to begin a second session of direct talks in Washington on Thursday to discuss the possibility of extending a truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and plans for future negotiations between the two neighbors with a long history of hostile relation»»»
Turkish Parliament Passes Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Under-15s
Turkish lawmakers passed a bill late Wednesday that includes restricting access to social media platforms for children under 15, state media reported. The legislation is the latest in a global trend to protect young people from dangerous online activity. Its passage comes a week after a 14-year-old»»»
UK Budget Deficit for 2025/26 Narrows to Six-year Low
Britain's budget deficit for the last financial year narrowed to a six-year low as a percentage of economic output although borrowing for March alone exceeded forecasts, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics reported 132.0 billion pounds ($178.1 billion) of public sec»»»
‘Strategic market’: PepsiCo highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in global growth
RIYADH: PepsiCo regards Saudi Arabia as a “strategic” market with growing opportunities for investment and innovation, as the Kingdom continues to be a key target for the company. The company says it has aligned closely with the Kingdom’s long-term goals, building on a presence that spans nearly se»»»
Half of Argentina's children still poor as austerity bites
More than half of children and adolescents in Argentina were living in poverty in 2025, with nearly a third going without adequate food, according to a report by the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), underscoring the uneven social impact of President Javier Milei's austerity-driven economic o»»»
EU unlocks €90bn Ukraine loan and toughest Russia sanctions yet — with a crucial caveat
The European Union voted on April 22 to simultaneously unlock its long-delayed €90bn EU loan for Ukraine and adopt the stalled twentieth sanctions package against Russia, in a diplomatic double act that had been blocked for months by Hungary and Slovakia — both of which finally »»»
EU unlocks €90bn Ukraine loan and toughest Russia sanctions yet — with a crucial caveat
The European Union voted on April 22 to simultaneously unlock its long-delayed €90bn EU loan for Ukraine and adopt the stalled twentieth sanctions package against Russia, in a diplomatic double act that had been blocked for months by Hungary and Slovakia — both of which finally »»»
Disputes Over Quotas Stall Iraq Government Talks
Rivalries within Iraq’s Shiite Coordination Framework have led to a political deadlock over naming a new prime minister, as internal disagreements persist over both the selection mechanism and the division of ministerial posts among the bloc’s factions. According to sources, a meeting of Coordinati»»»
Fallout from Iran War Casts Shadow over Egypt’s New Budget
The economic fallout from the Iran war has cast a shadow over Egypt’s new state budget, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk told parliament on Wednesday, as he presented the draft before it was referred to specialized committees for discussion, with the government pledging swift amendments “to enhance »»»
South Korea's Samsung workers rally in thousands as strike looms
Pyeongtaek, South Korea: Tens of thousands of Samsung Electronics workers rallied in South Korea on Thursday to demand higher pay and bonuses, as their threat of a weeks-long strike hung over the technology giant. Samsung is a major producer of chips used in everything from artificial intelligence »»»
Prince Harry in Kyiv on surprise trip
Kyiv: Britain’s Prince Harry arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for a surprise trip, the Ukrainian government reported, his latest visit to show support amid the Russian attack. “Prince Harry arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit,” Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, a government agency, sa»»»
Zelensky to join European leaders in Cyprus as EU unblocks €90bn Ukraine loan
President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with EU leaders Thursday in Cyprus as the bloc prepares to approve a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, ending a prolonged deadlock. Hungary premier Viktor Orban had vetoed the funds until Kyiv repaired a pipeline hit by a Russian strike – work»»»
Train collision in Denmark prompts massive emergency response near Copenhagen
At least 17 people were injured after two trains collided Thursday morning near Denmark's capital of Copenhagen, according to police and media reports. The accident prompted a massive emergency response, and several injured passengers were flown to a hospital, local authorities said. Two loc»»»
Landmark Group Qatar highlights operational resilience and business continuity during key trading period
Doha: Landmark Group Qatar maintained business continuity and operational stability during the recent seasonal trading period, supported by agile execution, disciplined planning and coordinated omnichannel operations. While the early part of the season was shaped by broader regional disruption, the»»»
Syria outlines recovery path, presses for end to Israeli violations
New York, April 23 (SANA) Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Wednesday during a UN Security Council session that Syria is advancing efforts to restore stability and development while urging an end to the repeated Israeli violations. Speaking at a special ses»»»
At least 10 killed in Pakistan mining project attack
Quetta, Pakistan: A group of militants killed at least 10 people at a copper and gold mining project in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Thursday, the latest violence in a region facing an armed separatist movement. About 40 militants on motorcycles and other vehicles»»»
Premier Energy to acquire Evryo Group in Romania deal move
Premier Energy Group, a vertically integrated energy company in Southeastern Europe and a listed company on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, announces the signing of an agreement to acquire Evryo Group from funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management. The transaction will be implemented through the ac»»»
Arbutina: Removal of Ustaša symbols from the grave of Luburić confirmed
The director of the Museum of Genocide Victims Bojan Arbutina has stated yesterday that he had received assurances from the Spanish Government representatives that Ustasha symbols would be removed from the grave of one of the greatest criminals of the WWII, Vjekoslav Maks Luburić, who was directly »»»
A look at China's behind-the-scenes role in Iran war diplomacy
China's role as an unofficial mediator in the latest war in the Middle East is drawing attention across the world as it seeks to project the image of being a responsible global power while U.S. actions are straining its long-standing alliances. China's profile in international diplomacy has risen i»»»
UN Security Council backs expanded support for Syria, 2026 aid plan
New York, April 23 (SANA) The U.N. Security Council held a special session on Syria’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, with members emphasizing the need to scale up international support, ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance and respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integr»»»
Residents in rural Sudan say the Iran war has made it harder to get medicines
QOZ NAFISA: It’s always been challenging for Abbas Awad to find medicines in his village outside Sudan ‘s capital. But since the war in Iran, it’s become harder. Prices have spiked and many pharmacies in the area are out of stock. The latest war in the Middle East has far-reaching effects, includin»»»
Lebanon Sets Ceasefire as Condition for Talks with Israel
Lebanon will not enter negotiations with Israel until a ceasefire is firmly in place, President Joseph Aoun said, calling for a unified national stance. He also stressed the need to prioritize the return of displaced residents to their villages, alongside a crackdown on weapons stockpiles and any a»»»
Al Rayyan target another trophy in GCCL final against Al Shabab
Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan coach Vicente Moreno expects a tough challenge from Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab in the Gulf Club Champions League (GCCL) final today as his side targets a second trophy in as many weeks. The Lions, who lifted the QSL Cup last week, have produced an impressive campaign in the com»»»
Lebanon decries Israeli demolition of homes in areas occupied after ceasefire
In areas of southern Lebanon it has occupied since agreeing last week to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, the Israeli army has been destroying homes it says were used as outposts by the Iran-backed militant group. But the demolitions are happening on such a wide scale that residents, Lebanese officials »»»
Oil gains on lack of progress on US-Iran talks, Hormuz shipping still disrupted
SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended their gains on Thursday, rising more than $1 in the wake of stalled peace talks between Iran and the US and as both nations maintained restrictions on the flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures rose $1.26, or 1.2 percent, to $103.17 a barrel »»»
G7 omits climate change from Paris talks to avoid US clash, France says
A meeting of the G7 nations on the environment begins in Paris on Thursday, but climate change has been left off the agenda to avoid a dispute with the United States, France’s ecology minister Monique Barbut said, citing efforts to preserve unity and focus on less»»»
Bucharest Stock Exchange closes higher Wednesday's session
The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) closed higher Wednesday's session and the value of transactions amounted to 1.99 billion lei (over 390 million euros), most of which was in bonds of the Ministry of Finance.The main index of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, BET, which includes the 20 most traded comp»»»
FinMIn: Political crisis would increase financing costs, threaten deficit target and foreign investment
A potential political crisis would send a negative signal to investors and rating agencies, push up the state's financing costs and jeopardise Romania's 6.2% of GDP budget deficit target for this year, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said on Wednesday, noting that the deficit for the first quarte»»»
PM Bolojan tells President Dan he will continue his term as Prime Minister
The PNL (National Liberal Party) chair, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, told President Nicusor Dan on Wednesday that he will continue his term as Prime Minister.'I presented the PNL's position. This position reflects the decisions taken yesterday by the Political Bureau, namely that I will continue to»»»
Government crisis/ PSD ministers expected to resign
The Social Democratic Party (PSD) ministers are expected to resign from the government today, before a meeting of the executive, scheduled for 11:00hrs at the Government House.The Social Democrats took the decision on withdrawing from the government on Wednesday, in a meeting of the party's Nationa»»»
Szijjártó reflects on defeat and political climate, says election result is clear
Ultimately, everything is judged by the election result, and that result is clear and must be respected, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a live interview broadcast Wednesday evening on the Telex YouTube channel. “I will always be a supporter of Hungary, regardless of w»»»
Qatar Tourism, Qatari Hotels Association discuss cooperation
Doha, Qatar: The Qatari Hotels Association (QHA) received H E Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism, along with Omar Abdulrahman Al Jaber, Chief of Tourism Development Sector; Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al Mawlawi, Chief Executive Officer of Visit Qatar; and Abdullah Mohammed Al Falasi, Directo»»»
QSTP brings global tech community to Doha as part of SYNC Spring 2026
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of Qatar Foundation, hosted founders, operators, and community members at its Doha campus as part of SYNC Spring 2026. The initiative connects Syrian technologists, founders, and ecosystem partners across the diaspora through distributed»»»
Saudi Arabia, Philippines to Join JPMorgan Emerging Market Bond Index in 2027
J.P. Morgan said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia and the Philippines will be added to its local currency emerging market debt index from January 29 next year. The inclusion will cover Saudi riyal-denominated sovereign sukuk and Philippine peso-denominated government bonds, both entering the widely t»»»
Fireworks factory blast kills 13 in southern India
In the second such incident in the country in recent days, an explosion at a fireworks factory in the southern Indian state of Kerala, killed at least 13 people and injured more than 40 on April 21, 2026, Deccan Herald reported. »»»
Currency strain forces Bank Indonesia to delay rate cuts
Bank Indonesia (BI) opted for stability over stimulus during its April 2026 policy meeting, maintaining the 7-day Reverse Repo Rate at 4.75%, Capital Economics reveals. The decision, while unanimous among market observers, underscores a delicate balancing act: Governor Perry Warjiyo is currently tr»»»
Renewables overtake coal in global electricity mix – Statista
Ten years after the Paris Agreement was opened for signature by member states at the UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, 2016, the global energy transition is beginning to reshape the electricity mix, Statista reports. »»»
Renewables overtake coal in global electricity mix – Statista
Ten years after the Paris Agreement was opened for signature by member states at the UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, 2016, the global energy transition is beginning to reshape the electricity mix, Statista reports. »»»
Renewables overtake coal in global electricity mix – Statista
Ten years after the Paris Agreement was opened for signature by member states at the UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, 2016, the global energy transition is beginning to reshape the electricity mix, Statista reports. »»»
Counterfeit dollars and cash hoarding disrupt Tehran currency market
Tehran's street currency market is facing a wave of counterfeit US dollar transactions, with dealers offering hard currency at rates well below the open market price in schemes designed to extract high-denomination Iranian banknotes from circulation, IBENA reported on April 23. »»»
Currency strain forces Bank Indonesia to delay rate cuts
Bank Indonesia (BI) opted for stability over stimulus during its April 2026 policy meeting, maintaining the 7-day Reverse Repo Rate at 4.75%, Capital Economics reveals. The decision, while unanimous among market observers, underscores a delicate balancing act: Governor Perry Warjiyo is currently tr»»»
Renewables overtake coal in global electricity mix – Statista
Ten years after the Paris Agreement was opened for signature by member states at the UN Headquarters in New York on April 22, 2016, the global energy transition is beginning to reshape the electricity mix, Statista reports. »»»
Currency strain forces Bank Indonesia to delay rate cuts
Bank Indonesia (BI) opted for stability over stimulus during its April 2026 policy meeting, maintaining the 7-day Reverse Repo Rate at 4.75%, Capital Economics reveals. The decision, while unanimous among market observers, underscores a delicate balancing act: Governor Perry Warjiyo is currently tr»»»
Left-liberal named as incoming prime minister’s right-hand man
Political scientist Bálint Ruff is set to head the Prime Minister’s Office, while Member of Parliament Viktória Lőrincz from Kaposvár will oversee regional development as minister. These two names were announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister-designate Péter Magyar via social media, bringing the nu»»»
First oil shipments to Hungary reach Ukraine via Druzhba pipeline
The first crude oil shipments following the restart of the Druzhba pipeline have arrived in Ukraine, MOL announced on Wednesday on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange. According to the statement, JSC Ukrtransnafta informed MOL that oil reception in Ukraine from Belarus via the pipeline syste»»»
Trump claims ‘rigged’ Virginia vote as court moves to block map redraw
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday alleged without evidence that a Virginia vote approving a congressional redistricting plan favouring Democrats was “rigged”, as a county judge moved to block the measure. Voters backed the referendum on Tuesday, a change that could help Democrats fli»»»