Transgender NYT executive faced child-abuse charges before killing
A transgender New York Times executive allegedly killed by his in-laws over the weekend in California was facing child-abuse charges amid a bitter family battle, newly reported court documents have revealed. Jonathan McKinsey, 40, director of engineering for NYT Games, was gunned down on Saturday a»»»
Albania’s Opposition Challenges Findings of National Security Council
Albania’s opposition has questioned the findings of the country’s National Security Council, arguing that responsibility for a series of alleged security breaches has once again remained unclear. The Democratic Party, through Klevis Balliu, deputy chairman of Parliament’s Security Committee, has fo»»»
Constitutional Court Rejects Opposition Challenge to Ombudsman Appointment
Constitutional Court has rejected a challenge brought by lawmakers from the opposition Democratic Party over the appointment of Endri Shabani as the country’s Ombudsman. The Democratic Party had argued that the parliamentary procedure used to appoint the Ombudsman was unconstitutional. The oppositi»»»
Twice as Many Bulgarian Students Choose Spain, While Netherlands Remains Top Destination, Survey Finds
Twice as many Bulgarian students are starting higher education in Spain in 2026, and the total number of those leaving to study abroad is up 9%, according to data from an analysis by Integral Bulgaria, published on Tuesday. The Netherlands remains the most preferred destination for the third consec»»»
Foreign Ministry Summons North Macedonia’s Charge d’Affaires over Refusal to Admit MP
The Foreign Ministry summoned North Macedonia’s charge d’affaires in Sofia over the refusal to admit MP Angel Georgiev into North Macedonia, the ministry press service said on Tuesday. Georgiev chairs the parliamentary Committee on Policies for Bulgarians Abroad. According to the Ministry, he was r»»»
AI boom driving global trade, benefiting Polish exports
AI-related goods now account for more than 10% of Poland’s exports, and trade in these products rose 34% y/y in July. They contributed about one-quarter of Poland’s overall trade growth, compared with roughly two-thirds of global goods-trade growth, where AI supply-chain products are the main drive»»»
MEPs vote for €47bn in new Erasmus+ funds, as frugal states seek cuts to EU budget
The European Parliament’s culture committee has voted to increase EU funds for the flagship Erasmus+ student exchange programme by €7bn in 2028-2034, even as so-called frugal countries seek to cut overall funding. With 24 votes in favour and one abstention, MEPs proposed to increase the European Co»»»
Legion of Honour: Police investigate corruption claims for France’s top award
French police took a top general into custody last week as part of an ongoing probe into potential bribery among the selection committee for the country’s highest decoration, the Legion of Honour. Investigations centre on possible payoffs for awards including expansive meals, holidays and thousands»»»
Mansour bin Zayed meets Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh for talks on regional developments
Talks focus on bilateral relations and the latest developments across the region Riyadh: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, met today in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, C»»»
EU top diplomat says bloc wants to ‘upgrade’ Syria partnership
DAMASCUS: EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday in Damascus that the European Union wanted to “upgrade” its partnership with Syria and help boost its recovery but called for further domestic reform. “The European Union is using its political and economic tools to help Syria on the pa»»»
Video shows Iranian police beating, sexually humiliating teenage detainee
A video posted in mid-September showing Iranian police officers beating and sexually harassing an arrested teenage boy has caused widespread outrage in Iran. Experts say such mistreatment of people accused of common crimes is frequent in Iran, but the footage provides rare visual evidence of what t»»»
French student protests fuel political clash ahead of 2027 presidential vote
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon traded barbs on Monday over high school students blockading classes to demand more resources. The students cite teacher shortages, deteriorating schools and heavy schedules. The dispute comes ahead of next spring’s pres»»»
France's Le Pen vows to 'counterattack' after top ally Bardella hit by anti-Semitism claims
French presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen on Tuesday denounced an attempt to "derail" her Élysée Palace run after a media report accused the head of her far-right National Rally (RN) party, Jordan Bardella, of making ant-Semitic comments in 2013. Le Pen said Bardella, who is tipped to be p»»»
Iran FM says expects US answer Tuesday on plan to open Hormuz
TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he expected a formal answer on Tuesday from the United States to Tehran's proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported. Qatari intermediaries "presented ideas, and we discussed them; they are set to raise the matter with the Americ»»»
EU’s centre-right EPP seeks asylum opt-outs, as commission silent on new crisis rules
The European Commission says it will not compromise on protecting the EU’s external borders, but will also respect human rights, while declining to specify if a new emergency rule could suspend people’s basic right to asylum. The vague statements by Magnus Brunner, the EU home affairs commissioner,»»»
North Korea has recently completed two road bridges easing transport to strategic allies Russia and China
BusinessNorth KoreaNew North Korea bridges build on strong China, Russia ties Don HuhTwo recently opened bridges are expected to ease trade and transport between North Korea and its powerful neighbors. The new connections come as Pyongyang builds strategic ties with China and Russia. https://p.dw.c»»»
Africa to be mostly self-sufficient in fuel by 2030, says Nigerian oil tycoon
Nairobi: Nigerian oil tycoon Aliko Dangote told AFP on Tuesday that Africa would largely supply its own refined fuel needs by 2030 as he prepared to launch a $16 billion refinery on the Kenyan coast. Dangote will break ground on the east African oil refinery, with a planned capacity of 700,000 barr»»»
Christa Pike: Tennessee set to execute woman for first time in 200 years
Inmate says she is not afraid to die as victim’s mother prepares to witness execution Dubai: Tennessee is preparing to execute a woman for the first time in more than 200 years, bringing to a close a case that has pitted arguments about youth, childhood abuse and mental illness against a mother’s t»»»
Retail parks in Poland – capital origin, yields and investment strategies
The growing retail park market has not gone unnoticed by investors. Despite the first investment transaction regarding this asset type took place in 2008, on the course of 18 years the retail park and convenience retail market recorded the investment volume exceeding €2.5 billion so far. Avison You»»»
AI bosses head to White House as safety pressure builds
Washington, United States: Leading artificial intelligence executives will meet at the White House Tuesday with President Donald Trump and a top Republican as Congress calls for stronger industry oversight. The gathering comes quickly after tech giant OpenAI's cancellation of the release of its new»»»
Tom Cruise trades stunts for satire as toxic tycoon 'Digger'
Paris, France: Tom Cruise is taking on one of his riskiest roles in decades, tackling the politics of climate change and corporate greed in new film "Digger" which sees him play an embattled, ageing tycoon. Backed by a reported budget of $130 million and an advertising blitz, the dark comedy from m»»»
Exclusive interview: “The ‘N’ still stands for non-governmental, doesn’t it?” – Máté Hajba on EU-funded lobbying
Máté Hajba is the director of Hungary’s Free Market Foundation, which has published a new report examining what it calls “circular lobbying” in Brussels: public institutions funding NGOs that, among their activities, seek to influence the policies of those same institutions. The report examines nin»»»
France’s Le Pen defiant after top ally hit by antisemitism claims
Paris, France: French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on Tuesday vowed to hit back at allegations of antisemitism targeting her de-facto number two Jordan Bardella, which have punctured her buoyant campaign at a time she is riding high in the polls. Le Pen, who is aiming to win the E»»»
Singureni Manor Polo Cup 2026 draws international visitors and announces its 2027 edition
Singureni Manor Polo Cup concluded its third edition with all tickets sold, more than 1,000 spectators daily and international visitors travelling to Romania specifically for the tournament. At the close of the three-day competition, the organisers announced the dates for the next edition: 24-26 Se»»»
EU reduces funds for women’s rights groups, in wider budget bonfire of good causes
As the EU seeks budget cuts to break a stalemate in member states’ talks, women’s rights groups are on the chopping bloc, prompting advocates’ concern that the cause is fading from the common agenda. Research published on Monday (28 September) by rights initiative MOTERIS showed a consistent loss o»»»
Top Officials Coordinate Efforts to Ensure Lawful, Transparent Presidential Election
The heads of the prosecution service, the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Ministry of the Interior, and the State Agency for National Security (SANS) met to discuss the interaction between the institutions and the coordination of their actions to ensure a lawful and transparent electoral pro»»»
UAE Ministry of Justice leads shift towards agentic AI,
Abu Dhabi showcase reveals agentic AI framework balancing automation with human judgment As part of its participation in the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Abu Dhabi 2026, hosted by the UAE at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi until 1 October 2026, the UAE Ministry of »»»
Activist Mavlyan Askarbekov sentenced to two years in prison - | 24.KG
Leninsky District Court of Bishkek sentenced activist Mavlyan Askarbekov to two years in prison on September 29. Judge Temirbek Mamatov delivered the verdict. Askarbekov was found guilty under Article 330 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan, which covers incitement of racial, ethnic, national, relig»»»
Iran's currency hits new record low, as war erodes Iran's economic stability
Iran's currency fell to a new record low on Tuesday, with traders in Tehran exchanging more than 2.5 million rials to the U.S. dollar in a stark reflection of how the war in the Middle East has steadily eroded the Iranian economy. The latest decline came just 27 days after the rial hit its previous»»»
UAE launches global SAFE-T initiative to fight digital violence against women
Sheikha Fatima said supporting women has long been embedded in the UAE’s development plan Abu Dhabi: Under the patronage of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak "Mother of the Nation", Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwo»»»
Oura puts $2.2 billion IPO on hold as US listing market turns uncertain
Smart-ring maker had strong investor demand but chose to postpone its Nasdaq debut Health and fitness ring-maker Oura Inc. will delay its planned initial public offering on Nasdaq due to uncertainty in the market for first time offerings. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balance»»»
Berri says only Trump can pressure Israel to end Lebanon war
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Tuesday that the U.S. administration and President Donald Trump are the only parties capable of pressuring Israel to end its war on Lebanon. "The main obstacle to implementing the ceasefire agreement is Israel's non-compliance with its obligations under all past »»»
Eye on Africa - Ethiopian forces claim to have retaken key Tigray town
In tonight's edition: Ethiopia's army says it's seized a key city in the northern region of Tigray amidst escalating conflict with local rebels. Also, two mass shootings in South Africa leave at least 28 dead. Plus Ugandan activist Praise Aloikin Opoloje is facing court after she turned up followin»»»
UAE rejects Iran’s occupation of three islands, calls for talks or ICJ ruling at UN General Assembly
UAE reaffirms rejection of Iran’s island claim, calls for negotiations or court ruling Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, affirmed in the UAE's statement at the High-Level General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly that “our region and the world are undergoi»»»
More Bulgarians Travel Abroad in August, While Foreign Visits DeclineOpinions
More than 1.1 million Bulgarian citizens traveled abroad in August, while nearly 38% of foreign visits to Bulgaria were transit crossings The number of trips by Bulgarian citizens abroad increased by 3.5% year-on-year in August, reaching 1,116,200, according to preliminary data from Bulgaria’s Nati»»»
Media Review: September 29
OVERVIEW On Tuesday, Bulgarian media focus on proposed tax changes, the new minimum wage mechanism and the finance and economy measures of the government in general. ECONOMY In an interview for Bulgarian National Television’s morning programme Labour and Social Policy Minister Nataliya Efremova sai»»»
Iran says it expects US response Tuesday on plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran expects Washington to respond to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. In exchange for reopening the vital shipping route, Tehran is seeking guarantees including a regional ceasefire, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and»»»
Qatar faces UAE tomorrow, aims for top spot in Group B
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Qatar will face the UAE tomorrow at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in the third and final round of Group B matches at the 27th Gulf Cup tournament, held in Jeddah. Both teams secured their spots in the semifinals with six points from two wins, with the UAE having the advant»»»
Iran FM says expects US answer Tuesday on plan to open Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he expected a formal answer on Tuesday from the United States to Tehran's proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported. Qatari intermediaries "presented ideas, and we discussed them; they are set to raise the matter with the American side »»»
US bans some Canadian alcohol, dairy and motor vehicle imports
Washington, Sept. 29 (SANA) U.S. bans on imports of certain Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motor vehicle products took effect Tuesday, marking the latest measures in an ongoing trade dispute between the two countries. The restrictions took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Sept. 29 unde»»»
Why Europe Is Suddenly Talking About War With RussiaOpinions
The language European leaders use about Russia has shifted noticeably in recent weeks. Warnings that were once heard mostly in Warsaw, Vilnius and Tallinn are now coming from Paris, London, Berlin and even Bern, while in Moscow the Kremlin is presenting its parliamentary election as a public endors»»»
Ajman: Man jailed 6 months, fined Dh5,000 for assaulting woman
Woman suffered injuries; compensation claim referred to Civil Court Ajman: A 41-year-old Asian man has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined Dh5,000 after an Ajman court convicted him of assaulting a woman and causing injuries that temporarily prevented her from carrying out her normal p»»»
Bengaluru elephant attack kills 60-year-old morning walker, raises fresh concerns over shrinking habitat
The incident has also raised concerns about development and habitat loss A 60-year-old man was killed in a suspected wild elephant attack during his morning walk in Bengaluru on Monday, as the incident renewed concerns over shrinking wildlife habitats and increasing human-elephant conflict. The vic»»»
Flights between Iran, Iraq’s Najaf Resumes
Iraqi Airways has resumed commercial flights between the central province of Najaf and Iranian airports, Iraqi News Agency reported amid a US aerial blockade on flights from the Islamic Republic. The flights restarted on Monday after Najaf and three other Iraqi airports temporarily suspended flight»»»
UAE’s top school librarians honoured at 2026 awards
Librarians recognised for their work in encouraging reading, supporting learning Dubai: School librarians from across the UAE have been recognised for their contribution to fostering a love of reading and learning among students at the School Librarian of the Year Award 2026. Organised by the Emira»»»
Singapore police charge man after fake AI croc picture sparks concern
Singapore: Singapore police charged a man on Tuesday with posting a fake AI-generated picture of a crocodile at the city-state's largest reservoir that sparked public concern and an intensive search. The man, identified as Ye Lin, 30, from Myanmar, was charged with "communicating a false message" a»»»
UK police release on bail five men held over airbase incident
Fairford, United Kingdom: British police said Monday five men arrested near an airbase used by the United States were released on bail, as Washington asserted a "foreign actor" was involved in the suspected bomb plot. US President Donald Trump, speaking in Washington, said he was "surprised that th»»»
UAE vice president to visit Saudi Arabia
The UAE's vice president will visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday following an invitation from the defense minister, state media said, for a rare high-level meeting amid a months-long rift over Yemen. In July, top officials and ministers from both countries began posting messages on social media about fr»»»
Le Pen’s National Rally gains first French Senate group
Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally (RN) and an allied party have won enough seats in the French Senate to form a group for the first time. The breakthrough comes months before a presidential election in which polls currently put Le Pen in the lead. RN and the Union of the Right for the Repub»»»
Hemeida delivers gold as Ibrahim adds bronze for Qatar on Asian Games debut
Doha, Qatar: Bassem Hemeida lived up to expectations by winning the 400m hurdles gold while Zakaria Ibrahim claimed bronze in the 3,000m steeplechase as Qatar’s athletics campaign produced two medals at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 yesterday. The two athletics medals took Qatar’s tally to seve»»»