Site near the Spanish border draws millions of pilgrims annually Paris: Pope Leo XIV will visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes this weekend as part of his four-day apostolic journey to France, which is the first official papal state visit to the country in 18 years. The site near the Spanish »»»

Bulgaria’s presidential election campaign officially started at midnight on September 25, with voting for the country’s seventh president and vice president scheduled for October 25, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC), which registered 27 presidential and vice-presidential tickets. »»»

Family reunions, surprise gifts and an unforgettable proposal in the skies For Emirates cabin crew, every flight brings new passengers, destinations and stories. But some moments become unforgettable for reasons that go far beyond the journey itself. Over the years, crew members have shared emotion»»»

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Bulgaria's economy to expand by 2.7% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027, keeping both forecasts unchanged from June. In its September Regional Economic Prospects report, the EBRD said Bulgaria's real GDP grew by 2.8% year on year in the firs»»»

Future European Central Bank interest-rate decisions will be guided by inflation developments, economic data and the strength of monetary policy transmission, Bulgarian National Bank Governor Dimitar Radev said during an MNI Connect videoconference. Radev, who is also a member of the ECB Governing »»»

Police allege Subrat planned his father’s killing and framed his wife Shalu for the crime A murder investigation in the northern Indian city of Kanpur has taken a dramatic turn after police arrested the husband of a woman who had spent nearly three weeks in jail over the killing of her father-in-la»»»

Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are driving governments across Europe to craft subsidies, taxes and policy revisions that might shield their economies, companies and increasingly aggrieved citizens from record gasoline and diesel prices. Countries around the world have intervened to limit the e»»»

Lashing out at his country's critics, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angrily dismissed allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza as "the biggest lie of the century" in a defiant speech to the U.N. General Assembly that asserted his nation's right to wage war against Iran. Scores of delegat»»»

As the U.S.-created Board of Peace pushes ahead with plans to rebuild Gaza, it has said there's no place for the U.N. body that for decades has provided support to displaced Palestinians. But the agency's last chief says that behind the scenes, board members and others have been more open to workin»»»

To eliminate the shortage of textbooks in Kyrgyzstan’s schools, 48.4 million copies of textbooks and teaching materials need to be published, Okuu Kitеbi publishing house director Tologon Amatov told journalists. Earlier, President Sadyr Japarov decided to allocate an additional 7 billion soms to a»»»

Abu Dhabi doctors perform life-saving transplant for boy with Hyper-IgM Syndrome A two-year-old boy with a rare inherited immune disorder is preparing to return home after receiving an urgent bone marrow transplant in Abu Dhabi, with his mother becoming his donor. Kai was diagnosed with Hyper-IgM S»»»

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has kept the prospects concerning the evolution of Romania's economy in 2026 and 2027, in line with the June forecast, and warns that negative evolution risks persist, according to the "Regional Economic Prospects," report the internationa»»»

Romania has taken important legislative and policy steps in recent years to prevent and combat gender-based violence, but urgent action is still needed in certain areas to protect women and comply with the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic »»»

New York, Sept. 25 (SANA) Türkiye on Friday categorically rejected accusations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing them as “malicious allegations without any basis in fact,” while reaffirming Ankara’s continued support for the»»»

Max Fashion’s new store offers refreshed space with on-trend fashion for the whole family Sharjah: Sharjah Central Mall has further strengthened its retail offering with the opening of Max Fashion’s 47th store in the UAE, adding another established fashion brand to its growing mix of retailers and »»»

DOHA: Cultural institutions can play a powerful role in strengthening international relationships, fostering dialogue and building understanding between societies, Chairperson of Qatar Museums H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has said. Speaking yesterday at the Qatar Creates T»»»

DOHA: Organisations in Qatar will need to strengthen cybersecurity, unlock previously inaccessible data and invest in AI skills as they accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), noted Ghassan Kosta (pictured), Regional General Manager for Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Iraq at Google Cloud. On»»»

Call for inquiry as professor’s conduct at tech fest draws mixed reactions A video showing a professor grabbing a student by the collar during a comedy programme at Nirma University in Ahmedabad has gone viral on social media, prompting a debate over student conduct and faculty behaviour. The incid»»»

Airlines continue to adjust schedules as travel advisories warn of possible disruption Dubai: UAE travellers are being urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport on Friday, with multiple delays reported at Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhab»»»

New global strategy targets better food, smoother service and more personalised visits Dubai: McDonald’s plans to improve food quality, speed up restaurant operations and offer customers more personalised experiences under a new global strategy that will shape how its restaurants operate over the c»»»

One thousand, one hundred and sixteen. That is the number of consecutive days Israel will have been at war when national elections get underway on 27 October. It is the longest consecutive fighting period Israel has engaged in since becoming a state in 1948. The implications of this figure are ratt»»»

24-karat gold slides Dh40 in 28 days, down from Dh554.50 on Aug 27 to Dh514.50 on Friday Dubai: Gold prices have had a tough week as elevated energy prices and inflation concerns drove bond yields higher and fuelled expectations of another Fed hike. In the UAE, prices of 24-karat gold have remained»»»

New global strategy targets better food, smoother service and more personalised visits Dubai: McDonald’s plans to improve food quality, speed up restaurant operations and offer customers more personalised experiences under a new global strategy that will shape how its restaurants operate over the c»»»

Exchange rules out private key leak while teams work to restore customer withdrawals Dubai: Crypto exchange Bitget says hackers breached a critical backend system within its wallet infrastructure to carry out approximately $351.6 million in unauthorised transfers, while withdrawals remain suspended»»»

Canadian miner Lumina Metals is moving its Nowa Sól copper-silver project from exploration toward environmental work, with a preliminary feasibility study expected in the second half of 2027. Chief executive Jordan Pandoff said changes to Poland’s mining tax have improved the project’s economics, r»»»

Overseas creators face 5% levy on Pakistan-linked social media income under new rules Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a special procedure for taxing income earned from remunerative social media content, according to Pakistani media reports. The rules apply to resident and n»»»

The campaign to elect Bulgaria’s seventh president officially began at midnight on September 25 and ends 24 hours before voting starts on October 25, 2026. The Central Election Commission (CEC) registered 27 presidential and vice-presidential tickets. For this election, machine voting will be condu»»»

Access to Russian gas and crude oil is a fundamental Hungarian interest, and it is the Government’s duty to secure a long-term solution, Dóra Dúró, deputy president of the right-radical Mi Hazánk (Our Homeland) Movement, wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. Mi Hazánk rejects one-sided foreign poli»»»

Proposal for taxpayers to cover PhilHealth premiums for employed solo parents approved MANILA: The national government is set to shoulder the PhilHealth premium contributions of working solo parents, according to Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera, who announced the developme»»»

Kyrgyz athlete Maria Korobitskaya competed at the Asian Games in Japan, the event’s website says. She took part in the women’s 10,000-meter race and completed the distance in 33 minutes and 54 seconds, finishing in 7th place. Korobitskaya is also set to compete in the 5,000-meter race at the Asian »»»

Hands-on studio helps young visitors discover instruments, rhythm and movement Dubai: Children learn best by exploring, experiencing and discovering the world around them. Recognising the importance of giving children opportunities to experience different professions, skills and interests first-han»»»

Drivers urged to heed electronic signs amid fog, lane closures and road hazards Drivers in Abu Dhabi are urged to exercise caution on Friday morning as fog reduces visibility in parts of the emirate. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) had issued red and orange weather alerts, warning that hor»»»

On Abu Dhabi’s roads, delivery drivers build community and plan for tomorrow Abu Dhabi: It is evening in the capital, and the city is settling into its favourite hours. You are at home, hungry, and not in the mood to cook. A few taps on your phone later, and there is a knock at the door and everyth»»»

Bacteria used to break down feathers, with trials across 16 farms in three countries Dubai: Chicken feathers are usually something most people throw away without a second thought. But for three UAE high school students, they became the starting point for an experiment in turning waste into a potent»»»

In a city of many cultures, residents discover safety, opportunity and community At 6 am, before the heat has a chance to settle, the Corniche belongs to the early risers. It is an ordinary day in Abu Dhabi, and it says a lot about the city. ‘I was born here. It's where my story starts,’ said Moham»»»

Kathmandu presses rich countries for climate finance after $5bn disaster Wealthy nations must do their fair share to help countries that are least responsible for the climate crisis, yet bear its brunt, Nepal's foreign minister told AFP on Thursday. The Himalayan nation suffered one of the worst ca»»»

Brent rises above $106 as Houthi attacks, fragile US-Iran talks keep markets on edge The US-Iran conflict is again driving sharp swings in oil, financial markets and regional security, as investors weigh tentative diplomatic contacts against fresh Houthi missile-and-drone attacks on Saudi Arabia an»»»

Warm words, few breakthroughs as Trump and Xi extend fragile trade truce US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on Thursday for a high-profile summit marked by elaborate ceremony and warm rhetoric, but with limited public evidence of breakthroughs on some»»»

Pezeshkian pushes pre-election return to Iran-US memorandum of understanding Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran wanted the US to return to the June memorandum of understanding before the November midterm elections. Dr Pezeshkian told NBC News and other media organisations in New »»»

UK seeks Hormuz de-escalation while demanding protection for citizens British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband pressed Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, threats linked to Iranian groups in Britain and the detention of British nationals during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New Yor»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a combative speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday in which he denied that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, lashed out at leaders, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and said attacking Iran was "one of the easiest decisions" he had e»»»

A viral video claims Danish officials played Judy Collins’ “Send in the Clowns” as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived for a Greenland signing ceremony, sparking claims of Danish “trolling”. Our checks of separate livestreams confirm the song really played and the video was not manipulated. D»»»

Washington backs X in landmark challenge to EU digital services fine The United States on Thursday asked the European Union's General Court to let it intervene on the side of Elon Musk and his social media platform X, which are seeking to overturn a fine for breaching the bloc's online content rule»»»

Flag-carrier will restore its nonstop Manila-Dubai service on October 2 Manila: Philippine Airlines (PAL) will resume nonstop flights between Manila and Dubai on October 2, ending a months-long suspension of the key route as the flag carrier gradually restores its Middle East operations. PAL said t»»»

France to deploy troops and air defences as Houthi strikes rattle Saudi cities Saudi Arabia intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles on Thursday after issuing warnings for several regions including Mecca, as France vowed to send "military means" to help shield the key Saudi oil terminal of Yanbu. The »»»

Israeli forces have demolished dozens of buildings in the Palestinian village of Jinba in the occupied West Bank, leaving around 180 people homeless, including 85 children, RT correspondent Charlotte Dubenskij has reported. Visiting the community after the operation, she found families gathering be»»»

QNA New York Qatar continues its mediation efforts, in coordination with its partners such as Egypt, Turkiye and the United States of America, to fully implement the Gaza comprehensive peace plan and its roadmap, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2803, Minister of State for Internat»»»

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly on Thursday by video after being denied a visa to the United States for the second year in a row. In his prerecorded speech, he denounced Israeli policies that he said threatened Palestinians with a new Nakba and vowed that »»»

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, September 24: The Spanish press express outrage after the forced eviction of an elderly woman from her Madrid residence. Unrest in the Tigray region sparks fears of a new war between rebels and Ethiopia's central government. Australian authorities reveal that the natio»»»

Doha, Qatar: A temporary traffic closure will be implemented at Exit A25 at Al Wakrah Intersection on Friday, September 25, 2026. According to the announcement, the closure will be in effect for eight hours, from 2am until 10am on Friday. Motorists using the area during the closure period are advis»»»