Finance Minister: Basic needs, social protection top fiscal agenda
Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk stressed that the current priority is to secure sufficient and sustainable financial resources to meet citizens’ basic needs. He noted the ongoing coordination with all state entities to guarantee the availability of food commodities in the markets and secure ener»»»
Three killed as flash floods hit Oman’s Barka region
Dubai: Search teams in Oman have recovered the body of a woman who went missing after a vehicle was swept away by flash floods in the Wilayat of Barka, as severe weather continues to affect several parts of the Sultanate. The Search and Rescue Sector confirmed the discovery following intensive oper»»»
NATO chief backs US strikes, warns on Iran threat
Washington: Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military alliance, backed US actions against Iran, warning that Tehran is “very close” to developing missile capabilities that could threaten Europe, even as Nato assessed reports of a long-range strike on a »»»
Kyrgyz applicants can receive scholarships to study at Romania’s universities - | 24.KG
Applicants from Kyrgyzstan can receive scholarships to study at Romanian universities. The Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation reported. According to the ministry, applications are now open for Romanian government scholarships for Kyrgyzstanis for the 2026/27 academic year. Schola»»»
Russian Foreign Ministry calls for de-escalation and warns against targeting nuclear facilities in Iran - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Russian Foreign Ministry calls for de-escalation and warns against targeting nuclear facilities in Iran 23-03-2026 09:47 AM Latest News Urg»»»
Sharjah government says thunder during heavy rain is normal
Sharjah: The Sharjah Government Media Bureau has reassured residents that sounds associated with the current unstable weather, including thunder, are natural and expected as the UAE experiences heavy rainfall. In a public statement, the bureau said such sounds are typical during severe weather cond»»»
Sharjah shuts parks, medical fitness centres amid unstable weather
Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality has announced the immediate closure of all public parks and medical fitness centres due to unstable weather conditions. The move, authorities said, comes as part of precautionary measures to ensure public safety amid the current weather situation. Also Read: Sharj»»»
Pilot, co-pilot killed in runway collision at New York airport
New York: A plane carrying dozens of people collided with a fire truck late Sunday on a runway at New York's LaGuardia airport, killing the pilot and co-pilot and forcing a halt to flights, authorities and US media reported. AFP pictures showed the heavily damaged nose and cockpit section of the Ai»»»
Channelisation vs. Black Market: What Germany’s Gambling Data Reveals About Regulated Digital Markets
Germany’s online gambling market has become one of the most closely observed case studies in digital regulation. Since the introduction of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021), policymakers have attempted to create a controlled ecosystem that balances consumer protection with market viab»»»
IEA Head Says Global Economy Faces ‘Major, Major Threat’ from Iran War
The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a “major, major threat” because of the Iran war. “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” Fatih Birol said at Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra o»»»
French Far Right Fails to Win in Major Cities in Boost to Mainstream Rivals
France's far-right National Rally (RN) failed to win control of any major city in Sunday's nationwide municipal election, a setback that gave hope to embattled mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential election. Marine Le Pen's nationalist euroskeptic party lost out in big target cities »»»
Brazil’s Lula accuses US of trying to colonize Latin America
Latin America faces the threat of a return to colonial rule, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said, describing the White House’s recent moves in the region as undemocratic. The United States kidnapped Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January before imposing an oil blockade on Cu»»»
Israeli media reports sirens sound in areas of Al-Quds and southern ‘Israel’ - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli media reports sirens sound in areas of Al-Quds and southern ‘Israel’ 23-03-2026 10:27 AM Latest News Urgent News IEA Chief Warns Wo»»»
Putin Congratulates Kim Jong-Un on His Re-Election as Chairman of State Affairs of North Korea
Russia highly appreciates the North Korean leader's personal contribution to the strengthening of friendly bilateral ties, the Russian president said. Earlier in the day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been re-elected as the country's Chairman of»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Gold declines as oil prices stabilize amid Gulf regional tension
Doha, Qatar: The price of gold has slid sharply, reaching its weakest level since December 11 2025, after logging its worst week in about 43 years. Meanwhile, oil prices stabilized Monday as investors balanced US and Iranian threats to target energy facilities, which could escalate the war, against»»»
Shipping billionaire sails into war: Meet George Prokopiou, how his ships brave the Hormuz
As missiles light up the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions, most shipowners are rerouting fleets and hunkering down. One billionaire magnate defies the chaos — sailing straight into the firestorm. While his critics accuse him of profiteering, George Prokopiou, 79, the unyielding Greek tycoo»»»
Kumtor contributed about 2 billion soms to Tenir-Too Fund — Sadyr Japarov - | 24.KG
The Tenir-Too Development Fund has accumulated approximately 2 billion soms, formed through contributions from Kumtor Gold Company. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov announced this at the Nooruz celebrations in Naryn region, emphasizing the company’s contribution to the region’s economy. Accord»»»
China Warns of 'Uncontrollable Situation' in Mideast after Trump Threats
China warned on Monday that further attacks on the Middle East risk creating an "uncontrollable situation" in the war-torn region, after US President Donald Trump threatened to "obliterate" Iran's power plants. Trump gave Tehran a 48-hour deadline on Saturday to end its partial blockade of the Stra»»»
Sharaa Receives Kurdish Delegation for Eid, Nowruz: Cultural Diversity Source of Syria’s Strength
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa received in Damascus on Saturday a Kurdish delegation on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz. The event was attended by the governors of Aleppo, Raqqa and Hasakeh, as well as a presidential envoy overseeing the implementation of a January 29 agreement with the Ku»»»
IEA Chief Warns World Could Face Worst Energy Crisis in Decades - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IEA Chief Warns World Could Face Worst Energy Crisis in Decades 23-03-2026 10:17 AM Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the Internationa»»»
Sharjah on high alert as rain response plan kicks in
Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality has ramped up preparations to tackle anticipated weather conditions, including expected rainfall, activating a comprehensive emergency response plan to ensure swift action across the emirate. The Higher Committee for Rain Emergencies, along with its field teams, h»»»
UAE delivery riders urged to halt service amid rainfall
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have urged delivery motorcycle riders to suspend riding and delivery services during periods of unstable weather, particularly during rainfall, as part of efforts to enhance road safety and reduce accident risks. The Traffic and Patrols Directorate stressed the importanc»»»
Dan state enterprise resumes operations after modernization - | 24.KG
State-owned enterprise Dan is resuming operations and undergoing modernization with government support. The Ministry of Water, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan reported. Pasta production began at the enterprise in December 2025. The reconstruction of the mill, with a capacity of 1»»»
Twin fiscal deficits: How much Romania’s budget deficit could shrink if tax collection reached EU average levels
For years, Romania has been grappling with one of the most significant structural problems in its tax system: poor tax collection. For years, public debate has focused on the VAT gap, where Romania has the largest shortfall in the European Union. However, another issue has received far less attenti»»»
Visa launches Agentic Ready program to accelerate AI-powered commerce in Europe
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, is launching Visa Agentic Ready, a program designed to help financial institutions and partners in the payments ecosystem prepare for commercial transactions initiated by AI-powered agents. Initially launched in Europe, the program will provide issuing par»»»
Salt Bank launches fuel cashback campaign amid rising prices
Salt Bank is rolling out a cashback campaign on fuel payments at the end of March, as fuel prices continue to increase across Romania. The offer applies during two promotional periods, March 19–22 and March 27–29, 2026. Customers who pay with a Salt-issued card at fuel stations in Romania receive c»»»
Credit Guarantee Fund for SMEs to work with brokers to speed up business financing
The National Credit Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (FNGCIMM) announced the launch of direct cooperation with credit brokers, an initiative aimed at creating a more efficient financial ecosystem for the business environment.According to a press release, by concluding cooperati»»»
Romania Lists Nearly RON 1.2B Fidelis Government Bonds on BVB
The Ministry of Finance (MF) attracted, in March, RON 534mn and EUR 126mn (values totaling RON 1.17bn – EUR 231mn), through the third offer for selling government bonds dedicated to the retail investors (FIDELIS) held this year through Bucharest Stock Exchange’s (BVB) systems. The offer was carried»»»
Balance of payments and external debt – January 2026
In January 2026p, the balance-of-payments current account posted a deficit of EUR 977 million, compared with EUR 1,032 million in the same year-ago period. The breakdown shows that the deficit on trade in goods declined by EUR 414 million, the surplus on services went down by EUR 12 million, the pr»»»
Weak regional response to Iran hard to justify: Gargash
Abu Dhabi: Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, has questioned the response of Arab and Islamic institutions to the Iranian aggression against Gulf countries, calling attention to the lack of collective regional action. In a post on the social media platform X, Gargash asked w»»»
Trial opens over deadly Tempe rail disaster
Thirty-six people are set to face charges as a major trial opens Monday in the central city of Larissa, three years after Greece’s deadliest railway disaster killed 57 people and injured dozens. Due to the large number of participants, the trial has been relocated to a specially configured hall at »»»
Trend Survey: Nearly 60% of Bulgarians Intend to Vote in Snap Parliamentary Elections
Nearly 60% of adult Bulgarians living in the country say they intend to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections. This translates to around 3.1 million citizens expected to head to the polls on April 19, according to a survey by the Trend polling agency. The data were co»»»
UN annual report on happiness: Romania is ranking 34th out of almost 150 countries
The intensive use of social networks negatively affects the well-being of young people worldwide, emphasizes the annual report on happiness published on Thursday under the auspices of the UN, in which Finland ranks first for the ninth consecutive year. Romania climbed one place in the top, compared»»»
Parliament approves 2026 state and social security budgets
Parliament adopted on Friday the 2026 draft state budget and the state social security budget.The budget bill passed with 319 votes in favor, 104 against and one abstention, while the social security budget received 314 votes in favour, 105 against and 12 abstentions.The Alliance for the Unity of R»»»
Defence Ministry's budget increased by 19pct from 2025, including 38pct for acquisitions
Defence Minister Radu Miruta says that the MApN budget for 2026 is RON 49.426 billion, up 19% from 2025.Of this amount, which is 2.45% of GDP, about RON 18.8 billion (38%) go to acquisitions , the minister wrote on Friday in a social media post."Romania's budget for 2026 is, at the same time, a bud»»»
Nicusor Dan thanks King Philippe of Belgium for his country's contribution to NATO Group in Cincu
President Nicusor Dan had a meeting in Brussels on Friday with King Philippe of Belgium, whom he thanked for the Belgian contribution to the NATO Battle Group at Cincu, ''a gesture of solidarity that Romanians appreciate''.''An honor and a joy to meet today, in Brussels, with His Majesty King Phili»»»
President Dan: Europe must remain focused on Ukraine, even though we are affected by war in Iran
When oil begins flowing again through the Druzhba pipeline, the loan for Ukraine will be unblocked, President Nicusor Dan said on Friday at the end of the European Council meeting."Yes, I stand by what I said, and many others said today in the debate on Ukraine: it is unacceptable for a decision th»»»
President Dan: European Commission has put forward a 30 billion euros proposal to optimise energy networks
The European Commission has put forward a 30 billion euros proposal to optimise energy networks, President Nicusor Dan said on Friday.The head of state took part in the European Council meeting.He explained that, at leaders' level, discussions on energy prices are focused on investments that would »»»
Opposition to Beirut Displacement Center Rises over Security, Sectarian Concerns
Security and sectarian concerns are fueling opposition in Lebanon to plans for a displacement center in central Beirut, as ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah drives new waves of displaced people. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has called for tighter security measures, amid growing political »»»
Geologists Discover Earth’s Oldest Water Beneath Canadian Mine
Geologists have unearthed the world’s oldest known water, hidden deep beneath the surface of a Canadian mine for around 2.64 billion years. The find, which was detailed in a 2016 study published in Nature, has profound implications not only for understanding the planet’s history but also for the po»»»
Seoul shares crash over 6 pct on escalating U.S.-Iran conflict - UPI.com
This photo, taken Monday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in central Seoul as South Korean stocks plunged more than 6 percent and the won fell to a 17-year low over Middle East concerns. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks plummeted over 6 percent Monday, as the Middle East crisis does not show»»»
Air Canada jet collides with vehicle on LaGuardia runway; FAA halts traffic - UPI.com
An Air Canada plane was involved in a collision late Sunday at new York City's LaGuardia Airport. Photo by Graham Hughes/EPA March 23 (UPI) -- An Air Canada regional jet with nearly 80 people onboard collided with an emergency vehicle at LaGuardia Airport, prompting federal officials to halt air tr»»»
ESCWA: Conflict Could Cut Arab Economic Output by $150 Billion in 1 Month
The regional war is imposing heavy economic costs across the Arab region, with preliminary estimates pointing to about $63 billion in regional losses within two weeks, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) warned in a recently issued policy brief. Under the titl»»»
IEA warns world faces worst energy crisis in decades
Canberra, March 23 (SANA) International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol warned Monday, in remarks at the National Press Club in Canberra, that the war in the Middle East could plunge the world into its worst energy crisis in decades, describing the situation as “very severe.” Acc»»»
Bulgaria’s Finance Minister: No Price Shock if Fuel Holds at €1.60
Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said that the trajectory of prices across the economy will largely depend on developments in fuel costs, stressing that if they stabilize around €1.60 per liter, a sharp rise in the prices of other goods is unlikely. Speaking in a morning interview on Nova TV, he n»»»
On This Day, March 23: Obama signs Affordable Care Act into law - UPI.com
On March 23, 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. 1 of 5 | U.S. President Barack Obama signs the Affordable Care Act surrounded by Marcelas Owens (L) of Seattle, Vice President Joe Biden, Vickie Kennedy (behind the president), House Speak»»»
Kyrgyzkomur can now independently perform stripping operations at its sites - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzkomur state enterprise has begun independently performing stripping operations at its mines. Rustam Sadyraliev, the company’s Deputy General Director, announced on Birinchi Radio. According to him, this was made possible through the acquisition of new equipment, as previously, excavation and »»»
Air Canada Express Jet Hits Ground Vehicle, Closing New York's LaGuardia Airport
An Air Canada Express regional jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24, in an incident that closed the airport. The CRJ-900 plane, which was coming from Montreal, struck the vehicle at a speed»»»
Hamas Moves to Freeze Leadership Vote amid Regional Turmoil
Hamas is moving toward freezing its leadership election process as the US-Israeli war against Iran reshapes the region’s political and security landscape, senior sources in and outside Gaza said. The Palestinian militant group had been preparing to elect a new head of its political bureau, but mult»»»
Free concerts, cinema, and rugby: Francophonie Week to be held in Bishkek, Osh - | 24.KG
The Alliance Française in Bishkek, with the support of the Embassies of France, Switzerland, Belgium, Romania, and the EU Delegation, announces the launch of Spring of Francophonie 2026. The festival will run from March 25 to April 12, 2026, and will focus on the theme «Women and Francophonie,» the»»»