Natalia Efremova: Minister of Labour and Social Policy
Natalia Efremova is a lawyer, having graduated from Sofia University and holds a master's degree in Finance. She started working as a junior legal advisor at the State Receivables Agency at the Ministry of Finance. After 2003, she was a member of the political cabinet and health attache at the perm»»»
Dimitar Stoyanov: Minister of Defence
Dimitar Stoyanov was born in Svilengrad (Southern Bulgaria). Graduated from the Higher Air Force School in Dolna Mitropoli and the National Defence Academy in Sofia. Specialized at Maxwell Air Force College in Alabama. Held various command positions in the Air Force, from aircraft technician to chi»»»
QFFD reviews progress of key projects, strategic initiatives to support vulnerable communities amid escalating regional, global crises
DOHA: Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, chaired the fund’s first board meeting of 2026. The meeting reviewed the progress of key projects and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening impact, responding to»»»
Hungarians want to see Orbán in court as his system collapses (25 days post-election)
Our weekly digest of Hungarian politics continues, as we report on developments after April’s historic election and on the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: The tearful billionaire who offered his companies to the state. Billions funnelled to allies and cam»»»
RAK Police launches ‘Cross Safely’ drive as road deaths fall
Ras Al Khaimah: Ras Al Khaimah Police has launched a major road safety awareness campaign titled “Cross Safely” as part of the Gulf Unified Traffic Week 2026, while announcing a significant decline in traffic fatalities and serious road accidents across the emirate. The week-long campaign, organise»»»
US reportedly seeks deescalation in Lebanon to cement ceasefire, advance negotiations
There is a U.S. effort to de-escalate Israeli actions in Lebanon in preparation for consolidating the ceasefire and moving to the second phase of negotiations, a Lebanese official told Al-Jazeera on Thursday. "Rounds of negotiations at the delegation level will begin next week in Washington. The ne»»»
Prime minister reaffirms Qatar's support for mediation efforts aimed at resolving regional crisis through peaceful means
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a phone call with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it, in addition to t»»»
Riyadh Airports Company Wins Four Global Awards at 2026 Stevie Awards
Riyadh Airports Company, which manages and operates King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, achieved a new global accomplishment by winning four awards at the 2026 Stevie Awards, considered among the most prominent international awards honoring innovation and excellence across various business»»»
Alexander Pulev: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry
Alexander Pulev was born in Plovdiv on February 5, 1981. Holds an MBA with a focus on finance from Oxford University, UK, and a bachelor's degree in Information Systems and Finance from the University of Maine, US. Worked as a Director of Investment Banking at the UniCredit banking group and as a P»»»
Prime Minister holds telephone call with Pakistani Prime Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held a telephone call with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. During the call, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and»»»
Cruise operator: 29 people disembarked in Saint Helena after hantavirus outbreak - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Ambulances and police park at Schiphol airport, near Amsterdam, Netherlands, waiting to transport a patient medically evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius with suspected hantavirus on Thursday. Photo by Michel van Bergen/EPA May 7 (UPI) -- Public health officials conducted contract tr»»»
Galab Donev: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Galab Donev is the top-of-the-list candidate of Progressive Bulgaria for Pazardzhik’s 13th multi-member constituency, the coalition press service said here Thursday. Between 2022 and 2023, Donev served as caretaker prime minister of the Republic of Bulgaria in two successive governments. His profes»»»
Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship triggers global alert
The World Health Organisation sought to calm fears of a wider health emergency on Thursday as authorities across multiple continents scrambled to trace passengers and crew linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the overall»»»
Man found alive in well after missing for three days
A young Jordanian man was found alive on Thursday after spending three days inside a deep well in the Al Muqabalain area of the capital, Amman, local media reported. Ivan Al Qaisi is believed to have fallen into the 8-metre well, where he remained trapped before being located following intensive se»»»
Riyadh Airports Co. wins four honors at 2026 Stevie Awards
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Airports Co., which manages and operates Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, has achieved a new global milestone by winning four awards at the 2026 Stevie Awards, one of the world’s leading international awards programs recognizing innovation and excellence acr»»»
Rumen Radev Named Progressive Bulgaria's Candidate for Prime Minister
Rumen Radev is the prime ministerial nominee of Progressive Bulgaria. Earlier on Thursday, President Iliana Iotova handed him the first exploratory mandate for forming a government. Radev served as President of Bulgaria from 2017 to 2026. On January 19, 2026, he announced in an address to the natio»»»
Justice Ministry Reports Performance under Caretaker Cabinet
The Justice Ministry on Thursday released a report on its activity while the caretaker Cabinet was in office (February 19 - May 7, 2026). During that period, the Ministry prepared a total of 17 draft statutory instruments. The Ministry triggered procedures for the transposition of EU directives who»»»
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
This week, Beijing has become the busiest diplomatic crossroads on the planet. While Western newsrooms have fixed their cameras on Donald Trump's packed suitcases ahead of his trip to China next week, the touchdown of a plane carrying Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, scrambled the calculati»»»
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
This week, Beijing has become the busiest diplomatic crossroads on the planet. While Western newsrooms have fixed their cameras on Donald Trump's packed suitcases ahead of his trip to China next week, the touchdown of a plane carrying Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, scrambled the calculati»»»
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
This week, Beijing has become the busiest diplomatic crossroads on the planet. While Western newsrooms have fixed their cameras on Donald Trump's packed suitcases ahead of his trip to China next week, the touchdown of a plane carrying Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, scrambled the calculati»»»
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
This week, Beijing has become the busiest diplomatic crossroads on the planet. While Western newsrooms have fixed their cameras on Donald Trump's packed suitcases ahead of his trip to China next week, the touchdown of a plane carrying Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, scrambled the calculati»»»
Beijing becomes the chessboard as Iran pre-empts Trump-Xi summit
This week, Beijing has become the busiest diplomatic crossroads on the planet. While Western newsrooms have fixed their cameras on Donald Trump's packed suitcases ahead of his trip to China next week, the touchdown of a plane carrying Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, scrambled the calculati»»»
Ukraine’s top negotiator in Miami for talks, source says
KYIV: Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, has arrived in Miami for a meeting with US representatives, a source said, as peace talks on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine have stalled in recent months. Kyiv hoped US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would travel to Ukraine earlier this spring,»»»
Rezolv Energy inaugurates a new solar park in Silistra, on the border with Romania
Alongside the St. George solar park in Bulgaria, Rezolv Energy holds in Romania a portfolio of three major projects: the 461 MW VIFOR wind farm in Buzău County, with its 192 MW first phase set to be commissioned in the coming months; Dama Solar in Arad County, which at 1.24 GW will be the largest s»»»
Iran Reviewing US Proposal as Trump Pressures Tehran for Agreement on Deal to End War
Iran said it was reviewing the latest American proposals to end the war after US President Donald Trump threatened the country with a new wave of bombing unless a deal is reached that includes reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. Hope that the two-month conflict could s»»»
President Iotova Hands First Government-Forming Mandate to Progressive Bulgaria’s PM Nominee Rumen Radev
President Iliana Iotova on Thursday handed the first exploratory mandate for forming a government to Rumen Radev, nominated for prime minister by Progressive Bulgaria, the largest parliamentary group in the 52nd National Assembly. "We have a nominee for prime minister, and that is Rumen Radev," Pro»»»
Agriculture Minister Hristanov Submits Eight Alerts to Prosecution Service for Serious Violations, Funds Misuse
Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov submitted eight new alerts to the prosecution service in recent days concerning evidence of serious violations, misuse of public funds, and actions detrimental to the state interest. The alerts are the result of inspections carried out by the Internal Au»»»
Bosch announces RON 2.9 billion in consolidated sales to third parties, in 2025
“Bosch Romania has once again demonstrated its resilience, delivering a stable performance despite market challenges and economic uncertainty in fiscal year 2025,” said Dan Lăzărescu, Managing Director of Robert Bosch S.R.L. and representative of the Bosch Group in Romania. “This achievement is a d»»»
Mumbai family ate watermelon — forensic tests found rat poison
Dubai: What began as a suspected food poisoning case linked to a late-night watermelon has turned into one of Mumbai’s most disturbing mystery deaths — with forensic investigators now tracing the deaths of a family of four to rat poison. Authorities say traces of zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rode»»»
Egyptian blogger Donia Fouad raises EGP4m through fake cancer appeals, surrenders to police
An Egyptian blogger has turned herself in to police after allegedly raising millions of pounds in donations by falsely claiming she was undergoing cancer treatment, authorities said. According to local media reports, Donia Fouad is accused of collecting up to 4 million Egyptian pounds through onlin»»»
Joint exercise concludes with participation of state's military and security agencies
DOHA: A joint exercise hosted by the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), with the participation of the Qatari Amiri Armed Forces and the Ministry of Interior, concluded. The exercise aimed to enhance coordination and integration between military and security entities. The closing ceremony was atten»»»
Perspective - Independent journalist Estelle Ndjandjo on the lack of diversity in French newsrooms
Black journalists remain underrepresented in French media and for those who do break in, the barriers don't end there. From elite journalism schools to newsroom hiring, many describe a system shaped by exclusion, stereotypes and unequal opportunity. So how deep does the problem go, and what needs t»»»
An Imaginary Archeological Site Discusses the Fragility of Memory in the Saudi Pavilion at Venice
In the Saudi Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Saudi artist of Palestinian origin, Dana Awartani, takes us on an immersive journey to discover an artistic map of archaeological and historical landmarks destroyed by war. It is not a geographical map, but rather a magnificent mosaic composed of thousa»»»
Bulgaria Shuts Four Illicit Medicine Websites in Interpol Operation
Bulgaria's General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) shut down four websites selling counterfeit medicines as part of the international Operation Pangea XVIII, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said during a briefing at the Council of Ministers on Thursday. Dechev said the operati»»»
Labour Ministry Reports Support Measures, Anti Vote-Buying Efforts
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, headed by caretaker Minister Hasan Ademov, presented a report on its activities during the mandate of the caretaker government on Thursday. Expanding support for pensioners and vulnerable groups, as well as measures to prevent controlled voting through the »»»
Bulgaria, Netherlands Sign Agreement on Exchange and Protection of Classified Information
The Council of Ministers approved an agreement between Bulgaria and the Netherlands on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information, signed on March 19 in Sofia, the Government Press Service reported on Thursday. The agreement between the two countries will contribute to deepening b»»»
Bulgarian Political Developments Discussed by President Iotova, Foreign Ambassadors
Head of State Iliana Iotova and Bulgarian-speaking ambassadors discussed the development of the political situation in Bulgaria and the establishment of a regular government, as well as the expectations of Bulgarian citizens for a stable, secure and developed country. The meeting was hosted by the »»»
Sheikha Moza attends QU’s 49th Health Sector cohort graduation
Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attended the graduation of Qatar University’s (QU) 49th Health Sector cohort (Class of 2026), comprising 349 graduates. This cohort includes 130 graduates from the College of Health Sciences, 94 from the College»»»
Keir Starmer's leadership tested as polls open in UK local elections
Britons head to the polls Thursday in local elections where millions of voters could turn to Nigel Farage's far-right Reform UK party or the left-wing Green Party. These elections mark a major first test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted following a series of controver»»»
Abu Dhabi’s HR law embeds high-achieving culture across government
Embedding a meritocratic and high-performance culture is central to Abu Dhabi Government’s modernised HR Law, which aims to attract and retain top talent across the public sector. The landmark legislation, which came into effect on 1 January 2026 for all government employees in the emirate, goes be»»»
Woman’s blood-written clue leads police to suspect
New Delhi: In a chilling case from Pune, a woman allegedly wrote the name of her attacker in blood moments after her throat was slit — a final act that helped police identify the prime suspect, reported to be a man she knew personally. According to NDTV, the woman, believed to be in her 30s, was fo»»»
KSGAAL, Muslim World League sign deal to champion Arabic language
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language and the Muslim World League signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh to reinforce the Arabic language in academic, educational and technical sectors. The agreement was signed by deputy secretary-general Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Abanmi»»»
Sheikha Moza attends graduation ceremony of 49th batch of health colleges at Qatar University
DOHA: Chairperson of Qatar Foundation Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attended the graduation ceremony of the 49th cohort of graduates from the health sector colleges (Class of 2026) at Qatar University. The graduating class comprised 349 students. The ceremony was also attended by several di»»»
Iran’s Ghalibaf mocks Trump after US pauses Hormuz mission
Iran’s top negotiator has mocked US President Donald Trump after he abruptly suspended American efforts to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, adding that Washington was again spreading falsehoods about ongoing talks. In a post on X on Wednesday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Gha»»»
Antigua and Barbuda drops oath to British Crown
Antigua and Barbuda has sworn in a new government under revised constitutional rules that for the first time removed allegiance to the British monarch from the official oath of office. The twin-island Caribbean state gained independence from Britain in 1981 but remained a constitutional monarchy wi»»»
US disables Iranian tanker after Trump threatens renewed bombing if no deal reached
The US military has fired on and disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman after President Donald Trump threatened to resume the bombing campaign unless Tehran agrees to end the war on Washington’s terms. US Central Command said the unladen tanker, identified as the M/T Hasna, was »»»
Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged ‘suicide note’ unsealed (PHOTO)
A US federal judge has unsealed an alleged suicide note written by Jeffrey Epstein, nearly seven years after the disgraced financier died in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The note was reportedly found in July 2019 by Epstein’s then-cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione,»»»
Business - G7 trade ministers seek common ground on minerals
Trade ministers from the Group of Seven industrialised nations have tried to find common ground, amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. In a clear swipe at China, they pledged to cooperate on securing supply chains of critical minerals. Also in the show: France's finance minist»»»
Father arrested for encouraging son, 12, to fire gun
Police in Patra have arrested a man accused of encouraging his 12-year-old son to fire a gun from the window of their home, police said. The arrest followed information and video material submitted to investigators by the police’s cybercrime unit and the child welfare organization The Smile of the »»»