EU Forecast: Bulgaria Faces Slower Growth and Higher Inflation as Deficit Worsens to 4%+Opinions
The European Commission’s spring forecast points to a weaker-than-expected economic outlook for both Bulgaria and the wider eurozone, coupled with higher inflation pressures across the region. According to the report, the slowdown is driven by a mix of fiscal strain in member states and external sh»»»
Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Fires Entire BEH Leadership, Warns Over €1 Billion in EU Funds at RiskOpinions
Energy Minister Iva Petrova announced a sweeping overhaul at the Bulgarian Energy Holding, confirming that the entire management of BEH is being dismissed and replaced as the government launches a broad strategic review of the energy sector. During her first public briefing as minister, Petrova sai»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 18:55 and 19:00 on Thursday 21-05-2026 gatherings of vehicles and soldiers of the Israeli enemy army near the port of Naqoura and in the town of Tayr Harfa with a squadron of Ababil loitering gliders [FPVs], achieving a confirmed hit: statement 15 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted at 18:55 and 19:00 on Thursday 21-05-2026 gatherings of vehicles and soldiers of the Israeli enemy arm»»»
EU wants less 'drama' at next UN climate summit
Brussels, Belgium: The EU wants less "drama" at the next United Nations climate conference in November in Turkey, the bloc's climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra said Thursday. European countries were deeply frustrated by last year's COP30 climate conference in Brazil, which produced a watered-down final t»»»
Draft National Assembly Rules of Organization and Procedure Clear Committee Stage
The competent parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Thursday finalized the draft Rules of Organization and Procedure of Bulgaria's 52nd National Assembly, and they will go before the full house next week, Committee Chair Dimitar Zdravkov MP of Progressive Bulgaria told journalists. "The revisions are n»»»
FIFA and LOC announce tournament dates for FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026
Doha, Qatar: FIFA and the Local Organising Committee for Football Events (LOC) have announced that the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026 will take place from 19 November to 13 December. The prestigious youth tournament returns to Qatar, marking the second of five consecutive editions that the country »»»
Ministry of Foreign Affairs meets several officials on sidelines of GLOBSEC Forum
Prague: The Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi held separate meetings on Thursday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay HE Mario Lubetkin, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic HE Marie Chatardova, an»»»
US sanctions Hezbollah MPs, Amal and security officials, and Iran's envoy to Lebanon
The United States on Thursday sanctioned Hezbollah MPs Hassan Fadlallah, Hussein al-Hajj Hassan and Ibrahim al-Moussawi; Hezbollah official and ex-minister Mohammad Fneish, Amal Movement security officials Ahmad Baalbaki and Ali Safawi, Lebanese Army intelligence officer Samer Hamadi and General Se»»»
Trump blasts Russian icebreaker lead as ‘ridiculous’
The US intends to build up an icebreaker fleet larger than Russia’s, as the current gap in Moscow’s favor is “ridiculous,” President Donald Trump has said. Speaking to US Coast Guard graduates in New London, Connecticut, on Wednesday, Trump highlighted an agreement signed with Finland earlier this »»»
NATO intervention and Iran’s insurance offer: What’s going on in the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz – a critical chokepoint accounting for 20% of seaborne oil trade prior to the US-Israeli war against Iran – remains effectively blocked despite the tentative ceasefire. The traffic has ground to a halt due to the risks posed by mines, recurring attacks, and ship seizures, as we»»»
Industry Pioneers Conference and Forum held in Tripoli – as a national platform to support Libyan industry and enhance economic partnership
The “Industry Pioneers” Conference and Forum was held in Tripoli yesterday, the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce reports. The event was organized by the private sector Al-Yaqeen Bank and sponsored by Banca UBAE SpA and Bank ABC. The event was attended by the Minister of Economy and Trade, Suhail Abu Shi»»»
Israeli security minister who taunted flotilla activists has a record of extreme actions
JERUSALEM: Israel’s far-right national security minister has a long history as a provocateur. This week, Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked global outrage after promoting a video of himself taunting activists from a flotilla to Gaza who were detained by his police force. Denied entry into the military as a te»»»
Mother arrested after French boys abandoned in Portugal
Lisbon: Portuguese police on Thursday arrested the mother of two young French boys found abandoned by a main road in the south of the country, alone and crying. The boys, aged four and five, were rescued on Tuesday by a passing motorist near the resort town of Comporta, where they had been left wit»»»
Lebanon says Israeli strike damaged hospital in south
BEIRUT: Lebanon said an Israeli strike on Thursday damaged a hospital in the country’s south, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire despite a ceasefire. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli aircraft “launched two strikes on the town of Tibnin near the public ho»»»
Israeli fire kills boy in Gaza as witnesses report increase in orders to flee
CAIRO/GAZA: An Israeli drone strike killed a 13-year-old boy in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, health officials said, as residents reported a renewed pattern of Israeli warnings urging people to flee ahead of attacks — a practice that had largely subsided after an October ceasefire. Medics sa»»»
US Voices Hope on Iran Deal Progress Before Pakistan Army Chief Visit
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope on Thursday of progress on ending the war with Iran, with mediator Pakistan's army chief due to arrive in Iran for talks. The expected visit by Field Marshal Asim Munir, a powerful figure with a growing role in Pakistan's foreign relations, comes a day »»»
Jack Ryan: Ghost War showcases Dubai on global stage
Dubai: Amazon MGM Studios has announced the global release of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War, whose key scenes were filmed in Dubai in collaboration with the Dubai Media Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). The new film further reinforces the emirate’s position as a lea»»»
Zionist media: Hezbollah attacked the sensors installed by “Israel” on the border with Lebanon with precision missiles - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Zionist media: Hezbollah attacked the sensors installed by “Israel” on the border with Lebanon with precision missiles 21-05-2026 19:42 PM »»»
Interior Ministry to Review Operations Before Any Staff Cuts
No staff cuts will be made without a prior analysis, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told Interior Ministry trade unions on Thursday, the Ministry said on its website. He said redundant structures would be streamlined to improve efficiency. “The State’s financial situation is very difficult. Sin»»»
Israeli strike damages hospital in south Lebanon
Lebanon said an Israeli strike on Thursday damaged a hospital in the country's south, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire despite a ceasefire. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli aircraft "launched two strikes on the town of Tibnin near the public hospital, »»»
Trump Postpones Signing Order on AI Oversight
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had postponed signing an executive order on AI because he "didn't like certain aspects of it." Trump had planned to sign the order at a ceremony on Thursday afternoon attended by CEOs of AI companies. The order would create a voluntary framework for AI »»»
U.S. issues restrictions for Americans traveling from Ebola-affected nations - UPI.com
The U.S. State Department will now require all U.S. citizens and legal residents traveling back to the United States from three African countries experiencing an Ebola outbreak must enter the country through Washington, D.C., for an enhanced security screening. EPA-EFE/Stringer May 21 (UPI) -- Amer»»»
European Commission Zaharieva Wishes Strength, Confidence, Unity on Eve of Day of Bulgarian Alphabet and Culture
Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, hosted a celebration at the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday for the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet, Education and Culture, and Slavic Literature, May 24. "Let us wish for strength, confidence, and unity,” s»»»
Project to develop fodder and dairy sectors launched in Jendouba, Kairouan and Mahdia
Tunis, May 21 (TAP) - The Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains for Food Security (FASSA) project aimed at promoting the development of fodder and dairy sectors in Jendouba, Kairouan and Mahdia, was effectively launched on Thursday, according to...»»»
Revenues of listed companies up 4% in Q1 of 2026
Tunis, May 21 (TAP) - The business indicators published by listed companies for the first quarter of 2026 show a 4% increase in their overall revenue compared to the same period in 2025, reaching TND 6.4 billion versus TND 6.2 billion, reads the...»»»
DIBF panel calls for new knowledge projects based on Islamic heritage
Doha, Qatar: A symposium held as part of the cultural events accompanying the 35th Doha International Book Fair (DIBF) explored the challenges of reading Islamic heritage in contemporary contexts, the methodological challenges facing researchers, and the relationship between Western studies and the»»»
Turkiye court rules to oust opposition leader in latest blow to Erdogan’s challengers
ANKARA: A Turkish court effectively ousted the main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel on Thursday, annulling the 2023 party congress that elected him chairman in a ruling that dealt a blow to President Tayyip Erdogan’s challengers and hit financial markets. The appeals court annulled the congress over i»»»
Russia’s NORSI refinery partially shut after drone attack, sources say
MOSCOW: NORSI, Russia’s fourth-largest oil refinery, has shut its main primary CDU-6 unit after a Ukrainian drone attack on Wednesday, two industry sources with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters on Thursday. Virtually all major refineries in central Russia have been forced to halt or »»»
Baghdad Sends Team to Saudi Arabia, UAE to Trace Attacks
A senior Iraqi security team will soon travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to request intelligence on the trajectory and launch sites of attacks that targeted the two countries, an Iraqi government official said on Thursday, as part of an ongoing investigation. The Iraqi official, w»»»
Preparations for next year’s Hajj have already begun, minister says
RIYADH: Preparations for next year’s Hajj pilgrimage have already begun, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said on Wednesday. Authorities are getting ready for next year before this year’s Hajj even begins on May 25, with an extensive network of government entities includin»»»
Supreme Court dismisses Alabama death penalty IQ case - UPI.com
The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an Alabama death penalty case, preventing the execution of Joseph Clinton Smith, 55. File Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo May 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday dismissed an appeal from Alabama in a death row case by declining to look at how IQ »»»
Syria seeks investment and regional cooperation to rebuild its transport sector
Damascus, May 21 (SANA) Syrian Transport Minister, Yarub Badr, said on Thursday that rebuilding the country’s transport sector and infrastructure will require stronger investment partnerships, greater cooperation between the public and private sectors, and deeper regional integration in transport p»»»
PM Appoints Deputy Ministers in Ministries of Education, Justice, Interior, Sports
By order of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, five people were appointed deputy ministers on Thursday. Stanimir Stanev has been appointed Deputy Justice Minister and Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, the Government Information Service reported. On May 13, Asya Pandzher»»»
Hezbollah Shifts Fight to Counter Israeli Expansion Attempts
Hezbollah sent a message to Arab and other embassies in Lebanon on Thursday, setting out its demands to their governments: an end to assassinations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, the return of residents to their villages, and the release of detainees held by Israel. It s»»»
Costa Rica, Panama deepen dispute over farm trade - UPI.com
Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez escalated pressure Wednesday during celebrations marking National Farmers Day, sharply criticizing what she described as Panama’s agricultural trade blockade. File Photo by Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA May 21 (UPI) -- Trade relations between Costa Rica and Panama enter»»»
PM Appoints Deputy Ministers in Ministries of Justice, Interior, Sports
By order of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, five people were appointed deputy ministers on Thursday. Stanimir Stanev has been appointed Deputy Justice Minister and Senya Terzieva-Zhelyazkova, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, the Government Information Service reported. On May 13, Asya Pandzher»»»
FIA report highlights advances in sustainability and diversity
DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has published its 2025 Sustainability and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) report, highlighting achievements in shaping the future of motorsport and mobility for its diverse global community. The FIA, the global governing body for motorsport and»»»
Endowments minister inaugurates medical unit at Qatari Hajj Mission in sacred sites
MAKKAH AL MUKARRAMAH: Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Head of the Qatari Hajj Mission HE Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghaneminaugurated the medical unit of the Qatari Hajj Mission in the sacred sites of Saudi Arabia as part of the mission's comprehensive preparations to provide t»»»
National Army reaffirms strict respect for principles of neutrality and independence
Tunis, May 21 (TAP) - The Ministry of National Defence on Thursday affirmed that the national army is a republican force founded on discipline, entrusted with the mission of defending the homeland, preserving its independence and guaranteeing the...»»»
ADEK, Aldar sign deal to boost Emiratisation in education
The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and Aldar signed a strategic partnership today to accelerate Emiratisation in the education sector through a structured talent development roadmapaimed at driving ninefold increase in UAE Nationals representation across key roles in Aldar o»»»
Vets Bid to Save Kosovo's Stray Dogs from Cull Through Sterilization
Panting puppies lie exhausted, wedged between the plastic bags and cartons spilling down a hillside in northern Kosovo, while other dogs snuffle around the dump hunting for edible morsels. The sheer number of canines roaming free has become bothersome, and locals in the Podujevo district have draft»»»
Tanjug in China: A country creating the future while preserving tradition
BEIJING - With a population of more than 1.4 billion, China is one of the world's most populous countries as well as one of the fastest-growing economies, whose cities are growing at an incredible pace while history and culture remain deeply intertwined with everyday life. Tanjug had an opportunity»»»
Serbian gov't OKs FSS bid to host 2029 UEFA Europa League final in Belgrade
BELGRADE - The Serbian government announced on Thursday it had adopted decisions approving a Football Association of Serbia (FSS) bid to host the 2029 UEFA Europa League final in Belgrade. At a government session, decisions were also adopted granting "consent to the candidacy of the School Sports A»»»
Germany at the Crossroads: Revanchism Versus Diplomacy
Amid the conflict in Ukraine, voices in the German establishment increasingly call for strengthening the armed forces to counter the perceived Russian menace. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to make the German army the strongest in Europe, while Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warns of a new»»»
EC downgrades 2026 growth forecast for Serbia to 2.8 pct, projects 3.9 pct growth in 2027
BRUSSELS - In its Spring 2026 European Economic Forecast, the European Commission has downgraded its projection of Serbia's GDP growth this year to 2.8 pct, but said growth would rebound to 3.9 pct in 2027 thanks to major EXPO 2027-related investments and rising wages and pensions. In the Autumn 20»»»
Seven schools honoured in nationwide Abu Dhabi Awards initiative
Abu Dhabi Awards in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has announced the winners of its nationwide Schools Competition, launched at the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year. The initiative aims to encourage students to participate in the nominations campaign and to promote the values»»»
Defence Minister, UK Minister of State for Europe Discuss Bilateral Industrial Cooperation
Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov held a meeting with Stephen Doughty, UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, in Sofia on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said in a press release. They discussed deepening industrial cooperation between Bulgaria and the United Kingdom»»»
Expansion at Quba Mosque enhances efficiency
MADINAH: Quba Mosque in Madinah is witnessing a massive influx of visitors. The first mosque built in Islamic history, the site holds profound religious and historic significance and is currently being supported by intensive guidance and organizational efforts to enable visitors to perform their pr»»»
8 killed, 6 injured as six-storey residential building collapses in Morocco’s Fez
Dubai: At least eight people were killed and six others injured after a six-storey residential building collapsed in a densely populated neighbourhood of the Moroccan city of Fez, local media reported. The building collapsed in the early hours of Thursday in the Ain Al Naqbi district, triggering em»»»
Saudi Arabia launches new Red Sea shipping service linking Jeddah, Salalah and Djibouti to boost maritime trade
The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched a new cargo shipping service linking Jeddah Islamic Port with Salalah in Oman and the Port of Djibouti, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to strengthen maritime connectivity and position itself as a regional logistics hub. According to Saudi state te»»»