Will Vijay's political career be able to survive a big scandal like divorce and infidelity?
Dubai: South Indian state Tamil Nadu is no stranger to actors becoming big ticket politicians. From icons like M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa to more recent ventures by stars like Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, the state has repeatedly seen film icons channel their on-screen popularity into poli»»»
March Natural Gas Rates in Bulgaria See Minimal Rise Amid Lower Demand
The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has set the price of natural gas for March 2026 at 32.60 euros per megawatt-hour, excluding access, transmission, excise, and VAT charges. This price applies to Bulgargaz EAD sales to end suppliers as well as licensed producers and transmitters of h»»»
U.S. Special Envoy praises Syrian–U.S. tech talks in Silicon Valley
New York, Feb. 27 (SANA) U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Friday welcomed the growing momentum in technical discussions between Syrian and American representatives in Silicon Valley. In a post on X, Barrack said the talks mark “a promising step toward modernizing Syria’s digital economy »»»
Albania Appoints New Anti-Corruption Directorate Chief
Albania’s government on Friday appointed Skerdi Tushi as director general of the Anti-Corruption Directorate, marking a leadership change at one of the country’s key institutions tasked with combating corruption. The decision was approved during a cabinet meeting and endorsed by Prime Minister Edi »»»
Kerala High Court clears way for ‘The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ release
In a dramatic reversal within 24 hours, the Kerala High Court has allowed the release of the film The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond, lifting an interim stay that had put its debut on hold. A Division Bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan set aside an earlier order»»»
China lifts 100 pct tariffs on some Canadian imports to support trade ties
BEIJING, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- China announced the cancellation of 100 percent tariffs it had imposed on certain Canadian imports since March 2025, in a move aimed at promoting the sound, stable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.In a statement on Friday, the Chinese M»»»
Who Is Sangeeta Sornalingam? Vijay’s wife who filed for divorce after 25 years of marriage
Dubai: Tamil film and political circles are in shock as their beloved actor-politician Vijay saw his wife of 25 years file for divorce. While Vijay is a public figure, the attention has now turned to a woman who has largely stayed away from the spotlight: Sangeeta Sornalingam. Unlike most celebrity»»»
Iran to US: Any Provocation Will Be Met with a ‘Crushing Response’
The spokesperson for the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Brigadier General Shekarchi, has warned that any provocative move by the United States will be met with a decisive and crushing response from Iran’s powerful military forces. Shekarchi dismissed recent statements by US President Donald »»»
Wathnan Racing's Dabida claims Al Wakra Cup
Doha: Wathnan Racing’s Dabida delivered an impressive performance to shed her maiden tag with victory in the Al Wakra Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse on late Thursday evening. Contesting the feature event for four-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies over 2000m, the grey filly was expertly guided by Soufi»»»
Caretaker PM Says Cabinet's Main Task Is to Ensure Fair Elections
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Friday said that the main goal of the caretaker Cabinet is to ensure fair elections. He noted that this requires working with regional governors who were not involved in organizing "the unfairest elections in Bulgaria's recent history" as well as having "an Int»»»
Three out of four Romanians monitor their spending, and 55% use banking apps for money management
Banking apps dominate the top money management solutions Digitization is already part of the daily routine for many Romanians. Over half of respondents (55%) say they use their bank’s mobile app to check transactions and automatically track expenses, making it their primary financial management too»»»
Higher Electricity Bills Largely Due to Increased Consumption, Caretaker Energy Minister Traikov Says
A large share of the higher electricity bills is due to increased energy consumption, Caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said at a briefing at the Council of Ministers on Friday after a meeting convened by Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and attended by Caretaker Economy and Industry M»»»
Revenue growth of 18% for AQUILA in 2025 to RON 3.5 billion
Cătălin Vasile, CEO AQUILA: “Since our listing, we have directed the capital raised toward sustainable growth through strategic acquisitions, modernization, and organic expansion. The four completed transactions have significantly expanded our portfolio and regional footprint, generating visible op»»»
REAoL continues installation of solar energy systems in public health centres as part of its Go Green Initiative – urges all public entities to adopt renewables to meet electricity needs
The Renewable Energy Authority of Libya (REAoL) reported last Wednesday (25 February) that it is continuing the implementation of repairing and installing solar energy systems across 25 nationwide public health centres to meet their electricity needs. The initiative comes in line with Libya’s Natio»»»
Tamil superstar's wife Vijay files for divorce, claims infidelity
Dubai: In a development that has stunned both the Tamil film industry and political circles, Tamilian superstar Vijay, founder and chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, is facing a divorce petition filed by his wife, Sangeeta Sornalingam. They have been married for 25 years. According to a report by I»»»
MedLife reaches EUR 630 million turnover in 2025 and continues investments in genomics and AI
The increase in turnover and operational volumes reflects not only MedLife’s resilience, but also its relevance for the health of Romanians in diverse economic contexts. Since its listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in 2016, MedLife has recorded an average annual growth of over 20%, consolidati»»»
Pakistan-Afghanistan fighting: What we know so far
Islamabad: Pakistan launched air strikes on cities in neighbouring Afghanistan on Friday, in a major escalation after months of attacks and cross-border strikes along their porous frontier. He is what we know about the fighting, which has raised fears of a wider conflict between the two neighbours.»»»
Municipal Administrations to Provide Polling Screens for April 19 Elections
The polling screens for the April 19 early parliamentary elections are to be provided by the municipal administrations on a decentralized basis on financing from the cost estimate for the elections, the Central Election Commission (CEC) decided at a meeting on Friday. On Thursday CEC Deputy Chair R»»»
Trump’s Iran Missile Warning Contradicted by US Intelligence
Three sources familiar with US intelligence reports have revealed that available data does not support President Donald Trump’s claims that Iran is close to developing a missile capable of striking US territory. The sources consider the assertion exaggerated, raising questions about one of the pote»»»
Report: Embassies warn Lebanese leaders against any intervention in Iran war
Embassies concerned with the Lebanese file have delivered warning messages to President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam, cautioning them that “any intervention from Lebanon in the war with Israel will lead to a harsh new war,” diplomatic sources told Al-Jadeed TV. “The Israeli w»»»
Week of conversations and quiet moments
'Exclusive' is a word that can be overused in journalism. It is part of 'journo speak' that we sometimes forget isn't used in day-to-day life (add breaking, revealed, inside, etc). I've never witnessed my sons or wife run into the house to tell me about their 'exclusive news' from their day. To be »»»
Germany’s AfD scores point against federal agency targeting it for ‘extremism’
A court ruling on Thursday suspending the designation of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as a “confirmed right-wing extremist” organization represents a success for democracy and the rule of law, the party’s leader has said. The domestic security agency BfV slapped the top opposition party »»»
Regional Minister: Water Prices in Bulgaria Raised in a Coordinated Manner
Water prices in Bulgaria are market-based and were raised in a coordinated manner as of February 26, caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Angelina Boneva told journalists at the Council of Ministers on Friday. She was responding to a question on whether drinking water prices wou»»»
Issue of High Electricity Bills, Rising Water Prices Used for Political Purposes - Caretaker PM
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Friday said that the issue of high electricity bills and rising water prices was being exploited for political purposes. Gurov said that they had received numerous reports from concerned citizens in recent days about higher water prices and electricity bills. “»»»
Dubai RTA opens new bridge cutting travel time from 6 minutes to 1 minute at World Trade Centre Roundabout
Dubai: Commuters travelling along one of Dubai's busiest corridors have a reason to celebrate. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a major new bridge connecting Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, slashing journey times from six minutes to just one minute»»»
American sympathy shifts toward Palestinians after decades of strong support for Israel
American sympathies in the Middle East have shifted dramatically toward the Palestinians, according to new Gallup polling, after decades of overwhelming support for the Israelis. That shift accelerated during the war in Gaza. Three years ago, 54% of Americans sympathized more with the Israelis, com»»»
Egypt urges diplomatic settlement in US-Iran talks, warns against military escalation
CAIRO, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- Egypt underscored the importance of resolving all outstanding disputes and concerns in the ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, stressing the need to reach compromise solutions away from military options.In a press statement on Friday, the Egyptian Ministry of Forei»»»
Vucic: Kosovo-Metohija has been, is and will be Serbia
ASTANA - Kosovo-Metohija has been, is and will be Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening, noting that he had no intention whatsoever of accepting any recognition of the so-called Kosovo. Responding to questions from reporters in Astana, Vucic was commenting on allegatio»»»
US allows non-emergency embassy staff to leave Israel, cites safety risks
Jerusalem: The US embassy in Jerusalem announced on Friday it was allowing non-emergency government personnel and family members to leave Israel “due to safety risks,” adding that people who wished to leave should do so while flights were still available. The announcement follows repeated threats f»»»
Bulgarian MPs Target Water Holding Leadership Amid Rising Prices and Governance Concerns
MPs from We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) have called for the resignation of the head of Bulgaria’s state-owned Water and Sewerage Holding, citing concerns over rising water prices and potential conflicts of interest within the company’s management. Bozhidar Bozhanov, Deputy Floo»»»
Bulgaria: Agriculture Minister Flags Possible National Security Threat to PM
Bulgaria's Caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov reported on Friday that his office received a tip on Thursday that may involve national security concerns. He confirmed that Prime Minister Andrey Gurov has been informed but refrained from providing further details about the nature »»»
IMF Approves $8.1 Billion Loan for Ukraine, with $1.5 Billion to Go Immediately
The International Monetary Fund's executive board on Thursday approved an $8.1 billion, four-year loan for Ukraine, with $1.5 billion to be disbursed immediately to help keep the government running as its war against Russia's invasion drags into a fifth year. The IMF said the new Extended Fund Faci»»»
Tunisian olive oil exports exceed TND 1.62 billion with 130,900 tonnes marketed by end-January
Tunis, Feb 27 (TAP) - Tunisia’s olive oil exports saw a significant increase during the first three months of the current season (November 2025 – January 2026), according to the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI).Exports reached 130,900...»»»
Tripoli Chamber of Commerce meeting makes five demands to decision-makers to alleviate economic crisis – threatens peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins
An expanded meeting was held yesterday at the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce’s Tripoli headquarters to discuss the repercussions of monetary policies and the recent economic changes in the country. The meeting included several chamber members, representatives from Zawia Chamber of Commerce, the Libyan»»»
Kyrgyzstan and Romania agree on double taxation elimination - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan and Romania have reached an agreement to eliminate double taxation, the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce reported. According to the ministry, official delegations from both countries held negotiations in Bucharest on a treaty to eliminate double taxation on income ta»»»
Google 'Punch the Monkey': How the internet celebrates the viral Macaque
Dubai: For those already following Punch the Monkey, you know the internet has been obsessed with the little Japanese macaque and his oversized orangutan plush. But here’s something you might not have noticed: typing “Punch the Monkey” into Google triggers a playful Easter egg. Unlike Google’s typi»»»
Media Review: February 27
POLITICS The April 19 parliamentary elections and the appointments of caretaker ministers and regional governors are given prominence in the news media on Friday. On bTV, sociologists Boryana Dimitrova from Alpha Research and Parvan Simeonov from the Myara polling agency noted that the election cam»»»
Lebanon’s Aoun, Salam Discuss Israeli Attacks and Preparations for Paris Conference
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed on Friday the general situation in Lebanon, with particular focus on developments in the country’s South and Bekaa amid ongoing Israeli attacks. Lebanese Presidency reported the meeting at Baabda Presidential Palace, noting tha»»»
Drone jammed near French aircraft carrier was probably Russian, says Sweden
A drone jammed by the Swedish military after it was spotted near a French aircraft carrier docked in Malmo was "probably" Russian, Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson has said. The French military said the drone was spotted seven nautical miles (13km) from the Charles de Gaulle carrier, which has n»»»
Mamdani meets Trump to ask for $21 bn funding for NYC homes
Washington, United States: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani met President Donald Trump on Thursday to urge him to release $21 billion in federal grants to build 12,000 affordable housing units and infrastructure. Mamdani posted an image of himself at the White House presenting Trump with a mock newspa»»»
Rector of Abdullah ibn Abbas Islamic Institute in Razzakov appointed - | 24.KG
Abdilashim Ormonov has been appointed Rector of the Abdullah ibn Abbas Islamic Institute in Razzakov, Leilek district, Batken region. The corresponding order was signed by the Supreme Mufti of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan, Abdulaziz Zakirov. Acting Chief Imam-Khatib of Leilek district, Kubatbek Abdygapar »»»
PE fund Advent International completes acquisition of tbi bank
The transaction, initially announced in April 2025, was finalized today after the European Central Bank (ECB) granted regulatory approval in mid-February 2026. “Closing the deal marks an important milestone not only for our organization, but also for the banking sector in the SEE region. Advent’s g»»»
Parliament Ratifies Partnership Agreement with Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
Parliament Friday ratified in two readings at a single sitting the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part. According to the sponsor, the Council of Minis»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.4013
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.4013 dinars for one euro on Friday, which is a slight change relative to Thursday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is nearly steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct rela»»»
PM says 'Gaza adventure' did not support Gaza, Lebanon 'can do without' Iran support
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who had visited earlier this month several war-hit southern cities and towns, said that the state has returned to south Lebanon "to stay". He vowed, in a televised interview Thursday, to visit the south again and to secure all means of subsistence for its residents. Sala»»»
Documentary about melting glaciers presented in Bishkek - | 24.KG
The premiere screening of a documentary Ala-Too: In Pursuit of Disappearing Glaciers took place in Bishkek on February 26 at the American University of Central Asia. The film was created by journalists from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Munara Borombaeva (Bishkek) and Madina Ashilova (Almaty). Accordi»»»
Warsaw's office market under pressure
Shrinking supply and rising rents create opportunity for Poleczki Park For years, Warsaw has been the undisputed leader of Poland’s commercial real estate market. The capital continues to attract investors, global companies are choosing it for their regional headquarters, and demand for modern offi»»»
Łódż in future-ready mode
Łódź blends six centuries of history with forward-looking urban development. Today, it stands among Poland’s most innovative cities. The key to becoming a city of the future is implementing strategies that create multifunctional, people- and environment-friendly areas aligned with regeneration and »»»
Esencja and jaskółcza – prime investment apartments in the heart of Gdańsk
In Dolne Miasto, one of Gdańsk’s most desirable historic districts, Esencja and Jaskółcza introduce premium investment apartments that combine modern design, strong investment potential, and proximity to the Old Town. Both projects offer exclusive investment apartments designed for discerning buyer»»»
London, Paris Completed Preparations for Possible Deployment to Ukraine - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - British and French paratroopers have completed preparations for a possible peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, The Telegraph newspaper reported. During exercises in France’s Brittany, more than 600 soldiers from the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade conducted a simulated airborne raid alo»»»