SOFIA The 24 Chasa daily has an interview with Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev on September 17, which marks the capital’s official holiday, Sofia Day, coinciding with the feast of the Holy Martyrs Sophia, Faith, Hope and Love in the Orthodox Christian calendar. Terziev says the city was making progress »»»

Share: Tucker Carlson lashed out at the Trump administration over a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel in a lengthy social media post on Tuesday, saying there is no “justification” for the move while calling out lawmakers he says have taken “millions from the Israel lobby.” Carlson, who was dismissed»»»

US AI company Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claimed in an article published on Saturday, US time, that "Chinese lead in AI would pose grave danger for the US and the world" while calling for a series of measures to restrict China's development in the booming field. His remarks have quickly drawn quest»»»

Six GCC states invited for talks that could expand to other Arab and Muslim leaders Dubai: US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Gulf leaders in New York next week to discuss the next phase of the Iran war, as Washington begins looking beyond the nearly seven-month conflict towards a possib»»»

New Delhi vows to protect trade interests after Congress passes Russia sanctions bill New Delhi: India said on Thursday it would continue buying oil from “diversified” suppliers, after US lawmakers approved sanctions designed to squeeze Russia over its war in Ukraine. The US legislation targets Rus»»»

Despite positive trends earlier in the year, a detailed analysis reveals a sharp shift in Kyrgyzstan’s banking market in July 2026: the sector faced a massive outflow of funds while simultaneously hitting record highs in loan issuance. These findings come from data released by the National Bank. Ju»»»

The leaders of France, Lebanon and Jordan on Thursday met in Paris to discuss international support for the cash-strapped Lebanese army and the creation of a new force to succeed a longstanding U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Lebanese Preside»»»

Tokyo, Sept. 17 (SANA) Oil prices fell on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session as signs of additional Saudi crude supplies eased concerns over disruptions, though prices remained above $100 a barrel amid continued tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell to $104.74 a ba»»»

Israelis should be stripped of citizenship if they are found guilty of slandering the military, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said, as the IDF faces new accusations of killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza. In a video address on Wednesday, Netanyahu lashed out at the recently released docum»»»

A Russian-made device called LPDE-CE8 will be installed on the Chang’e 8 spacecraft that is expected to depart for the lunar South Pole in 2028. The device’s purpose is to study moon dust, both near the lander and at a distance from the landing site thanks to a special mast, Russian Academy of Scie»»»

Washington, United States: The United States has denied Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an entry visa to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, a source familiar with the case said Wednesday. In a separate statement that did not mention Abbas by name, the State Department say it »»»

Miami: Lionel Messi headed a goal and provided an assist as Inter Miami won the Campeones Cup on Wednesday, beating Cruz Azul 2-0 in the annual clash between Major League Soccer and Mexican Liga MX champions. It was Inter Miami's first Campeones Cup triumph and came thanks to the Argentine supersta»»»

Emmanuel Macron is hosting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Jordan's King Abdullah II in Paris for talks on Lebanon's security and international support for the Lebanese army. The meeting comes as concerns grow over Israel's continued strikes in southern Lebanon and the possible end of the UNIFIL»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US military has examined an airport in southern Greenland for its possible use by NATO member states in the future, Danish broadcaster reported on Thursday. Earlier this month, Danish Defense Minister Jeppe Bruus and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Mute Egede said that the Danis»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3907 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative»»»

A large-scale reform of medical education continues in Kyrgyzstan following a presidential decree introducing a state monopoly on the training of medical and pharmaceutical personnel. Not all higher education institutions that trained future medical professionals passed state accreditation. They lo»»»

Between 9 and 11 September, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized Hays, al-Khokha, al-Mokha and Dhubab, advanced onto Zuqar and Hunaish islands, and reached Mayyun/Perim in the middle of Bab al-Mandab. Within days, the Houthis moved from holding northern Red Sea frontage to occupying most of Yemen's»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Key US House Democrat Refuses to Clear $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to ‘Israel’ 17-09-2026 12:00 PM US Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on th»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces liberated control of the settlement of Malaya Volchya in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "As a result of active operations, the settlement of Malaya Volchya in the Kharkov region has come under the control of Russian tro»»»

This year, several French landmarks are paying tribute to French queen Marie-Antoinette. Despite her public execution taking place more than 230 years ago, the monarch continues to fascinate both at home and abroad. Our reporters dive into the reasons behind the lasting interest and explore why she»»»

Schools back CBSE's move, but parents, students flag concerns as many are in universities Dubai: CBSE's decision to give Class 12 students in the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries a fresh chance to sit exams that were cancelled in March, when regional tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran»»»

New Delhi, Sept. 17 (SANA) Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dwindled to just three ships on Wednesday, down from 12 a day earlier and well below the 10-day average of about 17, preliminary ship-tracking data showed. The figures exclude vessels that may have passed through the w»»»

US President Donald Trump has threatened steep tariffs on the European Union if it goes ahead with a proposal to make Canada its first "associate member", a move he described as a possible "hostile act". Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is due to address the European Parliament on Thursday,»»»

Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro Max leads UAE demand as shoppers spend but stay cautious Dubai: As UAE shoppers line up to collect their pre-ordered iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on September 18, retailers are already getting a read on where the demand lies and the early picture is mixed. Buyers are still willi»»»

Philippine migrant workers agency arranges post-acute care for OFWs following treatment Dubai: Two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recovering from stroke at Al Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah are set to receive continued medical support after their discharge, with the Philippine government arranging p»»»

BEIJING (Sputnik) - China's cooperation with other countries should not be subject to interference by third parties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Thursday, commenting on the US bill on sanctions against Russia. "China has always pursued normal trade and economic cooperation»»»

Spencer accuses Charles of having ‘contempt’ for his ex-wife London: Buckingham Palace has forcefully denied a claim by the brother of the late Princess Diana that King Charles III said she would soon be forgotten after her death. In a new book, Charles Spencer recounts the traumatic days after Dia»»»

DOHA: The following joint statement was issued on the third meeting of the Qatar–Singapore implementation monitoring mechanism in Doha, Qatar. The Implementation Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) of the Qatar–Singapore High-Level Joint Committee (HLJC) held its third meeting on September 16, 2026 in Doha,»»»

Personalised benefits, AI and culture put people at the centre of UAE workplaces HR leaders and workplace strategists called for a shift in how organisations approach people management, with benefits, culture, retention and technology becoming increasingly important to business performance. Speakin»»»

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's proposal to make Canada an "associate member" of the bloc is not aimed against the United States, the European Commission said Thursday after President Donald Trump threatened trade ties over the plan. "As our president made clear yesterday, the proposed strengthenin»»»

Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors and has turned to regional and Western allies for assistance as its standoff with Houthi rebels in Yemen drags on, two regional officials said Wednesday. The officials said the Saudis have asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-de»»»

Police officers revived a man in Nagydorog, southern Hungary, after he failed to stop when signalled to do so and crashed while attempting to flee, the Tolna County Police Headquarters said on the police website on Wednesday. According to the report, officers in Nagydorog spotted the driver during »»»

Record 114-day campaign boosts retail, tourism and hospitality across emirate Sharjah: The 2026 Sharjah Summer Promotions generated more than Dh850 million in economic returns for the retail sector and related industries, as the emirate wrapped up its longest summer campaign to date. Organised by t»»»

GENEVA: The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held an interactive dialogue on the human rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations under Agenda Item 3 during its 63rd session in Geneva, as part of implementing Human Rights Council Resolution 60/19. Permanent Rep»»»

As Houthi rebels closed in, Eshraq Abdel Gelil and her husband fled their home, walking through the mountains before catching a ride to a nearby city. Four months pregnant, she feared another miscarriage. They are among more than 125,000 people who have fled as the Iran-backed rebels have advanced »»»

Parliament renewed its confidence in Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's government on Wednesday with 68 votes in favor, 12 against, and two abstentions, following two days of heated debate. Hezbollah MPs walked out of the session shortly before the vote of confidence was held. Lawmakers from the Free Pat»»»

Doha, Qatar: From intensive musical training and discovering a passion for cycling to navigating simulated diplomatic scenarios under pressure, the summer offered Qatar Foundation (QF) students opportunities to develop new skills, explore their interests and gain experiences that extended beyond th»»»

Fidesz is a constructive opposition, but it wants to cooperate constructively not with the government but with the people — Viktor Orbán, the party's president, declared in a video interview given to Blikk, published on Thursday morning, in which he accused the Tisza government of launching politic»»»

Sanctions bill targets Putin, oil buyers as Ukraine urges tougher pressure Washington: US lawmakers approved broad new sanctions on Wednesday designed to squeeze Russia over its war in Ukraine, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump after months of delay. The Republican-led House of Repr»»»

Doha, Qatar: A seminar hosted by the Qatar Press Center (QPC) has stressed the need for sustained diplomatic efforts to contain tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, warning that prolonged disruption to maritime traffic could trigger far-reaching consequences for global energy markets, food securit»»»

Israel and Morocco agreed on Wednesday to open embassies in each other’s countries following talks between their foreign ministers and the US ambassador to the United Nations in New York. The two countries established diplomatic ties in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, which normalised I»»»

The US House on Wednesday passed a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine. Loud explosions were heard across Kyiv overnigh»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces struck a Kiev workshop producing various types of UAVs, including the medium‑range RAX‑2X UAV, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. Overnight, Russian troops unleashed massive coordinated strikes against metallurgical and radio-electronics enter»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States should not spend significant financial resources on the conflict in Ukraine, let alone pay for it with the lives of its citizens, Chip Roy, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Texas, said in an interview with Sputnik. US President Donald»»»

Calls grow in Washington to treat AI risks like nuclear weapons controls US Senator Bernie Sanders says the potential danger posed by artificial intelligence (AI) could exceed that of nuclear weapons, as lawmakers and AI researchers debate how to control increasingly super-intelligent systems. Sand»»»

Fire broke out on August 26 at the PIMS nursery, which housed medically fragile newborns. An inquiry into the fire that killed 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has identified an electrical fault as the most probable cause while pointing to wider failures in fire safe»»»

The heads of state of Lebanon, France and Jordan will meet Thursday in Paris as part of an effort to drum up support for the struggling Lebanese military. A donor conference for Lebanon's cash-strapped army was initially set to take place in February, led by France, Saudi Arabia and the United Stat»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s women’s volleyball team began their Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign with a straight-sets defeat to Vietnam in their Group D opener in Japan yesterday. Vietnam dominated the match, winning 25-3, 25-8, 25-9 to make a winning start to their campaign. Qatar will face the Rep»»»

Opposition Fidesz on Wednesday branded European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s annual State of the Union address as a public endorsement of what it called the “Brussels-Tisza pact”. In a statement, Bertalan Havasi, the party’s communications director, said von der Leyen had “sent greet»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan overcame a late fightback from Jordan’s Al Faisaly to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory in their AFC Champions League Two Group C opener at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium yesterday. David Garcia, Roger Guedes and Ahmed Alaa put the home side three goals ahead in the first half, with Said»»»