Kyrgyzstan permits industrial cultivation of medicinal plants - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov signed a law amending the laws «On the Protection and Use of Plant Life» and «On the Development of Agriculture.» The document permits the cultivation and growth of medicinal plants for agricultural purposes. The law also imposes restrictions on the cultivation»»»
Innovation Minister: Cabinet Aims to Improve Administrative Services' Efficiency
In an interview for bTV aired on Saturday morning, Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation Ivan Vasilev said that the current state of e-government in Bulgaria is characterized by an inefficient administration, which is why the new government's goal is to improve administrative services o»»»
Uganda confirms three new Ebola cases, bringing total to five
Uganda said on Saturday that three new Ebola cases had been confirmed there, taking the total of confirmed cases to five. The new cases include a Ugandan driver who transported the country’s first confirmed case as well as a health worker who was exposed to the virus while taking care o»»»
Hajj pilgrim numbers surpass 2025 arrivals despite Middle East war
MAKKAH: Over 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the kingdom for the upcoming Hajj, according to a Saudi official, exceeding the number of international visitors last year despite the war in the Middle East. The conflict triggered by the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in »»»
Bulgarian PM, Moldovan President Discuss Deepening Bilateral Cooperation
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Moldovan President Maia Sandu have held a phone call in which Sandu congratulated Radev on Progressive Bulgaria's decisive victory in the parliamentary elections, the Government Information Service said on Saturday. During the conversation, both sides expres»»»
Tehran restricts flights amid reports of possible US military action
Dubai: Iran Civil Aviation Organization announced the temporary closure of airspace over western Iran on Saturday, as diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement between Tehran and Washington continued alongside reports that the United States military was preparing for possible new strikes ag»»»
Tuchel’s England squad selection is controversial, but could give regional teams food for thought
LONDON: An England tournament squad announcement and a media meltdown are not new bedfellows. There was something all too predictable about the furor — from the keyboard warriors as well as seasoned hacks — surrounding Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad announcement on Friday, which followed a series »»»
Army officers survive Leh chopper crash, selfie after escape goes viral
A routine flight over one of India’s harshest military landscapes ended in a narrow escape after an Indian Army helicopter crashed near Leh in Ladakh, leaving three senior officers with minor injuries. Officials said the ageing Cheetah helicopter went down in the mountainous Tangtse region on May 2»»»
Qatar and Türkiye back diplomatic push to ease U.S.-Iran tensions
Doha, May 23 (SANA) Qatar and Türkiye have reaffirmed their support for ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran, following talks between the two countries’ top diplomats. During a phone call on Friday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Moh»»»
Inside ‘7 Dogs,’ the Biggest Arab Film Production
The makers of “7 Dogs” set out to do more than produce an action film to international standards. Their aim was to deliver a visual spectacle shaped by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, built on a strategic vision for a transcontinental thriller with Hollywood-level technical standard»»»
Manchester City to open renamed Pep Guardiola Stand at final Premier League match of campaign
ABU DHABI: Manchester City have announced that the newly developed and expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium will be named The Pep Guardiola Stand. The stand will be fully opened for the first time for the manager’s final game in charge at the club, the concluding game of the season against As»»»
Lavrov Participates in Annual Council for Foreign and Defense Policy Meeting
The Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, founded in 1992 in Moscow, brings together politicians, business leaders, military, and media figures to support Russia’s strategic foreign and defense policies and strengthen state and civil society. Sputnik goes live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey L»»»
Senegal's president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensions
Senegal's president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensions 14 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNicolas Negoce,BBC Africa,andWedaeli Chibelushi AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Bassirou Diomaye Faye (right) owes his job, in large part, to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko (left) Se»»»
1,200 people participate in One Run half marathon in Bishkek - | 24.KG
On May 23, 2026, the International One Run half marathon was held at Gazprom to Children sports complex in Bishkek, the city municipality reported. The event was organized with the support of the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the»»»
Kyrgyzstan introduces new performance evaluation system for civil servants - | 24.KG
President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree approving a new procedure for evaluating the performance of state and municipal employees. The document is aimed at improving the efficiency of the public administration system and local government bodies. According to the decree, state bodies and local g»»»
Iraqi Court Hears First Challenge to Zaidi’s Premiership
Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court has set July 1 for its first hearing in a lawsuit challenging the validity of Ali al-Zaidi’s designation as prime minister, the first legal move of its kind since the current government was formed. The court date comes as political forces that failed to push through the»»»
New coding system helps pilgrims move easily inside Mecca's Grand Mosque
Dubai: Saudi authorities have launched a new geographic coding system inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca as part of efforts to improve navigation, crowd management and the overall experience for worshippers and visitors during peak pilgrimage seasons. The General Authority for the Affairs of the Gran»»»
Saudi-backed ‘7 Dogs’ gets star-studded Cairo premiere
DUBAI: Cairo rolled out the red carpet on Friday night for the premiere of Saudi-backed action blockbuster “7 Dogs,” with a guest list packed with Arab cinema heavyweights and international stars. Held ahead of the film’s global release on May 27, the premiere drew some of the region’s biggest name»»»
Saudi Arabia blocks over 366,000 unauthorized entries into Mecca
Dubai: Saudi Arabia said it will not allow the Hajj season to be used for activities that conflict with the spiritual purpose of the pilgrimage, as officials confirmed that more than 1.5 million pilgrims from abroad had already arrived in the Kingdom ahead of this year’s Hajj. The announcement came»»»
Sphere Abu Dhabi secures $1.7b construction deal, completion set for 2029
Abu Dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has awarded a US$1.7 billion construction contract to UAE-based ALEC Engineering and Contracting to deliver Sphere Abu Dhabi, a next-generation immersive entertainment landmark scheduled for completion by 2029. The project»»»
Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Proposal of Associate EU Membership 'Unfair'
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a letter to EU leaders that a German proposal to grant Ukraine "associate" membership of the European Union was "unfair" because it would leave Kyiv without a voice inside the bloc. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suggested allowing Ukraine to participate »»»
Thousands ordered to evacuate around leaking California chemical tank
Los Angeles, United States: Tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes in California on Friday after a huge chemical tank began to leak, sending toxic fumes over a heavily populated area and posing the risk of an explosion. The tank contained 7,000 gallons (26,000 liters) of meth»»»
World Bank document shows 27 countries seeking to ensure access to crisis funds
Washington, May 23 (SANA) Twenty-seven countries are seeking quicker access to World Bank funding facilities as the economic consequences of the conflict continue to spread across developing economies. According to an internal World Bank document viewed by Reuters, three countries have already appr»»»
Dubai Airport braces for one of its busiest travel weekends of the year
Dubai: Dubai International Airport is preparing for a sharp surge in passenger traffic during the Eid Al Adha holiday period, with airport authorities expecting Sunday, May 31, to be the busiest travel day of the season as more than 194,500 passengers are forecast to pass through the airport. Dubai»»»
Rubio in India to bolser ties after Trump's China visit
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a high-profile visit to India on Saturday for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi aimed at reinforcing ties with a key strategic partner, days after President Donald Trump’s closely watched summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. US Secretary of State Marc»»»
Gulf States Eye opportunities to explore natural gas off the southern coast of Cyprus
In a significant development for the Eastern Mediterranean energy landscape, President Nikos Christodoulides has revealed that energy companies from the Persian Gulf are eyeing opportunities to explore natural gas reserves off the southern coast of Cyprus. This announcement, made during a prestigio»»»
Dubai Airport braces for one of its busiest travel weekends of the year
Dubai: Dubai International Airport is preparing for a sharp surge in passenger traffic during the Eid Al Adha holiday period, with airport authorities expecting Sunday, May 31, to be the busiest travel day of the season as more than 194,500 passengers are forecast to pass through the airport. Dubai»»»
SpaceX carries out mostly successful Starship test flight
South Padre Island, United States: SpaceX's Starship spacecraft splashed down into the Indian Ocean Friday after the company performed a mostly successful test flight of the latest version of its enormous rocket. The voyage was not without a few glitches, but SpaceX employees shown on a livestream »»»
Eid shoppers hit by soaring sheep prices in Ivory Coast
Abidjan: Buyers trudged through a muddy market in Abidjan, looking for the best-priced sheep to be sacrificed for Eid al-Adha, with traders driving hard bargains in the run-up to the Muslim festival. Prices have shot up this year and animals are harder to come by as Ivory Coast's usual supply from »»»
Strong winds, dusty conditions expected across Qatar until Sunday
DOHA: The Department of Meteorology has warned of strong winds and poor horizontal visibility in some inshore areas, along with rough seas and strong winds offshore on Saturday. According to the latest weather map updates, northwesterly winds are expected to continue affecting the country until Sun»»»
On This Day, May 23: Accordion receives patent - UPI.com
On May 23, 1829, Cyrill Demian was granted a patent for his musical instrument called the accordion. 1 of 6 | On May 23, 1829, Cyrill Demian was granted a patent for his musical instrument called the accordion. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo On this date in history: In 1701, Capt.»»»
How this Emirati is turning culture into community impact
Dubai: For Emirati entrepreneur Mohammed Kazim, business is about far more than selling products. It is about creating opportunities, preserving cultural identity, and building a community that grows together. Kazim, co-founder of the Arabian sandal brand Tamashee, believes that consumers have a di»»»
AI Will Help Make a Nobel Prize-Winning Discovery Within a Year
An AI system will work with humans to make a Nobel prize-winning discovery within 12 months and tradespeople will be helped by bipedal robots in two years, according to the co-founder of Anthropic. Jack Clark described a “vertiginous sense of progress” in the technology and made a series of predict»»»
Asia stocks slide on inflation fears as yields surge
Hong Kong — Asian markets extended their losses Wednesday as surging bond yields and stubborn inflation concerns knocked investor confidence already shaken by US President Donald Trump's renewed threats to strike Iran.Regional equities tracked losses in Wall Street, where the S&P 500 and the te»»»
Eye on Africa - Health workers struggle with Ebola outbreak as WHO declares highest risk level in DR Congo
First, at least 160 lives already feared lost, health workers in the DRC are racing against time to contain a deadly disease that spreads as fast as it kills. Also, a diplomatic rift with the European Union is widening over security funding in Mozambique. The Foreign Ministry has criticis»»»
NEET UG 2026 fee refund window opens: Last date, eligibility, bank details and step-by-step application guide
The National Testing Agency has opened the online refund window for candidates who paid fees for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026. According to a joint notification with the National Medical Commission, eligible candidates can now submit their bank account det»»»
China coal mine blast kills at least 82, more missing
Beijing: A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 82 people, state media reported on Saturday, in one of the country's biggest industrial disasters of recent years. The blast occurred at 7:29 pm (1129 GMT) on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, accordin»»»
Rubio visits India to renew ties after Trump’s China diplomacy
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday opened a visit to India that will include talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to renew ties with a usually like-minded partner a week after Washington's warm summit with China. Rubio, a devout Catholic, began his four-day, four-city tour by»»»
SpaceX's Upgraded Starship V3 Completes Debut Test Flight from Texas
SpaceX on Friday completed the 12th uncrewed test flight of its next-generation Starship, a high-stakes trial run of a newly upgraded version of the spacecraft as Elon Musk's rocket company nears a record-breaking public listing. The debut flight of Starship V3 - designed to enable more frequent St»»»
Mexico, EU Sign Stalled Trade Deal as they Aim to Diversify from US
Mexico and the European Union signed a long-stalled free trade agreement on Friday as they seek to decrease dependence on the US and partially insulate themselves from US President Donald Trump's tariffs. The accord, which they reached broad agreement on in 2025 but have delayed signing, expands a »»»
Rubio in India to renew ties after Trump's China lovefest
Kolkata: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday opened a visit to India that will include talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, looking to renew ties with a usually like-minded partner a week after Washington's warm summit with China. Rubio, a devout Catholic, began his four-day, four-cit»»»
China coal mine blast kills at least 82, more missing
BEIJING: A gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China has killed at least 82 people, state media reported on Saturday, in one of the country’s biggest industrial disasters of recent years. The blast occurred at 7:29 p.m. (1129 GMT) on Friday at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, accord»»»
Empty Hotels and Visa Delays Hit Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach Resort Before SummerOpinions
Sunny Beach, Bulgaria’s largest seaside resort, is heading into the summer season facing significant operational challenges, with many hotels still closed and those already open struggling with severe staff shortages just days before the first expected tourist arrivals. Industry representatives tol»»»
Direct Varna-Warsaw Air Link Launched as Summer Travel Options Expand in BulgariaOpinions
Wizz Air, the largest airline operating in Bulgaria by market share, has officially launched a new direct connection between Varna and Warsaw (Modlin), with the inaugural flight taking place on May 21. The route will operate three times per week throughout the summer season, with flights scheduled »»»
Cabinet introduces “One-Stop Shop” system for domestic violence victims - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved new measures aimed at improving the system of protection against domestic violence and strengthening coordination among government agencies. According to the resolution, Kyrgyzstan will officially introduce a «one-stop shop» mechanism to assist vi»»»
Kyrgyzstan changes rules of El Umut scholarship for studying abroad - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree introducing amendments to the regulation on the international presidential scholarship El Umut. Under the new rules, the scholarship will be awarded to the most talented young citizens of Kyrgyzstan for master’s and PhD studies at foreign un»»»
Thousands Ordered to Evacuate Around Leaking California Chemical Tank
Tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes in California on Friday after a huge chemical tank began to leak, sending toxic fumes over a heavily populated area and posing the risk of an explosion. The tank contained 7,000 gallons (26,000 liters) of methyl methacrylate, a volatile »»»
Iran weighs peace proposal, accuses US of ‘excessive demands’
TEHRAN: Tehran accused the United States of “excessive demands,” Iranian media said on Saturday, as US media reports raised the prospect that Washington was mulling new strikes and leaders of the Islamic republic considered the latest peace proposal. Pakistan’s powerful army chief arrived in Tehran»»»
Thousands ordered to evacuate around leaking California chemical tank
LOS ANGELES, United States: Tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes in California on Friday after a huge chemical tank began to leak, sending toxic fumes over a heavily populated area and posing the risk of an explosion. The tank contained 7,000 gallons (26,000 liters) of meth»»»