Bulgaria: Legal Committee Rejects President’s Veto on Cap for Polling Stations Abroad
The parliamentary committee on constitutional and legal affairs has rejected President Iliana Yotova’s veto on amendments to the Electoral Code that cap the number of polling stations in non-EU countries at 20. The committee reapproved the contested provisions with 11 votes in favor, eight against »»»
Severe flooding submerges farmland in Evros border region
Torrential rain has pushed the Evros River, which forms the border between Turkey and Greece, over its banks, flooding its low-lying areas on both sides of the border. A levee breach in Kornofolia, a community south of Soufli, pushed floodwaters towards the plain submerging more than 1,000 acres of»»»
Turkish government to pay $100,000 per episode for export-quality “dizi” TV soap
In an unexpected plot twist for Turkey’s sizzling TV soap opera industry, the government has pledged financial support of up to $100,000 per episode of “exportable” series. Widely hailed as “binge-worthy” and “world-beatin»»»
Turkish government to pay $100,000 per episode for export-quality “dizi” TV soap
In an unexpected plot twist for Turkey’s sizzling TV soap opera industry, the government has pledged financial support of up to $100,000 per episode of “exportable” series. Widely hailed as “binge-worthy” and “world-beatin»»»
Romania, 5th holiday option for Romanian tourists
Romania ranks 5th as holiday option for Romanian tourists, after Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey and other European locatons. Good accommodation at a right price is the main criterium for a nice vacation, according to a specialized study, released on Wednesday. According to it, 40% of Romanian tourist »»»
Four years of war leave Russia stagnating and Ukraine exhausted
The war in Ukraine started exactly four years ago today. The Kremlin was hoping for a blitzkrieg victory but the heroic resistance by the local forces caught the Russian forces and Ukraine’s Western allies unawares. Four years on and Ukraine remains locked in a grinding war of attrition, but shows »»»
Four years of war leave Russia stagnating and Ukraine exhausted
The war in Ukraine started exactly four years ago today. The Kremlin was hoping for a blitzkrieg victory but the heroic resistance by the local forces caught the Russian forces and Ukraine’s Western allies unawares. Four years on and Ukraine remains locked in a grinding war of attrition, but shows »»»
Bulgaria Surges in Wealth Rankings: Ahead of Romania, Czech Republic, and Poland
Bulgaria is no longer Europe’s poorest nation, according to the latest Global Wealth Report from Swiss bank UBS. The study shows that in terms of average wealth, Bulgaria has overtaken Romania and Turkey, while its median wealth places it ahead of some traditionally wealthier Eastern European count»»»
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pledge sizeable but unspecified financial backing for Trump’s Board of Peace
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to channel sizeable financial backing through the World Bank’s Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund in a show of support for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP). »»»
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pledge sizeable but unspecified financial backing for Trump’s Board of Peace
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to channel sizeable financial backing through the World Bank’s Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund in a show of support for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP). »»»
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pledge sizeable but unspecified financial backing for Trump’s Board of Peace
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to channel sizeable financial backing through the World Bank’s Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund in a show of support for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP). »»»
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Role in attack on Iran or some golf course chitchat? Speculation in overdrive on Turkmen leader’s trip to US
Base permissions in Turkmenistan for US Air Force planes that could be involved in an attack on Iran? A US role in building a Caspian Sea pipeline that could enable exports of Turkmen gas to flow to Europe? Meetings with American experts who will build golf courses in the Central Asian country? »»»
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan pledge sizeable but unspecified financial backing for Trump’s Board of Peace
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has pledged to channel sizeable financial backing through the World Bank’s Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund in a show of support for US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace (BoP). »»»
Fitch Solutions forecasts 2.5% GDP growth for Azerbaijan in 2026, expects cautious monetary and fiscal stance
Azerbaijan’s economy is projected to expand by 2.5% in 2026, accelerating from an estimated 1.4% growth in 2025, according to a new forecast by Fitch Solutions. The firm expects growth to be driven primarily by domestic de»»»
Kyrgyzstan updates list of legal agencies for employment abroad - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan has updated its list of legal agencies for employment abroad. According to the Center for Employment Abroad, the decision was made by an interdepartmental commission. Applications for the issuance, extension, and revocation of work permits in Turkey, Germany, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and the »»»
Somaliland willing to give US access to minerals and military bases, says minister
Somaliland – a breakaway region of Somalia seeking international recognition – is willing to give the United States access to its minerals and military bases, a minister told AFP on Saturday. Israel became the only country in the world to recognise Somaliland's independence in Decemb»»»
Romania sees slowdown in startup investments amid regional recalibration – report
Romanian startups attracted total investments of EUR 103.2 million in 2025 across 40 transactions, according to the Venture in Eastern Europe 2025 Report by How to Web, a study that analyses venture capital investments in Eastern Europe. The total investment volume in Romania was around 20% lower t»»»
Former top diplomat Vladislav Jovanovic dies aged 92
BELGRADE - Former FM and one-time ambassador to the UN Vladislav Jovanovic died on Saturday at the age of 92, his family has announced. Born in Zitni Potok, southern Serbia, in 1933, Jovanovic graduated from a grammar school in Belgrade in 1951 and went on to obtain a degree from the Belgrade Facul»»»
Djedovic Handanovic, Rosatom director general discuss cooperation in nuclear power sector
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic met on Monday with a delegation of the Russian state-owned nuclear power corporation Rosatom, headed by the firm's Director-General Alexey Likhachev, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the nuclear power sector. Djedovic »»»
Planning Ramadan travel? Air Arabia just cut airfares by 40%
Sharjah: UAE residents planning Ramadan or early summer travel can now save on flights, with Sharjah-based Air Arabia announcing discounts of up to 40 per cent. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The low-cost carrier has rolled out a Ramadan promotion offering savings acr»»»
Emergencies Ministry of Kyrgyzstan receives 116 units of specialized equipment - | 24.KG
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev presented the keys to 116 units of new specialized equipment to the Ministry of Emergency Situations today, February 23, at Turdakun Usubaliev Square in Bishkek. The ceremony was timed to coincide with Defender of the Fatherland »»»
Uzbekistan signs several big business deals during Mirziyoyev's Board of Peace trip to US
Uzbekistan signed a series of bilateral agreements with companies in the US after the country’s president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, travelled to Washington for the inaugural meeting of American President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. »»»
Arab, Muslim nations slam ‘inflammatory’ remarks by US ambassador to Israel
Several members of the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday issued a joint statement condemning remarks by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, that it “would be fine” if Israel took over a huge swath of the Mid»»»
Pakistan launches strikes in Afghanistan, ‘dozens’ killed and wounded, Kabul says
Pakistan launched multiple cross-border strikes targeting "terrorist training camps and hideouts" in eastern Afghanistan, the information ministry said Sunday. Afghanistan's defence ministry said "dozens" of civilians, including women and children, were killed and wounded as tensions between the tw»»»
Somaliland Offers US Exclusive Mineral Access, Military Bases Following Israeli Recognition
Somaliland has offered the United States special privileges, including exclusive access to strategic minerals and the establishment of military bases, as it seeks broader international recognition after the Israeli occupation entity formally recognized its independence late last year. In remarks to»»»
Arab, Muslim countries slam US ambassador's remarks on Israel's right to Mideast land
Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint condemnation of remarks by U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel had a biblical right to a vast swath of the Middle East. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and a fervent Israel supporter, was speaking on the podcast of far-right co»»»
US ambassador's Israel comments condemned by Arab and Muslim nations
Arab and Muslim governments have condemned remarks made by the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel would be justified in taking over a vast stretch of the Middle East on Biblical grounds. In an interview with conservative US commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee was asked whe»»»
14 Arab and Muslim States Condemn US Endorsement of Israeli Occupation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe 14 Arab and Muslim States Condemn US Endorsement of Israeli Occupation 22-02-2026 11:50 AM A coalition of Arab and Muslim states issued on »»»
Why US envoy’s remarks sparked backlash across the Arab world
Dubai: More than a dozen Arab and Islamic countries, joined by three major regional organisations, have issued a joint condemnation of remarks attributed to the United States Ambassador to Israel, warning that the comments risk inflaming regional tensions and undermining international law. In a joi»»»
Turkish-language drama "Yellow Letters" wins Berlin Film Festival's top prize
Turkish-German director Ilker Catak's film "Yellow Letters" – a drama about what happens to a marriage under extraordinary political pressure – was awarded the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear top prize on Saturday night. Catak's film tells the story of a Turkish di»»»
Children reportedly killed as Pakistan targets militants across Afghan border
Bihsud, Afghanistan: Pakistan said Sunday it launched multiple air strikes targeting militants in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the government reported children were among dozens of people killed and wounded. The overnight attacks were the most extensive since border clashes in October killed mor»»»
Trump announces $7bn Gaza reconstruction plan with police force recruitment underway
US President Donald Trump announced that over $7bn was pledged to Gaza relief during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington. The financial aid was pledged by nine nations, namely Saudi Arabia, the »»»
Trump announces $7bn Gaza reconstruction plan with police force recruitment underway
US President Donald Trump announced that over $7bn was pledged to Gaza relief during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington. The financial aid was pledged by nine nations, namely Saudi Arabia, the »»»
Nine foreigners fined in Batken region as part of Illegal Migrant operation - | 24.KG
Nine foreign citizens were fined in Batken region of Kyrgyzstan as part of the Illegal Migrant operation. The regional Department of Internal Affairs reported. According to police, the raid took place on February 17-19 in Batken district. During the inspection, the foreigners working in Kyrgyzstan »»»
Reporters - Kurdish autonomy: A shattered dream?
For the Kurdish people, history seems to repeat itself. Kurdish forces are an asset for the West when allies are needed in the region, but left aside when political choices need to be made. The agreement signed at the end of January between Damascus and the Syrian Kurds dealt a blow to the dream of»»»
Kyrgyzstan leads in number of visits by Uzbeks in January 2026 - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan became the most popular destinations for Uzbeks in early 2026, podrobno.uz reports. According to the website, tourism activity among Uzbek citizens increased significantly in January 2026, with nearly 590,000 people traveling abroad. According to the National Statistical C»»»
Labor migration quota in Kyrgyzstan increased to 52,000 - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved a labor migration quota of 52,000 people for 2026. Arlen Aliyasov, head of the Department for Work with Foreign Citizens at the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, said. According to him, the quota was initial»»»
Turkey detains 32 suspects in widening betting probe, prosecutor’s office says
Turkish authorities detained 32 suspects, including executives of football clubs, on Friday as part of a widening investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in the country’s professional leagues, the prosecutor’s office in Istanbul said. The prosecutor’s office said in a statemen»»»
Turkish film telling story of social media “offender” big contender for Berlin film festival Golden Bear
Yellow Letters, a film that tells the story of a Turkish man who faces the damaging consequences of making a call for peace on social media is a candidate for the Golden Bear award at the 76th Berlin film festival. Th»»»
Turkish film telling story of social media “offender” big contender for Berlin film festival Golden Bear
Yellow Letters, a film that tells the story of a Turkish man who faces the damaging consequences of making a call for peace on social media is a candidate for the Golden Bear award at the 76th Berlin film festival. Th»»»
On This Day, Feb. 20: Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison - UPI.com
On Feb. 20, 2020, a federal judge sentenced Republican strategist and former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone to 40 months in prison for his conviction on seven criminal counts stemming from the Justice Department's Russia investigation. 1 of 4 | On February 20, 2020, a federal judge sentenced Re»»»
Erdogan says Syrian government-SDF agreement is positive step toward stability
Ankara, Feb. 20 (SANA) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the comprehensive agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a “positive development,” saying Turkey is closely monitoring the ongoing integration process in northeastern Syria. Speaking a»»»
Trump's Board of Peace to have first meeting in Washington on Gaza - UPI.com
1 of 5 | President Donald Trump shook hands with attending leaders at the Board of Peace meeting during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January. File Photo by World Economic Forum/Benedikt von Loebell/UPI | License Photo Feb. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's Bo»»»
Bulgaria’s New Foreign Minister Sets Focus on Ukraine, OECD, and Balkans Policy
The handover of duties to Bulgaria’s new acting Foreign Minister, Nadezhda Neynsky, took place in the absence of her predecessor, Georg Georgiev, who was abroad. Neynsky stated that Georgiev did not specify his location, but the two are expected to discuss the formal transfer of responsibilities on»»»
Al Wakrah, Al Ghariya patrol boats launched in Turkiye
ISTANBUL: The patrol boats Al Wakrah and Al Ghariya, belonging to Qatar Amiri Naval Forces, were officially launched in Istanbul, Turkiye. The vessels were manufactured by Dearsan Shipyard and the ceremony was attended by Deputy Commander of Qatar Amiri Naval Forces Brig (Navy) Khalid Nasser Al Haj»»»
Ex-Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu announces resignation as MP - | 24.KG
Former Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh (Parliament) Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu has announced his early resignation as a member of Parliament. He published the statement on Facebook. In his address, the ex-speaker congratulated Kyrgyzstanis on the beginning of the fasting month and wished the country p»»»
Justice minister says Turkish crime baron owner of record-breaking 10 tonnes of seized cocaine
Turkish crime baron Cetin Goren was the owner of a record European haul of almost 10 tonnes of cocaine seized last month by the Spanish police, Turkey’s newly-appointed justice minister Akin Gurlek said on February 13 in remarks made during his first televised interview as minister. »»»
Justice minister says Turkish crime baron owner of record-breaking 10 tonnes of seized cocaine
Turkish crime baron Cetin Goren was the owner of a record European haul of almost 10 tonnes of cocaine seized last month by the Spanish police, Turkey’s newly-appointed justice minister Akin Gurlek said on February 13 in remarks made during his first televised interview as minister. »»»
NutraONE, Nutrifactor Laboratories forge strategic alliance to expand in five key international markets
Dubai: NutraONE, a nutraceutical and wellness distribution company, has announced an exclusive strategic distribution partnership with Nutrifactor Laboratories, one of the region's largest dietary supplement and nutraceutical manufacturer, to expand access to science led health and wellness supplem»»»
Fraud suspect detained in Bishkek - | 24.KG
Officers from the Department of Internal Affairs of Oktyabrsky district of Bishkek have detained a fraud suspect. A citizen T.O. filed a complaint with the Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek, requesting action against a woman Z.K., who gained her trust at Orto-Sai market and, under the pretext »»»