ST PETERSBURG, - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Thursday in St Petersburg, where she is attending the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, that she would have further discussions with Gazprom Neft representatives later in the day and that a request»»»

The US is mulling the deployment of its nuclear weapons to more NATO states in Europe, the Financial Times has reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions. Russia has already said that any NATO nuclear moves toward its borders would not go unanswered. The potential move comes as Washingt»»»

Dubai: A Bahrain-based Indian expat who won Dh20 million in Abu Dhabi Big Ticket's latest draw did not just beat the odds after seven years of trying. He did it with a free ticket, one of two he received through a buy-two-get-two promotion, with the winning number chosen by his wife and sister whil»»»

TEHRAN: The head of the Quds Force, the foreign arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards, said Thursday that Israel must pull back from its current front lines in Lebanon, where it is fighting Tehran’s ally Hezbollah. “Supporting the resistance in Lebanon is the duty of all of us, and removing Is»»»

President Sadyr Japarov signed the Decree «On the Development of Interregional Student Mobility in the Kyrgyz Republic.» The presidential press service reported. It is noted that the document is aimed at ensuring equal access to quality education for citizens regardless of their place of residence,»»»

June 4 (UPI) -- Israel and Lebanon signed up to a fresh U.S.-brokered cease-fire to clear the path for negotiations toward "a comprehensive peace and security agreement" between the two countries. The truce, predicated on Iran-backed Hezbollah halting all attacks and withdrawing from south of the L»»»

Paris, France: Franco-Iranian author and film director Marjane Satrapi, best known for the graphic novel and film "Persepolis", has died aged 56, AFP learned Thursday from a member of her close circle. "Marjane Satrapi died of sadness a little over a year after the death of Mattias Ripa, her husban»»»

The Islamic Resistance continued on Thursday confronting the Zionist war on Lebanon, dealing more blows to the Israeli occupation forces in the various towns and villages of South Lebanon. In this context, Hezbollah Military Media issued the following statements: Statement 1 In defense of Lebanon a»»»

Kuwaiti authorities have arrested a suspect accused of robbing a branch of a money exchange company in the Al Shaab area after an intensive search operation that led to his identification and capture, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the incident began when security author»»»

Dubai: A retired Turkish police officer fatally shot his son during a confrontation in the country's southern city of Adana after a dispute allegedly linked to drug use escalated into violence, local media reported. The incident occurred when 52-year-old Faruk Kayhan encountered his son, Ahmet Kayh»»»

LONDON: An unprecedented eight teams from the Arab region will participate at the 2026 World Cup. The expanded 48-nation tournament means that there are 32 places available in the knockout stages. Arab News tries to predict the unpredictable and rank their chances to get out of their groups. Morocc»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday two river projects by arch-rival India would “weaponize” water and violate a major treaty between the neighboring nations, threatening a response if they move ahead. India, which has announced the two initiatives separately this year, insists it is within its ri»»»

BEIRUT: A United Nations peacekeeper has been killed in Lebanon, the force and Serbian authorities said Thursday, after a base was hit in the south where Israel and Hezbollah are fighting.The death brings to seven the number of UNIFIL peacekeepers killed since the latest conflict erupted in March.“»»»

More than 2,400 people were rescued from drowning in 2025, while the number of drowning deaths has remained below 100 in recent years, indicating a sustained decline in water-related accidents, Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC) Water Rescue Service Director Anton Nalbantov said at a press conference markin»»»

President Sadyr Japarov has signed a decree «On Urgent Measures for the Development and Promotion of Chess in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2026–2030.» The document aims to create conditions for the wide popularization of chess among the population and to establish an effective system for training athlet»»»

From June 1 to 3, a Kyrgyzstan’s delegation participated in the 6th meeting of the Coordinating Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states on biological security in Saratov, Russia. According to the press center of the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan, along with th»»»

Thirty-six violators of migration laws have been identified in Issyk-Kul region. The press center of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported. Operation Illegal-CSTO 2026 was conducted in the region on June 2-3, during which 32 facilities employing foreigners were inspected. Accord»»»

Kyrgyzstan will only reopen access to TikTok social media platform after the launch of equipment capable of blocking certain prohibited content. Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), Alisher Erbaev, announced this at a parliamentary session today. MP Dastan Bekeshev r»»»

A UN peacekeeper ​in Lebanon died ‌on Thursday from wounds ​sustained when ​mortar shells hit his ⁠position near ​Marjayoun in southeastern ​Lebanon late the previous night, the ​UN peacekeeping ​mission said. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said ​two ​other ⁠peacekeepers were »»»

Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) said it had won a contract to build and operate the second phase of a cogeneration power plant at Saudi Arabia's Jafurah project. The company expects total revenue of about 2.1 trillion ⁠won ($1.4 billion) from ⁠the project. KEPCO said in a statement it signed the »»»

Germany has failed to win a temporary seat on the UN Security Council for the first time, losing a General Assembly vote to Austria and Portugal. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the outcome “a real disappointment,” after Berlin had won all six of its previous bids. Portugal won 134 votes an»»»

Marcin Romanowski, the former Polish deputy justice minister accused of corruption and misuse of public funds, received HUF 17.5 million while living in Hungary under political asylum, according to his latest asset declaration. Lucrative role at Hungarian institute The Polish politician, who fled t»»»

ST PETERSBURG: President Vladimir Putin faced two rival outlines of Russia’s future as he hosted his premier annual investment conference with the war in Ukraine unabated. Some participants at the glitzy St. Petersburg International Economic Forum said Russia should fight ​on and gird for global co»»»

KLEINMOND: Four days ago, Mozambican ‌immigrant Lado Amido answered a knock at his door in the South African town of Kleinmond. Outside, an angry crowd told him foreigners such as him had to leave. They went door-to-door delivering the same message. Amido ​fled and spent two nights in the mountains»»»

Arab Finance: The Egyptian Real Estate Group logged 91% higher net profits after tax at EGP 1.154 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, compared to EGP 604,474 in Q1 2025, as per the financial results. Earnings per share (EPS) increased year-on-year (YoY) to EGP 0.002 at the end of March 2026 »»»

Parliament adopted at second reading amendments to the Investment Promotion Act, creating an Investment Coordination Council under the Council of Ministers and aligning the legislation with the Government's new ministerial structure. The amendments reflect the redistribution of responsibilities bet»»»

Share: By Jana Choukeir Smoke billows from southern Lebanon, following Israeli strikes, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a new ceasefire after U.S.-mediated talks, the Trump administration said, raising hopes for progress toward e»»»

The European Commission’s drive to cut corporate red tape partly rests on a competitiveness narrative that is not supported by its own evidence, according to experts and data from the European Investment Bank. They show that in fact US companies report greater regulatory obstacles to investment tha»»»

Most people in today’s Middle East were born after 1979. Yet they often overlook how profoundly that year shaped their countries, their stability, and their daily lives. It unleashed storms, wars, and leaders whose ambitions and dangers far exceeded the borders from which they emerged. Some observe»»»

NEW DELHI: The owner of a south Delhi hotel where a devastating fire killed 21 people allegedly drove past the burning building and left without stopping because he was afraid, according to investigators probing one of the capital’s deadliest hotel disasters in recent years. Police arrested hotel o»»»

Cairo — Overseas investors continued to accumulate Egyptian equities on Wednesday despite ongoing debate over proposed tax reforms and the review of Egypt’s market classification by S&P Dow Jones Indices, suggesting market participants remain broadly constructive on the country’s medium-term invest»»»

Ethiopia, as a nation with a remarkable centuries-old history, diverse civilisations, and an unyielding legacy of independence, has achieved a critical milestone in political maturity. While the country’s formal engagement with modern democratic systems is relatively recent, the progress forged ove»»»

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) presents abundant opportunities to accelerate energy transition efforts and ensure Malaysia's sustainability aspirations are achieved, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday. While the move towards sustainability is inevitabl»»»

Israel will continue its operations in southern Lebanon for now and will not withdraw from the country despite Wednesday’s conditional ceasefire after US-mediated talks, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Thursday. Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes on the country's south after ai»»»

Russia has increased its pressure on Armenia ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections, pulling out virtually all the stops linked to trade should its long-term ally persist in its ambitions to join the European Union. Moscow has threatened to raise gas prices, put measures in place to be able to r»»»

At least four people have been killed in Crimea, Moscow-installed authorities said on Thursday, a day after Kyiv targeted energy and military facilities in Saint Petersburg during Russia's flagship economic forum. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of a "real" risk of escalation, while Ukrain»»»

Former Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) chief Stoyan Mavrodiev has been detained in Belgrade, according to information confirmed through cooperation between Bulgarian and Serbian authorities. His identity has been officially verified, and Bulgarian prosecutors, together with the Interior Ministry, »»»

Migrants traveling from the Greek border to Sofia are paying between 3,000 and 5,000 euros, according to Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police Directorate, speaking on BNT. He said Bulgaria has significantly reduced migration pressure and dismantled 18 organized crime gro»»»

The court in Sofia has upheld a decision to release without bail a 20-year-old man accused in the death of a 16-year-old girl in Blagoevgrad, a case that has drawn significant public attention and remains under active investigation. The three-judge panel confirmed the earlier ruling of the Blagoevg»»»

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday as New Delhi seeks to deepen ties with the oil-rich South American nation following disruptions in global energy supplies. Rudrendra Tandon, a senior official in India's foreign ministry, sa»»»

President Sadyr Japarov has signed amendments to the Law «On the Diplomatic Service of the Kyrgyz Republic.» The document was adopted by the Zhogorku Kenesh on April 22, 2026. According to the presidential administration, the law is aimed at improving the functioning of the diplomatic service, stre»»»

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lowered its forecast for Kyrgyzstan’s GDP growth in 2026 to 8.7 percent. The revised estimate was published in the bank’s latest Regional Economic Prospects report. In its previous forecast released in February, the EBRD had expected t»»»

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) has presented three macroeconomic scenarios for Bulgaria’s economic development through 2028 in its annual report prepared by the Institute for Economic Research. The document, titled “Economic Development and Policies in Bulgaria: Assessments and Expectation»»»

Pay transparency is already affecting companies in Romania, even before Directive (EU) 2023/970 is implemented locally. According to a Mirro study conducted among 100 companies in the country, 47% of organisations say they have already faced tensions, requests for pay equity, or employee departures»»»

The economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East is expected to slow growth across emerging Europe, Central Asia and parts of Africa and the Mediterranean, as higher energy costs reignite inflation, weaken industrial competitiveness and strain already fragile public finances, the European »»»

WARSAW - The Serbia 3x3 basketball team beat Austria 21-11 in a Group A, Round 4 match at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2026 in Warsaw on Wednesday evening to secure a direct quarter-final berth. The encounter was the last game of the group stage. The Serbia team, comprised of Strahinja Stojacic, Nemanja »»»

The economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East is expected to slow growth across emerging Europe, Central Asia and parts of Africa and the Mediterranean, as higher energy costs reignite inflation, weaken industrial competitiveness and strain already fragile public finances, the European »»»

Uzbekistan is betting heavily on technology as the next engine of economic growth, with state-backed IT Park emerging as the centrepiece of the country’s ambitions to become Central Asia’s leading exporter of digital services. That vision was on display at the sixth International PLUS-Forum Digital»»»