Kathmandu Students Join SputnikPro For First Time
Sputnik international news agency and radio has for the first time hosted a SputnikPro project session for students of Tribhuvan University, Nepal’s largest university. During the session, Vasily Pushkov, director of international cooperation, spoke to students about Russian media approaches to int»»»
Iraq in Talks with Iran to Safeguard Oil Tanker Traffic Through Hormuz
Iraq's oil minister said Baghdad is talking to Iran about allowing some of the country's oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state news agency reported on Tuesday, as Iraq seeks to ease disruptions to crude exports following recent attacks on tankers in its own waters. Iraq is als»»»
Rainy weather forecast for Tuesday
Tunis, March 17 (TAP)- The weather on Tuesday is densely cloudy with scattered showers in the north and locally in the midland, the National Institute of Meterology (INM) said. Rainstorms are forecast in eastern coasts with localised...»»»
Easter holidaymakers switching from Dubai to Spain as flights fill up
British holidaymakers are rebooking Easter trips away from Dubai due to the war in neighbouring Iran, causing a spike in demand for "reassuring" destinations, travel firms have told the BBC. There is mass disruption to passenger flights across the Middle East and warnings not to travel to large par»»»
TheBlock. revolutionises global asset tokenisation with $14.7B issuance pipeline
Dubai: TheBlock., the capital of virtual assets, today announced a major milestone driven by the continued expansion of its ecosystem: the ability to support turnkey real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, including crowd lending and co-ownership structures, for global distribution. Traditionally, man»»»
MRF - New Beginning Alerts EPPO over Health Minister's Statement about "Handful of Oligarchs" Abusing European Funds
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning parliamentary group Tuesday will alert the European Public Prosecutor’s Office over a statement by caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski, who said that “a handful of oligarchs are abusing European funds” and that ”the National Recover»»»
Watch: Lava flows reach ocean on Réunion Island after 19 years
Dubai: Lava from the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on France’s Réunion Island has reached the Indian Ocean for the first time in nearly two decades, marking a dramatic phase in the ongoing eruption. The volcano began erupting on February 13, and over the past month, molten rock has steadily advance»»»
Media Platform calls on authorities to resume dialogue with society and media - | 24.KG
The Media Action Platform of Kyrgyzstan issued an appeal calling for the resumption of open dialogue between the state, society, and independent media. Activists note that recent events in the country suggest signs of a gradual normalization of the socio-political atmosphere and provide grounds for»»»
More than 4,000 criminal suspects remain at large in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
A total of 4,192 criminal suspects remain on the wanted list in Kyrgyzstan. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Kyrgyzstan reported. In 2025 alone, 344 individuals were declared wanted in connection with criminal cases. Additional 3,848 suspects have been on the run since previous years. The Prosecu»»»
Choice startup raises $7.1 million to develop restaurant digitalization platform, plans to open operational hub in Bucharest
Restaurant technology startup Choice has secured $7.1 million in new funding and is accelerating its expansion across Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania, where it entered the market in 2025. Since its local launch, Choice has already attracted its first paying restaurants, confirming int»»»
Nowruz to Be Celebrated in Damascus for First Time in Syria’s Modern History
Syria’s capital is witnessing an unprecedented cultural development as preparations got underway for official and popular celebrations of Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, marking the arrival of spring on March 21. For the first time in modern Syrian history, festivities will take place openly in Damas»»»
‘Unprecedented’ 36,000 Palestinians Displaced in West Bank in One Year, Says UN
The UN on Tuesday urged Israel to immediately halt its dramatic settlement expansion in the West Bank, raising concerns of "ethnic cleansing" with over 36,000 Palestinians displaced in a single year. A fresh report from the United Nations rights office, looking at the 12 months up to October 31, 20»»»
Ministry repeats warning on spreading rumours, unverified content
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior warned that sending or referencing rumours and unverified news to official social media accounts is a violation, alongside reposting content from suspicious sources. It emphasized that these actions are considered a clear violation and a direct contribution to »»»
Construction of dwellings down 3.14% in 2025
The construction of dwellings fell by 3.14 percent in 2025, with 59,062 homes completed last year, 1,916 fewer than in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) data.The situation by area of residence in 2025 compared with 2024 highlights an increase in the share of homes comple»»»
Eal Estate: Analysis : Office market awaiting new projects after stagnation in deliveries in 2025
2025 brought an unfortunate first on the Bucharest office market: it was the first year in the last two decades with no deliveries of new office space. Against this backdrop, total leasing demand fell by around 25% year-on-year, to approximately 250,000 square metres, while take-up of new space tot»»»
Gov't approves draft on 500-million-euro EIB loan for Sibiu-Pitesti motorway construction
The Government approved a draft law for contracting a 500 million euro loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the construction of the Sibiu - Pitesti Motorway, a major infrastructure project estimated to be completed in 2028.According to a Government press release, the Sibiu - Pitesti Mot»»»
Government designates authorities responsible for implementing European AI rules
The Government approved, on Thursday's session, a normative act regarding the implementation of European rules on artificial intelligence (AI).According to a Government release , a memorandum was adopted providing for the designation of the competent national authorities and the establishment of a »»»
Telecom.IT: Romania's exports of IT services are worth over EUR 10 billion a year
Romania exports over EUR 10 billion euros in the IT services area every year, and the area's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product is 8%, Chairman of the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (ARICE), Daniel Constantin, said on Tuesday at the Digital Innovation Summit Buch»»»
Romania's pigmeat, poultrymeat up, veal and beef, sheep and goat down in January 2026
Romania's January 20026 production of pigmeat and poultrymeat was up, while its production of veal and beef as well as sheep and goat was down year-on-year, according to data published on Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).In January 2026, as against December 2025, the number of »»»
Retail turnover falls by 9.1% in January 2026
The retail turnover volume (excluding the trade with motor vehicles and motorcycles), in January 2026 compared with January 2025, decreased both as gross series by 9.1% and as adjusted series according to the number of working days and seasonality by 6.5%, according to the National Institute of Sta»»»
Agriculture: Beekeepers demand urgent measures, warning about Mercosur honey imports
Romanian beekeepers are asking for urgent measures to support bee families and reduce production costs amid the economic difficulties of recent years, warning that honey imports from Mercosur states will put additional pressure.Chairman of the Association of Romania's Beekeepers (ACA), Razvan Coman»»»
Romania's chocolate market exceeds 300 mln euros; consumption up over 9% in two years
Romania's chocolate market exceeds 300 million euros, with annual consumption reaching about 35,000 tonnes, as Romanians are eating more chocolate but becoming more selective, increasingly opting for premium, local products and gastronomic experiences, according to industry data.Average chocolate c»»»
Comert : Cargus Survey: Eight in ten Romanians are price-conscious when shopping online
About eight out in ten Romanians are price-conscious this year when shopping online, and 57.8% say they will give up on non-essential products, reveals a survey conducted by the courier company Cargus, on a sample of over a thousand people in urban areas.According to the survey, 58.2% of Romanians »»»
Number of patients with mental disorders grows annually in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
The number of patients with mental disorders in Kyrgyzstan is growing by 10-11 percent annually. Nurgul Ibraeva, head of the Primary Health Care Department of the Ministry of Health’s Directorate for the Organization of Medical Care and Pharmaceutical Policy, said at press conference. According to »»»
Bulgaria’s Fuel Supply Secure, But Prices Follow Global Market, Says Lukoil Manager
Rumen Spetsov, the special manager of Lukoil in Bulgaria, has assured that fuel supplies in the country are secure and that there is no reason to expect shortages in the foreseeable future. Currently, meeting domestic demand requires operating at less than half of the refinery’s capacity, and reser»»»
China Says to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to Iran, Mideast Nations
China said on Tuesday it will provide humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Lebanon, targeted in US and Israeli strikes in the now three-week conflict. "China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. It is hoped th»»»
Israel says 'limited' ground operations under way in Lebanon
Israel's military says its troops have begun "limited and targeted ground operations" against the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The military said operations had targeted "key Hezbollah strongholds" in recent days with the aim of strengthening the defence of Israeli border c»»»
Iranian footballer says 'everything will be fine' as she trains with Australian team
Two members of Iran's national women's football team who sought asylum in Australia have been pictured training at the grounds of the A-league football team Brisbane Roar. "Everything will be fine," one of them, Fatemeh Pasandideh, posted on Instagram. She and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were among seven »»»
Trump's confidence is undimmed - but every Iran option comes with risk
In the third week of the joint US-Israeli war against Iran, Donald Trump faces decisions that could define the rest of his presidency. But if the American commander-in-chief is grappling with a war of choice that seems in danger of spiralling in ways he can't control, those concerns are not playing»»»
Weather shift expected across parts of Greece with rain
A change in weather is expected as of Tuesday across western and southern parts of Greece, gradually extending to other regions, excluding eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The forecast includes rain and lower temperatures. The National Meteorological Service said the winds will blow from eastern direc»»»
'Many dead': Wounded survivor escaped Kabul clinic strike
Kabul: Azmat Ali Momand had just finished his rounds, checking patients at the "Camp Omid" drug rehabilitation centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, when the explosion erupted. "The room collapsed on me," the 30-year-old doctor, who has worked at the centre for two years, told AFP on Tuesday. "I got»»»
The 'fog of war': UAE experts on why you can’t focus and how to protect your brain
The other day, an acquaintance repeatedly got my name wrong in a phone call. I didn’t register it, the first few times. I just hmmed as we continued to discussing a pitch. It only dawned after she suddenly apologised, “Have I been calling you by a different name all this time?” “I think so. But it’»»»
Shigeaki Mori, Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivor Embraced by Obama, Dies at 88
Shigeaki Mori, the survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing whom former US President Barack Obama embraced during a historic visit to the city in 2016, has died at 88, Jiji Press reported on Tuesday. The image of Obama's arms wrapped around a tearful Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park beca»»»
Russian Attack Damages Energy, Port Infrastructure in Ukraine’s South, Governor Says
A Russian attack damaged industrial, port and energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine's Odesa region on the Black Sea overnight, causing disruption to power supplies in separate settlements in the southern part of the region, a local official said on Tuesday. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper s»»»
Municipality minister visits Baladna Food Industries Company as part of monitoring national food security system
DOHA: As part of monitoring the national food security system and strengthening local production, HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality and Chairman of the Food Security Policies Follow-up Committee, conducted an inspection visit to Baladna Food Industries Company,»»»
Caretaker Labour Minister Congratulates Social Workers on World Social Work Day
Caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov congratulated social workers on their professional holiday, World Social Work Day, the Labour and Social Policy Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday. Every year, World Social Work Day is celebrated across the world on the third Tuesday»»»
MOI cautions home surveillance camera owners to secure devices
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior has urged owners of home surveillance cameras to take the necessary measures to secure their devices and protect them from cyber attacks. In a social media post, the Ministry noted that these steps are part of ongoing efforts to enhance digital security for ind»»»
Public Prosecution announces working hours during Eid Al-Fitr holidays
Doha, Qatar: The Public Prosecution has announced the official working hours for its offices during the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holidays for the year 2026. From Tuesday, March 17, 2026, until the end of the month of Ramadan, the Public Prosecution building (Public Service»»»
Gulf Federation of Journalists slams attacks
Doha, Qatar: The Gulf Federation of Journalists has renewed its strong condemnation of the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting the interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, warning of the dangerous repercussions of the military escalation on regional and global stability. In a second st»»»
Philippines: Massive cut in airport fees, faster fuel 'surcharge' reviews to slash airfare costs — what to know
Manila: In a bold move to shield Filipino travelers from soaring jet fuel prices triggered by ongoing Middle East tensions, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed key government agencies to slash aviation-related charges and speed up airfare adjustments. On Tuesday, the Philippine C»»»
SIGNAL IDUNA takes the first step towards expanding into Romania’s MTPL segment
In recent years, SIGNAL IDUNA has strengthened its presence on the local market through the integration of the former ERGO companies and, subsequently, through the acquisition of a majority stake in Garanta Asigurări, further consolidating its position in the general insurance segment. Entering the»»»
Working-age population (15-64 years) employment rate falls to 62.6% in 2025 Q4
The employment rate of Romania's working-age population (15-64 years) fell to 62.6% in the last quarter of 2025 compared with the previous quarter, a decline of 0.8 percentage points, according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Monday.According to the quoted source, in»»»
FinMin Nazare: Accession to the OECD guarantees better-functioning institutions, regardless of the economic cycle
Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare on Monday stated that Accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) brings lower financing costs, additional investment, and represents a guarantee that institutions function efficiently, regardless of the economic cycle.Minister Na»»»
Joint Declaration of Energy Ministers of Germany and Romania for Energy Partnership
Romanian Minister of Energy, Bogdan Ivan, and German Minister of Economy and Energy, Katherina Reiche, signed a joint declaration on Monday regarding investments in energy production capacities, industrial capacities, renewable energy, hydrogen, natural gas, carbon capture and storage."Today, toget»»»
PM Bolojan meets OMV representatives stressing Petrom's role as anchor on Romanian fuel market
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan met, on Monday, at the Victoria Palace, with a delegation from OMV, led by CEO Alfred Stern, in which he pointed out Petrom's role as an anchor on the Romanian fuel market.According to a Government's release, the discussions focused on OMV Petrom's development strategy f»»»
Parliament/2026 budget of Competition Council, approved favorably by majority vote in specialized committees
The Competition Council's budget for 2026, worth 126.088 million lei in budgetary credits and 131.095 million lei in commitment credits, was voted on Monday evening in the specialized committees of the Parliament, with a majority of favorable votes.The Committee on Economic Policy, Reform and Priva»»»
OECD: Romania's economy could grow 1% in 2026 and 2.2% in 2027; fiscal consolidation must continue
Romania's economy could grow around 1% this year and 2.2% next year, supported by stronger demand from EU trading partners, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.Speaking at the launch of the latest OECD Economic Survey for Roma»»»
MAE: Romanian-Canadian bilateral consultations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) hosted on Monday a round of Romanian-Canadian consultations between delegations led by Ana Tinca, Secretary of State for Strategic and Global Affairs, and Isabelle Poupart, Director General for European Affairs within Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, Tra»»»
PM Bolojan: Finalising accession to the OECD - an objective supported by the entire governing coalition
Finalising accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) this year is an objective supported by the entire governing coalition, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Monday, stressing that the process is a way for Romania to once again confirm that it is a reliable co»»»
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann: Romania's economic prospects are solid
Romania is making significant progress in the process of acceding to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and economic prospects indicate strong long-term growth comparable to the levels of the organisation's member states, said Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of th»»»