US tech titans attend Trump-Xi dinner. Who wasn’t invited?
Virtually all of America’s most powerful technology executives joined US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a lavish White House state dinner on Thursday, as AI emerged as a major theme of the Chinese leader’s visit. The black-tie dinner in the White House East Room brought to»»»
Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to hold talks after Houthi attacks
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will hold chief of staff talks to support the kingdom, Riyadh said in a statement on Friday, as Yemen's Houthis ramp up attacks on the world's top crude exporter. The Iran-backed group has escalated its attacks on the kingdom since July, ending a years-long truce a»»»
Argentina's poverty rate rises above 30% under President Milei, reversing recent decline
Argentina's poverty rate jumped to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, official data showed Thursday, as incomes failed to keep pace with the rising cost of basic goods, a setback for libertarian President Javier Milei little more than a year before he seeks reelection. The national statistics agency,»»»
Qatar participates in high-level ministerial meeting of Global Alliance for Implementation of Two-State Solution
New York: The State of Qatar participated today in the high-level ministerial meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign A»»»
South Lebanon children return to school destroyed by Israel strike
In southern Lebanon, eight-year-old Yara Ajami started the academic year this week in a doorless, windowless classroom after her school was destroyed by an Israeli strike. Well known in the area for its excellence, Ajami's elementary school in Burj Qalaway was struck by Israel in May. "We are happy»»»
Qatar, in partnership with Jordan, UK, hosts 'Call to Action' meeting on humanitarian situation in Gaza
New York: The State of Qatar, in partnership with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United Kingdom, hosted Friday a "Call to Action" meeting on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Minister of State at the M»»»
Two UAE cities rank among the world’s top 15 for artificial intelligence
Dubai ranks 14th globally, with both UAE cities among world's top 15 AI hubs in new index Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi has been ranked the leading city for artificial intelligence in the Middle East and North Africa and 11th worldwide in a new global index measuring cities’ ability to develop, finance and »»»
The Houthis: Iran’s bargaining chip with Washington
As Washington scrambled to contain the consequences of the Houthis' dramatic advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last week, US Vice President JD Vance confirmed US media reports that the Trump administration was "engaged in direct conversations with the Houthis." Days earlier, Reuters reported that»»»
Revisited - From 'Jungle' to jungles, migrants in Calais continue to dream of UK
October 2026 marks 10 years since the Calais "Jungle" in northern France was dismantled by French police. The camp was home to thousands of migrants who wanted to cross the Channel and reach the UK. A decade on, migrants continue to dream of reaching British shores and the "Jungle" has been replace»»»
U.S. and Central Asia: Economic partnership to be discussed in Samarkand - | 24.KG
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Uzbekistan in October at the head of a large business delegation. In Samarkand, he will take part in a C5+1 meeting and hold talks on trade, investment and economic cooperation. According to Podrobno.uz, the upcoming visit was announced by Sergio Gor, »»»
Fadlallah says Hezbollah and Amal not against 'political solution' in south
MP Hassan Fadlallah on Friday announced that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are not opposed to a “political solution” for south Lebanon. "We are not warmongers; rather, these wars were imposed upon us because our destiny -- especially as the people of the South -- is to live next to this Zionist e»»»
Argentina's poverty rate climbs to nearly one in three under Milei
Argentina’s poverty rate rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026 from 28.2% in the previous six months, official data showed on Thursday, as incomes lagged rising prices. Extreme poverty climbed to 7.5% from 6.3%. Among children aged 14 and under, 44.5% were poor. Argentina's poverty rate increased»»»
Radev: Bulgaria Must Turn Eurozone Membership Into Investment; Donev: Inflation Not Caused by Euro
Bulgaria must use its membership in the Eurozone and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) to attract investment, strengthen competitiveness and build a more resilient economy, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at a high-level conference in Sofia organized by the Ministry of Finance and the ESM. The»»»
Bulgaria Urges North Macedonia to Fulfill EU Commitments
Bulgaria expects North Macedonia to fulfill its commitments and make the necessary changes to advance its path toward EU membership, states a position by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement came after North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski said the EU should take par»»»
Iraq’s Najaf Airport Suspends Iranian Flights
Najaf International Airport has suspended all inbound and outbound flights with Iran until further notice, following instructions from what airport management described as the relevant authorities. An urgent official letter addressed to terminal managers and airlines said the suspension took effect»»»
Russia and Kazakhstan account for 90.3 % of Kyrgyzstan’s oil product imports - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan imported $499,889.4 million worth of oil products in the first seven months of 2026. The value of imports increased by 11.4 percent, while volumes fell by 17.3 percent, data from the National Statistical Committee say. The country also resumed imports of crude oil. From January to July, »»»
Housing promised to all in need by 2030 — Sadyr Japarov - | 24.KG
President Sadyr Japarov said more than 20,000 apartments are planned to be completed across the country by the end of the year. According to him, around 20,000 families will receive homes, the presidential press service reported. The president made the statement at the opening of Asman Residence-1 »»»
Netanyahu brings ‘killer pager’ to UN (VIDEO)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held up a pager at the UN General Assembly, invoking the deadly 2024 covert sabotage operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which killed dozens and severely wounded thousands, including women and children. Thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah members e»»»
Revolut Hungary ATMs are coming - here are the details
Revolut Hungary could soon become a much more visible part of the country’s banking infrastructure, as the fintech company is expected to join Hungary’s ATM deployment programme. The change could eventually bring hundreds of new cash machines, although customers should not expect an immediate trans»»»
Injury-time goal gives Greece UEFA Nations League win over Serbia in Belgrade
BELGRADE - The Serbia men's national football team lost 2-1 to Greece at home in a UEFA Nations League Group A2 Match Day 1 game on Thursday evening. In front of some 4,000 spectators at Belgrade's Rajko Mitic Stadium, Serbia took the lead in the fourth minute through an Andrija Zivkovic goal, but »»»
Bulgaria Set on Bringing 2027 Government Deficit Within 3%
The Ministry of Finance plans and expects to accelerate the reduction of Bulgaria's government deficit towards the Maastricht criterion of 3% of GDP as part of the country's state budget procedure for 2027, which has already begun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev said on F»»»
Yemen tells UN that Houthi rebels' moves on key strait threaten global economy
Yemen's internationally recognized government pressed world leaders anew Thursday for help defeating the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, saying that their new perch along one of the world's busiest waterways presents an international economic risk. The Houthis — who have controlled Yemen's capital, Sana»»»
Media Review: September 25
The beginning of the campaign to elect Bulgaria’s seventh president as well as the proposed package of tax changes by the Finance Ministry dominate Friday's news media. ELECTION CAMPAIGN Dnevnik carries an article dedicated to the beginning of the presidential campaign in Bulgaria that officially g»»»
Gargash: Iran war needs lasting peace, not a temporary fix
UAE presidential adviser calls for substantive Gulf-Iran talks to prevent another outbreak Dubai: Any settlement of the Iran war must deliver lasting peace rather than a temporary pause before fighting erupts again, Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, has said, calling for su»»»
France's Catholic influencers take faith from social media to real life
Catholic influencers gathered hundreds of young people for an evening of prayer at Paris's Saint-Sulpice church ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit, highlighting how social media is becoming a new tool for evangelisation. As youth baptisms rise in France, creators say their goal is to turn online engagem»»»
PM: Bulgaria Aims to Become Important Link in EU Stability and Future
The government’s goal is to turn Bulgaria into an important pillar of the stability and future of the European Union, with a developed industrial sector and sustainable public finances, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the opening of a high-level conference “Building Resilience Together: Bulgaria»»»
AI spending across Revolut Business customers rises 406% year on year
Revolut Business, the global fintech serving more than 850,000 business customers, has published new data showing a sharp increase in corporate spending on artificial intelligence, with Romania’s mid-market segment recording 440% year-on-year growth. Across Revolut Business customers globally, tota»»»
EBRD confirms 8.7 percent growth forecast for Kyrgyzstan in 2026 - | 24.KG
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has confirmed its forecast of 8.7 percent economic growth for Kyrgyzstan in 2026. The forecast is contained in the bank’s September Regional Economic Prospects report. The 2027 forecast also remains unchanged at 7 percent. Fixed capital in»»»
PM Radev: Bulgaria Aims to Become Important Link in EU Stability and Future
The government’s goal is to turn Bulgaria into an important pillar of the stability and future of the European Union, with a developed industrial sector and sustainable public finances, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the opening of a high-level conference “Building Resilience Together: Bulgaria»»»
Starbucks to shutter 250 stores in North America this week in 2nd wave of closings
Starbucks plans to close 250 North American stores later this week. It is the second big round of store closures under Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol, who joined the company in 2024. Last September, Starbucks closed 627 stores in North America and Europe. In a letter to employees, Starbuck»»»
2.7% - EBRD's Bulgaria Growth Forecast Unchanged as Electricity Prices Surge 88%Opinions
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Bulgaria's economy to expand by 2.7% in 2026 and 2.5% in 2027, keeping both forecasts unchanged from June. In its September Regional Economic Prospects report, the EBRD said Bulgaria's real GDP grew by 2.8% year on year in the firs»»»
Moldova Does Not Plan to Join NATO - Prime Minister
CHISINAU (Sputnik) - Moldova does not plan to become a full-fledged NATO member but wants to maintain good relations with the alliance, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said. "I want to make it clear we're not NATO candidate. We are a neutral country by our constitution and there are no plans to join NA»»»
Board of Peace has met with UNRWA despite saying it has no Gaza role
As the U.S.-created Board of Peace pushes ahead with plans to rebuild Gaza, it has said there's no place for the U.N. body that for decades has provided support to displaced Palestinians. But the agency's last chief says that behind the scenes, board members and others have been more open to workin»»»
EBRD expects Romania's economy to shrink 0.2pct in 2026 and warns downside risks persist
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has kept the prospects concerning the evolution of Romania's economy in 2026 and 2027, in line with the June forecast, and warns that negative evolution risks persist, according to the "Regional Economic Prospects," report the internationa»»»
Salam tells Pezeshkian Lebanon cannot be arena for regional wars
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday that his country did not want to be an arena for regional wars. Lebanon has repeatedly accused Iran of interfering in its affairs, especially since the start of the latest war, alleging that Tehran was using it as a "ba»»»
Dubai gold prices set to end the week lower
24-karat gold slides Dh40 in 28 days, down from Dh554.50 on Aug 27 to Dh514.50 on Friday Dubai: Gold prices have had a tough week as elevated energy prices and inflation concerns drove bond yields higher and fuelled expectations of another Fed hike. In the UAE, prices of 24-karat gold have remained»»»
Trump gives Xi a bald eagle statue: The symbolism behind the diplomatic gift
Trump’s national bird gesture meets Xi’s panda diplomacy in Washington US President Donald Trump presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a roughly three-foot-tall bald eagle sculpture during a state dinner at the White House on Thursday, turning an iconic US symbol into a carefully chosen diplo»»»
Xi Calls for China, US to Make National Goals 'Mutually Reinforcing'
Chinese President Xi Jinping said his talks with US President Donald Trump were frank and substantive, adding that the two sides had reached new understandings and provided fresh strategic guidance for China-US relations. “Today, I had a frank and in-depth exchange of views with President Donald Tr»»»
Philippine impeachment: Follow the money. It has always led to the verdict
Financial trails, not lofty rhetoric, have shaped the nation’s impeachment verdicts When history remembers the Philippines' most consequential impeachment trials, it may not recall every argument or motion. But it will remember the money. And it's not just because money was allegedly stolen or hidd»»»
United24 offered US veterans $10,000 for pro-Kiev videos
Ukraine’s government-backed United24 project offered former US service members thousands of dollars to produce pro-Ukraine videos for American audiences, RT’s America Now has found. The offers targeted veterans whose military backgrounds could make the message seem more credible to viewers. Host Be»»»
Canada studied ‘extreme’ US military scenario – Carney
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has revealed that his government carefully examined the possibility of US-led military action against his country, despite President Donald Trump having ruled out using force against America’s northern neighbor. In an interview with the New York Times published o»»»
Fletcher: Syria is on a hopeful path despite challenges
New York, Sept. 24 (SANA) UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said Thursday that Syria is on a hopeful path despite the challenges it faces. “Syria is on a hopeful path, against all odds,” Fletcher said in a post on X, describing the Syr»»»
Qatar down Bahrain to start Gulf Cup campaign with win
DOHA: Qatar kicked off their Group B campaign in the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup with a 2-0 victory over defending champions Bahrain at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah yesterday. Boualem Khoukhi scored the opener in the 61st minute, while Hassan Al Haydos converted a stoppage-time penalty to »»»
Xi sets AI, Taiwan and Iran red lines in Trump talks
Chinese president urges Washington to avoid confrontation and keep AI under human control Washington: Xi Jinping told Donald Trump on Thursday that Beijing and Washington must peacefully manage their superpower rivalry, as the US president gave his Chinese counterpart a lavish welcome to the White »»»
The German Economy: Is there a silver lining on the horizon?
PoliticsGermanyThe German Economy: A silver lining on the horizon?Sabine KinkartzGermany's economy is growing again, but recovery remains on shaky ground. High government spending is keeping the economy afloat, while energy prices, a shortage of skilled workers and debt continue to weigh on it. htt»»»
Egypt leads Africa’s hotel development pipeline for 9th straight year Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Egypt has led Africa’s hotel development pipeline for a ninth consecutive year, with 185 hotels and resorts, comprising about 46,000 rooms in 2026, according to figures from W Hospitality Group highlighted by the Egyptian Cabinet Media Center. The pipeline grew from 143 properties and»»»
Oldest Hungarian brokerage delivers grim euro adoption forecast
Hungary’s oldest brokerage firm has poured cold water on hopes of early euro adoption, warning that the earliest realistic date for joining the single currency is much later than the Tisza government promised. Tisza’s 2030 ambition meets scepticism Following their landslide election victory, Péter »»»
CNN, MS NOW, Politico request court hearing after White House access denied
Move comes after judge ordered that their access be restored Washington: CNN, MS NOW and Politico requested an urgent court hearing on Thursday after their reporters were barred from the White House despite a judge’s order that their access be restored. “This morning journalists from each of CNN, M»»»
How to stop Houthi expansion in Yemen
From 9-11 September, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen seized the towns of Hays, al-Khokha, al-Mokha and Dhubab, advanced onto Zuqar and Hunaish Islands, and reached Mayyun/Perim Island in the middle of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Within days, they occupied most of Yemen’s south-western coastline al»»»
CNN, MS NOW, Politico request court hearing after White House access denied
Washington, United States: CNN, MS NOW and Politico requested an urgent court hearing on Thursday after their reporters were barred from the White House despite a judge's order that their access be restored. "This morning journalists from each of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico attempted to enter the Whi»»»