Foreign
Nights spent revenues up by 53.1% in March
May 12, 2023, 4:22 pm
SOFIA, Bulgaria – The total revenues from nights spent in March reached BGN 79.6 million or by 53.1 percent more compared to the same month last year, the National Statistical Institute said on Thursday. An increase in revenues for both Bulgarian residents (by 58.1%) and nonresidents (by 46.4%)… Read More
Minister says ASEAN will become epicenter of growth
May 12, 2023, 11:42 am
JAKARTA – Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has said that he is optimistic ASEAN will become an epicenter of growth, as envisioned by Indonesia, which is chairing the regional grouping this year. "The ASEAN Summit is not merely a ceremonial event, but we believe it… Read More
At least 25 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza
May 11, 2023, 6:57 pm
GAZA CITY, Palestine – The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 25, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday. Another 76 Palestinians have been injured in the air attacks, according to the ministry. Early on Thursday, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the… Read More
Global, regional cooperation required to tackle climate change
May 11, 2023, 6:37 pm
ATHENS – Climate change is a global problem that poses a serious threat to people all over the world, particularly to the poor, and requires regional and global cooperation and mechanisms to address this, underlined a prominent Greek climate scientist. While wealthier people obviously have the… Read More
Austria bans TikTok on government work phones
May 11, 2023, 4:26 pm
VIENNA – Austria announced on Wednesday that it has banned the use of the social media platform TikTok on official phones due to security concerns. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told the press the decision was taken in line with the recommendations of an expert committee formed under the… Read More
Israeli military evacuates thousands of Gaza-area residents
May 11, 2023, 3:03 pm
JERUSALEM – Thousands of Israelis living near Gaza have been evacuated since Tuesday’s targeted killings of three top Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Strip. Anticipating a barrage of Palestinian rocket fire, which began on Wednesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant approved the… Read More
Yoon announces end to nearly all Covid-19 restrictions
May 11, 2023, 1:03 pm
SEOUL – President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday declared an end to almost all coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) restrictions, including mandatory isolation, effectively placing the disease in the endemic category. Yoon said during a Covid-19 response meeting that the seven-day mandatory isolation… Read More
ASEAN nations to implement universal QR Code: ASEAN-BAC chair
May 11, 2023, 12:58 pm
JAKARTA – The Quick Response (QR) Code digital payment service is targeted to be implemented in ASEAN member countries by September 2023, ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) chairperson Arsjad Rasjid said. "This is not just a motto. In fact, digital QR Codes can be used in ASEAN member… Read More
ASEAN Summit delegates, state guests use electric vehicles
May 10, 2023, 7:40 pm
LABUAN BAJO, E Nusa Tenggara – Delegates and state guests of the 42nd ASEAN Summit on May 9-11, 2023, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, used electric vehicles, Assistant Logistics for the Presidential Guard (Paspampres) Lieutenant Colonel Infantry, Fanny Pantouw stated. The state heads… Read More
Trump found liable in sexual abuse, defamation cases
May 10, 2023, 3:58 pm
NEW YORK – A jury here found former US President Donald Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in 1996 inside a luxury department store dressing room, CNN reported Tuesday. The former US leader was also ordered to pay Carroll US$5 million for battery and defamation. According to the TV… Read More
EU commissioner takes part in education forum in Sofia
May 10, 2023, 2:58 pm
SOFIA, Bulgaria – Innovation is needed so that solutions for the digital and the green transitions can benefit people's daily life, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said Tuesday during a forum, held in Sofia, on the occasion of the Day of… Read More
Fitch expects weak financial performance for US banks in 2023
May 10, 2023, 2:53 pm
ISTANBUL – Fitch Ratings said Tuesday it expects weak financial performance for American banks in 2023 and the US banking system is in turmoil amid sudden collapses of several banks.The global rating agency said most banks have started this year with strong profitability, asset quality,… Read More
WHO: 152M babies born preterm in last decade
May 10, 2023, 2:35 pm
GENEVA – At least 152 million vulnerable babies were born prematurely from 2010 to 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday. According to a new report, preterm birth is the largest cause of child deaths, accounting for more than one-fifth of all deaths in children under the age… Read More
Indonesia to support Timor-Leste in gaining full ASEAN membership
May 9, 2023, 9:27 pm
LABUAN BAJO, NTT -- Indonesia is ready to support the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in its efforts to gain full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At a press conference in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, ASEAN Cooperation Director of the Indonesian… Read More
Wavelength in commodity prices lengthens
May 9, 2023, 2:48 pm
ISTANBUL – The volatility in the commodity market increased and wavelength in the prices lengthened after major central banks delivered rate hikes. It was also noteworthy that product-based divergence rose last week while the commodities followed a mixed course. While investors focused on… Read More
Morocco, UN to celebrate International Day of Argania in New York
May 8, 2023, 9:17 pm
RABAT – Morocco and the United Nations will celebrate the International Day of Argania on May 10 at the United Nations headquarters in New York under the theme "Local socio-economic development and sustainability of the argan ecosystem." The UN General Assembly has adopted on March 3, 2021, by… Read More
Asia-Pacific region urged to boost use of renewable energy
May 8, 2023, 9:07 pm
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Global leaders should scale up the use of renewables and accelerate the energy transition for boosting regional climate resilience, a new study by the United Nations said. “The region needs to strengthen multilateral, sub-regional and regional power connectivity by… Read More
Capital of passion a cultural prerequisite for innovative society
May 8, 2023, 8:26 am
SOFIA, Bulgaria – The capital of passion is a cultural prerequisite for creating an innovative society, noted German scientist, historian and musicologist Matthias Theodor Vogt. Vogt, founder and director of the Institute for Cultural Infrastructures of Saxony, was a special guest at the… Read More
Indonesia develops ASEAN Village Network to support dev’t
May 7, 2023, 8:15 pm
JAKARTA – Indonesia is determined to form the ASEAN Village Network as a platform for cooperation between member countries' villages to contribute to and obtain direct benefit from the development in the region. "The focus of the ASEAN village network is cooperation in tourism development,… Read More
54 killed in violence in northeastern Indian state of Manipur
May 7, 2023, 1:38 pm
NEW DELHI – At least 54 people have lost their lives in violence that broke out this week in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, according to local media reports. The situation is reported to be tense in the state after the violence that erupted on Wednesday during protests against the… Read More
