general_news

Benghazi University Reopens After 11 Years, Sets 3 Guinness Records

Benghazi -- The University of Benghazi resumed full operations on September 4, 2026, after an 11-year closure caused by war damage, following a three-year reconstruction led by the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund under Director General Belqasim Khalifa Haftar.

Reconstruction rebuilds an integrated university city in three years

The project restored the Faculties of Engineering, Humanities, Law, Science and Languages, along with the central library, teaching and administrative buildings, laboratories, utility facilities, student dormitories, internal roads and supporting infrastructure. The University of Benghazi, known as the "Mother of Libyan Universities," serves nearly 100,000 students and had been shuttered since sustaining extensive destruction during the Libyan armed forces' conflict with terrorist groups.

Utemuratov Foundation Commits $1M to Almaty Gas Infrastructure

Almaty – September 11, 2026 -- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has allocated 460 million tenge (approximately $1 million) to fund the gasification of private housing in Almaty, partnering with the city's Akimat to expand urban infrastructure and cut winter air pollution.

Foundation and city sign MoU covering inspections, consultations and gas connections

Under the recently signed memorandum of understanding, the Almaty Akimat will conduct inspections of private homes, advise residents on connection procedures and provide end-to-end support for switching to natural gas heating. Licensed contractors will then carry out the required construction and installation work.

Julius Meinl Crowns Moldova's Rîmscaia World Barista Champion in Vienna

Vienna – September 12, 2026 -- Julius Meinl named Elizaveta Rîmscaia of Moldova as Overall Champion of its International Barista Cup 2026 Grand Finale, held September 4 at Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, capping a global competition that drew more than 350 applicants across 15 countries.

Fifteen national champions competed across three judged disciplines

Baristas from markets including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia advanced through national rounds to Vienna's finale, where an independent international jury scored competitors on Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink categories.

Moldova's Rîmscaia Crowned Overall Champion at Julius Meinl Barista Cup 2026

Vienna – September 12, 2026 -- Elizaveta Rîmscaia from Moldova was crowned Overall Champion 2026 at the Julius Meinl Barista Cup Grand Finale, held on September 4 at Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, beating 14 other national champions across three competitive categories.

More than 350 baristas from 15 countries entered the annual competition

National competitions were held across 15 countries, including Austria, Italy, Germany, China, Georgia and Croatia, drawing over 350 applications before 15 national champions advanced to the Vienna finale. Competitors were judged by an independent international panel across Espresso, Cappuccino and Signature Drink categories.

Study: 77% of Top Google Firms Invisible to AI Search Tools

Berlin – September 12, 2026 -- Nearly 77 percent of businesses ranking in Google's top 10 results are completely invisible when customers query AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity, according to a new report from German directory operator Gelbe Seiten.

AI assistants cite fewer than five businesses per query, sidelining most Google top performers

The Gelbe Seiten AI Visibility Report 2026, based on 10,000 searches across 10 industries, found that AI assistants recommend an average of just 4.8 businesses per search -- a fraction of the traditional search results list. As a result, 76.9 percent of companies that rank in Google's top 10 are omitted entirely from AI-generated answers, breaking the long-standing link between search engine ranking and customer discovery.

Rönesans Holds Top 50 Global Contractor Rank for 11th Straight Year

Istanbul – September 12, 2026 -- Rönesans Holding has secured a place among the world's Top 50 International Contractors for the eleventh consecutive year, according to Engineering News-Record's (ENR) 2026 ranking of the Top 250 International Contractors.

Rönesans has completed 1,000-plus projects across nearly 40 countries since starting international operations in 1993

The Turkish construction group has generated $50 billion in international project revenue over more than three decades abroad, working alongside 3,500 Turkish manufacturers and suppliers to deliver engineering, production and services to markets worldwide.

German Welfare Groups Vow Unity After Saxony-Anhalt Vote

Berlin/Magdeburg – September 12, 2026 -- Germany's six leading welfare umbrella associations, representing more than 5 million volunteers and paid staff nationwide, issued a joint pledge to defend human dignity and social cohesion following the state election results in Saxony-Anhalt.

BAGFW President Warns Against Election-Driven Discrimination

Achim Meyer auf der Heyde, president of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege (BAGFW), said the organization stands with anyone threatened by exclusion, hostility or discrimination, regardless of election outcomes or shifting political majorities.

Schule Global Network Hits 100 Schools With Bönen Milestone

Berlin – September 12, 2026 -- Schule Global, the German intercultural education initiative, has enrolled its 100th member institution, admitting Humboldt-Realschule Bönen into its nationwide network.

Humboldt-Realschule Bönen becomes the 100th school in Schule Global's network

The school has maintained a partnership with Indonesia since 2018, intensifying ties through exchange trips starting in 2022. By joining Schule Global, the school aims to expand this Indonesia partnership and integrate global education more deeply into curricula and daily school life.

EAIGG, Draup Report: AI Sovereignty Hinges on Global Interdependence, Not Isolation

Menlo Park, Calif. – – September 12, 2026 -- A new report from the Ethical AI Governance Group (EAIGG) and Draup argues that national AI advantage depends on strategic interdependence rather than complete technological self-sufficiency, challenging a core assumption driving global AI policy.

Report introduces scorecard ranking five national AI ecosystems

The AI Sovereignty Paradox: Why AI Advantage Depends on Interdependence unveils the Global AI Adoption Scorecard, a framework assessing national AI readiness across talent, infrastructure, data ecosystems, innovation, capital formation, and policy. The inaugural study benchmarks five ecosystems—the United States, Israel, France, India, and Japan—to determine how AI capability converts into economic and strategic advantage.

Revizto Academy Hits 13,500 Certifications as Construction Workforce Gap Widens

Lausanne, Switzerland – – September 12, 2026 -- Revizto Academy, the free digital coordination training program run by AECO collaboration platform Revizto, has awarded more than 13,500 certifications to professionals in over 60 countries since its 2024 launch, the company said marking the program's two-year anniversary.

Revizto Academy issues over 13,500 certifications across 60-plus countries in two years

Learners from more than 500 AECO firms have completed the program, including staff from AECOM, AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs, Mortenson and Stantec. The training offers three certification levels aimed at building digital coordination skills for increasingly complex project environments.