A propos - France finance minister says Hormuz must open 'but not at any price'
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, says that t»»»
France to reimburse young women for reusable menstrual products
France announced Tuesday that it will expand access to sustainable menstrual products by reimbursing reusable cups and underwear for eligible young women and low-income groups. The move, aimed at tackling period poverty, is expected to benefit millions once implemented through the country’s social »»»
France finance minister says Hormuz must open, 'but not at any price' — G7 ready to mitigate war fallout
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any price," adding that G7 leaders stand ready to mitigate the war's economic fallout. Finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven advanced economies added i»»»
Ombudsman Pakistan plans engagement with Diaspora
Ashraf Siddiqui Doha Naveed Kamran Baloch, Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan, has stated that his office plans to engage with embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a broader outreach strategy. In his maiden interview since taken over present responsibilities with Qatar Tribune in Islamabad, Bal»»»
France finance minister says Hormuz must open 'but not at any price'
France and Britain will co-host a video conference Friday of countries ready to contribute to a "purely defensive mission" to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade, Dr Bamo Nouri, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of West London, says that t»»»
EU chief welcomes Israel-Lebanon ceasefire as 'a relief'
European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen welcomed a 10-day ceasefire declared Thursday between Israel and Lebanon that was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. "This is a relief, as this conflict has already claimed far too many lives," von der Leyen wrote on X, adding that it must l»»»
Arsenal ex-goalkeeper Manninger dies after car struck by train
Vienna: Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alexander Manninger, who played for Austria at Euro 2008, died on Thursday after his car was hit by a train, his former club Red Bull Salzburg said. The 48-year-old died when a train hit his car while crossing the tracks in the Salzburg region, the Austrian news ag»»»
Agricultural exports hit a record high last year, says minister of agriculture
AMMAN — Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khreissat on Thursday said Jordan’s agricultural sector continues to post strong performance, underpinned by improved supply chains and growing domestic production.Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV, Khreissat described the sector as a "success story" despite limited nat»»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine Prices Hospitals Pay
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Thursday expressed concern over what he described as systemic abuses within Bulgaria’s healthcare financing system, where hospitals exploit legal loopholes in order to maximize their profit and not to improve patient care, and demanded changes in the applicable»»»
European Commission welcomes ceasefire in Lebanon
Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed Thursday the 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and the Israeli occupation, announced by US President Donald Trump. In a statement, von der Leyen affirmed that Europe will continue to demand respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and te»»»
Cabinet Approves Draft of New Counter-Corruption Act
The Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a draft Act on Tackling Corruption of Public Office Holders, the Government Information Service said in a press release. The new bill has been drafted implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and the recommendations of the European »»»
Glimpses of Bush's Iraq debacle appear in Trump's foray into Iran
In a speech in Riyadh in May 2025, US President Donald Trump appeared to criticise his White House predecessors, including fellow Republican President George W. Bush, for invading Iraq in 2003, bringing down Saddam Hussein’s regime, and trying to rebuild the Iraqi state. Trump’s barb was at “so-cal»»»
Bulgaria Opens Consulate in Turkiye's Izmir
The Council of Ministers Thursday adopted a decision to open a Bulgarian consulate in Turkiye, headed by an honorary (non-career) consular officer, with its seat in Izmir and a consular district covering the territories of the provinces of Izmir, Sakarya, Bilesik, Eskisehir, Kocaeli, and Kutahya. T»»»
Press Review - Russia warns drone companies in Europe could be 'potential targets'
PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, April 16: We take a look at the latest coverage from the Russian independent papers. Next: a story about how new technologies are helping the elderly to combat loneliness. Also: a baby elephant has a similar story to that of Punch the monkey. Finally, why did a British»»»
Mali: NIS licence due to be extended by end of day, MOL representatives to visit Belgrade
WASHINGTON - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali, who is on a visit to Washington, said on Thursday he expected the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to extend an operating licence for the Serbian oil company NIS by the end of the day and announced that representatives»»»
S. Korea tourist arrivals hit record high in Q1, up 23% on-year
South Korea recorded a first-quarter record of 4.76 million foreign tourist arrivals, up 23 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday. The figure represents the highest first-quarter total on record, achieved despite geopolitical tensions in the Mid»»»
Voting Machines to Be Moved Friday Evening, Will Reach Polling Sites on Saturday
A voting machine was demonstrated to journalists here on Thursday at the warehouse where the devices are kept. On Friday evening, the voting machines will be transported to municipalities countrywide and are expected to reach the voting sections on Saturday, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy»»»
Magyar begins dismantling Orbán’s legacy (four days after the election)
Our weekly series on Hungarian politics continues so we can report on developments after these historic elections and on events around the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: We may know the final election result on Saturday (18 April). Tisza’s victory has re»»»
UAE steps up global financial partnerships in Washington meetings
Dubai: The UAE has held a series of high-level meetings with global finance leaders in Washington, focusing on strengthening financial partnerships, expanding tax frameworks and reinforcing its role in supporting international financial stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine that Prices Hospitals Pay
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Thursday expressed concern over what he described as systemic abuses within Bulgaria’s healthcare financing system, where hospitals exploit legal loopholes in order to maximize their profit and not to improve patient care, and demanded changes in the applicable»»»
Russian Missile Strikes Would Bury EU’s Drone Scheme for Ukraine Instantly - Expert
The key vulnerability in this plan lies in the gap between the European assembly of the "carcasses" and the Ukrainian installation of the "brains,” suggests military journalist Aleksey Borzenko, deputy chief editor of the Literary Russia newspaper. Speaking to Sputnik, Borzenko argued that the arra»»»
Europe’s Drone Pipeline to Ukraine Could Soon be in Russia’s Crosshairs - Analyst
The Russian Defense Ministry’s statement on Europe’s plan to scale up drone production for Ukraine contained an explicit warning, says military analyst Ivan Konovalov speaking to Sputnik: Europe is turning into a “strategic rear base.” The term applies to infrastructure that, while located outside »»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
IEA Chief Says Europe Has 'Maybe 6 Weeks or So' of Jet Fuel Left
Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday in a wide-ranging Associated Press interview, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a»»»
Trump aims to “rewire” global oil flows away from Hormuz, with Europe set to be hit hardest, expert says
US President Donald Trump is making “a big move towards controlling the marginal barrel of oil,” attempting to shift the world’s energy focus from the Persian Gulf region to the Gulf of Mexico, “where oil tankers are now lining up,” geopolitical analyst Tom Luongo told RT in an interview on Wednesd»»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
Dimitrieska-Kochoska attends IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings
Skopje, 14 April 2026 (MIA) – Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, is visiting Washington, D.C., USA from April 14 to 18 to take part in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). While in Washington D.C., the Ministry of Finance said»»»
EU, NATO to Work to Strengthen Relationship, Von der Leyen Says
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that she agreed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to work in the coming weeks to strengthen the European Union's relationship with the military alliance. "We discussed the upcoming NATO Summit and how we can upscale defense in»»»
Keir Starmer tells social media firms he is considering a child ban - UPI.com
Europe, Middle East and Africa President of Snap, Ronan Harris (L), and Wifredo Fernandez, director of global government affairs at X, leave No. 10 Downing Street in London on Thursday morning after meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss ways to protect children safe when they are on social»»»
Op-ed | Marcelo Castellanos (IFC): How sustainable logistics infrastructure can strengthen Romania’s role in European value chains
Industrial and logistics infrastructure is a quiet enabler of modern economies — and a critical foundation for job creation. From manufacturing and e-commerce to export competitiveness, high-quality logistics networks underpin productivity, resilience, and integration into global value chains that »»»
Hungary’s incoming PM Peter Magyar pledges crackdown on critical media
Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has pledged to suspend the news operations of the state broadcaster following two tense interviews he gave on Wednesday. Magyar’s Tisza party secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, effectively ensuring he will form the next go»»»
EU spied on Hungary’s Viktor Orban for years – former Slovak minister
The EU spy campaign that helped bring down Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a lesson to anyone who defies Brussels, former Slovak Interior Minister Vladimir Palko has warned. “What they did to Orban yesterday, they can do to you tomorrow,” he told the outlet ‘Marker’ on Monday. Orban’s Fide»»»
BSP Leader Zarkov: While Others Talk About Compensations or Promotions, We Talk About Reforming Entire Systems
While others are talking about compensations or promotions, we are talking about reforming entire systems, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Krum Zarkov said in Samokov on Thursday. He took part in the closing event of the election campaign of BSP – United Left for the Sofia region. "Unlike ot»»»
Pope blasts ‘tyrants’ ravaging the Earth during his visit to Cameroon
Bamenda: Pope Leo XIV blasted the “handful of tyrants” who are ravaging Earth with war and exploitation, as he preached a message of peace Thursday in the epicentre of a separatist conflict considered one of the world’s most neglected crises. Leo travelled to the western Cameroon city of Bamenda, w»»»
Sig Sauer CEO Ron Cohen visits Cugir to built partnership
His itinerary included Cugir, Alba County, and Bucharest, with the objective to assessing the potential for industrial partnerships with Romanian defense manufacturers and opening a series of bilateral discussions with relevant industry and institutional stakeholders. The visit has three concrete o»»»
Farhana Bodi breaks down during interview: 'I was shattered when my son was diagnosed with autism'
Dubai: In a scenic lake-side resort in Geneva, miles away from Dubai, Indian reality star, model, and influencer Farhana Bodi logs in for our conversation with her usual polish and flourish. She was on a work trip for a luxury watch event and was naturally composed, camera-ready, and effortlessly g»»»
Agroland Group Q1 2026: 40% increase in volume and 25% increase in average price for eggs
“First-quarter results in the table egg segment show a significant increase in sales volumes, against a backdrop of steadily rising average prices. This trend confirms the validity of the decisions we have made in recent years to expand production capacity in a region with growing consumption trend»»»
Anti-France influencer Kemi Seba arrested in South Africa for inciting rebellion in Benin
An anti-France activist and influencer has been arrested in South Africa for “inciting rebellion” by openly supporting last year’s foiled coup in Benin. Kemi Seba was born in France to Benin parents but was stripped of his French nationality two years ago for his many attempts to fuel anti-French s»»»
Claret Credit announces 150% increase in sales in 2025
These results validate Claret Credit’s development strategy, which focuses on strengthening the management team and digitalizing operations. In 2024, the company appointed Mircea Lupu as CEO, an executive with over 20 years of experience in the banking and non-banking financial sectors. Claret Cred»»»
More than a dozen killed in Russian attacks on Kyiv, other Ukrainian cities
More than a dozen people, including at least one child, have been killed in Russian missile and drone attacks on infrastructure and residential buildings in Kyiv and in other Ukrainian cities like Odesa and Dnipro overnight to Thursday. Several dozens of civilians were also injured in the assaults.»»»
18 killed, 100 injured as Ukraine, Russia trade missile, drone attacks - UPI.com
A Ukrainian firefighter battles a massive blaze early Thursday at the scene of a Russian missile strike in the capital, Kyiv, where four people were among 16 killed in large scale aerial attacks on several Ukrainian cities overnight. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA April 16 (UPI) -- An airborne Russi»»»
The Inside Track | One United Properties: Pioneering urban transformation and sustainable living in Romania
Leading real estate developer One United Properties is known for its modern mixed-use developments, sustainable initiatives, and investments in the Bucharest and Romanian regional property markets. The company is committed to creating vibrant, eco-friendly communities while respecting local heritag»»»
Bulgaria opens radioactive waste repository on Romanian border
Bulgaria has officially opened a national repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the Radiana site near the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, the country's energy ministry said. The facility, located at»»»
Peter Magyar calls on Hungarian president to step down, announces plans for media shake-up in fiery interview
Incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar called on the president, Tamas Sulyok, to resign after the new government is formed, saying otherwise the new majority would seek his removal, Telex.hu reported on April 15. According to Magyar's account, President Sulyok had told him that he, to»»»
Arish–Taba Axis Gains Momentum with New Logistics Hub
Cairo — Egypt has commenced implementation of a major logistics zone in the city of Arish, North Sinai, as part of a broader strategy to enhance trade infrastructure and position the region as a key hub for regional connectivity. According to an official statement by the Ministry of Transport Egypt»»»
Media Review: April 16
APRIL 19 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS A sociological survey commissioned by bTV and conducted by the Market Links polling agency shows that five parties are expected to enter next Parliament, with one of them clearly standing out above the rest. The survey was conducted among 1,003 respondents aged over»»»
Libya joins International Dates Council
Libya officially joined the International Dates Council (IDC) last Sunday (12 April). The IDC welcomed the accession of Libya as an official member, describing it as a qualitative addition that enhances the process of international cooperation in the date palm sector, and consolidates its position»»»
BR Cover Story | How Symfonia is redefining business software in Romania
As Romanian companies navigate increasing regulatory complexity and operational pressure, business software is becoming a critical foundation for growth. Business Review spoke with Roxana Epure, the CEO of Symfonia in Romania, about the company’s strategic transformation, its vision for the local m»»»
Why is France’s bill against ‘new forms of anti-Semitism’ sparking controversy?
This article was originally published on April 4, 2026 – French lawmakers are on Thursday set to debate a controversial bill that proposes labeling any implicitly expressed "hatred" against the state of Israel as anti-Semitic, making it a crime under the country’s terrorism laws»»»