Doha, Qatar: FIFA has announced the list of referees appointed to officiate matches at the 2026 World Cup finals, which will kick off next June and be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with an expanded 48-team tournament for the first time in its history. The list included a notable »»»

By a final ruling issued on Thursday, Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) left without consideration two motions entered by the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) in a case concerning Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov. A duplicate copy of the ruling will»»»

The social system in Bulgaria has been left to drift instead of addressing people's problems, said Ivaylo Papov, top-of-the-list candidate of Vazrazhdane in the 6th multi-member constituency in Vratsa, the party's press office said on Thursday. According to Papov, the system tends to sustain proble»»»

Skopje, 7 April 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska met Tuesday in Washington with representatives of the Chevron Corporation, dedicated to the enhancement of energy cooperation and ensuring stable and diversified supply with oil and liquified natural gas»»»

Former New York Police Department Sgt. Erik Duran was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the killing of 30-year-old Eric Duprey in 2023. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- A former New York Police Department sergeant was sentence»»»

Share: Tehran chose Hormuz over its proxies—proving once again that its wars are never its own, but fought by others to serve its interests alone By : Ali Hussein- Lebanese Political Analyst If anyone is still confused about whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire deal, Iran’s actions—not its»»»

People flee from areas the Israeli army has warned could come under attack in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday. Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 9 (UPI) -- Lebanese officials engaged Thursday in intensive diplomatic contacts to confirm the country's inclusion in the Pakistan-mediated U.»»»

Dubai: Dubai Police have intensified their visible security presence across the emirate, deploying 379 mounted patrols during the first quarter of 2026, covering residential, commercial and tourist areas. The patrols, carried out by the Mounted Police Station, are part of ongoing efforts to enhance»»»

Writer Lyuben Dilov Jr, top-of-the-list candidate of GERB-UDF for Burgas constituency, has donated nearly 500 books, including signed editions, to the Regional Library Peyo K. Yavorov in Burgas, the institution said. The donation includes works by Bulgarian authors such as Dora Gabe, Elisaveta Bagr»»»

Tunis, April 9 (TAP) - Tunisia is recording remarkable momentum in the start-up sector, with more than 1,450 start-ups to date, including 1,165 certified start-ups and 17 scale-ups (start-ups that have moved beyond the launch stage and entered a...»»»

In an apparent attempt to divert attention from GUGI’s failed North Sea operation, the Kremlin’s propaganda outlet TASS on Thursday accused Norway of assisting Ukraine in preparing attacks on Russian vessels in the Barents and Norwegian Seas. “The criminal Kyiv regime, with the assistance of milita»»»

Traffic has been building up on major routes out of Athens, as thousands of holidaymakers leave the capital for the Greek Easter. By Thursday afternoon, vehicles were moving at slow speeds on key motorways amid increasing congestion. Along Kifissos Avenue, traffic heading north towards Lamia had co»»»

A man arrested on Wednesday on the island of Kythera is facing charges including looting antiquities, failure to report archaeological finds, offering antiquities for sale online and illegal weapons possession, police have said. The suspect was detained after allegedly posting a coin for sale on th»»»

The Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastian Elcano, carrying Spanish Crown Princess Leonor, arrives in the port of El Callao in Peru in April 2025. File Photo by John Reyes/EPA April 9 (UPI) -- Peru's government approved issuing sovereign bonds worth up to about $1.2 billion to finance expansion »»»

As Israeli forces press deeper into Syrian territory along the ceasefire line in the occupied Golan Heights, a Syrian official source told Asharq Al-Awsat that increased patrols by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) stem from the 1974 disengagement agreement, not new understand»»»

Damascus, April 9 (SANA) With the participation of more than 120 local, Arab, and international companies, the 4th Syria International Exhibition for Agricultural Mechanization, Livestock, and Agricultural Production Supplies, themed “Agro Syria,” opened Thursday at Damascus Fairgrounds. The event »»»

Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting any negotiations with Israel, a Lebanese government official told AFP on Thursday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered his cabinet to begin direct talks with Beirut. "Lebanon wants a ceasefire before starting negotiations," s»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Netanyahu: Negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and regulating “peace” relations between “Israel” and Lebanon 09-04-2026 19:03 PM»»»

A total of 101 cases of measles have been registered in Bulgaria, the Health Ministry announced on Facebook on Thursday. The cases have been reported in five regions of the country. The biggest number of cases have been registered in Vratsa - 80. Twelve cases have been reported in the Pleven Region»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has recorded three violations at a central market involving pricing non-compliance, commercial fraud, and misleading practices. In a statement on social media, the Ministry said that legal measures have been taken against the Al Sailiya Cent»»»

1 of 3 | Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber arrives at the COP28 Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 30, 2023. As CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, he said the Strait of Hormuz is not unconditionally open. File Photo by Ali Haider/EPA-EFE April 9 (UPI) -- The Strait of Hormuz is not »»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible if the United States complies with its obligations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday. "Safe passage of vessels through this waterway, based on regulations and in coordination with the Ir»»»

The European development bank said Thursday it was unlocking five billion euros ($5.9 bn) to help shore up economies hit by the Middle East war. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it will "deploy EUR5 billion in 2026 in economies impacted by Middle East conflict". The »»»

Share: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he has instructed Israel’s Cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon. “In light of Lebanon’s repeated calls to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the Cabinet yesterday to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as s»»»

1 of 2 | Disney plans to lay off up to 1,000 employees and cut their positions, focusing largely on its marketing department. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- Disney plans to lay off up to 1,000 employees and cut their positions, focusing largely on its marketing de»»»

In a potential boost to Middle East ceasefire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he authorized direct negotiations “as soon as possible” with Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah militants and establishing relations between the two countries. "In light of Lebanon'»»»

Tunis, April 9 (TAP) - President Kais Saied on Thursday presided over a ceremony at the Martyrs’ Garden in Sijoumi, Tunis, to mark the 88th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day, which commemorates the events of 9 April 1938.The Head of State saluted the flag...»»»

Caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov met with representatives of the Association of Specialized Road Assistance Providers in Bulgaria, who staged a protest earlier on Thursday, the ministry's press office said. Naydenov said the Road Infrastructure Agency is responsible for buil»»»

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the new Wages Protection System in the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced the inclusion of four new financial institutions in the system, further strengthening wage management efficiency and expanding options for employers.»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Negotiations to end the US-Iran conflict depend on the US commitment to ceasefire obligations "on all fronts," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. "The holding of negotiations to end the war depends on the US commitment to ceasefire obligations on all fronts, particula»»»

A 300-million-year-old tentacled sea creature has lost its crown as the world’s oldest octopus, after scientists found evidence that it’s not an octopus at all. Newly published research concludes that fossilized remains listed by Guinness World Records as the earliest known octopus belong instead t»»»

The administration of US President Donald Trump is “weaponizing Christianity” to justify its actions in the Middle East, while Israel continues to act with impunity as much of the West turns a blind eye, Irish activist and satirist Tadhg Hickey has said. Appearing on RT’s East Meets West show, host»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a telephone conversation with HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. During the call, they reviewed regional developments, particularly the latest developments regarding the ceasefire agreement be»»»

On 28 February 2026, the first day of the US-Israeli war, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, along with several senior military figures and members of his family. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was wounded in the same strike that also killed Mojtaba’s mother, Mansoureh Khojast»»»

NEW YORK - Addressing a UN Security Council session on the work of UNMIK, the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday its presence continued to serve as a key guarantee of peace, stability and protection of the fundamental human rights of Serbs living in the province»»»

Not so long ago, US President Donald Trump openly endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of the Hungarian parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12. From a diplomatic standpoint, urging citizens of another country to vote for a specific candidate is contentious, to say the least.»»»

Tech billionaire Elon Musk is seeking to have OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman fired as part of his lawsuit against the artificial intelligence giant, court documents filed on Tuesday show. The mogul sued OpenAI in 2024, accusing it of defrauding him of $38 million in initial fundi»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahariya and its surroundings 09-04-2026 18:58 PM Latest News Urgent News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Ne»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Football Association's (QFA) Referees Committee held its ninth meeting today to discuss several agenda items, as part of its ongoing efforts to monitor progress and develop the refereeing system. During the meeting, the committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting, »»»

Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev met his supporters at Festivalna Sports Hall in Vidin, the coalition’s campaign headquarters announced on Thursday. Radev presented the formation as an alternative for restoring trust in the state. Among the main priorities, Radev highlighted the "dismantling»»»

Israeli forces shot and killed a young female student on Thursday while she was attending a class held in a tent in the town of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, health and education officials said. The education ministry said third-grade student Ritaj Rihan was hit by a bullet in front of he»»»

At a campaign rally in Sopron, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech centered on national sovereignty, economic security, and the stakes of the upcoming election, presenting the vote as a decisive choice about Hungary’s future. Opening his remarks, Prime Minister Orbán stressed that the ca»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he ordered his cabinet to open direct talks with Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and establish "peace relations" between the two countries. "In light of Lebanon's repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I instructed the cabinet »»»

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Deputy Chair Atanas Merdzhanov told the leadership of the National Hunters' and Anglers' Union (NHAU) that protecting Bulgaria's nature, its forests and biodiversity are inherently left-wing values which the BSP – United Left coalition will uphold in the next parliam»»»

Public officials are attempting to exert improper influence over the electoral process, Bulgaria’s caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said at a briefing in Ruse. He cited specific cases involving a mayor in northwestern Bulgaria and a deputy mayor in a border town. “In one case in northwestern»»»

London: A man who stole a handbag containing a Faberge egg and watch worth at least $2.8 million (£2.0 million) from a London establishment was jailed on Thursday for more than two years. Enzo Conticello, 29, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and three counts of fraud. He wa»»»

Paris, France: The Cannes Film Festival unveiled its roster of films for this year's edition on Thursday packed with historical dramas, "gentleness" and even football, with the absence of major Hollywood studios set to dial down the American razzle-dazzle of previous editions. Festival director Thi»»»

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before the closing bell at the NYSE on Wall Street on March 3, in New York City. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis revised the rate of economic growth for the fourth quarter of 2025 down Thursday due largely to slower-than-expected investm»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s real estate sector recorded a strong start to 2026, with total transactions reaching Dh252 billion in the first quarter, marking a 31 per cent year-on-year increase in value and a 6 per cent rise in volume. Data released by the Dubai Land Department showed that 60,303 real estate tra»»»

Dr. Akhtar described the situation the US finds itself in as "a strategic failure on all accounts." The United States is ready to make concessions to one degree or another, Professor of Political Economy Dr. Aasim Sajjad Akhtar told Sputnik, commenting on Iran's 10-point settlement plan.Iranian dem»»»