Czech industrial output grows 1.3% in February as slowdown continues for third month
Czech industrial output increased by 1.3% year-on-year and month-on-month in February, according to newly released data on April 9 seen by IntelliNews. This is down on the revised 2.7% y/y registered in January and the thi»»»
EU lawmakers want to tax Big Tech to fund budget
Brussels, Belgium: EU lawmakers on Thursday demanded a European Union-wide tax on the world's biggest tech companies to help fund the 27-country bloc's next seven-year budget. The EU is facing one of its biggest battles this year over the 2028-2034 budget, which the executive set at two trillion eu»»»
Drive to feed air-dropped rabies vaccines to foxes in the wild
A campaign to inoculate wild foxes against rabies through air-dropped, vaccine-laced baits will start at the end of April, authorities said Thursday, warning members of the public to seek medical assistance if they touch the baits. The Rural Development Ministry said the annual oral vaccination cam»»»
Pakistan Says Appreciates 'Restraint' ahead of US-Iran Talks
Pakistan's prime minister and army chief said Thursday they "appreciated the restraint demonstrated by all sides", before Islamabad is expected to host talks between Iran and the United States, AFP reported. "The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the de-escalation achieved so far and stressed»»»
UK, Norway Led a Military Operation to Deter Russian Submarines in the North Atlantic
British and Norwegian militaries led a weekslong operation to deter Russian submarines suspected of “malign activity” in the North Atlantic, the UK military said Thursday. Defense Secretary John Healey said a frigate, planes and hundreds of personnel monitored a Russian attack sub and two spy subma»»»
Industry: Tunisia’s textile sector banks on innovation and sustainability to maintain competitiveness
Tunis, April 9 (TAP) – Innovation and sustainability are no longer optional but have become “key drivers of competitiveness” for Tunisia’s textile industry, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub said on Thursday. Speaking...»»»
Sova Harris Poll: Six Political Forces to Enter Next Parliament
Six formations are certain to enter the next parliament, according to a nationally representative poll conducted by Sova Harris. It was taken between April 2 and 6, 2026, among 800 adult Bulgarian citizens using standardized face-to-face interviews at respondents’ homes. The survey was commissioned»»»
‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ to stream on this OTT platform after IPL 2026
Dubai: Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh’s high-octane sequel Dhurandhar: The Revenge isn’t just a box office behemoth, it’s now a full-blown phenomenon. After storming past the box office in India with over Rs10 billion collection, the film is now gearing up for its digital premiere, much to the excit»»»
China bans civil aviation from large area off Shanghai
Paris, France: China has banned for 40 days civil aviation from a large airspace off Shanghai without specifying the reasons, according to a notice to aviators published by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The aviation notice (NOTAM) announcing the access restriction was posted online »»»
Lulu airlifts 3,000 tonnes of Kerala produce to GCC for Vishu
Dubai: Festive demand is driving a large-scale airlift of fresh produce from Kerala into the Gulf, with more than 3,000 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and traditional essentials being flown in ahead of Vishu celebrations. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Retail major Lulu»»»
Tunisia, Turkey explore new partnerships in agricultural machinery, agro-food industries
Tunis, April 9 (TAP) – A Tunisian-Turkish working session took place Tuesday at the headquarters of the Konya Chamber of Industry with attendance of the respective presidents of the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the chamber of Konya. New...»»»
Vucevic: Serbia needs social peace, we do not understand those refusing discussions
BELGRADE - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Milos Vucevic said on Thursday the party did not understand people who were advocating early parliamentary elections but were refusing to discuss them and other topics with the Serbian president, and noted that Serbia needed social peace. "We do not»»»
Russian Forces Strike Fuel and Energy Infrastructure Facilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian military forces have struck Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groupings struck fuel»»»
Middle East airspace warning extended: Airlines halt flights amid rising tensions
Dubai: Europe’s aviation safety watchdog has extended its warning to airlines to avoid large parts of the Middle East airspace until April 24, amid the ongoing regional crisis. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), keeping restr»»»
In Silistra, Interior Minister Finds Further Proof of Increased Public Trust in Police
With the April 19 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria ten days away, people in Silistra Region have filed 14 alerts about electoral violations, compared with five alerts during the same period in the run-up to the previous parliamentary elections on October 27, 2024, caretaker Interior Minist»»»
Bangladesh sentences two policemen to death for protest murder
Dhaka: Bangladesh sentenced two former policemen to death by hanging Thursday for murdering student protester Abu Sayeed, whose killing escalated the 2024 uprising that toppled the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina. Sayeed died aged 23 in the northern city of Rangpur, the first student demonst»»»
UAE strongly condemns Israeli attacks on Lebanon
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli attacks across several areas in Lebanon, and expressed concern over continued escalation and its repercussions on regional security and stability. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) emphasised t»»»
NBS keeps key policy rate at 5.75 pct
BELGRADE - The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Executive Board decided on Thursday to retain the key policy rate at 5.75 pct and keep the deposit and lending facility rates at 4.5 pct and 7.0 pct, respectively. "When making the decision, the Executive Board was mainly guided by actual and expected in»»»
Hezbollah fires rockets at northern Israel
At least 14 rocket alerts sounded through Thursday morning in communities near Israel's northern border with Lebanon as Israeli forces fight Hezbollah despite the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Footage from the border area showed long rocket trails in the sky and plumes of smoke signalling interceptions. Cal»»»
Calls for US-Iran truce to extend to Lebanon after Israeli strikes
Beirut, Lebanon: Calls were mounting on Thursday for the ceasefire between the US and Iran to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, after a massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 200 people. US President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreei»»»
Pakistan ramps up security ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad
Dubai: Islamabad is gearing up to host critical peace talks between the United States and Iran on April 10, with Pakistan taking Centre stage as a mediator in the Middle East conflict. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday assured US Ambassador Natalie Baker of “foolproof security” »»»
UAE warns of impact of Iranian attacks on global health, food systems
Addressing international leaders at the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, the UAE issued a stark warning on the far-reaching global health, environmental, and food system consequences of ongoing illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked attacks in the region. The summit, convened by French President »»»
Kuwait airport closure continues
Dubai: Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority has denied reports claiming that flights have resumed at Kuwait International Airport, stressing that no official approvals have been issued yet. In a statement, the authority confirmed that the airport has remained closed since February 28 due to the prevai»»»
Pakistan Pivots to Eurasia As World Watches US-Iran Talks
Establishing strong economic relations with the Eurasian region is in Pakistan's interest, Nasir Abbas Shirazi, President of the Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies, told Sputnik. The US-Iran ceasefire talks are not Pakistan's only major diplomatic initiative right now. While global attention rema»»»
Israel dismisses mounting calls to add Lebanon to US-Iran ceasefire
Israel vowed more strikes against Hezbollah on Thursday, dismissing mounting international demands that the fragile truce between the United States and Iran in the Gulf be expanded to cover the war in Lebanon. At least 203 people were killed and 1,000 wounded in the latest strikes, the Lebanese hea»»»
EU slams Hormuz toll idea, urges unrestricted freedom of navigation
Brussels, Belgium: The EU said Thursday that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be ensured with “no payment or toll whatsoever”, after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships through. A full reopening of the vital Gulf waterway remains a key point of contention as talks are»»»
Ukraine Plots Maritime Sabotage Attacks Against Russia with Norway’s Help
The criminal Zelensky regime, aided by Norwegian Navy specialists, is preparing terrorist attacks on Russian ships navigating the Barents and Norwegian Seas to and from the port of Murmansk, Russian media report, citing a military-diplomatic source. For this purpose, a group of about 50 servicemen »»»
Lebanese govt. bans non-state weapons in capital Beirut
Lebanon's cabinet on Thursday instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions, a day after Israeli strikes across the country including in the heart of the capital. "The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforcing the full impos»»»
Calls for US-Iran truce to extend to Lebanon after Israeli strikes
Calls were mounting on Thursday for the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, after a massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 200 people. U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreeing a two-week»»»
UK tracked 3 Russian subs in alleged N. Atlantic 'covert' op
London: Britain said Thursday it had tracked and “seen off” three Russian submarines on an alleged month-long “covert operation” in Atlantic waters “north of the UK” near vital undersea cables and pipelines. Disclosing details of the joint mission with Norway and other unspecified allies, British D»»»
Oil prices poised to breach $100 level as Iran cease-fire fears mount - UPI.com
Fuel prices a gas station in Prague after the government of the Czech Republic responded to soaring oil prices with a cap on fuel distributors' margins and a cut in diesel excise duty. A daily cap on maximum diesel and petrol prices which retailers must adhere to was due to follow. Photo by Martin »»»
Hezbollah Media Relations offers condolences to Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio over martyrdom of documentary host and social activist Suzan Khalil - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Media Relations offers condolences to Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio over martyrdom of documentary host and social activist Suzan »»»
Scammers stole €21,000 from two elderly women
Two people have been arrested in central Athens for defrauding elderly women out of more than €21,000 euros through a common but efficient phone scam, authorities said Thursday. A police statement said the suspects allegedly called the two women, who live in the western town of Arta, claimed to wor»»»
Caretaker Foreign Minister, Japan's Ambassador to Bulgaria Praise Bilateral Dialogue, Cooperation
Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky and Japan’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Chikahisa Sumi praised the active bilateral dialogue and cooperation during a meeting on the occasion of the Japanese diplomat’s assumption of office, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. The sides in the talks praised»»»
Lebanese government bans non-state weapons in capital Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanon's cabinet on Thursday instructed security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut exclusively to state institutions, a day after Israeli strikes across the country including in the heart of the capital. “The army and security forces are requested to immediately begin reinforci»»»
Holding Iran accountable: Why the Gulf must act now
The most pressing question in the minds of Gulf populations today is: Can the Iranian regime escape accountability for its crimes against Gulf countries and their peoples? The core reason behind this question is that the official position of these countries has been limited to a defensive posture, »»»
In a leaderless system, these men now govern Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father was killed in a US-Israeli strike on 28 February, but has yet to appear in public, and is believed to have been injured in the strike, which also killed several other members of his close family. Yet despite his absence, the Iran»»»
PPC Energie launches the maintenance service for photovoltaic systems dedicated to companies
The new product targets both existing business customers of PPC Energie and companies that have photovoltaic systems installed by any other supplier on the market. For companies that intend to take the first step in increasing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs, PPC Energie offers tur»»»
Nearly EUR 90,000 Intended for Vote-buying Found in Plovdiv, Two Detained, Acting Interior Ministry General Secretary Says
In a police operation, two men were tracked down and detained in the parking lot of a major retail chain, after police in Plovdiv received a tip on Wednesday that two individuals were withdrawing large sums of money from a bank branch in an attempt to influence the upcoming elections, acting Genera»»»
Qatar emphasises importance of efforts to eliminate remnants of former Syrian regime's chemical weapons program
THE HAGUE: The State of Qatar affirmed the importance of coordinated international efforts to eliminate the remnants of the former Syrian regime's chemical weapons program, commending the cooperation of the sisterly Syrian Arab Republic with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons »»»
72 hours to Hungary’s election: a crushing Tisza victory — or downfall of the pollsters?
In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. This is our final edition of this series before the election. We guide readers on the route to the crunch Sunday (12 April) election — a poll without pr»»»
Pyrgos teenagers arrested for battering their baby
A teenage couple has been arrested in southwestern Greece on suspicion of abusing its months-old baby to the extent that it needed urgent hospitalization, authorities said Thursday. A police statement said the two 18-year-olds are being held in the town of Pyrgos in the Peloponnese for alleged inte»»»
GCC banks get lifeline as central banks step in amid crisis
Dubai: Gulf central banks have rolled out targeted support measures to help banks navigate ongoing geopolitical turbulence, S&P Global Ratings said in a report. Authorities in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar introduced packages focused on liquidity, capital and asset quality, aimed at ensuring banks can »»»
Bulgaria Election Snapshot: Six-Party Parliament Forecast Amid Economic Anxiety and Shifting Support
A new survey by the “Sova Harris” agency indicates that six political formations would enter the next Bulgarian National Assembly, based on data collected between April 2 and 6 among 800 respondents through standardized face-to-face interviews. The study was commissioned by the newspaper “Trud” and»»»
Global Village reopening date yet to be confirmed as closure continues
Dubai: Dubai’s Global Village remains closed until further notice, with no confirmed reopening date announced yet for Season 30, as visitors await updates on when the popular outdoor attraction will resume operations. The announcement was reiterated through the attraction’s official Instagram chann»»»
Ministry of Defense confirms airspace free of any aerial threats
The Ministry of Defence announced that on 9th April 2026, UAE air defence systems did not detect any ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, or UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles, »»»
December date set for spyware scandal appeal trial
The appeal court trial of four people convicted in connection with Greece’s phone spyware scandal will be held on December 11. All four were found guilty of misdemeanor charges including breaching personal data, and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, suspended until the hearing of their appeal. If »»»
How a routine store opening in Dubai turned into a pop cultural moment: Inside Primark UAE opening craze
Dubai: In a city used to big launches, it’s not often that a retail opening morphs into something more shared and communal. But in recent weeks, across Dubai, something has shifted -- with crowds, conversations and social media turning what might have been a routine shopping experience into somethi»»»
Iran war raises risk of nuclear disaster in the Middle East
A war launched by the US and Israel with the stated aim of preventing a nuclear crisis could end up causing one. With repeated strikes reported near the Russian-built Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, discussions about the US potentially forcibly taking Iranian uranium reserves, and seemingly ze»»»
OCI Sells Global Methanol Business to Methanex for $2 Billion
In a significant move within the chemicals industry, OCI N.V., backed by Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, has announced the sale of its global methanol business to Canadian company Methanex Corporation for a total of $2 billion. This strategic transaction is expected to create substantial value»»»