PM, European Council president discuss regional security, US-Iran ceasefire deal
QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa in Doha on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly those related to the c»»»
Unlocking global interconnectivity Ooredoo and DE-CIX connect Doha IX to DE-CIX Marseille
Tribune News Network Doha, Qatar / Frankfurt, Germany Ooredoo and DE-CIX are accelerating the development of Doha IX. As of today, Qatar’s first commercial Internet Exchange (IX) is directly connected to DE-CIX Marseille. Operated by Qatar’s leading telecommunications provider and powered by the wo»»»
Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid to set up semi-final with PSG
Munich: Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise earned Bayern Munich a 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, securing a 6-4 aggregate victory and sending them through to face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals. The tie was level at the break after a scintillating opening half, with»»»
EU report slams Germany over restrictions on pro-Palestinian protests
Germany’s handling of anti-Israel protests was “disproportionate,” and the government’s use of hate-speech laws to counter the demonstrations unfairly restricted freedom of expression, a report by the EU’s human rights commissioner has found. Compiled by the Council of Europe’s commissioner for hum»»»
Syrian finance minister chairs Friends of Syria meeting in Washington
Washington , April 15 (SANA) Finance Minister Mohamed Yisr Barnieh chaired the technical roundtable meeting of the Friends of Syria Group, held to discuss priorities for recovery and reconstruction on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington. The Ministry of Finance sai»»»
Europe Turning into Direct Sponsor of State Terrorism – Defense Analyst
European capitals have finally cast off their 'peacemaker' masks, military expert Boris Rozhin says, commenting on Russia's Ministry of Defense statement exposing European plans to ramp up drone production for Ukraine to target Russia. Western drones are used not only on the battlefield, but for st»»»
Russia And Belarus Intel Agencies Expose Malicious Foreign Plans To Harm Moscow And Minsk
"The situation on Russia’s and Belarus’s western borders can be described as tense," Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), said. Other key statements:EU countries oppose a peace settlement in Ukraine because they have invested heavily in the war The Baltic state»»»
3 paramedics killed in south Lebanon, Israel says 200 Hezbollah targets hit
Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed at least three paramedics on Wednesday, as the Israeli army announced it had attacked 200 Hezbollah targets over 24 hours. Hezbollah meanwhile claimed attacks on northern Israel and on invading Israeli troops, a day after Leban»»»
3 paramedics killed in south Lebanon, Israel says 200 Hezbollah targets hit
Lebanese authorities said Israeli strikes on the country's south killed at least three paramedics on Wednesday, as the Israeli army announced it had attacked 200 Hezbollah targets over 24 hours. Hezbollah meanwhile claimed attacks on northern Israel and on invading Israeli troops, a day after Leban»»»
Nutella maker says targeted in EU antitrust probe
Milan, Italy: Confectionary giant Ferrero, the maker of Nutella spread and Kinder chocolate, said Wednesday it was being targeted by investigators probing a possible violation of EU anti-trust rules. The European Commission had announced Monday that investigators were raiding the premises of a choc»»»
EU rejects Meta's pay-for-access remedy in WhatsApp AI chatbots probe
Brussels, Belgium: The EU told Meta Wednesday that charging rival AI chatbots for access to its WhatsApp platform runs against the bloc's antitrust rules, rebuffing the measure taken by the US giant in response to a probe. Meta started charging a fee as redress in March after an EU probe found it h»»»
Europe Ramps up Drone Production for Ukraine to Target Russia
On March 26, 2026, amid growing losses and an increasingly acute manpower shortage within the Ukrainian armed forces, the leadership of several European countries decided to ramp up the production and supply of drones to Ukraine for strikes against Russian territory, the Russian Ministry of Defense»»»
Djuric meets with Belgium's Prevot
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Belgian Deputy PM and FM Maxime Prevot in Belgrade on Wednesday, noting that the volume of Serbia-Belgium bilateral trade had totalled around 1.5 bln euros last year and that there was readiness for further advancement of economic cooperation. "The head o»»»
Orbán’s Patriots group try but fail to block rule-of-law crackdown in new EU budget
Viktor Orbán’s far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) bloc in the European Parliament opposed measures aimed at tackling rule-of-law breaches in the EU’s forthcoming long-term budget. “We cannot agree to the conditionality mechanism which is used for political purposes,” said Tomasz Buczek, a Polish P»»»
Some 500 Guests a Month from Bulgaria and Abroad Seek Relaxation at Danube Hotel & Spa in Silistra
An average of about 500 guests per month stay at the Danube Hotel & Spa complex in Silistra. The guests are mainly Bulgarians, but there are also tourists from Romania, Moldova, Turkiye, Greece, and other European countries, the complex’s owner, Krum Krumov, told BTA. The spa and wellness centre at»»»
Prime minister, European Council president review de-escalation efforts in the region
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received President of the European Council António Costa, who is visiting the country. During the meeting, the latest regional developments were reviewed, particularly those related to the ce»»»
GCC Secretary General, EU Official discuss regional developments
Brussels: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner discussed the latest regional developments along with other topics. During the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, the two sides discus»»»
Prime Minister meets President of European Council
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Wednesday with President of the European Council HE Antonio Costa, who is visiting the country. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the region, particu»»»
Government adopts National Energy and Climate Plan 2025-2030, sets clear vision on country's energy future
Skopje, 14 April 2026 (MIA) - The Government has adopted the National Energy and Climate Plan 2025-2030, a strategic document that sets the country on a clear path towards energy transformation, sustainable development and full alignment with European policies. The plan, drafted at the proposal of »»»
EU set to roll out age-check app as global push to protect children grows
Brussels: The European Union is set to roll out a new age-verification app for online platforms, as governments worldwide step up efforts to shield children from harmful content and curb access to social media. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the app is “technically ready” a»»»
[Interview] Ivan Krastev: The ‘West’ of the Cold War-era will not return
First published in Respekt. Defending the status quo cannot be exciting for anyone. Europe must be able to imagine a society that is better than ours and see opportunities even where there are objectively many risks. Where do you think the world is heading? In 1643, an English Protestant priest tol»»»
Amir, European Council president stress importance of maintaining smooth flow of energy supplies, enhancing security in maritime routes
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received at his office in the Amiri Diwan, President of the European Council HE Antonio Costa, and the accompanying delegation. During the meeting, regional and international developments were reviewed, particularly d»»»
Mali to attend IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington
BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali will on Thursday begin a working visit to Washington, where he will attend the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, held on April 13-18. The conference has brought together central bank governors, ministers of finance and development an»»»
Norwegian “Oslo Patient” Achieves Long-Term HIV Remission Following Stem Cell Transplant
A Norwegian patient has achieved what researchers describe as a functional cure from HIV following a stem cell transplant, marking a significant development in global efforts to combat the virus. According to findings reported by Medical Xpress and supported by a study published in Nature Microbiol»»»
Amir receives President of the European Council
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received HE António Costa, President of the European Council, and his accompanying delegation at his office in the Amiri Diwan this morning. During the meeting, they reviewed regional and international developments, particularly those in the »»»
Black Vultures Breed Again in Rhodope Mountains after 33 Years
Three pairs of black vultures have successfully hatched chicks, marking the species’ return as a breeding bird in the Bulgarian part of the Rhodope Mountains after more than three decades, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) said on Wednesday. The last confirmed nesting of the »»»
evomag takes marketplace to nearly 25% of sales and accelerates international expansion
The international expansion strategy comes at a time when the local eCommerce market offers less room for growth than in previous years. In this context, evomag aims to strengthen its regional presence and increase its exposure in external markets through already established platforms, which can pr»»»
GERB Presents Education Development Programme in Plovdiv
MP candidates of GERB-UDF Yordanka Fandakova and Krasimir Valchev, alongside Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov, Deputy Mayor Vladimir Temelkov, and educational institutions representatives attended a roundtable discussion on education in Plovdiv, the coalition’s press centre reported Wednesday. Openi»»»
Media Review: April 15
Wednesday’s Bulgarian media coverage is dominated by the April 19 parliamentary elections, with outlets focusing on coalition arithmetic, vote-buying and the possibility that the Hemus Motorway tunnel blockage was a political provocation. Energy security also remains high on the agenda after Washin»»»
South Korea’s K9 howitzer gains ground in Europe with Finland deal - UPI.com
South Korean-made K1E1 tanks (background R), K9 howitzers (front) and Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers (L) are on standby for an integrated field maneuver at the training field of the Army's 17th Division in Incheon, 27 kilometers west of Seoul, South Korea. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA April 14 (A»»»
Iran War Promises Green Edge for Asia as Plastic Packaging Runs Short
An "eco-friendly" range of paper tubes and pouches touted by Yonwoo, a South Korean maker of packaging for cosmetics, has reaped unexpected benefit from the Iran war, which has disrupted supplies of the plastic needed to turn out single-use wrapping. While the conflict has sent prices of plastic so»»»
Oil Prices Fall on Expectations US-Iran Peace Talks May Resume
Oil prices fell for a second day on Wednesday on expectations peace talks between the US and Iran may resume and supply will eventually be released from the key Middle East producing region trapped by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures were down16 cents, or 0.2%, to $94.63 a b»»»
International Airlines Resume Beirut Flights with US Assurances
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport began recovering on Tuesday from the fallout of the Iran war, as international airlines resumed flights to the Lebanese capital after a roughly 40-day suspension caused by ongoing war, amid US pressure on Israel to spare the airport. The airport schedule »»»
Germany rallies behind Ukraine as peace talks stall, EU membership debate divides the bloc
Germany has unveiled a sweeping €4bn military support package for Ukraine and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for the rapid disbursement of a long-delayed €90bn EU loan to Kyiv, as European powers scramble to shore up Ukraine's defences as the Trump administration loses interest in the conflic»»»
Sixth edition of Film O'Clock International Festival to kick off on April 16 across 12 countries
Film O'Clock International Festival #6 will take place from April 16 to 19 in 12 European and African countries, the organizers informed in a release.The festival brings together 12 countries - Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Egypt and South »»»
Romania was among the EU countries with the sharpest declines in industrial producer prices in February
In February 2026, compared with January 2026, factory-gate prices fell by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the European Union (EU), and Romania is among the member states with the sharpest declines in industrial producer prices, according to data published Wednesday by Eurostat. According to th»»»
European Public Prosecutor's Office launches investigation into the procurement of electric school minibuses
The European Public Prosecutor's Office has officially confirmed that it has launched an investigation into the procurement of electric school minibuses, Minister of Investments and European Projects Dragos Pislaru announced on his Facebook page.'I have received official confirmation from the Europ»»»
Avangarde poll: 29% of Romanians back aligning with US on Iran conflict
Some 24% of Romanians agree that Romania should align with its strategic partner, the United States, in addressing the conflict in Iran, regardless of the position of other European countries, according to a public opinion barometer conducted by GSSC Avangarde between 7 and 10 April.Of these, 5% fu»»»
Senate passes bill on Romania's joining European Infrastructure for Life Sciences
The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill on Romania's accession to the ELIXIR Consortium Agreement, which establishes the European life sciences infrastructure for biological information. The agreement was approved in Copenhagen April 22-23, 2013 and entered into force on 12 January 2014.The bill passed»»»
Senate's Abrudean: Result of election in Hungary confirms pro-European direction of the entire region
Senate President Mircea Abrudean said on Tuesday that the result of the elections in Hungary confirms the pro-European direction of the entire region."I believe it is a result that confirms the pro-European direction of the entire region. I think this is what we should focus on more, not on individ»»»
Russia Can Help China, Other Countries Replenish Energy Resources - Lavrov
BEIJING (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Russia can fill the energy shortfall in China and other interested countries caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. On Russia-China Relations"Russia can certainly fill the resource gap that has arisen in Chin»»»
Dozens of migrants rescued south of Crete
Dozens of migrants have been rescued from a small boat in difficulty south of Crete that had crossed over from north Africa, authorities said Wednesday. A Coast Guard statement said 59 men were found by a patrol vessel from the European Union’s Frontex border agency on the boat, some 17 miles south»»»
Hormuz Under Insurance Pressure as ‘War Premiums’ Violate Int’l Laws
As military tensions flare in the Strait of Hormuz, another battle is unfolding behind the scenes, one no less dangerous. Insurance companies have emerged as key players shaping the fate of global shipping. With premiums surging to unprecedented levels, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat the world is app»»»
What the Hormuz shutdown means for Asean’s energy security, renewables: 10 things to know
Manila: The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, 2026 disrupted passage for roughly a quarter of the world’s daily seaborne oil. To this day, uncertainty remains and the global fuel crunch continues to raise fears of a deeper supply shock. Uncertainty over freedom on navigation»»»
Trump breaks silence on Hungary’s election results, Russia adds Budapest to list of unfriendly countries
After two days of silence following Hungary's historic elections, US President Donald Trump has issued a measured response to the defeat of his ally Viktor Orban, but refrained from openly congratulating his challenger, Peter Magyar. Meanwhile, the Kremlin expressed support for Magyar’s w»»»
Major fiscal challenges ahead for Hungary's incoming Tisza government
The new Hungarian government will face significant macroeconomic and public finance challenges following the election, driven by weak economic growth, a high budget deficit and a rising public debt burden, Fitch Ratings said in an assessment published in London, financial website Portfolio.hu wrote»»»
Bulgaria Won’t Touch Fuel Reserves to Cut Prices, Energy Minister Says
Acting Energy Minister Traycho Traykov said Bulgaria should not tap into its 90-day fuel reserves to ease prices, stressing that they must remain a safeguard in case of an actual supply disruption. Speaking to journalists after the opening of the National Repository for Radioactive Waste, he underl»»»
Iran Nuclear Program ‘Badly Damaged’ But Not Wiped Out
The United States and Israel may have obstructed the path towards a future Iran-built nuclear bomb by severely damaging Tehran's nuclear and ballistic capabilities in recent attacks. But they have not succeeded in seizing its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, key to any future negotiations betw»»»
Can NATO survive the US-Iran war?
NATO allies said on Monday they would not get involved in US President Donald Trump's plan to blockade Iranian ports, proposing to intervene only once fighting ends, in a move likely to anger Trump and increase strains in the alliance. "We're not supporting the blockade," British Prime Minister Ke»»»