€7.3 Billion on the Table: Is Bulgarian Business Ready for Europe’s Defense Boom?
Europe is undergoing a fundamental shift in how it approaches defense, moving beyond increased spending toward the creation of an entirely new industrial ecosystem. At the center of this transformation is the European defense Fund (EDF), backed by €7.3 billion for the 2021-2027 period and more than»»»
UAE consumers lose 83 million hours a year to slow, broken service
Dubai: Customers across the UAE are losing more than 83 million hours each year dealing with slow and inefficient service, highlighting the gap between rising expectations and how support is delivered on the ground. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.New research from Ser»»»
National Repository for Radioactive Waste Unveiled in Kozloduy
A National Repository for Radioactive Waste was unveiled by caretaker Minister of Energy Traicho Traikov near the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant on Tuesday. He described the repository as unique and one of the most modern in Europe, allowing Bulgaria to store low- and intermediate-level waste for 60 »»»
Macron, Starmer to co-chair talks on Strait of Hormuz mission to protect shipping
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-chair a conference Friday in Paris, bringing together non-belligerent nations willing to participate in a mission in the Strait of Hormuz “when security conditions allow.” Other participants will take part via videocon»»»
Orbán's defeat deprives Georgian Dream of its main EU ally as opposition draws hope from Hungary vote
The landslide defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary's April 12 parliamentary elections has deprived Georgian Dream of its most consistent defender inside the European Union, while offering fresh momentum to Georgia's opposition resistance movement, Civil Georgia reported. »»»
Czechoslovak Group owner said to be in talks with PPF to acquire largest commercial TV station in Slovakia
Michal Strnad, Czech owner of regional weaponry and ammunition conglomerate Czechoslovak Group (CSG), is said to be in talks with the richest Czech investment company PPF Group over a sale of TV Markíza, the biggest commercial television station in Slovakia. »»»
Czech Colt CZ announces dual listing on Euronext Amsterdam
Czech weaponry manufacturer Colt CZ has announced the admission to listing and trading of its shares on the regulated market of Amsterdam’s Euronext bourse. Trading of Colt CZ shares is expected to commence on April 15 at »»»
Russia’s first IPO in 2026 priced at heavy discount
Russia’s electronic trading platform B2B RTS, part of Sovcombank Group, set its 2026 IPO price range at RUB112–RUB118 per share, implying a market capitalisation of RUB20bn–RUB21.1bn ($217mn–$229mn), well below market expectations of RUB35bn–RUB45bn, according to Kommersant daily citing market part»»»
Kremlin flags Hormuz risk, cautious on Magyar victory in Hungarian elections
The Kremlin has warned that a potential US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would deliver a direct shock to global markets, even as Moscow positions itself as both an energy anchor and a diplomatic intermediary in a rapidly widening crisis. »»»
Amir reviews military ties with Turkish Defense Minister
Doha, Qatar: The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received His Excellency Yasar Guler, Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, at his office in the Amiri Diwan Tuesday morning, April 14, 2026. During the meeting, they reviewed the strategic cooperation between the »»»
HomeRun: Demand for cleaning services has increased by 57% in Romania
The analysis was based on requests for cleaning services recorded in March 2026, which were compared both to activity during the winter months and to the same period last year. Despite this significant seasonal increase, total demand remained stable year-over-year, confirming that the habit of spri»»»
Ministry of Trade and Industry
An inclusive developmental plan and reviving economic relations with African nations Addis Ababa Forum aims to establish a free-trade zone between the three major economic blocs, COMESA, SADEC and EAEC Organizing sophisticated promotional delegations, 14th of next month, which would include Senegal»»»
Vucic: Elections due by July 10 or between September and year's end, MOL deal to be signed soon
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday evening parliamentary elections in the country would be held this year, by July 10, or between September and the end of the year. In an interview for the RTS, Vucic said a decision on the timing of the elections would be made by the relev»»»
China Puts Forward Middle East Settlement Proposals
The four-point initiative for promoting peace and stability in the region was presented by President Xi Jinping at a meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Key points: Peaceful coexistence: a comprehensive, common, cooperative and sustainable security architecture in the Persian Gulf and the M»»»
Su-57E Generates Great Interest Among Rosoboronexport’s Partners - Report
Russia has already signed several contracts for the sale of the fifth-generation Su-57E fighter jet, and the list of customers for the aircraft is expanding, Russia's defense exporter Rosoboronexport reported on Tuesday ahead of the DSA-2026 arms exhibition in Malaysia. The Defense Services Asia (D»»»
Saudi Arabia opens bids for naming rights of five metro stations in Riyadh to boost private investment
Saudi Arabia has opened bidding for the naming rights of five metro stations, offering private investors long-term branding opportunities as part of efforts to boost revenue and partnerships. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City said bids will be accepted from April 8 to May 10 for the first phase,»»»
Schoenherr advises Renalfa on acquisition of Horia 2 PV power plant
Schoenherr’s services included buy-side advice in all phases of the transaction, up to successful closing, including foreign direct investment screening. “Congratulations to Renalfa Power Clusters on the completion of this transaction,” said Partner Monica Cojocaru, who led the Schoenherr advisory »»»
Egypt’s Inflation Accelerates in March Amid Rising Cost Pressures
Egypt’s annual inflation rate accelerated in March 2026, reflecting renewed pressure on consumer prices driven by increases in food, transport, and energy-related costs, according to official data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). The Consumer Price Index (CPI»»»
EGX rebounds on ceasefire hopes, then softens as talks falter
Cairo — Egypt’s stock market staged a sharp recovery in the week to 9 April, before sentiment turned cautious again as ceasefire prospects weakened ahead of the new trading week. The EGX30 surged 4.1% on 8 April to 48,593.99 points, helping the index post weekly gains of nearly 6%. The rally was br»»»
Kyrgyzstan establishes diplomatic relations with East Timor - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan is establishing diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of East Timor. It was announced at a meeting of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented a draft joint communique to members of Parliament on the e»»»
Sadyr Japarov bans naming settlements after individuals - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, at a meeting with residents of Alai district of Osh region, announced that a decision has been made to no longer name villages and ayil okmotu after people. The head of state raised the issue in response to a question from a local resident who suggested naming»»»
Spanish PM: Srong ties with China in Europe's interest
PoliticsEuropeSpanish PM: Srong ties with China in Europe's interestMuna Turki with AFP and ReutersSpain has been one of Europe's loudest voices calling for expanding trade with China and treating it as a strategic ally, rather than an economic and geopolitical rival. https://p.dw.com/p/5C7U8Spain »»»
How OFWs can qualify for affordable homes in the Philippines
Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including those based in the UAE, can now qualify for socialised housing units in the Philippines regardless of their monthly income, following an expansion of the government’s flagship housing programme. The move has come after Philippine president Ferdinan»»»
Hungary’s PM-Elect Won’t Sever Russian Energy Lifeline Despite EU Pressure - Experts
Peter Magyar may adjust Hungary’s diplomatic tone with the EU, but cooperation with Russia will remain anchored in pragmatic reality, Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at Russia’s Higher School of Economics tells Sputnik. “Hungary will continue impo»»»
Regulation on corruption risk management approved in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Regulations on the procedure for identifying, assessing, and managing corruption risks in state and local government bodies have been approved in Kyrgyzstan. The head of the Cabinet of Ministers signed the resolution. According to the document, ministries and agencies approve a list of cases and si»»»
Chinese president presents proposal on promoting peace, stability in West Asia
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward on Tuesday a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in West Asia, when meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing. Xi called for adherence to the principle of »»»
Saudi authorities enforce stricter rules on portable gas equipment in hospitality facilities
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has banned guests in Madinah from bringing portable gas stoves and cylinders into hospitality facilities, including hotels and furnished apartments, citing safety concerns. In a circular issued to operators, the ministry said the measure is in line with Article 22»»»
Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters fired a salvo of rockets targeting communications station inside Al-Aliqa barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan: Military Media statement 6 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters fired a salvo of rockets targeting communications station inside Al-Aliqa barracks in the occupied »»»
How a security officer stepped into the art world
AbduRahman Hussein Khamis, a security officer at the National Museum of Qatar is drawing attention beyond his post, with his persistent passion for art beneath his security uniform. Beyond monitoring the galleries, AbduRahman from his post has steadily refined his artistic skills, practising brushw»»»
Philippines seeks US nod to buy more Russian oil
Manila: Manila said Tuesday it was seeking US permission to buy more Russian crude, as the import-dependent Philippines scrambles to shore up scant fuel supplies amid a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Philippines' sole oil refinery secured nearly 2.5 million barrels last month after seeing at»»»
FSB Nabs Three in Foiled Ukrainian Electric Scooter Bomb Plot
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday that it had detained three citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and Russia in connection with an attempted terrorist attack in Moscow using a booby-trapped electric scooter. "The Russian Federal Security Service has detained a ci»»»
Bulgaria’s Central Bank Tightens Rules on Housing Credit
The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has decided to increase the countercyclical capital buffer to 2.25%, in a move aimed at easing pressure on the rapidly growing housing credit market and strengthening the resilience of the banking system. The measure is designed as a preventive tool that requires b»»»
Xi and Sánchez say China and Spain should help safeguard multilateralism
The leaders of China and Spain on Tuesday pledged to strengthen their relations and work to safeguard multilateralism at a time when the world is being impacted by various conflicts, including the recent war in Iran, during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. "We should strengthen communication, conso»»»
Bahamas police release husband of missing American Lynette Hooker - UPI.com
April 14 (UPI) -- Authorities in the Bahamas have released the 58-year-old American man detained last week in the investigation into missing American Lynette Hooker. The man, Lynette Hooker's husband, Brian Hooker, was released Monday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that only id»»»
Romuald Wadagni wins Benin presidential election
Cotonou: Benin's Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, a candidate of the ruling coalition, won the country's presidential elections held on Sunday. Head of Benin's Independent Electoral Commission Sacca Lafia, said Wadagni received more than 94 percent of the vote after more than 90 percent of the vot»»»
Industrial policy, back in the limelight: how Romania is trying to accelerate strategic investments
Romania is launching the most ambitious industrial policy package in recent years – 9 state aid schemes, with an estimated budget of EUR 5 billion by 2032, including an instrument dedicated to projects exceeding EUR 200 million, a significant shortcoming so far in the toolkit for attracting strateg»»»
Qatar Central Bank Governor meets Italian Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani, met today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, with HE Paolo Toschi, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the State of Qatar. During the meeting, they reviewed the key facets of bilateral cooperation between th»»»
Annual inflation rate rose to 9.87% in March
“The consumer price index in March 2026 compared to February 2026 was 100.78%. The year-to-date inflation rate (March 2026 compared to December 2025) was 2.3%. The annual inflation rate in March 2026 compared to March 2025 was 9.9%. The average rate of change in consumer prices over the last 12 mon»»»
Lavrov, Fidan Discuss Ways for Political Settlement of Mideast Crisis Over Phone - Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held telephone talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussed the search for ways out of the crisis situation in the Middle East, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. "Issues related to the search for ways out of the »»»
Kyrgyzstan dismantles major drug and psychotropic trafficking network - | 24.KG
The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan, in cooperation with the Internal Affairs Department of Issyk-Kul region, has dismantled the activities of an organized criminal group involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the region. The »»»
UN urges diplomacy to end Israel-Lebanon hostilities ahead of U.S.-mediated talks
New York, April 14 (SANA) The United Nations has called on Israel and Lebanon to use all available diplomatic channels to end hostilities and address outstanding issues under Security Council Resolution 1701, as U.S.-mediated talks between the two sides are expected to take place in Washington on T»»»
Healthcare Inflation in Bulgaria Twice National Average, Analysis Shows
Healthcare inflation in Bulgaria in 2026 compared to 2025 is double that of the country, shows an analysis of the health insurance system in Bulgaria presented at Bulgarian News Agency's National Press Club on Tuesday. It was carried out by Health Metrics - a company specializing in the collection,»»»
Turkiye school shooting wounds 16, attacker dead
Istanbul: An ex-student opened fire at his former high school Tuesday in Turkiye, where school shootings are rare, wounding 16 people including students before killing himself, officials said. Special security forces were deployed to the school in southeastern Turkiye's Sanliurfa province, where st»»»
UAE announces gradual return to in-person learning for schools and nurseries
Dubai: The Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council has announced that educational institutions are prepared for a gradual return to in-person learning, with nurseries set to reopen in phases starting this week. Priority will be given to nurseries located in government buildings»»»
5.7 magnitude earthquake hits U.S. state Nevada
Los Angeles, USA: A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck northern Nevada on Monday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The quake occurred at around 629 p.m. local time (0129 GMT Tuesday), approximately 20 km southeast of Silver Springs in Lyon County, triggering a ShakeAlert notificatio»»»
Israeli Enemy Announces Soldier’s Death, 154 Injuries in 5 Days of Southern Lebanon Fighting
The Israeli army announces the death of a soldier in southern Lebanon, while also revealing that 154 officers and soldiers have been wounded in the fighting that has raged for five days, including dozens with serious and moderate injuries. In a statement, the enemy identified the deceased as First »»»
Pakistan proposes new US-Iran talks as Vance and Trump hint at progress
Pakistani officials said Tuesday that Islamabad has proposed a second round of talks to the U.S. and Iran, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance earlier said negotiations with Iran “did make some progress" and U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday “we’ve been called by the other side” and “they want»»»
JEREMIE Bulgaria Has Provided EUR 1.5 Bln to 10,000 Companies, EIB Vice-President Says
The JEREMIE Bulgaria programme has so far supported about 10,000 companies with financing amounting to EUR 1.5 billion, achieving a fivefold leverage of public resources, European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Marek Mora said on Tuesday. He was speaking at the JEREMIE Bulgaria: New Opportuni»»»
Media Review: April 14
FALLOUT OF IRAN CONFLICT 24 Chasa writes that premium diesel has surpassed the EUR 2 mark. At least three of the major gas station chains are selling this fuel at EUR 2.00, 2.02, and 2.03 per liter. Since Sunday, the prices of regular diesel and petrol have also increased by EUR 0.01, according to »»»
Progressive Bulgaria Leader Radev Urges Mass Vote to Oust Status Quo
Progressive Bulgaria coalition leader Rumen Radev on Tuesday urged voters in Asenovgrad to reclaim Bulgaria, oust the mafia and oligarchic interests, and clear the way for the country’s democratic, modern European development. Addressing residents and visitors, Radev said a strong turnout on Sunday»»»