Israel's defense minister warned Iran on Thursday against rejecting a US proposal focused on renouncing "nuclear armament" and vowed to stage "even more painful" strikes on new targets if it did so. "Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear ar»»»

PRAGUE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday in Prague Serbia considered Czechia and its current government as friendly and noted that Serbia and Czechia were focusing on advancement of political, economic and cultural cooperation, besides cooperation on the European aspect and regional affair»»»

Israel's defense minister warned Iran on Thursday against rejecting a U.S. proposal focused on renouncing "nuclear armament" and vowed to stage "even more painful" strikes on new targets if it did so. "Iran is standing at a historic crossroads: one path is renouncing the ways of terror and nuclear »»»

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized US President Donald Trump, saying the US leader has "no right" to threaten other nations, in an interview published in Spain on Thursday. Lula's comments come after Trump this month warned that a "whole civilization will die" in Iran if the c»»»

1 of 3 | The rise in prediction markets and an email to White House staff have lawmakers weighing how to regulate prediction markets and prevent government officials from trading using nonpublic information. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The rise in prediction mark»»»

The influential chief of Pakistan's armed forces visited Iran to meet the head of Tehran's negotiators on Thursday, as Washington considers agreeing to another round of peace talks in Islamabad. Iranian state television showed Field Marshal Asim Munir meeting Iran's speaker of parliament, Mohammad »»»

UAE schools are heading back to in-person learning from Monday, April 20, but the return looks different depending on which school your child attends. While some schools have told parents their campuses will not be opening on that date, others are requiring students who travel by private transport »»»

Pakistan stressed on Thursday that Lebanon remains part of the ceasefire agreement in place between the United States and Iran, stressing that stability in Lebanon is essential for the success of peace talks in the region. “Lebanon, in our interpretation, is part of the broader ceasefire,” Foreign »»»

SCOR, a leading global reinsurer headquartered in Paris, offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. In 2025, the Group generated premiums of EUR 18.7 billionand serves clients in more than 150 countries throu»»»

A 33-year-old man died early Wednesday after falling from the roof of a residential building in central Thessaloniki. The incident occurred shortly after midnight, when the man was found on a sidewalk below the building. Authorities said initial findings show no evidence of foul play. An investigat»»»

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»»»

In our recently launched series of interviews dedicated to the MarComm industry, BR sat down with Dana Nae Popa, Owner & Managing Director pastel and President Asociatia pastel and talked about the agency celebrating 20 years, top moments during this time, clients and what they are looking for, tre»»»

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»»»

Visiting British Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer on Thursday called for a ceasefire in Lebanon where Israel and Hezbollah are at war, and welcomed direct talks between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war on March 2 after militant group Hezbollah fired rockets at Isr»»»

In a new series of interviews launched today, BR set down with Roxana Memetea, Managing Director DDB, and talked about her wishes for 2026, both for the agency and the advertising industry, clients and what they are looking for, trends and many more. By Romanita Oprea How did you start the year / W»»»

Dubai/ Sharjah: As UAE schools prepare for the gradual return to in-person learning from Monday, April 20, some schools have informed parents they will not be reopening their campuses on that date — while certain schools have made physical attendance compulsory for students who travel by private tr»»»

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»»»

London: Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced Thursday as they hailed his "incalculable" contribution to our "greatest sustained period of success". The 31-year-old Portuguese playmaker, who is the current club captain, joined City fro»»»

“The results of the first quarter confirm the growing trust users have in our services, not just for restaurant delivery, but as a complete solution for daily shopping. The Easter period highlighted a clear trend: Romanians want to balance tradition with the efficiency that technology offers. The f»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Jagoda Lazarevic, who is also minister of internal and external trade, EXPO 2027 Director Danilo Jerinic and Austria's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Philipp Gady signed on Thursday in Belgrade a contract on Austria's participation in the specialised expo. The con»»»

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»»»

“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»»»

Dubai: Pakistan on Thursday said no date has been set for the second round of talks between the United States and Iran, urging the media to avoid speculation as diplomatic consultations continue under a highly confidential process. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during »»»

India is moving towards one of the most significant changes to its parliamentary structure since independence, with plans to expand the size of Parliament while reserving one-third of seats for women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched the move as a “historic step” to empower women and reshap»»»

François Picard welcomes Dallia Abdelmoniem, Political / Media Analyst and Commentator on African and Middle Eastern affairs. Sudan is a war-torn nation unraveling in real time, warns Abdelmoniem. She says that we are not just witnessing a conflict between rival armed factions; it is a systematic w»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic and military outreach across the Middle East this week in a coordinated effort aimed at easing regional tensions, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif toured key Gulf capitals while the country’s army chief held high-level talks in Iran. The parallel engag»»»

SIGNAL IDUNA ASIGURARE REASIGURARE (life and health insurer) reported RON 376.7 million in gross written premiums, up 19% year-on-year. SIGNAL IDUNA ASIGURĂRI (general insurer) grew by RON 21% to 131.5 million, while GARANTA ASIGURĂRI (life and general insurer) increased by 9%, reaching RON 60.2 mi»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Treasury is launching Operation "Economic Fury" against Iran to maximize economic pressure on the country, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Thursday. "At the same time, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and our friends over at Treasury are launching Operation 'Econ»»»

Dubai: Etihad Airways has introduced a limited-time pricing offer for its Pets Onboard service, lowering the cost of travelling with cats and dogs in the cabin in response to rising demand from passengers. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline is offering the ser»»»

Dubai: Changing lifestyles, increased mobility, and the rise of hybrid work models are reshaping how families in the UAE and regionally approach education, prompting a clear shift towards more flexible and personalised learning models. While traditional schooling remains central, online and hybrid »»»

April 15 (UPI) -- A Los Angeles County supervisor is calling for a Federal Aviation Administration investigation after a chunk of ice crashed through the roof of a house. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared photos on social media showing the dirt-covered ice chunk that crashed through »»»

Neville Sandiford earned the Guinness World Record for the oldest competitive croquet player (male) when he participated in an August 2025 tournament at the age of 101 years and 262 days old. Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records April 15 (UPI) -- A New Zealand man who took up the game of croque»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, a member of Qatar Foundation, will hold a concert this Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30 pm at Katara Cultural Village, Opera House. Titled "Brass, Brilliance and Beethoven," the program highlights the richness of brass and wind instruments through sel»»»

ING Travel Protect fits the way people organize their trips today: simple, digital, and directly on their mobile phones. Customers can quickly set up their policy based on their destination, travel dates, and type of trip (vacation, study, or work). Furthermore, they can purchase coverage for their»»»

A suspected international plot with elements of espionage has unfolded in Greece, where authorities arrested a 55-year-old Greek from the former Soviet Union in Thessaloniki, accused of involvement in a network allegedly planning assassinations in Lithuania. According to judicial documents from a V»»»

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»»»

An Israeli strike has severed the last bridge linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, a senior Lebanese security official told Reuters on Thursday, adding that the strike “shattered” the bridge and left no possibility of repairing it. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported t»»»

The US is in discussions on staging a second round of peace talks with Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. The first direct meeting between the sides since the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 took place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, at the weekend, but deliv»»»

The report highlights both operational pressures—particularly the shortage of skilled labor—and a shift in how companies plan their investments, with an increasingly clear focus on efficiency, infrastructure, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Long-term planning and the absorption of Euro»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s energy system is undergoing a deep transformation amid rising demand and deteriorating infrastructure. In an interview with 24.kg news agency, Kubatbek Rakhimov, an expert on infrastructure projects in Central Eurasia and head of Applicata Center for Strategic Solutions, explained why »»»

Democracy in Bulgaria is facing a crisis, driven by a disconnect between citizens and those in power. But choosing not to vote will not fix the problems of democracy, Filip Pavlov, top-of-the-list candidate of the Anti-Corruption Bloc Coalition in Vratsa, said during a meeting with local residents,»»»

The climate-denialist Trump administration is pushing the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stop focusing on clean energy development projects. We take a closer look. But first: Russia vows to make up for any shortfall in Chinese oil supplies due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, and crude»»»

Share: Israeli soldiers next to artillery vehicles near the Israel-Lebanon border, in northern Israel, April 15, 2026. REUTERS/Florion Goga Optimism grew on Thursday that the Iran war may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator having made a breakthrough on “sticky issues”, a source said, alt»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the credentials of new Moroccan Ambassador to Belgrade Omar Amrar on Thursday. "I expressed the confidence that, with his engagement, he will help to lend a new impetus to advancement of cooperation between our countries, which are traditionall»»»

Dubai: Park Hyatt Dubai Creek will temporarily close from May as it enters the final phase of a planned renovation, with the operator moving to upgrade the property ahead of its next reopening. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai Creek property, part of the wider»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) decided Thursday that 400 tactile ballot paper templates with Braille markings for voting by visually impaired voterss will be provided in Blagoevgrad, Plovdiv, and Sofia City’s three constituencies. According to the decision, Blagoevgrad will receive 90 templa»»»

Dubai: The UAE has taken a significant step towards strengthening its non-profit sector with the launch of the non-profit organisations (NPO) empowerment fund, a Dh100 million initiative designed to support community-driven programmes across the country. The launch ceremony has been held today at t»»»

BELGRADE - A parliamentary session on an opposition no-confidence motion against the Serbian government was postponed again on Thursday due to a lack of quorum. Instead of a majority of MPs, just twenty lawmakers were in attendance. Again, MPs of the ruling coalition did not provide the quorum. Dep»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has been elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (WFP) for the 2026–2028 term, at a time of escalating global food security challenges and mounting risks linked to disruptions in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, developments that could push tens of million»»»

Dubai: Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort has ceased operations, bringing a pause to one of the more distinctive hospitality concepts within Dubai’s World Islands development. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Minor Hotels confirmed in a statement that the resort stoppe»»»