Factcheck.bg: Bulgaria’s Ukraine Security Deal Mirrors EU Practice, Not an Isolated Case
A political dispute in Bulgaria has recently centered on the bilateral security cooperation agreement with Ukraine, after criticism emerged over its signing without prior approval from the National Assembly. The document, concluded by the caretaker government, became a focal point in the election d»»»
Defiant Iran ramps up attacks after Trump warning
Iran launched fresh attacks across the Middle East on Monday and threatened "devastating" retaliation, after U.S. President Donald Trump's expletive-laced warning that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israel, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported a barrage of missile and drone strike»»»
Explosives discovered near gas pipeline to Hungary, says Serbia's president
Powerful explosives were found near the Balkan Stream pipeline in Serbia that carries Russian gas to Hungary, the leaders of the two countries said on Sunday, triggering political scrutiny in Hungary days before a national election. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the army and police »»»
UAE reviews Dh6 billion highway and mass transit plans linking Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman
Dubai: The UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council has reviewed major transport and infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening connectivity between emirates and supporting future urban growth, during its first meeting of 2026 chaired by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Inf»»»
Indonesia raises aviation fuel surcharge, flight ticket prices
Jakarta, Indonesia: Indonesia on Monday announced a 28-percentage point rise in the surcharge on aviation fuel, and said it would allow airlines to raise the domestic ticket price, which the government caps, by up to 13 percent. As global oil prices soar on the back of the Middle East war, Economy »»»
Abu Dhabi reinforces supply chain resilience and business continuity at Traders–Decision Makers Forum
Government officials reaffirmed, during the Traders–Decision Makers Forum recently organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the emirate’s ongoing efforts to support business continuity, strengthen supply chains and the flow of goods, and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s ability to navigate»»»
War’s widening cost: How conflict is reshaping the global economy
The US-Israel-Iran war has now entered its second month of reciprocal attacks, alongside Iranian strikes on neighboring Gulf states. Its trajectory remains uncertain, caught between a fragile de-escalation that appears difficult to achieve and a new, unpredictable phase. Against this backdrop, the »»»
Varoufakis slams ‘crimes against logic’ at Moscow forum
Leader of the Democracy in Europe Movement, and former Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, condemned Europe’s mishandling of Russia and Ukraine as a ‘crime against logic’ during the TOLK.PRO forum in Moscow. “The situation with Russia, with Ukraine, and in this region—it has devastating conse»»»
Oil prices rise as Brent tops $110 amid Middle East tensions
Tokyo, April 6 (SANA) Oil prices climbed in early Monday trading, with Brent crude exceeding $110 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rising above $113, as tensions in the Middle East disrupted global energy supply routes. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 1.86 per»»»
Chingiz Aidarbekov appeals to President with complaint about CEC actions - | 24.KG
Chingiz Aidarbekov, a candidate for the Zhogorku Kenesh in constituency No. 21, appealed to President Sadyr Japarov with a complaint about the actions of the Central Election Commission (CEC). The candidate’s authorized representative, Nurlan Kursanbekov, said. According to him, the MP appealed to »»»
Vassilev Calls for “Decisive Battle” Against Borissov and Peevski, Targets Radev in Sharp Political Attack
Asen Vassilev, leader of “We Continue the Change,” stated in an interview with Nova TV that the upcoming elections present a rare opportunity for a political shift, arguing that voters could significantly reduce the parliamentary influence of Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski. He claimed that for t»»»
Abu Dhabi draws 26.6m visitors in 2025; hotel revenues climb to Dh9.1 billion
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi welcomed 26.6 million visitors in 2025, with hotel revenues rising to Dh9.1 billion, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The figures, released as part of the emirate’s 2025 performance review, show a 19.5 per cent year-on-year increase in hotel reven»»»
AICPA & CIMA and PLM Financial Advisory launch Finance Emiratisation Think Tank to support Emirati Finance Academy
AICPA & CIMA and UAE-based PLM Financial Advisory have announced the formation of the Finance Emiratisation Think Tank, a practitioner-led advisory board established to direct and govern the rollout of the Emirati Finance Academy Powered by CIMA across the UAE. The Think Tank held its inaugural boa»»»
Prime minister, Spanish FM discuss military escalation in the regions, its serious repercussions
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain HE Jose Manuel Albares. During the call, they reviewed the developments of the m»»»
South Korea's Lee Says Country Must Balance Risk as Hormuz Disruptions Threaten Oil Supplies
South Korea must accept a degree of risk in importing crude oil from the Middle East amid blockages of the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday. "There are not many alternative routes, and if shipments are cut off altogether because of heightened risk, it could have a serious im»»»
Pessimism Grows over Iraq’s Prospects for Resuming Oil Exports
A growing number of Iraqi oil and economic experts are voicing pessimism about the country’s ability to resume crude exports via the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran’s announcement of an “exception” allowing Iraqi shipments to pass as those of a “friendly country”. Iraq has suffered a sh»»»
Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation’s projects reach 342,973 beneficiaries in 2025
- Sheikh Jabor bin Yousuf bin Jassim Al Thani: Charitable work is a noble mission and a responsibility that requires innovation and sustainability - Saeed Mudhkir Al Hajri: Sustainability reflects the importance of the foundation’s initiatives at both civilizational and humanitarian levels - 342,97»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call from Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, HE Jose Manuel Albares. During the call, they reviewed the developments»»»
New tourism boost coming soon, UAE minister says
Dubai: Support for the UAE’s tourism sector is being stepped up, with authorities preparing a fresh package aimed at easing pressure on an industry facing disruption from regional tensions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.“We are supporting the tourism sector, we are s»»»
Drive EV launches the UAE’s first AI-powered buyer intelligence platform for EVs
Dubai: UAE-based platform designed to simplify one of the most complex decisions in today’s automotive market – buying an electric vehicle – has officially launched. Drive EV uses artificial intelligence and structured decision logic to match prospective buyers with the right electric or hybrid veh»»»
Qatari Society of Al Gannas participates in 8th Ethnosport Forum in Turkiye
Ankara: The Qatari Society of Al Gannas participated in the 8th Ethnosport Forum, held in Antalya, the Republic of Turkey, from April 3 to 5, under the theme "Ethnosports 2027: Local to Globe." The Society was represented by Ali bin Khatem Al Mahshadi, President of the Qatari Society of Al Gannas a»»»
Qatar showing institutional readiness, stability amid regional uncertainty: QRDI
Doha, Qatar: QRDI Council has said that during this period of regional uncertainty Qatar continues strong institutional readiness and stability in responding to evolving developments. QRDI Council underpins its work in advancing Qatar’s innovation and scientific research agenda and supporting natio»»»
Bulgaria Hit by Fuel Shock as Diesel Prices Surge 37% Since Iran War Began
Bulgaria’s fuel market has recorded a sharp upward shift since the outbreak of the war in Iran, with diesel and petrol prices rising significantly across the country. According to National Revenue Agency data, diesel has increased by around 3 euro cents in a single day and by roughly 0.45 euro cent»»»
More Indian-flagged LPG Ships Exit the Gulf
Two more Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tankers, Green Asha and Green Sanvi, have exited the Gulf carrying the fuel for the South Asian nation, according to ship tracking data on LSEG and Kpler. A third vessel, Jag Vikram, is still in the west of the Strait of Hormuz, the data showed. The U»»»
Tesla tops S Korea’s imported car market for first time
Seoul: Tesla ranked No. 1 in Korea’s imported car market in the first quarter, marking its first time taking the quarterly top spot. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association yesterday, Tesla sold 20,964 vehicles in the January–March period, up 335.1 percent from a ye»»»
Prime Minister receives phone call from India's External Affairs Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call from the Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India HE Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. During the call, they reviewed the developments of the military escala»»»
VinFast’s breakout year: Vietnamese EV maker nearly doubles sales in 2025, eyes 300,000 deliveries in 2026
Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast Auto Ltd. is coming off its strongest year yet, nearly doubling global deliveries in 2025 and setting an ambitious new target for 2026 that would push it into a higher league of global EV producers. The company said it delivered 196,919 electric vehicles wo»»»
Dubai South announces rent relief, payment flexibility and waived fees for SMEs
Dubai South has announced a new support package for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating at its Business Park, introducing a set of flexible measures designed to ease financial pressures and support business continuity. The initiative aligns with the UAE government’s broader efforts to saf»»»
Iran Hangs Man Convicted of Links with US, Israel in Pre-war Protests
Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said. "Ali Fahim, one of the enemy elements in the terrorist riots of Dey (January)... was hanged after the Supreme Court reviewed t»»»
Germany Works to Clarify New Rules on Fighting-Age Men Leaving Country
Germany's armed forces are working on clarifying a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to gain permission to leave the country for more than three months, the defense ministry said. The law went into effect in January, but the requirement - which the»»»
North Korea Distancing Itself from Iran to Leave Door Open for US Talks, Seoul Says
North Korea appears to be distancing itself from longtime partner Iran and carefully managing its public messaging to preserve the possibility of a new relationship with the US after the Iran war, South Korean lawmakers said on Monday, citing the spy agency. Seoul's National Intelligence Service (N»»»
Mandatory private pension plans report assets of RON 218.2 billion in February 2026
Mandatory private pension plans had assets worth RON 218.2 billion at the end of February 2026, up 38% year-on-year, according to statistics with the Financial Oversight Authority (ASF).As much as 95% of the investment of privately managed pension plans were made in Romanian assets, most of them be»»»
Competition Council's Chiritoiu: Romania has a very stable banking system, but expensive
Romania has a very stable banking system, which is a source of pride for the country and the regulatory authority, however, at the same time, it is very expensive," President of the Competition Council Bogdan Chiritoiu said on Wednesday at "The Economist Romania Government roundtable" regional conf»»»
Central bank governor: A prolonged Middle East conflict could have a severe impact on the economy
A prolongation of the conflict in the Middle East could have a severe impact on the economy, said Mugur Isarescu, Governor of the National Bank of Romania, on Monday at the high-level regional conference 'The Economist Romania Government Roundtable', organised by The Economist Group.'As Governor of»»»
QC’s Board of Directors discusses challenges faced by private sector
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Chamber (QC) Board of Directors held a meeting yesterday, chaired by Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (pictured), Chairman of the Board. The Board discussed the key challenges facing the Qatari private sector amid the current regional developments, particularly tho»»»
IEA Hails Saudi Arabia’s ‘Rapid Response’ to Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Countries must resist the urge to hoard oil and fuel during the energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned on Sunday, with supplies expected to dwindle further if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Birol praised Saudi Arabia f»»»
Romanians can invest in Tezaur government bonds starting April 6; interest rates of up to 7.5% per year
Romanians can subscribe, between April 6 and May 8, 2026, to Tezaur government bonds with maturities of 1, 3, and 5 years and annual interest rates of 6.50%, 7%, and 7.50%, the Ministry of Finance announced on Friday. The income earned is tax-free. The government bonds have a face value of 1 leu an»»»
S&P confirms Romania's rating at "BBB minus" with negative outlook, but reduced growth estimates
The financial rating agency S&P Global Ratings confirmed, on Friday, the ratings for Romania's long-term and short-term debt, at "BBB minus/A-3", the associated outlook being "negative", informs a press release from S&P.According to the rating agency, despite the slowdown in economic growth and the»»»
PM Bolojan: The government does not benefit in any way from rising fuel prices; on the contrary
Premier Ilie Bolojan stated on Saturday that a prolongation of the war in the Middle East and the effects of blocking crude oil and petroleum products transport from the Persian Golf determine a lower economic growth everywhere in the world, with ascending inflation at global level and the governme»»»
Government approves ordinance on temporary reduction of excise duty on diesel fuel
Government spokesperson Ioana Dogioiu declared on Friday that the Executive adopted the normative act regarding the temporary reduction of the excise duty level for diesel and the establishment of the solidarity contribution on revenues from the marketing of crude oil and energy products obtained f»»»
Invest Qatar hosts dialogue with international business community, reaffirms resilient business environment
Doha, Qatar: Invest Qatar, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, convened business leaders from Qatar’s international business community for a high-level Investor Dialogue, reaffirming the State’s commitment to maintaining a stable and resilient business environment despite regional development»»»
PHCC boosts autism awareness through community events and programmes
Doha, Qatar: The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) marked World Autism Awareness Day by organising events and activities in collaboration with national sectors, with medical teams participating through health centers and public venues to ensure wide community engagement. Commemorating World Au»»»
PM says country only one to lower fuel prices last week, assures of sufficient quantities
Skopje, 1 April 2026 (MIA) - We were the only country to reduce fuel prices last week, the only one in the region and maybe the best in Europe regarding prices of oil and oil derivatives. Citizens should be calm since quantities are sufficient. We are monitoring the situation and we will respond ac»»»
Ukrainian FM hails joint talks with Syria, Turkey as ‘vital platform’ for cooperation
Damascus, April 6 (SANA) — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Sunday praised trilateral talks with Syria and Turkey as a “vital platform” for cooperation, reaffirming Kyiv’s commitment to building international partnerships that support regional stability and global security. In a post on »»»
CGB launches unified national guide to elevate organisational processes in govt entities
Doha, Qatar: In a significant step towards enhancing institutional performance and aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau (CGB) has launched the “Guide to Excellence in Organisational Processes in Government Entities”. The comprehensive manual »»»
Qatar reaps benefits of diversification in food security, crisis resilience
Doha, Qatar: Officials, economists, and businessmen said the country’s food security rests on an integrated framework of plans that enable flexibility and efficiency in responding to shocks. They noted the State of Qatar has successfully mitigated the impact of geopolitical tensions linked to the w»»»
Airstrikes on Iran Kill More Than 25 as Trump's Deadline to Open Strait of Hormuz Looms
Israel and the United States carried a wave of attacks Monday that killed more than 25 people in Iran. Tehran responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors as US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz loomed. Explosions rang out into the nigh»»»
Gray Whale that Swam 20 Miles Up Washington State River is Found Dead
A juvenile gray whale that amazed Washington state residents after it swam 20 miles up a small river was found dead, and an official with a marine mammal research group suspects hunger may have driven the whale to new hunting grounds as the species' population declines. The whale was discovered Sat»»»
After Gaza Devastation, Israeli Attacks on Lebanon's Health Care System Feel Familiar for Many
Two years ago, Dr. Mohammed Ziara watched Israel ravage Gaza's health care system, shelling hospitals, striking ambulances and forcing patients to evacuate. Now Ziara — along with other medical workers, human rights groups and many civilians — warns that the same scenario is unfolding in Lebanon. I»»»
MoCI launches new e-services to boost digital transformation
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) announced the launch of five new intellectual property (IP) e-services yesterday, bringing the total number of digital services offered in this area to seven. The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to advance digital tr»»»