New Zealand electric vehicle sales soar during petrol price pinch
Wellington, New Zealand: Electric vehicle sales in New Zealand more than tripled in March according to official government figures released this week. Sales data released by the New Zealand Transport Agency showed 3,108 electric vehicle registrations in March, up from 921 in February. The sales wer»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Lithuania warns demographic decline could shrink economy by 7.2%
Calculations by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania show that, due to negative demographic factors alone, Lithuania’s economy could be up to 7.2% smaller over the next 20 years than it would be under stable demographic conditions, the Economy and Innovations Ministry announced on Ap»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Moldovan parliament votes to leave CIS in final break with Russia-led bloc
Moldova’s parliament has approved the country’s withdrawal from the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), in a move described by officials as a key step towards European Union integration, a parliament statement said. »»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Bulgaria steps up efforts to prevent vote-buying, Russian interference ahead of elections
Bulgarian authorities have seized more than €0.5mn suspected of being used to influence the outcome of upcoming elections scheduled on April 19, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov said, according to Novinite. In a»»»
US Warning on Iraqi Militias Deepens Tensions with Baghdad
Relations between Baghdad and Washington have entered a more tense phase after the US embassy issued sharp security warnings and questioned Iraq’s ability to prevent attacks on American interests. The US embassy in Baghdad said Thursday that Iran-aligned Iraqi militias could carry out attacks in ce»»»
Bozhinovska: Let's keep our young engineers, the country needs them
Skopje, 31 March 2026 (MIA) - The country needs its young engineers. They are facing a dilemma - to leave or stay in the country. This is a reality we should not ignore. If we want them to stay here, we must create a supportive environment in which they are motivated to develop their ideas and inno»»»
Rumen Radev Rules Out Coalition with Borissov and Peevski, Targets “Oligarchic Model”
Rumen Radev, speaking during meetings with citizens in the towns of Krumovgrad and Momchilgrad, declared that cooperation with Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski is completely out of the question. The remarks were made in the context of discussions about political alliances and future governing arra»»»
Israeli Army Sets Gaza-style ‘Yellow Line’ in Lebanon amid Differences with Govt
Israeli forces have advanced into Lebanon’s Ras al-Bayada area, a hilly region about 14 kilometers from the Galilee border overlooking the Litani River, with the army saying it plans to remain there for an extended, though temporary, period. The move comes as tensions emerge between the military an»»»
Trump signs order threatening up to 100% tariffs on pharmaceuticals
US President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping new pharmaceutical tariffs on Thursday that could reach 100 percent unless drugmakers strike pricing deals with his administration. The move escalates his trade strategy and could reshape global supply chains and raise costs. President Donald Trump signed»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
The government approved the reduction of excise duty on diesel by 30 bani per liter
The Government has decided to reduce the excise duty on diesel by 0.30 lei per liter. It will also limit fuel price updates at gas stations to just one per day. The measure is expected to be adopted through an Emergency Ordinance, “most likely on Friday.” “The working group set up by the Government»»»
Gov't approves National Strategy of State Reserves for 2026-2030
The Government approved on Thursday the National Strategy of State Reserves (SNRS) for the period 2026-2030, a document through which Romania strengthens its capacity to respond efficiently to exceptional situations and ensures a high level of resilience and national security, aligned with good Eur»»»
Isarescu: Romania's accession to OECD is a country project, with euro adoption to follow
Romania already has a "country project" represented by its accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), now in the final stage, and the next strategic objective will be the adoption of the euro, after rebalancing the economy and reducing the major fiscal deficit, »»»
Bolojan: Romania does not need a political crisis or minority governments
Romania does not need a political crisis or minority governments and those who generate such a crisis must assume it, said premier Bolojan on Thursday. “I do not know what PSD will do, but as you can see, there have been many critics about the government situation at least on the last few months. T»»»
Inter-institutional training on the Danube part of Sea Shield exercise
The Sfantu Gheorghe branch of the Danube on Thursday hosted an inter-institutional training exercise that dealt with the management of a refugee crisis in the Danube Delta area and prisoners of war, an event that was part of a wider Sea Shield exercise.The military exercise designed to secure the i»»»
Isarescu: Escalation of Middle East tensions already affects energy markets
The escalation of tensions in the Middle East has already produced visible effects on energy markets and continues to amplify volatility in international financial markets, while external developments overlap with Romania's already known domestic economic vulnerabilities, such as persistent twin de»»»
Analyst:Romania not a military target for Iran, but will feel the economic fallout
Romania is not a military target for Iran, but it will feel the impact of the collapse of the energy market and the disruption of fertilizer transport - effects that will drive up prices for basic goods - says Ioana Constantin Bercean, researcher at the "Ion I.C. Bratianu" Institute of Political Sc»»»
Qatar face India, New Zealand in FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup
Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Singapore today, taking on India and New Zealand in Group D as they target a strong start in the preliminary round. Qatar meet India in their opening fixture before facing New Zealand later in the day, in what shapes as a tough»»»
Japan shifts rice policy
Japan’s cabinet has approved a shift towards a demand-driven rice production policy, alongside new measures to address supply shortages, as prices of the staple have risen sharply in recent years. The government of Sanae T»»»
Cuba to pardon more than 2,000 inmates - UPI.com
Cuba said Thursday that it will release more than 2,000 inmates. File Photo by Ernesto Mastroscusa/EPA-EFE April 3 (UPI) -- The Cuban government has announced it will pardon more than 2,000 prisoners, its second such release in less than a month. The Embassy of Cuba in Washington announced Thursday»»»
North Korea’s Kim Pets Puppies, Kittens at Pyongyang Pet Shop
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un petted puppies and kittens with his delighted daughter as they toured a new Pyongyang housing district, state media said Friday. The Hwasong area, formerly mostly farmland, is a newly developed residential district with about 40,000 housing units built through a seri»»»
UN Security Council Delays Vote on Authorizing Force to Protect Hormuz
The UN Security Council has postponed a vote scheduled for Friday on authorizing the use of "defensive" force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks, according to the official program. The 15-member body was set to vote Friday morning on a draft resolution brought by Bahra»»»
MoCI strengthens supply chains with suppliers and companies
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), in cooperation with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), held a coordination meeting yesterday bringing together major suppliers in Qatar and a number of relevant local companies to enhance the resilience and sustainability of supply chains at the»»»
UAE intercepts new missiles and drones from Iran amid rising tensions
Dubai: UAE authorities have confirmed that the country’s air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, as regional tensions rise. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an advisory that the sounds heard in parts of the country were due to air defence »»»
Germany limits gas price hikes to once a day
Berlin: The German government announced the implementation of new regulatory measures to curb frequent fuel price fluctuations by limiting the number of price increases to once per day. Price increases are permitted once at midday, whereas price decreases may be made at any time without limit. The »»»
Rising oil prices put global economy on brink of stagflation
Doha, Qatar: Surging global oil and gas prices are creating a new set of economic challenges for countries worldwide. The most prominent of these challenges is the fight against stagflation, with major fears of stagflation, central banks are now facing a dilemma over raising interest rates to contr»»»
Middle East live: UN Security Council to vote on force to protect Hormuz access
The UN Security Council is set to vote Friday on a draft resolution allowing a “defensive” force to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran’s actions disrupt a vital global trade route. Backed by the United States, the measure comes amid rising tensions and concerns over energy supplies a»»»
Trump’s Anger Over Iran Thrusts NATO into Fresh Crisis
The NATO alliance has in recent years survived existential challenges - ranging from the war in Ukraine to multiple bouts of pressure and insults from US President Donald Trump, who has questioned its core mission and threatened to seize Greenland. But it is the US-Israeli war with Iran, thousands »»»
Qatar University strengthens institutional preparedness to ensure community safety
Doha, Qatar: As part of its institutional responsibility and commitment to the safety of its community, Qatar University (QU) confirmed that it continues to implement measures aimed at strengthening institutional preparedness in response to the directives issued by the Ministry of Interior and rele»»»
Ports see steady growth from January to March
Doha, Qatar: Hamad, Doha, Ruwais Port handled over 291,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in first quarter (Q1) of 2026, along with around 237,000 tonnes of general cargo and more than 200,000 tonnes of bulk cargo. The ports also processed nearly 25,000 RoRo units and 75,779 heads of livestock»»»
Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz - UPI.com
French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) enter a welcome luncheon at the presidential Blue House in Seoul Friday. Photo by Yonhap President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage t»»»
Seminar on educational leadership in crises and recovery strategies held
Doha, Qatar: The Doha-based Arab Centre for Educational Training for the Gulf States organised a virtual symposium yesterday on educational leadership in crises, with the participation of a select group of educational leaders and specialists from Gulf and Arab countries. The seminar, held as a cont»»»
South Korea, France Agree to Deepen Defense Cooperation Amid Middle East Conflict
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday they planned to boost defense cooperation and work together to address the economic and energy crises triggered by the war in Iran. Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday for a two-day state visit after also»»»
Kyrgyzstan launches national exchange trading mechanism for precious metals - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan has officially launched a national digital exchange trading mechanism for precious metals on the platform of the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KSE). The KSE, Kyrgyzaltyn OJSC, and Central Depository CJSC have signed a trilateral agreement enabling the free buying and selling of precious metals »»»
Jordan-EU Investment Conference delayed to end of 2026
AMMAN — The government has announced on Thursday that the Jordan-European Investment Conference will be postponed until the end of 2026.The decision, made in coordination with the European Union, comes amid logistical challenges arising from regional developments, according to the Jordan News Agenc»»»
A Look at the UK’s Royal Navy, Which Has Faced Jibe After Jibe from Trump and Hegseth
US President Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have been damning of the UK's naval capabilities. Their jibes may have stung in a country with a long and proud maritime history, but they do carry some substance. The UK has been at the forefront of Trump’s ire since the onset of the»»»
Trump pledges to 'finish the job' in Iran in national address but offers no exit plan
President Donald Trump said US forces would keep hitting Iran "very hard" in the next two or three weeks and bring the country "back to the Stone Ages" in a televised address on Wednesday night, even as he argued that Washington had accomplished its goals but offered no clear timeline for ending th»»»
Trump fires loyalist Pam Bondi as US attorney general
US President Donald Trump has fired Pam Bondi, a loyalist who oversaw Justice Department upheaval during her role as US attorney general, replacing her with his former personal attorney Todd Blanche. US President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his attorney&nb»»»
First Chadian police arrive in Haiti to join UN-backed Gang Suppression Force
An advance contingent of police from Chad arrived in Haiti on Wednesday along with the new head of a UN-backed gang-suppression force tasked with helping Haitian security forces fight off powerful gangs that control most of the capital Port-au-Prince. Chad has pledged 800 officers, b»»»
Truth or Fake - Fact-checking Trump's address on the war in Iran
In his 19-minute address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump defended his war in Iran, which is now entering his second month, presenting the operation as a success that he said was “nearing completion.” But the President also stretched the truth about certain vi»»»
Dubai’s Dh1bn support plan eases costs, boosts business confidence
Dubai: Dubai’s Dh1 billion economic support package is being interpreted by business leaders and economists as a pre-emptive move to protect growth momentum, with authorities stepping in early to ease pressure on companies facing tighter liquidity and rising operating costs. Sign up for our daily b»»»
Endless lines, empty wallets: World’s poorest nations buckle under $155 billion fuel burden
Amidst the global fuel crunch, a stark economic and humanitarian reality confronts the world's most vulnerable. A relentless cascade: fuel prices spiraling, household budgets breaking, roads falling silent — and snaking queues at the pump growing longer by the hour. "Poorest nations pay $155 billio»»»