EU lawmakers want to tax Big Tech to fund budget
Brussels, Belgium: EU lawmakers on Thursday demanded a European Union-wide tax on the world's biggest tech companies to help fund the 27-country bloc's next seven-year budget. The EU is facing one of its biggest battles this year over the 2028-2034 budget, which the executive set at two trillion eu»»»
Drive to feed air-dropped rabies vaccines to foxes in the wild
A campaign to inoculate wild foxes against rabies through air-dropped, vaccine-laced baits will start at the end of April, authorities said Thursday, warning members of the public to seek medical assistance if they touch the baits. The Rural Development Ministry said the annual oral vaccination cam»»»
Iran's Defense-industrial Base 'Completely' Destroyed, Says Pentagon Chief
The US war against Iran has "completely" destroyed the country's ability to build missiles or other sophisticated weaponry, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday "We finished completely destroying Iran's defense-industrial base, a core pillar of our mission," Hegseth told reporters. "They c»»»
UK, Norway Led a Military Operation to Deter Russian Submarines in the North Atlantic
British and Norwegian militaries led a weekslong operation to deter Russian submarines suspected of “malign activity” in the North Atlantic, the UK military said Thursday. Defense Secretary John Healey said a frigate, planes and hundreds of personnel monitored a Russian attack sub and two spy subma»»»
Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli aggression against Lebanon
Islamabad: Pakistan has condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which has resulted in the deaths of innocent civilians and widespread destruction of infrastructure. In a statement today , the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the Israeli actio»»»
Sova Harris Poll: Six Political Forces to Enter Next Parliament
Six formations are certain to enter the next parliament, according to a nationally representative poll conducted by Sova Harris. It was taken between April 2 and 6, 2026, among 800 adult Bulgarian citizens using standardized face-to-face interviews at respondents’ homes. The survey was commissioned»»»
Economic relief measures rolled out for 3 Dubai free zones - What are they?
Dubai: The government of Dubai has unveiled a new set of economic support measures to strengthen business resilience and ease operational costs for companies across key free zones. Announced by the Dubai Media Office, the initiative comes under the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) a»»»
Russian Forces Strike Fuel and Energy Infrastructure Facilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian military forces have struck Ukraine's fuel and energy infrastructure facilities, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groupings struck fuel»»»
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to Be Ratified Soon, Environment Minister Says
Caretaker Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov said that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is to be ratified soon by Bulgaria. Popov was speaking during the ceremony welcoming the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) in Varna on Thursday Popo»»»
Middle East airspace warning extended: Airlines halt flights amid rising tensions
Dubai: Europe’s aviation safety watchdog has extended its warning to airlines to avoid large parts of the Middle East airspace until April 24, amid the ongoing regional crisis. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB), keeping restr»»»
NBS keeps key policy rate at 5.75 pct
BELGRADE - The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Executive Board decided on Thursday to retain the key policy rate at 5.75 pct and keep the deposit and lending facility rates at 4.5 pct and 7.0 pct, respectively. "When making the decision, the Executive Board was mainly guided by actual and expected in»»»
Calls for US-Iran truce to extend to Lebanon after Israeli strikes
Beirut, Lebanon: Calls were mounting on Thursday for the ceasefire between the US and Iran to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, after a massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 200 people. US President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreei»»»
UAE warns of impact of Iranian attacks on global health, food systems
Addressing international leaders at the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, the UAE issued a stark warning on the far-reaching global health, environmental, and food system consequences of ongoing illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked attacks in the region. The summit, convened by French President »»»
Kuwait airport closure continues
Dubai: Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority has denied reports claiming that flights have resumed at Kuwait International Airport, stressing that no official approvals have been issued yet. In a statement, the authority confirmed that the airport has remained closed since February 28 due to the prevai»»»
Israel dismisses mounting calls to add Lebanon to US-Iran ceasefire
Israel vowed more strikes against Hezbollah on Thursday, dismissing mounting international demands that the fragile truce between the United States and Iran in the Gulf be expanded to cover the war in Lebanon. At least 203 people were killed and 1,000 wounded in the latest strikes, the Lebanese hea»»»
Ukraine Plots Maritime Sabotage Attacks Against Russia with Norway’s Help
The criminal Zelensky regime, aided by Norwegian Navy specialists, is preparing terrorist attacks on Russian ships navigating the Barents and Norwegian Seas to and from the port of Murmansk, Russian media report, citing a military-diplomatic source. For this purpose, a group of about 50 servicemen »»»
Calls for US-Iran truce to extend to Lebanon after Israeli strikes
Calls were mounting on Thursday for the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, after a massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 200 people. U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreeing a two-week»»»
Holding Iran accountable: Why the Gulf must act now
The most pressing question in the minds of Gulf populations today is: Can the Iranian regime escape accountability for its crimes against Gulf countries and their peoples? The core reason behind this question is that the official position of these countries has been limited to a defensive posture, »»»
In a leaderless system, these men now govern Iran
Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Iran’s Supreme Leader after his father was killed in a US-Israeli strike on 28 February, but has yet to appear in public, and is believed to have been injured in the strike, which also killed several other members of his close family. Yet despite his absence, the Iran»»»
72 hours to Hungary’s election: a crushing Tisza victory — or downfall of the pollsters?
In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. This is our final edition of this series before the election. We guide readers on the route to the crunch Sunday (12 April) election — a poll without pr»»»
Ministry of Transport warns against unjustified surcharges
Doha, Qatar: The Maritime Transport Affairs of Ministry of Transport urged all entities licensed for maritime activities to follow and adhere to the principles of fairness and transparency when it comes to providing their maritime services. The statement stressed on compliance with the provisions o»»»
Iran war raises risk of nuclear disaster in the Middle East
A war launched by the US and Israel with the stated aim of preventing a nuclear crisis could end up causing one. With repeated strikes reported near the Russian-built Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, discussions about the US potentially forcibly taking Iranian uranium reserves, and seemingly ze»»»
Egyptian stocks recover from Monday slump before late profit-taking resumes
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedinCopy URL Cairo — Egypt’s stock market closed the 29 March–2 April 2026 trading week with a mixed but volatile performance, as a steep foreign-led sell-off at the start of the period was followed by a strong mid-week rebound before profit-taking resumed on Thursday. By»»»
Iran’s grip on Strait of Hormuz alarms Gulf states as shipping remains disrupted despite ceasefire
Dubai: Within hours of President Donald Trump announcing a halt to fighting with Iran, confusion over its terms, violations on the ground, and conflicting claims over the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt on whether the ceasefire existed at all. The uncertainty was immediate and multi-layered. The United»»»
Calls for US-Iran Truce to Extend to Lebanon after Israeli Strikes
Calls were mounting on Thursday for the ceasefire between the US and Iran to be extended to Israel's war with Hezbollah, after a massive wave of Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 200 people. US President Donald Trump has claimed victory in the Middle East war after agreeing a two-week tru»»»
French Military Chief Says Possible War with Russia His 'Primary Concern'
France's top general on Thursday said the possibility of a war with Russia in the next few years remained his "primary concern" as he defended efforts to ramp up defense spending. The chief of the defense staff General Fabien Mandon spoke in parliament as he presented France's draft legislation to »»»
Drive to feed air-dropped rabies vaccines to foxes in the wild
A campaign to inoculate wild foxes against rabies through air-dropped, vaccine-laced baits will start at the end of April, authorities said Thursday, warning members of the public to seek medical assistance if they touch the baits. The Rural Development Ministry said the annual oral vaccination cam»»»
5 unanswered questions on the US-Iran ceasefire
The United States and Iran suddenly announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, and there are myriad open questions about what happens next. Israel has also agreed to the truce, though it reportedly did so reluctantly. Both Washington and Tehran have claimed victory, but it’s too early to declare th»»»
Modi to push bill that will increase number of women in parliament
New Delhi, India: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday he is pushing a bill to fast-track a law guaranteeing at least one-third of lawmakers are women, and potentially expanding seats by two-fifths. If passed, the measure would sharply increase the number of women candidates and electe»»»
Israel Says Will Continue to Strike Hezbollah 'Wherever Necessary'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel would keep hitting Hezbollah "wherever necessary,” the day after Israeli strikes pummeled Lebanon. "We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination," Netanyahu said on his personal X account. "Our message »»»
Applying for a Philippine passport now? Here’s why it may take longer
Dubai: The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has announced that passport applications submitted from the last week of March this year may take longer than usual to process, citing logistical and supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing regional situation. The issue has stemmed fr»»»
Dinar-to-euro exchange rate at RSD 117.3774
BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3774 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative»»»
Solar push helps Pakistan temper Gulf energy shock
LAHORE, Pakistan — Pakistan's solar power push has cushioned the full impact of the war in the Middle East, analysts said, despite lingering concerns over fuel supplies and rising prices.A study published last month assessed that the uptake of solar around 2018 helped the country avoid more than $1»»»
UK 'strongly' wants ceasefire extended to Lebanon
Britain's foreign minister said Thursday the UK "strongly" wants Lebanon included in the Middle East ceasefire as Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the United Arab Emirates. "We do want to see the ceasefire extended to Lebanon. I'm deeply troubled about the escalating attacks that we saw from »»»
Rescuers search for survivors in Lebanese capital as new Israeli strikes hit south
Rescuers searched for survivors under the rubble of destroyed buildings in Beirut on Thursday as Lebanon observed a day of mourning after Israeli strikes across the country killed more than 200. The Israeli military carried out further strikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least five people in Ab»»»
Argentine MPs Approve Bill to Allow Mining in Glaciers
Argentine MPs approved a bill early Thursday promoted by President Javier Milei that authorizes mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost, and has outraged environmentalists. The amendment to the so-called Glacier Law, which was already approved by the Senate in February, wo»»»
Saudi, Iranian FMs hold first call since start of war
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, the Saudi foreign ministry said Thursday, in the first official contact between the countries since Tehran launched strikes against its Gulf neighbors in retaliation for Israeli-Am»»»
Media Review: April 9
ENERGY - ECONOMY 24 Chasa reports in an extensive article that the Bulgarian caretaker Government is actively managing the impact of global energy tensions on domestic prices, monitoring goods and fuel, and providing targeted support to transport and vulnerable sectors. Ceasefire developments in th»»»
Euro Adoption in Bulgaria Has Limited Impact on Consumer Prices, ECB Analysis Shows
Bulgaria’s transition from the lev to the euro has so far had a limited and largely one-off impact on consumer prices, said experts from the European Central Bank (ECB) in an analysis published on the institution’s blog on Thursday. According to the calculations, inflation in Bulgaria would have be»»»
DOJ indicts Army veteran for leaking information to journalist - UPI.com
A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Army veteran will leaking classified information to a journalist. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- Federal authorities have arrested and charged an Army veteran with top secret clearance on accusations of sharing classified »»»
Ansarullah Condemns Israeli Massacre in Lebanon: Targeting Civilians Signals Desperation
Yemen’s Ansarullah revolutionary group denounced on Thursday massacres committed by the Israeli enemy against the Lebanese people, saying the attack, which left hundreds martyred and wounded, reflects “extreme savagery” and warned that continued escalation points to a state of confusion and defeat.»»»
'Time for compliments has passed as region faces critical phase', says Anwar Gargash
Abu Dhabi: Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, stressed that the time for compliments has passed and that honesty is now essential, as the region faces a critical phase requiring clear and firm positions. Commenting on recent regional developments, Gargash said observers sho»»»
We will emerge stronger: Sheikh Hamdan shares video echoing UAE President’s promise
Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has shared a stirring video on his social media, amplifying a message of resilience and promise from the UAE Pres»»»
Government Ends State-Funded Roadside Assistance, Leaves Service to Free Market
Caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Nikolay Naydenov announced Thursday that the government halts payments for roadside assistance services currently provided under road maintenance contracts, shifting the activity entirely to the free market. Speaking to journalists at a joint»»»
How your morning coffee could pay for your parking under Parkin’s new scheme
Dubai: Parkin, the largest provider of paid public parking facilities and services in Dubai, has launched 'Spots for Shops', a first-of-its-kind initiative that allows drivers to validate their parking fees through the Parkin app by supporting neighbourhood small businesses, turning routine stops i»»»
Hezbollah Answers Israeli Massacres with Renewed Operations - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Answers Israeli Massacres with Renewed Operations 09-04-2026 10:22 AM A Hezbollah fighter appears in a video released by the grou»»»
Iran Publishes Chart Showing It May Have Put Sea Mines in Strait of Hormuz as Shaky Ceasefire Holds
Semiofficial news agencies in Iran published a chart Thursday suggesting the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard put sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz during the war, in a message that may be intended to pressure the US as uncertainty hangs over a days-old two-week ceasefire and further ne»»»
Bulgaria: €40,000 Seized in Vote-Buying Raid as Police Detain Suspect
A 53-year-old man with a criminal record has been detained in Bulgaria during a targeted police operation against vote buying, carried out in the village of Brestnitsa in the Lovech region. Authorities uncovered more than 40,000 euros in cash inside his home, according to Acting Secretary General o»»»
US-Iran Truce Shows Cracks as War Flares in Lebanon
Lebanon declared a national day of mourning on Thursday after Israeli strikes pummeled the country, shaking a fragile truce less than 48 hours after it came into force. Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and negotiations aimed at ending a war that has »»»
New Hormuz toll fee? A 'beautiful thing’, says Trump — could change global rules
Iran has warned ships near the Hormuz Strait must obtain “permission” from its naval forces before transiting the narrow waterway. It underscores Tehran’s grip over the strategic chokepoint. “You must receive permission from Iranian Sepah navy for passing through the strait. If any vessel tries to »»»