A voting machine was demonstrated to journalists here on Thursday at the warehouse where the devices are kept. On Friday evening, the voting machines will be transported to municipalities countrywide and are expected to reach the voting sections on Saturday, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy»»»

Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani left Muscat on Thursday, after a fraternal visit to the Sultanate of Oman. At the forefront of those bidding farewell to HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation was HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman. Also, present w»»»

Dubai: Dubai is set to launch its first commercial air taxi service this year following a progress review of the world’s inaugural vertiport near Dubai International Airport. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of th»»»

President Joseph Aoun held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday during which he thanked the U.S. leader for his "efforts" to secure a ceasefire with Israel, the Lebanese Presidency said. "President Aoun reiterated his thanks for the efforts Trump is making to achieve a ceasefir»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Transport HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al-Thani discussed in a meeting held virtually on Thursday, with Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Italian Republic HE Edoardo Rixi, aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the »»»

Our weekly series on Hungarian politics continues so we can report on developments after these historic elections and on events around the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: We may know the final election result on Saturday (18 April). Tisza’s victory has re»»»

Dubai: The UAE has held a series of high-level meetings with global finance leaders in Washington, focusing on strengthening financial partnerships, expanding tax frameworks and reinforcing its role in supporting international financial stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques »»»

Matt Rossi spent about $1,700 on StubHub for access to the first weekend of Coachella, which wrapped up Sunday, traveling from Manhattan to the California desert for the popular annual music festival. He received a wristband (the festival’s form of ticket) in the mail with a handwritten note from h»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Thursday expressed concern over what he described as systemic abuses within Bulgaria’s healthcare financing system, where hospitals exploit legal loopholes in order to maximize their profit and not to improve patient care, and demanded changes in the applicable»»»

1 of 3 | Virginia Lieutenant Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax arrives to speak at the official Democratic watch party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., in 2017. Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, died by murder-suicide Thursday. File Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Former»»»

1 of 2 | Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz since in began on Monday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. bloc»»»

Despite energy and food shortages, residents participate in the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the proclamation of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, in Havana on Thursday. Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA April 16 (UPI) -- The Russian tanker Universal, linked to the so-call»»»

Sydney: Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle claimed Thursday she has been "bullied and attacked" on social media every day for a decade and was "the most trolled person in the entire world". The 44-year-old former American actress made the comments during the couple's four-day tour of Australia, as t»»»

Helsinki: The Finnish government on Thursday proposed that a test covering knowledge of Finnish society would be required for gaining citizenship, as the country continues to tighten its immigration policy. The proposed citizenship test -- to be completed in either of Finland's two main official la»»»

Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed Doha on Thursday after a working visit to the country. His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Doha International Airport by Minister of State for International Cooperation HE»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejected a US request for a direct phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, an official source told AFP. "The Lebanese president refused a direct call with Netanyahu and informed (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio of this," adding that "»»»

Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16.  “The European public should bo»»»

Europe has “maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” the head of the International Energy Agency said Thursday in a wide-ranging Associated Press interview, warning of possible flight cancellations “soon” if oil supplies remain blocked by the Iran war. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol painted a»»»

Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16.  “The European public should bo»»»

Speaking at a campaign event in Kardzhali, Alliance for Rights and Freedoms Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan has said that he “cannot imagine our community without representation in Parliament.” ”That would be very harmful to its development and security,” he added, as quoted by the party’s press office »»»

Canberra: Australia has brokered a deal for Indonesia to supply 250,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Australian farmers facing shortfalls, officials said Thursday, as the Middle East crisis disrupts supply. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the deal, which fills 20 percent of the fertilise»»»

Skopje, 14 April 2026 (MIA) – Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, is visiting Washington, D.C., USA from April 14 to 18 to take part in the 2026 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). While in Washington D.C., the Ministry of Finance said»»»

A nationwide ban on the capture of fish and other aquatic organisms during their breeding period is now in effect in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced on Thursday. The measure is introduced annually through an order issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, in coordinat»»»

Dubai: The CBSE Class 10 board examination results for 2026 (Phase 1) have delivered a historic moment for Indian schools across the UAE, with multiple students scoring a perfect 100% and almost all institutions recording a 100% pass rate. What makes the results even more extraordinary is the backd»»»

Qaqortoq, Denmark: A commercial aircraft landed on Thursday for the first time in Qaqortoq, Greenland's fourth-largest town, whose new airport means that the whole of the Arctic island -- coveted by US President Donald Trump -- has international connections. The flight between Nuuk, the Greenlandic»»»

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his meeting with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, discussed regional developments, particularly in the Gulf region, stressing the importance of de-escalation, dialogue, and »»»

Europe, Middle East and Africa President of Snap, Ronan Harris (L), and Wifredo Fernandez, director of global government affairs at X, leave No. 10 Downing Street in London on Thursday morning after meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss ways to protect children safe when they are on social»»»

Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission set out Thursday how it wants Google to make a wide range of data accessible to rival search engines in order to comply with the bloc's digital rules. The announcement forms part of amicable proceedings launched in January to ensure Google meets its obliga»»»

Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has made no secret of his "displeasure and resentment" at President Joseph Aoun and PM Nawaf Salam's decision to engage in direct negotiations with Israel, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday. "He reiterates to his visitors his categorical rejection of any fo»»»

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»»»

Islamabad: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for the warm welcome and cordial meeting that took place at the Amiri Diwan today, April 16, 2026. In a post on his official X account, he said: "I had a most»»»

Muscat: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, discussed developments in the region amid rising regional tensions. The two sides met at Al Baraka Palace in Muscat, where they exchanged views on current developments, particularl»»»

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»»»

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun will not hold a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future, three Lebanese officials told Reuters on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump said leaders of both countries would speak. Two of the Lebanese officials said that the Lebanese»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria's President, Parliament Chair, caretaker Prime Minister and Patriarch, as well as magistrates, representatives of institutions and guests gathered for the celebration of Constitution Day at the Museum of the Bulgarian Revival and Constituent Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo on Thursday. This mar»»»

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 »»»

More than three dozen Democrats supported an effort by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to block arms sales to Israel, signaling a growing discontent in the party with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the wars in Gaza and Iran. The two resolutions to block U.S. sales of bulldozers and »»»

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 »»»

MUSCAT: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani arrived in Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman. HH the Amir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival by HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, along with Deputy Prime M»»»

Hungary’s incoming prime minister, Peter Magyar, has pledged to suspend the news operations of the state broadcaster following two tense interviews he gave on Wednesday. Magyar’s Tisza party secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s parliamentary election, effectively ensuring he will form the next go»»»

The EU spy campaign that helped bring down Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is a lesson to anyone who defies Brussels, former Slovak Interior Minister Vladimir Palko has warned. “What they did to Orban yesterday, they can do to you tomorrow,” he told the outlet ‘Marker’ on Monday. Orban’s Fide»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

Dubai: The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has declared that it is awaiting the results of a “scientific and technical analysis” into the alleged use of cyanide in waters of Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, before determining its next st»»»

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»»»

President Joseph Aoun on Thursday stressed the importance of a ceasefire before any direct negotiations with Israel, ahead of possible talks with Israel's leader that Beirut has not confirmed will take place. "The ceasefire requested by Lebanon with Israel is the natural starting point for direct n»»»

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»»»