Over 9,000 Polling Stations to Use Voting Machines in Bulgaria, CEC Chair Says
Voting machines will be used in 9,354 polling stations across the country, while 2,641 stations will operate with paper ballots only, Central Election Commission (CEC) Chair Kameliya Neykova said during a meeting with President Iliana Iotova and institutions responsible for organizing the early par»»»
Thailand confirms deaths of three ship crew in Gulf attack
Bangkok: Thailand's foreign minister confirmed on Wednesday the deaths of three Thai crew members of a cargo ship struck by Iran while transiting the Strait of Hormuz a month ago. US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February prompted Tehran to respond by effectively closing the strait, a crucial art»»»
Oil prices plunge after cease-fire, Hormuz Strait reopening announced - UPI.com
A gas station in London, England, displays the latest price for a liter of regular unleaded on Wednesday morning hours after crude oil prices fell sharply on news disruption to the global supply of oil caused by the Iran war may be about to ease. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- Global oil p»»»
Bulgaria Scraps European Prosecutor Nominations Over “Serious Flaws” in Selection
The government has decided to withdraw all three Bulgarian nominations for the position of European Prosecutor, effectively restarting the procedure after identifying serious flaws in the initial selection process. The candidates affected are Dimitar Belichev, Mihaela Raidovska and Plamen Petkov, w»»»
Reform UK calls to ban visas for countries demanding slavery reparations
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK would stop issuing visas to nationals from any country that demands slavery reparations from Britain, the party’s home affairs spokesman has announced, dismissing the compensation claims as “insulting.” Speaking to The Telegraph, Zia Yusuf stated that a growing number of na»»»
German military spending pushing deficit higher – Federal Statistical Office
Germany’s military spending shot up by over 23% to €39 billion ($45 billion) last year, pushing the budget deficit to the highest level in four years, the Federal Statistical Office has reported. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Berlin began a military buildup, with defense»»»
Abu Dhabi handles 80 million cubic metres of rainwater, equal to 32,000 Olympic-sized pools
Abu Dhabi: The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) said it successfully managed more than 80 million cubic metres of rainwater within a week following the heavy rainfall that recently affected the emirate. The department said the volume of water handled was equivalent to around 32,000 »»»
Vucic receives Shandong Hi-Speed Group representatives
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a delegation of China's Shandong Hi-Speed Group corporation on Wednesday to discuss new possibilities for deepening cooperation in areas that are of great importance for Serbia's development. "With representatives of the Shandong Hi-Speed Group»»»
Boris Azarenko: profile of a Vesper co-founder
Boris Azarenko is an entrepreneur whose professional background lies in banking and finance and who later founded major property development businesses. Boris Azarenko biography: educational path and early career Born in Moscow on 21 April 1977, Boris Nikolayevich Azarenko studied Finance at the Fi»»»
Border guard shoots himself at Irkeshtam post - | 24.KG
A contract serviceman shot himself at Irkeshtam border post in Alay district of Osh region, the Military Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the information. The incident occurred the previous day. The serviceman is 22 years old. Following the incident, he underwent surgery and is currently in critical c»»»
Two identified over soccer stadium blast
Organized crime squad officers have identified two men believed to be behind an attack with a small homemade explosive device on a Thessaloniki football stadium shortly before Christmas that caused minor damage and no injury, police said Wednesday. The pre-dawn explosion at Aris Thessaloniki’s Klea»»»
GERB-UDF's Top-of-the-List Candidate Says Varna Can Become Industrial Capital
Varna could become an industrial centre, GERB-UDF's top-of-the-list candidate Vladislav Goranov said during a public meeting, quoted by the coalition’s press office on Wednesday. He argued that the city has significant potential thanks to its six universities and the infrastructure already develope»»»
President Iotova Stresses Importance of Fair and Transparent Elections
“It is extremely important to see whether we have fulfilled our promise to conduct fair and transparent elections,” President Iliana Iotova said during a meeting with the institutions responsible for organizing the early parliamentary elections. “It is crucial to assess how far we have come in prep»»»
Tunisie Catering launches fleet of electric vehicles for staff
Tunis, April 8, 2026 (TAP) – Tunisie Catering, a subsidiary of the Tunisair Group specializing in in-flight catering, announced on Wednesday the operational launch of a fleet of electric vehicles for its staff.Launched in partnership with Tunisian...»»»
Sarkozy denies Libyan funding in presidential campaign
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has claimed that “not a single cent” from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya found its way into his 2007 election campaign, at an appearance before a Paris appeals court on Tuesday. He is appealing a five-year prison sentence handed down in 2025 after being found guilty»»»
Trump reportedly acknowledges Canadian annexation unlikely
US President Donald Trump allegedly conceded in private that Canada is unlikely to become part of the US, despite previously hinting at annexing the neighboring country, a snippet from an upcoming book by British journalist Robert Hardman has indicated. Over the past year, Trump has on multiple occ»»»
Efforts to integrate digital technologies into judicial system intensify - | 24.KG
The judicial system continues its digital transformation efforts, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to a fully-fledged e-justice system and strengthening public trust in the judiciary. The press service of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. According to the press service, in a»»»
Hezbollah MP warns of response if Israel does not adhere to ceasefire
Hezbollah legislator Ibrahim Al-Moussawi has warned of a response from Iran and its allies if Israel "does not adhere to a ceasefire." His comment to local television channel Al-Jadeed is the first from the militant group in Lebanon after the U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by »»»
Pakistan, France and Egypt say ceasefire 'includes Lebanon'
French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire agreement between the U.S., Israel and Iran "fully includes Lebanon," which is in opposition to the stance taken by Israel as it continues an offensive there. Macron said the inclusion of Lebanon in the deal is "a good and even essential thing." "»»»
Rahber Global opens Afghanistan's first international-standard visa facilitation centre in Kabul
Rahber Global, a Dubai-based mobility infrastructure and consular services company, has established its flagship visa facilitation and application support center in Kabul, Afghanistan - the first international-standard facility of its kind in the country. The center is scheduled for formal inaugura»»»
Zenith Multi Trading bets on next-gen aerospace technology
Zenith Multi Trading DMCC has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Singular Aircraft S.L., a Barcelona-based aerospace technology company specialising in light aircraft and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The agreement marks a decisive and deliberate entry by the Dubai-based investment platform into»»»
Nutella in Space: Artemis II crew accidentally creates viral moment
Dubai: NASA’s Artemis II crew made history by flying farther from Earth than any humans since Apollo 13, and along the way, they gave the internet something unexpected to snack on: a jar of Nutella floating in zero gravity. Probably the only jar in the entire universe to be a part of a mission like»»»
All eyes on Hormuz Strait: Marine traffic starting to move as two-week ceasefire kicks in
Major shipping companies and tanker operators have began moving vessels more freely once the risk of attack diminished following the two-week ceasefire declared by Iran-US ceasefire. While the ceasefire remains fragile, marine traffic has started moving, though it remains far below pre-crisis level»»»
Bulgaria to Open 493 Polling Stations in 55 Countries for Parliamentary Vote
President Iliana Yotova convened a meeting of institutions responsible for the conduct of the early parliamentary elections on April 19, with a focus on assessing preparedness and ensuring that every vote is properly safeguarded. She stressed that it is essential to evaluate whether the country has»»»
UAE air defences intercept 17 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Defence announced that on 8th April 2026, UAE air defence systems successfully engaged 17 ballistic missile and 35 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of these blatant Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missile»»»
Iran Just Flipped the Script on Petrodollar
Iran’s de facto control of the Strait of Hormuz is giving it a powerful lever to blunt the US’s “maximum pressure” campaign against it, global energy expert Dr. Mamdouh G. Salameh tells Sputnik. While the Hormuz toll system pulls in China’s yuan and stablecoins—chipping away at petrodollar dominanc»»»
Schools upgraded to nZEB standards under România Eficientă program cut energy use by 60%
The România Eficientă program, implemented by Energy Policy Group (EPG) and supported by OMV Petrom with EUR 15 million, has led to an average 60% reduction in energy consumption across five educational units modernised to nZEB standards. “Education is essential to the development of society, and e»»»
U.S. proposes new forms of cooperation in healthcare with Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan Damir Osmonov met with Lesslie Viguerie, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the ministry’s press center, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of Kyrgyzstan — U.S. cooperation in healt»»»
Kyrgyzstan welcomes ceasefire agreement in the Middle East - | 24.KG
The Kyrgyz Republic welcomes the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East, as well as the efforts of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other stakeholders to facilitate de-escalation and promote peaceful dialogue. The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported. A»»»
Israeli strike kills eight in Sidon as Israel hits south despite Iran ceasefire
An Israeli strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon, the health ministry said Wednesday, as the United States and its allies agreed to a ceasefire with Iran. "The Israeli enemy's strike on Sidon, south Lebanon, resulted in a preliminary toll of eight citizens martyred and 22 wounded»»»
Spain, France, Germany call for Lebanon's inclusion in ceasefire
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, calling the agreement a "very good thing," but said he wishes it will include Lebanon. "We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations»»»
Hezbollah tells displaced not to return home before ceasefire in Lebanon
Hezbollah on Wednesday told people displaced by war with Israel to refrain from returning to their homes before a ceasefire is announced in Lebanon, while claiming to be nearing a "historic victory". "Today, we stand on the threshold of a great and historic victory," the Iran-backed group said in a»»»
Bioenergetic Massage with Silver Thread Gloves Is among Latest Spa Procedures at Olymp Spa Hotel
The spa centre at the Olymp Spa Hotel in Velingrad is the only one in the city to offer bioenergetic massage with silver thread gloves, spa centre manager Gergana Popova told BTA. She said that this is a new technology combined with traditional Chinese medicine that has a beneficial effect on inter»»»
Electric and hybrid vehicles accounted for 65% of Romania’s passenger car registrations in March
The market share of fully electric cars in total registrations in Romania reached 6.5% in March this year, up from 2.8% in the same period of 2025, according to an analysis by the Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers (APIA) cited by Agerpres. Electrified cars, including fully elect»»»
Trump’s Iran playbook: Apocalyptic threats deliver short-term results — but a strategic mess remains
Dubai: US President Donald Trump’s strategy was simple: Escalate to the extreme, force a crisis, then step back. It worked — tactically. But strategically, little appears to have changed. Iran’s leadership remains in place, its security apparatus led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains»»»
National Human Rights Institution reviews impact of Iranian attacks during field visits
Abu Dhabi: A delegation from the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), led by its Chairman Dr Salem Al Neyadi, has conducted field visits to several locations across the UAE to assess the impact of Iranian attacks that it said directly violate a number of fundamental rights protected under inte»»»
Berri to Asharq Al-Awsat: Lebanon Included in Ceasefire Deal
Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that the US-Iran-Israel deal to reach a ceasefire also covered the fighting in Lebanon. He said, however, that Israel did not abide by the two-week ceasefire, in violation of the agreement. Berri said the deal clearly include»»»
Salam says only state can negotiate for Lebanon, Aoun seeks ceasefire inclusion
President Joseph Aoun welcomed on Wednesday the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran, saying he hoped his country would be included in the regional truce. Aoun said Beirut "continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner", accor»»»
Voting Machines to Be Available in 130 Polling Stations Across 20 Countries, CEC Chair Says
Voting machines will be available in 130 polling stations across 20 countries, Central Election Commission (CEC) Chair Kameliya Neykova said during a meeting between President Iliana Iotova and the institutions responsible for organizing the early parliamentary elections. Neykova explained that the»»»
Man fined $300 for entering hippo Moo Deng's pen: Thai zoo
Bangkok: A Thai court has fined a man $300 after he broke into the enclosure of Moo Deng, an endangered baby pygmy hippo and internet sensation, the zoo director said Wednesday. Moo Deng has gained global attention thanks to social media videos showing her adorable antics, drawing tens of thousands»»»
India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border
Kolkata, India: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that "the use of reptiles" was discu»»»
Towards a greener canal
by Mahmoud Bayoumi A recent report on the environmental status of the new Suez Canal project published in consultation with the Suez Canal Authority and other relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies shows the impact will be minimal. The report is based on scientific studies of the Suez »»»
UAE condemns attack on Kuwait consulate in Iraq’s Basra
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has condemned and denounced in the strongest terms the storming and acts of vandalism targeting the premises of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in Basra, as well as the accompanying blatant attacks. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stressed the »»»
Nawaf Salam to Asharq Al-Awsat: No One but the State Negotiates for Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday that “no one negotiates for Lebanon except for the Lebanese state” - in his first comments since the two-week ceasefire was reached between the US and Israel over Iran. Addressing the debate over whether Lebanon was included in t»»»
First ships through Strait of Hormuz since ceasefire
Two ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran agreed to reopen the waterway as part of a ceasefire deal, maritime monitor Marine Traffic said Wednesday. "The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the Strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier »»»
Iraq reopens airspace, resumes civil flights after U.S.–Iran ceasefire
Baghdad, April 8 (SANA) The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced the reopening of the country’s airspace and all airports, allowing the resumption of civil flights after recent closures linked to regional tensions. In a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the authority said air traf»»»
Change fatigue eroding employee wellbeing amid accelerating business shifts – Deloitte study
Change fatigue is becoming a significant challenge for employees at the global level, with one in three reporting that they have gone through more than 15 major changes in the past year alone, driven either by evolving customer expectations or shifts in business strategy and operating models, accor»»»
Sofia Space Institute Marks International Space Day with Open House
The Institute of Space Research and Technology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia held an Open House to mark the International Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics on April 12. The event also celebrated the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first spaceflight and the 45th anniversary of Bulg»»»
Dubai mosques to get EV charging stations in smart infrastructure move
Dubai: The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) has signed an agreement with Emarat EV Charging Stations Company (UAEV) to install electric vehicle charging stations in mosque parking areas across Dubai. The eight-year agreement, with an option to renew, allows UAEV to devel»»»
2 million km and counting: How Dubai’s buses are outperforming London and Singapore
Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has announced that its public bus fleet have surpassed a cumulative operational distance of 2 million kilometres, setting a new international benchmark for asset longevity in public transport. The milestone, achieved over 18 years of continuous service, »»»