Qatari citizens exempt from entry visas to Albania until December 2026
Doha, Qatar: An official source from the Consular Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Qatari citizens are exempt from entry visas to the Republic of Albania. This came in a social media post by the Ministry, which stated that the exemption applies from April 15, 202»»»
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»»»
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»»»
SCNS of Kyrgyzstan detains members of radical organizations - | 24.KG
During counterterrorism operations, based on intelligence and filtration measures at the entry-exit channel, the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) detained foreign nationals A.F., R.Sh., and N.Kh. It was established that these individuals were members of extremely radical r»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Kyrgyzstan to build 21 dams to protect 12,000 homes from mudflows - | 24.KG
As part of Resiland project, mudflow protection structures will be built and restored in four regions of Kyrgyzstan in 2026 to protect settlements, roads, and farmland from mudflows. The press service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. The project covers 21 sites in Issyk-Kul, Osh, N»»»
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»»»
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 »»»
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 »»»
55 Kyrgyzstanis serve sentences in Uzbek prisons - | 24.KG
At least 55 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are serving sentences in Uzbek prisons. Prosecutor General Maksatbek Asanaliev announced at a session of the Zhogorku Kenesh. According to him, documents on nine of them have already been collected and sent to Uzbekistan. The Prosecutor General’s Office is collect»»»
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»»»
Police seize 26,000 illegal fireworks on Kos
A massive 26,000 fireworks found in the possession of a shop owner on the southeastern Aegean Sea island of Kos have been confiscated, police said Wednesday, amid an intensified crackdown ahead of Orthodox Easter. While letting off fireworks is traditional in Greece at Easter, it is against the law»»»
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, »»»
Kuwait says has been dealing with 'intense wave of Iranian attacks' for hours
Kuwait on Wednesday reported Iranian attacks that have been ongoing from 8am local time and damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities, hours after an Iran-US truce came into effect. "Since 8:00 AM (0500 GMT) today, Kuwaiti air defenses have been engaging an intense wave of hos»»»
Kuwait intercepts 28 drones, reports significant damage to power, water desalination plants
Doha, Qatar: Kuwait has announced that it was targeted by an intense wave of Iranian attacks beginning at 8am today, April 8, 2026, with 28 drones successfully intercepted. This was confirmed in a statement issued on the same day by Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense official spokesperson, Colonel Saud A»»»
Five healthcare facilities in Qatar designated as ‘baby-friendly hospitals’
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Public Health has announced the designation of five healthcare facilities under the ‘Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative,’ launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), following their successful compliance with internati»»»
Russia Hopes US Will Have More Opportunities to Engage in Dialogue on Ukraine - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia hopes that US negotiators will have more opportunities to participate in trilateral negotiations on Ukraine in the foreseeable future, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "We hope that in the foreseeable future they [the US negotiators] will have more time a»»»
Livestock checks stepped up ahead of Easter amid pox epidemic
Ahead of the annual slaughter of thousands of lambs for traditional Easter Sunday meals, authorities are stepping up policing of measures to contain a highly contagious livestock disease that’s decimated herds in much of the country, officials said Wednesday. The Rural Development Ministry said spe»»»
New 14 Measles Cases Registered in Bulgaria, Total Reaches 94
As of April 7, there were a total of 94 cases of measles in Bulgaria, with 14 new cases reported, according to the Ministry of Health’s website. Of the newly reported cases, 10 are from Vratsa Region, two from Sofia City, and one each from the Pleven and Lovech regions. The newly infected individua»»»
Russian Armed Forces Strike Ukrainian Port Infrastructure
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian troops have struck facilities of Ukraine's fuel and energy complex and port infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. "Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops, and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces' battlegr»»»
'Pinprick of Light': Artemis Crew Witnesses Meteorite Impacts on Moon
During their historic lunar flyby, astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission witnessed meteorites striking the rugged surface of the Moon, a sight that has piqued scientists' curiosity. "That was definitely impact flashes on the moon. And Jeremy (Hansen) just saw another one," mission commander Reid »»»
Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives phone call from Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan
Doha, Qatar: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi received a phone call on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Ishaq Dar. During the c»»»
Now you can buy gold in Dubai and get it delivered home
Dubai: Now, you can even get gold delivered home to you. The Dubai Gold District rolled out a new home-delivery service on Wednesday, allowing buyers to browse, select, and purchase gold without visiting the market. Under the new service, buyers can arrange private consultations with participating »»»
Tired of bank calls? UAE Central Bank Just Issued a warning to financial institutions
The Central Bank of the UAE has issued a warning to licensed financial institutions in the country—including banks, insurance companies, reinsurance firms, and other financial entities—granting them a 90-day period to comply with the newly introduced “Telemarketing Regulation.” The Central Bank cir»»»