Colombo, Sri Lanka: The International Monetary Fund approved a further $700 million in loans for Sri Lanka on Thursday, while urging Colombo to accelerate reforms to guard its post-2022 economic recovery and address shocks from the Middle East crisis. The Fund mission approved the latest tranche of»»»

Doha, Qatar: In Qatar, overpaying rarely happens because people are careless. It usually happens because the buying process is fragmented. A shopper opens several tabs, checks a forwarded offer, sees a sale label, and makes a quick decision based on whatever appears first. The purchase feels reason»»»

A young man from Chirpan has died after spending months in a coma following a violent assault that reportedly began over a dispute involving cigarettes. The attack took place outside a restaurant after he left a nightclub, and the injuries proved fatal after a prolonged struggle for survival. The v»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Humanitarian (DXBH) facilitated a critical humanitarian airlift to Kabul, Afghanistan, delivering 96 metric tonnes of life-saving medicines and m»»»

Santo Domingo: A child was killed and more than 5,000 people were evacuated as a result of heavy rains and floods that swept through several areas in the Dominican Republic. Local authorities reported that the rains caused damage to more than a thousand homes and disrupted electricity and water ser»»»

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»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) have joined forces to boost tourism innovation while giving students real-world experience in the UAE’s growing tourism sector. The partnership has been formalised on April 8 with th»»»

A week after astronaut Jeremy Hansen blasted off on the historic Artemis II mission to the Moon, his wife Catherine recalled the anxiety and thrill of witnessing the journey from afar. The Canadian obstetrician-gynecologist told AFP that she has closely followed the mission carrying her husband amo»»»

Gold prices were steady on Thursday as investors remained cautious about the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, with a key US inflation report due later in the day also in focus for interest rate clues. Spot gold was little changed at $4,715.45 per ounce, as of 0716 GMT. US gold futures for June delivery f»»»

Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to Batken region, Mamyrzhan Rakhimov, inspected the status of the Leilek Free Economic Zone (FEZ), located in Zhany-Zher aiyl aimak of Leilek district. His press service reported. Management discussed the resumption of operations at the industrial zone. Proposals »»»

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»»»

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»»»

Beijing said on Thursday that Lebanon's sovereignty "should not be violated" after Israel carried out strikes on the country, threatening a fragile truce. "Lebanon's sovereignty and security should not be violated. The safety of civilian lives and property must be guaranteed," Chinese foreign minis»»»

The modern history of Beirut is a chain of tragic ruptures that transformed the "Pearl of the East" from a radiant centre of commerce, culture, and coexistence into an open arena for regional and international conflict. It’s a city that pays the price for other people’s wars. »»»

The modern history of Beirut is a chain of tragic ruptures that transformed the "Pearl of the East" from a radiant centre of commerce, culture, and coexistence into an open arena for regional and international conflict. It’s a city that pays the price for other people’s wars. »»»

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»»»

Seoul: South Korean K-pop megastars BTS kick off their world tour on Thursday, riding the momentum of a chart-topping comeback album and a landmark performance in the heart of Seoul. The seven-member group -- widely regarded as the world's biggest boy band -- took to the stage together for the firs»»»

Israel's energy ministry said on Thursday that it had ⁠instructed Energean to begin ⁠resuming operations ⁠at the Karish natural gas platform off Israel's Mediterranean coast following the ⁠ceasefire with ⁠Iran. The ministry ordered partial, temporary closures in February of the country's gas reserv»»»

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»»»

Maumere, Indonesia: A shallow 4.9-magitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia overnight, damaging dozens of homes and injuring multiple people, an official said Thursday. The jolt struck at a depth of 10.4 kilometres (6.46 miles), some 104 kilometres east of Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, shortly be»»»

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»»»

An Iranian delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad late Thursday ahead of Pakistan-brokered talks with the United States, Iran's envoy said. Pakistan has been preparing for talks involving representatives from the US and Iran over the Mideast war, with the White House saying Vice President JD»»»

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 »»»

India and Romania are moving toward a more operational phase of cooperation in renewable energy, ...»»»

Delgaz Grid, the distribution company of the E.ON group in Romania, last year made investments of over 1.2 billion lei (about 241 million euros) in natural gas and electricity distribution networks, and for the current year it has planned an amount of 1.4 billion lei (282 million euros), 17% more t»»»

Washington: Two people were killed in a plane crash that sparked a fire at a small airport in the US state of Arizona. Local officials said that the plane veered off the runway before catching fire. The identities of the two deceased have not yet been released. No other injuries were reported, and »»»

President Donald Trump warned late Wednesday that the U.S. military will remain deployed around Iran. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 9 (UPI) -- U.S. military forces will remain deployed around Iran until a "REAL AGREEMENT" is reached and fully complied with, President Donald Trump w»»»

On April 9, 1940, Germany invaded Norway and Denmark. 1 of 4 | German officers stand before Oslo's National Theater after taking control of Norway during World War II. On April 9, 1940, Germany invaded Norway and Denmark. File Photo by Willi Ruge/German Federal Archives April 9 (UPI) -- On this dat»»»

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 »»»

Islamabad, Pakistan: An Iranian delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad late Thursday ahead of Pakistan-brokered talks with the United States, Iran's envoy said. Pakistan has been preparing for talks involving representatives from the US and Iran over the Mideast war, with the White House say»»»

Romania will introduce strict rules for recruitment agencies, and the employment of foreign workers will be aligned with the real needs of the economy, Minister of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Irineu Darau said in a post published on his Facebook page on Wednesday."We will »»»

President Nicusor Dan declared on Wednesday that, beyond the political battles, "which are inherent", Romania needs a collaboration between institutions in order to attract as much money as possible from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).Nicusor Dan was asked, in a press conference, »»»

President Nicusor Dan said on Wednesday that "it is clear to everyone where the activity of the intelligence officers stops" and where prosecutors take over in corruption cases.He was asked, at a news conference at the Cotroceni Palace, if there will still be the SRI intelligence service - DNA anti»»»

Romania's President Nicusor Dan on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran, noting that weeks of conflict have affected energy and food costs."I welcome the agreement between the United States and Iran to establish a ceasefire, and we are grateful to Pakistan and other regio»»»

The Association of Specialized Roadside Assistance Providers in Bulgaria staged a protest on Thursday, parking tow trucks on both sides of the Sofia Ring Road between Kazichene and Tsarigradsko Shose, without blocking the road. Protesters carried signs reading "We Are Not Thieves" and "When Are We »»»

Oil rose again to above $97 a barrel and Asian stocks were trading lower Thursday on skepticism over a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran. Investors were closely watching whether a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran was already slipping after a round of deadly Israeli stri»»»

The trouble started with a beautiful photo. Social media was soon awash with the lovely view of Japan's snow-capped Mount Fuji looming over a red pagoda and the short-lived cherry blossoms that herald the approach of spring. Tourists wanting a similar shot soon packed this peaceful town at the foot»»»

Russia’s federal budget deficit widened sharply in the first quarter as oil and gas revenues fell steeply, with economists warning that a price surge linked to the Iran conflict has yet to feed through into state finances. (chart) »»»

Mount Everest is seen from an aircraft over Nepal in 2013. Jim Whittaker, the first U.S. man to reach the summit of Mount Everest, died Tuesday at the age of 97. File Photo by Narendra Shrestha/EPA April 8 (UPI) -- Jim Whittaker, the first citizen of the United States to reach the top of Mount Ever»»»

Daily satellite observations have revealed a continued nighttime brightening globally due to artificial lighting, with important regional variations including a surge in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia alongside a deliberate dimming in Europe driven by concerns over energy conservation and li»»»

Police say they have broken a gang that allegedly scammed motorists in western Athens who stopped to help people in cars that had ostensibly broken down. A police statement said three foreign nationals aged 32, 48 and 61 were arrested near Omonia Square in central Athens on Sunday on suspicion of h»»»

A 53-year-old man with a criminal record was detained after police discovered more than EUR 40,000 at his home during a specialized operation in Lovech Region (North Central Bulgaria), acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev said in a Facebook post. According to Kandev, the operati»»»

Bulgaria is bracing for an increase in disinformation activity in the run-up to the parliamentary elections on April 19, with authorities warning of coordinated attempts to influence voters and destabilize public trust. Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Velizar Shalamanov said institutions are already»»»

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 -- whose name translates as "bouncy pork" -- has gained global attention thanks to social media videos showing her adorab»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior, MOI urged motorists to adhere to essential safety guidelines while driving in rainy conditions to prevent accidents and ensure road safety. In a social media post, drivers are advised to reduce speed, avoid overtaking and maintain a safe distance between vehic»»»

Singapore: Gold prices stabilized on Thursday as investors remained cautious, awaiting clearer signals on ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran, ahead of key US inflation data due later today. Spot gold was steady at $4,715.42 per ounce, while US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.8»»»

As part of its 10-point proposal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran is pushing for ongoing control over the vital Strait of Hormuz – including charging what officials suggest could be as much as $2 million per ship to help the country rebuild its bombed-out infrastructure and maintain c»»»

Dubai: UAE authorities have issued safety warnings and revised speed limits as a low-pressure system brings unsettled weather and scattered rainfall to the country, a condition expected to persist through Monday. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed on Thursday that an extension of su»»»

A wolf that escaped from a zoo in South Korea remained at large Thursday, authorities said, prompting a local school to close over safety concerns as the search continued. The male wolf -- born in 2024 and weighing about 30 kilograms - escaped from a zoo at a theme park in Daejeon, about 150 kilome»»»