Gaza: Assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Development in the Gaza Strip Riyad Al Bitar said that Israel's genocidal war against the Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, led to a sharp rise in the number of orphans, hitting around 64,000. Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Bita»»»

The caretaker government is drafting a regular budget proposal to be submitted if the next parliament fails to form a governing majority, caretaker Minister of Finance Georgi Klisurski said on Wednesday. Speaking in a television interview, Klisurski said the draft had not yet been completed, but wo»»»

In a landmark step in Dubai’s digital transformation journey, 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, announced that the emirate has entered a new era in which »»»

Poland has entered a fiscal shock with a public finance deficit exceeding pandemic levels despite solid economic growth. In 2025, the deficit reached 7.2% of GDP and public debt rose to 59.7%, nearing the critical 60% threshold. Unlike during COVID-19, the deficit is not driven by crisis support bu»»»

The Raben Group is celebrating 35 years of presence in the Polish transport and logistics market. Since launching its operations on April 1, 1991, the company has consistently developed its competencies, building a strong position as one of the leaders in the TSL sector. This anniversary coincides »»»

Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced a new set of social support measures during his address at the Socialist Party Assembly, signaling upcoming changes in a forthcoming normative act expected in June. Rama revealed that the government will begin paying social security contributions for family mem»»»

Bilivan consumers have felt the impact of contaminated gasoline. More than 10,000 vehicle owners, including long-distance transport operators and private drivers, have reported severe engine damage. File Photo by Luis Gandarilas/EPA April 1 (UPI) -- Bolivia's government, led by President Rodrigo Pa»»»

DOHA: Qatar's Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has identified five unlicensed offices arranging Umrah, a minor Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the ministry said. The offices were discovered during routine inspection tours carried out by the ministry's Hajj and Umrah Affairs Department as part of »»»

The surge in volumes was driven by the war; however, as risks escalate in the Gulf region, a sustained opportunity could emerge—provided Pakistan is prepared for it, Ali Khizar, Director of Research at Business Recorder, told Sputnik. Pakistan's ports are handling 10 to 15 times their normal transs»»»

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose at Windsor Castle during the Trumps' state visit to England in September. Charles and Camilla will come to the United States for a state visit in late April, and Charles has been invited to address a joint mee»»»

A dense wave of African dust has swept across Crete, particularly affecting the wider Iraklio area, significantly reducing visibility and disrupting air traffic. Three inbound international flights scheduled to land at Iraklio’s Nikos Kazantzakis Airport on Wednesday were diverted to alternative de»»»

The South Aegean regional authority has announced that all schools, from nursery to high school, across the Cyclades and Dodecanese will remain closed on Thursday, citing safety concerns as Storm Erminio continues to impact the country. The decision, reached Wednesday following closures already in »»»

Spa Hotel Ata in Varshets offers treatments with salt and the resort's healing mineral water, which ranks among the top 20 best mineral waters in the world, hotel manager Nikolay Konovski told BTA. In recent months, the hotel has invested in the construction of an outdoor salt thermal pool, where g»»»

ROME/BELGRADE - Italian Deputy PM and FM Antonio Tajani has postponed Wednesday's visit to Belgrade due to scheduling problems resulting from a delay of his departure from Ukraine and trip through Poland, the Italian MFA has announced. According to a statement published on the website of the Italia»»»

Doha: As part of ongoing oversight efforts, the Department of Hajj and Umrah Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs conducted periodic inspection tours. These operations resulted in the detection of five unlicensed Umrah tour operating offices working without official permits; necessa»»»

Dubai has introduced a package of transport-related incentives, including fee exemptions and discounts, aimed at supporting families and enhancing quality of life, authorities said. The initiative, aligned with the National Family Growth Agenda 2031, follows an agreement between the Ministry of Fam»»»

Bulgaria has the potential and ambition to play an active role in the energy security of Southeastern Europe, President Iliana Iotova said after meeting US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, the President's press secretariat said here Wednesday. The talks focused on regional energy diversific»»»

France expects its plans for a €70bn expansion of its nuclear energy industry will be a “major contributor” to the EU’s electricity production, Paris said after the EU Commission announced a state aid probe into the project on Tuesday (31 March). “France’s new nuclear energy sector will, in the com»»»

This performance reflects the group’s ability to anticipate farmers’ needs and adapt its business model accordingly, in an increasingly volatile economic environment where access to liquidity and cost control have become essential for the continuity of agricultural operations. After two difficult y»»»

1 of 3 | NASA's Artemis II moon rocket with the Orion Spacecraft atop rests on Launch Complex 39B in the early morning light at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday. Artemis II, with a four-person crew, is scheduled to lift off later today at 6:24 p.m. EDT, with a two-hour window. It will b»»»

President Iliana Iotova has refused to convene a National Security Council in connection with a note served by Iran, saying that in her view there is no problem. “We, as citizens, believe there is,” said There Is Such a People (TISP) floor leader Toshko Yordanov after a meeting with the head of sta»»»

DOHA: Qatar's Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities has marked World Autism Awareness Day with an event highlighting inclusion and human dignity. The event, held under the theme 'Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value', aimed to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder and promote g»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is participating in the celebration of World Autism Awareness Day, observed annually on April 2. This year's observance is held under the theme 'Autism and Humanity – Every life Has Value', as designated by the United Nations. The observance highlights the»»»

Experts said Wednesday they were halting rescue efforts for a humpback whale struggling in shallow waters off the German coast and had given up hope for its survival. The 13.5-metre (44-foot) animal has been floundering off Germany's Baltic Sea coast for more than a week, having first been spotted »»»

London: A 36-year-old man accused of driving a car into several people on a street in a central English city was remanded in custody Wednesday following his first court appearance. Sandhu Ponnachan was charged with six counts over the incident in Derby on Saturday night, police announced late Tuesd»»»

Lille, France: Two migrants died Wednesday while trying to cross the Channel to Britain, French maritime authorities said. Rescue services responded to eight people in distress following an attempt to board a vessel on the northern French coast, according to the maritime prefecture for the Channel »»»

Sunny Garden SPA Hotel in Varshets is offering year-round spa services, and guests can enjoy the healing effects of the mineral water, the hotel management told BTA. The hotel has a capacity of 35 rooms with a total of 90 beds. Most of the guests are Bulgarians, but the hotel is highly regarded by »»»

DOHA: The Qatar Customs has called on shipping companies to register in the International Road Transport (TIR) system to enhance operational efficiency and speed up cross-border procedures amid ongoing logistical challenges. In a statement, the authority said the TIR system plays a key role in faci»»»

By liberating the Lugansk People’s Republic, Russia is signaling that it has lost faith in negotiations with Zelensky, who offers “nothing but empty talk and publicity stunts," military analyst Alexei Leonkov, editor of Arsenal of the Fatherland, tells Sputnik. There will be new demands from Russia»»»

Dubai: Airfares between the UAE and India are likely to come under upward pressure after Indian carrier IndiGo announced a revision in fuel charges, driven by a sharp rise in jet fuel prices. The airline confirmed that updated fuel surcharges will apply to all new bookings made from 1 am on April 2»»»

Democratic Party parliamentary group has sent an official letter to foreign embassies in Tirana, calling for close monitoring of an upcoming Supreme Court hearing scheduled for 9 April. In the letter, signed by Gazment Bardhi, opposition lawmakers express concern over a potential review of the long»»»

Hyundai Rotem is seeking to export its K2 battle tanks to Romania. To support such efforts, Korea Trade Insurance Corp. will provide about $1 billion in pre-emptive financing to Romania. Photo by Hyundai Rotem SEOUL, April 1 (UPI) -- Korea Trade Insurance Corp., or K-Sure, said it would provide abo»»»

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a news conference on the situation in the Middle East, at Downing Street in London, England, Wednesday. Pool Photo by Betty Laura Zapata/EPA April 1 (UPI) -- Britain will host a virtual summit Thursday to find ways to open the Strait of Hormuz after»»»

Sharjah: The American University of Sharjah (AUS) on Wednesday announced extension of online learning for the remainder of the semester. In a heartfelt message to the AUS community, Chancellor Dr Tod Laursen acknowledged the toll the uncertainty had taken and said the university had heard its stude»»»

Leading economic institutes more than halved their growth forecast for Germany on Wednesday, warning that the energy shock caused by the Middle East war would hit Europe's top economy hard. A group of leading institutes slashed their joint GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 0.6 percent, down from a Se»»»

A drone strike caused a massive fire at the storage facilities of an engine oil firm in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan on Wednesday, the regional government and the company said. Iraq has been increasingly and unwillingly drawn into the war started by Israel and the US on February 28, with strikes tar»»»

Israel’s Defense Ministry has announced retaliatory steps against France after US President Donald Trump openly criticized the European NATO member for refusing to allow access to its airspace for arms shipments being delivered to the Middle East. Posting on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump described»»»

The current squeeze on helium hands Russia—holder of roughly 28% of global reserves— a strategic opening to boost its role in a market thrown into chaos by the war on Iran, says Russian National Energy Security Fund expert Igor Yushkov. Global shipments of helium - a byproduct of natural gas extrac»»»

Dubai: Iran’s disruption of energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz amounts to “global economic extortion” that risks destabilising economies far beyond the Middle East, according to Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber. The UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of»»»

A series of cyber attacks targeting key public institutions in Albania in recent weeks have not caused significant or irreparable damage, according to Economy Minister Delina Ibrahimaj. The attacks are reported to have affected systems linked to parliament, the national postal service and, most rec»»»

Dubai: UN aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has issued a strong condemnation of attacks attributed to Iran, describing them as unlawful acts that pose a direct threat to the safety of international civil aviation. At its 237th session in Montreal on April 1, the ICA»»»

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense, pointing to the bloc’s refusal to assist or participate in the American-Israeli war on Iran. Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday, Hegseth stated that the future of US involvement»»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov met with representatives of the Jewish community in Bulgaria on the occasion of the major religious holiday of Passover, the government press service reported in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Alina Levi, Chair of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria Shalom, pre»»»

The GERB–UDF coalition has provided the strongest and most consistent support for the education system and will continue to do so, the coalition's top-of-the-list candidate in Stara Zagora, Krasimir Valchev, has told teachers at a meeting in the city, according to the GERB press centre. The discuss»»»

The future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is under renewed scrutiny after US President Donald Trump signalled he is considering pulling Washington out of the alliance, amid growing tensions with European partners over the Iran conflict. Trump’s remarks — coupled with warnings from»»»

Whenever war rocks northern Israel, residents of Kiryat Shmona live their lives to the rhythm of rocket sirens. Young people have left the city, and those who remain feel neglected by the government. Some mere three kilometers from Lebanon, this northern settlement is living through its second war »»»

Doha: The State of Qatar participated in the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, held Wednesday via videoconference. Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani led the State of Qatar's delegation participating in the session. Duri»»»

Ukrainian rescuers at the scene of another Antonov AN-26 crash near Chuguyev city in Kharkiv province in September 2020 in which 26 Ukrainian military personnel, most of them cadets, were killed. File Photo by Sergey Khrupov/EPA-EFE April 1 (UPI) -- At least 30 passengers and crew were killed when »»»

President Donald Trump said Wednesday morning that Iran has asked for a cease-fire. He said he told them only if the Strait of Hormuz is open. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo April 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday that Iran asked for a cease-fire, but he »»»

US President Donald Trump has deployed thousands of troops to the Middle East and said he wants to seize Iran’s foremost crude export hub, Kharg Island, to “take the oil.” However, such an assault promises heavy losses and a logistics quagmire for Washington, according to former US Army officer Sta»»»