live U.S. and Iran trade threats as World focus' on reopening Strait of Hormuz - Middle East conflict on 3 April
Iran has rejected claims it has been weakened, vowing instead “more crushing” attacks against the United States and ...
Portuguese police are investigating IT service contracts in a corruption probe, conducting 75 searches, including at the Bank of Portugal, which is cooperating with authorities.
Portuguese police conducted raids on Thursday at the offices of multiple public institutions as part of a corruption investigation concerning the procurement of information technology services. Among the locations searched was the Bank of Portugal, which confirmed its involvement in the operation.
In a statement, police said they carried out 75 searches across Lisbon, Porto, and Braga, including at private residences, accountancy firms, company headquarters, and public institutions. The investigation focuses on employees rather than senior public officials.
The Bank of Portugal acknowledged being among the entities targeted and stated that it was fully cooperating with the inquiry.
According to police, the searches relate to IT service contracts awarded by several public entities and a private company between 2017 and 2025. The investigation concerns suspected offences including bribery, document forgery, fraud, and influence peddling.
Authorities stated that those under investigation formed a network that, through coordinated efforts, influenced numerous public and private procurement processes, with an estimated total value of no less than €17 million (£14.5 million).
Police emphasised that the operation aimed to gather information related to employees within these organisations and did not target political decision-makers.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on NASA's Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States' boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck in Indonesia's Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging some buildings and triggering tsunami waves, authorities and witnesses said.
President Donald Trump staunchly defended his handling of the month-old U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in a prime-time address on Wednesday, saying the U.S. military was nearing completion of its mission while also reinforcing his threats to bomb the Islamic Republic back to the Stone Age.
In a highly unusual move highlighting shifting narcotics diplomacy, the U.S. has handed over a Chinese fugitive accused of serious drug crimes to authorities in Beijing.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 3 April, covering the latest developments you need to know
The 2026 World Cup final is setting new records for sports ticketing costs, characterised by unprecedented price hikes and the debut of controversial sales models.
French police detained European Parliament member Rima Hassan in Paris for several hours on Thursday as part of an investigation into an alleged “apology for terrorism”, following a social media post linked to a deadly attack in Israel in the 1970s.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
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