Trump says Iran to hand over uranium as ceasefire talks advance
Washington, United States: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has agreed to hand over its store of enriched uranium and that the two sides were "close" to a peace deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East. The United States had earlier threatened to resume airstrikes on t»»»
South Korea pet insurance market grows but uptake remains low - UPI.com
Pet insurance grows 3.5-fold in three years... insurance industry moves to boost awareness A chart shows the number of pet insurance policies in South Korea rising sharply from 51,727 in 2021 to 251,961 in 2025. Graphic by Asia Today and translated by UPI April 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's pet »»»
Fine Arts Commission OKs Trump's arch project - UPI.com
1 of 4 | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds an illustration on Wednesday of the proposed Triumphal Arch that President Donald Trump wants to build. Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- The Commission of Fine Arts voted Thursday to OK President Donald Trump's pla»»»
Cash and Lists of Names Found in Candidate for MP Car, Acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Says
Cash and lists of names were found in the car of a candidate for MP, acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev announced on Facebook. "During a routine check by colleagues in Veliko Tarnovo today, a car was stopped. The driver turned out to be a candidate for MP. His passenger was a »»»
Shura Council participates in 217th Session of Governing Council, committee meetings of IPU in Istanbul
Istanbul: The Shura Council participated Thursday in the 217th session of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), as part of the 152nd Assembly of the IPU, currently underway in Istanbul, Turkiye. The Shura Council was represented at the event by Deputy Speaker of the Shura Co»»»
PM Demands Changes in Regulations to Address Shocking Disparities in Medicine Prices Hospitals Pay
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov Thursday expressed concern over what he described as systemic abuses within Bulgaria’s healthcare financing system, where hospitals exploit legal loopholes in order to maximize their profit and not to improve patient care, and demanded changes in the applicable»»»
Focus - Spain at risk of housing bubble as Madrid attracts wealthy foreigners
In the last few years, Madrid has become a destination of choice for wealthy Latin American investors, as well as for young Americans. The latter are settling in the most historical areas of the Spanish capital, driving up prices in an already competitive housing market. FRANCE 24's Maude Petit-Jov»»»
What have Lebanon and Israel agreed to?
Lebanon and Israel have agreed to observe a 10-day ceasefire that begins at midnight Beirut time, the United States said. Below is the full text of the statement that was agreed to by the Government of Israel and Government of Lebanon, as published by the U.S. State Department: "Following productiv»»»
State Minister at Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds talks with German officials
Berlin: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi held a series of high-level talks in Berlin on Thursday to discuss recent regional developments. HE Al Khulaifi met separately with senior German officials including HE Dr Guenter Sautter, Foreign »»»
BlackRock among big funds backing Uzbek state’s first foray on to global equity markets
BlackRock, Inc (NYSE: BLK), the world’s largest asset manager, is among big funds that have signalled their support for the Uzbek state’s first foray into global equity markets by signing cornerstone agreements that will back a National Investment Fund of the Uzbek Republic (UzNIF) initial public o»»»
IMF: Middle East Faces Pivotal Economic Moment
The International Monetary Fund said the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan were facing a pivotal and exceptionally difficult moment in their modern economic history after the war that broke out on Feb. 28, 2026, describing it as a severe and multifaceted shock to one of the world’s most strat»»»
Cabinet Approves Draft of New Counter-Corruption Act
The Council of Ministers on Thursday approved a draft Act on Tackling Corruption of Public Office Holders, the Government Information Service said in a press release. The new bill has been drafted implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and the recommendations of the European »»»
The Observers - ‘We're asking for our husbands' salaries’: The plight of soldiers' widows in eastern DR Congo
Plastic sheeting serving as tents and mattresses laid on the ground: in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo, the widows of fallen soldiers are struggling to survive in a makeshift camp. They say they fled the capital of North Kivu province, Goma, after it fell to the M23 rebels in January 2025. Left»»»
Treti Mart Top Candidate in Stara Zagora Yankova Presents Her Priorities for Region
Boyanka Yankova, top-of-the-list candidate of the Treti Mart [March 3] coalition in Stara Zagora, presented her priorities for the regional city here on Thursday, the coalition said in a press release. Yankova highlighted energy independence, a decent standard of living in rural areas, and a return»»»
Cabinet Approves Agreement on Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity within UN Law of the Sea Convention
The caretaker Government Thursday approved an Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (the BBNJ Agreement), signed by the Republic of Bulgaria on September 20, 2023. The Government proposes that the Nat»»»
US Blockade of Iranian Waters Infringes Upon Iran's Sovereignty - Iranian Envoy to UN
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The ongoing blockade by the US Navy of Iranian waters is a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani said on Thursday. "The imposition of a maritime blockade announced by the United States constit»»»
Government Approves Draft Amendment to International Agreement with US on Stryker Armoured Vehicles
At a sitting on Thursday, the Council of Ministers adopted a report approving Draft Amendment and Supplement No. 1 to the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) BU-B-UCR Procurement of Ammunition for Stryker Vehicles. Proposing amendments and supplements to existing contracts under the Foreign Milita»»»
Nation's Main Priority Is Addressing Country's Demographic Crisis, Top-of-the-List Candidate for Varna Says
Dimitar Karbov, the top-of-the-list candidate of Nation for Varna, is quoted by the party’s press office as saying that "Children are our greatest treasure and hope for Bulgaria’s future, which is why addressing the country’s demographic crisis is a top priority for Nation." Karbov added that solvi»»»
Glimpses of Bush's Iraq debacle appear in Trump's foray into Iran
In a speech in Riyadh in May 2025, US President Donald Trump appeared to criticise his White House predecessors, including fellow Republican President George W. Bush, for invading Iraq in 2003, bringing down Saddam Hussein’s regime, and trying to rebuild the Iraqi state. Trump’s barb was at “so-cal»»»
Bulgaria Opens Honorary Consulate in Mozambique's Maputo
The Council of Ministers Thursday adopted a decision to open an honorary consulate in Maputo, Republic of Mozambique, and to appoint Boris Atanasov as honorary consul based in Maputo, with a consular district covering the entire country. Bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Mozambique are based»»»
Shura Council Speaker meets Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan, Speaker of Australian House of Representatives
Istanbul: Speaker of the Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim held two bilateral meetings with with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, HE Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, HE Milton Dick. The meetings were held on »»»
Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs meets Germany's Foreign Minister
Berlin: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Thursday with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany HE Johann Wadephul. The meeting discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly those re»»»
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delays special session to redraw districts - UPI.com
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis makes remarks at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on January 8, 2025. On Wednesday, he delayed plans for the state legislature to hold a special session to redraw the state's congressional districts. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Florida»»»
US-Iran talks in Pakistan reportedly near breakthrough
The US-Iran talks being mediated by Pakistan to end the latest Middle East conflict are nearing a breakthrough, Al Jazeera has reported. The likelihood of a deal on Tehran’s nuclear program has improved significantly, the news outlet reported, citing Pakistani sources. Iran’s nuclear program has be»»»
Voting Machines to Be Moved Friday Evening, Will Reach Polling Sites on Saturday
A voting machine was demonstrated to journalists here on Thursday at the warehouse where the devices are kept. On Friday evening, the voting machines will be transported to municipalities countrywide and are expected to reach the voting sections on Saturday, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy»»»
Djuric: Visit to Czechia exceptional, our friendship deeply rooted
PRAGUE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric wrapped up an official visit to Czechia, during which he met with Czech counterpart Petr Macinka and Chamber of Deputies President Tomio Okamura. At a working lunch hosted for him by Okamura, Djuric also held a discussion with other top-ranking officials of the Czec»»»
Wine & SPA Complex ChaTony in Darmantsi Expands Operations with New Spa Centre, Additional Accommodation
The owners of the only spa hotel in Vratsa Region - Ariel in Mezdra - will expand their operations with a renovated facility at their Wine & SPA complex ChaTony in the village of Darmantsi, where a spa centre and new accommodations will be built in the family-owned winery this July. The owner of bo»»»
Transport Minister, Italian Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport discuss cooperation
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Transport HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al-Thani discussed in a meeting held virtually on Thursday, with Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport of the Italian Republic HE Edoardo Rixi, aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the »»»
Magyar begins dismantling Orbán’s legacy (four days after the election)
Our weekly series on Hungarian politics continues so we can report on developments after these historic elections and on events around the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: We may know the final election result on Saturday (18 April). Tisza’s victory has re»»»
They splurged for Coachella tickets; They got scammed instead
Matt Rossi spent about $1,700 on StubHub for access to the first weekend of Coachella, which wrapped up Sunday, traveling from Manhattan to the California desert for the popular annual music festival. He received a wristband (the festival’s form of ticket) in the mail with a handwritten note from h»»»
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, wife die in murder-suicide - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Virginia Lieutenant Gov.-elect Justin Fairfax arrives to speak at the official Democratic watch party at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., in 2017. Fairfax and his wife, Cerina, died by murder-suicide Thursday. File Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Former»»»
Pentagon says 13 ships turned away from Strait of Hormuz blockade - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz since in began on Monday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 16 (UPI) -- Gen. Dan Caine told the press Thursday that 13 ships have turned away from the U.S. bloc»»»
Metro company confirms link with Kypseli sludge fountain
A flood of grey concrete-like sludge that spewed for hours from an abandoned building in central Athens is linked with tunnel-boring work for a new Athens metro line, the subway development company confirmed Thursday. A statement by Elliniko Metro said the leak posed no safety or pollution concerns»»»
Pakistani Prime Minister leaves Doha
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed Doha on Thursday after a working visit to the country. His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Doha International Airport by Minister of State for International Cooperation HE»»»
Barings opens Abu Dhabi office, deepens Middle East push
Dubai: Barings has opened a new office in Abu Dhabi, expanding its presence in the Gulf as it looks to strengthen ties with institutional investors and capture growing demand for alternative investments in the region. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move follows th»»»
Bayern fans apologise after photographers injured at Real game
Munich, Germany: Bayern Munich supporters have apologised after several photographers were injured when fans stormed over barriers at the end of Wednesday's home Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. With scores level in the tie, Bayern's Luis Diaz and Michael Olise both scored late i»»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
Russia publishes European address of Ukrainian drone-makers
Russia’s defence ministry has released what it said were the names and addresses of Ukrainian-linked enterprises across Europe involved in the production of military drones on April 16. “The European public should bo»»»
Pakistani PM confirms talks with Amir focused on regional, bilateral issues
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that his meeting with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, discussed regional developments, particularly in the Gulf region, stressing the importance of de-escalation, dialogue, and »»»
EU spells out how Google must share data with rivals
Brussels, Belgium: The European Commission set out Thursday how it wants Google to make a wide range of data accessible to rival search engines in order to comply with the bloc's digital rules. The announcement forms part of amicable proceedings launched in January to ensure Google meets its obliga»»»
Video: Pakistan PM thanks Amir for warm welcome, cordial meeting in Doha
Islamabad: Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for the warm welcome and cordial meeting that took place at the Amiri Diwan today, April 16, 2026. In a post on his official X account, he said: "I had a most»»»
Op-ed | Marcelo Castellanos (IFC): How sustainable logistics infrastructure can strengthen Romania’s role in European value chains
Industrial and logistics infrastructure is a quiet enabler of modern economies — and a critical foundation for job creation. From manufacturing and e-commerce to export competitiveness, high-quality logistics networks underpin productivity, resilience, and integration into global value chains that »»»
Djuric: Czechia a friendly country, we will work on advancement of cooperation
PRAGUE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday in Prague Serbia considered Czechia and its current government as friendly and noted that Serbia and Czechia were focusing on advancement of political, economic and cultural cooperation, besides cooperation on the European aspect and regional affair»»»
Pakistani army chief in Iran to discuss new round of US talks
The influential chief of Pakistan's armed forces visited Iran to meet the head of Tehran's negotiators on Thursday, as Washington considers agreeing to another round of peace talks in Islamabad. Iranian state television showed Field Marshal Asim Munir meeting Iran's speaker of parliament, Mohammad »»»
Subsistence minimum in Kyrgyzstan reaches 9,290 soms - | 24.KG
In the first quarter of 2026, the average subsistence minimum in Kyrgyzstan amounted to 9,290.89 soms per capita, the National Statistical Committee of the republic reported. At year-end 2025, the subsistence minimum stood at 8,697 soms. Breakdown by population groups The largest amount of funds is»»»
Vastint Romania secures first tenant for Timpuri Noi Square Phase 2
SCOR, a leading global reinsurer headquartered in Paris, offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. In 2025, the Group generated premiums of EUR 18.7 billionand serves clients in more than 150 countries throu»»»
Environmental breach? Philippines awaits report on cyanide use in disputed shoal
Dubai: The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has declared that it is awaiting the results of a “scientific and technical analysis” into the alleged use of cyanide in waters of Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea, before determining its next st»»»
Contract on Austria's participation in EXPO 2027 signed in Belgrade
BELGRADE - Serbia's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Jagoda Lazarevic, who is also minister of internal and external trade, EXPO 2027 Director Danilo Jerinic and Austria's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Philipp Gady signed on Thursday in Belgrade a contract on Austria's participation in the specialised expo. The con»»»
No date fixed for next US-Iran talks, says Pakistan Foreign Office
Dubai: Pakistan on Thursday said no date has been set for the second round of talks between the United States and Iran, urging the media to avoid speculation as diplomatic consultations continue under a highly confidential process. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during »»»
Human rights observatory calls for immediate, complete lifting of siege imposed on Gaza Strip
Geneva: The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called on the Israeli occupation to immediately and completely lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, open the crossings, and guarantee full, safe, and sustainable humanitarian access to all parts of the Strip. In a statement, the Monitor warne»»»