Progressive Bulgaria Leader in Stara Zagora: Overcoming Citizens’ Fear of Speaking Out Is Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge for Progressive Bulgaria is overcoming fear, because in regions with diverse ethnic or political communities people are intimidated and hesitate to express their political affiliation or preference for fear of losing their jobs, Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev said dur»»»
Sisi hopes Trump will save Egypt from Iran war fallout
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had good reason to issue his latest appeal to US President Donald Trump to end the US-Israeli war against Iran. Nevertheless, his doing so raised eyebrows. El-Sisi banked on Trump last year as Israel finally brought its ferocious war on Gaza to an end after t»»»
Dembele leads PSG to victory ahead of Liverpool tie
Paris, France: Ousmane Dembele scored twice, including a stunning opening goal on the volley, as Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for their Champions League quarter-final showdown with Liverpool by beating Toulouse 3-1 on Friday to cement their place at the top of Ligue 1. Last year's Ballon d'Or winn»»»
European drivers choke on rising diesel prices
Paris, France: The price of diesel fuel has rocketed by more than 30 percent across Europe since the start of the Middle East war highlighting the continent's dependence on imported energy and the lingering prominence of diesel on the car market. The Easter holiday weekend across Europe is expected»»»
Is opposing Israel 'anti-Semitism'? France’s latest attempt to fight hate risks inflaming it
The French government is backing a draft law based on the idea that "hatred" of Israel is inseparable from hatred of the Jewish people. Critics of the “Yadan law” warn the new legislation will not just muzzle legitimate criticism of Israel but could further fuel anti-Semitism in France. Frenc»»»
Ex-Economy Minister: Claims That Eurozone Drove Prices Up Are False, Inflation in Bulgaria Remains Low
Nikolay Vassilev, former Minister of Economy, dismissed claims that prices in Bulgaria have doubled following eurozone-related developments, arguing instead that inflation remains low and that public fears about sharp price increases are exaggerated. Speaking on Nova TV, Nikolay Vassilev stated tha»»»
From Asia to the Americas: Governments Race to Contain Energy Shock
Governments worldwide are moving swiftly to contain the fallout from a sharp rise in energy costs, as global supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran rattle markets. Surging fuel and electricity prices have prompted urgent steps to protect consumers and secure supplies, with mounting»»»
Bombers from Kola take part in major daytime attack
Two Tu-95MS aircraft from Olenya Air Base participated when Russia carried out one of the largest bombardments of Ukraine so far this year on 3 April. Ukraine’s Air Force reported on Telegram that Russia launched hours-long attacks using UAVs, as well as air- and ground-launched missiles, across th»»»
How a Russian influence network is spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Ivory Coast
The Company – a network of Russian agents specialised in disinformation operations – has been carrying out a vast propaganda campaign against the Ukrainian embassy in Ivory Coast. When the pan-African media outlet The Continent received a trove of leaked documents about this operation, the FRANCE 2»»»
French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan to be tried for 'advocating terrorism' in X post
Rima Hassan, a European Parliament member from the France Unbowed (LFI) party who is of Palestinian descent, will face trial in July on charges of "advocating terrorism" online over a message on X she posted last month. The International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism and the Eur»»»
Baltic Sea strikes: How Ukraine aims to undermine Russia's oil profits from Iran war
Ukraine has in recent days intensified drone attacks on ports and refineries in Russia’s Leningrad region on the Baltic Sea. Yet Kyiv’s strategy of trying to stop Moscow from reaping the benefits of oil disruption in the Middle East doesn’t come without significant risk. Ukrainian drones struck key»»»
GRIFID Encanto Beach Hotel Develops New Detox Programme for Guests
GRIFID Encanto Beach Hotel in the Golden Sands resort has developed a new detox programme for its guests. The programme offers stays of varying length designed to promote health, balance and body harmony, the hotel manager Anita Atanasova told BTA. Key elements of the GriFit D-TOX programme are thr»»»
Air Serbia carries record-high 813,188 passengers in Q1 2026
BELGRADE - In Q1 2026, Air Serbia set a new standard for its business operations with 813,188 passengers carried and 3 pct growth y-o-y, the national airline said on Friday. "This is also the first time that the number of 800,000 carried passengers was surpassed in the January-March period. During »»»
Putin, Erdogan Urge Immediate Middle East Ceasefire
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East war during a phone call on Friday, the Kremlin said. The war started over a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering a conflict throughout the Middle East »»»
Photo Exhibition of Ukrainian Sculptor's Works Opens on Sofia’s Capital Day
A photo exhibition titled "In the Footsteps of Mykhailo Parashchuk," dedicated to the 147th anniversary since Sofia was declared Bulgaria’s capital, was opened on St Nedelya Square on Friday. Mykhailo Parashchuk was a Ukrainian sculptor and the author of sculptural facades and decorations on buildi»»»
Environment Minister, French Ambassador Discuss Current Topics on Environmental Protection
Caretaker Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov discussed current topics on environmental protection with the Ambassador of France to Bulgaria Marie Dumoulin, the Ministry's press centre reported on Friday. A topic raised by the French side was the import of batteries and solar panels. Pop»»»
Finance Ministry Revises Inflation, GDP Projections for 2026 Due to Middle East Conflict
The average annual inflation in Bulgaria is expected to reach 4.3% this year, while the annual increase in consumer prices is projected to amount to 5.2% by the end of 2026, according to the spring macroeconomic forecast of the Finance Ministry, published on its website. At the same time, the real »»»
Sweden seizes ship accused of oil spill in the Baltic Sea - UPI.com
Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin speaks during the Swedish-Polish Total Defense Forum at the Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw, Poland, on March 11. Bohlin said the Swedish coast guard had seized an oil tanker believed to be responsible for a recet oil spill. Photo by Piotr Nowak/»»»
NATO Chief to Meet Trump Amid Iran Tensions
NATO chief Mark Rutte will meet Donald Trump next week on a visit to Washington, as the US president lashes out at the alliance over the Iran war, NATO said Friday. Trump has suggested he is considering quitting the 77-year-old military alliance due to the response by European nations to his war. T»»»
Beyond Oil: How the Iran Conflict Is Disrupting Pakistan's Critical Labor Exports to the Gulf
Pakistan's economy depends heavily on labor exports to the Gulf, where millions of its citizens work. The Iran war has complicated this, prompting the government to devise a new strategy. In recent years, Pakistan has significantly increased both its labor exports and the volume of remittances that»»»
Iranian media says US jet shot down, bounty offered for pilot
Tehran: Iran deployed troops and offered a bounty as it launched a hunt for a US pilot whose jet Iranian media said had been downed by the Islamic republic's air defence systems Friday. US Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for military operations in the Middle East, did not immediately respond»»»
President Iotova, Bulgarian MEPs Discuss Need to Actively Uphold Bulgarian Position on North Macedonia's EU Accession
Bulgarian institutions should make more efforts to uphold the national position on the European Union membership of the Republic of North Macedonia. President Iliana iotova and Bulgarian MEPs rallied around the idea during a meeting on Friday, the press office of the head of state said. The meeting»»»
Cabinet Submits Fourth Payment Request under Recovery and Resilience Plan, Warns Part of Funds at Risk
The caretaker government has submitted to the European Commission the fourth payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), amounting to EUR 900 million, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for European Funding Maria Nedina told a briefing here on Friday. Caretaker Finance Mini»»»
Progressive Bulgaria Leader Says Forming Coalition with Peevski, Borissov "Absolutely Impossible"
Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev said on Friday that “it is absolutely impossible” for his political force to form a coalition with Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan Peevski and GERB leader Boyko Borissov. Radev spoke at a meeting with citizens in Zlatograd (Southern Bulgaria) a»»»
Italy's public deficit falls but still above EU ceiling: official
Milan, Italy: Italy’s budget deficit declined in 2025 but remained slightly above the European Union’s 3 percent threshold, national statistics agency Istat said on Friday. April, 3, 2026. The deficit stood at 3.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to €70bn ($81bn), down from 3.4 p»»»
CruiseHub: Cruise vacations, the safest option, especially in unpredictable times
Market data and booking behavior observed by CruiseHub specialists clearly highlight this shift: Romanian tourists are no longer just looking for a destination, but for a worry-free, well-organized vacation, where they can visit multiple places in a short time without having to manage every detail »»»
Labour Minister Ademov Says Serious Violations Reach Ministry Daily
Serious reports of abuses involving social policy instruments reached the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy every day, with three such cases received on Thursday alone, caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy Hasan Ademov said on Friday. He said the cases involved misuse of social policy »»»
Zukorlic: Justice and Reconciliation Party always ready for elections
BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after his party's consultations with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Justice and Reconciliation Party leader Usame Zukorlic said on Friday the party was always ready for elections, especially when there was a consensus on that, but that all circumstances that we»»»
Carrefour Romania is now taking applications from local artisans in Bucharest area
Through its hyper-local “From Here, Close By” initiative, Carrefour Romania supports locally sourced Romanian products on its shelves, with a footprint that continues to expand. Today, 1,300 Romanian producers supply hypermarkets and supermarkets located within a radius of up to 50 km. An important»»»
Reţele Electrice România invested RON 1.4 billion in 2025 in electric distribution networks
Key projects were implemented in Muntenia, Banat and Dobrogea regions and involved the modernization of existing primary stations and secondary stations, along with works for the modernization and extension of underground and overhead power lines. In 2026, the company will continue its investment p»»»
Iran publishes images of downed US F-15 it says belonged to UK-based squadron
Iran's Tasnim News Agency published what it said were exclusive images on April 3 of a US fighter jet shot down over central Iran by IRGC air defences. Iran has claimed several strikes against US and Israeli jets and drone»»»
Iran publishes images of downed US F-15 it says belonged to UK-based squadron
Iran's Tasnim News Agency published what it said were exclusive images on April 3 of a US fighter jet shot down over central Iran by IRGC air defences. Iran has claimed several strikes against US and Israeli jets and drone»»»
Iran publishes images of downed US F-15 it says belonged to UK-based squadron
Iran's Tasnim News Agency published what it said were exclusive images on April 3 of a US fighter jet shot down over central Iran by IRGC air defences. Iran has claimed several strikes against US and Israeli jets and drone»»»
Libya to host for first time part of Flintlock 2026 multinational military exercises in mid-April
Libya’s Tripoli-based Libyan government announced yesterday that the multinational military exercise “Flintlock” will begin in the middle of this month, with Libya hosting part of it for the first time The military exercise is under the supervision of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), and with the p»»»
How Does US Exercise ‘Predatory Hegemony,’ Extract Resources, Money and Influence?
Weeks have passed since the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28. The US government, although it had told US media on March 11 that the military operation would end "soon," later announced air raids on multiple Iranian targets, including its oil hub Kharg Island, repor»»»
Part of Fourth Recovery and Resilience Plan Payment at Risk, Caretaker Finance Minister Says
Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said here Friday that part of the funds under fourth National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) payment request are at risk. Speaking at a briefing at the Council of Ministers, Klisurski said that the caretaker Cabinet submitted on Thursday the fourth N»»»
Minister Yankulov Stresses Need for Receptiveness in Parliament to Advance Fight against Corruption
The most important thing is to have receptiveness in Parliament so that progress can be made in the fight against corruption and the investigation of crimes in Bulgaria, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov said during a news briefing at the Council of Ministers buil»»»
'Dubai is my city' says celebrity pianist Omar Harfouch ahead of UAE concert to spotlight safety and counter fake news
Dubai: Legendary Franco-Lebanese pianist Omar Harfouch, fresh from performing in some of the world’s most powerful rooms, is a man on a mission in Dubai. A few days ago, he had played for Pope Francis at the Vatican, and just before that, his Concerto for Peace was staged at Mar-a-Lago, the estate »»»
Greece announces government reshuffle
Athens: Greece on Friday staged a government reshuffle after three cabinet members resigned amid a burgeoning EU farm subsidy scandal that has piled pressure on the country's conservative government. The changes include a former European Commission vice president, Margaritis Schinas, being named th»»»
Europe’s reliance on US arms ‘a liability’, defence expert says
Over the past year, European NATO countries have reduced their reliance on the US for weapons imports while significantly boosting their defence spending. Speaking to FRANCE 24’s Sharon Gaffney, Guntram Wolff, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, said: "any weapon we buy as Europeans from the United States is»»»
Healthcare Forum Debates Funding, Staffing and Access to Medicines
Experts and institutional representatives discussed problems in healthcare and possible solutions at the 13th national healthcare forum NEXTGEN HEALTH on Friday. Participants included representatives of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the professional organizations of doctors and pharmac»»»
Media Review: April 3
ECONOMY – ENERGY The media cover the requested price increases by heating utilities. Trud: Bulgarian district heating companies have requested significant price increases for heating and hot water starting July 1, 2026, with Toplofikatsia Sofia seeking a nearly 30% hike and Toplofikatsia Veliko Tar»»»
Caretaker Cabinet Submits Fourth Payment Request under Recovery and Resilience Plan Worth EUR 900 Mln
The caretaker government has submitted to the European Commission the fourth payment request under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), amounting to EUR 900 million, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for European Funding Maria Nedina told a briefing here on Friday. The funds will support»»»
Trump mocks European leaders over Iran stance
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO and key European leaders, deepening tensions within the bloc over the war against Iran. According to the Financial Times, Washington has also threatened to curb weapons supplies to Ukraine to pressure European countries into involvement in the war in»»»
Deputy Foreign Minister: Bulgaria-Ukraine Agreement Is Political, Not Binding Document
Marin Raykov, Acting Deputy Foreign Minister, described the agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine as a political document rather than a binding international arrangement, noting that it was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2024. Speaking in an interview on BNT, he stated that the text does n»»»
Israel Says It Has Struck Over 3,500 Targets in Lebanon in Past Month
The Israeli military said Friday it had struck more than 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the month since fighting with the Hezbollah group began. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 after Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel to avenge the US-Israeli attack that killed »»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»
Spain cuts the link between gas and power and has Europe’s cheapest power
A year ago this week, Spain’s grid ran entirely on renewable power for a full day for the first time ever. Wind, solar, and hydro met all the peninsula’s electricity demand on April 16. Five days later, solar set a new record, generating 20,120 MW of instantaneous power – covering 78.6% of demand a»»»