Rumen Radev: Next Parliament's Top Priority Is to Form Majority to Replace SJC, Clearing Way for Election of New Prosecutor General
Former President (2017-2026) Rumen Radev, leader of Progressive Bulgaria, presented the priorities of the coalition in Sofia on Thursday. He said the number one task is to have a two thirds majority in the next parliament after the April 19 elections, to replace the Supreme Judicial Council and to »»»
Amir receives phone call from Indian Prime Minister
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a telephone call today from HE Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, who conveyed his greeting on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. During the call, the Indian Prime Minister condemned the brutal Iranian aggression again»»»
UAE strengthens security and traffic readiness for Eid Al Fitr
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior has stepped up security and traffic preparedness nationwide ahead of Eid Al Fitr, in coordination with relevant authorities and police general commands, as part of a comprehensive plan to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow. The ministry said measures ar»»»
Trump administration seeks $200bn in military funding in wake of Iran war
The White House is seeking $200bn (£150bn) more in funding for the war in Iran, with President Donald Trump saying on Thursday its decision to ask Congress for the additional funds was based on a variety of factors. Earlier, a Trump administration official told the BBC that the defence department h»»»
Trump Says Not Putting US Troops in Region Amid Iran War
US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested he was not looking at deploying more soldiers to the Middle East amid the Iran war. "I'm not putting troops anywhere," Trump said, asked by a reporter whether he was planning to send more service members to the region. "If I were, I certainly wou»»»
Israel escalates attacks on civilian infrastructure in Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: The Zrarieh Bridge over the Litani river was damaged in an Israeli strike on Friday, followed by other strikes on other bridges on Wednesday Israeli forces are intensifying airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon, as well as hitting targets in Beirut neighborhoods. Israeli offic»»»
51st National Assembly Concludes Its Last Regular Sitting
National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan announced the conclusion of the 51st National Assembly’s final regular sitting on Thursday. She wished her colleagues success in the upcoming election campaign: “Be dignified and do not forget to act in good faith in everything you do,” Nazaryan added. The elec»»»
Global aid flows to Cuba as energy crisis deepens - UPI.com
European volunteers from the 'Convoy Nuestra America' initiative visit a hospital in Havana on Wednesday. This first delegation arrived with nearly 5 tons of medical supplies in a show of solidarity against the U.S. oil embargo, according to Progressive International. Photo by Ernesto Mastracusa/EP»»»
Thundery rain, strong winds, high seas tonight: Department of Meteorology
Doha, Qatar: The Department of Meteorology has issued a warning for Thursday night, March 19, 2026, until 6am on Friday, forecasting thundery rain, strong winds, and high seas across Qatar. Inshore, conditions are expected to be partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered rain, which may become thundery»»»
Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade: Why the US finds it difficult to free this chokepoint — IRGC's strategy explained
Also In This Package 5,000-lb bombs hit Hormuz missile sites: What's next Iran war: Will your internet slow soon? About 90 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz despite war Trump fumes at Nato over lack of support on Hormuz In the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's strategy is simple: choke off this incredibly na»»»
Salam urges Trump to help end war
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Thursday urged U.S. President Donald Trump in a CNN interview to help end the Israeli war on Lebanon, reaffirming the country's readiness to "enter into immediate negotiations with Israel." Trump is best placed to end the war in the Middle East, Salam said asking for h»»»
Djuric receives UNMIK head
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UNMIK Peter Due in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss the current security and political situation in Kosovo-Metohija and the position of Serbs in the province. "Djuric underlined that Serbia att»»»
Russia in Dialogue With Cuban Leadership, Discussing Options for Assistance - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia is in dialogue with the leadership of Cuba and is discussing options for providing assistance, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "We are in constant dialogue with the Cuban leadership, and, of course, we are discussing how to help the island in such a diffi»»»
Russia Says Strike that Wounded TV Crew in Lebanon Not 'Accidental'
Russia on Thursday condemned an airstrike that wounded a TV crew from state-run RT in Lebanon as not "accidental", amid ongoing Israeli strikes and ground operations in the south of the country. Video agency Ruptly -- a subsidiary of RT -- posted footage showing an explosion and plumes of smoke ris»»»
'Miracle': Europe reconnects with lost spacecraft
Paris, France: The European Space Agency announced Thursday it has re-established communication with a spacecraft that is part of its Proba-3 mission, after losing contact with the satellite a month ago. Proba-3, which launched on a two-year mission in 2024, uses two spacecraft flying in precise fo»»»
UAE Cyber Security Council warns against wiper malware threat
The UAE Cyber Security Council has urged individuals and organisations to remain vigilant against Wiper Malware, one of the most destructive forms of malicious software designed to erase data and deliberately disrupt systems. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it»»»
Hezbollah Denies Kuwaiti Accusations, Reaffirms Keenness on Brotherly People
Hezbollah issued on Thursday a statement to comment on the recent allegations from Kuwait’s Interior Ministry. Hezbollah categorically denied all claims and false accusations made by Kuwait’s Interior Ministry regarding the existence of any cells, networks, or alleged plans within Kuwait. Hezbollah»»»
IMF Team in Paris Meeting with Lebanese Authorities on Iran War's Impact
A team of International Monetary Fund officials is in Paris this week for meetings with Lebanese authorities on an initial assessment of the Iran conflict and its impact on Lebanon, IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack told reporters on Thursday, Reuters reported. Kozack said the conflict was compounding a»»»
IMF Says it's Updating Assessment of US Economy to Reflect Impact of Iran War
The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said it is updating a recently completed review of the US economy to reflect the impact of the Iran war, Reuters reported. IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack said the updated assessment would be considered by the IMF's board in coming weeks and then published.»»»
51st National Assembly Challenged GERB-UDF, Says MP Bikov
GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov read a declaration from the parliamentary rostrum on Thursday on behalf of his coalition, which stated that the 51st National Assembly was a challenge for GERB-UDF. The declaration read: "The outgoing National Assembly was one of the most significant tests for our coalition G»»»
Alabama student missing in Barcelona during spring break trip - UPI.com
A 2-year-old student is missing in Barcelona, Spain, after an evening at a nightclub. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo March 19 (UPI) -- A 20-year-old student from University of Alabama is missing in Barcelona, Spain, after an evening at a nightclub. James "Jimmy" Gracey of Elmhurst, I»»»
Amir receives phone call from King of Jordan
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a phone call today from HM King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. At the beginning of the call, HH the Amir and HM the King exchanged greetings and congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr,»»»
UAE air defenses engage 7 ballistic missiles, 15 drones
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense announced Thursday that its air defenses intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 15 drones launched from Iran. The ministry stated that since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged a total of 334 ballistic missiles, »»»
Sharjah Police bust illegal fireworks trade, seize 60 tonnes of pyrotechnics
Sharjah: Sharjah Police have confiscated 60 tonnes of illegal fireworks and arrested individuals involved in storing and preparing them for sale, as part of ongoing efforts to protect public safety and curb dangerous practices during festive periods. Brigadier Ibrahim Musabah Al Ajel, Director Gene»»»
Israeli media: Six missiles hit Kiryat Shmona - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli media: Six missiles hit Kiryat Shmona 19-03-2026 17:41 PM Latest News Urgent News Hezbollah Denies Kuwaiti Accusations, Reaffirms K»»»
24 days to election: Three Ukrainians banned from Hungary as ‘threat to Orbán’s life’
In our ongoing weekly digest, award-winning journalist Veronika Munk summarises and explains the most important political developments in Hungary. We guide readers on the route to the crunch 12 April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover:»»»
Kevin Spacey and accusers settle before civil trial
Kevin Spacey has agreed an out-of-court settlement with three men who had sued the actor after accusing him of sexual assault. The civil cases had been due to go to trial at the High Court later this year, but those proceedings have now been frozen following the settlement. The men alleged that Spa»»»
Are US and Israel aligned on Iran war? Deciphering Trump's post after gas field attacks
US President Donald Trump has issued a typically strongly worded statement in the wake of attacks on a major gas field shared by Iran and Qatar on Wednesday. Israel hit Iran's South Pars - part of the world's largest natural gas field – and Tehran retaliated by striking an energy complex in Qatar. »»»
Czech Central Bank Keeping Options open as Iran War Clouds Rate Prospects
The Czech National Bank (CNB) held interest rates steady as expected on Thursday and said it was keeping options open as it monitors the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East. Since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, oil prices have jumped above $1»»»
Israeli strike injures Russia Today crew in southern Lebanon – Ya Libnan
Share: The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation into the apparent targeting of Steve Sweeney, a British correspondent for Russia Today, and his camera operator Ali Rida Sbeity, who were injured when an Israeli air strike hit just feetaway from where they were filming while w»»»
Rockfalls linked with rains disrupt harbor traffic on Santorini
Rockfalls blocked the road leading to the port of Athini on the resort island of Santorini on Thursday, disrupting traffic to and from the harbor. Nobody was injured, and the road was cleared by the afternoon, officials said. The rockfalls are believed to have been triggered by heavy rainfall that »»»
Turkish Man Charged with Attempted Smuggling of EUR 87,000 Worth of Cannabinoid out of Bulgaria
The District Prosecutor’s Office in Haskovo has charged and detained a 38-year-old Turkish citizen for attempting to transport synthetic cannabinoid worth nearly EUR 87,000 across the border from Bulgaria to Turkiye via Kapitan Andreevo, the Bulgarian Prosecution Service said on Thursday. The offen»»»
Parliament Passes Lobbying Activities Act at Final Reading
The National Assembly adopted here on Thursday at second reading the Lobbying Activities Act, renaming it the Transparency in Interest Representation Act from its originally proposed title, Transparency and Integrity in Governance Act. "Interest representation" is defined as any oral or written com»»»
War in Ukraine Threatens Euro-Atlantic Security, Bulgaria Stays Firmly with NATO Allies, PM Gurov Tells NATO's Rutte
Meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is challenging the fundamentals of international order and international law, and poses a threat to Euro-»»»
Facebook offering TikTok and YouTube creators $3,000 to post content
Facebook is offering larger influencers $3,000 (£2,260) a month to post on the platform, as part of its Content Fast Track programme. The social media giant, which has over 3bn users, says the scheme is for creators with over a million followers on other video-sharing sites, citing Instagram, TikTo»»»
Air Pollution to Rise over Europe in Coming Days
Air quality is expected to deteriorate across parts of Europe in the coming days, driven by an increase in microscopic polluting particles, the EU's earth observation program said on Thursday. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) forecast a spike in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in»»»
Secretary of State for National Security visits Sfax Regional Civil Protection Headquarters
Tunis, March 19 (TAP) —Secretary of State to the Minister of the Interior in charge of National Security Sofiane Bessadock made a field visit, on Tuesday, to the Regional Directorate of Civil Protection in Sfax, reviewing operations across all...»»»
America’s next Indo-Pacific strategy cannot ignore the playing field - UPI.com
Yao Ming's career with the Houston Rockets transformed basketball into a shared cultural space linking American and Chinese audiences through “hoop diplomacy.” File Photo by Lori Shepler/UPI | License Photo March 19 (UPI) -- As millions of Americans fill out brackets for March Madness, the annual N»»»
Visa launches Agentic Ready program to accelerate AI-powered commerce in Europe
As a starting point for the phased rollout of the new program, Europe offers a robust environment for testing and collaboration. There is a high level of adoption here of tokenization, passkey technology, and advanced authentication methods—capabilities that are already well-developed across the gl»»»
King Khalid International Airport Wins World’s Most Improved Airport at Skytrax Awards 2026
King Khalid International Airport, managed and operated by Riyadh Airports Company, has achieved global recognition after being named “World’s Most Improved Airport” among more than 560 airports worldwide in 2026. It also received the award for Best Airport in the 30–40 million passengers category,»»»
Charles Hittler and Antoine Renault-Zielinski are running for mayor in a French town
An upcoming mayoral runoff in the small French town of Arcis-sur-Aube has drawn global attention due to the unusual surnames of two candidates, which resemble those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Mayor Charles Hittler is seeking reelection in a three-way second round o»»»
Iran names Hossein Dehghan as Larijani’s successor – Ya Libnan
Share: Iran appointed former Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, succeeding Ali Larijani, Iranian media said on Thursday. Dehghan currently heads the Mostazafan Foundation, one of Iran’s largest economic institutions. Earlier this week Iran’s Supr»»»
Plasmaserv Metal Connection targets over 15% growth in 2026
In 2025, the market was shaped primarily by the postponement of major modernization projects and longer investment decision cycles, against a backdrop of reduced visibility and still-elevated financing costs. In this environment, the company maintained stable cash flow and recorded a moderate contr»»»
TISA Hotel Group invests over EUR 6 million in Băile Olănești
TISA Hotel Group has invested more than EUR 6 million in expanding its presence in Băile Olănești, strengthening its position within Romania’s growing wellness and balneary tourism sector. The investment supports the development of Grand Hotel TISA, a four-star property scheduled for completion in »»»
Bulgarian, Canadian Red Cross Organizations Take Part In Training for Mobile Health Team Preparedness
The Bulgarian Red Cross (BRC), in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross, conducted a training programme aimed at building and preparing mobile health teams. More than 40 representatives took part, including members of mobile health teams, the National Rescue Team for Disasters, Accidents and Cata»»»
Iran war, China loom at summit between Donald Trump, Sanae Takaichi - UPI.com
U.S President Donald Trump (C) was set to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) to the White House for a return visit on Thursday after the pair forged a strong relationship at a Japan-US summit meeting in Tokyo during a three day visit in October. File photo by Franck Robichon/EPA Mar»»»
Attacks on Gulf energy facilities raise global supply concerns
Capitals, March 19 (SANA) Military escalation between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other has extended to energy infrastructure in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, raising concerns over global oil and gas supplies relied upon by international markets. As attacks expand»»»
Report: US believes negotiations with Lebanon serve interest of Washington and Israel
The U.S. administration believes it is in the interest of both Israel and the U.S. to begin negotiations with Lebanon, but disagreements persist regarding the details, with Israel insisting on conducting them "under fire," U.S. sources in Washington told Al-Jadeed TV. "The Israeli official in charg»»»
Glas Expert targets American market and exhibits at New York Build 2026
”This is the first time we are exhibiting in America. We have carefully analyzed the U.S. market, which we have been targeting for several years and where we have already completed a specific project at Detroit Airport. However, we strongly believe that our standards, expertise, and attention to de»»»
Parliament Adopts Penal Code Amendments on Second Reading
Parliament adopted at second reading amendments to the Penal Code on Thursday. The amendments provide for a substantial increase in penalties for all sexual offences against children — both under the age of 14 and under 18 — as set out in the Penal Code. Under the proposal, distributing pornographi»»»