Blue Bulgaria Co-founder Lilkov: Elections Will Not Solve Bulgaria's Political Crisis
These elections will not resolve the political crisis in Bulgaria; they may even deepen it, Blue Bulgaria Coalition co-founder Vili Lilkov said in Sofia as the coalition closed its election campaign on Friday. "This is why we must be prepared to run in the next elections. If not in early parliament»»»
Korneliya Ninova Calls for “Defiant” Vote, Criticizes Campaign and Outlines Economic, Foreign Policy Proposals
Closing her election campaign in Haskovo on Friday, the leader of the Defiant Bulgaria National Movement party, Korneliya Ninova, called on all citizens to vote rationally rather than emotionally, and to remain defiant to the end, refusing to surrender or “sell out”. “We have proven over the years »»»
'Enough is enough': Trump says Israel 'prohibited' by US from bombing Lebanon
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday the United States had "prohibited" Israel from bombing Lebanon following a ceasefire deal, adding that Washington would work with Lebanon to "deal with" Hezbollah. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A.»»»
Mediation as a Lifeline: Can Pakistan Use the Strait of Hormuz Crisis to Save Its Economy?
For Pakistan, it's critically important not only to serve as a peacemaker, but also to succeed as a peacemaker, economic policy analyst Syed Ali Ehsan told Sputnik. As the world watches the US-Iran conflict de-escalate, Pakistan finds itself trapped in a paradox. It is both one of the crisis' most »»»
Hezbollah Parliamentary Bloc Warns Lebanese Authority against Dangers of Direct Talks with Israeli Enemy
Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc issued on Friday a statement that underlined how the authorities in Lebanon endangered the nation and its integrity by holding direct negotiations with the the Israeli enemy. The Lebanese authority has involved the nation in a stage that endangers its existence as a s»»»
Dubai court sets strict rules for WhatsApp chats in divorce cases
Dubai: Court of Cassation in Dubai has ruled that WhatsApp messages must be carefully examined in divorce disputes when presented as evidence, underscoring their potential legal weight in family law proceedings. Appeal overturned over unexamined digital evidenceIn a significant judgment, the Dubai »»»
Lesvos livestock breeders told to keep calm amid foot-and-mouth outbreak
The government will partially lift a ban on the sale of cheese from the foot-and-mouth disease-hit island of Lesvos, Rural Development Minister Margaritis Schinas promised Friday following a meeting with local livestock breeders. Schinas also stressed the need for strict adherence to other restrict»»»
Qatar participates in talks on Hormuz shipping security
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar participated on Friday in a meeting on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, hosted by President of the French Republic HE Emmanuel Macron and the United Kingdom's Prime Minister HE Keir Starmer via video conference. The State of Qatar was represented by Min»»»
SPA Complex Alexander Expands Services with Signature Therapy and Summer Packages in Greece
SPA Complex Alexander in Zlatograd, Southern Bulgaria, is expanding its spa and tourism services by combining balneotherapy, signature treatments, and cultural-historical tourism, the owner and manager Alexander Mitushev told BTA. The complex is located in the heart of the Zlatograd Ethnographic Co»»»
Bosch strategy 2030: Structural adjustments strengthen competitiveness
During the presentation of the company’s annual results, Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch GmbH, stated: “As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping trends in the fields of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as»»»
Vucic, Dodik discuss strategic issues important for Belgrade, Banjaluka
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met on Thursday with Milorad Dodik, leader of the Republika Srpska party Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, to discuss strategic issues important for Belgrade and Banjaluka. "A meeting with Milorad Dodik - far from Belgrade this time. Serbia and »»»
BCT Governor calls for more coordinated global response to successive crises
WASHINGTON, D.C. April 17, 2026 (TAP) – Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), Fethi Zouhaier Nouri, called in Washington D.C. (United States) for a more coordinated and responsive international approach to support countries affected by...»»»
Hormuz reopens: What Iran’s move means for oil and war
Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial shipping, marking a significant shift after weeks of disruption during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The move comes as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon appears to be holding, raising cautious hop»»»
Beirut Residents Return to Southern Suburbs After Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire Takes Effect
BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Residents of Beirut's heavily populated southern suburb were returning to their homes on Friday following the entry into force of a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a Sputnik correspondent said. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun a»»»
EU officials arrive in Hungary for talks with incoming prime minister - UPI.com
European Commission officials are due to meet Friday with Peter Magyar, whose Tisza party won a supermajority in Hungary's elections on Sunday. Photo by Tibor Illyes/EPA April 17 (UPI) -- Officials from the European Commission arrived in Budapest for Friday talks with Péter Magyar, who will take of»»»
Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open; oil prices fall 10% - UPI.com
Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi welcoming Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir upon his arrival at the airport in Tehran, on Wednesday. Araghchi announced Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is open. Photo by Iranian Foreign Ministry/UPI. | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- Iranian Foreign Mini»»»
Bulgaria’s New Government Faces Critical Task of Reassessing Fiscal Policy, IMF Official Recommends
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slightly lowered its growth forecast for the Bulgarian economy by 0.3 percentage points to 2.8% amid the crisis triggered by the war in the Middle East, which in this regard has no greater impact than in other countries. However, the Fund has expressed conc»»»
Monet paintings sell for €16M
Paris: Sotheby's Paris announced the sale of two rare paintings by French artist Claude Monet for over €16 million at a major auction attended by international collectors. One work, Vetheuil, Morning Effect (1901), valued between €6-8 million, reflects key elements of Impressionism, particularly th»»»
Oil prices fall sharply after full reopening of Strait of Hormuz
London: Global oil prices have dropped by more than 10 percent following the announcement of the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over supply disruptions. The price of Brent crude for June delivery fell by 10.42 percent to USD 89.03 per barrel. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermedi»»»
Trump Prohibits Israel From Bombing Lebanon
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Israel will end its bombardment campaign against Lebanon after being prohibited from doing so by the United States, President Donald Trump said on Friday. "Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!! Thank»»»
US Mulls Unlocking $20Bln in Iranian Funds in Exchange for Enriched Uranium - Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Trump administration is considering unfreezing $20 billion worth of Iranian financial assets in exchange for the Islamic Republic abandoning its stockpile of enriched uranium, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources. As part of the ongoing negotiations, Washington a»»»
Putin Says Russia Has Special Relations With CIS Countries
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia has had special relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries for decades. "We have always had, and I am sure will continue to have, a special attitude toward this, if only for historical reasons,»»»
Bulgaria’s election on Sunday may see a ‘new Orbán’ as prime minister in Sofia
First published in Denik N Former Bulgarian president (2017 to January 2026) Rumen Radev appears to be on his way back — but this time, to the prime minister’s office. The former air force commander with pro-Russian views, who in January stepped down from the presidency in order to run in Sunday’s »»»
No more 'anting-anting' politics: Why the Philippines urgently needs a Whistleblower Protection Law
MANILA: In Philippine folklore, the agimat or anting-anting is a talisman believed to make its bearer bulletproof, invisible to enemies — or mysteriously protected from harm. In modern Philippine politics, some officials seem to wear a different kind of anting-anting: impunity. Also Read: Flood con»»»
Police break gang of motorcycle thieves
Authorities have broken a ring that stole motorcycles from the Greater Athens region cruising the streets by night in a white van they used to spirit away their loot, police said Friday. A police statement said three people, including a 17-year-old boy, have been arrested in Piraeus and Aidipsos on»»»
AfD leader takes aim at EU’s von der Leyen after Orban election defeat
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen can ignore voters’ opinions as she essentially cannot be voted out like recently defeated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Alice Weidel, co-chair of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has said. The AfD is the most popular par»»»
Analilia Meijia keeps New Jersey House seat for Democrats - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Analilia Mejia won the vacant U.S. House seat in New Jersey in a special election on Thursday, maintaining control of the seat for the Democratic Party. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) -- Analilia Mejia won the vacant U.S. House seat in New Jersey in a special »»»
Philippines pushes Oman to drop HIV certificate rule for Filipino travellers
Dubai: The Philippines has formally raised concerns with the Omani embassy in Manila over a requirement for a negative HIV medical certificate imposed on certain Filipino travellers heading to Oman. In a statement, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has noted that it made “strong re»»»
Oil crashes 10%+ as Iran flips script: Hormuz 'open' after Israel-Lebanon truce
Oil futures tanked on Friday following a statement by Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reflecting trader relief that the immediate risk of a supply shock had receded. The move marks a notable de-escalation by Tehran. Brent crude fell (down 11.26% to $84.03 as of 9.50 Beijing time); US West Tex»»»
Australian soldier granted bail in war crimes case - UPI.com
Ben Roberts-Smith pictured in March 2022 outside federal court in Sydney during a defamation trial in which he unsuccessfully sued three former Fairfax group newspapers for carrying articles implicating him in war crimes in the Afghanistan war. File photo by Dan Himbrechts/EPA April 17 (UPI) -- Aus»»»
GOP wins temporary extension of FISA surveillance powers in House - UPI.com
House Speaker Mike Johnson failed to shepherd an 18-month reauthorization of a key part of FISA through Congress after struggling to find enough votes early Friday, but managed to secure a 10-day extension to allow more time for negotiations. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 17 (UPI) »»»
Trucker held for breaking sheep pox ban on transporting livestock
A truck driver has been arrested in southern Greece after being caught breaking a ban on the local transport of livestock amid the sheep pox epidemic, authorities said Friday. A police statement said the suspect was stopped Thursday on a highway near the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games, in »»»
Bulgaria's April 19, 2026 Early Parliamentary Elections: Backgrounder
Bulgarians at home and abroad are going to the polls on Sunday to elect their new lawmakers. These will be the country's eighteenth parliamentary elections since the start of democratic changes in 1989 and the seventh snap ones in a row since 2021. The Election Code that regulates the process was a»»»
Oil prices drop more than 10% as Iran declares Hormuz 'open' amid Israel-Lebanon truce
Oil futures tanked on Friday following a statement by Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reflecting trader relief that the immediate risk of a supply shock had receded. The move marks a notable de-escalation by Tehran. Brent crude fell (down 11.26% to $84.03 as of 9.50 Beijing time); US West Tex»»»
Australia's Most Decorated Veteran Walks Free on Bail on War Crimes Charges
Australia’s most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, walked free on bail from a Sydney prison on Friday, 10 days after he was charged with war crimes in the killings of five people while serving in Afghanistan. Judge Greg Grogin granted Roberts-Smith bail in a Sydney court around five hour»»»
1st SKorean Tanker Transits Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu in Alternative Red Sea Route
A South Korean oil tanker has transited the Red Sea for the first time since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's oceans ministry said on Friday. Import-dependent South Korea has taken steps to mitigate the risks to its energy supplies since US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late Febr»»»
Beirut Conference Sees Wide Consensus Over Weapons-free Capital
Beirut MPs representing most of Lebanon’s political parties met in the capital to support a government move declaring the city “safe and weapons-free,” following recent security incidents and Israeli strikes. The conference brought together most factions, except MPs from Hezbollah, the Amal Movemen»»»
Saudi CEDA Reviews Vision 2030 Progress
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs (CEDA) held a virtual meeting to consider a package of strategic reports outlining the Kingdom’s economic and development trajectory. The council issued the 2025 annual report on Saudi Vision 2030, showing clear progress across its three pi»»»
Cuban envoy to India cites Russia’s huge message to the world amid US blockade
Russia has sent an important message to the world by sending a ship with oil to Cuba last month as the US blockades the island, Havana’s envoy to New Delhi has said. Moscow shipped 100,000 tons of oil required for Cuba’s normal functioning after the US imposed restrictions, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguil»»»
Watch: Robbie Collins on why Dubai feels safe, 'I’m just happy to be here'
Dubai: At a time when headlines feel heavy, South African comedian Robby Collins (read the full interview here) chose laughter over fear. In Dubai with The Laughter Factory, he found packed rooms, warm audiences, and a city that feels incredibly safe, despite uncertainty due to ongoing regional ten»»»
Man arrested after discovery of large cache of child abuse material
Police have arrested a 46-year-old man who was found in possession of hundreds of thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material, authorities said on Friday. The investigation was launched after Greek police received information from Europol, in cooperation with Swedish and Australian au»»»
Rescue for whale stranded off German coast in 'decisive phase'
Berlin: A private rescue attempt for a whale stranded off Germany's Baltic coast has entered a "decisive phase", officials said Friday, with the sea mammal showing more activity than in recent days. The 13.5-metre (44-foot) humpback whale's ordeal first began in late March when it was spotted stuck»»»
Lebanon: Speaker Berri Says Civil Peace Red Line, Rejects Direct Talks with ‘Israel’ - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Lebanon: Speaker Berri Says Civil Peace Red Line, Rejects Direct Talks with ‘Israel’ 17-04-2026 16:06 PM Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri in an»»»
Airlines warn of possible European flight disruptions over jet fuel shortages
Montreal: The head of the International Air Transport Association has warned that parts of Europe could begin canceling flights from late May due to potential jet fuel shortages, raising concerns about disruption during the busy summer travel season. Speaking on Friday, Director General Willie Wals»»»
Mali meets with Fitch representatives in Washington
WASHINGTON - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa, Mali, who is in Washington for the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, met with representatives of the Fitch credit agency on Friday. In January, Fitch affirmed Serbia's BB+ long-term credit rating with a positive outlook, confirming the»»»
Trump welcomes Iranian announcement that Hormuz open to shipping
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran's announcement that the crucial Strait of Hormuz will be open to shipping for the duration of a ceasefire. "THANK YOU!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying that Iran had announced the narrow waterway was "FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL»»»
Oil plunges 10% as Iran says Hormuz passage open during ceasefire
Oil prices plunged Friday after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the vital Strait of Hormuz was "completely open" for commercial tankers and cargo ships during the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. International benchmark Brent North Sea crude plunged 10 percent to $89.11 a barrel, after earlier fall»»»
Phone scammers lift €100,000 in pensioner’s buried savings
A pensioner in a northern Greek village who had buried €100,000 in cash in her garden for safekeeping has lost the entire sum after falling for a phone scammer who posed as an accountant, police said Friday. A police statement said a 22-year-old man has been arrested for stealing the money, which a»»»
Belchinski Izvor SPA Complex with Nearly 40,000 Guests in 2025, Some 93% Bulgarians
Belchinski Izvor SPA Complex, located near the village of Belchin, hosted 39,486 guests in 2025. Some 93% were from Bulgaria, while the rest were foreigners, the complex told BTA. The Gala Placidia spa centre features a large indoor mineral pool, an indoor children’s pool, outdoor hot tubs and jacu»»»