A state of cautious tension has gripped the western Libyan city of Misrata following an attempted assassination of Colonel Mustafa al-Har, who is tasked with running the Anti-Terrorism and Subversive Activities Office in the central region, amid accusations pointing to figures linked to the Benghaz»»»

The European Commission has told member states they can use existing EU funding to pay for safe abortions, after a citizens' initiative attracted 1.1 million signatures to help women without access to safe and legal terminations. The My Voice, My Choice group behind the initiative has hailed the de»»»

Government officials rejected speculation linking the presence of US military aircraft at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport to non-NATO operations, while Parliament on Thursday obliged caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov to participate in a hearing on the matter. Earlier in the day, Transport Minister K»»»

Volodymyr Zelensky’s chaotic rhetoric is a survival tactic shaped by his current predicament, veteran Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik. "He is forced to twist and turn, trying on the one hand not to offend his chief patron — the president of the US — and on the other to stay i»»»

Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said during her parliamentary hearing on Thursday, that the deployment of US military aircraft at Sofia airport is not related to current or planned military operations. The hearing is at the request of the Vazrazhdane parliamentary group. On February 19,»»»

Field commanders and activists from Iranian-backed Palestinian factions in Gaza warn of a potential “complete collapse” as a worsening financial crisis comes amid signs of a possible US strike on Tehran. Nearly two years of Israeli war in Gaza, along with strikes extending to Lebanon, Iran and part»»»

Doha: Qatar will host India on Friday at Lusail Hall in their opener of the second window of Group D in the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar. The Qataris have three points from their opening two matches, having beaten Lebanon 86-83 away before losing narrowly 75-74 t»»»

The constant change of scenery in President Donald Trump’s America has trained observers not to overreact to each new sensation from across the Atlantic. Yesterday’s battles fade quickly, replaced by fresh headlines. Against that backdrop, it is tempting to dismiss Trump’s latest clash with the US »»»

1 of 2 | A pair of brothers who were prominent Brazilian politicians have been convicted in the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro councilor Marielle Franco. File Photo by Mario Vasconcellos/EPA-EFE Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A pair of brothers who were prominent Brazilian politicians have been convicted in the 2»»»

Cuba said on Thursday that 10 gunmen on a Florida-registered speed boat who opened fire on the Caribbean nation's coastguard had "intended to carry out an infiltration for the purposes of terrorism". The Cuban coastguard on Thursday said it killed four people and wounded six more on the vessel, whi»»»

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 key April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover: The p»»»

ASTANA - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by phone on Thursday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to whom he extended best wishes for his 72nd birthday, and said he expected him to pay an exceptionally important visit to Belgrade and Serbia soon. In a post on his buducnostsrbijeav»»»

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has adopted the terms and procedure for the participation of observers in the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 19, 2026, the CEC said on Thursday. The CEC will accept applications for the registration of observers until 5:00 p.m. on April 17. Observe»»»

Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A Florida woman who became the world's oldest competitive pool player at the age of 94 is still going strong at 98 and is headed to a tournament in Las Vegas. Jensen Beach resident Maggie Kennedy was dubbed the world's oldest competitive pool player by Guinness World Records in 202»»»

Armenia’s prospective shift towards US-backed small modular reactor (SMR) technology could add as much as 30% of GDP to public debt in a worst-case scenario, even as it reduces the country’s long-standing strategic reliance on Russia, according to Ivan Tchakarov of GlobalSource Partners. »»»

Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, which organises the annual Davos summit, announced his resignation on Thursday, weeks after the forum launched an independent investigation into his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  The president and CEO o»»»

For at least 34 years, Canada held an unbroken grip on the top spot in US trade. In 2025, Mexico ended it, and the timing could hardly be more consequential. According to reports from Bloomberg and Forbes, M»»»

Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member and Governor of Yemen's eastern Hadramout province Salem al-Khanbashi says he believes that “Hadramout triumphed for itself,” and that what took place there in December 2025 and early January 2026 marked a decisive moment in which Hadhramis reclaimed the»»»

Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in Geneva have paused for a break and will resume later today, following what the Omani mediator described as an exchange of “innovative and positive ideas.” Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi announced the development, stating: “Today i»»»

Turkish industry has begun 2026 under significant strain. Port cargo volumes have suffered one of the steepest January declines seen in recent years, business daily Ekonomi has reported. According to data from th»»»

Not a single acquittal has been handed down by a court in Tajikistan in the past two years. The stark statistic is highlighted by a report published this week by Tajik daily Asia-Plus. »»»

Oil and gas revenues will account for less than 20% of Russia's budget this year, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the Duma on February 26, as oil prices tumble and sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet become more effective. »»»

Syrian government forces and Druze militiamen who control areas in the southern Sweida province on Thursday exchanged prisoners taken in clashes last summer, a rare step toward a possible political resolution of simmering tensions in the country. The exchange was the first major sign of progress in»»»

Dubai: As US forces mass across the Middle East, Iran is staring at the threat of major American strikes that could target its leadership, military command structure, nuclear sites and critical infrastructure — a showdown Tehran would almost certainly lose in conventional terms, but one that could »»»

Hillary Clinton will on Thursday appear before a panel of the US House of Representatives that is investigating the crimes of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former Democratic secretary of state and presidential candidate recently agreed, along with her husband, former President Bill Clinton»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Caribbean leaders on Wednesday that the removal of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro has improved regional stability, despite objections over its legality. Speaking at a summit in St Kitts and Nevis, he urged closer cooperation while tensions persist over Cuba, migra»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, February 26: We look at reactions from the Indian and Israeli press after Narendra Modi's speech to the Israeli parliament. His visit is controversial back home. Also: the Berlin Film Festival's future leadership is in jeopardy after a film director's anti-Israel speec»»»

KUWAIT, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- Acting Director General of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) Nouf Behbahani on Thursday extended her warmest congratulations to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the P»»»

A recent sociological survey conducted by the Center for Analysis and Marketing (CAM) in February indicates that five parties are likely to secure seats in Bulgaria’s next parliament. According to the study, these parties are Rumen Radev’s formation, GERB, WCC-DB, DPS-New Beginning, and “Revival.” »»»

According to a survey of the Center for Analysis and Marketing, about 68% of Bulgarian residents are expected to vote at the elections on April 19, and the National Assembly is likely to be comprised of five political formations. The data were presented by Center for Analysis and Marketing Director»»»

The UK-French nuclear weapon plot in Ukraine may be aimed at achieving several objectives, Bureau of Military-Political Analysis’ head Alexander Mikhailov tells Sputnik. The EU elites are not happy with them being sidelined in the Ukraine peace talks so Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron may be tryin»»»

With the background of the continuation of the political split between Libya’s western and eastern based regimes with elections seemingly a world away, the black-market foreign exchange rate of the Libyan dinar plunging to over the LD 10.50 rate per dollar causing prices to spike, and the CBL and H»»»

The past 24 hours witnessed a “dramatic development” in Hezbollah’s stance regarding possible intervention in any war involving Iran, senior sources said. Hezbollah sent reassuring messages to the Lebanese state through the open communication and dialogue channels, saying that it will abide by “com»»»

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied any American government involvement in a deadly gunfight between Cuban border guards and a US-flagged speedboat, describing the incident as “very unusual.” Cuban authorities announced on Wednesday that border guard forces had killed four armed men aboard»»»

"We used to eat out twice a month," says Marjan, who lives in Iran's second largest city, Isfahan. "Now we just can't. We have to save that money to pay the rent." For the last six years, she had been selling wooden crafts and keyrings through a page on Instagram - one of hundreds of thousands of I»»»

Bulgaria is facing a serious rule of law crisis stemming from the fact that the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov is effectively holding office in violation of the law, caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov said on Thursday. He was speaking at the opening of a sitting of the Supreme J»»»

Preventing sanctions circumvention will not cause economic losses for Kyrgyzstan. EU Special Envoy for Sanctions David O’Sullivan said at a briefing in Bishkek. Brussels is concerned about a sharp increase in exports of machine tools and radio equipment over the past year. «They are not produced in»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States still prefers to fully link the negotiation track on the settlement in Ukraine with the one on economic cooperation with Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "No, it does not mean that. As before, the American side prefers to fully link thes»»»

Russian oil company Lukoil has formally accused Bulgaria of unlawfully seizing its assets in the country, signaling its intention to pursue legal action. On February 19, the Swiss-based Litasco, part of the Lukoil group and a shareholder in Lukoil Neftochim Burgas AD and Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, submi»»»

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended his two-day visit to China on Thursday in the tech hub of Hangzhou, identifying "challenges that we must overcome together" after meeting President Xi Jinping and announcing an Airbus deal. Merz's first official visit to China came as Berlin and Beijing seek t»»»

CPI Romania concluded 2025 by consolidating its position as a key player on the Romanian real estate market, with a portfolio of 280,000 sqm of modern office space, representing 8% of Bucharest’s modern stock. The shopping centers in the company’s portfolio recorded an impressive occupancy rate of »»»

A Hezbollah official told AFP on Wednesday that the Lebanese movement would not intervene militarily in the event of "limited" U.S. strikes on its backer Iran, but would consider any attack against supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a "red line". The U.S. has repeatedly threatened Iran over its »»»

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first serving world leader to cross 100 million followers on Instagram, setting a new global benchmark for political leadership in the digital age. The milestone marks more than just a social media achievement. It reflects a decade-long strategy o»»»

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- Head of Russia's delegation for talks on Ukraine Vladimir Medinsky announced Thursday that Moscow handed over the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv.In return, Russia received the remains of 35 of its servicemen under previously agreed humanitarian understandings b»»»

In this photo released Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (2-L) shakes hands while his daughter Kim Ju Ae (L) looks on during a military parade in Pyongyang. The event marked the conclusion of the week-long Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, Feb. 26 (UPI)»»»

Geneva, Feb. 26 (SANA) Syria told the United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday that its commitment to human rights is a “genuine national obligation” shaped by decades of hardship, pledging to strengthen institutions and prevent a return to past abuses. Addressing the Council during its hig»»»

Gold prices in both domestic and international markets have undergone a period of marked instability over the last few days, spurred by rapid economic and political developments. Just two days ago, global spot prices surged to US$5,225 per ounce before retreating to $5,182. Locally, Egypt followed »»»

There Is Such a People (TISP) are calling for the removal of caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov over recruitments he has made. Deputy floor leader Stanislav Balabanov read out a declaration with their demands in Parliament, accusing Hristanov of conflicts of interest, political »»»