Vote-Buying Prices Differ Across Regions, Says Interior Minister Dechev
The exact amount of money given for vote buying is difficult to establish, as it varies in different parts of the country, commented caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev on Friday, before a meeting with the management of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Burgas. He was accompa»»»
Egypt, Turkiye warn of catastrophic repercussions of continued violence, escalating conflict in region
Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, warned in a phone call today of the catastrophic and dangerous repercussions of the continued cycle of violence and escalating conflict in the region, which threatens regional and international peace and secur»»»
UAE President, Turkish Foreign Minister discuss regional developments
Abu Dhabi: The President of the UAE, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Foreign Minister of Turkiye, HE Hakan Fidan met in Abu Dhabi on Friday to discuss the developments in the region. During the meeting, HE the Turkish foreign minister reiterated his country's condemnation of the Irani»»»
On First Day of Election Campaign, GERB Leader Visits New State Hospital under Construction in Yambol
GERB leader Boyko Borisov visited the new building of the state hospital under construction in the southeastern town of Yambol on Friday, the first day of the election campaign. "What we committed to back in 2018 is now 98 percent complete. In a few months, everything will be ready, and people will»»»
Iran to boycott US but not FIFA World Cup, football chief says
Iran intends to take part in this summer’s FIFA World Cup but only if the team’s matches are moved from the US to Mexico, the head of the country’s football federation has said. The announcement comes as the US and Israel continue their military campaign against Iran, now in its fourth week. The 20»»»
Israel strikes Syria after Druze clashes
Israel says it has carried out air strikes on Syrian government infrastructure in the south of the country, in response to what it described as attacks on Druze civilians in Suweida province. In a statement, the Israeli military said it hit a command centre and weapons stored at army compounds over»»»
3 indicted for smuggling AI-capable Nvidia chips to China - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun, left, and a worker from another company, work with "dummy" servers to allegedly conceal Nvidia microchips heading to China. Image courtesy of the Department of Justice March 20 (UPI) -- Three men were charged with smuggling Nvidia chips able to run artificial intellig»»»
Bulgaria Fully Applies Schengen Legislation, Shows Achievements across Cooperation Areas, EC Assessment Finds
Bulgaria fully applies Schengen legislation and has achieved substantial progress across key areas of cooperation, including external borders, return, internal security, visas and data protection, according to an assessment by the European Commission (EC), presented in Sofia by Olivier Onidi, Deput»»»
Social Assistance System Aims to Cover Basic Needs, Says Caretaker Labour Minister Ademov
When discussing water pricing and the structural problems in the water supply sector, there are also social dimensions to consider, caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov said during a plenary session of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), the Ministry’s press centre reported. »»»
Poland withdraws its troops from Iraq due to Middle East escalating tensions
Warsaw: Poland announced Friday the withdrawal of its troops from Iraq due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on the X platform, "Given the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region, and after analysing the operationa»»»
Popovic: Talks underway with Russia to ensure best natural gas price to Serbia
BELGRADE - The energy sector is the most important element of Serbia-Russia cooperation and talks are underway with the Russian side to ensure Serbia continues to have the best natural gas price in Europe, Serbian Minister without portfolio Nenad Popovic, who co-chairs a Serbia-Russia commission on»»»
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister receives phone call from US Counterpart
Kuwait: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received a phone call today from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that the call addressed developments in the region amid escalating military tensions. The statement indic»»»
UK FM Warns Iran against 'Directly' Targeting British Bases
Britain's Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper warned her Iranian counterpart in a phone call "against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly", a foreign office statement said Friday, AFP reported. The statement was response to one issued by Iran's foreign ministry in which it said Foreign M»»»
UAE leaders receive Eid Al-Fitr greetings from leaders of Arab, Islamic states
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received messages of congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr from Kings, Presidents, and Emirs of Arab and Islamic states. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE»»»
US Stocks Sink on Fears the War with Iran will Keep Interest Rates High
US stocks are sinking Friday as hopes wither on Wall Street for a possible cut to interest rates by the Federal Reserve this year because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 fell 0.9% and was on track for a fourth straight losing week, its longest such streak in a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Avera»»»
NASA’s Artemis II rocket back to launch pad after wind delay - UPI.com
1 of 2 | NASA’s Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft are returning to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida following a wind delay on Friday. NASA plans to launch a crew of four in the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II Mission to the moon no earlier than 01April. Photo by Joe Mar»»»
There’s a heretic in the heart of the EU and he wants to talk to Putin
Ideally, policy debates should serve to bring together the fullest information, the brightest minds, and the sharpest arguments in order to find solutions. That is, the optimum combination between what is best and what is feasible. In the real world, shaped by ordinary human fallibility and the ext»»»
EU to push Ukraine loan despite Hungary’s veto, von der Leyen says
The EU will provide a controversial loan to Ukraine “one way or another,” despite it remaining blocked by Hungary, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. Budapest vetoed the EU’s €90 billion ($105 billion) emergency loan for Ukraine after Kiev halted Russian oil flows th»»»
Trump makes Pearl Harbor joke at meeting with Japanese PM to justify Iran war secrecy
US President Donald Trump joked about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor in front of a visibly uncomfortable Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, as he defended his decision not to warn allies before striking Iran. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was pressed on the lack »»»
Moscow warns EU of energy crisis amid Iran war and rejection of Russian supplies
An oil and gas price surge is about to hit Europe, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has warned, calling the EU’s rejection of Russian energy, “stubborn stupidity.” The escalating conflict in the Middle East, triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran, has driven extreme volatility in global energy mar»»»
Lebanon: 350 Hezbollah Members Killed Since Start of New Round of War
The war between Hezbollah and Israel has seen a shift in media handling, particularly regarding announcements of casualties. After initially adopting, at the start of the 2024 war, a policy of near-daily announcements, the group later gradually reduced such statements before halting them altogether»»»
Live updates: Iran attacks Gulf energy sites and Israel kills another Iranian IRGC official – Ya Libnan
Share: Ali Mohammad Naini, the spokesperson and deputy head of public relations for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed in strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, Iranian state television reported on Friday. The U.S. is accelerating the deployment of thousa»»»
350 Hezbollah Members Killed Since Start of New Round of War
The war between Hezbollah and Israel has seen a shift in media handling, particularly regarding announcements of casualties. After initially adopting, at the start of the 2024 war, a policy of near-daily announcements, the group later gradually reduced such statements before halting them altogether»»»
Spain to Spend 5 bn Euros to Ease Middle East War Fallout
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Friday a sweeping package worth five billion euros ($5.8 billion) aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the Middle East war, including a "drastic reduction" in energy-related taxes. Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, the Socialist leader»»»
Bulgaria’s PM Gyurov Urges Diplomacy to End Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programs
Bulgaria's Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, noting to Euronews that the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. He emphasized that Europe should present a united stance and engage at the negotiating table to determine how the situati»»»
Venezuela interim president replaces top military commanders in sweeping reforms
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez said on Thursday she had replaced all senior military commanders, expanding sweeping reforms after the US ousted Nicolas Maduro. The move follows the dismissal of a long-serving defence minister and the appointment of a former intelligence chief, as Car»»»
World could face most severe energy crisis in history: IEA
Paris: The International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that oil and gas flows could take up to six months to return to normal levels, particularly from the Gulf region, indicating that the world is facing what could be the most severe energy crisis in history. IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol sai»»»
Liverpool suffer Salah blow in chase for Champions League
London: Mohamed Salah will miss Liverpool's trip to Brighton on Saturday with a muscle injury, a major blow for manager Arne Slot as he hunts a Champions League place next season. The egypt forward was forced off at Anfield on Wednesday after scoring in Liverpool's 4-0 victory against Galatasary, w»»»
No Imminent Threat? US Senator Presses Intelligence Chief Over Contradictions in Iran War Narrative
US Senator Jon Ossoff confronted Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard over contradictions between intelligence assessments and White House claims that Iran posed an “imminent nuclear threat,” casting doubt on the justification for military action against the Islamic Republic. During a te»»»
Press Review - 'Online diplomacy': How Trump narrates war in Iran on Truth Social
PRESS REVIEW – Friday, March 20: Donald Trump is turning to "online diplomacy" to defend his actions in Iran and lambast his critics on Truth Social. The Times of London looks at how Monica Witt, a US servicewoman-turned-spy for Iran, could play a crucial role in the war. Also: a Belgian court»»»
Senate to vote on DHS funding, secretary, SAVE Act - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, speaks during a press conference after weekly Senate caucus luncheons at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Thune has said the Senate may delay its scheduled recess if it does not pass key legislation in the coming days. Photo by Bonn»»»
French FM Calls on Iran to Make 'Major Concessions'
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday on a visit to Israel that Iran must make major concessions as part of any long-term political solution following the Middle East war. "Whatever the outcome of the ongoing military operations, it must be complemented by a political solution that p»»»
President Iotova: Disputes over Gaza Peace Board Do Not Contribute to Bulgaria’s Image
The strong-worded exchange in relation to Bulgaria’s participation in the Gaza Peace Board do not contribute in any way to the country’s international image and authority, President Iliana Iotova said in Pernik on Friday. “I have always been against taking over domestic political disputes to the in»»»
State Initiates 45 Pre-Trial Proceedings Related to Election Violations
As of Friday morning, 45 pre-trial proceedings related to election violations have been initiated in the country, caretaker Minister of the Interior Emil Dechev reported on Friday. Dechev introduced the new director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior, Senior Commissioner Iv»»»
Eid is my reward': How UAE families are celebrating with festive traditions, family games and togetherness
Happiness, and then some. Across the UAE, Eid Al Fitr is unfolding in moments both simple and celebratory, as families and friends come together to mark the occasion in their own ways. Dubai-based Anas can’t keep the joy out of his voice as he shares his plans. “There’s a lot of joy today,” he says»»»
Watch: Pakistani man performs 66 thumb pushups in one minute - UPI.com
March 19 (UPI) -- A Pakistani athlete broke the same Guinness World Record for a third time by performing 66 thumb pushups with one leg raised in one minute. Muhammad Arshad, who has broken more than 14 Guinness World Records for feats of athleticism, earned the title for the most thumb push-ups wi»»»
Ship crews ration food in Iran blockade
London: Seafarers stuck in the Gulf say they are rationing food and water and anxiously hoping supplies will get through Iran’s blockade in the war that has stranded them for three weeks. “We don’t have enough water on board right now. We got food a few days back,” said one Indian seaman stuck in a»»»
Minister of State for Energy Affairs meets Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources
Doha: Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Eng. Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi met Friday with Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources of the Republic of Korea HE Jung-Kwan Kim. During the meeting, held virtually via video conference, the two sides discussed the impact of the ongoing regional confl»»»
Bulgaria Moves Closer to OECD Membership After Positive Assessment
Bulgaria has received a key approval in its bid to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), after the relevant working group on combating bribery of foreign public officials endorsed the country’s progress. The decision marks another step forward in the accession proc»»»
Iran warns UK letting US use bases is 'participation in aggression'
Iran's foreign minister has warned the UK it views its choice to let the US use British bases as "participation in aggression," in a phone call with Yvette Cooper. In his account of the call with the UK foreign secretary, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said he had also criticised the "negative and biased" a»»»
India news: Stocks open higher after massive sell-off
BusinessIndiaIndia news: Stocks open higher after massive sell-offMahima Kapoor with ANI, AFP, AP, dpa, ReutersIndian investors are on edge as the US-Israel war in Iran disrupts the global energy supply and sends oil prices soaring. Meanwhile, the LPG shortage continues at home. DW has more. https:»»»
Araqchi to UK: Hosting US Bases Makes You an Aggressor
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has sharply criticized the United Kingdom for granting military bases to the United States, stating that the move amounts to participating in aggression against Iran. During a phone call with his British counterpart, Yvette Cooper, Araqchi said the decision wo»»»
Nasa's Moon rocket Artemis rolls back to pad for possible April launch
Nasa is rolling out its giant Moon rocket to the launch pad for a second time, ahead of a mission to send astronauts around the Moon – something not attempted in more than 50 years. The 98m tall Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft are making the four mile journey from their assembly buil»»»
Romanian Parliament adopts 2026 budget after heated debates over spending priorities
Romania’s Parliament has adopted the 2026 state budget following several days of political tensions and negotiations, setting a deficit target of 6.2% of GDP and projecting modest economic growth. The budget was approved with 319 votes in favour and 104 against, while the social security budget pas»»»
Travelling on Emirates? Delays, routes affected, FAQs answered
Dubai: Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates is operating a limited flight schedule from Dubai to over 100 destinations destinations, prompting questions from passengers about affected routes, flight status, and connecting travel. Many travellers have questions such as “Which routes are affected?”, “Wi»»»
Israel says struck Syrian army camps after Druze 'attacked'
Israel's military said on Friday it had struck Syrian army camps in response to what it called attacks against the Druze community in the southern Sweida province. The latest flare-up between the neighboring countries comes as war roils the Middle East after the United States and Israel attacked Ir»»»
Caretaker Labour Minister Ademov Calls for Easier Access for People of Short Stature
Better integration and easier access for people of short stature are needed in Bulgaria, caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy Hasan Ademov said on Friday at an event marking the 30th anniversary of the Little People of Bulgaria National Organization. President Iliana Iotova and representa»»»
Aoun calls for truce as French minister visits Lebanon and Israel
President Joseph Aoun said a proposed framework to halt fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah was "still on the table", as he hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Thursday. Lebanon was pulled into the regional war on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets toward neighboring»»»
Hungary's Orbán accused of disloyalty and blackmail over Ukraine loan veto
European Union leaders have accused Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of disloyalty and blackmail after he blocked a €90bn (£77bn) loan for Ukraine. "No oil = no money," Orbán said in a post on X after Thursday's summit in Brussels during which he refused to lift his veto, citing a feud over a »»»
Bulgaria: Peevski Blasts Caretaker Government over Board of Peace Participation
Delyan Peevski, chairman of the “DPS-New Beginning” party, issued a sharp statement criticizing Bulgaria’s caretaker government and Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov over the country’s position on the Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump. Gyurov had previously described Bulgaria’s involvement»»»