NATO mission evacuated from Iraq due to regional situation
Baghdad: Iraqi security sources announced today the commencement of the evacuation of the NATO mission from its base and its withdrawal from Iraq. The sources indicated that the mission is non-combat and carries out advisory tasks, and will return as soon as the war ends. The sources told the Iraqi»»»
Iran War: Pentagon's $200B Budget Could Run Out in Just Five Months
The funds requested by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth would last roughly 160 days—or about five months, Sputnik calculates. As of March 20, the expenditures exceeded $25.5 billion, according to the real-time Iran War Cost Tracker.Tracker bases its estimate on a Pentagon briefing: $11.3 billion for t»»»
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»»»
Syrian Man Arrested in Sofia Over Stabbing Incident
A Syrian national has been formally charged and detained following a stabbing incident in Sofia, according to the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office. The case concerns an attack that took place on March 18, during which the accused allegedly inflicted knife wounds on another man. Based on the evide»»»
New BTS album drops ahead of comeback mega-gig
Seoul: K-pop megastars BTS released a new album Friday, as buzz built ahead of their open-air comeback concert in Seoul that will go ahead despite leader RM being advised to rest his injured ankle. The Saturday gig, expected to draw around 260,000 people, will be BTS's first after a hiatus of almos»»»
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»»»
British man accused of shooting partner in France
A British man has been detained on suspicion of murder by French police after allegedly shooting his partner with a hunting rifle. George Goodayle, 47, is accused of killing his British partner, 49-year-old Jayne Nicholson, at their home near Brillac in southwest France. Nicholson was discovered wi»»»
'Multiple factors' caused 2025 Spain and Portugal blackout, says report
A combination of factors triggered the unprecedented blackout that left Spain and Portugal without electricity for several hours last year, a new report has found. On 28 April 2025, shortly after midday, the Iberian peninsula's electricity supply was shut down, causing widespread chaos, cutting int»»»
Myara Poll: Six Parties Would Enter Parliament If Elections Were Held in Mid-March
If elections were held in mid-March, six political formations would enter Parliament, according to a survey by the Myara sociological agency released on Friday. The survey was conducted face-to-face using tablets between March 7 and 16, 2026 among 809 adult Bulgarian citizens. The maximum standard »»»
Endowments Directorate launches Joy of Eid initiative
Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs launched the Joy of Eid initiative to celebrate Eid Al Fitr by distributing 5,000 gifts to children across 20 major Eid prayer mosques in different areas of Qatar. The initiative aims to spread happ»»»
UN warns of UNRWA's collapse amid severe funding crisis, potential repercussions in Gaza
New York: Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini warned that the agency's continued operation is in doubt. Lazzarini's warning came in a letter published today, as the agency has been facing a severe funding crisis for s»»»
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»»»
Global Food Crisis Looms Amid Middle East War
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stopped a major part of global fertilizer exports, which could disrupt harvests and cause a food crisis. Persian Gulf countries account for 38% of global nitrate fertilizer exports and 20% of phosphate fertilizer exports. Since the conflict began, nitrate fer»»»
1.7 Million Euros in Cryptocurrency Linked to Murder in a Bulgarian Village
Bulgarian authorities believe that a cache of cryptocurrency valued at 1.7 million euros played a central role in the murder of a man in the village of Bogdanliya near the town of Elin Pelin, according to statements from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor’s Office. The killing occur»»»
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»»»
Eid al-Fitr prayer held at Education City Mosque
Doha, Qatar: The Education City Mosque has hosted the Eid al-Fitr prayer, bringing together worshippers from across Qatar’s community to mark the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, reflect, and demonstrate gratitude and unity. The prayer was attended by community members of all ages, with the gather»»»
Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a position of Israeli enemy army soldiers in Jabal Wardeh in the Lebanese border town of Markaba with appropriate weapons: Hezbollah Military Media statement no. 21 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a position of Israeli enemy army soldiers in Jabal Wardeh in the Lebanese border town of Markaba with »»»
Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli gatherings in taybe and Aytaroun Forest Lebanese border towns with artillery shells and salvo of rockets: Military Media statements - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli gatherings in taybe and Aytaroun Forest Lebanese border towns with artillery shell»»»
Damaged Russian Tanker Days away from Libyan Shores, Italian Official Says
A damaged Russian LNG tanker that has been drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean for more than two weeks, risking a major ecological disaster, is four to six days from Libya’s shores, an Italian official said on Friday. The Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, has been un»»»
Cannabis grow house found in home of school bus driver
A school bus driver has appeared before a prosecutor after police arrested him Thursday in an operation that led to the discovery a cannabis grow house in his home in Egaleo, western Athens. Police also discovered that the 48-year-old suspect that used drugs shortly before he was due to begin his m»»»
Bulgaria Wins Official Positive Assessment of OECD Membership Readiness on Anti-Corruption
Bulgaria has received an official positive opinion on its readiness for membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the field of anti-corruption, the Ministry of Justice announced on Friday. The OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transacti»»»
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»»»
Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli barracks of Yaara and Mattat with squadrons of kamikaze drones: Military Media statements no. 6, 7 - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Islamic Resistance fighters targeted Israeli barracks of Yaara and Mattat with squadrons of kamikaze drones: Military Media sta»»»
'Volatile: Oil market much more resilient than in 1970s' as conflict speculation drives price swings
Peter O'Brien is pleased to welcome Dan Marks, Research Fellow in energy security at the Royal United Services Institute. He views the global oil system as significantly more resilient than in past crises, in stark contrast to the 1970's. The current oil price movements being driven »»»
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»»»
Kent, England, meningitis cases up to 29 - UPI.com
Meningitis B cases in Kent, England, have risen to 29. Officials are encouraged that there aren't more. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo March 20 (UPI) -- Cases of bacterial meningitis in Kent, England, have risen to 29, up from 27 Thursday. Some health officials believe the outbreak h»»»
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»»»
95% drop in Hormuz traffic as war disrupts oil route
The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow but critical artery for global energy supplies — is facing near paralysis as the Middle East conflict intensifies, disrupting shipping, driving up costs and raising fears of prolonged supply shocks. The crisis erupted after the United States and Israel launched strik»»»
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»»»
Qalibaf: Iran’s Strike on US F-35 Signals ‘Collapse of an Order’
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, has hailed the historic striking of an American F-35 stealth fighter by Iranian forces, declaring that the destruction of this symbol of US arrogance marks the collapse of the Western-led world order. In a Friday post on his X account, Qalibaf emph»»»
President: Package of Measures Necessary Due to High Fuel Prices, Overall Price Pressure
President Iliana Iotova Friday commented on rising fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East, as well as on a proposed measure to provide financial support to the most vulnerable groups. She was speaking in Pernik, where she took part in celebrations marking the International Francophonie »»»
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»»»
Unilever says McCormick has made an offer to buy its food business - UPI.com
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever is engaged in talks with U.S. food company McCormick for an all-stock takeover of Unilever's food business. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo March 20 (UPI) -- Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods manufacturer Unilever moved Friday to end»»»
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»»»
Arab Interior Ministers Council condemns Iran’s repeated aggression against Gulf States
The General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the malicious and repeated Iranian aggression against Arab countries, as well as its deliberate hostile practices targeting civilian sites and vital energy and gas facilities in the »»»
Serbian high jumper Topic wins silver at World Athletics Indoor Championships
TORUN - Serbian high jumper Angelina Topic won the silver medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, on Friday with a 1.99 m leap in the final. Twenty-year-old Topic, who made three unsuccessful attempts at 2.01 m, finished tied with Australian Nicola Olyslagers and Ukraini»»»
Bulgaria’s Tourist Season Faces Crisis as Foreign Workers Fill 85% of Jobs
Bulgaria is facing a turbulent start to its tourist season as the industry grapples with a severe shortage of staff, raising concerns over service quality. According to Veselin Nalbantov, deputy chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, the reliance on foreign workers has become u»»»
Swiss Will Not Export War Equipment to US during Mideast Conflict
Switzerland decided Friday it will not authorize the export of war materiel to the United States during the Middle East conflict, in line with its long-standing principle of military neutrality. Switzerland has already refused US requests for flights over its territory since the war erupted on Febr»»»
Arab Interior Ministers Council Condemns Iran’s Heinous, Repeated Aggression Against Arab States
The General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC) condemned and denounced Iran’s repeated and unlawful aggression against Arab states, as well as its deliberate hostile actions targeting civilian sites and vital energy and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Ba»»»
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»»»
Salt Bank launches fuel cashback campaign amid rising prices
Salt Bank is rolling out a cashback campaign on fuel payments at the end of March, as fuel prices continue to increase across Romania. The offer applies during two promotional periods, March 19–22 and March 27–29, 2026. Customers who pay with a Salt-issued card at fuel stations in Romania receive c»»»
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»»»