Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said citizen participation is the strongest safeguard of democracy, speaking before the start of the Council of Ministers’ meeting on Wednesday. He urged Bulgarian citizens to vote in the upcoming elections. “That is why my appeal to all Bulgarians is: ‘Vote!’,»»»

The United Arab Emirates welcomes the blessed occasion of Eid Al-Fitr with a festive atmosphere filled with artistic shows, cultural festivals, and family-oriented activities across public spaces, shopping malls, and entertainment destinations. These venues have been beautifully adorned with lights»»»

An explosion was heard in Baghdad early Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, as Iraqi officials reported a drone and rocket attack targeting the US embassy. The latest explosion came hours after multiple blasts were heard across the Iraqi capital, where a witness told AFP he saw detonations likely ca»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) convened yesterday its urgent General Assembly at its headquarters in Doha on the Iranian attacks on the Arab nations: human rights reading in violating the absolute ban on the use of force. The meeting, held virtually, c»»»

The majority of Romanians (86%) keep old mobile phones at home, stored in drawers, shows a study published on Tuesday.According to the cited source, over half of respondents (56%) own two or three old phones, while almost a third (31%) have four or more."The phenomenon is part of what specialists c»»»

“No oil. No money.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to take a hard line on dropping his veto on the disbursement of the €90bn EU loan agreed in December, as Brussels comes up with a face saving solution to end the impasse. »»»

European NATO members and other US allies do not want to get involved in the war against Iran, Professor Mehran Kamrava from Georgetown University in Qatar tells Sputnik. "America's treatment of NATO has undermined America's standing not just globally, but particularly among America's traditional a»»»

Oil prices sank Wednesday after Iraq said it had resumed exports through Türkiye, avoiding the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz, while equities rose following another tech-led advance on Wall Street. The drop in crude, which saw WTI sink more than four percent, came even as the United States hit»»»

Iran will hold a funeral Wednesday for its security chief Ali Larijani as it vowed revenge, firing off a wave of missiles at Israel after it killed the powerful figure in an air strike. A barrage of Iranian missiles killed two people near Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, while Gulf nations interce»»»

Gulf News Edufair is back for its 10th edition, bringing together leading universities, education institutions, and career experts. The three-day event will take place from May 8-10 at The H Dubai Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, giving students, parents, and professionals a practical platform to explor»»»

Hamas Holds Consultations in Cairo to Revive Gaza Agreement With Israel preoccupied with the war on Iran, Hamas has kicked off consultations in Cairo to overcome obstacles in implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The second phase was supposed to start in mid-January, but ha»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani has delivered strong reassurances regarding the availability of goods, stability of markets, and the resilience of Qatar’s food security system amid ongoing regional developments. In an interview aired on»»»

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (R) and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (L) participate in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Stratton won the Democratic Party's nomination Tuesday night. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo March 18 (UPI) -- Il»»»

A large-scale police operation is underway in the Bulgarian village of Goren Chiflik, part of a broader effort across the Varna region targeting election-related violations. According to information from Bulgarian media, the increased presence of law enforcement is focused on preventing crimes that»»»

Chinese scientists claim to have created the long theorized hexagonal diamond, stronger than the real thing, and only found until now at sites of meteorite impacts. The commonly found cubic diamond is the hardest mineral on Earth and is used widely as jewellery, precision cutting tools, and high-pe»»»

At a campaign rally in Eger, Prime Minister Orbán set out a clear message ahead of the election: Hungary’s future depends on preserving peace, supporting families, and maintaining economic stability in a time of growing external pressure. Reflecting on the past four years, the prime minister said t»»»

On March 18, 2014, the U.S. State Department ordered Syria to close its embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates in Michigan and Texas. 1 of 3 | On March 18, 2014, the U.S. State Department ordered Syria to close its embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates in Michigan and Texas. UPI File Pho»»»

Iran will on Wednesday hold a funeral for former security chief Ali Larijani, who died in an Israeli strike on Tuesday, while the Revolutionary Guards said they had launched missiles at central Israel as retaliation for his killing. Two people were killed by Iranian missiles near Isr»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, March 17: Donald Trump has called on US allies to help the US secure the Strait of Hormuz as the energy crisis intensifies. But after those allies refused to help, Trump promptly threatened NATO. In the midst of the EU's energy crisis, Belgium's prime minister has sugge»»»

Iran's Supreme National Security Council late on Tuesday confirmed Israeli claims that the country's security chief Ali Larijani had been killed. Larijani, a long-time regime insider, rose to prominence after Ayatollah Ali Khamanei’s death, becoming one of the country’s key figures in the war again»»»

US President Donald Trump lashed out Tuesday at "foolish" NATO over Iran, saying the United States needs no help after allies rebuffed his calls to join efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. FRANCE 24's international affairs editor Kethevane Gorjestani explains.»»»

In the predominantly Druze city of Aley, located on Mount Lebanon, authorities scrupulously check the identity documents of the many displaced who seek refuge there. They hope the measures will reassure a population fearful of inciting Israeli strikes over the potential presence of Hezbollah milita»»»

As experiential tourism gains momentum worldwide, regions that offer authentic cultural landscapes and meaningful engagement with local communities are increasingly capturing the attention of international travelers. Colinele Transilvaniei / the Transylvanian Highlands have emerged as one of Romani»»»

Doha, Qatar: The evolving geopolitical developments in the region have reinforced the deep cooperation between Qatar and the United Kingdom, strengthening the partnership further, British Ambassador to Qatar H E Neerav Patel said. In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, reaffirming London’s l»»»

In tonight's edition: Russia says it will stop recruiting Kenyan nationals to fight in Ukraine. Also, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine says he has left the country because he fears for his life following January's election. And when Ramadan and Lent overlap in Senegal, this holy period high»»»

Congo-Brazzaville’s incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected for a fifth term in a landslide win, provisional results showed Tuesday. Sassou Nguesso, 82, is one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, and has been at the helm for a total of 42 years. The main opposition boycotted t»»»

Chinese state oil majors looking to head off supply shortages caused by the war in the Middle East have resumed seeking Russian crude cargoes after a four-month hiatus, taking advantage of a US sanctions waiver, five trade sources told Reuters. Trading arms under state-run Sinopec and PetroChina ha»»»

France’s first round of mayoral elections has exposed a deeply fragmented political landscape, with strong performances from both the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right National Rally (RN) complicating traditional alliances. As candidates gear up for next Sunday’s runoffs, negoti»»»

With the second round of French municipal elections coming up, we take a look at what was a hot-button, campaign issue in many towns and cities: second homes. In some of France’s coastal and Alpine communities, permanent residents are priced out of buying or renting because of vacation homes. We di»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi came from behind to defeat 10-man Al Sadd 2-1, while Al Duhail and Al Rayyan also staged second-half comebacks in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) yesterday. Al Duhail overturned a first-half deficit to beat Al Shamal 3-1, with Baghdad Bounedjah scoring early before Edmilson Junio»»»

The Taliban government in Afghanistan on Monday accused Pakistan’s military of targeting a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul in airstrikes that they say killed 200 people and wounded several others. Pakistan rejected the accusation, saying it had targeted "military installations". The»»»

A Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul killed at least 400 people and wounded more than 250 on Monday night, the Taliban government said Tuesday. Islamabad last month launched a military operation against Afghanistan last month, accusing the government of sheltering extremi»»»

Abu Ali al-Askari, whose death was recently announced by Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah, may not have been a single man, but a full diplomatic apparatus representing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Baghdad. Most likely, Askari, a covert account on X, functioned as a banner for a group rotating the role of »»»

The caretaker government will discuss draft decisions on appointing chairs of several consultative bodies to the Council of Ministers, the government press service said on Wednesday. The bodies include the Council for Economic Analyses, the National Council for Prevention and Protection from Domest»»»

Dubai: Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai edged higher on Wednesday morning, with the 24K rate at Dh601 per gram at 9.17am, up slightly from Dh600 a day earlier, while 22K climbed to Dh556.50 from Dh555.50, yet the broader trend shows prices have dropped Dh40 from this month’s peak on March 2, raising the»»»

Amendments to the budget extension law are expected to go to a second reading in the National Assembly chamber on Wednesday, before MPs leave for the election campaign for the April 19 parliamentary vote. National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan said Tuesday the budget extension bill and the legislati»»»

Caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Ivan Hristanov will open the Nature, Hunting, Fishing international exhibition and the Colourful Spring specialized exhibition at International Fair Plovdiv, organizers said on Wednesday. A press conference held ahead of the official opening will also feat»»»

Doha, Qatar: Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and juice company, welcomed His Excellency Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Minister of Municipality, to its production facilities on March 16, 2026. The visit highlighted the strength of Qatar’s domestic food production capabilities and Baladna’s »»»

Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on Tuesday that Palestinian figures linked to Iran had been killed “inside a safe house they had taken refuge in,” while Israeli military correspondents, citing sources, said the targets were two senior leaders in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The sources id»»»

Oil price benchmarks pulled back sharply on profit-taking and short-term supply optimism, yet prices remain structurally elevated — Brent above $100, Murban holding a premium near $111, and WTI still in the low $90s. As of Wednesday (5.28am GMT, March 18, 2026): WTI crude surged to $93.09 (down $3.»»»

A British photographer who has spent the last four years living under near-daily attacks on Kyiv has told FRANCE 24 that his nervous system has adapted to the war in Ukraine. Mark Neville says he feels he now has an advantage over people living in the rest of Europe, as his body has naturally adapt»»»

A former Belgian diplomat has been ordered to stand trial over the 1961 murder of Patrice Lumumba, who became the first prime minister of Congo after the country’s independence from Belgium. The 93-year-old suspect is the first person to be prosecuted in the case. All other suspects have passed awa»»»

About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outset of the war with Iran and it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when the waterway has been effectively closed, according to maritime and trade data platforms. Many of the vessels that passed »»»

Tesla and LG Energy Solution (LGES, a subsidiary of LG Chem) recently confirmed a major partnership for US battery production — focusing on energy storage rather than vehicle batteries. The US Department of the Interior announced this as part of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Summit results in Ma»»»

STARKE, Florida: A Florida man was executed Tuesday evening for killing a young mother who frantically called 911 from her attacker's cellphone while tied up in his car. Michael Lee King, 54, was pronounced dead at 6:13 pm following a three-drug injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He had»»»

The Philippines is currently navigating a perilous and largely overlooked period of economic vulnerability: its national fuel supply could run out in around three to four weeks if international imports don't arrive soon. According to reports from The Manila Times, what was once a distant geopolitic»»»

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months. As such, Newsbase’s AsiaElec sat down with Assistant Vice President in the Global Sales Department – Keiji Yasukawa – earlier in the month, at the firm’s Taipei HQ to ask »»»

The Philippines is currently navigating a perilous and largely overlooked period of economic vulnerability: its national fuel supply could run out in around three to four weeks if international imports don't arrive soon. According to reports from The Manila Times, what was once a distant geopolitic»»»

The Philippines is currently navigating a perilous and largely overlooked period of economic vulnerability: its national fuel supply could run out in around three to four weeks if international imports don't arrive soon. According to reports from The Manila Times, what was once a distant geopolitic»»»

A leading name in the Taiwanese solar sector, TSEC has seen its valuation on the Taiwanese exchange skyrocket in recent months. As such, Newsbase’s AsiaElec sat down with Assistant Vice President in the Global Sales Department – Keiji Yasukawa – earlier in the month, at the firm’s Taipei HQ to ask »»»