Attacks by pro-Iran militias strain Iraq’s sovereignty, fray ties with Gulf Arab neighbors
LONDON: On March 26, representatives of the US and Iraqi governments gathered in Irbil for the first meeting of the new US-Iraq High Joint Coordination Committee, set up at Washington’s urging in a bid to keep Iraq out of the current conflict in the region. The following day, the US Embassy in Bagh»»»
UK king pays tribute to ‘darling mama’ on late queen’s 100th birthday
LONDON: Britain’s King Charles on Tuesday paid a heartfelt tribute to his mother, the late queen Elizabeth II in a video message on what would have been her 100th birthday. The king’s moving homage came as the final plans for a memorial for the nation’s longest serving monarch were unveiled. Referr»»»
EU's top court finds Hungary violated law with anti-LGBTQ reforms - UPI.com
1 of 2 | A participant holds a rainbow flag during the gay pride parade in downtown Budapest, Hungary, on July 24, 2021. On Tuesday, the European Union's top court said Hungary's anti-LGBTQ legislation violated the EU's treaty. File Photo by Szilard Koszticzak/EPA-EFE April 21 (UPI) -- The European»»»
Watch: Driver's license renewal leads Indiana woman to doppelganger mystery - UPI.com
April 21 (UPI) -- An Indiana woman is searching for her doppelganger after she was flagged by facial recognition software while renewing her driver's license. Erika Brown of Anderson said she was renewing her license at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when the software indicated there could be fraud a»»»
Argentina port protest delays at least 10 ships waiting to load grains
BUENOS AIRES: At least 10 vessels were delayed in loading grains on Tuesday at Argentina’s Quequen port as truckers demanding higher freight rates block access to the terminal, a source at the port said. “No trucks are entering with grain, we are completely paralyzed,” the source told Reuters. The »»»
March retail sales jump on higher gas prices, Commerce Department says - UPI.com
Gas prices were up to nearly $7 per gallon in New York City on March 30. Retail sales rose 1.7%, mostly boosted by higher gas prices due to the war in Iran. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo April 21 (UPI) -- Retail sales rose by 1.7% in March mostly due to high gas prices from the ongoin»»»
Trump says Iran violated truce as doubt surrounds peace talks
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of having repeatedly violated a temporary truce due to expire soon, with new peace talks mired in doubt after Tehran said it had not yet sent a delegation. The U.S. leader also touted Washington's strong negotiating position, even as uncertainty g»»»
Ex-partner of missing woman found dead in Crete, search continues
The former partner of a 43-year-old woman reported missing in Crete Sunday was found dead on Tuesday with a gunshot wound, authorities said, adding that early evidence has not ruled out the possibility of suicide. Police are examining whether the man’s death is connected to the woman’s disappearanc»»»
Lula warns will respond after US expels police attache
HANOVER: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday warned he would hit back with reciprocal measures after Washington expelled a Brazilian police attache in the latest spat between the two countries. The leftist leader’s comments came after the United States ordered Commissioner Marc»»»
What We Are Reading Today: ‘The AI‑Ready Doctor’ by Dr. Ameed Khalid Abdulhamid
British dentist and researcher Dr. Ameed Khalid Abdulhamid explores the ethical and practical aspects of blending artificial intelligence into clinical practice in his book, “The AI‑Ready Doctor: Rethinking Clinical Judgment, Responsibility, and Trust in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The boo»»»
Lula warns will respond after US expels police attache
HANOVER: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday warned he would hit back with reciprocal measures after Washington expelled a Brazilian police attache in the latest spat between the two countries. The leftist leader’s comments came after the United States ordered Commissioner Marc»»»
Heartbreaking: Bride dies moments after wedding
Dubai: A young bride died after collapsing during her wedding reception in Egypt’s Sharqia governorate, in a sudden incident that has turned a night of celebration into one of mourning for her family and community. The bride lost consciousness shortly before leaving the wedding hall in the city of »»»
Israel punishes soldiers who desecrated crucifix in southern Lebanon
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military removed two soldiers from combat duty and placed them in military detention for 30 days after they destroyed a crucifix in southern Lebanon, it said on Tuesday. A picture that showed an Israeli soldier taking the blunt side of an axe to a fallen sculpture of Jesus on t»»»
Indonesia announces ‘giant’ natural gas discovery off Borneo coast
JAKARTA: Indonesia has announced a major gas discovery off the east coast of Borneo, a find the government says will strengthen the nation’s energy security as the war in the Middle East forces countries to rethink dependence on imported fossil fuels. Preliminary estimates point to around 5 trillio»»»
US military pushes for boost in 2027 spending on drones and air defenses used in Iran war
WASHINGTON: US military officials on Tuesday called for spending tens of billions of dollars in the next budget year on drones, air defense systems and fighter jets that have been a key part of fighting the Iran war. As part of President Donald Trump’s push to boost defense spending to $1.5 trillio»»»
Lyrid meteor shower set to illuminate Saudi skies on Wednesday night
RIYADH: After nearly 16 weeks of quiet skies since the last good opportunity to catch sight of a decent meteor shower, the wait is almost over for astronomers and amateur stargazers in Saudi Arabia. Dozens of named meteor showers recur annually at approximately the same time each year, 10 of which »»»
US Official Says Gas Prices Have Peaked Despite Iran War
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday that gasoline prices appeared to have peaked after a surge linked to the Iran war -- a marked shift in tone a day after President Donald Trump publicly rebuked his earlier, more cautious outlook. "I don't know the future of energy prices -- often I will»»»
India firecracker warehouse blaze kills eight: police
A firecracker storage facility in southern India caught fire on Tuesday, killing at least eight people, police said, the second such incident in three days. Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh, police chief in Kerala state's Thrissur district, told AFP that rescue operations were "over" after the deadly fire, »»»
Trump Says Iran Violated Truce as Doubt Surrounds Peace Talks
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of having repeatedly violated a temporary truce due to expire soon, with new peace talks mired in doubt after Tehran said it had not yet sent a delegation. The US leader also touted Washington's strong negotiating position, even as uncertainty grew »»»
Two Palestinians Killed in West Bank Village Attacked by Israeli Settlers, Witnesses Say
Two Palestinians, including a 14-year-old boy, were killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Tuesday after Israeli settlers and soldiers opened fire, witnesses said, while in Gaza health officials said two Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said two»»»
’Musiala magic’ will be on full display very soon, Bayern’s Kompany says
MUNICH: Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala missed much of the season due to a broken leg and while he has already made an impact since returning to the pitch in January, coach Vincent Kompany is confident he will soon take his game to a whole new level. The 23-year-old Germany international sus»»»
House ethics panel to suggest discipline for Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick - UPI.com
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., greets Vice President Kamala Harris as she arrives to Miami International airport in 2022. McCormick will go before the House Ethics Committee Tuesday, which will recommend discipline for the 25 violations it determined she has committed. File Photo by Crist»»»
Balneohotel Aura in Velingrad to Reopen in May After Refurbishment
Balneohotel Aura in Velingrad will reopen to visitors in mid-May following renovation work, manager Slavka Evtimova told BTA. The renovation is primarily cosmetic, with changes in colour design. To maintain the accommodation facilities, refurbishment is carried out every spring, when the season is »»»
US forces board a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon says
WASHINGTON: US forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia, the Pentagon said Tuesday, as it puts into place a global warning to track down vessels tied to Tehran. US forces “conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction” and boarded the M/T Ti»»»
PSG and Luis Enrique sweat on Vitinha ahead of Champions League semis
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said Tuesday he was unsure if midfield metronome Vitinha would be fit to play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals. The Portuguese central midfielder will miss PSG's Ligue 1 clash against Nantes on Wednesday due to a heel inflammati»»»
US Forces Board a Sanctioned Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon Says
US forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia, the Pentagon said Tuesday, as it puts into place a global warning to track down vessels tied to Tehran. US forces “conducted a right-of-visit maritime interdiction” and boarded the M/T Tifani “withou»»»
Soccer fan Orbán’s election loss could prompt rethink of Hungary’s sports ambitions
BUDAPEST: One of the biggest soccer fans in global politics, Viktor Orbán, has been sidelined from his big game. The right-wing populist leader and Trump ally’s heavy defeat in the Hungarian elections means incoming Prime Minister Péter Magyar will be the one in charge when the Champions League fin»»»
Trump to take part in 'America Reads the Bible' streaming event - UPI.com
President Donald Trump will read verses from the Old Testament he taped in the Oval Office for a America Reads the Bible event due to be livestreamed across the country Tuesday evening. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo April 21 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump will read verses from the Old T»»»
Over 5,000 Babies Born With Support from I Want a Baby Foundation
More than 5,000 babies have been born with the help of the I Want a Baby Foundation, its founder Radina Velcheva told BTA. At the same time, around 145,000 people in the country face reproductive problems, with between 10 and 15% of them needing a donor egg. According to her, a major issue is the l»»»
Ability SPA Opens Second Location as Five-Year Burgas Model Enters New Market
Ability SPA is opening a new location in Varna, the brand’s management team told BTA. This is the company’s first expansion outside Burgas, where it has operated year-round for more than five years. The Varna location follows the Burgas model, while adding wellness activities and new therapeutic se»»»
Trump ‘doesn’t want to extend Iran ceasefire,’ says expects to be ‘bombing’ as talks stall
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday that he did not want to extend a ceasefire with Iran, adding the US was in a strong negotiating position and would end up with what he called a great deal. “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” Trump said whe»»»
Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile: Where is it and who could get it?
Washington and Tehran remain deadlocked over Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran has insisted that continuing its nuclear program is its sovereign right, while the US maintains that the program must be abandoned for good and the uranium surrendered. RT looks in»»»
New Zealand's capital under state of local emergency as rains persist
Dubai: New Zealand's capital city Wellington has been placed under a state of local emergency as inclement weather continues to batter the region. Mayor Andrew Little has noted that the situation is being taken "very seriously," with emergency efforts coordinated by the Wellington Regional Emergenc»»»
South Sudan vows to hold long-delayed elections in December
JUBA: South Sudan will hold elections in December, the information minister vowed on Tuesday, after years of repeated delays and despite the country being on the verge of civil war. International observers have warned of a return to full-blown conflict as government forces under President Salva Kii»»»
In south Lebanon’s Nabatieh, residents fear a return to war
NABATIEH, Lebanon: Outside her gutted home in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh, Zainab Farran, who recently lost two members of her family in Israeli strikes, keeps her clothes packed in a car in case the temporary truce between Hezbollah and Israel does not last. She returned to the city with her famil»»»
Rohingya refugees begin to bear spillover effects of Iran war
DHAKA: The impact of the US–Israel war on Iran has already reached Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, where refugees say spillover effects are compounding the existing crisis of displacement and shrinking humanitarian aid. Bangladesh relies on imports for 95 percent of its energy needs and has been stru»»»
DHL expects jet fuel supplies into June for Europe, but has doubts over Asia
BRUSSELS: German logistics company DHL Group is confident it can secure jet fuel for its planes in Europe into June, but has less certainty about supply across Asia, its chief executive said on Tuesday. The International Energy Agency said a week ago that physical shortages of jet fuel could begin »»»
Under war pressure, Iran gives its field commanders more power over militias in Iraq
Iran has granted its commanders greater autonomy over militias in Iraq, allowing some groups to carry out operations without Tehran's approval, a shift driven by the pressures of the war, three militia members and two other officials told The Associated Press. Many Iran-backed militias are funded t»»»
Wave Resort Promotes Spa Concept with "Black Gold" and Magnetite Sand from Pomorie Region
A key focus of Wave Resort’s spa philosophy is the deep connection with nature - the sea, minerals, and healing elements, characteristic of the Pomorie region, the resort’s marketing manager Tanya Gagova told BTA. She added that the complex continues to strengthen its image as a spa and wellness de»»»
President "Very Likely" to Convene New Parliament April 29 or 30
President Iliana Iotova is very likely to convene the new Parliament on April 29 or 30. "It is very much possible that I will convene the 52nd National Assembly [next] Wednesday or Thursday," she told reporters on Tuesday. The Central Election Commission is yet to announce the official results for »»»
Filipino expat’s LEGO tribute to Al-Balad’s Rawashin
JEDDAH: The carved wooden balconies of Jeddah Historic District, known as Rawashin, have long defined the skyline of the Red Sea city. Projecting gracefully from coral-stone facades, these intricate wooden screens are more than decorative elements; they are ingenious climate solutions designed for »»»
Driven by the pressures of war, Iran gives its field commanders more power over militias in Iraq
BAGHDAD: Iran has granted its commanders greater autonomy over militias in Iraq, allowing some groups to carry out operations without Tehran’s approval, a shift driven by the pressures of the war, three militia members and two other officials told The Associated Press. Many Iran-backed militias are»»»
Counting a billion people: Inside India's mega census drive
New Delhi: Sukhwinder Kaur battles the scorching sun as she trudges door-to-door in New Delhi as part of India's colossal exercise to count more than one billion citizens. Kaur is among three million census enumerators fanning out across cities and villages in an exercise that will help shape polic»»»
Israel will face resistance if troops stay in Lebanon, Speaker Berri says
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM: Lebanon’s parliament speaker warned on Tuesday that Israeli forces occupying parts of the country’s south would face resistance if they fail to withdraw, signalling a risk of renewed confrontation ahead of US-mediated talks this week. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’»»»
Watch: Kansas students take Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to prom - UPI.com
April 20 (UPI) -- A group of students from a Kansas high school rode to prom in style when they were able to enlist the services of an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Breckan Andrews, a junior at Seaman High School, said the unconventional way he and his friends arrived at prom started when they took a t»»»
EU divided on suspension of Israel pact as Spain pushes for action
BRUSSELS: European countries including Spain and Ireland pushed on Tuesday for suspending a European Union pact governing its relationship with Israel, but the bloc remained divided on whether to take action. Arriving at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, a number of ministers called fo»»»
Bangladesh fuel crunch forces hours-long wait at the pump
Dhaka: Day and night, drivers queue for hours for the chance to refill fuel tanks, as import-dependent Bangladesh grapples with shortages due to the Middle East crisis. While the government insists there is no crisis, the situation has become so severe that those who can afford it hire others to wa»»»
Vance, Ghalibaf to arrive in Pakistan early Wednesday
There appeared to be movement toward another round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks Tuesday as two regional officials told The Associated Press that both countries have signaled a return to Pakistan for discussions. There was no immediate word on timing of talks. A fragile ceasefire is set to expire. T»»»
Ivelia Hotel & Spa Welcomes Guests After Major Renovation and Upgrade to 4-star Category
Ivelia Hotel & Spa in the village of Dabnitsa is welcoming guests after a major renovation and an upgrade to a four-star category as of September 2025, the complex’s manager Anelia Uzunova told BTA. The spa centre uses salt electrolysis as a method for purifying the water in the pools, which avoids»»»
Kings’ Valley Medical & Spa Hotel’s Conference Centre Positions Region as Destination for Corporate Events
The core concept of Kings’ Valley Medical & Spa Hotel in the Kazanlak Mineral Baths is offering a modern and structured wellness system focused not only on treatment, but also on prevention, complex management told BTA. This approach positions the region as a recognizable year-round spa destination»»»