Journalists urge WHCA not to 'normalize' Trump ahead at press dinner - UPI.com
1 of 3 | A coalition of journalists are calling on the White House Correspondents’ Association to push back on President Donald Trump’s attacks on the press ahead of his attendance at Saturday’s correspondents’ dinner. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo April 20 (UPI) -- A coalition of journ»»»
Foreign Leaders Congratulate Rumen Radev on Election Victory
Rumen Radev on Monday received congratulations from foreign leaders on his Progressive Bulgaria coalition winning the April 19 snap parliamentary election. Congratulations were cabled by European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary Gen»»»
A Top Paramilitary Commander Defects to Sudan’s Military as War Enters 4th Year
A high-profile paramilitary commander in Sudan has changed sides and joined the country’s army in a move welcomed by army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan shortly after the war entered its fourth year. Burhan on Sunday welcomed Maj. Gen. al-Nour Ahmed Adam, who defected earlier this month from the Ra»»»
Who will make up Magyar’s new Hungarian government? Meet the team shaping up to be Tisza’s first cabinet
Originally published at Napunk The soon-to-be-formed Tisza government in Budapest will differ from Viktor Orbán’s governments not only in personnel but also in structure. Over the four terms since 2010, Viktor Orbán has repeatedly reshaped his governments, abolishing traditional ministries and fold»»»
Syria and Iraq reopen vital Yarubiyah-Rabia crossing
LONDON: Syria and Iraq reopened the crucial Al-Yarubiyah-Rabia crossing on Monday after nearly 13 years of closure due to the Syrian civil war, which spanned from 2011 to 2024. The reopening came after the General Customs Authority of Iraq completed rehabilitation work on its side of the Rabia cros»»»
Kosovo deadly attack trial nears end, defence rejects charges
Pristina: The trial in Pristina over an alleged secession attempt in northern Kosovo entered its final phase Monday, April 20, 2026, with the defence rejecting charges against three Serbs accused of "terrorist acts". In September 2023, a group of dozens of heavily armed men led by Serb Milan Radoic»»»
US Navy fires at and boards Iranian-flagged cargo ship (VIDEOS)
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has released a video showing a US warship firing at an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel that was later seized by US Marines. According to CENTCOM, the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the M/V Touska in the Gulf of Oman as it attempted to breach the US naval»»»
Romanian PM Congratulates Rumen Radev on "His Clear Victory in Bulgaria's Elections"
In a post on X on Monday, Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan congratulated Rumen Radev, who won the snap parliamentary elections in Bulgaria on Sunday, and stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation, according to Ziare. Bolojan said he looked forward to further strengthening the strategic p»»»
Is Israel replicating Gaza's 'Yellow Line' in south Lebanon?
Israel says it has established a "Yellow Line" in south Lebanon near the border, where its forces are operating despite a 10-day ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah. What is the so-called "Yellow Line", how does it resemble an Israeli military demarcation in the Gaza Strip and where does it leave »»»
Iran Postpones Response to US Attack on Merchant Ship to Protect Crew’s Families
Iran was poised and ready to retaliate against a recent US attack on the Iranian Touska container vessel in the Gulf of Oman, the Iranian Armed Forces’ Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters stated. "But due to the presence of some family members of the ship’s crew on board, an operational response w»»»
Bulgaria's Progressive Party wins election amid fears of Russia meddling - UPI.com
Bulgarian Prime Minister-elect, Rumen Radev (C), leader of the Progressive Bulgaria coalition, addresses the media on Sunday night after the first exit polls indicated he was on track to win. Photo by Borislav Troshev/EPA April 20 (UPI) -- Former president Rumen Radev's Progressive Bulgaria Party h»»»
How the US-Israel-Iran conflict may impact the Global South’s harvest season
LONDON: For much of the Global South, the US-Israel-Iran war is no longer a distant geopolitical crisis. It is showing up in farm budgets, fuel queues and food markets, as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz drives up costs and strains already fragile economies. Iran’s blockade of Hormuz has rattled»»»
Iran accuses US of ceasefire breach, vows retaliation over attack on ship
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya, accused the US of violating a ceasefire by firing at one of Iran’s commercial ships in the Gulf of Oman, vowing to retaliate. State media quoted a Khatam Al-Anbiya spokesperson as saying early on Monday that the vess»»»
How Bahrain is supporting private-sector workers as Gulf businesses feel Iran war strain
LONDON: Reverberations of the conflict in the Middle East are being felt across the region both physically and metaphorically. The booms and jolts of missile interceptions over Gulf cities and industrial sites may have halted since President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8, b»»»
Syria-Iraq forces seize 500,000 captagon pills in Damascus
LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic’s Anti-Narcotics Department, in collaboration with Iraq’s General Directorate for Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 500,000 captagon pills on Sunday. Authorities arrested two suspects while they were transporting the shipment in D»»»
Doubts over talks between Iran and US after violence flares in Strait of Hormuz
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, »»»
Israel army warns Lebanese against returning to south
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah’s activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week. Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts»»»
Hezbollah claims attack destroyed Israeli tanks
Hezbollah said it detonated explosives Sunday afternoon in an attack against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The group said in a statement Monday that bombs planted by Hezbollah fighters exploded and destroyed four tanks in a convoy of eight tanks that was passing the village of Deir Siryan. It»»»
UNIFIL chief leads tribute to slain French peacekeeper in Beirut
BEIRUT: The head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Monday led a solemn tribute to a French soldier killed in a shooting incident in the country’s south, praising his “service and sacrifice” and urging an investigation into the attack. Major General Diodato Abagnara, commander of the Unit»»»
Victory certain for EU-skeptic Radev in critical Bulgarian election
Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has defeated former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov by 30 points in Bulgaria’s general election, according to preliminary exit polls. With some 96% of votes counted, Radev's Progressive Bulgaria coalition has won 44.7% of the vote, followed by Borissov’s GERB-SD»»»
Israel strikes rocket launcher, Israeli convoy hit by IEDs Sunday, drones return to Beirut
The Israeli army said Monday it attacked overnight "a fully equipped and ready-to-fire rocket launcher in the Qalawiya area of southern Lebanon, north of the front line, in order to prevent an immediate threat to northern Israeli towns." "The launcher posed an immediate threat to IDF (Israeli arm»»»
Geagea says Aoun-Netanyahu meeting 'necessary,' 'should not be postponed'
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that Lebanon needs a lasting solution to permanently end the state of war with Israel, rather than merely settling for a temporary ceasefire, calling direct negotiations a "necessity" Hezbollah "forced" upon Lebanon. In an interview with Sky News Arab»»»
Macron and Tusk meet in Poland to discuss European defence
Poland: French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk are meeting Monday in the north of Poland to strengthen defence cooperation in the face of Russian threats and weakening US commitment to Europe. The meeting is the first since the two countries signed a treaty of friend»»»
Iran claims drone strikes on U.S. Navy, peace talks hang in balance - UPI.com
The 965-foot-long Iranian container ship Touska, seen here in 2017 after it ran aground off Hong Kong's main island, remained in the custody of the U.S. Navy on Monday after it was boarded and seized by U.S. Marines. File photo by Jerome Favre/EPA April 20 (UPI) -- Iran said that it carried out dro»»»
Opposition Files Criminal Complaints Against Police Officials
Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha on Monday described a group of protesters arrested during the April 17 demonstration as “unconquerable heroes,” as tensions escalate between Albania’s opposition and law enforcement authorities. The individuals were detained in flagrante by police after allegedly »»»
Progressive Bulgaria Wins Most Votes in Greece Voting Sections
Progressive Bulgaria received the most votes in the Bulgarian snap parliamentary elections at voting sections in Greece, according to 100% of processed tally sheets as of 13:00 Monday afternoon, data published on the website of the Central Election Commission show. According to the data, 2,061 Bulg»»»
Multiple injured in clash at Paraguay football match
Asuncion, Paraguay: Paraguayan officials suspended a football match between Olimpia and Cerro Porteno on Sunday after several people were injured when Cerro Porteno fans clashed with police at a stadium in the capital. Witnesses said the violence was sparked by the detonation of high-powered firecr»»»
ope Leo XIV downplays feud with Trump over Iran war remarks
Pope Leo has sought to downplay his public spat with US President Donald Trump, rejecting claims that he was trying to challenge the president with his criticism of the war in Iran and calls for peace. Speaking to reporters on a flight to Angola on Saturday, the US-born pontiff insisted that his re»»»
Cost of war, case for peace: Why US-Iran deal is urgent
The confrontation between the United States and Iran is no longer a conventional political dispute; it has evolved into a multidimensional crisis with military, economic, security, and environmental ramifications that threaten not only the stability of the Arabian Gulf but also the broader internat»»»
Britain can’t locate 95,000 reservists on recall list – George Robertson
The UK has effectively lost contact with tens of thousands of reservists who would be called up in a national emergency, George Robertson, a former NATO secretary general and a lead adviser for the Strategic Defense Review (SDR), has said. Amid the broader Western militarization over a perceived Ru»»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Iran MP plans for strategic management of Strait of Hormuz using the rial
The chair of Iran's parliamentary infrastructure commission has set out the detailed terms of a parliamentary proposal to manage transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including a complete ban on Israeli-linked shipping and tolls payable in rials. »»»
Rising Tensions as BRICS Nations Consider New Currency Amid U.S. Tariff Threats
President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—threatening a 100% tariff on countries attempting to undermine the U.S. dollar by adopting a new currency. This com»»»
Over 3,300 People Have Died in Iran During War
Iran on Monday offered a new death toll for its war with Israel and the United States, with its forensic chief saying at least 3,375 people had been killed in the conflict. The figure came from Abbas Masjedi, the head of Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization. Masjedi, quoted by the judiciary’s Mizan n»»»
Israel Army Warns Lebanese Against Returning to South
Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah's activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week. Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts of souther»»»
'Unprecedented since 1999': Radev secures absolute majority with reformist and eurosceptic coalition
Following the victory of Rumen Radev in Bulgaria's election, Alison Sargent is pleased to welcome Dr. Petia Gueorguieva, Political Science Researcher and Lecturer at the New Bulgarian University. According to Dr. Gueorguieva, there are broader implications for Bulgaria: political instability, econo»»»
Media Review: April 20
HEADLINES The outcome of Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections dominates coverage across all types of media on Monday, including print, television and online outlets, with a particular focus on the reported performance of former president (2017-2026) and Progressive Bulgaria party leader Rumen Rade»»»
Israeli occupation forces detain two Syrian minors in Quneitra province
Quneitra, April 20 (SANA) Israeli occupation forces detained two minors in old Bariqa village in Quneitra countryside following a pre-dawn incursion on Monday. SANA’s reporter said an Israeli military force entered the village after midnight, detaining the two civilians—both under 18—and transferri»»»
Russian Army Launches Retaliatory Strike on Ukraine Military-Industrial Targets - MoD
The Russia Army carried out a retaliatory group strike on facilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex, as well as transport and airfield infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. “Over the past 24 hours, in response to Ukra»»»
Deputy Prime Minister visits headquarters of Qatari-Turkish Joint Force Command
Doha, Qatar: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, HE Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, visited the headquarters of the Qatari-Turkish Joint Force Command at Khalid bin Al Walid Camp, where he was received by Brigadier General Hadi Ghanem Al Khayareen, Comm»»»
Mid-air horror: Passengers panic, pray as Fly91 flight circles for 4 hours
Dubai: A distressing mid-air ordeal unfolded on a Fly91 flight after it ran into severe weather, leaving passengers panicked for nearly four hours — with a viral video capturing prayers, cries and visible fear onboard, according to NDTV. In the shaky footage, a woman is seen with folded hands, init»»»
Israel levels homes in Lebanon's border villages as truce teeters
Israel said its military had been instructed to use "full force" against threats in Lebanon despite a truce, and vowed to level homes allegedly used by Hezbollah, with state media reporting demolitions were underway on Sunday. Some displaced residents have rushed back to their homes in the south bu»»»
No Plan Yet: Iran’s Spokesman Says No Decision on Next US Talks in Pakistan
Iran has not yet made any decision about participating in a new round of Pakistani-mediated negotiations with the United States in Islamabad, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday, citing Washington’s contradictory actions. Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conferen»»»
Israeli Army Brings in Demolition Contractors to Raze Dozens of Lebanese Villages
The Israeli army is using the ceasefire period to accelerate large-scale destruction in areas it occupies in southern Lebanon, which have been largely emptied of residents displaced by the conflict, according to local accounts. Working around the clock across an area estimated at more than 800 squa»»»
Iran military vows to 'soon respond' after US destroyer hits cargo ship
Pakistan moved ahead Monday with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran days before a tenuous ceasefire is set to expire, even as renewed conflict around the Strait of Hormuz raised questions about whether the meeting would take place. Over the weekend, the U.S. at»»»
Italy Discussing Expanding EU Aspides Mission to Include Strait of Hormuz, Defense Minister Says
Italy’s defense minister said discussions are underway to expand the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, to include the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran’s missile and nuclear ambitions pose a global threat. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said t»»»
Bulgaria's pro-Russian former president takes strong lead
Bulgaria’s ex-president Rumen Radev is on course to win a parliamentary election, according to exit polls, but may fall short of a governing majority. His Progressive Bulgaria coalition leads with, in a vote marked by low turnout and deep political instability, the country’s eighth elect»»»
Israel army warns Lebanese against returning to south
Israel's military on Monday warned Lebanese civilians against returning to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah's activities in the area were violating a ceasefire agreement struck last week. Thousands of displaced residents have begun making their way back to parts of souther»»»