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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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»»»
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:»»»
Dubai Miracle Garden shuts gates amid heavy rush
Dubai: Dubai Miracle Garden announced on Friday afternoon that it has temporarily closed its gates to new visitors due to a surge in crowd numbers. In a statement shared on its official Instagram page, the attraction said it was not accepting any more visitors “at this time” to ensure the safety an»»»
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»»»
Mexican teen dies while being held in US immigration custody
A 19-year-old Mexican man has died while being held in detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency has confirmed. Royer Perez-Jimenez was found "unconscious and unresponsive" on Monday at the Glades County Detention Center in Florida, according to a statement from ICE. "He»»»
Officer reportedly leaks location of French aircraft carrier with Strava run
A French officer has reportedly revealed the location of an aircraft carrier deployed towards the Middle East after publicly registering a run on sports app Strava. French news outlet Le Monde first reported the officer, referred to as Arthur, logged a 35-minute run on the app while exercising on t»»»
Bulgaria’s New Credit Rules Could Push One Million Borrowers into Debt Spiral
A last-minute legislative amendment in Bulgaria is raising serious concerns among financial experts, as it could put up to one million citizens at risk of falling into a debt spiral. The change restricts financial institutions registered with the Bulgarian National Bank from fully assessing the cre»»»
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»»»
Trump Mulls Kharg Island Takeover to Force Iran to Open Hormuz Strait, Axios Reports
The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources with knowledge of the issue. Amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, the confrontation has expand»»»
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 »»»
CPI Romania: Building relevance through long-term vision
Among this year’s winners at the Business Review Awards, CPI Romania stood out with the Excellence in Business award for its strong performance across office and retail portfolios, high occupancy rates, and sustained investments aimed at enhancing portfolio quality and long-term resilience. In 2025»»»
Nova Power & Gas: Scaling integrated energy solutions
Recognised at the Business Review Awards 2026, Nova Power & Gas received the Innovator of the Year award for accelerating Romania’s energy transition through large-scale storage projects and integrated generation models designed to improve efficiency and system flexibility. In recent years, the com»»»
Russian Central Bank Cuts Key Interest Rate as Growth Slows
Russia's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate to 15 percent from 15.5 percent as the economy slows under pressure from Moscow's protracted and expensive war in Ukraine and Western sanctions. Huge spending on its forces in Ukraine had initially spurred growth and helped Moscow buck predi»»»
Kecmanovic defeated in Miami first round
MIAMI - Serbian tennis player Miomir Kecmanovic has suffered an early exit from the Miami Masters after a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Pole Kamil Majchrzak in the opening round on Friday. Kecmanovic, who was the only Serbian competing at the tournament, won the first set but the level of his performance»»»
Zelensky Using Terrorism to Undermine Ukraine Negotiation Progress – Russian MFA
Between March 17 and 19, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked infrastructure related to the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines, but the attacks were repelled, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "These reckless actions by Kiev are in line with the terrorist attacks it has au»»»
Oil Up despite Efforts by US, Allies to Boost Supply and Open Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices gained on Friday despite leading European nations, Japan and Canada offering to join efforts to secure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz and the US outlining moves to boost oil supply. "The potential for a quick reversal in energy prices is unlikely because damage has b»»»
'War has aged us': Lebanon's kids aren't alright
Forced by yet another war in Lebanon to flee his home for the second time in just two years, and mourning lost relatives and friends, Hassan Kiki said he feels much older than 16. "War has aged us... We have lived through what no one else has," the tall teen from south Lebanon told AFP in Beirut. "»»»
Media Review: March 20
OVERVIEW The launch of the election campaign and the rising fuel prices are the dominant topics in the media on Friday. ELECTIONS In an interview for Bulgarian National Radio, Iva Lazarova, from the Institute for Public Environment Development, part of the Public Council of the Central Election Com»»»
34,500-Plus Bulgarians Abroad Have Applied to Vote in April Parliamentary Elections
More than 34,500 Bulgarians abroad have applied to vote in the country’s snap parliamentary elections in April, according to data published on the Central Election Commission (CEC) website. As of 12:20 p.m. on Friday, a total of 34,609 applications have been confirmed. Bulgarians living abroad have»»»
Enemy Warplanes Strike South Lebanon Amid Ongoing Aggression
Israeli aggression against Lebanon continues unabated, with enemy forces committing further crimes against Lebanese civilians alongside widespread destruction across the south, the Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. According to local correspondents, enemy warplanes launched airstrikes at»»»
Al Kaabi, Korean minister review impact of regional conflict on global energy industry
DOHA: Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE EngSaad bin Sherida Al Kaabi has met Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources of the Republic of Korea with HE Jung-Kwan Kim. During the meeting, which was held remotely using video conferencing technology, the impact of the ongoing regional conflict o»»»
Pearl Harbor shadow: Trump remark rattles Japan ties
A remark by US President Donald Trump invoking the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor has sparked unease in Japan, overshadowing high-level talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. During an Oval Office meeting focused on the ongoing Iran conflict and »»»
Iran’s permits-for-passage through Hormuz system is developing fast
Iran has begun extracting payments of up to $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the informal permits-for-passage system allowing only tankers from “friendly countries” through develops quickly, according to The Financial Times citing shipping data. »»»
Iran begins charging vessels to transit Strait of Hormuz through IRGC-controlled 'safe corridor'
Iran has begun charging shipping companies for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, establishing a "safe corridor" for pre-approved vessels through its territorial waters, Newsbase reported, citing Lloyd's List on March 20. »»»
US F-35 hit by Iranian fire in first confirmed hit on stealth jet
A US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter was damaged by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over central Iran on March 19, US Central Command confirmed. The incident marks the first time Iran has struck a US aircraf»»»
Iran’s permits-for-passage through Hormuz system is developing fast
Iran has begun extracting payments of up to $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the informal permits-for-passage system allowing only tankers from “friendly countries” through develops quickly, according to The Financial Times citing shipping data. »»»
US F-35 hit by Iranian fire in first confirmed hit on stealth jet
A US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter was damaged by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over central Iran on March 19, US Central Command confirmed. The incident marks the first time Iran has struck a US aircraf»»»
Iran begins charging vessels to transit Strait of Hormuz through IRGC-controlled 'safe corridor'
Iran has begun charging shipping companies for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, establishing a "safe corridor" for pre-approved vessels through its territorial waters, Newsbase reported, citing Lloyd's List on March 20. »»»
Iran begins charging vessels to transit Strait of Hormuz through IRGC-controlled 'safe corridor'
Iran has begun charging shipping companies for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, establishing a "safe corridor" for pre-approved vessels through its territorial waters, Newsbase reported, citing Lloyd's List on March 20. »»»
Iran’s permits-for-passage through Hormuz system is developing fast
Iran has begun extracting payments of up to $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the informal permits-for-passage system allowing only tankers from “friendly countries” through develops quickly, according to The Financial Times citing shipping data. »»»
Iran’s permits-for-passage through Hormuz system is developing fast
Iran has begun extracting payments of up to $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the informal permits-for-passage system allowing only tankers from “friendly countries” through develops quickly, according to The Financial Times citing shipping data. »»»
US F-35 hit by Iranian fire in first confirmed hit on stealth jet
A US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter was damaged by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over central Iran on March 19, US Central Command confirmed. The incident marks the first time Iran has struck a US aircraf»»»
Iran begins charging vessels to transit Strait of Hormuz through IRGC-controlled 'safe corridor'
Iran has begun charging shipping companies for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, establishing a "safe corridor" for pre-approved vessels through its territorial waters, Newsbase reported, citing Lloyd's List on March 20. »»»
US F-35 hit by Iranian fire in first confirmed hit on stealth jet
A US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter was damaged by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over central Iran on March 19, US Central Command confirmed. The incident marks the first time Iran has struck a US aircraf»»»
Iran’s permits-for-passage through Hormuz system is developing fast
Iran has begun extracting payments of up to $2mn per tanker for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the informal permits-for-passage system allowing only tankers from “friendly countries” through develops quickly, according to The Financial Times citing shipping data. »»»