Germany

FlixBus, the renowned European bus company, is set to launch new routes to and from Bulgaria in anticipation of the summer season, "Capital" reports. Managing Director of Flix Sofia Knowledge Hub, Petar Bankov, announced the exciting news, revealing that starting from June, FlixBus buses will operate daily between Sofia and Thessaloniki.

In a significant development, the Russian army has seized control of the pivotal village of Ocheretyne in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, a strategic location crucial for Ukrainian defense efforts. The capture, reported by renowned military observer Julian Röpcke from German publication BILD, marks a notable advancement for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has emphasized the need for increased solidarity from Germany in combating terrorism.

Erdoğan's call for enhanced cooperation came to light during a press conference following a meeting with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in the capital Ankara on April 24.

Eurostat data indicates that Greece (161.9%), Italy (137.3%), France (110.6%), Spain (107.7%), and Belgium reported the highest public debt-to-GDP ratios among EU member states by the conclusion of 2023.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on April 23 met with a group of earthquake survivors in the southern province of Gaziantep, which was devastated by last year's disaster.

His trip to Gaziantep came as the second leg of a three-day tour in Türkiye, marking his first official visit to the country during his seven-year tenure.

The Israel-Hamas war entered its 200th day on Tuesday, with fears mounting of an Israeli invasion in the overcrowded south of Gaza amid calls for hostages to be freed.

The Israeli army carried out intense shelling overnight of the Gaza neighbourhoods of Al-Tuffah, Shujaiya and Zeitun.

Meglena Plugchieva, the foreign policy advisor to Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, has tendered her resignation, announced the press service of the Council of Ministers.

The inexperience of the SYRIZA government (2015-2019) forced Greece to undergo another five tough years, noted Charles Dallara, the former Institute of International Finance head who in 2012 led negotiations on a major haircut on Greece's private-held debt, known as the private sector involvement (PSI).

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on April 22 arrived in Istanbul as he embarked on a three-day tour to Türkiye, marking his first visit to the country in his seven-year duty as the head of the state.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, German Ambassador to Ankara Jürgen Schulz and Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Ahmet Başar Şen welcomed Steinmeier at Istanbul Airport.

European Union ministers on April 22 said Europe must still speed up its arms deliveries to Ukraine, after U.S. lawmakers eased pressure by unblocking a major aid package.

But at a meeting of EU defense and foreign ministers in Luxembourg there was no sign of more pledges of vitally needed air defense for Kiev.