KEY – Energy Transition Expo opens in Rimini, spotlights Tunisia–Italy energy partnership
Rimini, March 4 (TAP correspondants Chayma Zenaidi & Meriem Khadhraoui) – The 4th flagship European and Mediterranean event on energy transition, KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Rimini Expo Centre, Italy.Nearly...»»»
Senate to vote on Democrats' war powers resolution on Iran - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before briefing senators on the war in Iran at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. The Senate is set to vote on a war powers resolution Wednesday to stop the action in Iran without congressional approval. Photo by Bonnie Cash»»»
Saudi East-West Pipeline Underpins Kingdom’s Energy Security Strategy
As regional military tensions escalate and attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz recur, Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline has re-emerged as a critical safeguard in the global energy system. With markets closely watching threats to the vital maritime corridor, the Kingdom’s sovereign infra»»»
Russia could use its Middle East connections to end the US-Israel-Iran war
The Middle East has seen many crises that began as ‘limited’ operations and turned into open-ended wars. The familiar pattern is not caused by miscalculation alone, but by geography and structure; once the first missiles fly, the region’s tightly interlinked security and economic systems pull neigh»»»
U.S., Ecuador launch joint military operation against drug trafficking - UPI.com
The U.S. Southern Command said the mission began Tuesday and is aimed at “designated terrorist organizations” operating in the South American country. The United States said it is functioning in an advisory capacity, while Ecuadorian soldiers conduct the operation. Photo by Gerardo Menoscal/EPA Mar»»»
Ukraine is Preparing to Undermine 'Turkish Stream' and 'Blue Stream' - Putin
The Russian special services have intelligence data on preparations for blowing up the Blue Stream and Turkish Stream pipelines, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. The threats to blow up the pipelines under the Black Sea are 'very dangerous game' on Ukraine's part, Putin emphasized»»»
Competition Protection Commission Recommends Urgent Measures to Ensure Fuel Market's Competitiveness and Stability
The Commission on Protection of Competition (CPC) recommended that the executive authorities take immediate coordinated actions to ensure a competitive environment and the stability of the fuel market in Bulgaria amid the complicated situation in the Middle East, the regulator’s press centre report»»»
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship waives overstay fines for those affected by airspace closure
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security has decided to exempt individuals who were unable to travel from fines for delayed departures due to exceptional circumstances currently affecting the region, which led to the closure of airspace and the temporary suspensio»»»
LIA Chairman Hassan meets Russian Ambassador Aganin – discusses reinvesting Libyan assets previously frozen by the UN Security Council
The Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) reported today that, yesterday, its Chairman, Ali Mahmoud Hassan, received the Russian Ambassador to Libya, Aydar Aganin. The LIA reported that the meeting addressed the progress of the LIA’s investments in the Russian financial markets. Discussions also focuse»»»
Industry Minister reviews $480m expansion plans with Elaraby Group in New Quesna
Egypt’s Minister of Industry, Khaled Hashem, held an extensive meeting with representatives of Elaraby Group, led by CEO Mohamed El-Araby, to review the company’s current operations, future expansion plans, and the challenges facing its production activities. During the meeting, the group outlined »»»
Egypt accelerates rehabilitation of Raml Tram to boost capacity, cut travel time
Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir toured Alexandria to review progress on the rehabilitation and modernisation of the historic Raml Tram, a flagship national project aimed at upgrading urban mobility and easing traffic congestion across the coastal city. The 13.2-kilometre line, comprising 24 st»»»
South America's Triple Frontier tightens security amid U.S.-Iran war - UPI.com
Members of the Argentinean Jewish community and relatives of the victims of the terrorist attack in 1994 against the Jewish Society facilities that caused 85 dead rally at the streets of Buenos Aires in August 2009. File Photo by Cezaro De Luca/EPA ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, March 4 (UPI) -- Authorities i»»»
Ajman introduces new legislation governing lost items and abandoned property
Ajman: His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, has issued Law No. (2) of 2026 concerning the handling of lost and abandoned property in the Emirate of Ajman. Also Read: Ajman Ruler issues law establishing Rental Dispute Resolution CentreThe law de»»»
Stock market continues its decline for third consecutive session
Tunis, March 4 (TAP) - The market continued its decline on Wednesday for the third consecutive session. The benchmark went down by 0.24% to 14,933.02 points, on a modest trading volume of TND 5.4 million, according to the weekly analysis from broker...»»»
Iran postpones Khamenei funeral as US and Israeli bombardment continues
Authorities in Iran have postponed the funeral ceremony for the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as US and Israeli forces continue intense strikes across the country. An official said there had been many requests from people wanting to attend the three-day event at a Tehran prayer compl»»»
Venezuela signs new contracts to supply oil to United States - UPI.com
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Venezuela on Wednesday, marking a new step in the energy and diplomatic agenda between Washington and Caracas. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo March 4 (UPI) -- Venezuela state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. announced signing new con»»»
Cold Response: France withdraws nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
France has withdrawn its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from the upcoming NATO exercise Cold Response and is instead deploying it to the Mediterranean amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Rather than operating with NATO forces in the Norwegian Sea, the carrier strike group will reposition sou»»»
CIA working to arm Kurds to attack Iran – media
The CIA is working on arming Kurdish forces hostile to the Iranian government to support the US-Israeli regime-change war against Tehran, CNN has reported. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have called for a popular uprising after launching strikes against Iran»»»
QatarEnergy declares force majeure after LNG production halt
Dubai: QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments after suspending production at key facilities following a drone attack on the country’s energy infrastructure. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The state-owned energy giant said it ha»»»
UAE flight update: Which airlines are operating special flights?
Dubai: Only a small number of airlines are operating special or limited flights out of the UAE, as most scheduled services remain suspended due to regional airspace closures. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it's completely free. Click here for Apple or here fo»»»
Salik profit jumps in 2025 as toll traffic and pricing boost revenue
Dubai: Dubai’s toll-road operator Salik reported strong financial results for 2025, with revenue and profit rising sharply as traffic volumes increased and pricing reforms boosted income. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The company said revenue rose 35.1% year-on-year »»»
Government Aircraft Heads to Abu Dhabi, Chartered Plane to Dubai, Says Situation Centre Director
A government aircraft is flying to Abu Dhabi, while another plane chartered by the Bulgarian government is heading to Dubai. The government plane has a capacity of 70 seats, and the aircraft bound for Dubai can carry 320 passengers, said Foreign Ministry's Situation Centre Directorate Director Iren»»»
UAE weather alert: NCM issues dust warning as strong northwesterly winds sweep across Emirates
Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a weather advisory for the UAE, warning residents and motorists of active northwesterly winds sweeping across the country on Wednesday evening. The conditions are expected to continue until late evening, bringing fresh to strong gusts capab»»»
UAE residents stranded abroad begin return home in special flights
Dubai: UAE passengers stranded abroad have begun returning home, according to UAE travel agents. To meet overwhelming demand for travel, agents said they have begun arranging charter services with UAE and regional airlines. Stay Informed with Gulf News: Download Our App for Trusted UAE News While m»»»
Top Police and Anti-Crime Directors Replaced to Ensure Election Integrity in Bulgaria
The Ministry of Interior has announced the dismissal of several top officials, including the heads of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the General Directorate for National Police, and the General Directorate for Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism. The outg»»»
Deportations, visas and police powers on EU interior ministers’ agenda
With Iran looming in the background, EU interior ministers are meeting in Brussels on Thursday (5 March) to discuss how to best deport people ordered to leave the bloc and return to their home countries. A senior EU diplomat told reporters earlier this week that ministers will focus on ways to comp»»»
European Stocks Firm after Sell-off on Middle East Turmoil
European stock markets firmed on Wednesday after a global rout driven by fears that surging energy prices from the Middle East war could fan inflation and hit the global economy. The gains followed steep losses across Asian stock markets, where rising oil prices rattled investors on the fifth day o»»»
Gold Gains as Middle East Conflict Revives Safe-haven Bid
Gold prices climbed 2% on Wednesday, rebounding from their lowest in more than a week reached in the previous session, as the dollar took a breather and mounting tensions in the Middle East drove investors toward safe havens. Spot gold gained 2.2% to $5,198.58 per ounce by 1017 GMT, after falling m»»»
QatarEnergy declares force majeure on LNG supplies
DOHA: QatarEnergy announced on Wednesday that it has declared force majeure to affected buyers following its earlier decision to halt production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products. In a statement, QatarEnergy said it values its relationships with all stakeholders and will contin»»»
FAQ: Qatar GCO explains loud sounds linked to air defence systems
Doha, Qatar: The Government Communications Office (GCO) shared key facts on frequently asked questions regarding the country's air defence systems. GCO has outlined the points below. Have you recently heard unusually loud sounds? Most likely, these are the sounds of air defence systems intercepting»»»
UAE stock markets plunge after two-day halt as regional tensions escalate
Dubai: Trading across the UAE's main stock exchanges opened with sharp declines on Wednesday after a two-day suspension, as investors rushed to reprice assets amid rapid geopolitical developments across the region. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai Financial Ma»»»
Bulgaria Secures LNG at Pre-Crisis Prices Amid Middle East Turmoil
Energy Minister Traycho Traykov briefed Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov that Bulgaria has received liquefied natural gas under contracts concluded before the recent escalation in the Middle East. The agreed prices are considerably lower than current market quotations, providing greater predictability »»»
U.S. says it has dealt major blow to Iran's ability to inflict harm - UPI.com
1 of 2 | A smoke column rises above the Iranian capital capital, Tehran, on Tuesday following a U.S. airstrike. Photo by Nahal Farzaneh/UPI | License Photo March 4 (UPI) -- The U.S. military said it has hit almost 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions since launching its "unprecedented opera»»»
UAE residents defy 'paid influencer' smears: 'This is our home, not a narrative’
Dubai: In the midst of heightened regional tensions stemming from the US–Israel–Iran conflict, a remarkable show of solidarity has emerged from an unexpected quarter - the everyday residents of the UAE. Across Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, expatriates from dozens of nationalities hav»»»
Bahrain condemns Iranian attacks as violation of international law, calls for global action
Dubai: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, affirmed that the hostile Iranian attacks targeting Bahrain, the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Jordan, which resulted in damage to civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, private propert»»»
Etihad Rail is transporting those stranded in Saudi Arabia, neighboring countries to Abu Dhabi
In response to the current regional developments and the resulting disruptions to travel movements, Etihad Rail has decided, in coordination with all security authorities in Abu Dhabi, to operate exceptional train services from the Al Ghuwaifat border area with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Al Fay»»»
Health centers operating normally across Qatar: PHCC
Doha, Qatar: Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) confirms that all health centres continue to operate as normal, providing a full range of primary healthcare services. All scheduled appointments and specialist clinics are running as usual. Appointment booking and enquiries Patients may book, can»»»
Stranded in Tanzania: Dubai travel creator Kaunain Fatima awaits flight home amid conflict
Dubai: The irony isn’t lost on Dubai-based travel content creator Kaunain Fatima, 29, who finds herself stranded in Tanzania after what was meant to be a carefree girls’ trip to Zanzibar. “Most of the stranded tourists are hoping to fly out, but my friend and I just want to get home to the UAE,” sh»»»
Cabinet Approves Bulgaria's Participation in International Organic Food Exhibition BIOFACH CHINA 2026
The Council of Ministers has approved a decision on Bulgaria's participation with a national stand at the BIOFACH CHINA 2026, an international organic food exhibition, which will take place from May 18 to 20, 2026, in Shanghai, China. BIOFACH CHINA is among the world’s most prestigious exhibitions »»»
Middle East Energy 2026 to take place in September in Dubai
Dubai: The 2026 edition of Middle East Energy (MEE), the region’s leading international power and energy exhibition, will be held from September 1 to 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Informa has confirmed. Shifting the event to September 2026 allows greater flexibility for global participa»»»
Fujairah Airport announces operating charter flights starting Saturday
Abu Dhabi: Fujairah International Airport has announced the operation of a series of charter flights as part of humanitarian efforts to support travelers wishing to return to their home countries amid current regional challenges. Emirates News Agency (WAM) said that these special charter flights ar»»»
Media Review: March 4
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS Former Bulgarian deputy defence minister Rumen Kanchev described the situation in the Middle East as a “regional conflict” in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio on Wednesday. “America has concentrated colossal power in the area,” Kanchev said. He quoted statements in Wash»»»
Equans sets up IT hub in Romania, appoints Irina Ciucioi-Badea as Director
Equans, a subsidiary of the Bouygues Group and a global leader in energy and services, has announced the opening of a new IT Hub in Romania, a strategic step aimed at supporting the company’s operations and strengthening its international digital capabilities. As part of the initiative, the company»»»
Russia Says France’s Plan to Expand Its Nuclear Arsenal Is Destabilizing
Russia said on Wednesday that France's plan to expand its nuclear arsenal was a highly destabilizing move that posed a potential threat to Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Monday, saying other European countries would also be able to take part in French nuclear exerci»»»
Romanian deep tech company Qognifly launches autonomous drone countermeasure system
Qognifly, a Romanian deep-tech company specializing in autonomous counter-drone systems (C-UAS), has announced the public launch and entry into a new consolidation phase for Drone Wall, an integrated detection, tracking, and interception architecture developed by Romanian engineers and validated in»»»
Student rotation: Regional mobility program being developed in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
A regional student mobility program is currently under development, the Ministry of Science, Higher Education, and Innovation informed 24.kg news agency. According to ministry representatives, the program aims to expand access to higher education and stimulate student mobility between regions of th»»»
Oil Prices Up 1% as Iran Crisis Disrupts Middle East Supply
Oil prices rose about 1% on Wednesday as US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted Middle East supplies, but the pace of gains slowed from past sessions after President Donald Trump suggested the US Navy could escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent rose 91 cents, or 1.1%, to $82.31 a barrel »»»
Visa update in UAE: What VFS just announced
Dubai: Visa services are slowly resuming at the Dubai centre of VFS Global, but only for some countries. VFS Global said it has restarted partial operations amid ongoing regional disruptions. Some applicants can submit fresh visa applications. However, all countries are returning passports to appli»»»
Discussions With Board of Peace ‘On Hold’ Due to Iran War, Indonesia Says
Indonesia's foreign minister said talks on US President Donald Trump's Gaza "Board of Peace," of which the Southeast Asian nation is a key troop-contributing member, were on hold due to the Middle East war. The US and Israeli air war against Iran has killed scores of civilians, thrown global air t»»»
Customs Officers Seize 14,000 Boxes of Smuggled Cigarettes at Lesovo Border Checkpoint
Customs officers at the Lesovo border crossing checkpoint seized a total of 14,000 boxes of smuggled cigarettes, the Customs Agency said on Wednesday. The 280,000 pieces of cigarettes were found in two trucks transporting refrigerators from Turkiye to Romania, both driven by Romanian citizens. The »»»