Oil prices held near multi-month highs on Thursday as attacks on tankers and the escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. The US–Israeli war with Iran entered its sixth day, with Washington and its a»»»

The Directorate General Combating Organized Crime (DGCOC) has dismantled a criminal group involved in human trafficking and sexual exploitation, the Interior Ministry announced on Facebook. Eight people were arrested, six of whom were charged with participating in an organized crime group. One has »»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday promoted his new book, 'Në Sofrën e Hënës', a collection of speeches delivered during Ramadan iftar dinners he has hosted over the years. Speaking at the presentation, Rama said the idea for the book came partly from Muslim friends and from his own exper»»»

Multiple emergency flights Thursday brought Bulgarians back home from various countries in the Middle East where they were stranded by the disruption of air traffic amid the ongoing escalation. The flights arrived with a total of 706 passengers, according to the official accounts. Two flights carry»»»

One of the top officials overseeing President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, will leave her role, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday, a major staffing move that raises questions about the direction of the Republican president's immigration »»»

NielsenIQ (NIQ) Romania has published its analysis of the State of the Nation in Retail for 2025, which shows continued growth in the value and volume of retail sales. Romanian consumers spent RON 139.8 billion on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and electro-IT products during the year, an increas»»»

Iran's military posture in a widening conflict with Israel and the US suggests it is not fighting for victory in any conventional sense. It is fighting for survival, and survival on its own terms. The Islamic Republic's leaders and commanders have been preparing for this moment for years. They unde»»»

The Security Council with the Council of Ministers held a meeting here on Thursday to discuss the situation in the Middle East. The meeting, the second since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, was attended by representatives of the political forces in Parliament. Speaking at a news briefin»»»

Banca Transilvania continues to be the strongest banking brand in Europe, with a brand value exceeding $1 billion, according to Brand Finance Banking 500 2026. The report shows that BT has a top brand score due to its high credibility, attractiveness, and high recommendation level. The analysis is »»»

The war is changing fast. Iran's Islamic Revolutionaries threatened to sink the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group with its letal drones and missiles. Now, IRGC's entire naval fleet is no more (20 Iran ships sunk), and the regime's air force has been obliterated. And when one side owns the skies, whe»»»

At the European level, Visa data point to a consumer in a state of relative stability: spending is no longer contracting sharply, but neither is it entering a phase of visible acceleration. Romania, however, follows a different trajectory. According to the Visa Spending Momentum Index, spending mom»»»

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have offered conflicting justifications for the American war with Iran, as the White House scrambles to contain a growing political firestorm over contradicting narratives about what necessitated the operation against Tehran. The Pentagon»»»

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai is engaging with senior citizens and People of Determination to check on their well-being and reaffirm its support for them. The initiative reflects the authority’s human-centred approach, which prioritises close connection with the community, stre»»»

Three British men were released on bail after being arrested for allegedly spying for China. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo March 5 (UPI) -- Three British men arrested on Wednesday for allegedly spying for China have been released on bail, and the wife of one is being investigated »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has urged the public to report market violations to help maintain market stability and protect consumer rights. The ministry said reports can be made if people notice unjustified price increases, exploitation, or monopolistic practices, or s»»»

Doha: Qatar Airways shared on Thursday special assistance measures for passengers affected by recent travel disruptions, allowing eligible travelers to change their flight dates or request refunds. The airline said passengers holding confirmed bookings with travel dates between Feb. 28 and March 15»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Jazeera reported on Thursday that a fire sparked by an Iranian missile strike at Bahrain’s main oil refinery has been fully contained, authorities said. In a statement, Bahrain’s National Communication Centre said the blaze broke out at a unit of the Bapco Energies refinery on the i»»»

Skopje, 2 March 2026 (MIA) - Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski is on a working visit to Spain on Monday, where he is participating in Mobile World Congress (MWC26) in Barcelona, the world’s largest event bringing together policymakers on digitalization, representatives of telecom»»»

Italy’s Nova news agency reported yesterday that Libya topped the list of oil suppliers to Italy in 2025, with total imports reaching 13,434,662 tons, equivalent to nearly a quarter of Italy’s total crude oil imports. The report said Libya surpassed several major exporting countries, including Gree»»»

In our ongoing weekly digest, we sum up and explain the most important public affairs events of the week from Hungary. We guide readers on the road to the key April 2026 election — a poll without precedent in the region over the past 15 years. This week, we cover: Why Viktor Orbán does not rule out»»»

Nature and EnvironmentInvestors are betting on nature protection Josh AxelrodDebt-for-nature swaps and conservation funds to halt biodiversity loss are gaining traction as governments link ecosystem collapse to geopolitical instability. https://p.dw.com/p/59TjZA UK government assessment warns that »»»

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the European Union (EU) strongly condemned the unjustified Iranian attacks targeting GCC states, considering them a direct threat to regional and global security. In a joint statement issued after an extraordinary meeting hel»»»

Israel issued an unprecedented evacuation warning on Thursday for the entirety of Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, sending residents in the district of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing in a panic. The warning followed a fresh wave of Israeli attacks on Iran, which again »»»

Bangkok: The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), warned of the repercussions of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on the global economy. Global economic resilience has been tested yet again by the new conflict in the Middle East, said Kristalina Georgieva at the Asia i»»»

Everyone discusses how to make a good first impression, how to charm and close the sale. But what about long-term client relationships? These won’t last based on good vibes alone. This isn’t a bag of tricks, but rather the real business acumen to keep a good business relationship going, taking resp»»»

A contract between the Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) and Deutsche Bahn for the delivery of 91 passenger railcars will be signed within days. This transpired during a meeting between Caretaker Minister of Transport and Communications Korman Ismailov and German Ambassador Irene Plank, Ismailov’s min»»»

Airline shares seesawed on Thursday, as some regained ground on more flights taking off from the Middle East while others dipped on spiking oil prices after US-Israeli strikes on Iran sparked major disruption across the global aviation industry. Governments have scrambled to arrange flights out of »»»

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and US Charge d’Affaires Martin McDowell on Thursday discussed the situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on European security in the event of an escalation of the conflict, said the government information service following a meeting between the »»»

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk told the jury in a federal court hearing a civil case brought by Twitter investors that posts he made in the run up to his 2022 purchase of the social media platform were just him thinking out loud and were not an effort to drive down the share price. File Photo by K»»»

The Republic of Ireland's domestic economy grew by almost 5% in 2025, official figures suggest. Irish domestic output is estimated using a measurement called modified domestic demand (MDD). The economic performance of most countries is measured using gross domestic product (GDP), but Irish GDP is h»»»

DOHA: Qatar Airways has announced the start of a limited number of relief flightsto assist passengers affected by the current situation and temporary airspace closures across parts of the region. In a service update, the airline said it is working around the clock to organise additional relief flig»»»

The authority in North Korea to launch nuclear missiles is similarly concentrated in one person alone: Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un. File Photo by North Korean Central News Agemcy March 5 (UPI) -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed Saturday in a precision strike carried out jointly by »»»

Doha, Qatar: Following a morning update announcing limited number of relief flights, Qatar Airways has urged travellers not to proceed to Hamad International Airport unless they receive notification confirming their flight. In a service update at 5pm, Doha Time, today, March 5, 2026, Qatar Airways »»»

The National Assembly on Thursday voted conclusively amendments to the Social Insurance Code to introduce a multi-fund model in supplementary pension insurance. According to the government, which submitted the proposal, the multi-fund model will allow insured individuals to choose how their pension»»»

The Association of Tour Operators and Travel Agents “Future for Tourism” (OBT) has urged the authorities to ensure equal treatment of Bulgarian citizens awaiting evacuation from Dubai, raising concerns that public figures and business representatives are being given precedence. The organization add»»»

1 of 2 | Randall Schriver, president of the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security Studies, speaks with Scott Snyder, president of the Korea Economic Institute, during an event at the Korea Economic Institute in Washington on March 3, 2026. Photo by Asia Today March 4 (Asia Today) -- U.S. experts say »»»

Dubai: Some UAE residents say their grocery bills have risen in recent days, particularly for fruits and vegetables, with shoppers reporting noticeable price increases at supermarkets across the country. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Several shoppers told Gulf News t»»»

Dubai: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly halted as escalating tensions and security threats deter commercial vessels from entering one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The narrow waterway between the Gulf and»»»

Tunis, March 5 (TAP) - The stock market closed the session on a positive note. The benchmark index posted a gain of 0.36% to 14,986.22 points on sustained volume of TND 8 million, according to analysis by stockbroker Tunisie Valeurs.STIP share...»»»

Dubai: Qatari fighter jets shot down two Iranian bombers that were minutes away from striking a major US military base and a key energy facility in Qatar, marking the first reported air-to-air combat involving the Gulf state’s air force during the expanding regional war. Two Iranian Sukhoi Su-24 ta»»»

1 of 2 | A screenshot from footage shot from a U.S. Navy Submarine shows the moment of impact as a torpedo strikes the the IRIS Dena, a Moudge Class Frigate of the Iranian Navy, on Wednesday. Photo via U.S. Department of Defense/UPI | License Photo March 5 (UPI) -- Iran on Thursday vowed to exact r»»»

Dubai: Schools and universities across the UAE will begin an early spring break from Monday, March 9, after the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced a revised holiday schedule on Wednesday. The break, which runs until Sunday, March 22, applies»»»

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy convened with representatives from META, the global technology giant, to discuss the progress of the Instagram Filters project. This innovative initiative aims to enhance the visitor experience at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir and the National Museum»»»

Belgian developer Atenor has successfully completed the sale of the @Expo office campus, with CBRE and Colliers representing the seller under a co‑exclusive mandate. The transaction underscores Atenor’s ability to deliver high quality assets that attract strong interest from investors seeking moder»»»

Officers from the Department of Internal Affairs of Sverdlovsky district in Bishkek detained suspects involved in a fraudulent scheme that resulted in the theft of more than 11 million soms from a Bishkek resident. The press service of the Internal Affairs Department of the district reported. Accor»»»

DOHA: Baladna, a Qatari public shareholding company, has announced to shareholders and investors that its board of directors has decided to postpone the planned capital increase through a rights issue until further notice. In a statement posted on the Qatar Stock Exchange website on Thursday, the c»»»

Dubai: Limited flight operations have resumed at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport following recent disruptions, with authorities coordinating a wide support network for thousands of affected passengers across the emirate. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Airport »»»

Dubai: Dubai’s property market has recorded the sale of an off-plan residential apartment worth Dh422 million ($115 million), making it the third most expensive apartment ever sold in the emirate, according to market data released on Thursday. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the »»»

Dubai: As a kid, Kevin Alexander loved to pull things apart, figure out how they worked, and piece them back together. He went on to study mechanical engineering in Dubai — no surprises there. Today, Alexander leads Design Cave 3D, a Dubai-based 3D printing and additive manufacturing hub launched i»»»

Dacia has officially announced the name of its new crossover model: Striker – following the brand’s established “-ER” naming convention, joining Duster, Jogger and Bigster in the Dacia family. The model’s full design reveal is scheduled for 10 March. “Derived from the universal expression “to make »»»