Hungarian minister asked Moscow to help Slovak ally before election, leaked transcript suggests
“I don’t want to bother you, but the prime minister asked me to, because we have quite a big request for you. As you know, there will be elections in Slovakia on 29 February, and it is of key importance for us that the coalition there can continue.” According to the account of investigative journal»»»
A pharmacist and a homesick lifestyle blogger: The 'alarming' civilian cost of war in Iran
Parastesh Dahaghin was a young pharmacist killed in an explosion while she was at work. Berivan Molani was in bed when debris from an air strike in Tehran struck her head. For more than three weeks, Tehran and other cities have been pummelled by US and Israeli airstrikes - with thousands of targets»»»
Vucic: SNS policy is Serbian interests - good relations with both East and West
BELGRADE - President of Serbia and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Presidency member Aleksandar Vucic said at the weekend Serbia's interests - good relations with both the East and the West - were the SNS policy. "Our policy is a policy of peace, stability and security. Our policy is a policy of a »»»
Western Europe wrestles with its Daddy issues
NATO is supposed to be a defensive alliance. That means members aren’t actually obligated to go bail out a member state that goes around the world punching other countries in the face. Easy mistake to make from the optics of other recent conflicts, though, where the term “defensive” has been doing »»»
Brnabic meets with PACE Monitoring Committee delegation
BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee in Belgrade on Monday to discuss current issues in the field of the electoral process, with special emphasis on implementation of relevant inter»»»
Report: Hungary using more Russian oil, despite EU phase out
BusinessReport: Hungary using more Russian oil, despite EU phase outArthur SullivanA new report by the Center for the Study of Democracy, shared exclusively with DW, says that Hungary has increased its dependence on Russian oil since 2021. It has also become highly dependent on Russian gas. https:/»»»
GERB Representatives Meet with OSCE Election Observation Mission
Representatives of GERB met with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission which will observe the early parliamentary elections on April 19, 2026, the party’s press office said Monday. GERB representatives expressed serious concerns regarding the fairness and transpare»»»
Critical Raw Materials at the Geopolitical Crosshairs—and Crosswire
Critical Raw Materials at the Geopolitical Crosshairs—and Crosswire - Institute of Energy for South-East Europe About UsMission and VisionBackgroundAnnual ReportArticles of AssociationBoard of GovernorsOrganizationExecutive CommitteeScientific CommitteesResearchInternational Advisory GroupCo-operat»»»
Air India and Air India Express to operate 24 flights between India, GCC on March 24
Dubai: Air India and Air India Express will operate a combined 24 flights, both scheduled and non-scheduled, between India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on March 24, 2026. The airlines will run 10 additional non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE, subject to slot availability and »»»
Europe losing control of automotive industry to Chinese importers
Europe’s automotive parts industry is losing ground to Asian competitors, with structural shifts happening faster than European firms can adapt. Since 2018, EU production has fallen by about 15%, while China’s output has surged nearly 40% to over $380 billion annually, more than double Europe’s lev»»»
Hungary's Russian oil reliance tests EU ban efforts: report
BusinessHungary's Russian oil reliance tests EU ban efforts: reportArthur SullivanA new report from the Center for the Study of Democracy, shared exclusively with DW, says that Hungary has increased its dependence on Russian oil since 2021. It has also become highly dependent on Russian gas. https:»»»
Hungary rebukes EU over leak claims, Szijjarto accuses critics of election interference
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has denied and condemned claims that he leaked the details of EU meetings to Moscow. The allegations were reported by the Washington Post and Politico some three weeks prior to the Hungarian parliamentary election scheduled for April 12. On Friday, the WaP»»»
Dhurandhar 2 locations of Pakistan cities will surprise you
Dubai: Directed by Bollywood's man-of-the-moment Aditya Dhar and led by Ranveer Singh, with R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal in the mix, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is undoubtedly one of Hindi cinema's biggest releases. And, the spy thriller about a secret Indian agent in neighbouring nation does a prett»»»
Asian markets tumble, but Europe, US rally on Trump optimism
BusinessGlobal issuesAsian markets tumble, but Europe, US rally on Trump optimismMark Hallam with AFP, AP, ReutersMarkets Asia nosedived as trading restarted on Monday. Europe's indices were headed in the same direction, until optimistic Iran comments from Donald Trump prompted traders in Europe an»»»
IEA chief says more than 40 energy sites damaged in Iran war - UPI.com
Fatih Birol said Monday at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, that energy assets across nine countries have been “severely or very severely” damaged in the Iran war. File Photo by Ole Berg-Rusten/EPA-EFE March 23 (UPI) -- More than 40 energy sites in the Middle East have been damaged s»»»
Damages of EUR 1 Bln, BGN 140 Mln and USD 2.3 Mln Identified in Money Laundering Cases, Interior Ministry Report Says
Damages amounting to EUR 1 billion, BGN 140 million and USD 2.3 million have been identified as a result of money laundering, according to the Interior Ministry's 2025 activity report, published on Monday. A total of 741 inspections were carried out (30% more compared to 2024) in cases involving su»»»
Why Gulf states refuse to join the Iran war even as missiles hit their cities
Speaking on Sunday at a site in Arad struck by an Iranian missile, where more than a hundred people were injured, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged more countries to join the war effort. “What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped? I»»»
Vucic: SNS policy is Serbia's interests - good relations with both East and West
BELGRADE - President of Serbia and Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Presidency member Aleksandar Vucic said at the weekend Serbia's interests - good relations with both the East and the West - were the SNS policy. "Our policy is a policy of peace, stability and security. Our policy is a policy of a »»»
The Rise of Automated Expense Tracking: How European Businesses Save 12 Hours Per Week
By Elena Marchetti | Published March 23, 2026 | 11 min read Photo by Kaboompics on Pexels | Alt: Business professional managing expenses and financial documents at office desk | Tags: expense management, automated tracking, business finance, European market Every week, finance teams across Europe s»»»
France ex-PM Lionel Jospin, architect of 35-hour week, dies aged 88
Paris: Former French prime minister Lionel Jospin, a Socialist who introduced the 35-hour work week and civil partnerships for gay couples, has died aged 88, his family said on Monday. Jospin - who was head of government from 1997 to 2002 before being overtaken by the far right in presidential poll»»»
Polish group Amica launches affordable induction hobs manufactured at its factory in Wronki under Hansa brand
Against a global backdrop marked by supply chain disruptions, rising transportation costs, and uncertainty driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Amica Romania announces the launch of an affordable Hansa induction hob range, manufactured at its own Amica facility in Poland. The inducti»»»
Hungary's Orban Orders Investigation Into Wiretapping of Hungarian Foreign Minister
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday ordered the justice ministry to investigate the wiretapping of Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, describing it as an attack on the country. "The wiretapping of a government member's phone calls is a serious attack on Hungary. I have»»»
Oil Prices Ease and Stocks Jump after Trump Says Iran is Talking with the US, Despite Iran's Denials
Relief is ripping through financial markets Monday after President Donald Trump said the United States has talked with Iran about a possible end to their war. Oil prices are easing, and stock prices are jumping on Wall Street following severe losses elsewhere in the world before Trump’s announcemen»»»
Markets shoot higher and oil futures sink after Trump announces progress in Iran talks
Wall Street shot higher and global oil futures tumbled Monday after President Donald Trump extended his deadline for Iran to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz and said the U.S. would hold off on strikes against Iranian power plants and other energy infrastructure for five days. Trump's post on so»»»
Hagag Development Europe: Strategic expansion driven by long-term vision
At the Business Review Awards 2026, Hagag Development Europe received the Excellence in Strategic Expansion award for expanding its footprint beyond real estate with the launch of Hagag Energy and major investments in Romania’s natural gas infrastructure sector. “For us, strategic expansion does no»»»
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal to Apply Provisionally from May 1
The EU said Monday a free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur will provisionally enter into force on May 1 -- despite a pending court ruling on its legality. "Today is an important step in demonstrating our credibility as a major trading partner," EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said, a»»»
Global markets tumble with no end to Iran war in sight
BusinessGlobal issuesGlobal markets tumble with no end to Iran war in sightMark Hallam with AFP, AP, ReutersMarkets in Europe and Asia nosedived as trading restarted on Monday, as oil prices continued to climb amid the war in Iran. Germany's DAX dipped 2% in early trading, while several key Asian m»»»
DP World launches five-year Black Sea coastal restoration programme at Constanța South Container Terminal
DP World has launched a five-year coastal restoration programme aimed at creating underwater forests of native seaweed to support marine life recovery in the area of the Constanța South Container Terminal (CSCT) on the Black Sea. The project is implemented in partnership with environmental organisa»»»
Planet trapped record heat in 2025: UN
Geneva: (AFP) The amount of heat trapped by the Earth reached record levels in 2025, with the consequences of such warming feared to last for thousands of years, the UN warned Monday. The 11 hottest years ever recorded were all between 2015 and 2025, the United Nations’ WMO weather and climate agen»»»
Amica launches affordable induction hobs manufactured in Poland under Hansa brand
The induction hobs will be available through retail partners in Romania starting summer 2026, representing a strategic response to local market needs amid an increasingly volatile logistics environment. “Manufacturing at our own factory in Poland is one of Hansa’s strongest competitive advantages i»»»
Jazeera Airways brings back Dubai flights, restores India network
Dubai: Jazeera Airways has resumed flights to Dubai, restoring a key route for Kuwait travellers and reopening access to one of the world’s most connected aviation hubs. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The route allows passengers to connect to destinations across Asia,»»»
Construction costs and plot acquisition, main concerns of real estate developers in Central Europe, including Romania
This year’s edition of the study indicates balanced expectations regarding the market activity – 54% estimate that activity will remain the same in 2026, while more than a third (35%) expect an improvement. Players in Poland are the most optimistic – 67% foresee an increase in market activity –, wh»»»
Dhurandhar: The Revenge review: Ranveer Singh shines, sequel overindulgent
Dhurandhar 2: Explosive, overlong, and obsessed with Ranveer SinghDirector: Aditya DharCast: Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi★★★Kozhikode, Kerala: What really worked for the first installment of Dhurandhar was that Ranveer Singh’s character, an undercove»»»
UK police probe attack on Jewish ambulances as hate crime
London: British police said Monday they were investigating a suspected arson attack as an antisemitic hate crime, after volunteer ambulances run by a Jewish organisation were set on fire. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the burning of four vehicles in north London as a “deeply shocking antise»»»
Moscow Bets on Tehran’s Resilience, Western Rift
The Kremlin’s expectations appeared markedly pessimistic in the fourth week of the Iran war, as confidence grew that Russia’s ability to influence the conflict was waning and that the repercussions for one of its key partners could be severe. With limited leverage, the Kremlin’s main options now se»»»
Global Market Losing 11Mln Barrels of Oil Per Day Due to Middle East Conflict – IEA Chief
JAKARTA (Sputnik) - The world risks facing the most serious energy crisis in decades amid the conflict in the Middle East, with the market losing 11 million barrels of oil per day, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said on Monday. "Many of us remember the two consecuti»»»
The Tanker War returns: Why Hormuz risks repeating its dangerous past
Dubai: As US President Donald Trump considers deploying naval escorts to protect oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, history is offering a stark warning: Attempts to secure the world’s most critical energy chokepoint have often spiralled into dangerous and unpredictable conflict. The latest tensio»»»
22 countries join drive to ensure safe Hormuz passage amid Iran naval mine threats: Nato
Washington: At least 22 countries had joined an initiative to ensure safe navigation in the Hormuz Strait, according to head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato). Mark Rutte, Secretary General of Nato military alliance, revealed that 22 nations — including both Nato members and partners»»»
NATO chief backs US strikes, warns on Iran threat
Washington: Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military alliance, backed US actions against Iran, warning that Tehran is “very close” to developing missile capabilities that could threaten Europe, even as Nato assessed reports of a long-range strike on a »»»
IEA Head Says Global Economy Faces ‘Major, Major Threat’ from Iran War
The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a “major, major threat” because of the Iran war. “No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” Fatih Birol said at Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra o»»»
Visa launches Agentic Ready program to accelerate AI-powered commerce in Europe
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, is launching Visa Agentic Ready, a program designed to help financial institutions and partners in the payments ecosystem prepare for commercial transactions initiated by AI-powered agents. Initially launched in Europe, the program will provide issuing par»»»
President Dan: Europe must remain focused on Ukraine, even though we are affected by war in Iran
When oil begins flowing again through the Druzhba pipeline, the loan for Ukraine will be unblocked, President Nicusor Dan said on Friday at the end of the European Council meeting."Yes, I stand by what I said, and many others said today in the debate on Ukraine: it is unacceptable for a decision th»»»
ESCWA: Conflict Could Cut Arab Economic Output by $150 Billion in 1 Month
The regional war is imposing heavy economic costs across the Arab region, with preliminary estimates pointing to about $63 billion in regional losses within two weeks, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) warned in a recently issued policy brief. Under the titl»»»
Kyrgyzkomur can now independently perform stripping operations at its sites - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzkomur state enterprise has begun independently performing stripping operations at its mines. Rustam Sadyraliev, the company’s Deputy General Director, announced on Birinchi Radio. According to him, this was made possible through the acquisition of new equipment, as previously, excavation and »»»
European Gasoline Heads to Asia as Iran War Sparks Supply Fears
European and US gasoline cargoes are heading to the Asia Pacific after Asian prices surged on tightening supply due to the US-Israeli war with Iran, according to trade sources and shipping data. The war has disrupted crude and oil product shipments from the Middle East to Asia, causing Asian refine»»»
King Harold's 200-mile march to the Battle of Hastings was a 'myth', historian says
Rather than enduring a legendary 200-mile (320-kilometre) overland march to confront the invading William the Conqueror at the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066, King Harold Godwinson's forces likely launched a "sophisticated land-sea operation" that ultimately failed to stop the Norman conquest of»»»
French voters to choose mayors in key cities including Paris and Marseille
Voters across France head to the polls Sunday for mayoral runoffs in major cities including Paris and Marseille, with the left fighting to hold key strongholds and the far right seeking gains in a closely watched test ahead of next year’s presidential election. Voters began casting their ballots fo»»»
On 10th anniversary of Brussels terror attacks, authorities vow to have learnt the 'right lessons'
Ten years after Islamic State (IS) group terrorists staged Belgium’s deadliest attack in peacetime, killing 32 people and wounding more than 300, authorities vow to have learnt the right security lessons. Since the 2016 massacre, a coordinated extremist profile database has been set up, and the num»»»
Italy’s justice referendum becomes key test for PM Meloni’s leadership
Italy’s two-day referendum on whether or not to overhaul the country’s justice system has become a key test for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. If the “No” side wins, analysts say it will send a strong political signal and weaken her leadership. Accused by her opponents of threatening the judiciary'»»»
Iran is creating a “safe” oil shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz for select nations
Iran has signaled that it is ready to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz to vessels from certain countries. Media reports and tracker data also suggest that a handful of pre-vetted tankers have already sailed smoothly through the “safe” corridor, with at least one shipping company allegedly»»»