42 migrants rescued off Crete, 18-year-old held for bringing them from Libya
Coast Guard vessels have rescued 42 migrants in a small boat that ran into trouble off Crete on Wednesday and arrested a teenager suspected of having steered the vessel over from the north African coast, authorities said. It was the second incident in as many days involving migrants heading for Cre»»»
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 Will Honor All Energy Deals With Hungary – Putin
Russia has always fulfilled and is ready to fulfill all its obligations to Hungary regarding energy supplies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. "And everything that depends on us – we have always fulfilled our obligations and, of course, we intend and are ready to continue doing so. Not everyt»»»
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine says the U.S. "will now begin to expand inland, striking progressively deeper into Iranian territory."
In a high-stakes Pentagon briefing on March 4, 2026, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General John Daniel "Raizin" Caine outlined the progression of the first four days of “Operation Epic Fury”, the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. As the campaign e»»»
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»»»
Regional Development Minister Angelina Boneva Resigns for Health Reasons
The Caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Angelina Boneva, has submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Andrey Gurov due to health reasons, the Ministry said on Wednesday. Until a new minister is appointed, the ministerial functions will be performed by the current Deputy »»»
PM Gurov in First Interview: Caretaker Government’s Mission Is to Unite All Citizens, Hold Fair Elections
The Formula of the caretaker government is to unite all citizens, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said in an interview with journalist Konstantin Valkov, broadcast Wednesday morning. In what was his first interview, he took questions about the upcoming elections, the Middle East crisis, the U»»»
Hungary Presses Russia Not to Hike Energy Prices amid Iran Turmoil
Hungary wants guarantees from Russia that it will not charge Budapest more for oil and gas, despite global prices jumping due to conflict in the Middle East, Hungary's foreign minister said Wednesday. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto was in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin »»»
European nations facing ‘hell’ over Iran war energy disruption – Serbia
European nations are facing “a literal hell” due to an energy price surge caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said. Tehran’s retaliation to the regime-change military action launched on Saturday has disrupted crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments»»»
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»»»
Teenager arrested for allegedly smuggling 39 migrants across Mediterranean
A group of 39 migrants has been located on the southern island of Crete after making the dangerous crossing from north Africa in a small boat and a South Sudanese teenager has been arrested for allegedly ferrying them across, authorities said Wednesday. A Coast Guard statement said the 31 men and e»»»
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»»»
The EU is pressuring Ukraine to restore oil flows through the Russian Druzhba pipeline, FT reports
Ukraine has rejected a proposed EU mission to inspect the Soviet-era pipeline that transports Russian oil through Ukrainian territory to Central Europe, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing diplomats and officials. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately blocking the fl»»»
Germany: Fuel prices spike amid Iran conflict
ConflictsGermanyGermany: Fuel prices spike amid Iran conflictMark Hallam with AFP, dpaPrices at the pumps for petroleum and diesel have risen by around one-fifth in a matter of days in Germany. Oil production and shipments have been severely disrupted by the fighting in Iran and the wider Middle Ea»»»
Leonardo Badea (BNR): Macroeconomic and geo-strategic perspectives on the recalibration of Romania’s economic growth model in the context of the new normality
2026 is an important stage in the current structural transition path for our country. Although consumption is under pressure due to the necessary adjustments, accession to the OECD and the completion of investments financed by European funds (especially within the NRRP) significantly orient the eco»»»
Bulgaria Sees No Immediate Migration Risk as Greece Braces for Possible Wave
Bulgarian authorities do not register heightened migratory pressure at this stage. Following a government meeting, Deputy Interior Minister Ivan Anchev stated that there are currently no indicators suggesting an increase in migration flows toward the country. He clarified that only one individual h»»»
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»»»
Europe wary as Iran war deepens, divisions emerge over US-Israel strikes
Europe has reacted cautiously — and in some cases critically — to the escalating conflict with Iran, as several leaders express concern over the widening war and the continent struggles to present a united response. When the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, “very fe»»»
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»»»
Flights cancelled and rerouting for days: Residents fly back to the UAE because Dubai is home
Dubai: When the Gulf airspace was disrupted and flights began cancelling one after another, many residents found themselves stuck abroad, far from the city they had built their lives in. For some, that meant days of uncertainty, rerouting through multiple countries, and scrambling for any flight th»»»
Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria Coalition Files for Registration for April 19 Parliamentary Elections
The Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition has filed documents with the Central Election Commission to take part in the early parliamentary elections on April 19. Applicants are required to submit a list containing the names, personal identification numbers and handwritten sign»»»
Nuclear Deterrence Remains Cornerstone of Global Security - Kremlin
The negotiations on strategic stability should include the participation of Europe's nuclear powers, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Indeed, nuclear deterrence remains the cornerstone of global security. This is very important," Peskov told reporters, commenting on the issue of nuclear d»»»
Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh safe in Dubai, shows video recording in Dubai: 'All chill here'
Dubai: Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has reassured fans globally that he is safe and continuing to work and 'chill' in Dubai amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He posted a series of images on his stories to underline how resilient and normal his current life in Dubai remains amid escal»»»
Romania joins the governance core of Europe’s first business angels network for defence technologies
The Defence Angels European Network (DAEN), the first pan-European Business Angels network dedicated to investments in defence and security technologies, has launched its operations in Brussels, bringing together investors from 16 countries. Romania is part of the initiative’s governing structure, »»»
Five takeaways from Texas primaries, as march to US midterms gets going
The march to the US midterm elections, which will determine which party controls both chambers of Congress for the second half of Donald Trump's presidency, is officially under way. Voters in a handful of states headed to the polls on Tuesday to pick the Democratic and Republican candidates for the»»»
‘No to war,’ Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez tells Trump
Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Madrid’s refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran. “The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war,” he said in a televised address, a day »»»
Making cold visible: How Mediascope redefined thermo communication for Coors
Mediascope, one of Central and Eastern Europe’s leading trade-marketing and retail innovation agencies, has developed the Coors Thermo Regional Retail Toolkit, a comprehensive retail communication ecosystem designed to unlock the full power of one of the beer industry’s most iconic assets: the Cold»»»
France Says Planning G7 Finance Meeting on Middle East
France is planning a meeting of G7 finance ministers on the Middle East crisis, with central bankers also in attendance, the country's Economy and Finance Minister, Roland Lescure, said on Wednesday. "I have spoken with various counterparts, in particular Scott Bessent, who is the US Treasury Secre»»»
‘No to War,’ Spanish PM Tells Trump
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump's criticisms of Madrid's refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran. "The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war," he said in a televised address, a day after Tr»»»
Ovidiu Mihailă, fundingloop: Five priority areas targeted by €630 million EIC Accelerator funding for deep tech businesses in 2026
Approximately €630 million will be available in 2026 for those applying to the EIC Accelerator, a Horizon Europe funding program that provides support to startups and SMEs, says Ovidiu Mihăilă, founder of fundingloop, a consulting company for deep-tech businesses interested in accelerating innovati»»»
Spain's Pedro Sánchez hits back at Trump threat to sever trade saying 'no to war'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has delivered a strong rebuttal to US President Donald Trump's threat to end trade with Spain by declaring his opposition to war and what he called the "breakdown of international law". In a 10-minute televised address Sánchez reflected on the wars in Ukraine an»»»
DP World confirms Jebel Ali Port terminals operating without disruption
Dubai: Operations at Jebel Ali Port, the Middle East’s largest maritime hub, continue without disruption despite heightened geopolitical tensions across the region, according to DP World. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The global ports and logistics operator said all »»»
Malayalam actress Swasika back in Kerala after being stuck in Abu Dhabi : ‘UAE authorities are doing an excellent job'
Dubai: Malayalam actress Swasika, who had travelled to Abu Dhabi for a dance workshop, has landed in Kerala after taking the repatriation flight. She told local reporters that there was no 'heavy panic situation', as reported by several Malayalam news channels. Everyone was alert and understandably»»»
Hormuz Strait Puts Global Economy in ‘Intensive Care’
The Strait of Hormuz is no longer merely an international waterway. In a decisive moment, it has turned into a tightly sealed bottleneck choking the global economy. As plumes of smoke rise from critical energy facilities following military confrontations between Iran on one side and Israel and the »»»
On This Day, March 4: Martha Stewart released from prison - UPI.com
On March 4, 2005, homemaking guru Martha Stewart returned home after serving five months in a federal prison for conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding and making false statements to federal investigators. 1 of 7 | Martha Stewart shows on March 7, 2005, a poncho that was crocheted and give»»»
Two active alerts regarding Romania posted on CoE's Safety of Journalists Platform
Two alerts regarding Romania have been issued this year on Safety of Journalists Platform ,the Council of Europe (CoE) platform promoting the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists, which on Tuesday released its annual Europe press freedom report.The two active alerts were filed on »»»
WB's Bassani: World Bank Group prepared to support Romania's next phase of growth
Romania has what it takes to succeed and the World Bank Group is ready to support the country's next phase of growth so as to secure its place among the world's most advanced economies, World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Antonella Bassani said on Tuesday.Speaking at the»»»
Under future budget law, local administration to profit from local taxes
Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor said that the draft budget could be sent to Parliament next week and debated in the plenary meeting between 15 and 17 March if the coalition reaches an agreement on this matter on Wednesday.Asked in Parliament whether, if ta»»»
UAE supermarkets hold months of food stock as tensions rise
Dubai: Supermarket shelves across the UAE remain stocked with months of staple supplies, even as geopolitical tensions place renewed focus on shipping lanes, freight costs and energy markets. Retailers and supply chain leaders say the system is absorbing stress without disruption, supported by buff»»»
Gulf crisis spurs charter surge
As the crisis in the Middle East deepens, demand for private flights from the Gulf to Europe is surging, industry executives say. “At this moment, as we speak, a private plane is flying from Dubai to Athens,” Doulis Karafil, head of Air Business International, told Kathimerini. The 13-seat aircraft»»»
Trump says 'someone from within' Iranian regime might be best choice to lead once war ends
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to take power once the US-Israel military campaign is completed — but said “most of the people we had in mind are dead.” The president, who four days ago had emphatically called»»»
CB raises $500 million inoversubscribed AT1 issuance
QNA & TNN Doha In a significant move that underscores investor confidence in Qatar’s banking sector, Commercial Bank (CB) has successfully completed the issuance of $500 million in Additional Tier 1 (AT1) perpetual capital securities. The securities are non-callable for five and a half years, furth»»»
'Not Churchill': Trump criticises UK PM Starmer over Iran strikes
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not initially permitting American warplanes to use UK bases to strike Iran, saying "this is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with". President Donald Trump on Tuesday castigated one of the United States' clos»»»
Regime change in Iran could lift EU GDP by up to 0.7%, study finds
A fundamental political shift in Iran followed by its reintegration into the global economy could boost European Union output by as much as 0.7% and deliverbns of euros in additional income, according to a study by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) and the Austrian Inst»»»
Macron offers temporary nuclear deployments as Europe hardens deterrence stance
French President Emmanuel Macron on March 2 signalled a significant shift in France’s nuclear posture, offering for the first time the possibility of “temporary deployments” of nuclear weapons to allied European countries as part of a broader effort to strengthen the continent’s deterrence against »»»
Joint Special Operations Command Commander Boykov Urges Defence of Freedom on Bulgarian National Day
Bulgarians should choose to cherish, safeguard and defend the country’s freedom and independence, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Command Brigadier General Bozhidar Boykov said here on Tuesday. Boykov spoke at a ceremonial military tattoo on Central Square in Plovdiv marking Bulgaria’s na»»»
Macron offers temporary nuclear deployments as Europe hardens deterrence stance
French President Emmanuel Macron on March 2 signalled a significant shift in France’s nuclear posture, offering for the first time the possibility of “temporary deployments” of nuclear weapons to allied European countries as part of a broader effort to strengthen the continent’s deterrence against »»»
Enery closes EUR 460 million green financing and launches Sustainable Financing Framework
The funding will be used for the construction of Enery’s Ogrezeni hybrid project in Giurgiu County, Romania, combining photovoltaic (PV) generation with battery energy storage. With an installed capacity of 761 MWp / 534 MW AC and more than 1 GWh of battery storage, Ogrezeni will be among the large»»»
Ecuador's Noboa imposes curfew in four provinces amid crime fight - UPI.com
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Noboa said the planned curfew in four provinces aims to protect communities affected by drug trafficking, illegal mining and gang violence. File Photo by Jose Jacome/EPA March 3 (UPI) -- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced a nightly curfew in four provinces»»»