PM deplores Iranian attacks at emergency GCC-EU meet
QNA Doha Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani participated on Thursday in an emergency Gulf-European ministerial virtual meeting bringing together the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the European Uni»»»
Following Security Council Meeting, Cabinet Says Bulgaria Not Directly Threatened by Middle East Conflict
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»»»
Zelensky issues military threat to Orban (VIDEO)
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has issued an apparent military threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over the ongoing refusal by Budapest to lift a veto on billions in loans underwritten by EU members for Kiev. Orban last month blocked a planned €90 billion ($106 billion) emergency loan rais»»»
Multiple Emergency Flights Bring Bulgarians Back from Middle East Countries
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»»»
Following Security Council Meeting, Caretaker Cabinet Says Bulgaria Not Directly Threatened by Middle East Conflict, Evacuations Continue
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»»»
Lagarde: ECB Has No Pre-set Response to Mideast Tensions
The European Central Bank has no pre-set stance as regards to geopolitical tensions from the conflict in the Middle East and will decide monetary policy on a "meeting-by-meeting" basis, President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday. The ECB will take its decisions "in view of all the data that we c»»»
UAE tourism sector continues to welcome visitors
Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism has affirmed that the country’s tourism sector continues to welcome visitors and operate normally despite ongoing regional developments. In a statement, the ministry said the tourism sector across the UAE is continuing to function in line with directio»»»
Banca Transilvania, the strongest banking brand in Europe, with a value of over USD 1 billion
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 »»»
Adolfo Laurenti, Visa: Romania enters this period with a more fragile consumer than European average
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»»»
EU unlikely to extend protection scheme for Ukrainians – envoy
The EU is unlikely to extend its temporary protection scheme for Ukrainian immigrants beyond its current expiry date, the bloc’s special envoy, Ylva Johansson, has indicated. Brussels activated the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) shortly after the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalated »»»
Some 200 migrants reach Crete from Africa in a day
Around 200 migrants have reached the southern island of Crete in one day after making the dangerous sea crossing from northern Africa, authorities said Thursday. All are believed to have departed from eastern Libya, after paying smuggling gangs to be ferried to Europe. Together with the roughly 500»»»
Andonovski attends Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
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»»»
Libya supplied nearly a quarter of Italy’s total crude oil imports in 2025
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»»»
EU, Gulf states demand Iran to halt attacks threatening global security
Dubai: European Union and Gulf ministers on Thursday demanded Iran to immediately halt attacks across the region, warning that the escalating conflict risks undermining global security as the war in the Middle East entered its sixth day. Foreign ministers from the European Union and the Gulf Cooper»»»
39 days to election: Orbán warns of a possible Ukrainian attack but rules out postponing election
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»»»
Gulf-European statement calls on Iran to immediately halt its attacks
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»»»
Is France building a new NATO nuclear euroclub?
The year 2026 has barely begun, but “nuclearization” is already a strong contender to be its top word. The European NATO members want more nukes, the US and Israel are bombing Iran for allegedly wanting some too, and the Doomsday Clock could soon run out of seconds left before midnight. The clock, »»»
Experts find holes in planned changes to EU landmark online privacy law
A new survey from experts at a leading digital rights NGO has found big gaps between the EU Commission’s proposed changes to the its flagship data protection law — and what professionals in the field want to see fixed. The digital rights NGO noyb report, published Thursday (5 March), asked 500 data»»»
BDZ, Deutsche Bahn to Sign Contract for Delivery of 91 Railcars Within Days
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»»»
Rising Fuel Prices Lash Airline Sector as Iran Conflict Widens
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 »»»
Leak: EPP sparks row with rival deportation bill ahead of crucial parliament vote
The controversial deportation bill currently grinding its way through the European Parliament has sparked a political backlash after the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) presented an alternative draft — just days before the crucial vote. As a result, a scheduled meeting on Wednesday (4 Ma»»»
Prime Minister Gurov, US Charge d'Affaires Mcdowell Discuss Situation in Middle East
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 »»»
European States Move to Secure Red Sea Navigation, Protect Cyprus
European powers said on Thursday they would work together to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea and send naval and other assets to protect Cyprus as the expanding US–Iran war entered its sixth day. The conflict - which has widened beyond Gulf states to the Mediterranean, where a drone strike hit a B»»»
Churchill’s Fulton speech at 80: Why the Russia–Europe divide began long before the Cold War
In 1946, Winston Churchill’s Fulton Speech symbolically marked the beginning of the Cold War between the Western world and the Soviet Union. Since then, relations between Russia and the West have been fraught with tension. In recent years, this culminated in a strong and almost existential antagoni»»»
PM reiterates Qatar's strong condemnation of Iranian attacks at Gulf-European ministerial meeting
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani participated in the emergency Gulf-European ministerial meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) c»»»
PM joins emergency Gulf–EU talks on Iranian attacks and regional security
Doha, Qatar: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani participated in an emergency Gulf–European ministerial meeting held via videoconference Thursday, March 5, 2026 to discuss the repercussions of the Iranian a»»»
Parliament Votes Through Multi-fund Model in Supplementary Pension Insurance
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»»»
Evacuation of Bulgarians from Middle East Continues in Organized Manner – Foreign Minister
The evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the conflict zone in the Middle East is continuing, and at this stage it is proceeding in a highly organized way, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky told the media on Thursday, emerging from a meeting of the Security Council at the Council of Minis»»»
Parliament Approves at First Reading Tax Exemption for Religious Organizations’ Rental Income
Bulgaria’s Parliament Thursday approved at first reading two draft amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act submitted by the Council of Ministers. One of the bills provides for the exemption from taxation of income earned by religious organizations from renting out or otherwise granting the use o»»»
Iran vows to avenge sinking of navy frigate with loss of 87 lives - UPI.com
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»»»
Iran’s Missiles and Bulgaria: How Safe Is the Country Under NATO Shield?
Former Defense Minister Todor Tagarev and Captain 1st Rank Vasil Danov, a member of the Board of the Atlantic Council of Bulgaria, discussed on Nova TV the potential threats to the country amid rising tensions in the Middle East and the implications for national security. Both agreed that while the»»»
Bulgaria Posts One of EU’s Sharpest Producer Price Surges in January
Industrial producer prices across the euro area and the European Union moved higher in January 2026 on a monthly basis, yet remained below their levels from a year earlier, according to Eurostat data. In contrast, Bulgaria recorded one of the most pronounced increases both compared to December and »»»
Bulgaria’s Businesses Adjust Smoothly in the First Two Months of Euro Adoption
Bulgarian businesses remain strongly supportive of the country’s eurozone membership, according to the January survey conducted by Alfa Research, which monitors public attitudes toward the adoption of the euro. The first poll following the currency transition showed that approval levels remained st»»»
Green Entrepreneurship Guide to accelerate ecological transition in Tunisia published
Tunis, March 5 (TAP) - A Green Entrepreneurship Guide has just been published in Tunisia to accelerate the ecological transition through economic innovation.Drawn up by Expertise France under the Greenov'i project, funded by the European Union, this...»»»
Media Review: March 5
OVERVIEW Thursday's media is dominated by security and defence concerns over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly the threat posed by Iran's long-range ballistic missiles. Coverage focuses on Bulgaria's preparedness, NATO's collective defence, and potential regional risks includ»»»
Regional Health Inspectorate, Regional Library in Pleven Launch Initiative to Promote Healthy Lifestyle
The Regional Health Inspectorate and the Regional Library in Pleven are launching a joint initiative dedicated to a healthy lifestyle, Elvira Tsvetanova from the library's public relations department said on Thursday. Тhe idea of the two institutions is to organize monthly health talks, covering »»»
Borissov: Ukraine War Poses Greater Threat to Bulgaria Than Middle East Crisis
Before the Security Council meeting at the Council of Ministers, GERB leader Boyko Borissov stressed the gravity of the current international situation, emphasizing that the war in Ukraine represents a far greater threat to Bulgaria than the unfolding conflict in the Middle East. Borissov announced»»»
Crowdlending platform Fagura raises EUR 1.5 million convertible round with Bravva Angels, eyes European expansion
Crowdlending platform Fagura, founded in Moldova by entrepreneur Tudor Darie, has attracted an EUR 1.5 million investment round from the Bravva Angels business angel community, according to a statement from Bravva Angels. The round includes venture capital fund u.ventures – founded by the Western N»»»
PM Presents Cabinet's Priorities to Ambassadors of EU Member States, UK, Switzerland
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov held a working meeting with the ambassadors of the European Union Member States, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, as well as with the head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the Government Information Service reported on Thursday. During»»»
SD Worx reports double-digit growth and strengthens its European position
SD Worx, the European leader in HR and payroll solutions, with operations in Romania as well, closed 2025 with strong financial results. Consolidated revenue increased by 10.7% to €1.307 billion, while adjusted EBITDA reached €271.2 million (+16.5%). For the first time, consolidated net profit exce»»»
Sadyr Japarov discusses Kyrgyzstan's aircraft fleet expansion with Airbus - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov met with Airbus Europe President Johan Pélissier and Maurice Prendergast, Senior Vice President of BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management. The presidential press service reported. During the meeting, the expansion of the country’s aircraft fleet with new aircraft a»»»
Iran War to Weigh More on Indian Growth than Inflation, Keeping Interest Rates Low
The US and Israel's attack on Iran is expected to weigh more on India's economic growth than its inflation, which will encourage the Reserve Bank of India to keep interest rates low, three sources familiar with policymakers' thinking and analysts said. The conflict, which has rippled out across mu»»»
Kyrgyzstan to purchase 2 Airbus A321 aircraft — agreement signed in Cabinet - | 24.KG
An agreement on the acquisition of two Airbus A321ceo aircraft was signed at the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. The document was signed by Manasbek Samidinov, Chairman of the Board of Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC, and Steve Zissis, head of BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management. According to the go»»»
Italy plans air defence support for Gulf as Iran strikes escalate
Dubai: Italy plans to send air-defence assistance to Gulf countries targeted by Iranian strikes launched in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday, as the widening conflict raises security concerns across the region. “Italy, like the UK, France and German»»»
Photovoltaic park to be built near Henri Coanda Airport on European funds
The National Bucharest Airports Corporation (CNAB) has started a tender for the design and execution of a photovoltaic park that will be built in the vicinity of Runway 2 of the Henri Coanda Bucharest International Airport, as well as for its connection to the airport's power plant.According to CNA»»»
Energy Ministry: European Commission's in-depth investigation into CE Oltenia - a normal step in the assessment process
The launch, by the European Commission, of an in-depth investigation into the amended restructuring plan for state-owned lignite power company CE Oltenia represents a normal step in the assessment process, the Energy Ministry said in a release."The amended restructuring plan of the Oltenia Energy C»»»
AEI president: Romania gas price impact temporarily cushioned by caps, domestic production
The impact of rising natural gas prices at the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) hub based in Amsterdam is temporarily cushioned in Romania through price caps and domestic production, but if tensions persist, pressure on industry, inflation and the wider economy will become inevitable, believes Dumitru»»»
Coface Romania: Romania may become Europe's energy exporter, yet with no local demand
Over the next five years, Romania risks becoming an energy hub for Europe - but only as an exporter, because domestic consumption is collapsing, said Bogdan Nichisoiu, Regional Enhanced Information Manager at Coface Romania, on Wednesday."I was looking at Eurostat data on the energy dependence of E»»»
PM Bolojan: Romania must meet NRRP decarbonisation milestones without risking energy system stability
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said Romania must meet the milestones under its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) but also ensure the national energy system remains stable.Speaking in Brussels at a press conference after talks with European Commission officials, including President Ursula vo»»»
Rising Electricity Bills on Parliament's Thursday Agenda, Hearing on Kozloduy NPP Repair Costs Postponed
Parliament Thursday put off until next week a hearing of a Deputy Energy Minister and of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant CEO Ivan Andreev over “escalating costs for the annual planned maintenance programmes of Units 5 and 6 in 2026, including multimillion-euro deliveries in violation of the Public Pro»»»