Sadiq Khan says Labour should pledge to rejoin EU
Sir Sadiq Khan has called for Labour to go into the next general election promising to rejoin the EU. The mayor of London has also said the government should rejoin the customs union and single market before the next general election, expected in 2029. Downing Street has repeatedly said the governm»»»
French FM talks to US and Israeli counterparts ahead of Lebanon visit Thursday
France's foreign minister will visit Lebanon on Thursday, the ministry told AFP, after the EU called on Israel to stop its military strikes on the country. The visit by Jean-Noel Barrot "underlines France's support and solidarity with the Lebanese people, dragged into a war they didn't choose," the»»»
Sharp spike in oil prices as Gulf geopolitical tensions persist
Energy commodities are surging early on Thursday, with Brent-WTI spread widening and Middle East grades like Murban outperforming due to regional risk premiums. Global oil and gas prices have shown strong upward momentum amid continuing geopolitical tensions, recent market data shows. OilPrice.com »»»
Stoyan Taslakov Is Top-of-the-List Candidate of Vazrazhdane for Pazardzhik 13th Constituency
BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Stoyan Ta»»»
Petar Vitanov Is Top-of-the-List Candidate of Progressive Bulgaria for Pernik 14th Constituency
BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Petar Vit»»»
Milen Milchev Is Top-of-the-List Candidate of There Is Such a People for Vidin 5th Constituency
BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Milen Mil»»»
Tomislav Donchev Is Top-of-the-List Candidate of GERB-UDF for Sofia 23rd Constituency
BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Tomislav »»»
GERB Leader Borissov Discusses Elections, Interaction in Parliament
GERB leader Boyko Borissov, who is in Brussels for the 50th anniversary of the European People's Party (EPP), discussed several topics in a video broadcast on his Facebook page on Wednesday. Ahead of the April 19 snap parliamentary elections, Borissov said coalitions are formed after elections. "Ea»»»
Hungary veto on Ukraine and carbon market to hijack EU summit
Hungary’s veto on money for Ukraine is to hijack the spotlight at Thursday’s EU summit in Brussels (19 March), alongside disagreements over Europe’s carbon market, overshadowing what was meant to be a key debate on turning Europe into a truly economic powerhouse. In draft conclusions, seen by EUobs»»»
Ruse Hosts International Oncology Forum to Share Best Practices
The Complex Oncological Centre - Ruse is hosting an international medical forum as part of the European initiative INTERACT EUROPE 100, which aims to introduce interdisciplinary training in oncology. The event brings together healthcare professionals from across Europe to share experience and stren»»»
Healthcare System Fails to Deliver Health Outcomes, Says Health Committee Chair
After years of discussion, reforms and policy shifts, the healthcare system has completely lost its direction and is not delivering its most important outcome – health, Parliamentary Health Committee Chair Kostadin Angelov said on Wednesday. He was speaking at a forum on health from public attitude»»»
Parliament Mandates Government to Ask for Temporary Suspension of EU Emissions Trading Scheme
The National Assembly unanimously voted, 145-0 with no abstentions, to mandate the caretaker government to state Bulgaria's position at the March 19-20 European Council on the need to temporarily suspend the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) until its ongoing review at EU level is co»»»
Greece among 10 EU states pressing Brussels to keep giving industry free carbon permits
Ten European Union member states, including Greece, have called on the bloc to keep handing out free carbon permits to industry to help curb costs as the US-Israeli war on Iran sends energy prices soaring. European Union leaders, who meet for a summit in Brussels on Thursday, are debating proposal»»»
Russian archaeologist can be sent to Ukraine for trial, Polish judge rules
A judge in Poland has ruled that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin can be extradited to Ukraine, although his defence says he will appeal. Butyagin is being held in a Warsaw prison for allegedly conducting illegal excavations and plundering artefacts from the ancient city of Myrmekion in Cri»»»
Brnabic meets with Kos, Koopman in Brussels
BRUSSELS - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and the European Commission’s Director-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood Gert Jan Koopman in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Serbia's EU integration. "A very good and open meeting with »»»
Caretaker PM Gurov, Deputy PM Nedina Won't Be Heard by Parliament on EU Council Positions
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for European Funding Maria Nedina will not be heard by the National Assembly regarding the national position at the European Council meeting on March 19–20, as previously scheduled. The item had been listed as the third point»»»
Khasiyev: Azerbaijan-Serbia ties have reached highest level of strategic partnership
BELGRADE - Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Belgrade Kamil Khasiyev said on Wednesday Azerbaijan-Serbia bilateral ties had reached the highest level of strategic partnership and that economic cooperation was developing successfully as well, and that Azerbaijan looked forward to a visit by Serbian Preside»»»
Cabinet Appoints Ilko Getov Head of National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products
The caretaker government has approved changes to the composition of the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products, replacing Assoc. Prof. Silvia Terezova with Prof. Ilko Getov as Chair, the Government Information Service said Wednesday. Getov is a graduate of the Medical Un»»»
Hundreds of ants in tubes: Kenya arrests two in wildlife trafficking case
Nairobi: A Chinese national and a Kenyan man were charged Tuesday with unlawfully dealing in wildlife species after they were found in possession of hundreds of live ants stored in specialised tubes. The case was the latest focused on the alleged smuggling of ants in the East African country, where»»»
Blue economy emerges as strategic driver for Syria’s development
Damascus, March 17 (SANA) – The “blue economy” is gaining increasing importance as a strategic pathway for sustainable growth in Syria, leveraging the country’s Mediterranean coastline and maritime resources to support economic recovery and long-term development. The concept refers to the sustainab»»»
Trump angrily suggests US could leave allies alone to secure Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump angrily suggested Wednesday that he could leave U.S. allies to secure the Hormuz strait on their own since they have refused to fight alongside U.S. forces against Iran in the crucial shipping lane. Saying the United States doesn't need the strait -- a major global oil s»»»
GERB Leader Borissov Leaves for Brussels for 50th Anniversary of European People's Party
GERB Chair Boyko Borissov leaves for Brussels to participate in the official ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the European People's Party (EPP), the GERB press centre reported on Wednesday. The party noted that Borissov's participation in the ceremony is a strong recognition of GERB's autho»»»
New boatload of migrants reaches Crete from Libya
A new group of 39 migrants who risked the popular but lengthy sea crossing from northern Africa in a small boat has been located on the southern coast of Crete, authorities said Wednesday. One of the men, a 20-year-old from South Sudan, was allegedly identified as the person who had piloted the boa»»»
EU and NATO leadership ‘worst in decades’ – El Pais columnist
The leadership of the EU and NATO is the worst either bloc has had in decades, marked by incompetence, a policy of appeasing the US, and failing to protect European interests, according to a scathing critique by journalist Claudi Perez in Spain’s leading newspaper, El Pais. The opinion piece, publi»»»
The US-Iran war confirms China’s four worst fears
When the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on 28 February, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and crippling Tehran’s military infrastructure, the world witnessed a dramatic reshaping of the Middle East’s power structure. Beijing’s public response—measured moral condemnations, an e»»»
Bulgarian Caretaker PM Gurov to Attend European Council Summit in Brussels
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov will participate in the regular European Council meeting in Brussels on March 19-20, the Council of Ministers said in a press release. European leaders are set to discuss key international and EU issues, including the military escalation in the Middle East and »»»
On the ground as Orbán hits streets to shore up support in key seats, as Magyar maintains lead
The main square of the Hungarian city of Eger was filled on Tuesday (17 March) with people welcoming the prime minister like a star. But it was not only his supporters who turned up. Spontaneous chants of ‘Viktor! Viktor!’ greet me as I arrive at Viktor Orbán campaign rally, a good half-hour before»»»
Finnish President Concedes Europe May Have to 'De Facto' Recognize Land Lost by Ukraine
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Finland and the European Union as a whole might have to recognize Ukraine's de facto territorial concessions to Russia, Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said. "Finland or any European country will never ever accept a de jure land swap. De facto might be a reality, but de jur»»»
Romania-born alternative social media platform eYou Secures €300,000, moves into pre-launch phase
The startup eYou Social has announced the pre-launch of eYou, a new social media application born in Romania, with the ambition of becoming a credible European alternative in a market dominated by global players. The project is backed by an initial €300,000 investment and aims to introduce a new mo»»»
MOPCO: A Key Player in Egypt’s Green Ammonia Revolution
In a significant stride towards sustainable energy, John Cockerill, a leading global company, has announced a collaboration with Scatec and other key players to develop an ambitious green ammonia production facility in Damietta, Egypt. This project, which represents an investment of over $900 milli»»»
Necessary to Build New European Security System With Russia's Participation - Orban
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hungary believes that it is necessary to build a new European security, trade and energy system, but with Russia's participation, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday. "The point is that we think that the Russians should not be pushed out first from the Europea»»»
Russia Strongly Condemns Actions Aimed at Harming Health of Iranian Leadership - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia strongly condemns any actions aimed at harming the health or murder of representatives of the Iranian leadership, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "Actions aimed at harming health or even killing and eliminating representatives of the leadership of sovere»»»
Deputy PM Nedina Appointed to Head Economic, Civil Society, and Integration Councils
The Council of Ministers has appointed Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds Maria Nedina as Chair of the Council for Economic Analyses, the caretaker Government said in a press release here on Wednesday. The Council of Ministers also appointed Nedina as Chair of the Council for the Development »»»
Media Review: March 18
OVERVIEW The upcoming early parliamentary elections are the topic present in all media outlets. POLITICS According to a poll commissioned by bTV, conducted by Market Links and published by Trud, the Bulgarian Nartional Radio (BNR), and Dnevnik.bg, five political formations will gain the necessary 4»»»
Paradise Textiles to Invest $102m in Egypt
CAIRO — Paradise Textiles, part of Alpine Group, has announced plans to invest $102m in an integrated fabric manufacturing facility in Amreya Free Zone, positioning Egypt as a growing hub for sustainable textile production. The project, company-announced, is expected to create around 1,200 jobs and»»»
Memorial plaque to Hungarian Turkologist István Mandoki to be unveiled - | 24.KG
A memorial plaque honoring renowned Hungarian Turkologist and linguist István Kongur Mandoki will be unveiled on March 19 at 10 a.m. The press service of the Hungarian Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. According to the embassy, the plaque will be installed at the National Innovation Technological Sch»»»
Denitsa Simeonova Is Top-of-the-List Candidate of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria for Vratsa 6th Constituency
BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party/coalition for all constituencies for the April 19 parliamentary elections. The information about the candidates is provided by the respective political entity, the candidates themselves and other official sources. Denitsa S»»»
Senior EU official rebukes Zelensky over Orban threat
European Council President Antonio Costa has rebuked Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky over a recent threat directed at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Zelensky suggested earlier this month that he could dispatch the Ukrainian military to “speak” with a “certain person” in the EU – widely understo»»»
Nazis honored in EU country’s capital
Hundreds of people marched in the Latvian capital Riga on Monday to commemorate Latvians who served in a Waffen SS unit for Nazi Germany during World War II. While the country’s law bans the public display of Nazi symbols and glorification of Nazism, the annual march is permitted to proceed under t»»»
Vazrazhdane Calls for Parliamentary Position on Carbon Emissions Trading Ahead of EU Summit
At the start of Wednesday’s plenary sitting, the Vazrazhdane party called in a declaration for the National Assembly of Bulgaria to formulate Bulgaria’s position on carbon emissions trading ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting on March 19, 2026. Speaking from the parliamentary rostrum, MP»»»
Iran lashes out with attacks on Israel and Gulf neighbors
Iran lashed out following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike with attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors and Israel on Wednesday, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses and killing two people near Tel Aviv as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing. »»»
Over 2,000 Coal Jobs Vanish in Bulgaria as Low-Carbon Transition Hits Hard
Over 2,000 jobs in Bulgaria’s coal sector have been lost amid the ongoing shift toward a low-carbon economy, CITUB President Plamen Dimitrov reported at a labor market forum focused on the energy transition. He noted that roughly 1,000 jobs disappeared in the Maritsa Basin alone, while other region»»»
US oil exports explode: Top buyers revealed
The US has emerged as the world's biggest oil supplier months before the war with Iran started. The United States has officially become one of the planet’s top oil exporters, shipping a staggering 3.9 billion barrels of crude and petroleum products in 2025 alone, according to fresh US Energy Inform»»»
Foreign Minister Toiu: Romania's main priority - supporting EU integration of candidate states
Romania's main priority is supporting the integration of candidate states into the European Union, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on Tuesday in Trieste, where she attended the ministerial conference marking the 30th anniversary of the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI).»»»
President Nicusor Dan , at European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday
President Nicusor Dan will participate on Thursday and Friday, in Brussels, in the European Council meeting and the Euro Summit in an expanded format.According to the Presidential Administration, the agenda of the meetings includes major topics for the European Union, largely interconnected and ref»»»
"No oil, no money," Orban tells Ukraine
“No oil. No money.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to take a hard line on dropping his veto on the disbursement of the €90bn EU loan agreed in December, as Brussels comes up with a face saving solution to end the impasse. »»»
Hormuz Crisis: Allies Refuse to Join US-Israeli 'War of Choice' Against Iran – Professor
European NATO members and other US allies do not want to get involved in the war against Iran, Professor Mehran Kamrava from Georgetown University in Qatar tells Sputnik. "America's treatment of NATO has undermined America's standing not just globally, but particularly among America's traditional a»»»
BR Exclusive | Cristina Iliescu (Colinele Transilvaniei) Cristina Iliescu on the future of Transylvania’s living landscapes
As experiential tourism gains momentum worldwide, regions that offer authentic cultural landscapes and meaningful engagement with local communities are increasingly capturing the attention of international travelers. Colinele Transilvaniei / the Transylvanian Highlands have emerged as one of Romani»»»
Caretaker Government Reviews Advisory Body Posts and EU Meeting Reports
The caretaker government will discuss draft decisions on appointing chairs of several consultative bodies to the Council of Ministers, the government press service said on Wednesday. The bodies include the Council for Economic Analyses, the National Council for Prevention and Protection from Domest»»»