EU rules on IDs of transgender citizens
EU member states are obliged to amend the data on gender in the identification documents of citizens who have undergone a sex change, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled. The papers of transgender persons in the bloc must reflect their “lived gender” rather than their biolog»»»
US burning through ‘years’ of munitions in Iran war – FT
The US is rapidly depleting its weapons stockpiles and has “burned through years” of some critical munitions since starting its war against Iran, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. In a closed‑door briefing on Tuesday, Pentagon officials estimated that t»»»
MPs Ask Cabinet to Submit Bill Ratifying Accession to Board of Peace Charter; Cabinet to Seek Constitutional Court Decision
Parliament Friday voted, 100-54 with three abstentions, to adopt a resolution instructing the caretaker Cabinet to submit a bill of ratification of Bulgaria's accession, as a founding State, to the Charter of the Board of Peace, established on the initiative of the United States. The draft resoluti»»»
MPs Ask Cabinet to Submit Bill Ratifying Bulgaria's Accession to Board of Peace Charter; Cabinet to Seek Constitutional Court Decision
Parliament Friday voted, 100-54 with three abstentions, to adopt a resolution instructing the caretaker Cabinet to submit a bill of ratification of Bulgaria's accession, as a founding State, to the Charter of the Board of Peace, established on the initiative of the United States. The draft resoluti»»»
Vucic: Patriarch's letter important, I expect Kosovo-Metohija Serbs' needs to be understood
ARANDJELOVAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday a letter Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church had sent to the presidents of the USA and Russia and to the Vatican to call on them to help prevent Pristina's so-called law on foreigners from entering into force on March 1»»»
Caretaker Health Minister Okoliyski: Pilot Cancer Screening Starts in June
Pilot screening for cervical and colorectal cancer is expected to begin in June in three regions of Bulgaria, caretaker Minister of Health Mihail Okoliyski told reporters on Friday. The two programmes were originally due to start last year. In early March, Okoliyski said the Public Financial Inspec»»»
Bulgaria Introduces R&D Tax Incentives, Industry Group Says
Companies will now be able to deduct an additional 25% of their research and development (R&D) expenses for tax purposes, after the National Assembly adopted on second reading amendments to the Corporate Income Tax Act, the Association for Innovation, Business Excellence, Services and Technology (A»»»
EU foreign ministers face tense talks on Ukraine amid spillover fears of Iran war
Military support for Ukraine and the fallout from the US-Israeli war against Iran are set to dominate Monday’s (16 March) foreign affairs ministers meeting. EU leaders agreed in December to disburse €90bn in soft loans to Ukraine, with an opt‑out from contributions for Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia»»»
Ukraine and allies fear easing Russian sanctions will prolong war
The decision by the US to ease some sanctions on Russian oil sales has provoked a chorus of criticism from European leaders. President Emmanuel Macron of France said there was "no justification" for it. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany said the decision was "wrong". EU Council President Antonio»»»
US eases oil sanctions, boosting Russia
BusinessUS eases oil sanctions, boosting RussiaArthur SullivanThe US has further eased sanctions on Russian oil in an attempt to bring soaring energy prices down. The news is a huge boost to the Kremlin, just when it needed one. https://p.dw.com/p/5AM3iA tanker carrying Russian oil, pictured on Jan»»»
Fico says EU should replace top diplomat Kallas as bloc loses global clout
The EU should consider replacing its top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who has become an insignificant figure on the global stage, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has said. Speaking at a meeting with students on Thursday, Fico reiterated his opposition to the former Estonian prime minister serving as th»»»
EU divided on Iran war: Energy fears and security risks escalate across Europe
The EU is facing a dilemma that could define its role in the escalating confrontation with Iran. Supporting Washington’s military campaign may strengthen transatlantic unity, but it also risks dragging the continent into a conflict that could trigger severe economic and energy consequences for the »»»
Serbian patriarch to world leaders: Do not let Serbs be expelled from Kosovo-Metohija
BELGRADE - In a letter sent on Friday, Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church called on Pope Leo XIV, Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump and other major European and world leaders to use their authority to get Pristina to halt the enforcement of an extremely dis»»»
Washington's decision to lift restrictions on Russian oil as 'very concerning' : EU
Brussels: The European Union described the United States' decision to lift some restrictions on Russian oil as "unilateral and very worrying," given the sharp rise in oil prices due to the crisis in the Middle East. European Council President Antonio Costa said in a post on the X platform that this»»»
Rama Rejects Claims of International Pressure Over Balluku Case
Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed journalists Friday regarding the case involving former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, after Parliament yesterday declined to authorize her arrest during a plenary session. Speaking at a press conference, Rama firmly rejected claims that Albania had faced in»»»
Kaufland Bulgaria to Cut Food Waste by Half by End-2030
The corporate objective of German hypermarket chain Kaufland in Bulgaria is to reduce food waste by half by the end of 2030 compared to 2018. The company commented on the issue of food waste in connection with a new EU directive, which requires Member States to reduce food waste generated by househ»»»
U.S. to probe 60 economies for allowing import of forced labor goods - UPI.com
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the 2026 budget for the Office of the Trade Representative in December. His department just announced investigations into 60 economies for allowing trade from countries with forced labor. File Photo »»»
Middle East War Begins to Affect Bulgaria’s Tourism: Industry Hopes for Domestic Tourists
The ongoing war in the Middle East is beginning to cast a shadow over Bulgaria’s tourism sector, with early signs already visible in reservations for the upcoming summer season, BGNES reported. According to representatives of the industry on the Southern Black Sea coast, the first effects are being»»»
Bulgaria’s Exports to EU Decline in 2025 as Imports Continue to Rise
Bulgaria recorded a decline in exports to European Union countries in 2025, while imports from the bloc continued to rise, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). Over the year, Bulgarian exports to EU member states fell by 3.8 percent compared to 2024, reaching a total val»»»
Peevski Push Prevails: Bulgarian Parliament Backs Move Toward Trump’s Board of Peace
A decision obliging the Bulgarian Council of Ministers to submit a law for the ratification of the country’s accession to Donald Trump’s so-called "Board of Peace" was adopted in parliament after a vote marked by significant absences and abstentions among MPs. The resolution passed with 100 votes i»»»
Bulgaria, Turkiye Explore Expanding Defence Cooperation Amid Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran
Bulgaria and Turkiye are exploring opportunities to strengthen defence cooperation against the backdrop of the wars in Ukraine and Iran. The issue was discussed during a meeting between Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Turkiye’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Mehmet Sait Uyanik at the Co»»»
Zelenskyy meets Macron as Iran war overshadows Ukraine
PoliticsUkraineZelenskyy meets Macron as Iran war overshadows UkraineRana Taha with AFP, ReutersThe Ukrainian president is in Paris for talks with one of Kyiv's staunchest allies. The meeting comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran has removed pressure on Moscow, and derailed Ukraine peace talks. https»»»
U.S. targets high oil price by allowing Moscow to sell sanctioned oil - UPI.com
The Trump administration doubled down on efforts to prevent the rising cost of oil becoming a full blown oil price shock by temporarily relaxing sanctions prohibiting the sale of Russian oil. Under a 30-day waiver, countries will now be able to buy oil currently aboard tankers, provided it was load»»»
Financial Expert Karina Karaivanova Elected and Sworn In as Deputy Central Bank Governor
On Friday, the National Assembly elected former EBRD Board member Karina Karaivanova-Ganozova as Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), heading the Issue Department. Her candidacy received 101 votes in favour, 28 votes against and 16 abstentions. Karaivanova subsequently took the oat»»»
Bulgaria Reaffirms Support for Taraclia District’s Status in Talks with Moldovan Ambassador
Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Radi Naydenov met with Emil Jacota, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Moldova, at Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry on March 12, the Ministry said in a press release on Friday. The two discussed the excellent bilateral relations between Bulg»»»
Bulgarian Farm Output Rises Amid Falling EU Prices in Late 2025
In the final quarter of 2025, farm gate prices for agricultural products across the European Union declined by nearly 1.9% compared to the same period in 2024, according to Eurostat. This follows a period of steady increases in the first three quarters of the year. Bulgaria, however, saw a slight r»»»
Games with loot boxes to get minimum 16 age rating across Europe
Games which feature loot boxes will soon be given an age rating of 16 across Europe, including in the UK, under a host of changes by the European video game ratings organisation. The Pan-European Game Information body (PEGI)'s age ratings are displayed on games sold in the UK and other countries in»»»
Bulgaria Bolsters Arsenal with 12 Advanced MARS 3 Rocket Launchers from German-Israeli Deal
Bulgaria is set to purchase 12 MARS 3 multiple rocket launcher systems as part of a broader European procurement initiative. The acquisition falls under a German-Israeli deal, which plans to produce a total of 500 rocket launchers for the German Bundeswehr, with half of these systems designated for»»»
stock.estate surpasses €6 million in funded projects and launches its first campaign in Italy
Real estate investment platform stock.estate announces it has surpassed €6 million in total funded capital, after investors contributed more than €2 million over the past two months through projects listed on the platform. This accelerated funding pace marks the strongest start to a year in the com»»»
Zelensky plotting suspending elections for years – media
Vladimir Zelensky has ordered his advisers to plot out a scenario where elections in Ukraine are suspended and the country commits to years of war, Ukrainskaya Pravda has reported, citing government sources. The tenure of Zelensky and of the Ukrainian parliament has long expired, but the Ukrainian »»»
Caretaker Cabinet Has All Submitted Documents Regarding US President Trump’s Board of Peace, FM Neynsky Says
Caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said at a news conference on Friday that the government has all documents submitted to the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria regarding US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, commenting on Bulgaria’s potential accession to the body. Neynsky said that f»»»
MPs Adopt Amendments to Budget Extension at First Reading
MPs on Friday adopted at first reading amendments to the budget extension bill with 174 votes in favour and 23 against, with no abstentions. All parliamentary groups supported the proposal except Vazrazhdane. The deadline for proposals between the first and second readings was shortened to three da»»»
OMV Petrom Enters Bulgarian Black Sea with 25% Stake in Khan Tervel Gas Block
OMV Petrom has announced that it will join the consortium exploring the offshore Khan Tervel gas block in the Bulgarian sector of the Black Sea, marking a significant expansion of its footprint in a region of growing strategic importance for Europe’s energy security. The Romanian oil and gas compan»»»
UN chief in Beirut for Lebanon 'solidarity' visit
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres said he had arrived in Beirut on Friday for a "solidarity" visit to Lebanon, where the Middle East war has claimed more than 687 lives since March 2. "I have just landed in Beirut for a visit of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. They did not choose this war. They we»»»
Vienna Insurance Group announces a profit before taxes of EUR 1.16 billion in 2026, up 31.7%
Hartwig Löger, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Vienna Insurance Group, on the Group’s performance: “VIG achieved an outstanding Group result in 2025, once again driven by strong growth and high levels of profitability in all countries. Based on this result and our strong capital position,»»»
Media Review: March 13
HEADLINES Trud’s top story is about measures the Cabinet plans to introduce to soften the impact of rising fuel prices on low-income individuals. 24 Chasa also covers the issue on its front page. Duma leads with the headline “There Is No Matter That Can Be Solved Through War,” quoting Krum Zarkov, »»»
US oil waiver includes 100million barrels loaded onto vessels
Moscow, Russia: Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev said that the United States’ decision to waive some restrictions on Russian oil would apply to about 100 million barrels of oil that had already been loaded onto vessels. In a post on his Telegram channel, Dmitriev said tha»»»
US Braces for Potential Iranian Retaliatory Operations within its Borders
Fears have grown in the US that Tehran could activate “sleeper cells” or carry out unconventional retaliatory attacks on American soil as Washington and Tel Aviv continue their war against Iran. President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that his administration knows where the Iranian sleeper cells»»»
Bulgarian Ombudsman at CoE Forum in Strasbourg
Bulgarian Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva took part in a Council of Europe forum for ombudspersons and national human rights institutions (NHRI), held on March 12 and 13, 2026, in Strasbourg, France, said Delcheva's office Friday. The high-level conference brings together ombudspersons, representative»»»
US Wants to 'Divide Europe', EU's Kallas Tells FT
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the US wants to "divide Europe" and doesn't "like the European Union" in an interview published by the Financial Times on Friday, after more than a year of turmoil in transatlantic relations. "What I think is actually important for everybody to u»»»
RAF Typhoon jets in action over Bahrain
RAF Typhoon jets have been in action over Bahrain as part of the UK's contribution to the defence of its Gulf Arab allies, the BBC has been told. Two jets out of the four sent to Qatar have been allocated specifically to help Bahrain intercept incoming drones, as the US-Israel war with Iran has ent»»»
INSCOP: 50.4% of Romanians opt for striking a balance between EU, U.S.
A bit over half of Romanians (50.4%) believe that, amid the ongoing tensions between the European Union and the American Administration led by Donald Trump, Romania should strike a balance between the EU and the U.S., according to the Informat.ro Barometer - INSCOP Research, eighth edition, conduct»»»
Ukraine's President Zelensky, meeting with Prime Minister Bolojan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the Victoria Palace on Thursday, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.The two high-ranking officials will have a meeting, with topics on the agenda of the discussions including bilateral and European cooperation, the»»»
President Dan: It is unacceptable for European Council decision on loan to Ukraine to be later challenged
President Nicusor Dan on Thursday said that it is not acceptable for a decision taken by the European Council in the formula of 27 on a loan to Ukraine to be challenged later, noting that Romania will support any kind of legal option to break the deadlock."It is not acceptable that a decision taken»»»
ONS Data: UK Economy Lost Steam Unexpectedly at Start of 2026
Britain's economy stagnated unexpectedly in January and expanded weakly in preceding months, according to official data on Friday that showed only tepid growth during the lead-up to the US-Israeli war in Iran. The figures mean British gross domestic product has been essentially flat since June, end»»»
Air Freight Rates Soar as Middle East Conflict Blocks Trade Routes
Air freight rates have risen by as much as 70% on some routes since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, data shows, as the conflict limits flights, blocks some ocean shipments and pushes up jet fuel costs. Rates on routes between South Asia and Europe have been the most affected by Middle East»»»
US Cannot Determine Whether Its Partners Have Excess Capacity - China
Late on Thursday, the Office of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the United States has opened an investigation against China, the European Union, India, and 13 more countries over their trade policies that pose threats to the United States. The United States does not have the right »»»
Chile's Kast takes office pledging security crackdown and migration curbs
Chile entered a new political phase as conservative leader José Antonio Kast formally assumed the presidency during a March 11 ceremony at the National Congress in Valparaíso, outlining an agenda focused on public security and stricter migration controls. »»»
Chile's Kast takes office pledging security crackdown and migration curbs
Chile entered a new political phase as conservative leader José Antonio Kast formally assumed the presidency during a March 11 ceremony at the National Congress in Valparaíso, outlining an agenda focused on public security and stricter migration controls. »»»
Iran demands guarantees and reparations in ceasefire talks as Gulf mediators step in
Iran has told regional intermediaries that any ceasefire with the US and Israel must be tied to sweeping security guarantees and compensation, as back-channel diplomacy intensifies amid a widening regional conflict. Accord»»»