Parliamentary Committee Pushes to Strengthen Parliamentary Oversight in Albania
The parliamentary committee, leader by socialist, Fatmir Xhafaj has advanced discussions on reinforcing legislative oversight, placing institutional accountability and transparency at the center of its agenda. It formally addressed proposals aimed at strengthening parliamentary supervision over the»»»
BREAKING: Bulgaria's Defense Minister Orders Security Review After Iranian Missile Fired Toward NATO Airspace
Bulgaria is reassessing its position regarding the risks posed by the conflict in the Middle East. Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov announced that the Ministry of Defense will conduct an urgent analysis of threats and risks following recent developments in the region. According to Zaprya»»»
Nearly 150 missing after Iranian warship sinks off Sri Lanka
Nearly 150 people were missing and several dead after an Iranian warship sank Wednesday off Sri Lanka following what crew members reported as an explosion, officials said. Sri Lanka's navy rescued 32 sailors from the frigate IRIS Dena but hopes were fading for 148 other sailors, the island's Foreig»»»
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»»»
Stone crushing plant to be launched in Manas city - | 24.KG
Construction of a modern stone crushing plant is nearing completion in the city of Manas. Once operational, the plant will provide permanent jobs for approximately 70 local residents. The press service of the Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to Jalal-Abad region reported. The plant’s production c»»»
Iran Strikes Back: Retaliation Following US and Israel Attacks
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, including Tehran, resulting in significant damage and civilian casualties. In retaliation, Iran launched strikes on several countries in the region, including US military bases and Israeli territory. This escalation occurred des»»»
FM Araghchi: Trump Betrayed Diplomacy, Americans by Attacking Iran
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said US President Donald Trump betrayed both the indirect negotiations with Tehran and the American people by launching unprovoked aggression against Iran. In a post published on social media platform X on Wednesday, Araghchi said, “When complex nuclear negoti»»»
Iranian Security Forces Eliminate Cell of Armed Agents Affiliated with US-Israeli Enemy in Tehran
The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence announced in a statement the elimination of a cell of armed agents affiliated with the American-Zionist enemy in Tehran. The statement explained that the agents were planning to carry out the orders of their aggressor masters in Tehran, but the anonymous soldier»»»
Kahramaa calls on public to refrain from standing in front of electricity stations
DOHA: In light of the current circumstances and given the sensitivity and strategic importance of electricity transmission and distribution stations as vital state facilities, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has urged the public to refrain from parking vehicles in fro»»»
Donald Trump has compared Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to P.T. Barnum
US President Donald Trump has likened Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to 19th-century showman and hoaxer P. T. Barnum. Trump made the remarks on Tuesday while criticizing his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for providing unconditional military aid to Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, »»»
US base in Kuwait where six troops were killed lacked fortifications – media
Six US servicemen were killed in an Iranian strike on a military installation in Kuwait on Sunday, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has confirmed. While the Pentagon chief claimed the base’s defenses were penetrated by a single munition, media reports suggest it lacked proper fortifications and ant»»»
Thousands gather in Iran to mourn schoolgirls killed during US-Israeli strikes
Thousands of mourners have filled the streets of the southern Iranian city of Minab for the funeral of 168 schoolgirls and staff killed in an attack on an elementary school on the opening day of the US-Israeli strikes. Images from the funeral show row upon row of small, shallow graves – the final r»»»
Germany’s Merz said Spain should spend more on defense amid row with Trump
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz refused to back Spain while US President Donald Trump trashed Madrid over its refusal to host American planes for the ongoing war in the Middle East. Instead, Merz fell into NATO talking points, criticizing Madrid for not committing to the military bloc’s target of »»»
Tunisia urged to adopt gradual fiscal consolidation to address debt burden
Tunis, March 4 (TAP) - To address Tunisia’s debt burden and restore fiscal sustainability, the country should prioritise a mixed strategy centred on gradual fiscal consolidation combined with enhanced revenue mobilisation, according to a policy...»»»
Rainfall expected over most regions as of March 5
Tunis, March 4 (TAP) - Scattered and sometimes stormy rains are expected over most regions as of Thursday March 5, 2026, in the late afternoon, according to a weather situation monitoring bulletin published on Wednesday by the National Institute of...»»»
Syria and Saudi Arabia sign agreement to revive textile industry
Damascus, March 4 (SANA) Syria and Saudi Arabia signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding aimed at rehabilitating and operating state-owned textile facilities as part of Syria’s efforts to revive its cotton and textile industry. The memorandum was signed in the presence of Syrian Economy and I»»»
Peace Homes Development pledges Dh5m to Edge of Life campaign
Peace Homes Development joined a growing list of contributors to the Edge of Life campaign to rescue five million children from hunger, with a contribution of Dh5 million. The campaign was launched in Ramadan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister o»»»
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»»»
Iran postpones state funeral for Khamenei
TEHRAN Iran announced that a state funeral for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which had been planned for Wednesday evening in Tehran, was postponed "in anticipation of unprecedented turnout," state television reported. "The farewell ceremony for the martyred Imam has been postponed. The new»»»
Iraq extends airspace closure until Saturday
Baghdad: Iraq's Civil Aviation Authority announced on Wednesday the extension of the closure of Iraqi airspace to all arriving, departing and transit flights for an additional 48 hours. In a statement, the authority said the closure will remain in effect from today, until noon on Saturday as a temp»»»
Government Approves EUR 3 Mln in Financing for Ministry of Defence
The caretaker Government Wednesday approved financing for the Ministry of Defence in the amount of EUR 3,033,454 to carry out payments in 2026 under the terms of International Agreement BU-P-AAL, "Acquisition of a Mobile Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) and Related Equipment, Spare Parts,»»»
Cabinet Approves Bulgaria's Participation in International Organic Food Exhibition BIOFACH CHINA 2026
The Council of Ministers has approved a decision on Bulgaria's participation with a national stand at the BIOFACH CHINA 2026, an international organic food exhibition, which will take place from May 18 to 20, 2026, in Shanghai, China. BIOFACH CHINA is among the world’s most prestigious exhibitions »»»
MPs Vote Against Abolishment of Forced Change of Turkish Names
MPs voted at first reading against the abolishment in the Directorate General Civil Registration and Administrative Services (GRAO) of the forced change of Bulgarian citizens' Turkish names, which took place during Bulgaria's Communist regime and was part of the so-called "Revival process". The MPs»»»
Middle East Energy 2026 to take place in September in Dubai
Dubai: The 2026 edition of Middle East Energy (MEE), the region’s leading international power and energy exhibition, will be held from September 1 to 3 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Informa has confirmed. Shifting the event to September 2026 allows greater flexibility for global participa»»»
Libya needs unified institutions to restore economic vitality through UNSMIL’s efforts: Trumps Advisor Boulos
President Donald Trump’s U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, commented today on the UN Security Council on Libya released yesterday saying: ‘‘Libya’s path to lasting stability requires a credible, Libyan-led political process that unifies institutions and restores econo»»»
UAE warns against spreading rumours, unverified news
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Cyber Security Council has warned of the dangers of circulating rumours and unverified news, saying the rapid spread of misleading information during crises can increase confusion and fuel public anxiety. In a statement, the council urged the public to verify information and rely»»»
Security Council affirms role of UN in Libya and Tetteh’s road map - calls for Libyans to demonstrate political will, refrain from unilateral action, and unification of institutions and budget
The UN Security Council issued a press statement yesterday by Council President Michael G. Waltz (United States) in which it affirmed the central role of the UN in Libya and UNSMIL head Tetteh’s road map. It called for Libyans stakeholders to demonstrate political will, refrain from unilateral acti»»»
Fujairah Airport announces operating charter flights starting Saturday
Abu Dhabi: Fujairah International Airport has announced the operation of a series of charter flights as part of humanitarian efforts to support travelers wishing to return to their home countries amid current regional challenges. Emirates News Agency (WAM) said that these special charter flights ar»»»
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»»»
Israel strikes hotel in Hazmieh, buildings in Aramoun, Saadiyat and Baalbek
Israeli strikes hit a Beirut hotel and residential complex in Lebanon's east, Lebanese state media said Wednesday, as Israel announced broad strikes in response to Hezbollah missile and drone launches. Lebanese state media said the Israeli attacks targeted a building in Baalbek, in Lebanon's east f»»»
Hezbollah says targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries
Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had targeted the headquarters of Israel Aerospace Industries, in central Israel, overnight with a drone attack while also saying it launched a missile at a drone control base. In a statement the group said it had "struck the headquarters of the Israeli Aerospace Indus»»»
UAE FNC condemns Iranian attacks, calls them grave violation of sovereignty
Abu Dhabi: The Federal National Council (FNC) has strongly condemned and denounced the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the UAE, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The FNC described the attacks as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of states, a serious»»»
We stand with UAE: Residents affirm safety, normalcy amid Middle East conflict
Dubai: For people in the UAE, including locals, residents, expatriates, and tourists, life in the country remains “business as usual” as they feel reassured in the government and military’s effectiveness to lead and protect. Gulf News has gathered the voices of residents as they remain firm that th»»»
Kyrgyzstan to establish system for early detection of biological threats - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has submitted a draft resolution «On Approving the Procedure for the Prevention and Control of Biological Threats» for public discussion. The document was developed to implement the Law «On Biological Safety in the Kyrgyz Republic,» adopted in January 2025. Th»»»
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»»»
Chinese shipping giant Cosco halts services to and from Gulf
Beijing: Chinese shipping giant Cosco, which operates one of the world's biggest oil tanker fleets, announced it was suspending services to and from Gulf countries from Wednesday, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. The state-owned, Shanghai-based firm is amo»»»
Aid Trucks Resume Crossing Egypt-Gaza Border After Closure
More than 100 aid trucks crossed the Egyptian side of Gaza's Rafah border crossing on Tuesday, two sources told AFP. Israel closed all crossings into the Gaza Strip on Saturday, after it launched a joint attack on Iran with the United States. It agreed to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing, where tru»»»
Israel Orders Evacuation of Swathe of South Lebanon as Katz Authorizes Military to Advance
The Israeli military ordered the evacuation of a swathe of southern Lebanon on Wednesday, telling residents to move north of the Litani River on a third day of full-blown hostilities with Hezbollah. While Israel has already warned residents to leave dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, Wednesda»»»
Bulgaria Completes Euro Transition Period, Euro Circulation Fully Secured
Bulgaria has effectively completed the transition period for adopting the euro, though formal legal adoption remains pending. Euro banknotes are now fully integrated into circulation, with the process secured and well-organized. According to Vladimir Ivanov, head of the Euro Mechanism and chairman »»»
Putin Addresses Annual Extended Meeting of Russian Internal Affairs Ministry
The meeting is focused on reviewing the work of Russia’s internal affairs agencies in 2025, as well as setting the priority tasks for 2026. Sputnik is live as President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech at the annual extended meeting of Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.Follow Sputnik’s live fee»»»
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»»»
Qatar says Iran strikes across Gulf have crossed ‘all red lines’
Dubai: Iran’s expanding missile and drone campaign across the Gulf is testing the patience of Arab states, with Qatar warning that “all red lines have already been crossed” as Tehran’s retaliation against US-Israeli strikes begins spilling across the region. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed»»»
Saudi Arabia condemns blatant Iranian aggression, warns Iran attacks will not go unanswered
Dubai: Saudi Arabia has warned it reserves the “full right” to respond to blatant Iranian aggression after a series of drone and missile strikes targeted Riyadh and the Kingdom’s Eastern Province. The warning came during a late-night Cabinet meeting on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Mini»»»
Bulgarian Authorities Revise Assessment of Situation, Emergency Meeting of Security Council to Be Held
Caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said Wednesday that the latest developments in the Middle East call for a re-assessment of the situation by Bulgaria and an emergency meeting of the Security Council with the Council of Ministers. "The events of this morning fundamentally change our asses»»»
Russia Says France’s Plan to Expand Its Nuclear Arsenal Is Destabilizing
Russia said on Wednesday that France's plan to expand its nuclear arsenal was a highly destabilizing move that posed a potential threat to Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Monday, saying other European countries would also be able to take part in French nuclear exerci»»»
Children Must Not Be ‘Collateral Damage’ in Middle East War, Urge UN Experts
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child insisted Wednesday that children must be protected during the war in the Middle East, highlighting an alleged air strike on an Iranian school. Iran has blamed Israel and the United States for the strike on the school in the Iranian city of Minab on the fi»»»
Romanian deep tech company Qognifly launches autonomous drone countermeasure system
Qognifly, a Romanian deep-tech company specializing in autonomous counter-drone systems (C-UAS), has announced the public launch and entry into a new consolidation phase for Drone Wall, an integrated detection, tracking, and interception architecture developed by Romanian engineers and validated in»»»
Tunisian-Senegalese business meetings, April 7-11 in Dakar (CEPEX)
Tunis, March 4 (TAP) - Tunisian-Senegalese business meetings dedicated primarily to solutions and inputs for the agricultural sector will be held April 7-11 in Dakar, Senegal.Organised at the initiative of the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) and in...»»»
From rivals to co-builders: Why the Philippines needs a shared national vision
Manila: The Philippines does not lack leaders. It lacks alignment. In a nation of 7,641 islands — fragmented by geography, up to 187 languages, history and politics — no single party, alliance, or strongman can carry the weight of national transformation alone. Also In This Package Philippine passp»»»