Saudi Arabia Declares 2026 ‘Year of Artificial Intelligence’ to Boost Data Economy
As the global race toward a digital economy accelerates and the world enters a new era driven by algorithms, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a key player in the future of advanced technologies. The Saudi Cabinet has declared 2026 the “Year of Artificial Intelligence,” a decision that reflects»»»
MRF–New Beginning Proposes Fund to Compensate Businesses and Individuals for High Fuel Prices
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning parliamentary group Thursday tabled in Parliament a draft resolution obliging the Council of Ministers to take measures to compensate individuals and businesses for high fuel prices resulting from the military action in Iran. Speaking to re»»»
'Fingers on the trigger': Deadly warnings for Iranians being urged to take action
When US President Donald Trump began strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the process, he told Iranians to "take over your government". "It will be yours to take," Trump said. "This will be probably your only chance for generations." But as the war between the US and Is»»»
Four power workers to testify over Keratea wildfire
Four employees of Greece’s HEDNO power distribution network operator have been summoned to testify as suspects in connection with a wildfire near Athens last summer that killed one man. Fire service officials believe the blaze was started by sparks from an electricity pole whose fittings were alleg»»»
How Middle East conflict is costing '$1 billion a day', deepens humanitarian crisis
Dubai: The United Nations (UN) has warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East is costing around $1 billion a day, while humanitarian agencies struggle with a severe shortage of funding to assist millions of vulnerable people worldwide. According to UN relief chief Tom Fletcher, the Midd»»»
Pope Leo prays for peace in Middle East after Lebanese priest killed
Dubai: Pope Leo XIV has urged people around the world to pray for peace amid the ongoing regional tensions and has expressed sorrow for victims of violence. During his weekly general audience at the Vatican, the pope has called on the faithful to offer prayers that can bring comfort to those who ar»»»
Dubai’s ‘Gift It Forward’ initiative delivers Dh14m in Eid support to 4,000 families
Dubai: More than 4,000 Emirati families have received essential goods and support following the conclusion of the third season of the ‘Gift It Forward’ initiative, a community programme that distributed items valued at more than Dh14 million. The six-day event, held at Al Twar Hall in late February»»»
Social enterprise accelerator launched along Via Transilvanica
A new initiative designed to support local entrepreneurship along the iconic hiking route Via Transilvanica has been launched by Asociația Tășuleasa Social in partnership with ADV România. The program, titled “Acceleratorul de întreprinderi sociale pe Via Transilvanica”, aims to support the creatio»»»
Iran-US-Israel Conflict Enters Phase of Prolonged Attrition
The confrontation between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other has entered a phase of mutual attrition, shifting from temporary military escalation to a sustained pattern of operations, deterrence and endurance. According to a report released Wednesday by the Gulf Research»»»
Fiscal Council Warns: Higher Oil Costs Could Strain Bulgaria’s Economy and Trade
The Fiscal Council has assessed that a 25% surge in global oil prices would constitute a moderate external shock for Bulgaria, primarily impacting the economy through higher energy import costs, rising inflation, and a potential slowdown in external demand. In its 2026 fiscal outlook simulation, th»»»
Countries review Cuban medical brigades amid U.S. pressure - UPI.com
Reports say Cuba obtains billions of dollars a year through exporting professional services, including health specialists. File Photo by Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA March 12 (UPI) -- Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have begun to end or review medical cooperation agreements with Cub»»»
Can Nigeria and Angola shield Africa from oil hikes?
Lolade Adewuyi | Sandra QuialaThe war in Iran is pushing global oil prices higher. But could Nigeria’s massive Dangote refinery and Angola’s stable oil output help cushion the blow for Africa? https://p.dw.com/p/5ABN3AdvertisementThe US-Israel war in Iran has already driven global oil prices up by »»»
Air pollution in Bishkek as of March 12: Capital ranks first - | 24.KG
Bishkek ranked first in the World Air Quality ranking of the world’s largest cities by air quality as of 1:45 p.m. The city was rated as «unhealthy.» According to the website, the air quality index (AQI) is 190. Information is available in real time. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is divided into six »»»
Oil prices surge above $100 as Iran-linked attacks hit Gulf shipping - UPI.com
Oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel Thursday after attacks on commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf. This photo, taken March 10, shows a motorist refueling a car in London. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA March 12 (UPI) -- Oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel Thursday after attacks on c»»»
OPEC: Ongoing Geopolitical Developments Warrant Close Monitoring of Markets
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has maintained, for the seventh consecutive month, its 2026-2027 global oil demand growth projections unchanged. OPEC kept its forecast for global oil demand growth at 1.38 million bpd for 2026 and at 1.3 million bpd for 2027. The Iran war ha»»»
Man faces slander charges over social media post about health minister
A 34-year-old man faces charges of online slander over a video posted on social media that allegedly targeted Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis. A police statement Thursday said that, following a complaint over the post, the suspect was identified by the cybercrime squad as the administrator of the»»»
Almaz Imangaziev: China asks Kyrgyzstan to introduce visa-free regime first - | 24.KG
China is asking Kyrgyzstan to be the first to introduce a visa-free regime for Chinese citizens. Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Almaz Imangaziev said at a meeting of Parliament. He made the statement while responding to a question from MP Zhumabek Salymbekov, who asked why China had already »»»
Activists to hold rally in Bishkek in defense of peaceful assembly - | 24.KG
On March 13 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., activists Tolekan Ismailova and Bermet Borubaeva will organize a peaceful rally near the entrance to the building of Pervomaisky District Administration in Bishkek. The event will focus on protecting the fundamental right of citizens to freedom of peaceful assem»»»
Travelling from the UAE? What your travel insurance really covers during regional tensions
Dubai: With airspace disruptions and heightened geopolitical tensions affecting parts of West Asia, travel insurance is back in the spotlight for UAE travellers. Stay updated: Get the latest faster by downloading the Gulf News app - it's completely free. Click here for Apple or here for Android. Yo»»»
Dh220m villa deal shakes up Dubai luxury property market
Dubai: Dubai’s property market recorded a major transaction on Thursday with the sale of a luxury villa on the World Islands for Dh220 million, highlighting strong demand and sustained momentum in the emirate’s real estate sector. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Accord»»»
Fake videos, misleading posts about UAE under scrutiny
Dubai: The UAE Public Prosecution has identified misleading and unlawful content circulating on social media platforms, including videos and scenes that occurred outside the country but were falsely attributed to the UAE, a senior prosecutor said. Khalid Al Madhani, Attorney General of the Federal »»»
US launches probe into trading partners including the EU, China and India
The US has launched a new investigation into some of its biggest trading partners after the Supreme Court struck down a key part of President Donald Trump's tariffs policies last month. On Wednesday, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Section 301 unfair trade practices probe could lead»»»
Bird Flu Outbreak Detected at Duck Farm in South Bulgaria
An outbreak of bird flu has been detected at a duck farm in the village of Kasnakovo near Dimitrovgrad, Georgi Iliev, Director of the Regional Food Safety Directorate in Haskovo, told the Bulgarian News Agency. The farm raises around 30,000 Mulards. It is a subsidiary of а poultry farm near the vil»»»
Kerala child actor Hari Murali found dead at 27
Dubai: Kerala child actor Hari Murali was found dead at his residence in Kerala. He was 27, according to a report on Manorama Online. The cause of his death hasn't been confirmed by his family. Hari Murali was the son of Payyannur Murali, who had been active in theatre circles for around three deca»»»
From gamer to coder: Turning screen time into future tech skills
Video game addiction has become increasingly common among youngsters, and many parents are understandably worried. Hours can disappear while levelling up characters, completing quests, and unlocking rewards. Gaming is deeply engaging, but when it begins to overshadow studies, work, and relationship»»»
Agreement for Energy Storage Projects in Romania Signed by Winners Holding Investments, Finas Group and Sieyuan Electric Co., Ltd.
The Cluj-based companies Winners Holding Investments and Finas Group, active investors in the development of renewable energy projects, signed on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sieyuan Electric Co., Ltd. (China), one of the international suppliers of electrical »»»
Operation and maintenance costs for energy generation plants are up to five times lower in Romania
An article published by Princeton University and analyses carried out by several energy publications show that, internationally, operation and maintenance costs generally represent between 1% and 4% of the construction costs of energy projects. In Romania, however, the level of investment at this s»»»
Romania has over 300,000 prosumers, and pressure on the distribution network is increasing
The number of domestic and small industrial prosumers in Romania has exceeded 300,000, and the dynamics of this phenomenon have been spectacular, stimulated by existing support schemes but also limited by their termination, according to a study conducted by AFEER and coordinated by Viorel Pintea, S»»»
EY–Eurelectric Report: Electrifying commercial fleets – savings of 246 bln. euro by 2030
Fleet electrification represents a significant economic and climate opportunity for Europe, according to the EY and Eurelectric report: Fleet Forward: powering the transition to electric mobility. The report shows that the transition of Europe’s fleets could generate cumulative operational cost sav»»»
Energynomics report: PV capacity development is significant on paper, but most projects are still in the early stages
A report published by Energynomics on the photovoltaic projects market in Romania shows that solar capacity development is significant on paper, but most projects are still in the early stages, while the transition to actual electricity production remains ...»»»
Energy to invest €2M in advanced solar power plant
One of the companies in Paval Holding (the owner of Dedeman Romanian DIY brand), Grunman Energy, will invest 2 million euros in a state-of-the-art solar power plant supported by photovoltaic panels, reports Profit.ro. The photovoltaic ...»»»
EC approves Romanian state aid scheme for electricity storage
The European Commission (EC) has approved a EUR 150 million (RON 764 million) Romanian scheme to support electricity storage, in line with the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal, the EC reported in a press statement on Friday.This measure will contribute to the transition towards a net-zero ec»»»
European gas market volatility underscores importance of Vertical Corridor for Romania
Recent increases in gas prices on the European TTF hub in Amsterdam highlight the vulnerability of Eastern European economies to external shocks and bring back into focus the need to diversify supply sources, including through the development of the Vertical Corridor, shows an analysis by consultan»»»
Official:In the next ten years, Romania will almost triple nuclear energy production capacity
Nuclear energy is one of the few sources capable of covering the clean energy deficit, and Romania has the best-performing nuclear reactors in the world in the scoreboard of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Over the next ten years, the country will almost triple its production capacity, acco»»»
Weather misty in early morning, temperatures slightly down
Tunis, March 12 (TAP) - Thursday's weather was locally misty early morning and will sometimes be heavily cloudy in the southeast, with rain affecting the north and locally the centre in the afternoon, according to forecasts by the National Institute...»»»
Bulgaria's Interim Defense Minister: No American Deployment Planned
Bulgaria’s caretaker Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov assured that the United States will not seek to use Bulgarian military bases for operations in Iran, unlike the situation in Romania. He made the statement during a parliamentary session, responding to reports from Radio Romania that Romanian P»»»
Bulgaria’s Air Defenses Fully Deployed Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Bulgaria has raised its air defense to combat readiness despite the overall threat level being assessed as low. The decision followed a missile launch by Iran targeting Turkey, prompting the Bulgarian military to increase the preparedness of its units. As part of the heightened alert, personnel are»»»
Sofia Mayor Terziev Defends Acquisition of State Properties for Public Use
In response to comments by MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski regarding the city’s plans to acquire state-owned properties, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev said the capital needs kindergartens, cultural spaces, and parks, not empty, dilapidated buildings. Earlier in the day, MRF - New Beginning sa»»»
Rising Hunger Risk: Iran War Threatens Crops, Fertilizer, and Fuel
While attention has focused on oil and LNG tankers blocked in the Strait of Hormuz, the war in Iran is creating a quieter but equally alarming threat: disruptions to global fertilizer shipments and food imports. The Gulf states, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, rel»»»
Australia to change fuel quality standards to boost supply
Sydney, Australia: Australia will adjust fuel quality standards to allow higher sulfur levels for around two months in a move that will release 100 million litres into the domestic supply, officials said Thursday. The country -- reliant on oil imports for fuel -- has seen petrol prices spike since »»»
Greek Patriot Shield Active: Bulgaria’s Skies Now Fully Covered
Acting Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced that the Patriot air defense system provided by Greece is already on duty and that Bulgaria currently has full air defense coverage. Speaking to journalists in the National Assembly, he said the system began operating roughly 16 hours after Greece »»»
Norway arrests three brothers over US embassy bombing in Oslo
Norway police on Wednesday said they had arrested three brothers suspected of a "terrorist bombing" outside the US Embassy in Oslo that caused minor damage but no injuries, as investigators probed possible motives including links to Iran. Norwegian police said Wednesday that three brothers had been»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Oil tops $100 as Iran attacks offset IEA stockpile release
Doha, Qatar: Oil soared above $100 and stocks sank Thursday as Iran's fresh attempts to hit supplies in the Middle East and threats to bring down the global economy overshadowed a record release of strategic crude by the International Energy Agency, reported AFP. It stated that the IEA said Wednesd»»»
Tracing the US military's learning curve on fighting Iran's drones: What to know
WASHINGTON: The Iran war quickly tested America's ability to combat the swarms of cheap drones that have become a staple of the modern battlefield after Ukraine and Russia demonstrated how effective they could be. The Islamic Republic launched so many drones across the region at once that some slip»»»
How Trump and his Advisers Miscalculated Iran’s Response to War
By Mark Mazzetti, Tyler Pager, Edward Wong On Feb. 18, as President Trump weighed whether to launch military attacks on Iran, Chris Wright, the energy secretary, told an interviewer he was not concerned that the looming war might disrupt oil supplies in the Middle East and wreak havoc in energy mar»»»
PEFA: Women's fiscal contribution to economy is 509 billion lei between 2022 and 2024
Women's fiscal contribution to the Romanian economy reached 509 billion lei between 2022 and 2024, the equivalent of 24.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the data included in the 2026 Women's Entrepreneurship and Leadership Index, presented on Wednesday by President of the Europe»»»
Increasingly fewer Romanians interested in a job abroad amid uncertain international context
The increasingly uncertain international context is influencing the intention of Romanians to go to work abroad and only 6.3% of them already have a plan in place for 2026, with the first countries on the list of options being Germany, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Greece, while the United Arab Emi»»»
INSCOP survey: 37.3% of Romanians believe PSD should remain in Government
55.7 percent of Romanians believe that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) should leave the Government, while 37.3 percent think the party should remain in Government, according to a survey conducted by INSCOP Research between 2 and 6 March 2026. A further 7 percent of respondents said they did not k»»»
AEP: Around 15.5 mln lei in state subsidies transferred to political parties in March
The Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) transferred a total of 15,465,843 lei in March, representing subsidies allocated to political parties from the state budget.According to an AEP statement sent on Wednesday, the Social Democratic Party received 5,131,437 lei.The National Liberal Party received»»»
PM Bolojan meets Schwarz Group representatives: Gov't is fully open to supporting competitive Romanian producers
Investment opportunities in the food production sector in Romania, as well as the promotion of Romanian producers on European markets, were the topics discussed on Tuesday, at the Victoria Palace, by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and Schwarz Group CEO Gerd Chrzanowski.According to a Government press »»»