Celina Ali Islamabad: European Union Ambassador Dr. Riina Kionka this week extended congratulations to Pakistanis on their 77th Independence Day and honoured the country’s “vibrant diversity in the spirit of respect, unity, and inclusion envisioned by its founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.” At a special event on the premises of the European Union Delegation to […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Portugal offers a stunning blend of rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, making it one of the popular tourist destinations. A huge number of visitors travel to the European country to explore historic sites like the Tower of Belém and Sintra’s fairytale palaces in Portugal. Whether seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural […]
Read MoreBrussels: The European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the world’s first extensive and far-reaching legislation on AI, has come into force. Its purpose is to ensure that AI developed and used in the European Union’s member states is trustworthy and thus the Act is hedged around with comprehensive safeguards to protect people’s fundamental rights. The […]
Read MoreParis: France remained Europe’s top physical net power exporter in the first half of the year at 40.8 TWh – a 31% jump from the second half of 2023, a Montel Analytics report showed this week. The surge was due to increased nuclear output, a surplus of hydropower generation and persistently low demand, despite French […]
Read MoreCopenhagen: Tourists visiting Copenhagen this summer are encouraged to participate in unusual kinds of vacation fun, including plucking floating trash from the Danish capital’s waterways, cycling to museums instead of going by car, or volunteering at an urban garden. All these activities are part of a new, four-week pilot project called CopenPay that rewards tourists […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Secretary General, Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland this week said the Pakistani youth full of rich potential in creativity and innovation are the key to brighten future and embrace climate resilience. She was addressing as special guest at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) jointly held symposium, titled “Driving the Change: The Dynamic Role […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal’s AD government pledged this week to spend €11.1 million rehabilitating 10 rivers and streams “from the north to the south of the country,” covering 214 kms. According to information provided by the press office of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the projects include restoration work on the River Tua (in […]
Read MoreZia Weise Brussels: The European Union plans to pressure emerging economies such as China to contribute funding for climate action in developing nations at global negotiations in November, according to POLITICO. Financing is at the center of this year’s United Nations climate conference, known as COP29, with developing countries clamoring for a significant increase in […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal may offer residency through a decentralised cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, as part of its Golden Visa Program. In this way, Portugal could become the first European country to offer residency through its Golden Visa Program, in exchange of investments made through Bitcoin. According to co-founder and CEO of Unbound Fund, Alessandro Palombo […]
Read MoreWarsaw: A Polish deputy foreign minister has suggested that Hungary could leave the EU and NATO and instead “create a union with Putin and authoritarian states”. His remarks came in response to a speech on Saturday by Viktor Orbán in which the Hungarian prime minister criticised the West, praised Russia, and accused Poland of “hypocrisy” […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: A new penny will be distributed throughout Portugal from Wednesday that depicts the legendary hero Ulysses, designed by artist Gonçalo Viana. With a face value of €5, the coin is only valid in Portugal, and will be distributed to the public through credit institutions, the Banco de Portugal’s cash offices and the shops […]
Read MoreBulgaria’s Sunny Beach has narrowly beaten Turkey’s Marmaris in a study assessing Europe’s best value family summer holiday resort. Post Office Travel Money, which conducted the research, urged people booking family breaks to do “holiday homework” to avoid “busting the budget while abroad”. The report took into account the cost of common tourist expenses in […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Denmark’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jakob Linulf this week celebrated the 75 years of Pakistan-Denmark diplomatic relations. “Thrilled to celebrate a monumental milestone: 75 years of ????-???? diplomatic relations! In 1949, Danish representative in Tehran, Axel Caspar Frederik Sporon-Fridler, was accredited to Karachi,” he posted on X. Denmark-Pakistan relations are friendly. Pakistan and […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: French Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, this week hosted a reception to celebrate France’s National Day. Bastille Day, referred to in France as “le Quatorze Juillet,” commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789. This event was a key turning point in the French Revolution, symbolizing the fight against […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: Portugal plans to increase the weight of renewables to 51% of its final energy needs by 2030 from a current target of 47% as part of its goal to become carbon neutral by 2045, the government said this week. The new target is part of an updated draft of the energy and climate […]
Read MoreKrassen Nikolov Sofia: Bulgaria has lost €0.7 billion this year alone – including €423 million in direct losses and €225 million in lost benefits – as a result of not being fully admitted to the Schengen area, said caretaker Economy Minister Petko Nikolov. Bulgaria, along with Romania became Schengen Area members at the end of […]
Read MoreMoira Mccarthy Lisbon: It was just past sunrise and there I was, frolicking on a beach, jumping in tidal pools, running in circles with arms spread wide as starlings flew around me, taking in the beauty as the morning light slowly filtered up and over the cliffs and rock formations along the beach known as […]
Read MoreAmelia Nierenberg Sofia: Archaeologists in Bulgaria made an unexpected discovery in an ancient Roman sewer last week: A well-preserved marble statue, taller than a man. “We found it by accident,” said Lyudmil Vagalinski, the scientific director of the excavation. “It was amazing. A whole statue appeared in front of us.” The discovery could illuminate how […]
Read MoreKarachi: The German Consulate in Karachi this week halted its services for non-EU citizens due to security issues. In 2023, Pakistan emerged among the top nationalities with the highest visa rejections in Germany and Schengen states overall. Pakistanis spent €3.3 million on visa applications in 2023, while their expenses might increase further in 2024. The […]
Read MoreHefei: The man who spearheaded China’s electric car strategy said Wednesday that Chinese investment in the European electric vehicles industry could be a way forward for both sides amid trade tensions. “I believe the governments [of China and the European Union] are now considering how, through negotiations, they can combine investment together with commodity trade,” […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The Portuguese Air Force this week received its second KC-390 multi-mission aircraft from aerospace giant Embraer. The new aircraft follows the delivery of its sister plane last year under a five-unit 2019 deal, signed to bolster the air force’s transport and cargo capabilities. Embraer’s eighth global C-390 craft is fitted with standard NATO […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia – Women account for 27% of Bulgaria’s new National Assembly (parliament), elected by a snap vote on June 9 and sworn in on June 19. After the European elections, which, in Bulgaria, coincided with the vote for the national legislature, the country sent only four women to the European Parliament, where it has […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Dr Riina Kionka, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan this week called on the Federal Minister for Law and Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. In the meeting, relations between Pakistan and European Union and issues of mutual interest were discussed, said a press release. The law minister […]
Read MoreLisbon: A new circular hiking trail is being opened in Portugal to combat over-tourism. Portugal’s renowned tourist hotspots, such as Lisbon and the Algarve, are often overwhelmed with visitors. In response, a new hiking trail, Palmilhar Portugal (Walking Portugal), aims to restore balance by drawing tourists to lesser-known regions. This project will become the world’s […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: The Commission welcomes the Council’s adoption of a 14th package of sanctions against Russia. The new package responds to the needs and findings on the ground, and tackles enforcement issues. As the Russian aggression against Ukraine continues, the EU remains determined to keep acting to further reduce Russia’s sources of revenue and capacity […]
Read MoreNewswire Sofia: The Bulgarian labour market is facing a shortage of workers ranging from 250,000 to 300,000, as asserted by the human resources expert Georgi Parvanov. Among these, 70,000 are attributed to the lack of seasonal workers, Schengen.News reports. Parvanov, who is a member of the executive committee of the Confederation of Employment, suggested that […]
Read MoreNewswire Athens: Effective June 5, 2024, foreign nationals who enter Greece under visa-exempt status or on a C visa can now apply for an EU Blue Card. Previously, only D visa holders could apply for an EU Blue Card. Additionally, EU Blue Card applicants may now choose whether to undergo a ‘pre-screening’ process, whereas previously […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The Portuguese government presented this week its action plan for international migration, built around regulated immigration, foreign talent attraction, humanistic integration, and institutional reorganisation. The plan comprises 41 measures. These include: the prioritisation of entry channels for family reunification, young students and skilled professionals; the development and execution of the national plan for […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the European Union this week activated its emergency aid reserve to avoid a risk of famine in the country. This will bring the total EU response to nearly €150 million in humanitarian aid for this crisis in 2024. This funding will support partners […]
Read MoreSofia: Bulgaria’s centre-right GERB party won 68 seats in the 240-seat parliament this week and will need at least two coalition partners to form the cabinet, state election commission results showed. The Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF), mainly representing Bulgaria’s large ethnic Turkish minority, won 47 seats while pro-Western bloc We Continue the Change […]
Read MoreCrispian Balmer Bari: Since taking office in 2022, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proved a pragmatic partner on major international issues, assuaging fears she would be a dogmatic conservative unwilling to compromise. But at the Group of Seven summit that she hosted in southern Italy this week, Meloni showed she had some red lines […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan Fredrico Silva this week celebrated Portugal National Day and hosted a grand reception. The Portuguese Embassy in Pakistan led by Ambassador Fredrico Silva honoured the country’s rich history and cultural heritage. The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including the Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian […]
Read MoreShkurta Januzi Brussels: The easiest Schengen visas to obtain for summer 2024 are those issued by Iceland, Switzerland, Latvia and Italy. These countries have a lower rejection rate, thus lowering the chances for an applicant to receive a negative response in their application. Malta, Estonia, and Belgium are the world’s worst countries to apply for […]
Read MoreNewswire Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron this week announced he was dissolving parliament and called snap legislative elections after the far-right trounced his centrist alliance in EU polls. The first round of elections for the lower house National Assembly will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7, Macron announced in […]
Read MoreSofia: The remains of Ferdinand Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the first king of Bulgaria following five centuries of Ottoman rule, were repatriated from Germany this week to be interred in a family mausoleum, 76 years after his death. “The due homage will be paid to a head of state… who, despite contradictory interpretations of certain moments of his […]
Read MoreIskra Kirova Brussels: The European Commission decided to close the article 7 procedure against Poland this week, despite Poland’s newly elected government not having implemented all needed reforms. Article 7 is the EU’s primary treaty-based mechanism to hold accountable EU member states that undermine the bloc’s values, including by violating the rule of law. Article […]
Read MoreNewswire Lisbon: The number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal surpassed 2.8 million from January through March, making it the best first quarter on record despite high global inflation and interest rates, data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed this week. Measuring only foreigners staying in Portuguese hotels, the number by far topped 1.8 million […]
Read MoreXi’an: A train fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi’an, the capital city of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province this week, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000. To date, China-Europe freight trains have transported more than 8.7 million twenty-foot equivalent unit […]
Read MoreCelina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan and Bulgaria have always enjoyed amicable ties defined by mutual respect and a convergence of views on global and regional developments. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 15th June 1965. Bulgaria opened its Embassy in Islamabad in 1968. Sofia was concurrently accredited to our mission based in Belgrade […]
Read MoreNewswire Brussels: The next European Commission and Parliament are likely to place security and competitiveness at the centre of their quest for a more geopolitical Europe. With concerns about the costs of the green transition, growing trade tensions between the US and China, and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the US presidential election and Russia’s […]
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