Norway

A recent study funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway under the EEA Financial Mechanism reveals that a staggering one in four Bulgarians has encountered violence.

After more than a decade of anticipation, Bulgaria, together with Romania, has finally gained entry into the Schengen area. However, the initial approval, effective from March 2024, is limited to air and sea routes exclusively. This development signifies the end of passport checks for flights connecting Bulgaria to the broader European landscape, promising smoother travel processes.

Tesla has secured the top spot in Norway's car sales for three consecutive years, triumphing despite tensions between the American electric vehicle company and influential unions in the Nordic region, according to Reuters.

Citizens of European Union members Romania and Bulgaria will no longer need a passport from March 31, 2024 to travel by air or sea to most other EU countries as well as Norway and Switzerland, the council of EU governments said on Saturday.

Romania and Bulgaria have reached an agreement with Austria to join the European Schengen area of free movement by sea and air in March 2024, the Romanian government said Wednesday.

"After 13 years, Romania is finally going to join Schengen! We have a political agreement on this," Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.

Bulgaria is deliberating the potential engagement in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden operation, as announced by Defence Minister Todor Tagarev during a recent media briefing. Tagarev underscored Bulgaria's susceptibility to regional developments, expressing interest in contributing to the efforts despite the nation not being considered a naval powerhouse.

"The testing of the new self-propelled artillery units has been completed and their mass production has already begun," said Sergey Chemezov, the head of Rostec, in an interview with the state news agency RIA, adding that the first pilot batch will be delivered by the end of 2023.

Greece will send a Hellenic Navy frigate to the multinational force led by the United States that will maintain unfettered access to the Red Sea for commercial ships, Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced on Thursday.

Israel faces the risk of losing the support of its traditional allies, as well as the perception of invincibility, both of which are crucial for a relatively young state confronting existential threats.

The US has launched a multinational effort aimed at safeguarding Red Sea shipping routes following increased attacks on merchant vessels. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made the announcement during his visit to Bahrain.