At is regular sitting here on Wednesday, the Cabinet adopted a resolution on changes to the composition of the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products. Prof. Alexandra Savova was elected to replace Prof. Ilko Getov as Council head. Assoc. Prof. Iva Pervova takes Prof. Sav»»»

The Cabinet Wednesday designated screening authorities pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the introduction of screening of third-country nationals at the external borders of the EU, the Government Information Service reported. Bulga»»»

Arab Finance: Rowad Modern Engineering, a subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric’s (SWDY), has signed, as part of an Alstom-led consortium, an agreement with the Egyptian National Railways to execute a series of railway and logistics infrastructure projects across Egypt, as per an emailed press release. T»»»

LONDON: Syria’s state-owned telecom operator restored internet traffic to normal capacity on Wednesday via the undersea fiber cable connecting the coastal city of Tartus with Alexandria in Egypt. Syria Telecom announced on Monday that the Tartus-Alexandria cable had been subjected to an “act of sab»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump pictured at a round table discussion at the G7 Summit in Evian, France, before leaders issued a statement backing his Iran deal and calling for a "robust and comprehensive follow-on agreement" that would bring peace and security to the whole region. Photo via Ukrainian P»»»

JEDDAH: An international research team led by scientists from King Abdulaziz University has identified and documented the first marine sediments from the Oligocene Epoch in northwestern Saudi Arabia, a discovery that is reshaping understanding of the region’s geological history. The newly recognize»»»

Ruse University has strengthened its position as one of Bulgaria’s leading research institutions, Honorary Rector and Chair of the General Assembly Hristo Beloev said here on Wednesday. He was speaking at a news conference presenting the results of the Ruse Research University project. Ruse Univers»»»

The Council of Ministers on Wednesday cleared the next step in Bulgaria’s project to procure seven new 3D radars. The decision approving the draft order for the acquisition of the 3D radars authorizes negotiations and the signing of the draft order under the framework agreement between Bulgaria’s M»»»

RIYADH: Dubai-based logistics giant DP World has entered exclusive negotiations for a long-term lease to develop and operate a container terminal at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, a move that would mark its first container terminal on the US Gulf Coast. According to a press release, the agree»»»

Zagreb: Police on Wednesday arrested a crew member of a catamaran that collided with a sailboat in Croatia's central Adriatic, killing four Czech nationals. In one of the worst maritime accidents in the country in years, the catamaran carrying more than 100 people hit the French-flagged sailboat wi»»»

Kazan, Russia, takes center stage from June 17–19 as it plays host to the Russia-ASEAN Summit. Sputnik comes to you live from Kazan, where President Vladimir Putin hosts an official reception and holds bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN Summit.Kazan rolls out the welcome mat to 11»»»

TEHRAN: An Iranian official on Wednesday said the funeral procession for late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed by US-Israeli strikes in February, will pass through Iraq before his burial in Iran. In a video carried by state media, Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani said the farewell c»»»

Kevin Warsh will take to the podium Wednesday for the first time as the chairman of the Federal Reserve to reveal the latest interest rate decision. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Kevin Warsh will take to the podium Wednesday for the first time as the chairman of the Fede»»»

The Brave Boar 2026 exercise is in fact part of NATO’s plans for total domination in the Baltic region, retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin tells Sputnik. Set in the Suwalki Gap – a 65km stretch of land that separates Kaliningrad region from Belarus, the exercise is meant to let»»»

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asked US President Donald Trump to take the lead in seeking a peaceful resolution of tensions with North Korea during a brief exchange at the Group of Seven summit on Tuesday, Lee’s office said. The two leaders greeted each other during a G7 leaders’ grou»»»

DUBAI: Eight months into a ceasefire that has failed to stop Israeli attacks or fully open Gaza’s borders, the 2.1 million Palestinians inside the besieged enclave are entering a summer that aid agencies warn could accelerate an already unfolding public health catastrophe. As summer temperatures so»»»

MOSCOW: Russia is introducing restrictions on flights by light ​private aircraft and drones in Moscow and surrounding regions, setting a minimum altitude requirement, aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said on Wednesday. Russia ‌has in ‌recent months ​been ‌regularly ⁠repelling Ukrainian ​drone attack»»»

The Department of Justice is trying to block a lawsuit against Elon Musk's xAI. File Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA June 17 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice is trying to quash a lawsuit against a power plant that supports an xAI data center and is arguing that the turbines are essential to national se»»»

The Council of Ministers Wednesday approved the allocation of up to EUR 10.2 million to the Central Election Commission (CEC), the Government Information Service reported. Part of the funds will be used to pay obligations related to the parliamentary elections on April 19, 2026, as well as to pay t»»»

At its regular sitting on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers appointed State Intelligence Agency (SIA) Deputy Chair Assen Tutekov acting head of the Agency, the Government Information Service reported. He will serve as acting SIA Chair until a new head is elected. The Cabinet also appointed Nikola»»»

KABUL: Government workers in different parts of Afghanistan have started switching off their smartphones, following an order imposed Wednesday that they told AFP came from Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. A letter announcing the ban on smartphones for all government employees started circulati»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that his country's negotiations with Israel in Washington were independent of the US-Iran deal to bring an end to the Middle East conflict. Lebanon and Israel have been holding direct talks in Washington since April, seeking to end the hostilities betwe»»»

JILJILIYA, Palestinian Territories Israeli settlers set fire to mosques in two West Bank villages on Wednesday, the local mayors said, while AFP journalists at the site saw signs of arson and vandalism. Israel’s military confirmed to AFP the arson and graffiti on the mosques, but did not identify t»»»

A purported draft of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding circulating online suggests that Washington could grant Tehran sweeping sanctions relief and access to frozen assets while leaving key nuclear issues to future negotiations. The 14-point list emerged on Tuesday as the administration of US»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met on Wednesday in Belgrade with Slovenian Parliament Speaker Zoran Stevanovic to discuss bilateral relations, the situation in the region and the most important geopolitical issues. "The two officials mutually noted that relations between Belgrade and Ljubljana »»»

By Sherif Abdel Ghaffar I read an article for an expat who used to live in Egypt from 2002 till 2014, this writer apparently also started an English-speaking magazine in Egypt when she lived there. The article in so many words was bashing up the new capital city project in Egypt. I was filled with »»»

The Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) Wednesday said that it has closed the 5th evaluation round for Bulgaria. The country has implemented all 40 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations a»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s NHC Innovation, the digital and technological arm of the National Housing Co., signed three strategic partnership agreements with Huawei, Lenovo, and ByteDance in Shenzhen, China. The agreements come as part of the official visit to China by Minister of Municipalities and Hou»»»

ALAVERDI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday a visit to the Alaverdi St George monastery, with which he concluded a three-day official trip to Georgia, would remain one of his most beautiful memories from the country. Vucic, who was accompanied on the visit to the monastery by hi»»»

Dubai: The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) has crossed a market capitalisation of Dh1 trillion, with its General Index reaching 6,115.97 points, the Dubai Media Office announced Wednesday. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The milestone comes as UAE markets recorded gains f»»»

LOS ANGELES: England begin their bid to end a 60-year wait for a trophy when they take on Croatia in their World Cup opener on Wednesday while Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in a record-equalling sixth tournament. Portuguese great Ronaldo, 41, has a tough act to follow after his old nemesis Lione»»»

Bulgaria has presented its position over the arson of Bulgarian diplomatic cars in Skopje in all possible formats, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova told journalists on Wednesday before a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy. The Bulgarian State, and the Foreign Ministry in par»»»

NYON - Serbian football club Partizan Belgrade were on Wednesday drawn to play the winner of the tie between Luxembourgish side Una Strassen and San Marino's La Fiorita in the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round, with Zeleznicar Pancevo to face Portuguese outfit Braga. The draw ceremony »»»

GAZA: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has launched an economic empowerment project for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities in Deir Al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. The launch was attended by representatives from the UN Development Programme, the UN Population Fund, and the UN Office for the Co»»»

RIYADH: The chandelier-lit halls of Riyadh’s Four Seasons Hotel sparkled this week with an exhibition of some of the world’s finest gemstones. The “Jewels of the World” exhibition brought with it fine jewelry and displays of high-end craftsmanship. More than 100 of the world’s most celebrated jewel»»»

Dubai: Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President said discussions about any new regional arrangements must acknowledge Iran's direct aggression against the UAE and other GCC countries. Writing on X, Gargash was responding to comments by former Arab League Secretary-General »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Cabinet has welcomed HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's participation in the G7 Summit in France, describing the invitation as recognition of the country's growing international role in promoting peace, development and regional stability. The Cabinet meeting, chaired»»»

Hungarian police have appealed to the public for assistance in tracing 45-year-old British businessman John Robert Joseph Tovell, whose whereabouts remain unknown after he left a nightclub in the early hours of the morning in the Erzsébetváros district. Businessman disappears after night out Accord»»»

Doha The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced that it has closed a restaurant for 15 days, effective from last Sunday, after it was suspected of being linked to cases of food poisoning. In a statement, the ministry said that following reports circulating about suspected food poisoning cases a»»»

Doha The Cabinet has welcomed His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's participation in the G7 Summit in France, describing the invitation as recognition of the country's growing international role in promoting peace, development and regional stability. The Cabi»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Deputy Amir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani has met ConocoPhillips Chairman and Chief Executive Ryan Lance and his accompanying delegation during their visit to Doha. The meeting took place on Wednesday at the Amiri Diwan, focusing on cooperation between the State of Qatar an»»»

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Finance has launched the country’s first Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk programme, allowing citizens and residents to invest in government-backed Sharia-compliant securities. A T-Sukuk is a type of Sharia-compliant government investment certificate. The “T” stands for Treasury,»»»

Dubai: Arada has started the pre-launch phase of 100 Avenue Road, a 172-apartment residential development in London’s Swiss Cottage, marking the UAE-headquartered developer’s first London product after its acquisition of Regal last year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances»»»

GENEVA: UN experts on Wednesday expressed grave concern for two Britons convicted in Iran of espionage who are now on hunger strike in jail. Craig and Lindsay Foreman were sentenced to 10 years in prison in February on espionage charges, which they deny. Their family said a failed appeal hearing th»»»

Dubai: Eighteen months ago, Claire Francis received the news that every family dreads. The head of physical education at Nord Anglia International School in Dubai had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. In an instant, life became a blur of hospital appointments, major surgery, chemotherapy, radi»»»

DUBAI: Arab celebrities have been taking their football fandom to Instagram as supporters across the region rally behind the national teams competing at the FIFA World Cup. Among the most prominent voices is Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna, who has enjoyed a particularly high-profile tournament.»»»

LONDON: Police in France are exploiting broad powers to issue spot fines against Arab youth as a new form of racial profiling, a new report has warned. Published on Wednesday by Human Rights Watch, (RE)CLAIM and Maison Communautaire pour un Developpement Solidaire, the 60-page report documents a co»»»

A joint operation in Sofia, Stara Zagora, Pernik, and Aytos on Tuesday led to the dismantling of a criminal group involved in migrant smuggling, which had been operating in the country since August 2025, Deputy Prosecutor General Desislava Petrova told a news briefing here on Wednesday. Eight peopl»»»

Genoa: The new Africa and Gulf Area of the Italian Chambers of Commerce Abroad is taking shape. It is a coordination body that brings together the Italian Chambers operating in Angola, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Mozambique, Qatar, South Africa and Tunisia. This was announced by the m»»»

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s ​bribery commission has arrested Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, police said on Wednesday. Rajapaksa ‌was arrested ‌by ​the ‌Commission ⁠to ​Investigate Allegations of ⁠Bribery and Corruption and he was granted bail after being presented to ⁠t»»»