Romanian Gymnastics Federation Should Be Fined for Not Allowing Russian Symbols — Russian Deputy
The Romanian Gymnastics Federation should be fined after refusing to allow Russian gymnasts to participate in the Challenge Cup with their flag and anthem, two-time Olympic speed skating champion and State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova said. On Friday, the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team decided to»»»
New poll reveals what Hungarians really think about ditching the forint for the euro
A clear majority of Hungarians would support replacing the forint with the euro, according to a new Medián survey, with around three in four respondents backing the introduction of the common European currency. The findings also reveal political divisions, as supporters of the opposition Fidesz par»»»
Bulgaria’s Patriarch Daniil Supports No Sanctions on Russian Church Leader Kirill
Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil declined to directly address whether opposing sanctions on Russian Patriarch Kirill contradicts Bulgaria’s national interest, as the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church held a scheduled session alongside a meeting with Prime Minister Rumen Radev. When asked about »»»
Sofia Keeps Soviet-Spy Linked Zaimov Park Name After Renaming Vote Fails
The Sofia Municipal Council failed to secure the required support to confirm its earlier decision to rename Gen. Vladimir Zaimov Park, effectively leaving the original name unchanged. The proposal to replace it with “Oborishte Park” did not pass the final vote, after the required threshold of 31 vo»»»
Weapons Bust at Kapitan Andreevo: 73 Pistols Seized in Truck Traveling from Turkey to the NetherlandsOpinions
Customs officers at Bulgaria’s Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint seized 73 combat pistols hidden inside a truck traveling from Turkey to the Netherlands, in what authorities described as one of the most significant weapons interceptions at the site this year. The vehicle, registered in Turkey and »»»
Progressive Bulgaria Rejects Opposition Criticism of Draft 2026 Budget, Attacking Predecessors
Progressive Bulgaria (PB) Friday rejected the opposition's criticism of the draft 2026 budget put forward by the Cabinet, and attacked its predecessors. PB deputy Konstantin Prodanov said in a declaration to Parliament on Friday that the 2026 draft budget proposed by the GERB-dominated Cabinet - no»»»
Forged Notary Deeds Used in Scheme to Seize Public Property in Varna, Democratic Bulgaria Says
A criminal group in Varna (on the Black Sea) used forged notary deeds to seize numerous municipal and state-owned properties, Democratic Bulgaria floor leader Bozhidar Bozhanov told reporters in Parliament on Friday. Bozhanov said the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime had investigat»»»
New York votes to freeze rents for some homes in win for mayor
New York, USA: New York, which has some of the priciest rents in America, voted to freeze rents for some properties subject to rent stabilization by the city, media reported Thursday in a win for Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Nearly a million properties in the Big Apple subject to so-called "rent stabiliza»»»
F1H2O World Championship flag relay to travel across all regions of Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
The relay carrying the flag of the F1H2O Grand Prix of Kyrgyzstan Issyk-Kul 2026 in powerboat racing has officially started in Kyrgyzstan. The first stop of the route was Tort-Gul aiyl okmotu in Batken region, where an official ceremony welcoming the championship flag took place. According to the S»»»
Tunis Court sentences Sihem Bensedrine to 25 Years in prison over Truth and Dignity Commission, BFT cases
Tunis, June 26, 2026 (TAP) – The Criminal Chamber specializing in financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Sihem Bensedrine, former president of the dissolved Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD), to a total of 25...»»»
Finance Minister: Bulgaria’s Eurozone Entry Based on Accurate Data as Budget 2026 AdvancesOpinions
The draft 2026 state budget will be submitted to the Council of Ministers on July 1 and then forwarded to parliament the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev told BNT. He described the financial framework as a continuation of previously approved policies, while also addr»»»
Nigeria's Daya raises $2.4mn to expand stablecoin payment network across Africa
Nigerian fintech startup Daya has raised $2.4mn in a pre-seed funding round to expand its stablecoin-powered cross-border payments platform, underscoring growing investor interest in blockchain-based payment infrastructure serving African businesses. The funding round was led by New York-based digi»»»
Aoun welcomes French, Italian efforts to form coalition to succeed UNIFIL
President Joseph Aoun welcomed on Friday France and Italy's efforts to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon, whose mandate expires at the end of the year. In a statement, Aoun called the initiative "a sincere expression of the international commitment t»»»
Russia's Gulf war oil windfall fades as military spending surges
Russia's brief fiscal reprieve from the Gulf war is already coming to an end. A surge in oil prices in the last months looked like it would bail the Kremlin out which is increasingly struggling to pay for the war in Ukraine. But those hopes look short lived as oil prices are already dropping just a»»»
S. Korean ex-first lady sentenced to 7 years in prison for taking gifts for job appointments - UPI.com
A TV screen shows a live broadcast of former first lady Kim Keon Hee's bribery trial at Seoul Station on Friday. Kim was sentenced to seven years in prison. Photo by Yonhap A Seoul court on Friday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for taking expensive gifts in return»»»
Europe's deadly heatwave leaves hospitals overwhelmed
Paris: A deadly European heatwave that has saturated hospitals as temperatures soared to record highs was to shift east on Friday, with authorities warning of more misery on a continent not used to stretches of punishing heat. At least 101 million Europeans have roasted for several days in temperat»»»
Media Review: June 26
HEADLINES The dominant topic across Bulgarian media on Friday is the debate over the 2026 draft budget, public-sector pay, personal social insurance contributions for state employees, and the sustainability of public finances. Coverage focuses on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab »»»
Agricultural land no longer be massively given over to private houses - Japarov - | 24.KG
President Sadyr Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan will gradually abandon the practice of mass transformation of agricultural land for individual housing construction. He announced this during a meeting with residents of Ak-Tala district of Naryn region, responding to a request for the allocation of land»»»
SCO Women's Forum opened in Bishkek - | 24.KG
The Women’s Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on the theme «Women’s Leadership» has been opened in Bishkek. The event is being held on June 26-27 as part of the Kyrgyz Republic’s 2026 SCO chairmanship. The forum brought together representatives of government agencies from SCO mem»»»
Europe heatwave changes UAE holiday plans: Why travellers are now looking north
Dubai: Europe’s summer appeal for UAE travellers is facing a new challenge as record-breaking heat pushes holidaymakers to reconsider where and when they travel. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.A record-breaking heatwave is sweeping Europe, with the Netherlands issuing»»»
"Coal king" Nurlan Motuev passes away - | 24.KG
Politician and video blogger Nurlan Motuev has passed away at the age of 56, his brother, Nurdin Motuev, announced. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. It was previously reported that the «coal king» had been seriously ill. Motuev gained his greatest fame in the mid-2000s, when he was de»»»
Qassem says Israel must 'unconditionally' leave Lebanon
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Friday said Israel has "no option" but to unconditionally withdraw from Lebanese areas it occupies, and he rejected any normalization in ties between Lebanon and Israel. "Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land... Is»»»
Venezuela earthquake death toll rises as U.S., others rush support - UPI.com
People loot a store in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, on Thursday, following a pair of strong earthquakes that struck the nation a day prior, killing more than 200 people. File Photo by Ronald Pena R/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- The death toll from a pair of strong earthquakes that struck Venezuela has continued»»»
Unification minister calls for moving away from 'denuclearization first' policy for N. Korea - UPI.com
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young delivers a keynote speech during the Korean Peninsula Symposium 2026 in Seoul on Friday. Photo by Yonhap Unification Minister Chung Dong-young called Friday for shifting away from an approach that sticks to denuclearization as the sole solution to the North Kor»»»
Etihad Rail: A first look at the future of travel in the UAE
The way people travel across the UAE is about to change, with Etihad Rail preparing to welcome passengers on its highly anticipated railway network. Designed to make journeys faster, more convenient and comfortable, the service is set to connect major cities and regions across the country while off»»»
List of worst World Cup performances
Los Angeles, United States: Tunisia's miserable World Cup campaign ended with zero points and a minus-10 goal difference after three Group F games following a 3-1 defeat by the Netherlands on Thursday. Here, AFP Sport takes a look at the previous teams to rack up a minus goal difference of double d»»»
Hezbollah chief says Israel must ‘unconditionally’ leave Lebanon
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem on Friday said Israel has “no option” but to unconditionally withdraw from Lebanese areas it occupies, and he rejected any normalization in ties between the countries. “Israel has no option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land... Israe»»»
Ferrari’s Hamilton faces Mercedes in Austria hoping to turn F1 win into a title shot
The Formula 1 title race is turning into the ultimate battle of youth against experience. On one side, Lewis Hamilton, who at 41 just became F1’s oldest race winner since 1970. An eighth world title would make him the oldest champion since 1957. On the other, Kimi Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian»»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: ‘Israel’ Has No Option but to Fully Withdraw, Defeated and Humiliated
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem affirmed on Friday that the Israeli enemy has to fully withdraw from every inch of Lebanon, “defeated and humiliated.” Addressing mass Ashura rally in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh), Sheikh Qassem stressed there will be no normalization or concessi»»»
Venezuela suffers effects of Trump’s aid, foreign policies after deadly quakes
President Donald Trump’s closure of US development agency USAID adds hurdles to humanitarian relief efforts in quake-hit Venezuela, says Christopher Sabatini, Latin America Programme Director at Chatham House. “Right now, the Trump administration has to coordinate a multi-agency effort when in fact»»»
South Korea to train 500,000 'drone warriors' in new military stategy - UPI.com
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back speaks during a press briefing on drone and counter-drone policy at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Seoul on Friday. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, June 26 (UPI) -- South Korea unveiled a sweeping plan Friday to rapidly expand the military's drone and counter-drone capabi»»»
Who gets Seat 1 in Carriage 1? Etihad Rail opens nominations for the UAE’s first historic train ride
Etihad Rail is offering UAE residents a chance to take part in a historic milestone by nominating individuals who have made a meaningful contribution to their communities for its inaugural passenger journey. One selected nominee will travel on the first-ever passenger service from Fujairah to Abu D»»»
Can Europe's economy withstand rising temperatures?
Paris: When the mercury rises so do the costs for an economy as productivity melts and growth becomes lethargic, providing an additional challenge to Europe as it struggles with high energy prices. "Extreme heat is emerging as a structural economic risk, with Europe highly exposed," wrote the trade»»»
Kyrgyzstan unveils official video for 6th World Nomad Games - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan presented the official promotional video for the 6th World Nomad Games, which will be held from August 31 to September 6. The opening ceremony of the large-scale event will take place in Bishkek, while the competitions themselves will be held in Issyk-Kul regi»»»
‘Positive change’: FIA delivers strongest financial results in a decade
DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has reported its strongest operating result in 10 years. For FY2025, the FIA delivered an operating profit of €6.7 million ($7.6m), up 43 percent »»»
Iran and FIFA refuse to answer questions about Seattle’s World Cup vs. Egypt
SEATTLE: Before coach Amir Ghalenoei or goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand answered any questions Thursday ahead of Iran’s World Cup match with Egypt, a FIFA official spoke up.Daniel Marin, FIFA’s executive director of public relations, read a statement in light of the teams meeting in a “Pride Match” i»»»
Highlights from the SSF 2026 ‘Journey Film’ category
‘Lost Land’ Director: Akio Fujimoto Starring: Shomira Rias Uddin, Muhammad Shofik Rias Uddin Billed as the “first-ever Rohingya-language feature … a haunting, intimate portrait of two siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar,” the Japanese director’s third feature film follows nine-year-old Somira a»»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: We welcome Arab countries contributing to reconstruction, restoring sovereignty, strengthening the Lebanese Army and supporting the effort to end Israeli occupation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: We welcome Arab countries contributing to reconstruction, restoring sovereignty, strengthening the Lebanese Army»»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: Truth will prevail, and we will remain faithful to our motto “Humiliation… Never” - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: Truth will prevail, and we will remain faithful to our motto “Humiliation… Never” 26-06-2026 11:01 AM Latest New»»»
Eight arrested over alleged theft at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir
Lucknow: Indian police have arrested eight people over allegations of theft and misappropriation of offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, northern Uttar Pradesh, authorities said. Allegations regarding irregularities in the handling of donations led to a criminal case being registered on Thursday»»»
Israel-Lebanon talks extended another day
U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon that were slated to end Thursday will go on for another day, the U.S. State Department said. It said this fifth round discussions that began this week will resume Friday morning (Washington time). "Israel and Lebanon talks remain ongoing as we continue»»»
Holy Synod, Prime Minister to Hold First Meeting
The meeting between Prime Minister Rumen Radev and the Holy Synod on Friday will be his first such meeting and can be described as a protocol meeting, Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil told journalists on his way to the Synodal Palace. On Friday, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian O»»»
Public Enthusiasm for Radev Government Begins to Fade, Poll Finds
Trust in the Cabinet in June is 45% and mistrust is 30%, according to a MarketLinks/bTV poll whose results were made public Friday. One and a half months after the Radev cabinet took office, the first visible signs of waning public enthusiasm for the new government and the majority party supporting»»»
Haaland vs Mbappe: Vikings, Les Bleus set for Group I showdown
Doha, Qatar:The FIFA World Cup group stage has delivered drama, surprises and unforgettable moments, but few fixtures have generated as much anticipation as Norway’s clash with France today. When the draw placed The Vikings and Les Bleus in the same group back in December, football fans immediately»»»
FSB Busts Teen Admin Running Ukraine-Backed Terrorist Cell
With funding from Ukrainian intelligence services, a 17-year-old recruited teenagers across Russia, orchestrating plans to carry out mass killings across the country, many involving the use of IEDs and homemade bombs, the FSB says. The network is responsible for organizing at least 15 criminal acts»»»
Hungary's OTP breaks into world’s top 400 companies!
Hungary’s OTP Bank has achieved a major international breakthrough, entering the world’s top 400 most significant publicly listed companies for the first time, according to the 2026 Forbes Global 2000 ranking. The Hungarian financial institution placed 398th, marking a new record-high position for »»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem addresses political authority in Lebanon: We extend our hand; the resistance remains strong, and we stand with you if you proceed on the path of Lebanese sovereignty - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem addresses political authority in Lebanon: We extend our hand; the resistance remains strong, and we stand with yo»»»
Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: There will be no normalization or concessions to ‘Israel,’ which must withdraw defeated and humiliated - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah’s Sheikh Qassem: There will be no normalization or concessions to ‘Israel,’ which must withdraw defeated and humiliated 26-06-202»»»
Sheikh Qassem says political authority in Lebanon must reconsider its course in two directions: unifying its stance against the Israeli aggression, and ceasing to implement the enemy’s dictates - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Sheikh Qassem says political authority in Lebanon must reconsider its course in two directions: unifying its stance against the Israeli agg»»»
UAE Floating Hospital performs four surgeries for Gaza patients
Al Arish: The UAE Floating Hospital in Al Arish in the Arab Republic of Egypt has performed four specialised surgeries for patients from the Gaza Strip under ''Operation Chivalrous Knight 3'', as part of its ongoing medical and humanitarian efforts to provide specialised treatment and healthcare to»»»