ST PETERSBURG - Hungary's MOL has requested 30 more days from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to complete talks on its acquisition of a Russian stake in the Serbian oil company NIS, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said in St Petersburg on Wednesday.»»»

The June 3-6 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum's plenary session "Small Business Transformation: A New Recipe for SME Growth" focuses on the evolving role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as a core pillar of economic development, driving innovation, job creation, and overall ec»»»

London: A Royal Navy helicopter crashed into a field in Sourton Down near Okehampton in Devon, southwest England, on Wednesday morning, according to British media. Devon and Cornwall Police said several road closures are in place nearby, and the incident is ongoing.»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Biennale Foundation has announced four architecture studios that are shortlisted for the AlMusalla Prize 2027. This international competition, now in its second edition, invites architects to be innovative and to reimagine an adaptable, flexible musalla — an inclusive»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia artists Hussain Al-Sadah and Sahar Al-Omair look for beauty in the most unexpected places. From their home studio in the Eastern Province, the husband-and-wife duo has built a practice using thousands of everyday objects that many people overlook or discard: nails, pushpins, sc»»»

The budget deficit is a real problem but it can be solved, Democratic Bulgaria MP Martin Dimitrov told journalists in Parliament’s corridors on Wednesday, as quoted by the party’s press centre. "The Government should stop panicking, the budget deficit is a real problem but it can be solved," Dimitr»»»

Bulgaria is facing a new round of fiscal scrutiny from Brussels after the European Commission concluded that the country is on course to breach the EU’s budget deficit rules and recommended the launch of an excessive deficit procedure. According to the Commission’s assessment, Bulgaria’s public sec»»»

Madrid, Spain: Spain will play the first of two warm-up matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday night when it faces Iraq at Deportivo La Coruna's Riazor Stadium. The friendly, Spain's only match on home soil before the squad flies to Mexico to meet Peru on June 9, will give coach Luis de la»»»

Jakarta: Indonesian officials arrested on Wednesday the former head of the country's free school meals programme, blighted by mass food poisonings and corruption claims, a day after he was fired. The much-hyped billion-dollar feeding scheme was the flagship policy of President Prabowo Subianto's 20»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah fighters directly hit a logistics vehicle (HEMTT) belonging to the Israeli occupation army on the southeastern outskirts of Yohmo»»»

A photo exhibition dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Sovinformburo, the Soviet Information Bureau and precursor to the Rossiya Segodnya media group, has opened at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The exhibition, prepared by RIA Novosti using photographs from its archival »»»

RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, began implementing a flexible working hours initiative across six work zones in Riyadh on June 2. The initiative is part of efforts “to enhance mobility efficiency in the capita»»»

Oslo, Denmark: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday formed her third government, with women making up more than half of the new cabinet, according to a statement from the Danish Prime Minister's Office. The government has 21 members, including the prime minister. The official list s»»»

Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain: Forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams should be fit for Spain's World Cup opener, coach Luis de la Fuente said on Wednesday. Yamal and Williams both missed the end of the club season due to hamstring injuries but De la Fuente included them in his World Cup squad anyway»»»

The Directorate for National Construction Control and the Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre Agency carried out an inspection at the Varna Municipality, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov said on Wednesday in Varna. The inspection is linked to illegal construction in the Ba»»»

Bulgaria is unable to meet the prescribed deadline for election of a European prosecutor, Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov said Wednesday. "The indicative deadlines for selecting a new European Prosecutor from Bulgaria, as set out in Council of Ministers Decision No. 267 of April 9, 2026, cannot b»»»

The European SAFE financial mechanism allows Bulgaria to modernize its armed forces while strengthening its industrial and technological capacity, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said Wednesday in Plovdiv at the opening of the 17th International Defence Products and Services Exhibition, Hemus 202»»»

Former Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova told reporters in Parliament on Wednesday that she does not know how the deficit reached 7.4%. She was adamant that no data had been manipulated. Petkova said that it is clear that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev has causes for co»»»

New Delhi, India: India approved a $1billion support package for airlines on Wednesday to cushion the impact of soaring aviation fuel costs triggered by the Iran war. The conflict has engulfed the oil-rich Middle East and choked the Strait of Hormuz, through which one fifth of the world's oil usual»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: More than one thousand climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest this season, officials said Wednesday, making it the busiest season on record. Climbers and officials said that a wide summit window -- a period of stable weather that allows safe attempts -- contributed to a surg»»»

Sharjah: An Indian expat was reportedly stabbed and clubbed to death in broad daylight on a Sharjah street after what is said to be a 'social media war on TikTok.' Sharjah Police confirmed the incident to Gulf News on Wednesday and said a number of suspects have been arrested in connection with the»»»

Dubai: Abu Dhabi provided further details on the emirate's recently announced rental freeze, confirming that the annual rental increase cap has been temporarily reduced from 5% to 0% across residential, commercial and industrial properties. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News ap»»»

Paris, France: French authorities said Wednesday that they had imposed two fines on Shein totalling more than 22 million euros ($25.5 million), citing problems with product traceability, environmental labelling and delivery times. The new penalties bring the total fines imposed by France against th»»»

Arab Finance: Gulf Canadian Real Estate Investment (CCRS) shifted to net profits worth EGP 1.998 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, versus net losses of EGP 168,386 in Q1 2025, the financial results indicated. Earnings per share (EPS) hit EGP 0.010 in Q1 2026 when compared to a loss per sha»»»

1 of 2 | Florida is suing OpenAI and its CEO and founder Sam Altman over safety and design concerns about ChatGPT. File photo by Wu Hao/EPA-EFE June 1 (UPI) -- Florida's attorney general announced Monday that the state is suing OpenAI and its founder and CEO, Sam Altman, saying the company chose "p»»»

Under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi has signed an institutional partnership agreement with the International U»»»

A partial state of emergency was declared in the villages of Ploski, Ladarevo, and Dzhigurovo in Sandanski Municipality due to a major locust infestation, the Municipality said on Wednesday. In total, about 260 ha have been impacted. Officials expect spraying operations in the hard-to-reach to be c»»»

Arab Finance: The standalone net losses of Arabia for Investment and Development reached EGP 899,586 as of March 31st, 2026, according to the financial results. Loss per share amounted to EGP 0.001 at the end of March 2026. Arabia Investment and Development was established in March 2025 and was lis»»»

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister for Diplomatic Strategy and Intelligence Jeong Yeon-doo met Tuesday as part of two-day talks. Photo courtesy of South Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs South Korea and the United States on Wed»»»

A Royal Navy helicopter came down in a remote area of the English county of Devon early Wednesday. Police and the Ministry of Defense provided no details of casualties or damage. Image courtesy of UPI June 3 (UPI) -- A Royal Navy helicopter crashed in a field in a remote area of Devon in southwest »»»

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced that the recently launched UAE Skills Platform serves more than 200,000 students and approximately 200 educational institutions across the UAE. The platform is expected to contribute to the development of more than 1,700 future»»»

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority has announced that organisations across the UAE have 60 days left to apply for the fourth cycle of the Parent-friendly Label programme. Applications remain open until July 31, 2026, for organisations from the semi-government, private and third sectors. Get up»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Footage Exposes Israeli Vulnerability in South Lebanon 03-06-2026 15:25 PM Image of former Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revoluti»»»

US primaries are taking place in six states. The voting will shape the landscape of the midterms in November, as it decides who is going to be on the ballot. Key races to look out for include California, where candidates will be looking to replace term-limited Gavin Newsom. FRANCE 24's Wassim Corne»»»

The fragile ceasefire in the US Iran war was tested overnight as Tehran launched a series of drone and missile attacks on Kuwait, hitting and severely damaging its international airport. Kuwaiti authorities have insisted that missiles are being intercepted while the US has launched what it calls se»»»

The ambassadors of Israel and Lebanon began a new round of direct talks in Washington on after US President Donald Trump said he had received commitments to de-escalation from both sides. The fourth meeting between representatives of the two countries, which do not have diplomatic relations, is tak»»»

Israel continues to hit targets in Lebanon despite a partial US-brokered ceasefire in place. Lebanese and Israeli diplomats are in Washington for the fourth round of direct talks, but those negotiations have been strongly opposed by Hezbollah. Pressure also mounting within Netanyahu's own governmen»»»

Hundreds of foreign nationals have been forced to flee their homes in South Africa after violent anti-migrant mobs began chasing them down. Weeks of violent protests have led to the deaths of at least five nationals of Mozambique, that country's government said, adding that roughly 300 had fled bac»»»

Rescue workers in Laos have safely evacuated four villagers who had been trapped in a flooded cave for ten days, the day after another one was successfully extracted. Two men remain missing. Story by Jennie Shin.»»»

For more than a millennium, Japan has celebrated its samurai heritage with armoured horseriders charging through the countryside during its annual Soma Nomaoi festival. Up until two years ago, the tradition was threatened by soaring summer temperatures brought on by climate change. Organisers have »»»

The Tisza government, led by Péter Magyar, had intended to suspend the arrival of new guest workers to Hungary from 1 June. However, the necessary legislation has yet to materialise. The prime minister’s office has now addressed the prospect of a ban, while business leaders have offered their own a»»»

Two paramedics were killed on Wednesday in an Israeli strike on the country's south, with at least 130 emergency and health workers now killed since the Israel-Hezbollah war began in March. A ministry statement said that "the Israeli enemy directly targeted an ambulance belonging to the Risala Scou»»»

Continue the Change party leader Assen Vassilev described as "outrageous and unconstitutional" the discontinuation of the COVID supplement for pensions granted after July 1, approved by the National Assembly on Wednesday along with other amendments to the so-called budget extension law for 2026. Va»»»

1 of 5 | South Korean voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for the ruling Democratic Party in nationwide local elections Wednesday, exit polls said. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI SEOUL, June 3 (UPI) -- South Korean voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for the ruling Democratic Party in nation»»»

June 2 (UPI) -- A parakeet on the loose in a Scottish suburb is being blamed for causing thousands of dollars in damage by pecking away at the rubber parts of residents' cars. Residents said the small parrot has been seen wandering loose in Lochardil, a suburb of Inverness, since February. Neighbor»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Jagoda Lazarevic, who is also minister of internal and external trade, EXPO 2027 Director Danilo Jerinic and Gabon's EXPO 2027 Commissioner Nina Alida Abuona signed on Wednesday in Belgrade a contract on Gabon's participation in the specialised expo. The c»»»

Denmark's government has finally been unveiled after the country's general election back in March. Mette Frederiksen will return for a third term as prime minister, leading a centre-left coalition minority government. She is expected to maintain a firm stance against US President Donald Trump's amb»»»

Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in Saint Petersburg as officials gathered for a flagship economic forum in the city. The strikes come a day after a barrage of Russian missiles and drones killed 23 people across Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani looks at why those strikes are »»»

For the first time in Vatican history, a lay woman will head the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. Maria Montserrat Alvarado, CEO of a Catholic television network, will be in charge of the vast apparatus surrounding the Pope. Television, radio, broadcasting... A clear commitment to continuing »»»

Protests erupted in the UK after a video emerged of a dying student being handcuffed by police. Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak was heard repeatedly telling officers: "I can't breathe" after he was stabbed by a Sikh man who falsely accused him of racial abuse. The far right have seized on the case, s»»»