Forest fires: Calls to increase vigilance and consolidate operational coordination
TUNIS, July 24 (TAP) – Secretary of State to the Minister of Interior in charge of National Security Sofien Bessadok has called for enhanced operational readiness and the highest level of vigilance in confronting forest fires, following a field...»»»
Full Working Day to Count as One Day of Employment Service
Only a full statutory working day will count as one day of employment service from January 1, 2027, Parliament decided conclusively on Friday. Parliament adopted the change at second reading through Labour Code amendments in the 2026 State Budget Bill. For part-time work, length of service will be »»»
Trade Union Urges Ombudsman to Refer Provisions on Minimum Wage in 2026 Budget Act to Constitutional Court
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) sent an open letter to Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva requesting that she refers certain provisions of the 2026 State Budget Act relating to the minimum wage and length of service to the Constitutional Court. The trade union said that »»»
China to refine visa-free policy, streamline entry procedures for foreign visitors
Beijing: China plans to refine its visa-free transit and entry programs while digitizing more of its border and immigration services, a senior police officer said Friday. Qi Yanjun, vice minister of public security, outlined the measures of "institutional openness in immigration management" as bein»»»
EU says TikTok failed to protect children's privacy under digital rules
Brussels: The European Commission on Friday said it found TikTok had not adequately protected children's privacy rights on its platform by allowing adults to view the accounts of minors. The action exposed children to cyberbullying, unwanted contact and predatory behavior, commission spokesperson T»»»
MPs Halt Budget Spending on Public Sector Employee Events
Budget-funded organizations will suspend the planning, spending and transfer of funds for festive, entertainment and sporting events for their employees, MPs decided on Friday. The decision was adopted on second reading as part of the 2026 State Budget Bill. Budget-funded organizations will stop ho»»»
Europe Rendezvous - Giorgia Meloni's Italy: An authoritarian drift? (Part 1)
In this edition of Europe Rendezvous, we travel to Italy, one of the European Union's founding members, to examine how the country's democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure. It may be the season of la dolce vita, but life ha»»»
Fact or Fake - Meloni's Italy: Fortress Europe?
Migration was at the heart of Giorgia Meloni's successful 2022 election campaign. Promising a tougher approach to irregular migration helped propel her to power, but what has her government achieved since then? One of its flagship policies was&»»»
MP: US Told Bulgaria to Accept Planes or Risk Fuel Shortages
Bozhidar Bozhanov, a lawmaker from Democratic Bulgaria, claimed the United States pressured Bulgaria into accepting the deployment of American tanker aircraft at Bezmer Air Base, arguing that the country risked fuel shortages if it refused. Speaking to bTV, Bozhanov said, "Everyone knows this was n»»»
The US Aircraft Deployment in Bulgaria Has Been Delayed!
Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said the planned deployment of US military tanker aircraft at Bulgaria’s Bezmer Air Base has been delayed and is now expected to begin next week rather than as originally scheduled. Stoyanov made the announcement after meeting with mayors from municipalities in the»»»
Trump promised Aoun to rein in Netanyahu, support army
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to President Joseph Aoun in their Washington meeting to restrain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prevent him, as much as possible, from escalating tensions, an informed political source said. Trump also responded positively to Aoun's proposals, part»»»
Trump promised Aoun to rein in Netanyahu, support army
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to President Joseph Aoun in their Washington meeting to restrain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prevent him, as much as possible, from escalating tensions, an informed political source said. Trump also responded positively to Aoun's proposals, part»»»
Chinese citizens may be exempt from paying social security contributions in KR - | 24.KG
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has amended the procedure for paying state social security contributions.The new regulation provides cases in which certain categories of Chinese citizens may be exempt from paying social security contributions in Kyrgyzstan. The document is issued under the a»»»
A Kuwaiti court has replaced a 10-year prison term with life imprisonment in an Iran and Hezbollah espionage case
Dubai: A Kuwaiti court has sentenced a Kuwaiti national to life imprisonment after overturning an earlier 10-year jail term in a case involving espionage for Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The State Security Court of Appeal found the defendant guilty of seeking to cooperate with foreign ent»»»
Aseer’s 500 private museums turn personal passion into a cultural tourism draw
MAKKAH: Roughly 500 private museums and dozens of heritage villages have made Aseer one of Saudi Arabia's foremost cultural destinations. The villages retain their original architectural character; together with the museums, they document decades of social and economic life in the region, drawing v»»»
Parliament Highlights Legislative Reforms, AI Modernization and Plans for New Building
The Speaker of Albania's Parliament on Friday presented a review of the legislature's work during the first two sessions of the 11th Legislature, describing the period as one of institutional reform and modernization aimed at supporting the country's goal of joining the European Union. Addressing t»»»
UAE pushes UNESCO World Heritage status for Fujairah's Wadi Wurayah
Fujairah: As part of following up on the nomination file for Wadi Wurayah to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the UAE delegation, including the Ministry of Culture and the Government of Fujairah, is participating in the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Natio»»»
Prime Minister meets UK Foreign Secretary
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, on Friday, July 24, 2026, received HE Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, who is currently visiting the country. »»»
Impulse expands UAE footprint with new warehouse-value store at Century Mall Dubai
Dubai: Impulse Trading LLC has expanded its retail presence in the UAE with the opening of its newest Impulse store on the First Floor of Century Mall, Dubai. The new store offers a wide selection of perfumes, cosmetics, skincare products, watches, handbags, wallets and fashion accessories - all un»»»
You can now invest in Dubai's tokenised property market from just Dh1,000.
Dubai: PRYPCO MINT, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)-licensed platform for tokenised real estate, has cut its minimum investment requirement from Dh2,000 to Dh1,000, lowering the entry threshold for investors seeking exposure to Dubai's digital property market. In a message to c»»»
Parliament session on no-confidence motion for Serbian gov't scheduled for Monday
BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic has scheduled for Monday, 10 am a ninth extraordinary session of the parliament, at which MPs will debate a motion for a non-confidence vote for the government. The session was called at the request of 109 MPs, the National Assembly said in a statem»»»
Give me some sunshine, give me some rain’: How India’s NEET protests found solidarity through song and dance
The kids are doing fine. And neither do they need anyone to tell them otherwise. As protests spread across India over the NEET paper leak in May, eventually prompting the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, each day, and each protest site, seemed to offer something new. There were»»»
Deliveries begin for the first Cobra II vehicles manufactured entirely in Romania
The first Cobra II tactical armoured vehicles built entirely in Mediaș left the factory gates yesterday, bound for the Romanian Armed Forces. With serial production on schedule and deliveries under way, Otokar’s Automecanica Mediaș becomes the company’s production plant in Europe and its first manu»»»
Lawyers' circle head: Orbán may soon become a suspect
The head of the Lawyers’ Circle, Lóránt Horváth, said on the programme Konkrétan with Egon Rónai that he is convinced the case of the Ukrainian gold convoy lies behind the resignation of chief prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy, and that the affair could eventually reach Orbán himself. Gold convoy case: »»»
Abu Dhabi Police warn drivers not to leave cars running unattended
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have warned motorists not to leave their vehicles running while shopping, visiting fuel stations, using ATMs or stopping for prayers, saying the practice increases the risk of theft, vehicle fires and other safety hazards. The Directorate of Traffic and Security Patrols »»»
Actress Maria Bakalova to Participate in Tourism Ministry Promotional Campaign
The Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actress Maria Bakalova will join the Ministry of Tourism's initiative to present Bulgaria to the world, the ministry said on Friday. At a meeting with Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov, Bakalova accepted an invitation to become an ambassador for Bulgarian tourism and shar»»»
WFP warns of deeper cuts in Gaza aid due to donor fatigue
GENEVA: The UN World Food Programme warned on Friday it would have to make deeper cuts to its aid in Gaza, where it supports 70 percent of the population, unless additional funding is secured. The comments come after the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the global hunger monitor, said»»»
Kyrgyzstan changes procedure for terminating criminal cases - | 24.KG
President Sadyr Japarov has signed a law amending the procedure for terminating criminal cases and clarifying rules for insurance payments to military personnel. Under the new provisions, a criminal case cannot be terminated if its resolution requires a court decision confirming the defendant’s gui»»»
The European technological sovereignty package: A change in the EU’s approach to digital autonomy
The new set of measures on semiconductors, AI and cloud infrastructure aims to strengthen the EU’s position as an “AI continent”, while strategies on open-source and energy sustainability support implementation. Authors: Flavius Florea (Counsel), Cătălin Velişcu (Associate) – Wolf Theiss On 3 June »»»
US strikes Iran as clashes over shipping routes escalate
Bahrain activated its sirens early Friday, warning residents to shelter from detected fire hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran. The Gulf states have come under frequent fire over the past week as the U.S. and Iran exchange escalating strikes i»»»
Friday Sermon, July 24, 2026: Sending Blessings upon the Prophet
First Sermon (Khutbah One) All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, Who has commanded us to invoke blessings and peace upon the Seal of the Prophets. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah alone, and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muḥammad, is the M»»»
Health Minister Says Patients Must Not Be Held Hostage to Hospital Management Dispute
Health Minister Katya Ivkova said during a visit to Silistra General Hospital on Friday that management problems must not affect patient care. She said the government was working to restore the operation of four hospital units that have temporarily suspended services due to staffing shortages. Ivko»»»
Energy Transition: Djerba unveils Tunisias first solar-powered charging station for artisanal fishing
TUNIS, July 24 (TAP) – A solar-powered charging station for electric boat batteries will be inaugurated on Friday at the Ajim fishing port, marking a significant step in the decarbonisation of Tunisia's artisanal fishing sector, according to the...»»»
Newcastle sign Monaco midfielder Bamba on five-year deal
NEWCASTLE, United Kingdom: Monaco’s French midfielder Aladji Bamba has signed a five-year deal with Premier League club Newcastle, both teams confirmed on Friday. The deal is reported to be worth €35 million ($40m) with the Principality side to receive a percentage of the future sale of the 20-year»»»
Gaza faces ongoing food crisis despite ceasefire
More than nine months into the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, two-thirds of Gaza's population is still facing crisis levels of food insecurity, according to a new UN report released on Thursday. The report warns that recent gains could quickly be reversed unless humanitarian agencies continue »»»
80 tons of chemicals from Crystal plant to be disposed of in Tash-Kumyr - | 24.KG
A project to neutralize hazardous chemical waste stored for over 15 years on the site of the former Crystal plant has begun in Tash-Kumyr. Practical work will begin in November 2026, and completion is planned for 2027. The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzs»»»
Why Trump's 'forced labor' tariffs leave the world puzzled
TradeUnited States of AmericaWhy Trump's 'forced labor' tariffs leave the world puzzledNik MartinAfter the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's emergency tariffs, the White House has turned to another trade law linked to alleged human rights abuses. DW explains the new tariffs and the debate»»»
Spain declares national emergency in Madrid region over forest fires
Spain late Thursday declared a national emergency in the Madrid region and in the province of Avila, near the capital, in the wake of several wildfires burning out of control. The measure, announced by the interior ministry, aims to speed up the deployment of resources to fight the fires, which in »»»
China slaps export controls on 14 EU entities in retaliation for Russia-related sanctions
China announced on Friday it was adding 14 European entities to an export control list in retaliation for the European Union penalizing 14 Chinese enterprises as part of its latest round of sanctions against Russia. Chinese companies will not be allowed to export dual-use items, which can be used f»»»
Ukrainian drones hit Russian web retailer Wildberries in St. Petersburg - UPI.com
A logistics hub belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries burns at a industrial park southeast of St. Petersburg after being struck by Ukrainian drones. Photo by Stringer/EPA July 24 (UPI) -- Russian online retail giant Wildberries came under attack overnight by Ukrainian forces for the »»»
Qatar to host ONE Championship events for three more years
DOHA:ONE Championship, one of the world’s largest mixed martial arts organisations, and Visit Qatar have announced the renewal of their partnership for three years, paving the way for the return of a series of the championship’s most prominent events to Qatar, starting in March 2027. The partnershi»»»
Vucic receives farewell visit from Austrian ambassador
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a farewell visit from Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade Christian Ebner on Friday. "I thanked Austrian Ambassador Christian Ebner for his personal contribution to advancement of the relations between our countries during his diplomatic term in Se»»»
Romania shoots down drone in its airspace for first time
Bucharest: Romania shot down a drone in its airspace on Friday, its president said, a first since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The NATO member bordering Ukraine has seen frequent drone incursions, including drones crashing on its soil, since the start of the war, but its fo»»»
Shocking viral video: Bear climbs power pole in New Mexico
At first, nobody was sure what they were looking at. High above a rural New Mexico road, a black bear was stretched across the top of a utility pole, almost motionless. Some motorists thought it was already dead. Then it moved. Cars slowed. People turned around for another look. Phones came out. Th»»»
Lebanon: Southerners Begin Phased Return to Zawtar Al-Gharbiya Under Army Supervision
Residents of southern Lebanese town of Zawtar Al-Gharbiya began on Friday entering the village in a controlled, phased process on the fourth day since the Lebanese Army’s deployment there. Al-Manar correspondent reported the entry of residents, saying it was organized in batches, with five vehicles»»»
Indonesia in talks to expand cross-border digital payment system to Saudi Arabia, India
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank is working to expand its digital payment system to Saudi Arabia, India and Hong Kong, as it seeks to further promote economic connectivity across Asia. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia has been leading the adoption of payments using quick-response code, or QR, part of »»»
Women in Sudan’s Al-Obeid face drone attacks and rape when fetching water, UN says
GENEVA: Women and girls in Sudan’s Al-Obeid face a dire choice between the threat of drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night when they go out to fetch water in the besieged city, UN Women said on Friday. Access to food and health care is severely limited in Al-Obeid, the capital »»»
How the beauty industry turned self-improvement into self-harm
I recently read about a new trend where men are having fillers injected into their scrotums to make themselves more attractive. Some, trying to save money, turn to unlicensed beauty therapists. Others go even further and inject hyaluronic acid themselves at home and, as a result, they sometimes los»»»
Tucker Carlson says US already ‘at war’ with Russia
The US is engaged in a proxy war with Russia that could escalate into a global conflict within years unless Washington changes course, renowned conservative journalist and podcaster Tucker Carlson has told RT’s Olga Bataman and Tara Reade. There is no convincing strategic, political, or moral justi»»»
US ties Saudi nuclear deal to Israel recognition
A landmark US-Saudi nuclear agreement will only proceed if Riyadh joins the Abraham Accords and establishes diplomatic relations with Israel, the White House said on Thursday. The deal would use American technology and expertise to help the Kingdom develop a civilian nuclear energy program. The cla»»»