Oman and Iran to pursue talks on managing Strait of Hormuz navigation
Oman and Iran agreed on Tuesday to press on with discussions about the future administration of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including maritime services in the strategic waterway and the costs associated with them. In a joint statement issued after talks in Muscat, the two countries said a »»»
UK approval for Gatwick airport expansion lawful, court rules
LONDON: Britain’s approval of Gatwick Airport’s expansion was lawful, London’s High Court ruled on Tuesday, allowing the country’s second busiest hub to proceed with a plan to add millions of new passengers by 2030. The opening of a second runway at Gatwick, situated 30 miles (48 km) south of Lond»»»
Ethiopia's ruling party secures 90% of votes in national election
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party won a landslide victory in legislative polls, giving it almost 90 percent of the seats. Abiy has led Ethiopia since 2018, and is increasingly criticised for growing authoritarianism. Northern Tigray, still recovering from a devastating 2020-22 »»»
France tries to handle extreme temperatures as heatwave carries on
France is going through a record heatwave, with 54 departments on high alert. At least 18 people have died from heat related causes. For French people, the main issue is how to cope with these extreme temperatures, especially at night, where they aren't dropping below 22 degrees celsius. In some ar»»»
France inducts Resistance fighter, soldier, historian Marc Bloch into its Panthéon of greats
Eighty-two years after he was executed by Nazis, Resistance fighter and historian Marc Bloch will be inducted into the Panthéon on Tuesday to repose alongside such luminaries as Voltaire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A professor in medieval history, Bloch fought for France in World War I and joined th»»»
French Resistant fighter historian Marc Bloch join the Pantheon greats
He was a leading historian of the 20th-century, and co-founded French academic journal 'Les Annales' with Lucien Febvre, and was also a soldier in both World Wars. Historian Marc Bloch was tortured and executed by the Gestapo in 1944, and will enter the Pantheon on June 23 in a rare tribute reserve»»»
French heatwave proves deadly as country struggles to adapt
As France experienced its hottest day yet in its latest heatwave, two children, aged 2 and 4 were found dead inside a parked car in the country's south. It comes after three elderly people died in their homes from heat, according to authorities. Temperatures were forecast to reach up to 43 degrees »»»
French Resistant fighter Marc Bloch honoured in politically charged ceremony
Historian and Resistance fighter Marc Bloch, who was tortured and executed by the Gestapo in 1944, will enter the Pantheon on Tuesday in a rare tribute reserved for France's most revered historical figures. The ceremony carries political significance less than a year before France heads to the poll»»»
Focus - Maternity leave in India offers progress, with mixed results
In 2025, the Supreme Court of India declared maternity leave a fundamental right for working women. India is among the countries in the world where pregnant women are entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, which can be taken for up to two children. The move has been widely welcomed by w»»»
Mali receives EXPO 2030 Riyadh organisers
BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali met with EXPO 2030 Riyadh organisers in Belgrade on Tuesday. He noted that Serbia and Saudi Arabia would cooperate actively in their preparations for international expos, given that both countries were to host such events for the f»»»
Kingdom sees 60% drop in road deaths since 2016
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia recorded a 60 percent drop in traffic fatalities between 2016 and 2025, according to the 2025 annual report of the Ministerial Committee of Traffic Safety, published Sunday. The report indicates a historic reduction of traffic fatalities, which fell from 8,632 deaths in 2016 to»»»
Qatar ranks first in the region and among the world's top five for economic resilience
Doha The National Planning Council (NPC) announced the results of the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, which highlighted Qatar's strong performance across economic, business, institutional, and social indicators. The results place Qatar among the leading performers regionally and globally a»»»
Social Partners Disagree on Draft Amendments to Labour, Social-Security, Health Legislation
Meeting here on Tuesday, Bulgaria's National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) failed to reach agreement on draft revisions to the Labour Code, to the Social Insurance Code and to the Health Insurance Act, moved by MPs of Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria. Civil Servants' Social a»»»
Constitutional Court Declares Unconstitutional Provisions on Traffic Data Use by Competition Protection Commission
The Constitutional Court finds unconstitutional provisions of the Competition Protection Act and the Electronic Communications Act regarding the use of traffic data by the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), the Court said on Tuesday. The case was initiated at the President's request in»»»
Marriott International, Blacksand ink $1.33bn deal for 10 hotels in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Real estate company Blacksand and Marriott International signed a SR5 billion ($1.33 billion) agreement to develop 10 hotels in Saudi Arabia at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh. The deal will see the creation of almost 11,000 jobs covering the construction and operation of the facili»»»
€620: Radev’s Government Freezes Bulgaria’s Minimum Wage Until 2028? (UPDATED)
Update: Prime Minister Rumen Radev has denied that the minimum wage will be frozen, directly contradicting earlier reports that the €620.20 level would remain unchanged until 2028. In response to media claims, he said the issue will be revisited during the 2027 budget review, when social partners i»»»
Yordan Tsonev Quits Politics After 36 Years Following DPS Leadership Shake-Up
Yordan Tsonev has announced his withdrawal from political life, confirming his departure in an interview with Club Z shortly after being removed from the leadership structures of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS). The decision comes in the aftermath of a reshuffle approved by the party’s C»»»
Bulgaria's Radev: Minimum Wage Will Not Be Frozen!
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev rejected claims that the government plans to freeze the minimum wage until 2028, stating that no such decision has been taken and that the issue will be revisited during upcoming budget discussions. He made the remarks in response to media reports suggesting a l»»»
PM Radev: Bulgaria Supports Ukraine but Has Reached Its Limit for Further Military Aid
Bulgaria will continue to back Ukraine politically and through other forms of cooperation, but the government believes the country can no longer provide additional military or financial assistance beyond commitments already undertaken. Prime Minister Rumen Radev outlined this position in a written »»»
Bulgaria’s Visa Dream Hits Reality Check After U.S. Diplomat’s Firm Message
An American diplomatic visit has reportedly tempered expectations in Bulgaria regarding an imminent lifting of U.S. visa requirements for Bulgarian citizens, despite continued political assurances that progress is being made toward inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. According to an official»»»
Afghan Taliban set for EU migration talks slammed by rights groups
The EU is expected to hold talks on returning failed Afghan asylum-seekers with a Taliban delegation in Brussels Tuesday after Belgium issued one-day visas for the team, overriding criticisms from human rights groups. The 27-member bloc does not recognise the Taliban administration, but the Eu»»»
UK facing 'pivotal moment' as it prepares for 7th PM since Brexit vote
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won his job after leading his party to a massive victory in 2024. Less than two years later, he resigned as his party rebelled in the wake of widespread losses in local elections. It coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Brexit vote, which led to the resign»»»
'Flamingo Revolution': Albanian protests swell against Trump-linked resort
Albanians have been gathering in the streets of Tijana ever day for over three weeks. The so-called 'flamingo revolution' started in reaction to the construction of luxury resorts linked to the Trump family in the south of the country on an island where the protected birds nest. France 24 journalis»»»
France issues red alert as heatwave breaks records and death toll mounts
France experienced its hottest-ever night Monday into Tuesday as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 40 people had drowned across the country since June 18 as they sought to escape the record heat. In a country without widespread air-conditioning, the scorching temperatures have led to schoo»»»
Ten years on, 'jury still out' on Brexit although early signs of damage show
Ten years ago, the UK voted to leave the European Union with promises that Brexit would help the country economically. But a recent study suggests the economy actually took a six-percent hit. Support for Brexit has decreased: younger voters, who would have not been able to vote at the time, today m»»»
Paris suffocates as deadly heatwave takes hold of the country
France experienced its hottest night on June 22 as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said 40 people -- many of them young -- had drowned since June 18 amid a severe heatwave. The deadly heatwave has battered France since last week, disrupting daily life and forcing school closures and train cancell»»»
Deep Political Divisions and Economic Imbalances Drive Historic Reverse Migration from US
As the US approaches its 250th birthday, its "nation of immigrants" label may need to be re-examined. Research shows that in 2025, the US experienced a net migration outflow of approximately 150,000 people - the first "reverse migration" wave since the Great Depression of the 1930s - and this trend»»»
Starmer’s successor will be swallowed by the same trap
Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as UK prime minister. Following the re-election to Parliament of Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the former lawyer realized he had no support left. After winning in a landslide in 2024, Starmer is but the latest casualty of number 10 Downing Street. And in many ways, it»»»
Trump lifts Iran sanctions, allows first dollar sales since 1979 - UPI.com
Vice President JD Vance, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani speak ahead of talks between the United States and Iran at the Buergenstock resort in Obbuergen, near Lucerne, Switzerland, Sunday. The U.S. has waived Iran sancti»»»
Dubai’s RTA launches ‘Aber’ mobile vehicle inspection service from Dh370 across UAE
Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched "Aber", a mobile vehicle inspection service that allows motorists and businesses to complete official vehicle testing procedures at a location of their choice, eliminating the need to visit a testing centre. The initiative is designed »»»
Tunisia calls for context-specific AfDB Regional Integration Strategy for North Africa
TUNIS, June 23, 2026 (TAP) - In the face of insufficient regional integration to support economic transformation and persistent external vulnerabilities in North Africa, Tunisia is advocating for a stronger contextual grounding of the future...»»»
Prime Minister Describes Ukrainian Business Owner's Testimony as Crucial in Varna Illegal Construction Case
The Bulgarian authorities needed to have Ukrainian businessman Oleg Nevzorov back in Bulgaria because his testimony would be crucial for getting to the heart of the case of illegal construction in Varna, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told a press conference in the Council of Ministers building in Sofi»»»
Bulgaria’s Industry Faces Growing Staff Shortages as Workforce AgesOpinions
The Bulgarian Industrial Chamber (BIA) warns that several key sectors of the economy are facing an increasingly severe shortage of workers, alongside a clear and persistent trend of workforce aging across both industries and regions. The findings are based on 11 sectoral and regional labor market a»»»
Turkey’s foreign minister meets Trump’s co-in-law 'fixer' in Cairo
Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan met with Donald Trump’s co-in-law Massad Boulos in Cairo, the Turkish ministry (@TC_Disisleri) said in a tweet on June 21. Fidan was in Cairo during June 20-21 to attend the fourth meeting of the top diplomats of Turkey, Egypt, Pak»»»
Russia's war economy grinds towards a halt despite oil windfall - KSE
Russia is enjoying an unexpected energy windfall from the conflict in Iran, but soaring oil revenues are proving insufficient to offset mounting fiscal pressures and a rapidly slowing economy, according to the latest Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) Institute Russian chartbook for May. The report pai»»»
TIIF 2026: Uzbekistan's aviation boom has outrun every forecast
Central Asia overtook South Asia last year to become the fastest-growing aviation sub-region in the world, carrying roughly 60mn passengers in 2025 — a milestone that set the tone for a panel discussion on the sector's prospects at the fifth annual Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF 2026»»»
AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia sign internet transit deal
AzerTelecom and Telecom Armenia signed bilateral agreements on June 22 to route Armenia's international internet traffic through Azerbaijan, in a concrete step in telecommunications cooperation between the two countries as they move towards normalising relations. Under the agreements, AzerTelecom w»»»
Bilčar Warns Disregard for Binding Legal Acts Threatens Legal Certainty
Petar Bilčar, Deputy Director of the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers and Data Exchange of BiH /IDDEEA/, told SRNA that he feels obliged to once again point out that the agency has continuously been making decisions and carrying out activities which, according to the available legally»»»
Former SNP boss Peter Murrell sent to prison for stealing party funds - UPI.com
The High Court in Edinburgh sentenced Peter Murrell (L), the former chief executive of the ruling-Scottish National Party, on Tuesday to five years and three months in prison for theft. File Photo by Robert Perry/EPA June 23 (UPI) -- A court in Edinburgh sentenced Peter Murrell, the former chief ex»»»
New York, South Carolina, Maryland, Utah hold primary elections - UPI.com
1 of 4 | New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has endorsed three candidates in New York Democratic primary races on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 23 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has backed off his endorsement in the Republican primary for South Carolina governor while v»»»
China sanctions US tech giants weeks after Pentagon blacklisted Chinese firms
China's commerce ministry on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 US tech companies, blocking them from exporting “dual-use” items, which have military and non-military applications, to the US. The companies barred from doing business with the US include drone makers and some involved in rare earths»»»
Hiring a domestic worker? MoHRE says agencies must refund fees in four specific cases
Dubai: Domestic worker recruitment agencies in the UAE are required to refund all or part of recruitment fees paid by employers in a number of specific circumstances, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has said, as it stepped up oversight of the sector and warned against viol»»»
Planning a holiday stay? Abu Dhabi Police warn against fake chalet and holiday rental offers circulating online.
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police has warned residents against a rise in online fraud schemes involving fake chalet and holiday retreat rental offers, as scammers increasingly target families and holidaymakers through social media platforms, fraudulent websites and fabricated text messages. The warning w»»»
England, Ghana eye last 32 as Portugal look for lift-off
LOS ANGELES, USA: England will aim to become the latest of the World Cup big guns to book their place in the knockout rounds on Tuesday as Portugal attempt to kickstart their campaign after a lacklustre opening draw. A day after Argentina and France sailed into the last 32, England face Ghana in Gr»»»
Lebanon president rejects Israeli occupation, foreign interference as Washington talks begin
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday rejected Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon and other foreign interference, alluding to Iran, as a fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks began in Washington. “We accept nothing less than an end to the Israeli occupation and at the same time, the fal»»»
Egypt seeks to expand wheat imports, storage ties with Poland
CAIRO: Egypt is discussing increasing wheat imports from Poland as part of efforts to diversify sources of strategic commodities and bolster food security, the supply ministry said on Tuesday. Supply Minister Sherif Farouk met Polish Secretary of State Małgorzata Gromadzka in Cairo to discuss co»»»
CBSE Grade 12 re-evaluation: UAE students report mark increases of up to 20 in reviewed papers
Dubai: Students at CBSE-affiliated schools across the UAE are reporting improved grades following the re-evaluation of their Grade 12 board exam papers, with many seeing increases of up to 20 marks. The re-evaluation results bring immense relief to a cohort whose academic year was heavily disrupted»»»
Qatar and Italy discuss bilateral cooperation and regional security efforts
Rome Adviser to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari met with HE Riccardo Guariglia, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, in Rome on Tuesday. The mee»»»
Government Taking All Measures Available to Suppress Wildfires, Says Interior Minister
The Government is taking all the necessary measures to organize the effective utilization of all national and international resource available to suppress wildfires, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said on Tuesday in Plovdiv (South Bulgaria) where he attended the inauguration of the city's Regio»»»