National Council for Tripartite Cooperation to Discuss 2026 Draft Budgets on Monday
The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) will hold an extraordinary sitting at the Council of Ministers building on Monday to discuss the draft 2026 State Budget Act, the draft 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Act and the draft 2026 National Health Insurance Fund Budget Act, the Ca»»»
Mercedes dominate opening practice at Austrian GP
Spielberg: Championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped the times ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in Friday's opening free practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. The two 'silver arrows' were out in front throughout the hour-long session, finishing more than a second clear of third-placed»»»
UAE foreign minister tells Iran shipping must pass freely through Hormuz
DUBAI: The flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz should not be interrupted, the UAE foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart on Friday, after a ship using a UN-approved corridor in the waterway came under fire. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed's comments came during a phone call with Iran's F»»»
Archbishop of Canterbury demands end to Israeli occupation during trip to Holy Land
LONDON: The most senior cleric in the Church of England has called for end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine during a pilgrimage to the region. Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally issued a joint statement with Hosam Naoum, the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, after meeting with Palestinian v»»»
Mali, French ambassador discuss bilateral economic cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali received French Ambassador to Belgrade Florence Ferrari on Friday to discuss bilateral economic cooperation as well as numerous joint projects involving French companies. "They are projects such as the Belgrade metro, which is enor»»»
Man who drove car into German Christmas market gets life in prison - UPI.com
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was sentenced to life in prison for driving into a German Christmas market and killing 6 people. Pool Photo Filip Singer/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- The man convicted of driving his car into a German Christmas market killing six people and injuring more than 300 was sentenced to life »»»
False emergency alerts in UAE traced to technical malfunction: NCEMA
Dubai: The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said a technical fault in the UAE's early warning system on Friday evening resulted in incorrect emergency alerts being sent to residents. The authority said the problem was identified shortly after the alerts were issue»»»
United States International Olive Oil Competition – Miami 2026: Tunisia takes first place with 55 medals
Tunis, June 26 (TAP) - Tunisia took first place in the United States International Olive Oil Competition (USIOOC) – Miami 2026, organised online by the Swedish group Global International Olive Oil Competitions (GIOOC). Tunisia took a total of 55...»»»
Bulgaria, Vietnam Exchange Expertise on Mediation
Representatives of the National Association of Mediators (NAM) met with a Vietnamese government delegation led by Deputy Justice Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Thanh Ngoc and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet at the headquarters of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists in Sofia. Mile»»»
Serbia's budget spending for research and development totalled 42.4bln dinars in 2025
BELGRADE - In 2025, budget spending for research and development activities in Serbia totalled 42.4 bln dinars, which was a 8.9 pct increase relative to the year before, according to figures released by the national statistical office RZS on Friday. The funds allocated for research and development »»»
Sputnik's Parent Group Rossiya Segodnya Plans on Expanding Into Pakistan - Director-General
Rossiya Segodnya intends to set up a Pakistani editorial center, expand its nationwide correspondent network, and roll out Urdu-language social media channels, Director-General Dmitry Kiselev said. Coverage is expected to focus on foreign policy issues and domestic developments.The organization als»»»
Saudi Arabia calls for collective security in region at Mediterranean-Gulf Summit
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has called for a more inclusive approach and collective security in the region during the Gulf-Mediterranean Summit in Rome this week. Representing the Kingdom at the summit, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Manal Radwan emphasized that the region’s c»»»
Small plane crashes into Beijing's tallest skyscraper, triggering security lockdown
Dubai: A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday, damaging the upper floors of one of China's most recognisable landmarks and prompting a major security response in the heart of the capital. The aircraft, described by witnesses as roughly the size of a car, slammed into t»»»
Justice Ministry Proposes Making Violations of EU Restrictive Measures a Criminal Offence
Violations of European Union restrictive measures, as well as attempts to circumvent them, would become serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment, substantial fines and, where applicable, deprivation of certain rights, under amendments to the Penal Code proposed by the Justice Ministry a»»»
Judicial Council Reallocates Judges’ Positions Across Bulgaria, Expands Staffing in Sofia Regional Court
The Plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) approved Friday the opening of 15 new judicial posts in the Sofia Regional Court, while simultaneously eliminating 15 vacant positions across 11 courts in the country. The abolished positions were previously vacant posts in the Varna District Court, »»»
Shura Council participates in 8th Arab Parliament conference in Cairo
Cairo: The Shura Council, is participating in the 8th Conference of the Arab Parliament and Speakers of Arab Councils and Parliaments, which will be held in Cairo, Egypt on Saturday. Speaker of the Shura Council HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, will lead the Council's delegation to the conference.»»»
Only 530 young Germans volunteer to serve in military
Germany’s new military registration program has fallen disastrously short of the numbers expected by the Bundeswehr, Die Zeit has reported, citing data from the Defense Ministry. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in April that the size of the German military should increase from the current 184»»»
Watching the World Cup for free? It could cost you your data, experts warn
Cybersecurity experts are warning football fans to be cautious of fake websites, apps and links promising free FIFA World Cup live streams, saying cybercriminals are using the tournament to steal personal data, banking details and online accounts. With millions of fans searching for ways to watch m»»»
Cabinet Calls Off "Outrageous Public Procurements", Crash Barrier Contract for EUR 500 Mln Is Among Them
The Cabinet is calling off all "outrageous public procurements" and a crash barrier contract for some EUR 500 million is among them, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists on Friday, taking an opportunity to attack his predecessors. "We are ending all outrageous public procurements, we are end»»»
John Bolton to plead guilty in classified information case - UPI.com
John Bolton, a national security adviser in the first Trump administration, is expected to enter a guilty plea Friday for mishandling classified information. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- John Bolton, a national security adviser in the first Trump administration, »»»
Sheikh Abdullah urges full compliance with US-Iran agreement
Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has discussed with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi regional developments following the agreement and signing of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. During a p»»»
Dozens of international teams rushing to Venezuela: UN
GENEVA: International search and rescue teams from at least 17 countries are being scrambled to Venezuela to help look for survivors of the devastating twin earthquakes, the United Nations said Friday. Getting those search and rescue teams to the scene is the “top priority,” the UN humanitarian age»»»
Paris bans public drinking, takeout alcohol sales amid deadly heat wave - UPI.com
A young man dives from a bridge over the Saint-Martin Canal in Paris on Thursday amid a searing heat wave that prompted authorites in the capital to impose restrictions on drinking alcohol in public and takeout sales for the second time in five days. Photo by Yoan Valet/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- Authori»»»
New "Omra Trusted by FTAV" certification to be launched soon
Tunis, June 26 (TAP) – The Tunisian Federation of Travel and Tourism Agencies (FTAV) will introduce a new quality certification, "Omra Trusted by FTAV," in the coming weeks for travel agencies that meet a set of strict standards, FTAV President...»»»
Venezuela hunts for survivors of twin quakes as it waits for foreign aid
Venezuela's health minister says 235 deaths have been recorded and tens of thousands are still missing after two powerful earthquakes hit on June 24. Emergency workers are still trying to search through the rubble. Rescue teams are coming in from round the world and the US says it is sending milita»»»
Mbappe v Haaland as France face Norway in World Cup group decider
LOS ANGELES, USA: A mouthwatering duel between in-form goalscorers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will take center stage at the World Cup on Friday as France face Norway in a crucial Group I decider. Real Madrid star Mbappe and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in bliste»»»
Analysis: Trump’s push for Sharaa to curb Hezbollah revives fears in Lebanon, Syria - UPI.com
U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions that Syria’s new leader, Ahmad Sharaa, can better curb Iran-backed Hezbollah than Israel have alarmed Lebanon and Syria. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated suggestion»»»
Paris Pride parade postponed to not stretch already overwhelmed emergency services
Organisers of the Pride March due to take place in Paris on June 27 weekend postponed the event after police ordered them to change the date to relieve pressure on emergency services during the heatwave. A popular music festival has also been cancelled, while public alcohol consumption has been tem»»»
A propos - TotalEnergies ordered to account for client emissions in landmark climate ruling
In a landmark ruling, a French court has ordered energy giant TotalEnergies to account for its clients' emissions in the company's climate plan. It is the first time France's Corporate Duty of Vigilance law has been applied to climate change. FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney speaks to Justine Ripoll from»»»
Increased health risks, limited resources: French hospitals overwhelmed by heatwave
As a result of the high temperatures and heatwave, human health could be at risk. In France there have reportedly been four times as many cardiac arrests. The mayor of Paris has stated that the number of deaths is on the rise. Across the country, hospitals are overwhelmed. Our colleagues at France »»»
South Korea bets on personal drones to shore up defensive capability
South Korea plans to eventually equip every soldier with their own personal drone, in a massive expansion of aerial weapons. To counter the threat from North Korea, Seoul says it will train half a million soldiers in how to use drones, and manufacture more than 100 thousand of them in the next thre»»»
Authorities sound an incoming missile alert in Dubai
DUBAI: Authorities in the United Arab Emirates on Friday sounded an incoming missile alert for Dubai. It wasn’t immediately clear what sparked the warning just after 5:15 p.m. local. Iran is suspected of launching a drone attack against a tanker off the coast of Oman on Thursday as Tehran increasin»»»
Court document: Reflecting pool cut with sharp knife - UPI.com
National Park Service workers use vacuum pumps to clean algae off the bottom of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. A court filing alleges that vandals cut the pool's lining with a sharp knife. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License »»»
Reporters - Spain bucks European trend with mass amnesty of migrants
A mass amnesty of undocumented immigrants is currently underway in Spain. Bucking the trend of its European neighbours, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist government is embracing immigration to underpin its growing economy. However, the plan d»»»
Church and Politics Collide as Bulgaria's PM Rejects Sanctions on Russian Patriarch Kirill
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev has drawn political attention after comparing the roles of the Bulgarian Patriarch and Russia’s Patriarch Kirill, in remarks that sparked a broader debate about religion, sanctions, and foreign policy. The comments were made following earlier statements from Ra»»»
Bulgaria Makes Chickenpox Vaccine Mandatory from July 1
Vaccination against chickenpox (varicella) will become mandatory in Bulgaria from July 2026, according to the country's immunization ordinance published in the State Gazette in January. The vaccine will be provided free of charge. A total of 14,570 cases of chickenpox have been registered in Bulgar»»»
Keir Starmer’s CPS legacy: Savile, Assange and the secrets left behind
As Keir Starmer prepares to leave the UK’s highest office after less than two years, the media has lined up to explain why he failed to deliver on the enormous hype he received as opposition leader, and during his initial months in office. A repeated trope has been that Starmer was a “decent man,” »»»
Ecobank Zimbabwe to expand financing of domestic lithium-mining sector
ECOBANK Zimbabwe Limited (EZL) has said it plans to expand financing for the domestic lithium-mining sector, as the lender seeks to bolster its role in the battery minerals value chain, having already provided $369mn to mining operators and related businesses between 2021 and 2025. Zimbabwe holds o»»»
Tragedy: Body with gunshot wound to the head found in Lake Balaton
Police are investigating after a man’s body was discovered in Lake Balaton between Balatonszepezd and Révfülöp. Authorities have confirmed that an administrative procedure has been launched to establish the circumstances of the death, but have not released further details. Body discovered in Lake B»»»
Ukraine targets major reconstruction deals despite tensions with Poland
Ukraine will seek to secure more than €1.5bn in reconstruction agreements at this week's Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026) in the Polish city of Gdańsk, with railways, ports, energy infrastructure and private investment expected to dominate the agenda as Kyiv looks to strengthen the economy aga»»»
6.6-magnitude offshore earthquake strikes S. Philippines
MANILA: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 6.6-magnitude offshore earthquake struck Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines on Friday evening. The institute said the tectonic earthquake occurred at 734 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, with the epicenter 90»»»
Venezuela earthquakes toll more than doubles to 589: president
Caracas: The official death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela more than doubled Friday to 589, interim president Delcy Rodriguez said, as rescuers raced to find survivors beneath collapsed buildings. "Regrettably, we now have 589 people who died," Rodriguez told a televised meeting with milit»»»
Starovic, Vrtovec discuss Serbia-Slovenia cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic spoke with Slovenian Deputy PM and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec by phone on Friday to discuss further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. In an Instagram post, Starovic wrote that he ha»»»
Israeli Drone Violations Intimidate Various Lebanese Cities, Towns
The Israeli enemy continued on Friday violating the ceasefire through long-time drone flights with the buzzing annoying for the locals in the various Lebanese towns and cities. The intimidating drone flights concentrated on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs, Bekaa and South Lebanon towns, including Jarjoua»»»
Inspection of Guardrails to Be Carried Out on Trakia Motorway Section after Deadly Crash
There will be a full inspection of the guardrails on the section of Trakia Motorway where the severe crash occurred a few days ago, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists on Friday. He specified that the inspection would focus on guardrails manufactured in 2024 during the large-scale replaceme»»»
Access to Information Programme Urges Bulgaria to Join CoE Convention on Access to Official Documents to Broaden Transparency
Bulgaria should become a party to the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, also known as the Tromso Convention, in order to broaden transparency, Access to Information Programme (AIP) Executive Director Alexander Kashumov said on Friday while presenting the organization's a»»»
Stocks slide on renewed tech slump, oil prices fall
London: Stock markets retreated Friday, capping a rollercoaster week for technology shares as doubts spread about the huge AI-fuelled gains for technology stocks that have propelled indexes to record territory. Oil prices meanwhile sank more than three percent as fears eased after an attack on a ve»»»
2026 FIFA World Cup becomes highest-scoring tournament in history
Doha, Qatar: The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become the highest-scoring edition in the tournament's history, surpassing the previous record of 172 goals set during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The milestone was reached during the tournament's 59th match, the Group D clash between the United States»»»
Israel’s Katz warns Iran against attacking Israel
DUBAI: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that any Iranian attack on Israel would be Tehran’s “biggest mistake.” Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani said on Thursday that if Israel did not withdraw voluntarily from south Lebanon, it would eventually be forced to leav»»»