Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the principal challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel prepares to vote in a fiercely contested general election on October 27. Eisenkot's campaign is built around a 10-point platform that he says will restore Israel's se»»»

RIYADH: The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing issued more than 34,000 building permits across the Kingdom’s regions from January through the end of June 2026, as part of its efforts to regulate construction activities, streamline procedures, and keep pace with urban development in cities and g»»»

Russia's central bank cut its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 14% on July 24, defying a market consensus for no change, while raising its 2026 inflation forecast to 6%-7% and cutting its GDP growth forecast to 0%-1%, according to the regulator's press release. Given the growing severity of »»»

Nothing screams political impotence like a national leader losing control over key military appointments at the time of war. With an abrupt cabinet reshuffle, Volodymyr Zelenskiy tried to get rid a disloyal defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov. But at the end of the day he was forced to sack a loyal »»»

Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries warehouse for the fifth time this week, targeting a logistics centre in St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region overnight on July 24, triggering large fires. Drones also hit a Wildberries sorting centre in Russian-occupied Simferopol, Crimea, and a f»»»

Druze leader Walid Jumblat has emphasized that the most important thing is to preserve “the memory of south Lebanon and Jabal Amel in coexistence, struggle, resilience, intellectual and cultural contributions, scholarship and attachment to the land.” In a statement, Jumblat added that it is crucial»»»

There is no direct threat to Bulgaria’s security, representatives of the country’s security services said during a working meeting with Prime Minister Rumen Radev, where the security environment and the challenges arising from it were discussed, the Government Information Service said on Monday. Th»»»

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) endorses Iliana Iotova for president, BSP Chair Krum Zarkov told a press conference on Monday after a meeting of the BSP Executive Bureau. President Iotova announced on June 24 that she will run in the next presidential elections. Zarkov praised Iotova for her co»»»

There is no direct threat to Bulgaria’s security, representatives of the country’s security services said during a working meeting with Prime Minister Rumen Radev, where the security environment and the challenges arising from it were discussed, the Government Information Service said on Monday. Th»»»

Manila: June Palomar is paying Php730 pesos in "system loss" charges on his June 2026 electricity bill amounting to Php11,500. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr now wants it scrapped. That's one of the president's appeals made to Filipino lawmakers on Monday (June 27) as he delivered his fifth State of»»»

Doha, Qatar: Snoonu, Qatar’s first homegrown super app for food, groceries, and in demand services, and Spacetoon Go, a comprehensive family entertainment super app in MENAT, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly provide their audiences with access to premium content and exclus»»»

On July 27, 2020, Rep. John Lewis became the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda 10 days after his death from cancer. 1 of 5 | On July 27, 2020, Rep. John Lewis became the first Black lawmaker to lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda 10 days after his death from cancer. File P»»»

Doha, Qatar: From sports and science to technology, creativity and personal development, Qatar Foundation (QF) is once again transforming Education City into a vibrant summer destination where children and youth and families can learn, explore and grow. Running until end of August, QF’s extensive s»»»

The fire in southwest France was about 15 kilometres away from Bordeaux on Sunday, as authorities in France and Spain battled wildfires that have forced roughly 300,000 people from their homes across both countries. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the situation in Bordeaux as "unprecedent»»»

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, using his first meeting with a foreign leader since taking office to underline London's "unwavering support" for Kyiv. The visit comes ahead of Zelensky's trip to Washington on Tuesday.  Zelens»»»

Romania ranks above capital markets in the region and very close to developed economies such as Italy, France, or Spain, yet below the European average and considerably below the global level, according to Alexandru Petrescu, President of the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF)."Romania is beginn»»»

Romania's consolidated budget posted a deficit of 41.03 billion lei ($8.8 billion/€7.8 billion) in the first six months of 2026, down from 69.80 billion lei in the same period of 2025, the finance ministry said on Friday. The budget gap for January-June was equivalent to 2% of the projected gross d»»»

Corruption prosecutors have found sums of money in lei and foreign currency, to the amount of approximately EUR 500,000 at the place of Tiberiu Alexandru Pirvu, director of the Plopeni armament plant.The money has been seized and a lien was placed on it.Three directors of two state-owned arms compa»»»

The chairs of Romania's chambers of Parliament, Mircea Abrudean and Sorin Grindeanu, had an official meeting on Friday with visiting India's President Droupadi Murmu, to discuss strengthening the extended partnership between Romania and India, in view of the anniversary in 2027 of 80 years of bilat»»»

Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan and President of the Republic of India Droupadi Murmu discussed bilateral economic and trade cooperation as the foundation of Romanian-Indian relations during their meeting on Friday at Victoria Palace.According to a Government press release, deepening bilateral »»»

The drone shot down on Friday by an F-16 aircraft piloted by a Romanian airman in the Padina area of Buzau County was a Shahed type, the General Prosecutor's Office informed in a press release."The prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Ploiesti Court of Appeal have been notified ex»»»

Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan praised on Sunday the pilots and military personnel involved in shooting down the drones and "strongly" condemned the Russian Federation's violation of Romanian airspace, describing it as "unacceptable.""The recent actions of the Romanian Air Force, alongside our»»»

Manila: The family of billionaire businessman Manny Villar Jr. is willing to donate land needed for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension, Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez said, potentially removing one of the biggest obstacles that has delayed the multibillion-peso »»»

DUBAI: Dubai’s contemporary art scene is embracing the beauty of imperfection with “Khali Balak Men RISO,” a new group exhibition at artist and designer studio Tashkeel that explores the creative possibilities of risograph printing through the work of 10 creatives. Opened on July 19 and running to »»»

Progressive Bulgaria will decide collectively whether to support President Iliana Iotova in the autumn presidential election, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said in a television interview on Sunday. “The decision must be made by the party’s governing body, that is, by our collective bodies,” Sto»»»

The Indian government has constituted a six-member high-powered task force, chaired by Infosys co-founder and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani, to recommend reforms aimed at making India's entrance examinations more secure, transparent and leak-proof. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the pan»»»

Manila: Unlike many mature democracies where party platforms or class often dominate voting behaviour, Philippine elections continue to be shaped by ethnolinguistic identity. Under the veneer of pluralism, strong undercurrents of regional loyalty and political dynasties reign supreme across the arc»»»

Approval of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev fell to 50% in July from 53% in June and 56% in May, while disapproval rose to 33% from 28% and 22% over the same months, a Market Links poll published on July 23 found. The slide points to the fading of the mandate Radev won on a promise to break up»»»

DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula One Management have confirmed that Malaysia will host the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit from Oct. 2-4, between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix. The weekend, which is subject to final agreements and off»»»

Ukraine's drone campaign against Russian refineries has made the country's refining sector a strategic liability for the Kremlin, and the resulting fuel crisis has pushed Russian refining to record lows even as LNG exports to Europe hit record highs. Two independent data trails, exchange trading re»»»

Comments Ukraine's new commander-in-chief, General Mykhailo Drapatyi, made in a 2023 interview about the population of Donbas have resurfaced this week and are being heavily amplified by Russian state media, days after President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed him to replace Oleksandr Syrskyi amid mas»»»

German ​Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ​said on Sunday that all evidence ​surrounding Saturday ‌night's ⁠attack at Berlin's ‌Pride celebration so ⁠far points to an Islamist terrorist ​attack. Police are still hunting for the prime suspect in the car-ramming, which left one woman dead and 29 o»»»

Russia's State Duma approved legislation in its second and third readings restricting the banking, property, consular and other rights of Russian nationals facing criminal or politically related administrative cases who remain outside the country, according to an official release seen by IntelliNew»»»

Prime Minister Péter Magyar has confirmed that Hungary wants to remain on the Formula 1 calendar well beyond the current contract, following talks with Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Hungaroring during the 41st Hungarian Grand Prix. Speaking after the meeting in Mogyoród on S»»»

ADEN: Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya Zindani said on Sunday that the Houthi group’s continued targeting of commercial ships and threatening the security of the Red Sea and international shipping lanes “reaffirms that it is implementing Iran’s agenda to destabilize the region and undermine internationa»»»

Flavio Bolsonaro on Saturday formally launched his campaign for Brazil's October presidential election, seeking to extend his family's grip on the country's far-right movement despite a series of scandals that have dented his once-strong challenge to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. B»»»

A Romanian fighter jet on Sunday shot down the third drone flying into the country's airspace in as many days, the defence minister said. A government investigation reportedly identified the first of the three drones as a Shahed model used by Russia in its war with Ukraine.  Romania on Sunday »»»

Armenian attitudes toward the LGBTQ community have transformed in recent years, in part due to the war in Ukraine. While a queer club in Yerevan was firebombed in 2012, the capital is now home to a thriving underground drag scene. But despite these events attracting hundreds, police raids and famil»»»

Vessel traffic into Ukrainian Black Sea ports has been fully suspended because of the threat of Russian attacks, Agrarian Policy Minister Taras Vysotskyi said on July 23, as occupied Crimea entered its third month of a deepening, Ukrainian-engineered power collapse. Ports close As recently as the p»»»

RIYADH: Egypt exported more than 2.3 million tonnes of petroleum products worth about $2.3 billion in the first half of 2026, matching its total export volume for all of last year, official data showed. The Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ministry said exports of products including jet fuel, naphth»»»

Another night has passed without further US air strikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of nightly bombardments. US media reports that Washington's concerns over dwindling stockpiles of Patriot interceptors and other air defence munitions could be behind the pause in fighting.  Iran passed anot»»»

Stefan Doerr, the director of the Centre for Wildfire Research at Swansea University, speaks to FRANCE 24 about some of the reasons why fire seasons across the world seem to be getting more and more severe.»»»

The D-Day landing beaches in Normandy were added to UNESCO's World Heritage List Sunday. The 80-kilometre stretch of coastline in northwest France served as the site for Allied forces' landing in Europe in June 1944, marking a decisive moment in the war against Nazi Germany and its fascist allies i»»»

"He who is admired by Saudi Arabia is admired by the whole world, and it seems Saudi Arabia admires me more than some Lebanese people," Speaker Nabih Berri has said. "I've always said it, and I still say it: we in Lebanon need a tripartite guarantee comprised of Saudi Arabia, the United States and »»»

Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) Chairman Radan Kanev said President Iliana Iotova's presidential bid was intended to leave the government without a check for the next nearly four years. Kanev said Iotova's decision to run had come as no surprise because it had long been expected. "She has merel»»»

FRANCE 24's Madrid correspondent Sarah Morris reports on what authorities have called a "difficult night" for the firefighters struggling to tackle the spreading wildfires near Madrid and Toledo.»»»

San Diego: Superhero movie fans will officially return to the world of Wakanda in "Black Panther III," the newest entry in the Marvel film franchise, the studio announced at Comic-Con on Saturday. British actor David Jonsson will play the lead role in the film, due out on December 15, 2028. Known f»»»

A van ploughed into crowds at Berlin's annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations on Saturday, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others before crashing into a tree. Police and prosecutors on Sunday issued a wanted notice for a 21-year-old identified only as Abdul B, and warned members of the public»»»

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation of the U.S. military. 1 of 5 | Graduating midshipmen arrive for the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. on May 26, 2017. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation »»»