Trump touts Iran deal: "some people's response to this will be 'the boy who cried wolf'"
US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a "great settlement" with Iran to end the Middle East war, saying he expected a deal to be signed in Europe in the coming days. Trump's claim came just hours after he promised fresh strikes against Iran, before saying that he was calling them off as a»»»
Trump calls off latest threats to strike Iran, citing progress in negotiations
President Donald Trump called off new U.S. military strikes on Iran on Thursday, saying "final points" of an initial peace deal had been approved and details of a signing ceremony would be announced shortly. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that Tehran had not approved the text of »»»
Why Russian trucks in Ukraine are covered in ‘zebra’ camouflage
Images shared by military bloggers show Russian forces using black-and-white striped camouflage on their trucks. The technique aims to deceive the AI recognition systems of Ukrainian drones, underscoring the constant adaptation of tactics in the conflict. "An attempt to confuse the guidance systems»»»
'Civilians will be put in harm's way' expert warns as first autonomous drone kills revealed
A senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry said that a test took place two years ago involving fully autonomous drones set to destroy anything in a given area, with confirmed casualties, according to a report in New Scientist. Speaking on FRANCE 24, Mariarosaria Taddeo, Professor of Digital »»»
'Our worries are increasing day by day': A Lebanese family lives through wartime
Across Lebanon, anxiety reigns. With no real ceasefire in sight, millions fear the loss of loved ones, or often the homes they have had to leave behind. FRANCE 24's reporters Antonia Kerrigan and Elena Volochine spent time with a family in the capital, to see how this, just one of many wars th»»»
Foreign Minister, AfCFTA S-G. review progress on Continental Free Trade Area
Tunis, June 11 (TAP) - At the invitation of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, is paying a working visit to Tunisia from...»»»
Live Updates: U.S. to hit Iran “very hard,” Trump says, threatens to take Kharg Island – Ya Libnan
Share: A satellite image shows an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026. 2026 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS HERE IS THE LATEST President Trump said Thursday that the U.S. would launch “very hard” new strikes on Iran within hours and seize vital Iranian oil infrastructure, incl»»»
MPs to Request All Information Regarding KYB's Activities in Bulgaria from National Security Agency
The parliamentary Committee for Control of the Security Services, the Application and Use of the Special Intelligence Means and the Data Access under the Electronic Communications Act unanimously decided to request all information from the State Agency for National Security (SANS) regarding the KYB»»»
Hamad Port ranks 8th globally, 2nd in Gulf in 2025 Container Port Performance Index
Doha, Qatar: Hamad Port, Qatar’s Main Gateway to World Trade, has climbed three spots to rank 8th globally and 2nd in the Gulf region in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. This milestone reflects Hamad Port’s high operat»»»
Hamad Port climbs to 8th globally in 2025 Container Port Performance Index
Doha Hamad Port, Qatar’s main gateway to world trade, has achieved a major milestone in global maritime logistics, rising three places to rank 8th worldwide and second in the Gulf region in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), according to Mwani Qatar. The ranking, developed jointly by»»»
Hong Kong customs seize $20m in fake goods ahead of the World Cup
HONG KONG: Just hours before the World Cup kicked off, Hong Kong authorities announced they seized 230,000 suspected counterfeit items worth an estimated $20 million, including jerseys tied to the tournament. The seizure included about 30,000 jerseys, some so finely made that they’re hard to distin»»»
Israel denies entry to French reporter, broadcaster slams ‘obstacle to press freedom’
Israeli authorities on Thursday denied entry to French reporter Alice Froussard, who covers the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for FRANCE 24's sister station Radio France Internationale (RFI) and Radio France. Froussard was deported hours after landing at Tel Aviv airport, said Israeli officials»»»
Pope casts flowers in sea in tribute to drowned migrants during Canary Islands visit
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday visited Spain's Canary Islands, the once-notorious centre of the European migration debate, where he threw a bouquet of flowers in the sea in tribute to the migrants who perished trying to reach the Atlantic archipelago. The pontiff made a plea for "human dignity" and conde»»»
PM Rumen Radev: Turkey Is a Key Partner for Bulgaria in Security, Energy, and Transport Connectivity
Rumen Radev said that Turkey is not only a neighboring and friendly country, but also a key partner for Bulgaria in several strategic areas, including security, migration, energy, and transport connectivity. He also highlighted emerging fields with strong potential for cooperation, such as hig»»»
Investigation into MRF Chair Peevski's Assets Is Underway, Says Interior Minister
An investigation is underway into the assets of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Delyan Peevski, said Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev at a briefing on Thursday. Part of the investigation will look into expenses that Peevski made personally or that were made by other people but ultima»»»
Bulgarian Scientists Discuss Future Cooperation Prospects with India's External Affairs Minister
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) Vice President Prof. Emanuel Mutafov attended a working lunch with India's Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, during his official visit to Bulgaria on June 10, the Academy reported. The meeting was held at the invitation of India's Ambassa»»»
French connections - France’s villages: Life beyond the postcard
This week, we step away from the headlines and out of the city to focus on French villages. There is a deeply rooted romantic image of village life: a stone church, a sleepy square, a small café. But what is life really like in French villages today? Like in many countries, rural France has seen po»»»
Tanzania's stalled $1bn uranium project Mkuju River gains momentum after talks with Russian partners
Tanzania’s long-delayed Mkuju River uranium project has gained renewed political and investment momentum following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s visit to Russia, with officials signalling that implementation is moving closer to full-scale development. The project, which has been stalled for more »»»
Europe's central bank raises rates to fight inflation from Iran war
The European Central Bank on Thursday became the first major central bank to raise interest rates in response to the Iran war as policymakers around the world including new U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh wrestle with how to confront the inflation fed by sharply higher oil prices. The ECB's »»»
Chinese EV giant BYD quietly shelves plan for billion-dollar plant in Turkey
BYD (Build Your Dreams/Shenzhen/002594) has quietly abandoned work on its much touted project to build a $1bn factory in Turkey, Stella Li, an executive vice president at the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant, confirmed on June 10. The company, however, remains »»»
Tanzania's stalled $1bn uranium project Mkuju River gains momentum after talks with Russian partners
Tanzania’s long-delayed Mkuju River uranium project has gained renewed political and investment momentum following President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s visit to Russia, with officials signalling that implementation is moving closer to full-scale development. The project, which has been stalled for more »»»
Radio France Internationale condemns Israel's ban on French reporter
Radio France Internationale (RFI) condemned Thursday Israel's entry ban on French reporter Alice Froussard, who freelances for the station and other outlets, as "an obstacle to press freedom". "Israeli authorities have not provided any justification to RFI for this decision," the broadcaster said i»»»
Bill Gates calls Epstein meetings a ‘grave error’ while defending actions in house testimony
Bill Gates said on Wednesday he made a “grave error in judgment” by meeting Jeffrey Epstein but denied any wrongdoing, as the Microsoft co-founder faced hours of questioning before the House Oversight Committee about his ties to the disgraced financier. Gates said he should never have met Epstein a»»»
An opportunity exists to inspire young women cricketers at the 2026 T20 World Cup
On a blustery but thankfully dry Sunday, June 7, the 12 captains of teams in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026 assembled on Waterloo Bridge, London. The event was termed a carnival and was followed by a press conference in a less windswept venue nearby. There, for the purpose of two consecutive questi»»»
Egypt tourism revenues rise 14.9% to $14.4bn in first 9 months of fiscal year
RIYADH: Tourism revenues in Egypt recorded an annual rise of 14.9 percent during the first nine months of the fiscal year, reaching approximately $14.4 billion, the country’s prime minister revealed. Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting Mostafa Madbouly also revealed remittances from Egyptians work»»»
Israeli strikes kill 12 in Lebanon as Netanyahu urges fight against Hezbollah
Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed 12 people on Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese citizens to join Israel's fight against Hezbollah. A border town said two municipal employees detained by Israeli forces were later releas»»»
Nat'l Assembly begins procedure for potential probe on election ballot shortage - UPI.com
A plenary session of the National Assembly is held in Seoul on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap The National Assembly on Thursday launched formal procedures for a potential parliamentary investigation into ballot shortages reported during last week's local elections, with requests for the probe submitted »»»
'I am a prisoner of conscience': Ali Karimli, the opposition figure defying Azerbaijan’s regime
Azerbaijan’s opposition leader Ali Karimli, a former secretary of state, goes on trial in Baku on Wednesday for an alleged "attempted coup". Karimli spoke to FRANCE 24 from prison, where he slammed the charges against him as "entirely fabricated and politically motivated" and warned that he risked »»»
Coupang fined record 624.7 billion won over massive data breach, unauthorized data collection - UPI.com
South Korean regulators fined e-commerce giant Coupang a record 624.7 billion won (US$410 million) over privacy violations Thursday. This photo, taken Thursday, shows Coupang headquarters in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap South Korea's data protection regulator on Thursday fined e-commerce company Coupang »»»
UK watchdog warns online platforms as Belfast riots go viral
Northern Ireland braced Wednesday for a potential second night of violence directed at immigrants, following unrest that UK authorities say was stoked by far-right activists on social media after a brutal Belfast stabbing. Britain's media regulator warned online platforms of possible legal conseq»»»
Chinese EV giant BYD quietly shelves plan for billion-dollar plant in Turkey
BYD (Build Your Dreams/Shenzhen/002594) has quietly abandoned work on its much touted project to build a $1bn factory in Turkey, Stella Li, an executive vice president at the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant, confirmed on June 10. The company, however, remains »»»
The return of the Silk Road as the “C6”, a key geopolitical link between Europe and Asia
There is a map that used to hang in the offices of Soviet central planners in Moscow, showing the five republics of Central Asia as a single administrative unit — roads pointing inward toward Russia, railways terminating at Russian junctions, pipelines flowing north. The region was designed, quite »»»
Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp: From a niche broker to a global fintech player
Who is Timur Turlov? Where did his billions come from? And how did he turn a small brokerage firm into a transnational financial ecosystem? Freedom Holding Corp. is a Kazakhstan-born international fintech company listed on the Nasdaq and valued at nearly $9 billion. In recent years, the company - w»»»
The world's record heatwaves - Statista
According to NASA, there is “unequivocal evidence that Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate”, Statista reports. Data from Copernicus, the European Earth Observation program for the European Space Agency, shows that July 22, 2024, was the world’s hottest daily global average temperature since t»»»
Rubio backs Trans-Caspian gas pipeline proposal in meeting with Turkmenistan’s top diplomat
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed Washington’s strong support for the decades-old idea of diversifying Turkmenistan's natural gas exports via a pipeline that would be constructed across the Caspian Sea, according to a US State Department statement released on May 29. The statement fol»»»
South Korea’s Lee, EU leaders reject North Korea nuclear status - UPI.com
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (C) is walking with Ursula von der Leyen (R), president of the European Commission, and Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, ahead of their summit in Brussels on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, June 11 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung»»»
Ukraine needs €197bn to rebuild. EU budgets for only €89bn
Who is going to pay for rebuilding Ukraine after the war is over? Now the EU has raised a €90bn two-year loan to keep the country in the fight against Russia, attention has started to turn to what comes next. The European Commission (EC) has drawn up a draft recovery plan for 2028-2034 but it falls»»»
India's many territorial disputes and their impact on its economic potential
For much of the 26 years since the beginning of the millennium, India has aimed at becoming a rising economic power by way of first becoming a service centered hub and gradually shifting towards becoming a centre of manufacturing. However, many of these ambitions have hit the wall of geop»»»
Documents on Stoyan Mavrodiev's Extradition Sent to Serbian Embassy in Sofia, Says Justice Minister
The documents for the extradition of Stoyan Mavrodiev from Serbia to Bulgaria for criminal prosecution have been sent to the Serbian Embassy in Sofia, Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov told a briefing here on Thursday. In his words, the procedure follows strictly formal rules and there is no need f»»»
New Bulgaria–Serbia Border Crossing Planned as Leaders Push for Stronger Regional Connectivity
An agreement on the construction of a new border checkpoint between Bulgaria and Serbia is expected to be signed by the end of the summer tourist season, Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut said in Belgrade. Macut made the statement following a meeting with Bulgarian Vice President Iliana Yotova, he»»»
Sofia Street Race Massacre Suspect Lives in Municipal Housing after Court Overturns Eviction AttemptOpinions
A man identified as Vasil N. Filipov, one of the two drivers accused in a deadly street race in Sofia, is currently living in municipal housing intended for socially vulnerable residents, according to reporting cited from investigative sources. The case is linked to the crash on Chelopeshko Shose, »»»
The EU's enlargement dilemma
The European Union is edging towards the biggest rethink of its enlargement policy in decades as Russia’s war in Ukraine, fears of institutional paralysis and growing frustration in the Western Balkans force European leaders to confront a question once considered largely theoretical: how to expand »»»
Bulgaria the latest addition to the EU’s Excessive Deficit Club
Bulgaria has barely had time to celebrate joining the eurozone monetary union at the start of this year before the European Commission is set to turn around and throw it into the rapidly growing financial delinquents club. Bulgaria is about to breach the 3% of GDP. budget deficit threshold that wil»»»
Albania suspends Kushner luxury island resort after EU warning
The Albanian government reportedly announced it would suspend a real estate project led by the son-in-law of the US president Jared Kushner and his daughter Ivanka Trump to develop a luxury island resource as the EU warned the project could threaten Albania’s EU accession bid. Albania’s Environmen»»»
Acting Prosecutor General Seeks Lifting of Vazrazhdane MP Angel Georgiev’s Immunity
Acting Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova has submitted a request to the 52nd National Assembly seeking permission to continue criminal proceedings against Vazrazhdane MP Angel Georgiev. Announcing the request at the start of a plenary sitting here on Thursday, National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotso»»»
Minister Dimitrov Participates in UN Tourism's Executive Council Session, Meets Key Industry Representatives
Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov took part in the 126th session of UN Tourism's Executive Council in Toledo, Spain, on June 10 and 11, the Ministry's press centre reported Thursday. Within the forum, he held a series of meetings with key representatives of the global tourism industry, including the m»»»
EBRD to finance Romanian large-scale battery energy-storage system with EUR 44 mln
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced that it will provide up to EUR 44 million in financing to support the development, construction and operation of a large-scale battery energy-storage system in Scornicesti, Olt County, a release of the international financial ins»»»
DEER's Suciu says it's important for Romania that network development is emphasised at European level
A non-modernised energy network means a brake on the development of the Romanian economy and the European economy, and for Romania it is very important that the need to develop distribution networks is being emphasised at European level, Director General of the Electricity Distribution Romania (DEE»»»
Natural increase of Romania's population remains negative in April
Romania's population recorded a negative natural increase in April 2026 (-8,758), with the number of registered deaths being 1.8 times higher than that of live births, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) data published on Wednesday.According to official statistics, birth certifi»»»
Romania's 250,000-strong IT workforce contributing 8pct of GDP
Romania has about 250,000 IT specialists, with an industry contribution of 8% of GDP, Mihai Matei, deputy chairman of the Employers' Association of the Software and Services Industry (ANIS), said on Wednesday at a specialist event."The Romanian IT market has grown a lot and consistently in recent y»»»