A Chinese citizen has been detained and formally charged in Bulgaria over allegations of attempting to gather classified information for a foreign state, according to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors say the alleged activity took place in Sofia over an extended period, from an unspec»»»

A massive explosion and fire hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening, with the authorities attributing the incident to a “technical malfunction” during operations at a local gas facility rather than an attack. Qatar’s Interior Ministry initially said an “internal explosion” occurre»»»

Bulgaria was added to the FATF grey list back in 2023. Since then, the government has gradually stepped up its compliance rules across key sectors. The most recent move sees Bulgaria establishing a dedicated AML task force embedded within the National Police.  Outgoing Interior Minister Daniel»»»

Dubai: Kuwait's Court of Cassation, the country's highest judicial authority, has sentenced former lawmaker Saleh Ashour and another defendant to three years in prison with immediate effect after convicting them of misappropriating funds belonging to others, Al Rai Arabic daily reported. The ruling»»»

Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said that the Arab Executive Office of the Ministers of Electricity 31st meeting discusses the Arab electricity network. The Arab leaders pay great attention to the Arab power grid that has great economic feasibility, the minister added. Egypt suffered last ye»»»

Uzbekistan is preparing to launch an ambitious new legal jurisdiction aimed at attracting international technology companies. The idea is to utilise legal certainty and regulatory flexibility rather than tax incentives in building a digital economy. In an exclusive interview with bne Inte»»»

GAZA CITY: Carrying their boards past tents and bombed-out buildings, a group of Gazan surfers headed for the sea, seeking solace in the waves despite the risk of Israeli attacks. On the beach in Gaza City, the trio laid out their boards on the sand while they warmed up their limbs and readied thei»»»

Visually impaired citizens pointed out accessibility gaps in the Sofia Metro during an inspection at the Serdika metro station on Monday, part of the Step Forward with Confidence campaign organized by the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD) and Union of the Blind in Bulgaria. Par»»»

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan issued a weather alert for the period from June 22 to June 25. According to the ministry, hot weather is expected across the country in the coming days, while some regions may experience heavy localized rainfall. Rescue services are urging resident»»»

BELGRADE - We live in a world where all assumptions that have shaped the world economy in the past 30 years are collapsing and that is why we must change, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday in Belgrade at the opening of the 21st World Congress of the International Economic Associatio»»»

FM Logistic, a major international supply chain player, has announced the signing of an agreement to acquire a majority stake in the capital of German logistics group Schäflein. The current management, Achim and Bernd Schäflein, will retain an equity stake, thereby securing the continuity and famil»»»

Doha The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced on Monday that the number of people injured in the incident at a factory in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area has reached 54. In a statement posted on its official account on X, the ministry said that the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group, affil»»»

Mardin, Turkiye: In a dimly lit room illuminated by a pair of red lamps, eight-year-old Zeynep waits to see photographs she has taken, now trapped as shadows and silhouettes on a roll of film. "How big is your curiosity?" asks her mentor, 40-year-old photographer Amar Kilic, as he develops the nega»»»

The transaction refinances the company’s existing facilities, originally signed in 2023, and extends the initial maturity from three to five years, while securing improved terms and conditions. The funds will be used primarily to support the modernization and digitization of Delgaz’s distribution n»»»

ROME: World leaders are “feeding” wars instead of the hungry, Pope Leo said on Monday, telling the UN food aid agency that global priorities were badly skewed. Leo, who has been more outspoken on political issues in recent months, urged governments to increase their spending to combat hunger and no»»»

Paris, France: Thirteen people died by drowning in searing temperatures in France over the weekend, with the heatwave set to intensify from Monday across much of Europe, forcing warnings and special measures. The latest hot spell that has left the continent sweltering has seen outdoor events cancel»»»

London, June 22 (SANA) Oil prices declined on Monday in global markets after the conclusion of U.S.–Iran talks in Switzerland, which were described as positive, and following reports that Tehran secured exemptions for oil and petrochemical exports, easing concerns over potential supply disruptions.»»»

RIYADH: Makkah and Madinah’s hospitality sectors demonstrated resilience in early 2026, weathering regional travel disruptions as the Kingdom continues to expand accommodation capacity for religious visitors, according to Knight Frank. The consultancy’s Saudi Hospitality and Religious Tourism Repor»»»

Abu Dhabi: New business licences issued in Abu Dhabi rose by 21 per cent in the first three months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, officials announced Monday. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the business reg»»»

Two Palestinians were martyred and several others wounded on Monday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a vehicle in central Gaza City, the latest in a series of ceasefire violations that continue to shatter the fragile truce. Local sources reported that Israeli warplanes conducted at least three str»»»

Doha, Qatar: Director of Projects Affairs at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Eng. Khalid Saif Al Khayareen affirmed Ashghal's commitment to implementing the ban on work in open areas during the specified period from 10am until 3:30pm from June 1 to September 15 of each year, while monitoring »»»

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic announced the launch of an automated information system (AIS) «Single Window» starting July 1, 2026. As part of efforts to digitize public services and improve transparency and convenience for citizens, the »»»

OMV Petrom, the largest integrated energy producer in South-Eastern Europe, has commissioned a new aromatics unit at the Petrobrazi refinery, following an investment of around EUR 140 million. The project will allow the company to expand its production capacity for feedstocks used in the petrochemi»»»

Not a single topic dominates Monday’s news media. The coverage focuses on the presidential race, with parties weighing possible candidates before the autumn 2026 election, Bulgaria’s position on the EU’s planned new sanctions package against Russia, and the pressure on public finances. Other major »»»

Seoul: A Korean Republic court sentenced a former justice minister to 25 years in prison on Monday for his role in ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol's brief and disastrous declaration of martial law in 2024. Park Sung-jae was found guilty of involvement in "insurrection" by the Seoul Central District Cour»»»

Dubai: HSBC has launched its Tokenised Deposit Service in the UAE, giving eligible corporate and institutional clients a new way to move money instantly across domestic and cross-border accounts. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The service allows companies to transfer »»»

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said partnerships between the Egyptian private sector and investors from sisterly countries reflect growing confidence in the Egyptian economy and underscore the market’s ability to attract more high-quality investments that support sustainable development goals. Mad»»»

Dubai: The United States and Iran have agreed to establish a direct communication line for the Strait of Hormuz as negotiators wrapped up a second day of talks in Switzerland aimed at securing a broader agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional security issues. The mechanism, announced b»»»

Dubai: For thousands of aspiring doctors, Sunday was meant to be a second chance. Instead, for at least three students in Bengaluru, it ended in heartbreak at the gates of their examination centres. As candidates across India appeared for the NEET-UG re-test, traffic congestion allegedly linked to »»»

Seoul: A South Korean court sentenced a former justice minister to 25 years in prison on Monday for his role in ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol's brief and disastrous declaration of martial law in 2024. Park Sung-jae was found guilty of involvement in "insurrection" by the Seoul Central District Court, »»»

A bomb threat was reported at the Government House on the Old Square in Bishkek on June 22, prompting the evacuation of employees from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, which are currently located in the building. Officials from both ministries »»»

More than 15 reports of alleged explosive devices at government facilities were received in a short period of time in Bishkek, the Main Internal Affairs Department of Bishkek reported. Following the alerts, police cordoned off the affected areas, evacuated staff and visitors, and deployed investiga»»»

RIYADH: Oman’s consumer prices rose 3.8 percent year on year in May, with transport and miscellaneous personal goods and services recording the sharpest increases, official data showed. According to the National Center for Statistics and Information, the average inflation rate for the January-May p»»»

Dubai: Emirates passengers travelling to or through Dubai this summer can get a complimentary stay at the five-star JW Marriott Marquis, along with access to hundreds of city discounts through My Emirates Pass. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline has launched a»»»

A boarding school incident has escalated into a national scandal after it emerged that a 15-year-old pupil was repeatedly struck in the stomach by a monk serving as prefect at the St Anthony Franciscan Grammar School and Boarding House in Esztergom. The boy was reportedly dragged towards the shower»»»

Watt Unit, in collaboration with its partner Schneider Electric, has modernised the Băneasa Drinking Water Treatment Station by implementing an integrated industrial automation and advanced SCADA monitoring solution. The project contributes to increasing operational reliability, process safety, and»»»

This photo, taken Monday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks closed above the 9,100-point mark on a semiconductor rally and optimism over a U.S.-Iran deal. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks finished at an all-time high Monday on a continued rally in semiconductor »»»

Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae appears for his trial on charges of playing a key role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday. Photo by Yonhap Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after a di»»»

Others are looking for something more exclusive. They use their bank more often, want greater cashback rewards, invest regularly, or simply have different expectations from their banking relationship. For them, Salt Bank is introducing Salt Everyday and Salt Premium, two plans that build on the Sal»»»

Dubai: Most filmmakers, after delivering the biggest Malayalam blockbuster of the year, would probably have Mohanlal, Mammootty and every major Indian star on speed dial. But acclaimed South Indian filmmaker Chidambaram S Poduval did something stranger. Instead of cashing in his Manjummel Boys good»»»

Thus, the average monthly instalment on the mortgage needed to buy a one-bedroom apartment in Bucharest, completed at least 30 years ago and located outside semi-central areas, currently accounts for approximately 40% of the net average wage recorded locally. The Ipotecare.ro analysis considered th»»»

ROME: The leaders of Europe’s top military powers will meet Wednesday in Berlin, Italy said on Monday, as Europe aims to play a bigger role in trying to end the Ukraine war. The government said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni would attend the meeting with her British, French, German and Polish counte»»»

President Joseph Aoun discussed Monday in a phone call with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President Jared Kushner, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Lebanon ceasefire, after the U.S. and Iran agreed to set up a "de-conflict»»»

Mamyrzhan Rakhimov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Batken region, inspected the construction of Beles Resort tourist complex, which is being built in Beles Gorge, part of the city of Sulyukta in Batken region. The head of the region noted the importance of»»»

The Snow Leopard EcoFest Chon-Kemin 2026 environmental festival will be held on July 11, 2026, at the hippodrome in the village of Shabdan in Chon-Kemin Valley. The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kyrgyz Republic announced. This year’s festival theme is «Snow Leopard: Eco-Education — the Found»»»

The evacuation of people from the Zhogorku Kenesh was related to a drill, parliament officials told 24.kg news agency. According to the parliament, staff members were evacuated around lunchtime, but unlike other government agencies, no bomb threat reports were received. «We were informed that drill»»»

Dubai: 10X Properties successfully hosted a Private Investor Business Meet at the iconic Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, reinforcing its commitment to driving investment opportunities across the region. The exclusive gathering brought together investors, real estate professionals, and industry leaders fr»»»

Dubai: For decades, Dubai has been admired for achieving what many thought impossible.It transformed itself from a regional trading hub into a global city, built one of the world’s most advanced infrastructure networks, created an economy that attracts talent and investment from every continent, an»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3946 dinars for one euro on Monday, which is a slight change relative to Friday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative to t»»»

South Korea's military on Monday called North Korean border fortification work along the Military Demarcation Line a violation of the armistice agreement that ended fighting in the Korean War. This June 2023 photo shows a South Korean military guard post near Paju. Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | Lic»»»