International news
Current global events — politics, conflicts, diplomacy, economy, and international developments.
Forest fires in Greece: Tourist evacuations in Halkidiki and Thessaloniki
Critical fire situation in Northern Greece. Authorities activated the 112 system and evacuated areas in Halkidiki and Thessaloniki. There are no reports of injured Bulgarian citizens.
EEOC sues "99 Ranch" chain for racial discrimination against non-Chinese employees
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit against the Asian supermarket chain "99 Ranch", accusing the company of illegal discrimination and termination of non-Chinese employees, as the Trump administration directs the agency toward cases of so-called "reverse discrimination".
Strait of Hormuz is once again the center of the global oil flow: over 10 million barrels per day
The flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz now exceeds 10 million barrels per day, which, according to US officials, limits Tehran's ability to use the strait as a political bargaining chip. However, Iran insists that the pre-war regime will not be fully restored and plans new fees after August.
Allianz warns: climate crisis leaves more assets without real insurance
Against the backdrop of a deadly heatwave in Europe that has claimed over 1,300 lives, an Allianz board member warns that climate risks are making more assets practically uninsurable, while banks and investors are already adjusting their policies.
Swedish court rules record fine against Google over PriceRunner
A Stockholm court has ordered Google to pay $1.97 billion to PriceRunner in an antitrust case with the potential for long appeals.
From today, July 1, 2026, a 3-euro duty for every cheap online item from outside the EU
From today, July 1, 2026, in the EU, including Bulgaria, every online purchase under 150 euros from countries outside the Union is subject to a fixed duty of 3 euros per item. The measure aims to close the tax "loophole" used by platforms such as "Shein", "Temu" and "AliExpress", and to protect European merchants.
Serbia prepares to purchase Chinese HQ-9 SAMs and build one of the longest-range air defense shields in Europe
President Aleksandar Vučić announced that Serbia plans to purchase Chinese HQ-9 surface-to-air missile systems. Upon finalizing the deal, the country will possess one of the longest-range ground-based air defense systems in Europe and will complement the already deployed HQ-22 in a multi-layered defense shield.
WhatsApp introduces reservation of unique usernames for over 3 billion users
WhatsApp is beginning a phased rollout for reserving unique usernames for over 3 billion accounts, which will allow communication without sharing a phone number and will add new privacy and anti-impersonation tools.
Greece prepares for 3 billion euro air defense deal with Israel under the "Achilles" program
The government in Athens is preparing to approve a contract of approximately 3 billion euros with Israel for the purchase of the "Spyder All-in-One," "David's Sling," and "Barak MX" systems, with at least 25% participation by the Greek defense industry.
From July 1, 2026: EU abolishes duty-free import of small shipments up to 150 euros from countries outside the Union
From July 1, 2026, the duty-free regime for shipments up to 150 euros from non-EU countries will be abolished in the EU, including Bulgaria. A temporary fixed fee of 3 euros per tariff subheading is being introduced until 2028 to limit cheap imports, especially from China.
Escalation in the Gulf: Iran attacks US targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, US retaliates with new strikes
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced missile and drone attacks against US facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, and President Donald Trump confirmed retaliatory US strikes on Iranian warehouses and radars near the Strait of Hormuz.
For the first time since the truce, the US has struck Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz
The US military attacked Iranian missile and drone facilities in the Strait of Hormuz in response to a strike on a commercial vessel, against the backdrop of a 60-day truce with Iran.
Lower house in Romania gives green light to the idea of unification with Moldova
The Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest has approved a draft law for unification with Moldova through "tacit acceptance." The document obliges the government to begin immediate negotiations with Chisinau, while support for unification is growing in both countries.
Extreme heatwave in Europe: Temperature records and red alerts
Europe is gripped by a dangerous heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40°C. France, Spain, the UK, and the Balkans are implementing emergency measures due to the intense heat.
China strikes back: sanctions against 10 US companies over "dual-use" goods
Beijing has imposed restrictions on the export of "dual-use" goods to 10 American companies—primarily in the drone, rare earth, and technology sectors—in response to recent US restrictions against Chinese firms.