Austria

Germany on Tuesday ruled out normalization of relations with Syria as eight EU states urged a reassessment of strategy towards Damascus.

The acclaimed and highly acclaimed French philosopher and writer Pascal Bruckner rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s with his writing. Today he is seen as a timely and pioneering voice against the “political correctness” of “woke” culture.

Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) will organize trips with a special retro train every Saturday in August on the route from Sofia to Bankya and from Bankya to Sofia. The train will run on the occasion of the commemoration of the anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian State Railways in August 1888 and the celebration of the railwayman's holiday.

The Republic of North Macedonia's plan for utilizing funds from the EU's Western Balkans growth initiative was prepared two weeks ago, and the country is now awaiting approval from the European Commission, according to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in an interview with Telma TV, reported by BTA.

Many Jewish communities in Macedonia and Thrace disappeared in the Holocaust, yet their presence in the places where their communities once thrived is still palpable. These are places, after all, which are defined by a multicultural legacy and a respect for history that expresses itself in myriad ways.

Bulgaria is unlikely to join the Eurozone in the next two years, according to economist Prof. Krasen Stanchev, founder of the Institute for Market Economy. He explained on bTV's morning program "This Sunday" that the decision is made not by the European Commission or the European Central Bank, but by a qualified majority of Eurozone member countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has set his sights on the 2026 World Cup following Türkiye's elimination in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, expressing optimism about the national team's future prospects.

"From now on, we will walk by raising the target," Erdoğan told journalists aboard his return flight from Germany on July 7.

Turkey's ambassador to Austria, Ozan Ceyhan, said he hoped fans would show moderation in their celebrations when - not if - they beat Netherlands in their Euro 2024 quarter-final in Berlin on Saturday.

Buildup to the European Championship quarterfinal between Turkey and the Netherlands has been overshadowed by a diplomatic row. Turkey defender Merih Demiral's hand gesture after scoring against Austria has sparked a dispute between his country and host nation Germany. Demiral was banned on Friday for making a gesture used by Turkish nationalists and associated with an ultra-nationalist group.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a group of Serb children from the region and the diaspora on Friday, noting that they were contributing to Serbia in many ways.