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South Caucasus News

Georgia National Fair raising admission prices for 2026 – 41NBC News


Georgia National Fair raising admission prices for 2026  41NBC News

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South Caucasus

Strike on Belarusian children: a fatal mistake or a deliberate provocation?


The Russian-Ukrainian war has claimed the lives of Belarusian civilians for the first time. The death of a woman accompanying a children’s football team, along with…

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South Caucasus News

Rod Stewart pauses Utah concert after nearly fainting on stage


The 81-year-old British singer became visibly winded during the performance, forcing him to momentarily pause the show. Addressing the crowd, Stewart candidly admitted, “I nearly f***ing fainted there. Would you mind if I sit down for this one?” He used an oxygen tank on stage and remained seated for the remainder of the set to finish the performance, News.Az reports, citing The Independent.
The health scare comes amid a string of recent tour cancellations for the singer. Stewart previously called off shows in San Diego and Las Vegas after battling an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis, and the flu.
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The singer recently faced backlash from some fans after he was spotted on a private jet drinking and traveling to watch Scotland play in the World Cup—just one day after canceling a concert in Chula Vista, California, due to vocal issues.
Stewart has already postponed his upcoming dates at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre to September 2027. The current North American leg of his “One Last Time” tour is heavily promoted as his final farewell to large-scale touring.

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Toddler stable after crocodile attack at Huntingdon zoo


The incident occurred last Thursday at the Johnsons of Hurst zoo near Huntingdon. According to reports, the toddler ended up inside the crocodile enclosure and was attacked by at least one crocodile before quick-thinking zoo staff managed to pull him to safety and administer immediate first aid, News.Az reports, citing the Independent.
A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the incident. Police have since released him on bail after medical professionals assessed him as “not being fit for interview.” Investigators believe the suspect, who has learning difficulties and was visiting the zoo alongside carers, did not know the child.
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Cambridgeshire Police stated that inquiries are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of how the child entered the enclosure. Specialist officers are currently providing support to the young boy and his family as he continues his recovery.

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UK heatwave: Rare red warnings issued for extreme 40C heat


The red health warning will cover six regions across England and Wales from Wednesday to Thursday. Unlike lower-tier alerts, a red warning indicates an imminent “risk to life for even the healthy population,” signaling that the severity of the heat goes far beyond a typical summer heatwave, News.Az reports, citing the Independent.
A meteorological “heat-dome” trapping hot air over the region, intensified by human-driven climate change, is fueling the extreme spike. The weather threatens to shatter the UK’s all-time temperature record for the month of June.
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Authorities are warning the public to expect widespread national disruptions, including:
Infrastructure Stress: Travel delays, rail buckling, and heavy strain on power utilities as the UK’s infrastructure is historically unequipped for sustained 40°C temperatures.
Safety Hazards: Rapidly escalating wildfire risks and a sharp increase in vehicle breakdowns.
Water Safety: Emergency services are renewing urgent safety warnings regarding open-water swimming following a tragic string of heatwave-related drownings.
Health officials urge everyone to stay hydrated, completely avoid outdoor activities during the hottest peak hours of the day, and proactively check on vulnerable neighbors and relatives. Employers nationwide are also being advised to immediately assess workplace risks and adjust hours or conditions for staff exposed to the elements.

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Who are the best players on Austria’s World Cup team?


Under the guidance of head coach Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s system relies heavily on Bundesliga and Champions League veterans, News.Az reports, citing Heavy.
If they are to make a deep run in the tournament, these three standout players will be leading the charge:
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David Alaba (Defender / Captain)Few players carry the tactical and symbolic weight that David Alaba does for Austria. The Real Madrid defender is the nation’s most-capped outfield player and serves as the ultimate on-field general. Alaba’s elite vision, ball-playing ability, and versatility allow him to anchor the central defense or seamlessly step up into midfield. Despite navigating a few injury setbacks at the club level, his leadership and world-class pedigree make him the irreplaceable spine of this team.
Marcel Sabitzer (Midfield)Marcel Sabitzer provides the creative thrust and attacking danger for the Austrian side. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder boasts an elite work rate, tactical stamina, and a lethal long-range shot. Known for his flawless timing, Sabitzer specializes in making late, dangerous runs into the opposition box. In Rangnick’s aggressive pressing system, his energy and ability to turn defense into immediate offense make him Austria’s most potent weapon in the final third.
Konrad Laimer (Midfield)While he might not always grab the biggest headlines, the Bayern Munich midfielder is arguably the engine room of the entire squad. The former Austrian Footballer of the Year excels in interception numbers, positional discipline, and triggering the team’s defensive press. Laimer acts as the crucial connective tissue for the squad; his relentless energy and defensive solidity provide a safety net that allows Alaba and Sabitzer to take creative risks.

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Ukraine shoots down 79 drones in massive overnight attack


Crimea is facing widespread power and water disruptions, forcing local occupation authorities to implement strict rolling blackout schedules across the peninsula.
The emergency measures follow a series of weekend explosions and successful Ukrainian drone strikes that targeted key logistics nodes, fuel facilities, and energy infrastructure—including the Tavriisk Thermal Power Plant and the TES-Terminal-1 oil facility in Kerch.
The resulting grid failures have knocked out electricity in northwestern, central, and southern Crimea. Because the power outages deactivated local pumping stations, major disruptions to the water supply have also been reported. In an effort to conserve energy, several municipalities have completely shut off street lighting.
The toughest energy restrictions went into effect on Monday, June 22. Occupation authorities published rotating schedules for heavily impacted regions, including Alushta, Dzhankoi, and the Nyzhnohirskyi, Chornomorske, and Krasnoperekopsk districts:
3-on, 3-off Rotation: In many districts, the grid is operating on a strict rotating schedule, leaving residents with three hours of electricity followed by three hours of complete blackout.
Alternating Blocks: In Alushta and the Krasnoperekopsk district, fixed blackout blocks are enforced on odd days from 12:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and continuing in alternating three-hour windows.
Sudak & Sevastopol: Residents in Sudak face up to three hours of unannounced daily cuts, while Sevastopol has introduced emergency limits due to severe grid overloading.
The extensive blackouts coincide with a broader Ukrainian campaign to disrupt Russian military supply chains on the peninsula. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that recent operations successfully struck vital logistics targets on both sides of the Kerch Bridge.
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19:15
A Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia early Monday morning completely destroyed a residential home, killing a woman inside and injuring three other people.
The attack occurred around 6:20 a.m. local time on June 22, targeting both a non-residential building and a private residential neighborhood, according to Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration head Ivan Fedorov. Fires broke out at both locations following the strikes.
Emergency crews initially reported that three people were injured and feared a resident was trapped inside the burning home. Fedorov later confirmed that the woman inside did not survive the attack.
This strike is part of an intensifying wave of Russian aerial assaults on the regional center over the past week:
June 21-22 (Overnight): Russian forces struck ordinary residential buildings, destroying one home and leaving multiple civilians injured.
June 20: Guided aerial bombs damaged 12 apartment buildings, multiple vehicles, and local infrastructure.
June 16: A previous Russian attack triggered fires at both a residential building and a local shopping center.
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19:00
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the barrage included an Iskander-M ballistic missile launched from Crimea, alongside 88 attack and decoy drones—including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parodiya models. The weapons were fired from multiple directions across Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories, News.Az reports, citing RBC-Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air defense systems successfully intercepted 79 of the incoming drones. However, officials confirmed that the ballistic missile and five attack drones hit six different locations, while debris from intercepted targets fell across nine locations in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country.
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The attack caused fatal civilian casualties both at sea and on land:
Shipping attack: Russian drones struck civilian cargo vessels heading toward Ukrainian ports. A fire broke out on the Turkish bulk carrier Victress, killing a 58-year-old ship cook. Eight other crew members were successfully rescued.
Residential strike: In Zaporizhzhia, an enemy drone struck a private residential area. The hit ignited a fire in a home, resulting in the death of a woman who was inside.
As of Monday morning, air defense operations remained active as several enemy drones were still reported in Ukrainian airspace.

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Ukraine says 95% of military drones now domestically produced


Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has said that 95 per cent of drones purchased for the armed forces are domestically produced, highlighting the rapid growth of Ukraine’s…

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Belgium issues visas to Taliban delegation for EU deportation talks​


The visas were confirmed to EUobserver by Audrey Jacquiez, a spokesperson for Belgium’s deputy prime minister, News.Az reports, citing EU Observer.

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“The five requested visas were granted late Monday afternoon after a security assessment,” she said. The visas will be valid for one day only and limited to Belgium only.

Belgium’s State Security Service approved the applications after determining that the Taliban delegation did not pose a threat.

“It was deemed preferable not to disclose the date of their arrival for reasons of security and public order,” she added.

Jacquiez had earlier the same day told EUobserver that the five visas were requested last week would be valid for an “extremely short” time. Asked if this meant several days, she said “not even”.

“The visa application has been submitted. It hasn’t been granted yet, but it’s imminent,” she added, in a follow up call. Those visa are now granted.

The commission has been courting the Taliban for months, dispatching the deputy head of its home affairs department, Johannes Luchner, to Kabul in January.

Luchner said that while the intent is to return criminals, he also inferred that others could follow.

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At least 15 dead in Lucknow training centre fire in India​


The fire broke out ⁠in the Aliganj area of Lucknow, ​the capital of India’s most populous state ​of Uttar Pradesh, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.

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News footage showed a group of men in uniform carrying bodies as ​a crowd gathered nearby.

About 21 ​students were present when the fire broke out, ‌police ⁠said, adding that two were seriously injured and four were stable.

The centre trained students to create animations, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister ​Brajesh Pathak ​told ⁠reporters. The cause of the fire was being investigated.

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