Agence France-Presse

Bulgaria on Sunday held its eighth legislative election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev’s grouping tipped to win on a pledge to fight corruption, after an anti-corruption movement triggered a long political crisis. The EU’s poorest member has been through successive governments since 2021, when anti-corruption rallies ended the conservative administration of long-time leader Boyko Borissov. Radev, who has called for renewing ties with Russia and opposes military aid to Ukraine, was...

Zahra Ghanbari had been on list of ‘traitors’ whose assets were frozen Latest move taken ‘following her change in behaviour’ Iran’s judiciary said on Monday authorities had released the assets of the captain of Iranian women’s football team which had been seized after she made and then withdrew an asylum claim in Australia last month. Zahra Ghanbari was among a group of six players and one backroom staff member who sought asylum in Australia in March after playing in the Women’s Asian Cup at the start of the Israeli-US war against the Islamic republic.

Former footballer denies assault in north-west England Barton to remain in custody with trial set for 1 September Joey Barton has denied assaulting a man outside a golf club in north-west England. The 43-year-old former Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder appeared via video link from Liverpool prison for the plea hearing at Liverpool crown court. He pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch on 8 March. Barton’s co-defendant, Gary O’Grady, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge on Tuesday.

A Fifa medical officer on Tuesday rejected reports in Britain and Saudi Arabia that said Iranian women's football teams had in fact been fielding men at recent competitions.