Wolf Theiss: Romania strengthens “pantouflage” rules for public officials
Romania has adopted Law No. 189/2025, a significant legislative development aimed at strengthening the rules governing transitions between public office and private-sector roles. The law introduces a clearer and more centralised framework for managing conflicts of interest arising before and after »»»
Major power outage in France as Europe wilts under record heat
Paris, France: Temperatures climbed across Europe again on Wednesday, as a record-breaking heatwave left tens of thousands of people without power and boosted air conditioner sales on a continent unused and ill equipped to handle searing heat. The extreme weather is being driven by atmospheric patt»»»
Lebanese on the edge of Israel's occupation live with fear and rising tensions
Looking out from a friend's balcony, Milia el-Cheikh struggled to find her own home in the ruins of her now-deserted village, its entrances strung with barbed wire. Her village of Dibbine is one of several Shiite-majority communities across southern Lebanon destroyed by Israeli forces battling Iran»»»
DeiNai showcases AI-powered creator marketing platform at Huawei Riyadh AI Summit
DeiNai, a provider of AI-powered creator marketing solutions, showcased its platform at the Huawei Riyadh AI Summit, held at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s growing digital and creator economy from its regional headquarters in Riyadh. The part»»»
Qatar says US-Iran hotline crucial for Hormuz reopening
DUBAI: Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said his country would resume normal liquefied natural gas production “within a few weeks”, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. But establishing a hotline between the US and Iran is essential to reopen the Strait »»»
Number of validators on Bishkek buses to be increased - | 24.KG
The number of validators on Bishkek buses is planned to be increased. Deputy Mayor Ramiz Aliev announced at a meeting of the City Council’s Standing Committee on Housing and Communal Services, Fuel and Energy, Transport, Communications, and Ecology. He stated that technical specifications have been»»»
Nearly twice as many mudflows recorded in Kyrgyzstan in 6 months as in 2024 - | 24.KG
Since the beginning of 2026, more than 240 mudflows have been recorded in Kyrgyzstan. The First Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Akylbek Mazaripov reported. He said the number of mudflows has already nearly doubled the 2024 figure, when 133 mudflows were recorded. Two people have died as a r»»»
Romanian banking sector posts aggregate net profit of RON 15.5 billion in 2025
The profitability of the Romanian banking sector remained at a solid level throughout 2025, with the aggregate net profit of credit institutions reaching approximately RON 15.5 billion, amid improved operational efficiency and the continuation of the banking consolidation process, according to the »»»
Cashless payment in buses: Terminals to be installed at stops in Bishkek - | 24.KG
Authorities in Bishkek plan to install payment terminals at public transport stops as part of a transition away from cash payments on municipal buses. The initiative was discussed at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Bishkek City Council on Housing and Communal Services, Transport, Communi»»»
Foreigner real estate ownership rules a boost for investment, say ministers after Cabinet approval
RIYADH: New regulations governing non-Saudi ownership of real estate will boost business expansion and competitiveness of the Kingdom’s investment environment, ministers have said. The changes, including the geographical zones for non-Saudi real estate ownership, were approved by the Cabinet — chai»»»
Romania bucks European FDI trend with solid performance in 2025, but investors becoming more cautious
Romania recorded a solid performance in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, contrasting with the broader trend in Europe, where the number of projects declined and job creation slowed. According to the Attractiveness Survey Romania 2026, conducted by EY, Romania is consolidating its»»»
Only Nuclear Weapons Safeguard World From Global War - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Only nuclear weapons are now safeguarding the world from global war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "Now it [world security] is pretty eroded, in many ways, in fact. Apart from nuclear deterrence, we have nothing left in the world. This is the only thing that »»»
U.N. agency to evacuate 11,000 sailors stranded by Hormuz crisis - UPI.com
The United Nations' maritime organization said Tuesday that it will begin evacuating thousands of sailors who have been stranded by the U.S.-Iran war in the Strait of Hormuz. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo June 24 (UPI) -- The United Nations' maritime organization said it will beg»»»
Fortech Ventures rebrands to Nucleo Ventures, launches €34 million startup investment fund
Fortech Ventures announces the launch of a €34 million investment fund and its transition to a new public identity, Nucleo Ventures. Developed in partnership with the North-West Regional Development Agency (ADR Nord-Vest), the fund will invest in startups and innovative companies across Romania and»»»
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs receives copy of credentials of Nigerian Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, today received a copy of the credentials of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the State HE Mahmood Yakubu.His Excellency the Minister wished the Ambassador success in his duties and affirmed his f»»»
Trade Unions Oppose Plans for Civil Servants to Pay Own Social Security Contributions
The President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), Plamen Dimitrov, warned on Wednesday that if civil servants start paying their own social security contributions, there will be no point in having a Civil Servants Act that brings them only disadvantages and no bene»»»
Sotheby’s launches $9.7m luxury auction in Abu Dhabi
DUBAI: Sotheby’s has launched a new summer auction in the UAE capital, further strengthening its presence in the Middle East and building on the success of a series of high-profile luxury events held in Abu Dhabi over the past year. Titled “Abu Dhabi Collectors’ Edit: Materiality,” the online sale »»»
Speaker: Presidential elections in Kyrgyzstan should be held on January 27 - | 24.KG
Presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic should be held on January 27, Parliament Speaker Marlen Mamataliev announced at a session of the Zhogorku Kenesh. He stated that under current legislation, the presidential election should be held on the last Sunday of January 2027. «Today we adopted a »»»
Volume of unmarked alcohol decreases 16 times in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
In Kyrgyzstan, the volume of unmarked alcohol has decreased 16 times. Alexey Artemyev, Deputy Director of the Department of Customs Tariff, and Non-Tariff Regulation of the Eurasian Economic Commission, said. The Eurasian Economic Commission notes that digitalization of sales has increased the reve»»»
FTA meets UAE businesses to improve VAT services and compliance
The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has held the first meeting of the VAT Business Advisory Group for 2026 as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening communication with the UAE business community. The meeting was held in the presence of Abdulaziz Al Mulla, Director General of the FTA, with the »»»
Qatar expects LNG production to resume within weeks, prime minister says
Doha, June 24 (SANA) Qatar expects liquefied natural gas (LNG) production to return to normal within weeks, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday, as the country prepares to restart operations disrupted by regional tensions. In an interview with the»»»
Trump orders probe because gas prices not falling enough
Donald Trump said he ordered an investigation into major oil companies over high gasoline prices as the U.S. leader faces criticism over the impact of the Mideast war. Global petroleum prices soared after Iran blocked the flow of oil through the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S.-Israeli st»»»
Draft 2026 State Budget Projects Deficit Above 3%, Prime Minister Says
The draft 2026 State Budget projects a deficit of more than 3%, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the start of the regular government meeting on Wednesday. Radev said Finance Minister Galab Donev would present the main budget parameters later in the day at a briefing at the Ministry of Finance. Ac»»»
Oman opens temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping routes, says no tolls will be charged
Oman said it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping without imposing any tolls and had designated two temporary routes north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate the safe passage of vessels departing the region. In coordination with the International Maritime Organization»»»
How this Emirati turned a question about food security into a homegrown nutrition brand
Dubai: Most entrepreneurs start with a product idea. Rashid Gargash started with a question. The Emirati entrepreneur has found himself thinking about something bigger than snacks, health trends, or consumer demand. He has wondered what would happen if a crisis disrupted global supply chains and th»»»
Flying from Dubai this summer? Emirates issues peak travel alert as airport crowds expected
Dubai: Emirates has issued a summer travel advisory for passengers flying from Dubai, warning of higher passenger volumes during the peak holiday season. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline said in an advisory that travellers should arrive at least three hours »»»
Saudi Arabia raises $2.81bn in June sukuk issuance, monthly rise of 340%
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia raised SR10.57 billion ($2.81 billion) through its June sukuk issuance, up 338.58 percent from the previous month, official data showed. In a press statement, the Kingdom’s National Debt Management Center revealed that the June issuance was divided into six tranches, maturing b»»»
Romania has the lowest corporate AI adoption rate in Central Europe – McKinsey study
McKinsey & Company has published a new study titled Central Europe’s AI Opportunity, which analyses the economic potential of artificial intelligence in the region. According to the study, AI could unlock at least EUR 280 billion in economic value across the region, equivalent to at least 6% of Cen»»»
Qatari PM Says ‘Israel’ Acting “Disproportionately Instead of Pursuing De-escalation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Qatari PM Says ‘Israel’ Acting “Disproportionately Instead of Pursuing De-escalation 24-06-2026 11:19 AM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al»»»
No Mass Layoffs in Administration without Proper Analysis, PM Radev Says
The government will not carry out mass layoffs or sweeping staff cuts in the public administration without a well-founded analysis, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the start of the regular Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Radev said the government relies on the administration to carry out key proce»»»
Oman with IMO announces transit corridor in Strait of Hormuz
Doha, Qatar: The Sultanate of Oman, in coordination with International Maritime Organization (IMO), announced the provision of a shipping transit corridor in the Strait of Hormuz. In a social media statement published on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Maritime Security Centre of Oman stated, “The Su»»»
Iran’s parliament speaker says only countries in the region should decide Middle East security
DUBAI: Iran’s parliamentary speaker said on Wednesday regional countries alone should determine the Middle East’s political and security order, rejecting external involvement and calling for expanded intra-regional cooperation. Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf made his remarks at a meeting of the»»»
Amir congratulates prime minister of Ethiopia
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of congratulations to Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia HE Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, on the occasion of the victory of the ruling Prosperity Party in the general elections, wishing hi»»»
PM Confirms that US Aircraft Will Leave Sofia Airport at End of June
Prime Minister Rumen Radev confirmed Wednesday that US aircraft currently using Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport, will stay there until the end of June. Radev was speaking at the opening of a regular government sitting. He said the government was in regular dialogue with the US side. On May 29, the gov»»»
Parliament Adopts Procedural Rules for Electing State Intelligence Agency Chair
Parliament Wednesday adopted procedural rules for nominating a candidate for State Intelligence Agency (SIA) Chair, conducting the candidate's hearing before the relevant parliamentary committee, and electing the Chair by the National Assembly. The rules were approved with 156 votes in favor, with »»»
UK, France, Germany express concern about Chinese activities off eastern Taiwan
TAIPEI: The de facto British, French and German embassies in Taipei issued a joint statement on Wednesday expressing concern about recent Chinese activities off the east coast of Taiwan, where China has mounted coast guard patrols. “We have noted with concern novel Chinese activity in»»»
Spanish PM denies ‘widespread’ government corruption after ex-top aide jailed
MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday dismissed allegations of “widespread corruption” against his Socialists after his ex-top aide was jailed for a graft scandal that risks toppling the government. “Certain actors in politics and the media are trying to mix, to put on the same »»»
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un says Pyingyang Navy with Nuclear Weapons
North Korea has commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un touts as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities, state media reported on Wednesday, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea. North Korea’s official Korean Central N»»»
CBRE Romania: Employees are not avoiding the office, but poorly designed spaces
CBRE Romania, the global leader in commercial real estate consulting and workplace services, has released the findings of the “Noaptea Companiilor – Workplace Survey 2026,” conducted among more than 500 participants at the May 2026 edition of the Noaptea Companiilor event. Representative of the Rom»»»
Maximum temperatures between 30°C and 40°C
Tunis, June 24 (TAP) – The weather, on Wednesday, will be partly cloudy across most regions, with localized thunderstorm cells accompanied by sometimes heavy rainfall in the afternoon over western areas. These showers will extend to some eastern...»»»
UK, France, Germany express concern about Chinese activities off eastern Taiwan
TAIPEI: The de facto British, French and German embassies in Taipei issued a joint statement on Wednesday expressing concern about recent Chinese activities off the east coast of Taiwan, where China has mounted coast guard patrols. “We have noted with concern novel Chinese activity in»»»
EGX30 Surges Over 1% as Egyptian Exchange Sees Active Trading
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) concluded the trading week predominantly in positive territory, with the benchmark EGX30 index climbing by 1.05% to settle at 31,677.58 points on Thursday. This performance reflects a bolstered investor sentiment, driven by strong foreign participation. The market’s tota»»»
Parliament Terminates Mandate of GERB MP Following Resignation
Parliament terminated the mandate of Delyan Dobrev MP of GERB-UDF following his resignation on June 22. 187 MPs voted in favour of the decision, four voted against, and one abstained. During a meeting with representatives of the GERB Youth Academy, Dobrev said it was time "to give way to the young"»»»
US Aircraft to Leave Sofia Airport by End of June
US aircraft will leave Sofia's Vasil Levski Airport by the end of June, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the regular government sitting on Wednesday. He said the government was in regular dialogue with the US side. The Prime Minister highlighted that the United States remained a strategic ally in»»»
Situation at Front Getting Worse for Ukraine Day by Day - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The situation at the front for Kiev is deteriorating from day to day, the dynamics are obvious, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. "The situation on the fronts is such that it is getting worse day by day for the Kiev regime, the dynamics are obvious. Our military »»»
U.S. sanctions five Cuban entities, Castro family member - UPI.com
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions Tuesday against five Cuban state entities. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 24 (UPI) -- The United States has sanctioned five Cuban state companies and the wife of Raul Castro's son, as the Trump administration continues to apply »»»
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: “Israel” is exaggerating its response to the clashes instead of seeking de-escalation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: “Israel” is exaggerating its response to the clashes instead of seeking de-escalation 24-06-202»»»
Back in stork: returning birds bring joy to Croatian village
Sisak, Croatia: Spring brings flocks of noisy visitors to the sleepy Croatian village of Cigoc, outnumbering the locals, filling prime rooftop real estate and flying off again without spending a single cent. But for the locals, it's a good omen. For decades, villagers have welcomed dozens of white »»»
H5 bird flu detected in second Australia state
Sydney, Australia: Scientists have detected the highly contagious H5 bird flu strain in a second Australian state, the nation's agriculture minister said on Wednesday. Australia was for years the only continental landmass to be free of the H5 strain, which has caused severe disease and high death r»»»
Amir congratulates Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Doha, Qatar: The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to HE Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on the occasion of the victory of the ruling Prosperity Party in the general elections, wishing him success and»»»