LONDON: British Prime ‌Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday apologized to women forced to give up their babies and to those separated from their mothers at birth by a system of forced adoptions that targeted unmarried women in the decades after World War Two. An estimated 185,000 children were separat»»»

Beirut, July 2 (SANA) Syrian Foreign Minister and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on Thursday to discuss issues of mutual interest and the latest regional developments. The meeting was held as part of al-Shaibani’s official visit to Lebanon»»»

Russian missile and drone strikes tore open apartment buildings in Kyiv early Thursday, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Moscow was preparing a "massive attack". Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. »»»

After a rare admission by President Putin that the army was suffering from a fuel shortage, Gallup pollsters have released new findings that Russia's "economic pessimism" has hit a 20-year high. For months, Ukrainian drones have been attacking Russian oil infrastructure and the consequences are now»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the country was suffering from "a certain shortage" of fuel after repeated Ukrainian strikes in their four-year war. Moscow is now looking to increase anti-air defence capacity and ensure fuel supplies - which could even imply importing fuel. FRANC»»»

While France, Italy, the UK and the rest of western Europe reeled under a heatwave last week, central and eastern Europe sweltered too. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and the Balkans hit record temperatures. Ukraine imposed power outages as its grid buckled under demand. Romania got slammed »»»

The Financial Supervisory Authority has authorised CCP.RO to operate as Romania’s first central counterparty under Regulation (EU) No. 648/2012 on OTC derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR). This marks the establishment of a key component of financial market infrastructur»»»

Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has reported that Bulgarian oligarch, media mogul and DPS leader Delyan Peevski has taken 227 flights from Sofia Airport since 2018, with 181 of them operated on private or charter aircraft, according to data presented during a parliamentary hearing based on infor»»»

Bulgaria plays a crucial role on NATO's eastern flank and has demonstrated how defense spending can be translated into real military capabilities, Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich said during a joint briefing with Bulgaria's Chief of Defense, Admiral Emil Eftimov, at t»»»

Greek authorities have arrested a 30-year-old Bulgarian citizen, identified as Sylvester Mindev, on suspicion of involvement in an organized telephone fraud network that allegedly generated more than 690,000 euros in illegal gains. Following the arrest, police released the suspect’s photo and perso»»»

The search for 11-year-old Natalia Asenova from the Varna village of Konstantinovo continued for a third day as her mother described the terrifying events that, she says, led to the girl's abduction by her former partner, 40-year-old Asen Simeonov. Speaking through tears, Natalia's mother, Dora Pet»»»

On Wednesday (July 1, 2026) the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that a foreign-flagged “cargo ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz using a US-suggested route” had run aground. The Tehran-based broadcaster, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IR»»»

The Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation (AMAF) in Dubai honored Schools of Research Science (SRS) in recognition of its contribution to supporting sustainable endowment (waqf) initiatives. Represented by Al Shamsi, Schools of Research Science received a certificate of appreciation presented on beha»»»

Muscat: The official price of Oman crude oil for August delivery reached USD 63.41 per barrel on Thursday. This represents a decrease of USD 3.66 compared to Wednesday's price of USD 67.7 pb. The monthly average price for Oman crude oil for July delivery stood at USD 102 pb, marking a drop of USD 2»»»

Riyadh: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah discussed the latest developments in the region in a phone call on Thursday with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi. During the call, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest regional developments, as we»»»

German prosecutors formally charged a Ukrainian national Wednesday with blowing up the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines linking northwestern Russia with Lubmin in northeastern Germany. File Photo by Danish Defense/UPI | License Photo July 2 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian national has been charged in German»»»

Druze leader Walid Jumblat declared in an interview with L'Orient-Le Jour that he "will not be part of a coalition to bring down the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel." "We will not support it (the agreement), and I do not want a repeat of the 1983 scenario," Jumblat added. He consider»»»

A military convoy will travel between Szolnok and Eger on Thursday, 2 July, and drivers in the area are being asked to use extra caution near the vehicles, according to the official Facebook page of the MH Kiss József 86th Helicopter Brigade. The brigade said it would relocate technical equipment b»»»

Passengers arriving at Terminal 2 of Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport will now have to follow a new, structured procedure when ordering taxi services, introduced by the airport’s official taxi operator. Under the new system, travelers must first go to a designated Yellow desk located after the arrivals»»»

Tunis, July 2 (TAP)- The weather on Thursday is clear to slightly cloudy in most regions, growing cloudy in the midland and in some areas in the south with scattered showers. Rain is expected overnight in the far north along with localised...»»»

Tunis, July 2 (TAP) - The Tunisia- Africa Business Council (TABC) is organising a multi-sectoral business mission to Conakry, Guinea, on October 6-11.This is part of efforts to increase Tunisia's economic presence in Africa and explor new avenues...»»»

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged up to €200mn ($228mn) in grants for connectivity projects in the South Caucasus during a visit to Baku on July 1, as Azerbaijan and Armenia move towards a peace agreement that both leaders described as having already changed conditions on t»»»

Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA) has carried out 240 inspections along the Black Sea coast since the start of its summer enforcement campaign on Monday, finding violations in 70 cases, Anna Mitova, Director of Communications at the NRA, told reporters in Burgas on Thursday. She specified th»»»

Dubai: The UAE is restoring crude oil exports to near-record levels following disruption caused by the recent regional conflict, with alternative export routes and infrastructure helping maintain supplies to rest of the world. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply»»»

An Israeli government document, obtained by Channel 12, revealed that the damage inflicted on the Bazan petrochemical complex in Haifa Bay by repeated Iranian missile strikes far exceeds what was officially announced, and that the complex will not be fully rehabilitated before 2028. According to th»»»

The prosecutor’s office secured the return of a five-story guest house and a plot of land on the Issyk-Ata resort territory, valued at 112 million soms, to state ownership. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, an investigation revealed that in 2005, the five-story guest house, with a total»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s state driving school, which began operating in March this year, has held its first graduation ceremony. Trainees who successfully completed retraining for category CE licenses and training for category A licenses were awarded certificates. The ceremony was attended by the Presidential »»»

BELGRADE - Deputy head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Milos Terzic said on Thursday the experiences of Serbs arrested at Gazimestan on St Vitus's day were horrifying and disturbing and testified of brutal police violence. "What we have heard from our people testifies of brutal»»»

Dubai: Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Keolis MHI, has completed a major upgrade of escalators across the Dubai Metro network, with 262 escalators refurbished so far. The figure represents about 63% of all escalators at Dubai Metro stations. The programme is aimed a»»»

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he is ready to reach a settlement if the other side shows a similar willingness, while describing a proposed framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel as an "agreement of sedition." In remarks published Thursday by Ad-Diyar newspaper, Berri revealed that he »»»

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed Thursday that the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel "opens the door to restoring a functioning state and ending the chronic conflict that has drained Lebanon for decades." "It also establishes a clear equation based on a complete Isra»»»

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican excommunicated six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X on Thursday, while warning that any lay believers who “formally adhere” to the breakaway Catholic group would suffer the same fate.The Vatican decree comes a day after the traditionalist group cons»»»

ABUJA: Hunger across Nigeria’s conflict-hit north is at levels not seen in a decade as violence spreads and aid shrinks, the UN’s World Food Programme warned Thursday, with more than three million people “acutely food insecure.” The country has been battling a jihadist insurgency centered in the no»»»

ROME: US President Donald Trump’s attacks on Italy’s premier have had an unintended consequence. After Trump questioned Italy’s reliability as a wartime ally and claimed Giorgia Meloni had groveled for his attention, European leaders rallied to Meloni’s side, thawing what had been a frosty relation»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam: We signed an agreement to form a joint Lebanese-Syrian high committee to enhance cooperation between t»»»

Commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi warned the enemies against making any miscalculations. “We warn the enemies of Iran, especially the United States, the Zionist regime, and their regional and extra-regional accomplices, to avoid any miscalculations»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received the credentials of two new ambassadors to the State at his office in the Amiri Diwan on Thursday, July 2, 2026.. The Amir received the credentials of HE Saeed bin Abdullah Al Qamzi, Ambassador of the sisterly United Arab Em»»»

Every year, he does a little countdown. Dubai-based Safia Youssef’s 10-year-old loves a football summer camp more than he loves home, she says. “He waits to register. He enjoys it so much, because he has made more friends at camp than he made in school,” she says. He comes home with such a beaming »»»

Dubai: After months of lesson planning, grading papers, and supporting students, teachers across the UAE are finally pressing pause. While students eagerly count down to the holidays, educators are looking forward to something just as important, time to rest, reconnect with family, and return to th»»»

Dubai: Omani authorities have confirmed that no oil spill occurred after a vessel ran aground near the Hallaniyat Islands Marine Buffer Zone, following inspections of the environmentally protected area. The Environment Authority said it was monitoring the incident after the vessel grounded near Al »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Syrian Foreign Minister: My visit to Beirut reflects our supportive stance towards Lebanon, both its government and people 02-07-2026 13:07»»»

Members of a parliamentary committee attempt to enter the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on Thursday to investigate ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections. Photo by Yonhap Members of a special parliamentary committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 l»»»

The public has a right to know that billions of euros are being stolen through Bulgaria's healthcare system, MP Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria told reporters in the National Assembly on Thursday, dismissing allegations that he had divulged classified information. Mirchev said: "We did not co»»»

Brussels: European stock markets opened mixed on Thursday as investors await the US employment report for June and the signals it may carry about the future trajectory of interest rates. Among major European markets, France’s CAC 40 index in Paris rose by 0.30%, Britain’s FTSE 100 index in London d»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sunny conditions will continue, with temperatures ranging from 32°C to 44°C, the country's weather authority has announced. In its weekend weather forecast, the Qatar Meteorology Department said that on Thursday, July 2, there is a slight chance of dust. On Saturday, July 4, visibility»»»

Washington: Google has announced that Gemini Spark, its AI agent, is now available to Mac users. The move will enhance its competition with other desktop AI assistants, while also introducing a range of new features that expand its capabilities in task management and interaction with various applic»»»

This photo, taken Thursday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks plunged by almost eight percent on a sharp sell-off in semiconductor shares. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks dipped nearly 8 percent Thursday, dragged down by a sharp sell-off in semiconductor shares»»»

Novarion DMX Construction, a Sibiu-based company with more than 11 years of experience in construction and general contracting and a portfolio of 150,000 sqm built, has announced the launch of a public share offering ahead of its planned admission to trading on the AeRO market of the Bucharest Stoc»»»

Tokyo: Japan’s Nikkei index fell on Thursday, dragged lower by AI-related heavyweights following an overnight tech selloff on Wall Street. The Nikkei 225 index dropped 2.5% to 68,733.15 points, while the broader Topix index closed slightly higher, up 0.09%, supported by buying of cheaper stocks aft»»»

A U.S. House Judiciary Committee report released Wednesday accuses Seoul of discriminating against American companies, particularly e-commerce giant Coupang. In this photo, a Coupang sign is seen near a distribution center in Seoul in December 2025. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI SEOUL, July 2 (U»»»