Romanians remain broadly positive about the European Union and see membership as beneficial, but they are significantly less satisfied with their quality of life than the EU average, according to the European Parliament’s Spring 2026 Eurobarometer. The survey, carried out between April 9 and May 4 »»»

The National Assembly rejected at first reading proposed amendments to the Social Security Code submitted by Continue the Change, which sought to increase compensation from 50% to 100% for mothers who return to work before the end of their maternity leave, thereby foregoing leave related to pregnan»»»

Doha, Qatar: Region Trade Bank (RTB) has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors comprising internationally recognised experts in financial integrity, banking supervision, sanctions policy and payment systems, reinforcing the bank's commitment to international best practice as Iraq's »»»

Cairo, Egypt: The Shura Council participated in the plenary session of the Arab Parliament, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in Cairo. The Shura Council was represented at the session by HE Amina bint Youssef Al Jaidah, HE Nasser bin Mohammed Al Nuaim»»»

The redevelopment of a public golf course, extensions to the White House and dreams of a triumphal arch: Donald Trump seems to have a growing spate of building projects on the boil in Washington. So what’s driving the president to remake the US capital in his image? For US President Donald Trump, g»»»

RIYADH: Middle East airlines showed signs of recovery in May as passenger demand decline eased to 28.4 percent from 46.6 percent a month earlier despite the ongoing conflict. The improvement helped limit the global decline in air passenger demand to 2.2 percent from 3.4 percent in April, as disrupt»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3578 dinars for one euro on Wednesday, which is a slight change relative to Tuesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative »»»

Since a 2021 coup ousted Myanmar's democratically elected government and triggered a civil war, 100,114 people have been killed across the country, according to a report by monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) released Wednesday. More than 100,000 people have been »»»

“The government has approved a draft state budget, and I expect serious, responsible, and meaningful work and debate on it in the National Assembly,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev told a briefing after Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. During discussions on the draft budgets »»»

BusinessEuropeDigital euro: The plan to Trump-proof the EU's economyNik MartinThe EU’s central bank is preparing a digital euro to cut dependence on Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay. Success hinges on giving consumers an easy-to-use payment system without prompting a flight from bank savings. https:/»»»

ECONE, Switzerland: Decades after triggering a rift with the Vatican by consecrating bishops in 1988, the Society of Saint Pius X was doing it again on Wednesday — in defiance of Pope Leo XIV. The ultra-traditionalist breakaway group, which has around 600,000 followers worldwide, intends to appoint»»»

THESSALONIKI: Three pre-dawn firebomb attacks apparently targeting the residences of members of Greece’s governing conservative New Democracy party have left five people hospitalized, authorities said Wednesday. The attacks between 4 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. outside apartment buildings in the northern Gr»»»

A couple of weeks back, we asked if the tide was turning in Ukraine. The short answer: a little, but it's hard to cut through the fog of war. Now, we're beginning to wonder if Crimea could be back in play. Kyiv's new line of longer-range missiles and drones are wreaking havoc on fuel and power supp»»»

A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled on June 30 after a passenger aircraft flying from Warsaw to Tel Aviv transmitted transponder code 7500, the internationally recognized signal indicating unlawful interference on board, most commonly associated with a suspected hijacking. The al»»»

The Council of Ministers has launched a round-the-clock hotline and email channel for reporting corruption, abuse of authority, and conflicts of interest, Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced at the start of today’s government session. Alongside the new reporting mechanism, the government is prepar»»»

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, eight individuals were detained in Sofia in connection with an investigation into suspected fraud involving nearly €990,000 in EU-funded employment support schemes. Authorities said the case concerns the alleged misuse of subsidies under la»»»

Most Romanian consumers have not yet adopted a clear position on sustainable consumption, despite growing awareness around environmental and ethical choices, according to the study “The sustainable consumer in Romania in 2026” conducted by MKOR. The study analyses how sustainable consumption behavi»»»

The UAE is continuing to strengthen its fight against drugs through a nationwide strategy that combines law enforcement, public awareness and community partnerships to protect young people from addiction. Led by the Ministry of Interior and police forces across the country, including Abu Dhabi Poli»»»

Romania’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has drafted an order amending the regulation on electricity supply to final customers, introducing several new requirements for suppliers, including a consumption alert that must be sent to customers when they reach a predefined threshold of up »»»

Hanoi, Vietnam: One year after lifting its long-standing two-child limit, Vietnam is offering incentives for people to have more babies as the communist country risks getting old before it gets rich. A new population law and regulations coming into effect Wednesday extend maternity leave from six t»»»

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the first-ever GOP midterm convention will be held in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 9-10. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has announced that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention, an unpre»»»

DUBAI: A ship ran aground in the Strait of Hormuz after not running Iran’s approved route through the water, Iranian state television reported Wednesday. The report identified the affected vessel as a foreign container ship, but offered no other immediate details. The Iranian state TV report appear»»»

DUBAI: Officials from the United States and Iran will on Wednesday hold indirect technical talks on their deal aimed at ending the Middle East war, a diplomat with knowledge of the talks told AFP.“US and Iranian officials are to hold indirect technical talks on Wednesday in Doha with Qatari and Pak»»»

Qatar’s Prime Minister has reaffirmed Doha’s commitment to mediating talks between Washington and Tehran, as senior US envoys including President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in the Qatari capital for high-stakes diplomatic discussions. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s »»»

Egypt’s parliamentary Economic Affairs Committee has called on the National Investment Bank (NIB) to submit a comprehensive development strategy—or a timetable for completing one—as lawmakers seek greater clarity over the institution’s future role in managing state-owned assets under the country’s »»»

At a meeting held on Tuesday with representatives of Litasco, a critically important agreement for the future of the Burgas oil refinery was reached, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at the start of the regular government meeting. Radev recalled that at the end of last year, Litasco imposed restrict»»»

Romania is looking for solutions to its labour shortage through immigration, digitalization and automation, while leaving underused one of its most important internal reserves of economic growth: women’s participation in the labour market, according to an analysis by the National Confederation for »»»

Doha, Qatar: Whether developing leadership skills, exploring creative talents, staying active through sport, or discovering new passions, people across Qatar will find something to inspire them at Education City this summer. From June to August, Qatar Foundation (QF) is offering a diverse range of »»»

MADRID: The 2026-27 La Liga season kicks off on Aug. 16 with the opening weekend having champions Barcelona taking on Athletic Club at Camp Nou, Real Madrid hosting Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu and Atletico Madrid welcoming Malaga to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The Spanish top tier — of»»»

Arab Finance: NAIA Developments is scheduled to launch its branded serviced residences project within NAIA Bay in partnership with the globally renowned Accor Group under the Swissôtel Residences brand, according to an emailed press release. The project will introduce Ras El Hekma's first internati»»»

GlobalizationUnited States of AmericaHow the US shaped the world: 250 years of power and policiesPeter Hille | Gianna-Carina GrünThe United States declared its independence from Britain 250 years ago. Here's how the US's relations with other nations — and its global image — have changed since. http»»»

DUBAI: Turkiye is preparing for next week’s NATO summit with heightened security measures across Ankara, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to use the gathering to reinforce the country’s role as a key player in the alliance. Tens of thousands of police officers have been deployed, air defense»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe China’s Xi vows to strengthen military: We must advance the modernisation of national defence and the armed forces 01-07-2026 10:05 AM Late»»»

Atlanta: Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric will make history when two outfield players aged over 40 face off for the first time in a World Cup as Portugal take on Croatia in Friday's last-32 clash. But both men are facing questions over whether their status as national heroes is now more of a burde»»»

NAIROBI: The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their attack on El-Fasher city between 2024 and 2025, Amnesty International alleged Wednesday. Sudan has been mired since April 2023 in a brutal war between the army and the R»»»

Madrid: More than 1,000 deaths in Spain were attributed to the recent heatwave that roasted Europe, as the country posted the hottest first six months ever recorded, officials said on Wednesday.At least 1,028 people died of heat-related issues during the heatwave, the public Carlos III Health Insti»»»

TOKYO: In a tiny Tokyo restaurant filled with the smell of Nepalese dumplings, Budhathoki Samjhana surveys the business she built from scratch but may now have to give up as Japan tightens visa rules. Even though Japan has a rapidly aging population and is suffering labor shortages in many sectors,»»»

Madrid: More than 1,000 deaths in Spain were attributed to the recent heatwave that roasted Europe, as the country posted the hottest first six months ever recorded, officials said on Wednesday. At least 1,028 people died of heat-related issues during the heatwave, the public Carlos III Health Inst»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Two-thirds of Ukrainians support an immediate start to negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict, a Gallup poll has shown. According to the survey, 66% of Ukrainians believe that Ukraine should begin negotiations as soon as possible, while less than a quarter of respondent»»»

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appear to be staking out differing approaches to carrying out President Donald Trump's national security agenda as the possible 2028 presidential rivals jostle for position in a divided Republican Party. With vastly different backgrounds an»»»

Dubai: Long before Dubai's morning traffic begins and office towers fill with commuters, another kind of movement is already underway. In parks, along running tracks, and on cycling routes, people from various nationalities gather before sunrise. Some are chasing a personal best. Others are taking »»»

A total of 92% of Bulgarians consider drug use a serious problem for the country, according to a survey by the Trend Research Centre, commissioned by the 24 Chasa daily and focused on public attitudes towards drug use. More than 40% of respondents said they know someone who has used or is using dru»»»

NEW DELHI: Oil prices rose on Wednesday on concerns breakdowns in ‌discussions between Iran and the US for a final agreement to end their war may extend supply disruptions in the key Middle East producing region. Brent futures rose 33 cents, or 0.45 percent, to $73.28 a barrel at 06:39 a.m. Saudi t»»»

ORSAY, France: Ice. Urgently and in large quantities. At a Paris-region hospital, emergency medics needed it to plunge patients into cold-water baths to speedily bring down their temperatures so they wouldn’t join the growing tally of dead from a record-smashing heat wave. But lacking an ice-making»»»

Seoul: Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung announced Wednesday that President Lee Jae Myung has approved the appointment of Han Seong-sook as prime minister. The appointment is scheduled to take effect on July 1st, making Han the second female prime minister in Lee Jae Myung's administration, su»»»

Doha: As part of the Hala Summer campaign, Visit Qatar is launching an immersive programme of family-friendly experiences across participating malls and hotels throughout Qatar. Running from July 1 to September 30 2026, the activations will transform destinations across the country into vibrant ent»»»

Dubai: Dubai International is preparing for one of its busiest summer travel periods, with around 3 million passengers expected to pass through its terminals in the first half of July. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The summer peak begins with a rise in departures fro»»»

Voters in Colorado headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the state's primary elections. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- Progressives had a big night in Colorado's primaries Tuesday, led by lawyer Melat Kiros, who was poised to unseat 15-term incumbent Rep. »»»

On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing state within the British Empire. 1 of 7 | On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing state within the British Empire File Photo by Paul Hanna/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1847, the first U.S. postage stamps were»»»

TEHRAN: Iranian state television on Tuesday cut short the broadcast of an interview with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator in talks with the United States, drawing criticism from his team. “This discussion was delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) more than 2 h»»»