The National Assembly rejected a proposal by "Revival" to instruct the government to end Bulgaria’s 10-year cooperation agreement with Ukraine, signed in Kyiv on May 30. The motion, described by its authors as “enslaving for Bulgaria,” aimed to cancel a deal that formalizes long-term security and s»»»

Doha, Qatar: With the summer holiday season underway, many expatriates in Qatar are preparing to travel to neighboring countries or to their home countries by road as a more affordable alternative to air travel or simply to enjoy the journey. Before setting off, motorists are advised to familiarize»»»

Lisbon: Parts of Portugal have been placed on red alert due to high temperatures forecast for the coming days, after being relatively spared from the recent heatwave in Europe. The country's IPMA weather agency said the Lisbon and Setubal regions on the coast will be on red alert for high temperatu»»»

The European Union rolled out two measures to protect its steel industry and limit e-commerce small parcels on Wednesday as the 27-nation bloc grapples with its staggering trade imbalance with China. "Today's change is about restoring fairness for European businesses and better protecting our consu»»»

MAKKAH: Makkah’s royal commission announced one of the city’s largest ever urban development programs during a ceremony on Tuesday evening. A number of agreements were signed to formally launch the projects, which will make up an area of more than 4.4 million sq. meters backed by more than SR16.3 b»»»

RIYADH: The Apple Developer Academy, in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, celebrated the graduation of its fifth cohort at The Garage in Riyadh, with 192 female students completing a nine-month program. The scheme brought together participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds and f»»»

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its strong support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, describing it as an essential and irreplaceable provider of education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees. The remarks were made by the Kingdom’s permanent repre»»»

Dubai: The first thing Girley Pineda remembers about arriving in Dubai isn't the skyline or the excitement of starting a new chapter. It's the tears. On April 22, 2017, her birthday, the Filipino expatriate stepped off a plane believing she was beginning the journey that would change her family's f»»»

Clause 5 of the fragile US-Iran interim deal has become a flashpoint, a trigger for the series of escalating maritime incidents. This specific clause of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on June 18, 2026, has emerged as one of the most contentious provisions. Despite the rather »»»

Shenzhen, China: Their metallic frames covered in supple, lifelike skin, a posse of new Chinese robots meant for companionship can offer users AI-generated conversation or a hand to hold, complete with manicured nails. The company UBTech says its "U1" robot -- equipped with eye cameras, chest senso»»»

Ecovent, a Romanian company specialised in indoor air quality solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Zehnder Group, becoming the Swiss company’s distributor on the local market. The agreement strengthens Ecovent’s position in Romania’s heat recovery ventilation segment and expands it»»»

Dubai: flydubai announced Wednesday it has launched daily flights between Dubai and Bangkok, adding a second destination in Thailand as the airline expands its network in Southeast Asia. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The inaugural flight departed from Terminal 3 at D»»»

Arab Finance: Misr Italia Properties has fully acquired Misr Italia Holding for Financial Investments and subsidiaries by Khaled El Assal, Mohamed Khaled El Assal, and Karim Khaled El Assal, according to a statement. Following the successful transaction, the company unveiled EGP 8 billion in new in»»»

Doha, Qatar: Invest Qatar, the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar, released its 2025 Annual Report today, marking a remarkable year for foreign direct investment (FDI) and reaffirming Qatar’s position as a leading destination for high value, impact-driven global investment. In 2025, Qatar attract»»»

US-Israeli military action has failed to shift the strategic balance in the Middle East, leaving Iran in a stronger position than before the conflict, geopolitical analyst Brandon Weichert has said. Speaking on RT’s Sanchez Effect on Tuesday, Weichert, senior editor at The National Interest, descri»»»

A record 25.2 million young American adults (about 33%) under 35 have returned to the family nest as the cost of living has become prohibitive. There is a stereotype of Americans living at home with their parents as freeloaders, living in the basement and spending their ample free time playing vide»»»

Roughly 15 million Americans were scammed out of money in 2025, with AI-generated content and deepfakes featuring in a notable share of cases, according to a new survey. Total losses across the country reached an estimated $68 billion last year, or about $186 million stolen every day. The findings »»»

Two English seaside towns have imposed a three-year ban on public alcohol consumption after a wave of anti-social behavior, beach fights, arrests, and complaints from local businesses. The order will take effect on Wednesday in Margate and Ramsgate, on the Kent coast, banning public drinking in key»»»

Share: Steve Witkoff (R) and Jared Kushner are in Doha for indirect talks with the Iranian delegation DOHA – The U.S. and Iran held technical talks in Doha on Wednesday as they seek to ‌agree on the flow of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and secure a lasting ceasefire, a source with direct k»»»

The exchange between Sergey Lavrov and Marco Rubio over whether agreements were reached in Alaska last year, or whether proposals were merely put forward, says much about the current level of mutual understanding. In substance, however, it is less a basis for further action than a commentary on att»»»

The British government unveiled its long-delayed Defense Investment Plan with a commitment to spend an additional $19.9 billion over the next four years, only a little more than half the $37 billion defense ministers and the military had been seeking. File photo by Andy Rain/EPA July 1 (UPI) -- The»»»

The Hague: The executive body of the International Criminal Court Wednesday voiced concern over the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, saying it undermined the global pursuit of justice. The military-led West Africa states announced in September they were pulling out of the ICC, wh»»»

Doha, London, New York, San Francisco: Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) announced its participation in the completed take-private transaction of Janus Henderson Group Ltd. (Janus Henderson) alongside Trian Fund Management L.P. and General Catalyst, as part of a global group of investors. CEO of QIA»»»

Dubai: Emirates has launched its third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi, increasing services on the route to 21 weekly flights and adding more travel options for passengers heading to Kenya, signalling greater demand for travel to the African continent from UAE. The new service, EK717, arrive»»»

DUBAI: As Adidas unveiled the redesigned Golden Boot trophy for the FIFA World Cup 2026, another prize has emerged in one of the tournament’s most intriguing storylines. French striker Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals in a single World Cup has stood since Sweden 1958. But with the expanded 48-tea»»»

There are 22 units in the Bulgarian Army who active participate in extinguishing fires with up to 400 people. Seven of these units are located in Northern Bulgaria and 15 in Southern Bulgaria, said Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov during a briefing on Wednesday. “We are fully prepared to provide a»»»

PARIS: France will hold the first ​round of its next presidential election on April 18, 2027, with a run-off set ‌for May ‌2, ​the ‌government ⁠spokeswoman, ​Maud Bregeon, said ⁠on Wednesday following a cabinet meeting to officially approve the dates. The race to ‌succeed ‌President Emmanuel ​Macro»»»

THE HAGUE: The executive body of the International Criminal Court Wednesday voiced concern over the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, saying it undermined the global pursuit of justice. The military-led West Africa states announced in September they were pulling out of the ICC, wh»»»

RIYADH: The Asir Region Municipality continues to enhance the investment environment in the tourism sector by offering 44 investment sites during the summer season. This initiative is part of its efforts to empower investors, enrich the visitor experience, and increase the contribution of tourism a»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his pursuit of "total victory" against Iran and its proxies "never ends." In a televised interview with Israeli Channel 14, Netanyahu said Israel "is stronger than ever", adding that "when you’re strong, people form alliances with you, and the»»»

Dubai: The UAE the wider Arabian Peninsula will enter the year's hottest period on July 3, when the traditional “Jamrat Al Qayth” season begins, bringing extreme heat, dry conditions and daytime temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in some desert areas, the Emirates Astronomy Society said. The»»»

Damascus, July 1 (SANA) Exhibitors at the 12th Syria Specialized Exhibitions 2026 said modern industrial equipment and advanced production technologies are expected to support the recovery of Syria’s manufacturing sector, improve productivity and create new investment opportunities.The exhibition, »»»

“The opening of the SGB-ALFA factory represents a significant new achievement for Electro-Alfa International, both in Romania and internationally. Over the past 35 years, we have transformed a local company into a competitive business, growing steadily one step at a time. Today, our partnership wit»»»

Through REDPORT Living, clients gain access to benefits developed together with MOBEXPERT, from dedicated consultancy and Personal Shopper services to furnished and fully equipped kitchens or included wardrobes, depending on the chosen project. “A kitchen exactly as you want it: customized, fully f»»»

Parliament rejected a bill obliging the Council of Ministers to take action to terminate the ten-year cooperation agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine, concluded on March 30, 2026, in Kyiv, signed by the then Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov. Ten MPs voted in favour of the bill, 16»»»

The UAE property market is undergoing a structural shift as buyers become more informed, brokers more accountable and pricing decisions increasingly driven by data rather than deal volumes, according to new analysis from property portal Bayut. "Real estate decisions are too important to be driven b»»»

During a working visit to Issyk-Kul region, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov reviewed new special-purpose vehicles and buses delivered to support the development of Karakol’s road, utility, and transport infrastructure. At the same time, it emerged that part of the supplied equipment does not »»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index maintained its strong year-to-date momentum, delivering a 2.9 percent gain in the first six months of this year, according to Kamco Invest. The report revealed that the Kingdom was also the second-best-performing market in the Gulf Cooperation Council »»»

It couldn’t have been a better start to the month for two Kerala-born Dubai expats who have turned millionaires in the latest Dubai Duty Free draw. Kabir Poovathingal, a 48-year-old Indian national based in Dubai, became a $1 million winner in Millennium Millionaire Series 547 with ticket number 34»»»

BusinessEuropeDigital euro: The plan to Trump-proof the EU's economiesNik 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»»»

Erbil: Region Trade Bank (RTB) has become the first Iraqi lender to appoint a Board of Directors comprising internationally recognised experts in financial integrity, sanctions policy, banking supervision and payment systems, in a move aimed at strengthening governance and aligning the bank with gl»»»

Paris, France: France on Wednesday launched new paid leave for both mothers and fathers, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to boost the country's sluggish birth rate. In 2024, Macron unveiled a plan to combat infertility and the declining birth rate, saying it would help pave the way towards what »»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Traffic has announced the release of a new selection of significant vehicle plate numbers through the Sooum app. In a social media post, the department stated that the expression of interest feature for the new numbers will open on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 8a»»»

City Day is celebrated today, July 1, in Karakol. One of the most beautiful cities in Kyrgyzstan turns 157 this year. On the holiday, President Sadyr Japarov visited the city and inspected the reconstruction of Pushkin Park in Karakol. The head of state was also presented with a number of infrastru»»»

Fable and Mythos are coming back online. Leading US AI company Anthropic says the US Commerce Department has lifted export controls on the AI models, less than three weeks after the company was ordered to suspend access to them over national security risks. Washington has stepped up oversight of ne»»»

After nearly 20 years of investment in energy infrastructure and the development of an integrated business model, NOVA Power & Gas is entering a new phase focused on expanding its household and industrial customer base. The company has launched an investment programme estimated at EUR 1 billion for»»»

Broad market recovery coincides with renewed foreign appetite for Egyptian debt and diversified sovereign funding strategy Cairo — Egyptian equities staged a broad recovery on Tuesday, 30 June, as buying returned across the market after recent losses, with gains in both blue-chip and small-cap stoc»»»

Dubai: A growing concern over misleading “verified” property listings has sparked calls for tighter checks on Dubai’s online real estate portals, with industry experts warning that advertisements carrying verification badges should accurately reflect the official permit details attached to the prop»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, during a working trip to Issyk-Kul region, got acquainted with the reconstruction of the park named after Alexander Pushkin in Karakol, as well as with the projects that are planned to be implemented in the city. Among them are the construction of a modern Con»»»

France's National Rally was on Tuesday targeted as part of Europe-wide raids following suspicions of the misappropriation of European funds by the now-defunct Identity and Democracy (ID) group of MEPs, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said, onfirming a report in French daily»»»