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Moldovan leader Maia Sandu and Romanian President Nicusor Dan want to reunite their countries. How realistic is that? In a choreographed move, Moldovan and Romania's presidents recently posted a picture of themselves in a Romanian military aircraft on the way to a European summit in Armenia. They were greeted together at the airport when they landed, a first, adding speculation that...

While fully driverless cars still sound futuristic to many — particularly Europeans — they have already become part of everyday urban life in parts of California.  Among the most prominent robotaxi operators in California is Waymo, which runs fully autonomous ride services in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County.  For instance, in San Francisco, residents regularly encounter autonomous...

Bulgarian pop star Dara has won the Eurovision Song Contest with her pneumatic dance anthem Bangaranga. It was the first time the southeast European nation has clinched the title in its 70-year-history. The 27-year-old topped both the public and the jury vote in a nail-biting conclusion, soaring ahead of Israel in second place and Romania in third to score a massive...

As Tehran tests whether the West can withstand economic pain in the Strait of Hormuz, Beijing may be drawing conclusions about how far democracies would really go to defend Taiwan Let’s try a thought experiment: suppose China were contemplating an aggressive military action to take Taiwan, but was concerned about what the West would do, especially as China is now...

In late autumn 2025, the Trump administration withdrew some 1,000 troops early from Romania. But in the spring of 2026, the Trump administration changed its mind and asked Bucharest for permission to move several hundred soldiers, tankers, surveillance drones and other equipment to Romania. The war in Iran had recently started and Minister of War, Pete Hegseth, had been ‘persuaded’...

Poland is probably the US’ most reliable partner in Europe and the only country where a majority of people support the presence of US military bases, according to a poll. Yet without any explanation, the US defense secretary on Thursday issued the order to ax a routine mission to Poland, a country Washington describes as a “model ally.” Some 4,000 Texas-based...

Award-winning Australian actress Nicole Kidman has been recruited by Christie's auction house to sell expensive art_ a sculpture by Romanian-born Constantin Brancusi_ 150 years since his birth. The actress features in Constantin Brancusi's Danaïde cinematic 1.56 minute film. Set to Golden Years by the late David Bowie, the camera moves between past and present as Kidman steps into galleries and...

There was no explanation why the US defense secretary issued the order to ax a routine mission to Poland, a country Washington calls a “model ally.” Some 4,000 Texas-based troops were preparing to leave on a long-planned nine month rotation to Poland that includes training with NATO allies when the order to halt came through. Troops and equipment had already started...

The B9 Summit in Bucharest which gathered regional leaders, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a topic of discussion Thursday on UK radio station, Monocle Radio. Universul director Alison Mutler offered her analysis which can be heard from minute 31: 25. Here’s the link. The discussion touched on regional cooperation in the face of Russian aggression and domestic...

Cuba says it has effectively run out of diesel and fuel oil, pushing the country deeper into one of its worst energy crises in decades as widespread blackouts disrupt hospitals, shut down schools and government offices, and spark faint protests in Havana. In an interview with state media, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said the country’s energy...