Venezuela's recent democratic elections, in which President Maduro was re-elected with 51 percent of the vote without independent counts, raise questions about how the country slipped so far under a socialist regime that leans on petrodollars and joint clientelist relationships rather than leadership and charisma.
King Mohammed VI's 25th birthday was celebrated in Morocco, where he touched on social problems and looked back on his reign in his speech from the throne. He highlighted his commitment to economic growth and improving women's rights, as well as his stance on the Western Sahara conflict and support for Palestine.
Dutch travelers face heat-related car problems in France during the summer, as most are expected to drive through the country amid a heatwave. ANWB spokesperson Stephan Grout reports an increase in broken air conditioning units and reminds everyone to stay safe and take breaks on their road trips.
Roma families in Pata Rât, Romania are forced to live in makeshift homes on a polluted landfill, with limited access to basic necessities. This is just one example of the 'environmental racism' that the Roma community faces throughout Europe, according to a recent investigation by the European Environmental Bureau.
Employers struggle with the use of self-employed workers due to increasing workloads for permanent colleagues and lack of clarity on legislation, but also see problems in attracting salaried staff. The upcoming enforcement of false self-employment is causing concern and dissatisfaction among many self-employed workers in various sectors, who see the law as patronizing and limiting their freedom as self-employed.
Budget deficit of 26 billion left by former Conservative government, new finance minister announces austerity measures during speech in House of Commons.