Geagea warns no lasting peace without Hezbollah disarmament
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has cautioned against reducing Lebanon's crisis solely to calls for a ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal, urging politicians to couple any demand for an Israeli withdrawal with Hezbollah's disarmament. While acknowledging both as non-negotiable priorities, he ar»»»
Israel to 'respond' after 'drone' hits bulldozer in south Lebanon
The Israeli army is considering a military response to the damage inflicted on an engineering vehicle by a “Hezbollah drone” in the Ali al-Taher heights in southern Lebanon, Israel’s Channel 14 said on Wednesday. “Beirut's southern suburbs will not be a target in the response,” the channel added. I»»»
Trump administration bans imports of Chinese-made humanoid robots - UPI.com
The United States announced an import ban on new advanced robot models on Tuesday, including humanoid, four-legged robots and bi-peds, as part of a Federal Communications Commission update to a list of products and services that pose a risk to national security. Photo by James Atoa/UPI | License Ph»»»
AI Set to Handle Half of Customer Service by 2030 as Call Centers Face Job CutsOpinions
Global customer service operations are undergoing a dramatic transformation as generative artificial intelligence takes over routine support tasks, prompting companies to reduce staffing and reshape their workforce. According to a Bloomberg report, leading companies including Commonwealth Bank of A»»»
SODIC posts EGP 834.2M in H1 2026 consolidated profit Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Sixth of October Development and Investment Company (SODIC) reported a 35.72% year-on-year (YoY) plunge in consolidated net profits attributable to the parent company during the first half (H1) of 2026 to EGP 834.247 million from EGP 1.298 billion, according to the financial statement»»»
'No home': Spanish pensioner returns to charred ruins after wildfire
Pelayos de la Presa, Spain: As far as the eye can see, Jose Fernandez spied only burnt furniture, half-collapsed walls and mountains of ash on what used to be his house and land. "I have no money, no documents, no home," said the 74-year-old pensioner, one victim of the wildfires that burned his to»»»
Egypt, UAE sign deal to gradually expand bilateral air transport rights
RIYADH: Air connectivity between Egypt and the UAE is set to receive a boost after the two countries agreed to gradually expand bilateral air transport rights, giving airlines greater flexibility to increase services. The memorandum of understanding, signed during the 11th ICAO Africa-Indian Ocean »»»
Inside Dubai's Centre for Harbouring: How GDRFA is redefining humanitarian care for residency violators
Dubai: Beyond the security gates of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai's Centre for Harbouring lies a facility that challenges common perceptions of what happens to people who overstay their visas or violate residency rules. Instead of prison cells, there are d»»»
Iran state TV says US struck near Iraq border
Iranian state television on Wednesday said the United States struck a city in the country's northwest on the border with Iraq. "A few minutes ago, a location in the Piranshahr border area was attacked by American enemy airstrikes," state television reported. Fars news agency had earlier quoted an o»»»
US and Saudi Arabia launch strikes against Iraq militias, killing at least 20
Jordan's air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran early Wednesday, the country's military said, hours after the U.S. military said it had knocked down an Iranian missile barrage launched against American forces in the Middle East, shattering a brief pause in fighting. In a statemen»»»
Israeli media: Hezbollah targeted an engineering vehicle with an explosive glider last night after it attempted to operate in Ali al-Taher area, South Lebanon - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli media: Hezbollah targeted an engineering vehicle with an explosive glider last night after it attempted to operate in Ali al-Taher »»»
Elderly German man went missing near Lake Balaton
Hungarian police have launched an extensive search for an 81-year-old German national who disappeared from his home near Tapolca on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Veszprém County Police Headquarters, Martin Hofer left his home in the outskirts of Lesenceistvánd, near Tapolca, shortly after 3:0»»»
US-Saudi alliance invests $5bn to build oil refinery outside Strait of Hormuz
RIYADH: A Saudi-US alliance has entered the final stage of selecting a host country for a $5 billion integrated refinery and energy export corridor project. This project aims to create a strategic energy export platform that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, Asharq Bloomberg has reported. The alliance»»»
DP World’s new Riyadh warehouse is built to cut delivery times across Saudi Arabia
Dubai: DP World has opened its first multi-client third-party logistics warehouse in Saudi Arabia, adding storage and distribution capacity for businesses supplying the Kingdom’s consumer, retail and industrial markets. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 15,250 square»»»
Planning an Italy trip? flydubai adds more flights to Milan and Naples
Dubai: Travellers flying between Dubai and Italy will have more options this winter after flydubai increased flights to Naples and announced additional services to Milan-Bergamo in response to growing demand. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai-based airline has »»»
Russia issues international wanted notice against Telegram founder Pavel Durov for aiding terrorism
Moscow on Wednesday said it had issued an international wanted notice for Russian-born Telegram CEO Pavel Durov for "complicity in terrorism". Russian security services accused Durov of failing to remove "channels, chats and bots" on the popular messaging platform allegedly used by Ukraine to recru»»»
Bahri H1 profit surges 421% as SAL posts double-digit earnings growth
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Shipping Co., known as Bahri, reported a more than fivefold jump in profit in the first half of 2026, while SAL Saudi Logistics Services Co. posted double-digit growth thanks to rising cargo demand. Bahri posted a net profit of SR4.89 billion ($1.30 billion) for the »»»
No more water on the roads? Sharjah's Dh500m fix is 70% done
Sharjah's Dh500 million Mid-Line Drainage Project has reached 70 per cent completion, marking a major milestone in one of the emirate's largest infrastructure projects designed to improve rainwater and groundwater drainage. According to the Sharjah Public Works Department, the project spans densely»»»
Burgas Children's Hospital Receives Licence to Begin Operations
St. Anastasia Children's Hospital in Burgas has received its licence to provide medical services, marking the final stage of preparations before opening, Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov said on Wednesday. Nikolov noted that recruitment of medical staff is now under way, with Burgas Municipality also s»»»
Iran demands ‘restitution’ for Kiev’s deadly attack
Iran has demanded compensation from Ukraine over a deadly strike on a cargo ship after Kiev’s foreign minister initially claimed that “Iran has no standing to pretend to be a victim,” only to call Tehran a day later and assure it that the attack was unintentional and that Kiev did not seek escalati»»»
UAE reviews anti-money laundering framework to boost investor confidence and economic competitiveness
Abu Dhabi: The UAE is stepping up efforts to monitor the prices of essential goods and strengthen oversight of supply chains as part of measures to protect consumers and maintain market stability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The move was discussed at the latest mee»»»
Media Review: July 29
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION The presidential election will be held on October 25, with a possible second round of voting on November 1, Bulgarian media report. This emerged after the floor leaders of the parliamentary groups met on Wednesday morning. The date is expected to be put to the vote in the Nati»»»
UAE reviews anti-money laundering framework to boost investor confidence and economic competitiveness
Dubai: The Economic Integration Committeen - a high-level UAE national platform that unites federal and local government authorities - on Wednesday reviewed national efforts to strengthen the country's legislative framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. This comes as part »»»
Video: Destruction seen after US-Saudi strikes in Iraq
Dubai: Video footage shows the aftermath of US-Saudi airstrikes on bases belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Diyala province and other locations across the country. The PMF, an alliance of former paramilitary groups now integrated into Iraq's armed forces, said at least 20 of i»»»
Stray dog attack in Northern Jordan injures 12, including children, sparks concern over rising stray population
Dubai: A stray dog injured 12 people, including young children and elderly residents, after attacking pedestrians in a town in northern Jordan before authorities tracked down and killed the animal, officials said. The attacks unfolded on Monday in Kafr Al Maa, a rural town located in the Al Kourah »»»
Middle East live: US and Saudi Arabia launch strikes on Iraq, target Iran allies
US and Saudi warplanes carried out strikes on Tuesday against Iran-backed militants in Iraq who launched more than two dozen drone attacks in recent days, the US military said. Meanwhile, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck and halted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz early Wednesd»»»
Better fares, bigger city breaks: European cities Romanians are choosing this summer
The figures suggest that Romanian travelers continue to seek the best value when planning their summer holidays, with many of the cities recording the strongest passenger growth also benefiting from lower ticket prices. “This summer, Romanian travellers are proving to be both price-conscious and in»»»
France braces for fresh evacuations as Spain eases wildfire restrictions
Residents began returning to fire-ravaged communities west of Madrid after officials lifted some evacuation orders, while authorities in southwestern France warned a looming heatwave could reignite major blazes and force thousands more from their homes. Spanish residents forced to flee some of the »»»
At least 13 dead in Japan after powerful earthquake
After a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan on July 28, the country's Prime Minister said thirteen people had died, including five in a factory, so far and many were injured. The rescue work is ongoing to find those still missing. The earthquake struck the Kumamoto area on the southern main islan»»»
India’s ‘cockroach’ protesters explain how they toppled one of Modi’s ministers
After weeks of student protests, the resignation of India’s education minister on July 25 was hailed as a victory for the so-called cockroaches, a youth movement that has made this originally derogatory term their own. But some are concerned about facing repression down the line, aided by facial re»»»
Aoun, Berri Discuss Washington Visit, South Lebanon Situation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Aoun, Berri Discuss Washington Visit, South Lebanon Situation 29-07-2026 12:56 PM President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Wednesday met »»»
Bulgaria Sets Presidential Election for October 25
Bulgaria's next presidential election will be held on October 25, according to a decision reached during the regular meeting of parliamentary group leaders in the National Assembly. If no candidate secures the required majority in the first round, a runoff vote will take place on November 1. The da»»»
Americana Restaurants to open up to 130 new outlets in 2026 as first-half profit jumps 59%
Sharjah: The region's biggest restaurant operator, Americana Restaurants, expects to add 120 to 130 new restaurants by the end of 2026 after reporting stronger earnings in the first half of the year, driven by higher sales, menu innovation and continued expansion. Sign up for our daily business new»»»
Iraq, Turkiye aim to boost bilateral trade to $30bn amid deepening economic partnership
RIYADH: Iraq and Turkiye are targetting $30 billion in bilateral trade, according to officials from both countries. The comments were made after Iraqi Trade Minister Mustafa Nizar Al-Ani met his Turkish counterpart, Omer Bolat, in Ankara on the sidelines of Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi’s offic»»»
A heat wave threatens to reignite France’s mega-fire near Bordeaux
LEGE-CAP FERRET, France: Fire crews battled a mega-fire four times the size of Paris in southwest France while facing tinderbox temperatures forecast to climb above 40°Celsius on Wednesday. The heat wave and forecast winds could hamper progress against the blaze that has forced 220,000 people from »»»
Ukraine's credit boom broadens as war reshapes lending
Ukrainian banks are in the middle of their longest lending expansion in 15 years, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), with state-owned PrivatBank leading a corporate-credit surge, businesses of every size turning to bank financing even as households retreat from long-term deposits, and»»»
Senate Receives Assessment Confirming Ronald Johnson’s Qualifications for U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has received a report, namely a Certificate of Demonstrated Competence for Ronald Johnson, Nominee for Ambassador to BiH. “Thanks to his extensive and proven leadership experience, demonstrated diplomatic skills, international engagement and lifelong servic»»»
Introducing Visas for Russian Citizens Will Harm Montenegro
The Russian Embassy in Podgorica said that Montenegro would suffer a serious blow by introducing visas for Russian citizens. The Embassy stressed that the introduction of visas for Russian citizens from November 1 represents evidence of the official Podgorica’s dependence on “foreign patrons” who s»»»
Berri 'relieved' after meeting Aoun in Baabda
President Joseph Aoun met Wednesday with Speaker Nabih Berri at the Baabda Palace, where they discussed “the general situation both locally and regionally, as well as the situation in southern Lebanon in light of the ongoing Israeli attacks on villages and towns, particularly the bombing and bulldo»»»
Parliament Sets August 12 Deadline for NHIF Leadership Nominations
The deadline for nominations for the Governor and Deputy Governor of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is August 12, as voted by the National Assembly on Wednesday in the procedural rules adopted regarding the conditions and procedure for the nomination and election of candidates for the tw»»»
Nationwide Campaign Helps Citizens Activate eZdrave App
A nationwide campaign to help people activate the eZdrave mobile app has been launched, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) said on Wednesday. Temporary support desks have been set up across the country, where citizens can quickly activate the app on their mobile devices. Their locations are »»»
Vucic extends condolences to Japan over deadly earthquake
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic extended condolences to Japan on Tuesday over a deadly earthquake in the country's Kumamoto Prefecture, and added that Serbia had offered assistance and stood ready to provide any support to friendly Japan. "I received with great concern the news of the»»»
Is the army's success in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh replicable in broader areas?
As Lebanon's army deploys in the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, Hassan Sbeih is among those reassured by the troops and hoping the move will soon extend to areas still occupied by Israel. Last week, the Lebanese military began deploying to the devastated village, one of the first "pilot z»»»
Drone footage reveals scorched forests after France wildfire
Dubai: Aerial footage has revealed vast stretches of charred pine forest in southwestern France's Gironde region after one of the country's most destructive wildfires in recent years. The blaze has been stabilised, meaning it is no longer advancing, according to Sophie Brocas, the French government»»»
UK PM Burnham to set out first steps on social care in speech
LONDON: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will on Wednesday pledge to overhaul the adult social care system, offering to work with other parties to better fund a service that can cost families hundreds of thousands of pounds. Burnham became prime minister last week, and has enjoyed a bounce in th»»»
West Bank violence, annexation ‘only getting worse’: UN
GENEVA: Two years after the International Court of Justice said Israel’s occupation of the West Bank was unlawful, settler violence and territorial annexation is “only getting worse,” the UN said Wednesday. “With attacks by Israeli settlers, and the creation of settlements and outposts, hitting an »»»
Hungary's powerful new Asset Recovery Office enters into force with sweeping powers to investigate public wealth
Hungary’s Parliament has passed the law establishing the National Asset Recovery and Asset Protection Office, granting it extensive powers to investigate suspected misuse of public assets and recover unlawfully acquired state property. New office to recover EU funds Hungary’s Parliament has approve»»»
BMW aims to cut 8,000 jobs by end 2027: company source
Frankfurt, Germany: Premium carmaker BMW is to offer almost half its German staff voluntary redundancy in a bid to cut 8,000 jobs by the end of 2027, a company source told AFP Wednesday. About 40,000 of BMW's roughly 85,000 permanent German employees would receive the offers from October, the sourc»»»
Applications open for Tech Catalyst competition targeting Romanian urban tech startups
Glovo has launched the second edition of Tech Catalyst in Romania, a competition for local startups in the scaling stage that are developing solutions with an impact on cities and urban life. The initiative is part of Glovo’s global Power Up strategic programme and aims to identify and support high»»»