IN BRIEF The Bulgarian media focus heavily on the dismantling of an illegal fentanyl laboratory near Sofia and the investigation into the network behind it. The media also cover the acquisition of F-16 fighters from the US and the issues surrounding the Bulgarian Air Force’s ageing MiG-29s. Other p»»»

Dubai: UAE homebuyers and property investors can compare mortgage offers from several leading banks at a two-day event being held by DAMAC Properties this weekend. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Participating banks are offering financing of up to 85 per cent available»»»

Ghana's central bank lost more than $1.7bn in 2025 running its gold-buying programme, the International Monetary Fund has said, even as the scheme helped rebuild the country's foreign reserves and prop up the cedi. The losses, disclosed in the IMF's 2026 Article IV Consultation and proposed Policy »»»

The US-Iran conflict remains unresolved Friday, with the Strait of Hormuz still at the centre of diplomatic and economic pressure. Residents across the UAE and the Gulf are watching closely for changes to flights, fuel prices, shipping and regional security. Here are the key developments UAE reside»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices climbed again on Friday morning, taking local rates back to their highest level so far this month and leaving shoppers facing a considerably higher price than they did at the start of August. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar,»»»

An offshore wind company said Thursday that it reached a $1.2 billion settlement with the Trump administration to walk away from projects under development off New York, California and Louisiana. This latest agreement brings the total amount spent on such settlements to nearly $4 billion. RWE U.S. »»»

Dubai: Gold buyers face a mixed outlook after bullion ended July almost unchanged, with the World Gold Council saying a possible second wave of inflation would not guarantee a major rally in the precious metal. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Gold closed the month at $»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump is shown at the signing of executive orders concerning birthright citizenship and "birth tourism" at the White House in Washington on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is again aiming to limit birthright cit»»»

For years, the EU’s political establishment treated nuclear energy as something between an embarrassment and a moral transgression. The consequences were predictable – and increasingly impossible to conceal. The green dogma has come dueGermany provides the clearest case study. In 2011, nuclear powe»»»

A new study suggests that Hungarians are right to feel that shopping abroad can be cheaper – but much depends on what they are buying. Food prices paint a very different picture from, say, the cost of services. Meanwhile, a fresh survey has shown that Romania and Bulgaria still outperform Hungary o»»»

DOHA: The Local Dates Festival, in its 11th edition at Souq Waqif in Doha, combines celebrating local production and recalling the status of the palm tree in the social and economic history of the State of Qatar, where the festival welcomes visitors of different nationalities and ages to learn abou»»»

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced that its net international foreign exchange reserves rose to $56.30 billion at the end of July. This increase reflects the ongoing improvement in the country’s foreign liquidity position and strengthens the Egyptian economy’s ability to fulfill its internat»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s construction sector expanded for a third consecutive month in July as new orders hit a five-month high, although the headline index eased to 55.2 from June’s peak. The seasonally adjusted alrajhi capital Saudi Construction Index, compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence, sl»»»

BusinessRussian FederationWhy is Russia selling its gold?Arthur SullivanRussia has become one of the world's biggest sellers of gold over the past 12 months. It's an attempt to raise cash in the face of budget issues, but not necessarily a sign of a looming financial crisis. https://p.dw.com/p/5Ht6»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a landmark law legalizing cryptocurrency trading, which will be regulated as part of the country’s financial system. The Law on Digital Currencies and Digital Rights, signed and published on Tuesday, formalizes an already booming market. According to bloc»»»

Dubai: You can search the web, navigate with Google Maps, watch YouTube, use Gmail and access Android without paying Google directly. Yet Alphabet, Google’s parent company, generated almost $55 million in revenue every hour during its latest quarter. Alphabet reported revenue of $119.8 billion for »»»

Manila: Edwin Salas watched as the first of 20 solar panels was installed on the roof of his home, joining a Philippine solar energy boom sent into overdrive by the Middle East war. The country's eye-watering electric bills -- the highest in the region -- were the primary driver of his decision, he»»»

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is reshaping industries from banking to transportation, one entrepreneur believes the next frontier is not what people buy, but what they already own. From wedding dresses and power tools to parking spaces and professional services, Saudi startu»»»

BusinessGlobal issuesAI ecosystem's 'circular' investment: risk or advantage?Arthur SullivanAmid talk of an AI sector bubble, one aspect is under scrutiny. Many big AI players are invested in smaller ones, who then buy the bigger firm's products. This brings risks and advantages. https://p.dw.com/p»»»

Dubai: Eligible UAE residents can now use Crypto.com Pay when shopping at Dubai Duty Free stores at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, as well as through its website. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Dubai Duty Free has become the first ai»»»

In Dubai's current real estate landscape, the developers that will outperform are not those acquiring the most land, but those acquiring with the greatest precision. The market has matured considerably in recent years, with a more diverse buyer base, evolving demand patterns, and greater competitio»»»

BusinessAI ecosystem's 'circular' investment: risk or advantage?Arthur SullivanAmid talk of an AI sector bubble, one aspect is under scrutiny. Many big AI players are invested in smaller ones, who then buy the bigger firm's products. This brings risks and advantages. https://p.dw.com/p/5I3zJThe "ci»»»

Dubai: Veteran Malayalam actor Mohan Sharma, who has appeared in more than 170 films across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema over a career spanning more than five decades is living in an old age home in Kerala and struggling to meet his medical expenses, according to media reports. The 7»»»

Manila: The condominium market here entered 2026 with a paradox: a huge housing need exists while Metro Manila simultaneously has a condo glut. It's a strange housing market feature: the Philippine capital as thousands of completed condo units that remain vacant amid a big gap in affordable housing»»»

The theft of at least $89 million in cryptocurrency that was supposedly safely stored in high-security hardware wallets has prompted the producer to warn that a “new AI paradigm” is redefining cybersecurity. Hardware wallets are physical devices that store the private keys needed to access cryptocu»»»

As AI increases cyber complexity, hands-on certification pathways help leaders verify workforce readiness, prove resilience and close skill gaps. AI hasn’t made cyber-security a boardroom issue, but it has made the boardroom question harder to answer. For years, executives have asked whether the bu»»»

A Russian ship under US sanctions, the Mikhail Britnev, dropped off its cargo of military vehicles at the Port of Lomé in Togo on July 9. It’s the first time that Togo has been a stop for a Russian shipment of weapons to Mali, carried out as part of Moscow’s support for the Malian government. »»»

ALKHOBAR: The second a blue tick appears on a screen, the pressure sets in. In a hyper-connected nation where smartphones are ubiquitous, the line between being reachable and being genuinely available has dissolved into an end-to-end encrypted blur. Decisions that once waited for morning are now de»»»

British oil giant BP posted second quarter profit on Tuesday of $5.7 billion, more than double the $2.35 billion it made in the April to June period in 2025, amid sharply higher oil and gas prices caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict. File photo by Neil Hall/EPA Aug. 4 (UPI) -- British oil giant BP pos»»»

It is hardly surprising that the Paks expansion required the purchase of a number of former fields, woodlands and pastures from their owners. What is less easy to explain is why the state company responsible for the project reportedly paid a price that was 100 times higher than expected. Once again»»»

Abu Dhabi: A Filipino expat has spoken how his group of 10 friends from the Philippines, India and Bangladesh that had been chasing the Big Ticket grand prize for 15 years, finally won Dh20 million. As reported by Gulf News on Monday night, Dubai resident Reynaldo Herboso, was named the winner afte»»»

ClimateSpainThe economic toll of Spain's wildfiresAstrid Prange de OliveiraDevastating wildfires are ravaging Spain's tourism, economy and nature. Could the country have done more to prevent them? https://p.dw.com/p/5I3rdIn recent years, Spain has slashed investments in measures to prevent wildfire»»»

Bali behaves like several islands stitched into one, and the area you choose matters far more than the headline price. A surf town, a wellness retreat, an upmarket beach strip and a quiet family bay all sit within an hour of each other. Anyone weighing properties for sale in Bali is really picking »»»

1 of 2 | President Donald Trump delivers an address on election security from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 16. Pool Photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching and President Donald Trump has launched a multi»»»

Damascus, Aug. 3 (SANA) The price of 21-karat gold in Syria’s local market rose by 200 Syrian pounds (SYP) on Monday compared with the previous day’s level, according to the latest pricing bulletin. The General Directorate for Precious Metals Management said the selling price of one gram of 21-kara»»»

Dubai: With schools in the UAE set to reopen later this month, families returning from summer holidays are facing some of the highest airfares of the season on routes from India, prompting many travellers to rethink how they book their journeys home. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Chequ»»»

Tokyo: Japan and the United States carried out a coordinated yen-buying intervention in the foreign exchange market on Friday, marking the first joint currency intervention by the two countries in 15 years, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Monday, adding that they stand ready to a»»»

The Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to dominate regional headlines on Monday as diplomatic efforts race against ongoing maritime incidents and travel issues. US President Donald Trump has announced that negotiations with Iran are set to resume Monday (August 3) afternoon, even as he emphasised a »»»

You can't travel without a power bank. Yet, you need to be careful when you travel with it. No doubt, power banks are a travel lifeline. You need them during long-haul flights, airport delays and sightseeing days when charging points are nowhere to be found. For many passengers, they are as routine»»»

US President Donald Trump's posts on his Truth Social platform can move markets with a few keystrokes. Starting Saturday, for a fee of $100,000 a month, Wall Street traders can access his "Truth API" service to have high-speed access to the president's announcements about economic policy and g»»»

My previous columns covered the logic of Budapest’s premium market – from the step-by-step purchase process and discreet transactions to inheritance and the golden visa reality. This piece moves one step beyond the capital. Premium property at Lake Balaton has quietly overtaken Budapest in a tellin»»»

Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:45 p.m. Jan. 31 and was reported missing the next day. Photo courtesy Pima County Sheriff's Department Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Two ransom notes sent by people claiming to be the kidnappers of Nancy Guthrie were released Friday by local police in hopes of generating new »»»

NEW YORK: American oil and gas giants raked in massive spring profits while fighting between Iran and the US impeded petroleum shipments and consumers around the world paid more for fuel and confronted shortages. The conflict, now in its sixth month, halted most shipping through the Strait of Hormu»»»

Manila is finally beginning to reshape its automotive policy for the 21st century. The government's decisions on local car-production incentives in 2026 signal a broader shift in Philippine industrial strategy — away from simply protecting conventional vehicle assembly and toward attracting the nex»»»

LONDON: Chelsea were fined £10 million ($13.4 million) and given a suspended two-window transfer ban on Friday after an appeal hearing into sanctions imposed for multiple breaches of Football Association rules. The Premier League club were initially given a suspended six-point deduction along with »»»

TradeUnited States of AmericaHumanoid robots: Trump's latest China trade battle?Nik MartinThe US has banned foreign-made humanoid robots — a market dominated by Chinese tech firms. Although Washington cited national security risks, analysts think Trump is buying time for US robot makers to catch up»»»

One of the Trump administration’s more measured hands in national security and foreign policy, US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz was rushed out in front of the cameras last week to extinguish a diplomatic fire. In live interviews with Face the Nation and Meet the Press, he was asked»»»

Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary group leader Petar Vitanov said the first three months of the new parliament marked only the beginning of the governing majority's work, warning that there was no room for complacency despite what he described as significant legislative achievements. Speaking from»»»

Dubai: The remarkable journey of Kerala schoolboy Levin Paulose continues to inspire thousands after his cardboard humanoid robot and other homemade inventions captured widespread attention online. Beyond the ingenious creations themselves, it is the story behind the young innovator that has touche»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is poised to outperform other Middle Eastern gold markets in the coming months as resilient domestic demand and rising investor interest offset weaker jewelry consumption, according to the World Gold Council. The Kingdom’s gold market is benefiting from a growing shift toward i»»»