How two wars and El Nino could fuel world hunger
Food SecurityGlobal issuesHow two wars and El Nino could fuel world hungerNik MartinThe wars in Ukraine and the Middle East haven't yet crippled global food supplies. Add a powerful weather pattern like El Nino, however, and the risks multiply. https://p.dw.com/p/5HoFlSupplies of rice — consumed by»»»
Hungarian fake Jesus arrested in Italy after fleeing prison sentence for fraud
A 73-year-old Hungarian man known in the media as the “Zala county fake Jesus” has been arrested in Italy after fleeing Hungary to avoid serving a prison sentence for defrauding his followers of HUF millions. The man was detained by Italian police in Macerata on 7 July, a spokesperson for the Zala »»»
CDC: High blood pressure rates rise in pregnant women - UPI.com
July 29 (UPI) -- Rates of high blood pressure in pregnant women throughout the United States rose substantially over an eight-year-span, a new report released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The report said that one in 10 pregnant women in the United States ha»»»
Crisis-hit Cuba opens pharmacies, gas stations to private firms
HAVANA — Cuba moved to open crisis-ravaged parts of the state-run economy to private firms Wednesday, as the communist government struggles to ease acute shortages resulting from a US energy blockade.A lengthy decree lifted restrictions on a swath of sectors including petrol distribution, electrici»»»
Yemen govt says Houthis planning to impose fees for Red Sea transit
RIYADH, WASHINGTON — A minister in Yemen's internationally recognised government on Wednesday accused Houthi rebels of working under Iranian guidance to establish a system to impose fees for ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandab Strait.The narrow maritime artery has been a critical wat»»»
JoPetrol expands fuel network, advances CNG, EV infrastructure projects
AMMAN — The Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JOPCO) said Wednesday that its wholly owned subsidiary, the Jordan Petroleum Products Marketing Company (JoPetrol), is continuing to expand its fuel station network and invest in new energy infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.According to Al Mam»»»
JOPCO says talks with government continue to settle outstanding dues
AMMAN — The Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JOPCO) said on Wednesday that it is continuing discussions with ministries and relevant public entities to resolve outstanding financial issues, with priority given to recovering dues owed to the company.According to data, cited by Al Mamlaka TV, the M»»»
Iraq to Develop Plan of Defense Amid US-Saudi Strikes - National Security Council
BAGHDAD (Sputnik) - Iraq's National Security Council on Wednesday decided to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure the country's security after the US-Saudi strikes carried out earlier in the day. "The Ministerial Council for National Security decided to adopt a comprehensive security plan to stre»»»
Brazil opens zero-tariff trade with Singapore through Mercosur - UPI.com
Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Trade Marcio Elias Rosa (L), Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira (C) and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin arrive for a press conference at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 16. Vieira said the new 25% U.S. tariff on »»»
Amir sends condolences to Emperor of Japan
Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of condolences to HM Emperor Naruhito of Japan over the victims of the earthquake that struck Kumamoto City in southern Japan, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.»»»
QCB maintains current interest rates
Dohd, Qatar: The Qatar Central Bank announced that it has conducted an assessment of the current monetary policy of the State of Qatar and has decided to maintain the current interest rates for the QCB Deposit Rate, QCB Lending Rate, and QCB Repo Rate. The current interest rates are as follows: The»»»
US Energy Secretary Says Ukraine Conflict Did Not Reduce Russian Oil Exports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Wednesday acknowledged that the conflict in Ukraine has not resulted in a reduction in Russian oil exports. "That [conflict in Ukraine] did not interrupt the flow of oil. It was just the fear of the interruption of the flow of oil. The Bide»»»
Netanyahu Proposed Hiking US Military Aid to $16Bln Under Renegotiated MoU - Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested to President Donald Trump a renegotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security assistance for Israel where Washington would hike the contribution to $16 billion, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing officials. Accordi»»»
USDA announces recall of bacon imported from Canada - UPI.com
Some packages of bacon imported from Canada have been recalled by the USDA. Photo courtesy of the USDA FSIS July 29 (UPI) -- Some packages of bacon imported from Canada were recalled after they missed an import inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced. Maple Leaf Foods, of Lisle, Il»»»
UAE keeps key interest rate unchanged in July, mirroring US Fed move
Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.This CBUAE decision was taken following the U»»»
Syrian authorities seize 186,000 captagon pills in Afrin
LONDON: Syrian authorities on Wednesday arrested two drug traffickers and seized 186,000 captagon pills during an operation in the Afrin area of Aleppo province in the north of the country. The Drug Enforcement Department said that authorities seized the pills from 186 bags with a combined weight o»»»
Five Kenyan security officers killed in suspected Al-Shabab attack near Somalia border
NAIROBI: Five Kenyan security officers were killed in a clash with suspected Al-Shabab militants in the county of Mandera near the Somali border, police said. The militant group has been battling for years to overthrow Somalia’s central government and establish its rule in the Horn of Afric»»»
BCT keeps key interest rate unchanged at 7% [Update 1]
TUNIS, July 29 (TAP) – The Executive Board of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) decided at its meeting on Wednesday to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 7%.The Board reviewed recent economic, monetary and financial developments at both the...»»»
Baladna reports H1 2026 results with surges in all financial and operational indicators
Doha, Qatar, 29th July 2026: Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and juice company, today announced its financial results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026. The Company delivered continued growth in revenue and profitability, supported by the strong performance of its core business, r»»»
Labor risks rise
The Bureau of Information and Economic Cycles (BIEC) has raised concerns over Poland's labor market after its July Labor Market Index (WRP) increased to 77.7 points, signaling a greater risk of rising unemployment in the months ahead. Although the registered unemployment rate fell to 5.8% in June, »»»
Healthcare funding gap
Poland's chronic underinvestment in healthcare may be contributing to more than 10,000 avoidable deaths each year, according to experts cited in a new report highlighting the economic and human cost of insufficient health spending. The analysis argues that limited funding has led to longer waiting »»»
Żabka shares slide
Shares in Żabka came under pressure after Japan's Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, abandoned plans to acquire a significant stake in Poland's largest convenience store operator. The companies were unable to agree on terms that Seven & i said would be in the best interests of its »»»
UAE keeps key interest rate unchanged in July, mirroring US Fed move
Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.This CBUAE decision was taken following the U»»»
Bulgaria Seeks MiG-29 Spare Parts as Defence Minister Says F-16s Are Not Yet Combat-Ready, Opposition Criticizes Decision
Bulgaria is seeking spare parts for its MiG-29 fighter aircraft and exploring options to acquire used F-16 or JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov said on Wednesday, drawing criticism from parliamentary groups. The Defence Ministry said that it had sent inquiries to Poland, »»»
Qatar strongly condemns Iranian attacks on Jordan
DOHA: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian attacks on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a brazen breach of international law and the United Nations Charter. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Forei»»»
Education ministry launches national programme to empower scholarship students
DOHA: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has launched the 'Zad Al-Mubta'ath' National Program for the Preparation and Education of Scholarship Students.It is the first comprehensive national programme aimed at preparing scholarship students set for travel, providing them with su»»»
US Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged for fifth straight meeting
Dubai: The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, though the decision revealed divisions among policymakers as inflation remained elevated in the world's largest economy. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Most investors expec»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Two participants celebrate Dh100,000 each – see if luck is on your side
Dubai: A number of participants took home cash prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw conducted on Wednesday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260729, the winning numbers in the Days section were 4, 10, 13, 31, 18, 11, while the winning number in the Months section was 7. Three participants have also»»»
Three Operations Launch Robotic Surgery at Medica University Hospital in Ruse
Three successful da Vinci procedures launched robotic surgery at Medica University Hospital in Ruse, the hospital said on Wednesday. The first procedures using the da Vinci system were performed on July 27 and 28 by Dr Tsanko Yotsov and Dr Paolina Kamenova, under the mentorship of former European S»»»
Things to do this weekend in Qatar (July 30 – August 1, 2026)
Doha, Qatar: The weekend in Qatar offers a variety of fantastic ways to stay entertained while keeping cool. Here are the top events you shouldn't miss happening around Doha this weekend. Qatar Toy Festival Until August 4, 2026 From 2 PM to 10 PM (weekdays) | 2 PM to 11 PM (Thursday to Saturday) Do»»»
Qatar condemns Iranian attacks against the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian attacks against the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, considering them a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The Mini»»»
Saudi foreign minister urges accountability over settler violence in West Bank
ROME: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called for action on Wednesday to hold Israeli settlers accountable for violence against Palestinians, warning that continued attacks and illegal settlement expansions were threatening the prospects of a two-state solution. Speaking at a high-le»»»
Air France-KLM and Lufthansa bid for Portugal's TAP airline
Paris: Both Air France-KLM and Lufthansa said Wednesday they had submitted bids to acquire a controlling stake in TAP Air Portugal that is being re-privatised. The Portuguese government announced last September that it was seeking a major international airline to buy most of the 49.9 percent stake »»»
Israel bombs mosque in Gaza, says it was a weapons depot - UPI.com
Palestinians inspect a destroyed mosque following an Israeli air strike in Gaza, Tuesday. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said at least four people were killed in Israeli attacks across the territory on Tuesday. Photo by Mohammed Saber/EPA July 29 (UPI) -- The Israeli military on Wednesday accus»»»
Hungarian parliamentary committee backs lifting Tisza MP's immunity over drink-driving case
Hungary’s parliamentary Immunity Committee has recommended lifting the parliamentary immunity of Tisza Party MP Lőrinc Varga in connection with a drink-driving offence committed in 2024, before he became a member of parliament. Committee chair Edit Sasi-Nagy, also a Tisza Party MP, told the Hungari»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Winning numbers revealed – see if luck is on your side
Dubai: A number of participants took home cash prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw conducted on Wednesday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260729, the winning numbers in the Days section were 4, 10, 13, 31, 18, 11, while the winning number in the Months section was 7. Three participants have also»»»
CMF reassures investors as Tunis Stock Exchange trading resumes normally
Tunis, July 29, 2026 (TAP) - Tunisia's Financial Market Council (CMF) held a meeting on Wednesday to review developments in the financial market following the decline recorded by the Tunis Stock Exchange's benchmark index during July 28 trading...»»»
BCT keeps key interest rate unchanged at 7%
TUNIS, July 29 (TAP) – The Executive Board of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) decided at its meeting on Wednesday to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 7%.»»»
Autumn 2026 expected to be hotter than normal (INM)
Tunis, July 29 (TAP) - The Tunisian National Institute of Meteorology (INM) expects the August–September–October 2026 season to bring above-average temperatures and slightly above-normal rainfall, based on the latest seasonal climate models issued...»»»
'Rethink the forest' amid unprecedented wildfires: Return to 'ancestral ways of managing the land'?
Stuart Norval welcomes Jean-Luc Gleyze, President of the Departmental Council of the Gironde, and Stéphane Delpeyrat-Vincent, former firefighter and founder of WARUCENE, a research firm specialising in wildfire prevention. The Gironde wildfires expose the growing challenges of land management in a »»»
Report: Orbán government sent EUR 705,000 overseas in 10 months, funding New York office, cemetery restoration
The Orbán government’s Bethlen Gábor Fund (BGA) distributed HUF 255.9 million (approximately EUR 705,000) in discretionary grants to Hungarian diaspora organisations outside Europe between July 2025 and the end of April 2026, according to documents obtained through a freedom of information request.»»»
Egypt denies drone attack after fire at Damietta Port
Dubai: A fire broke out aboard two vessels at Egypt's Damietta Port on Wednesday, but the country's Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources denied reports that the incident was caused by a drone attack, saying no injuries or fatalities had been recorded. The ministry said the fire was brought u»»»
China hails CXMT debut as challenge to global memory chip leaders - UPI.com
Record Shanghai listing fuels semiconductor ambitions, though company still trails South Korean and U.S. rivals technologically A large screen shows the latest stock exchange and economy data in Shanghai, China, 15 June 2026. Photo by ALEX PLAVEVSKI / EPA July 28 (Asia Today) -- China's successful »»»
Continue the Change's Ribarski: We Shouldn't Be Focusing on Restoring Old Defence Equipment
"We should not focus on restoring old defense equipment," MP Radoslav Ribarski of Continue the Change party told journalists in Parliament on Wednesday. He was commenting on the Ministry of Defence's request for a possible purchase of MiG-29 aircraft for spare parts. "We are for real modernization »»»
Tunisia-Afreximbank: ARP considers bill on raising additional financing to support State budget
Tunis, July 29, 2026 (TAP) - The Assembly of the People's Representatives (ARP) on Wednesday afternoon started consideration of bill No. 52 on the approval of the second amendment to the loan agreement between the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT),...»»»
Fire incidents fall amid stronger safety compliance: Civil Defense officials to QNA
Doha: Qatar's General Directorate of Civil Defense has intensified fire prevention efforts during the summer season, focusing on public awareness campaigns and compliance with safety requirements to reduce risks to lives and property. Despite increased awareness, officials said some unsafe practice»»»
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs holds phone conversation with German Foreign Minister
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany HE Johann Wadephul held a phone call, where they discussed cooperation relations between Qatar and Germany and explor»»»
EU needs 'Team Enlargement' coalition to drive next expansion push, think-tank says
The European Union needs a coalition of key member states to overcome political divisions and prepare the bloc for its next enlargement wave, including the possible accession of Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkan countries, a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) said. The rep»»»
Ivan Aivazovsky and the cultural front of the Russia-Ukraine War
In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, few historical figures are as awkwardly placed as artist Ivan Aivazovsky. Born in Feodosia, Crimea, on the Black Sea coast in 1817, the city of Aivazovsky’s birth now under Russian occupation but still internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. In »»»