India launches first hydrogen-powered train in clean energy push
Jind, India: India launched its first hydrogen-powered train Friday, joining a small group of nations testing the technology as part of efforts to decarbonise rail transport and cut dependence on fossil fuels. The project is part of a broader push to modernise one of the world's largest rail networ»»»
Vucic receives farewell visit from Kazakh ambassador
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received a farewell visit from Kazakh Ambassador to Belgrade Madi Atamkulov on Friday and thanked him for his significant contribution to advancement of Serbia-Kazakhstan relations, as well as for his consistent and principled position of support for th»»»
N. Korea warns of 'chain of countermeasures' over U.S.-led RIMPAC exercise - UPI.com
USNS Washington Chambers conducts a replenishment-at-sea with Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex on Monday during RIMPAC 2026. North Korea on Friday denounced the exercise as a "war rehearsal." Photo by Nate Wheeler/U.S. Navy North Korea denounced Friday an ongoing U.S.-led multinational »»»
S. Korea's exports of K-pop albums hit record high of US$257.48 mln in H1 - UPI.com
K-pop exports reached a record high in the first half of 2026, South Korean government data showed Friday, In this March 21 photo, a billboard advertising the Netflix livestream of a BTS concert is seen in Seoul. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo South Korea's exports of K-pop albums»»»
Alleged Iranian spy arrested by British counter-terrorism police - UPI.com
A man accused of spying for Iran was due to appear before magistrates in London on Friday after being arrested in the West Midlands by counter-terrorism police. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- A 39-year-old man was due in court in London on Friday accused of breachin»»»
Cybersecurity Capabilities Project Is in Advanced Implementation - Innovation Minister
A project titled "Enhancing national capabilities for coordination and response to cybersecurity incidents" is being implemented within the agreed timeframe and has reached an advanced physical and financial progress, Bulgarian Innovation and Digital Transformation Minister Ivan Vasilev said here o»»»
President Iotova: There Are No Contradictions in Bulgaria's Position on Ukraine
There are no contradictions in Bulgaria's position on Ukraine, President Iliana Iotova told reporters on Friday, commenting on allegations of inconsistencies in the Bulgarian government's actions on the issue. Iotova stressed that documents such as the Kyiv Declaration are not subject to discussion»»»
UN reports 316 million people use drugs worldwide as synthetic substances fuel new global threat
Synthetic drugs have emerged as one of the fastest-growing threats to public health and security worldwide, with the United Nations warning that criminal networks are increasingly turning to laboratory-made substances that are easier to produce, harder to detect and often more dangerous than tradit»»»
Protest filed over China video of 'monkey' Philippines
Manila: Manila lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing on Friday over a "racist" video posted by Chinese state media portraying the Philippines as a cartoon monkey. The China Daily post was the latest offshoot of a long-running dispute over the Asian neighbours' overlapping South China Sea claims.»»»
How AI and satellites help fight wildfires
BusinessGlobal issuesHow AI and satellites help fight wildfiresInsa WredeWildfires are currently raging in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere. To successfully fight these fires, speed is essential. Early detection from space and AI-powered data analysis can help. https://p.dw.com/p/5H8eLMunich-based sta»»»
Philippines protests Chinese state media’s ‘racist’ video depicting Filipinos as monkeys
MANILA: The Philippines condemned as racist a video posted by the state-run China Daily depicting Filipinos as monkeys, saying on Friday it had lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over the “offensive, distressing and unacceptable” imagery. Manila has demanded the removal of the video, which it»»»
Truth Social to sell trading firms ‘fastest’ access to Trump’s posts
LONDON: Trump Media & Technology Group has unveiled a paid-for, licensed data feed that will give banks and trading firms “the fastest” access to posts from influential Truth Social accounts, such as President Donald Trump’s, whose posts often move global markets. The product, called “Truth API,” »»»
Kim Jong Un meets China's top political adviser Wang Huning - UPI.com
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) met with chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Huning (L) in Pyongyang, state-run media reported Friday. Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, July 17 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with a Chinese party and government delegation»»»
Israeli drone activity reported over Western Bekaa: Al-Manar correspondent - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli drone activity reported over Western Bekaa: Al-Manar correspondent 17-07-2026 13:09 PM Latest News Urgent News Trump Declassifies I»»»
Trump Declassifies Intelligence, Accuses China of ‘Largest Election Data Breach in History’ - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Trump Declassifies Intelligence, Accuses China of ‘Largest Election Data Breach in History’ 17-07-2026 13:08 PM US President Donald Trump a»»»
Irani attacks Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Qatar
Kuwait reported Friday an Iranian attack on a power and water plant on Friday, while Bahrain and Qatar also said they had intercepted missiles after the U.S. attacked power infrastructure in Iran. Kuwait said that a power and water plant had been damaged by an Iranian attack, as the war in the Midd»»»
Two ex-leaders warn of threat to future Palestinian state
Two former heads of government from the Elders group of international figures founded by Nelson Mandela on Friday warned of the potential disappearance of the Palestinian territories and called for an end to what they called Israeli "impunity". The call from former Ireland president Mary Robinson a»»»
China, Pakistan call on US, Iran to resume talks
China and Pakistan's foreign ministers called Friday for the United States and Iran to stop fighting and resume negotiations, according to a statement following a meeting in Shanghai. China's Wang Yi and Pakistan's Ishaq Dar jointly "expressed concern over the deterioration of the current situation»»»
Iran says 38 killed, more than 400 injured in US strikes since June 22
Iran's health ministry said Friday that at least 38 people had been killed and more than 400 injured in the country since fighting resumed with the United States. "The number of injured from US attacks has exceeded 400, and 38 compatriots have been martyred" since June 22, ministry spokesman Hossei»»»
Serbia accedes to Artemis space programme
WASHINGTON - Serbia has officially acceded to the Artemis space programme. Serbian FM Marko Djuric signed the Artemis Accords at the NASA headquarters in Washington on Thursday. The signing ceremony was also attended by NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson, US Assistant Secretary of State for Oc»»»
Constitutional Court Opens Case over Method of Allocating Election Commission Quotas
The Constitutional Court has opened a case to review the constitutionality of the method used to allocate quotas in the Central Election Commission (CEC), the court's press office said on Friday. The request was submitted by 49 members of the present National Assembly. The rapporteur in the case is»»»
Israel parliament dissolves as it gears up for elections
Israel's parliament dissolved early Friday after passing a marathon of bills in the last moments of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition. The Knesset, which was scheduled to break for its summer recess on Friday, will not reconvene before the elections scheduled on Oct. 27. The e»»»
Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar report Iranian attacks including on power, water plant
Kuwait reported Friday an Iranian attack on a power and water plant on Friday, while Bahrain and Qatar also said they had intercepted missiles after the U.S. attacked power infrastructure in Iran. Kuwait said that a power and water plant had been damaged by an Iranian attack, as the war in the Midd»»»
Spain PM Sanchez to attend World Cup final: govt
Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will attend the World Cup final to see his country take on reigning champions Argentina, his government said Friday. Sanchez, a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump -- who also plans to attend Sunday's final in New Jersey -- will then travel to Alge»»»
Russia Rejects Accusations of Interference in Electoral Processes in US
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia rejects the accusations of interference in the electoral processes in the United States, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. During his address to the nation on Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are allegedly thre»»»
Iran's threat extends beyond the Strait of Hormuz
BusinessIranIran's threat extends beyond the Strait of Hormuz Timothy RooksOil and gas producers in the Gulf are seeking alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz as traffic again comes under fire. But is Iran also turning its attention to the pipelines meant to bypass the waterway? https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»
Russian strikes on Odesa kill two, cause significant damage
KYIV: A Russian strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa hit a residential building and killed two people, the deputy mayor of the Ukrainian city said Friday. The official, Oleksandr Filatov, confirmed the fatalities and the missile strike at the scene. Other officials said eight people, includin»»»
CPI Romania bets on ESG and asset quality to sustain performance in competitive market
Fulga Dinu, country manager at CPI Romania, talked to BR about the company’s EUR 100 million financing for Sun Plaza, ongoing asset transformation, and investment priorities for 2026. She mentions resilience in prime retail and office markets, evolving consumer behaviour, and the growing importance»»»
WDP Romania forecasts infrastructure-led expansion as logistics demand holds firm
Gijs Klomp, head of business development at WDP Romania, talked to BR regarding the strong demand for logistics in its portfolio, the impact of new infrastructure nodes, and competitive regional rental dynamics through the remainder of 2026. Which sectors do you project will lead demand for WDP Rom»»»
UAE supports safe return of abandoned two-year-old girl to the Philippines
Dubai: A two-year-old Filipino girl who was abandoned as an infant has returned safely to the Philippines after spending most of her early childhood under the care of a Dubai shelter. The child has arrived on July 9 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Manila on a commerci»»»
Riding an e-scooter in Abu Dhabi? 9 safety rules you must know
Abu Dhabi authorities have shared nine safety guidelines for electric bicycle and scooter riders, urging users to follow responsible riding practices and comply with safety rules to protect themselves and other road users. The guidelines highlight the importance of wearing protective equipment, usi»»»
Kuwait says power, water plant hit by Iranian attack
Kuwait City, Kuwait: Kuwait said Friday that a power and water plant had been damaged by an Iranian attack, as the war in the Middle East escalated. "One of the power and water distillation plants was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression... resulting in a fire, damage, and the »»»
Ten-man Vojvodina lose to Ferencvaros away in UEFA Europa League qualifiers
BUDAPEST - Serbian football club Vojvodina Novi Sad have been knocked out of the UEFA Europa League qualifiers after losing 3-0 away to Hungary's Ferencvaros on Thursday evening in the second leg of the two teams' qualifying tie. Ferencvaros won the first leg 2-1. In the ninth minute of the second »»»
Assailants board chemical products tanker off Yemen in suspected pirate hijacking, sources say
LONDON: Armed assailants are believed to have boarded the chemical tanker Asana off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and are in control of the vessel, maritime security sources said. The small tanker, which had no confirmed flag, had listed the Somali port of B»»»
Kuwait says Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant, causing widespread damage
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said an attack on Friday damaged one of the country’s power generation and water distillation plants. The ministry said the strike caused a fire and affected several electricity generation units, prompting the activation of emergency meas»»»
Media Review: July 17
POLITICS In an op-ed entitled "What is Bulgaria's place, Mr Radev?" and published by Capital, Alexander Detev comments on Prime Minister Rumen Radev's statement that Bulgaria will not join the Coalition of the Willing supporting Ukraine. Radev argued that lasting peace should be achieved through di»»»
Trump revives election fraud claims ahead of US midterms
Washington, United States: US President Donald Trump on Thursday revived sweeping and unsupported claims of voter fraud and Chinese meddling -- firing a clear warning shot ahead of midterm elections that many expect him to dispute. In a primetime White House address, Trump portrayed the US electora»»»
Japan imperial rules tweaked, but still no woman emperor
Tokyo: Japan's parliament tweaked the imperial succession law on Friday but maintained the bar on women emperors -- despite surveys suggesting wide public support for the idea. The future of the imperial household -- mythically descended from the Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu -- depends currently on»»»
In speech to nation, Trump declassifies intelligence claiming Chinese interference in 2020 elections
US President Donald Trump declassified intelligence he said showed Chinese interference in US elections, reviving claims about election security despite intelligence findings that Beijing did not alter the 2020 vote he lost. The move reinforces Trump's push to make election integrity a central issu»»»
Election fraud claims and threats to media: what to know about Trump's address
US President Donald Trump on Thursday revived sweeping and unsupported claims of voter fraud and Chinese meddling, firing a clear warning shot ahead of midterm elections that many expect him to dispute. What should be remembered from this speech? FRANCE 24's Andrew Hilliar looks at what was said, b»»»
Middle East live: Kuwait says electrical and desalination plant damaged in Iranian attack
Kuwait said on Friday that an Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant had caused widespread damage to the station. The news came after Iran launched multiple air strikes on its Gulf neighbours in response to US air strikes overnight. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. (FRANC»»»
The mission after space: Prince Sultan’s journey into Saudi heritage
RIYADH: While most people know Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud as the first Arab and Muslim astronaut to travel into space, the years that followed were devoted to a different mission: reviving Saudi Arabia’s heritage and documenting the people whose lives helped shape the Kingdom’s history throug»»»
Figures revealed: Here's how much taxpayer money was spent on President Sulyok's trips abroad
The Hungarian state spent more than HUF 387 million on President Tamás Sulyok’s official foreign trips between March 2024, when he took office, and the end of 2025, according to figures released following a public information request. The data, obtained by HVG from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a»»»
Radev Explains Turkish Revolver Gift: “I Did Not Want to Violate Its Authenticity”
Prime Minister Rumen Radev addressed questions from MPs during Friday’s parliamentary control session, with the issue of a ceremonial revolver he received as a gift in Turkey being the only inquiry directed at him. The session began at 9:00 a.m., with Radev, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Pulev an»»»
Bulgaria's PM Warns of Nuclear Danger in Ukraine: “We May Witness a Tactical Nuclear Strike”
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev warned that the continued escalation of the war in Ukraine could lead to an even more dangerous phase of the conflict, including a possible tactical nuclear strike. Speaking to journalists after parliamentary oversight, he said that he does not see a clear winne»»»
Over 70 Leads, No Breakthrough in Search for Missing Bulgarian Girl NataliaOpinions
The search for 11-year-old Natalia Asenova and 40-year-old Asen Simeonov entered its 18th day, with police and volunteers continuing around-the-clock efforts to locate the pair after they disappeared from the Varna village of Konstantinovo. Despite dozens of reported sightings, authorities have yet»»»
UAE creator economy heads towards Dh1.8 billion as gaming, streaming and social commerce accelerate
Dubai: The creator economy, once shorthand for influencers and viral videos, has quietly become one of the fastest-growing digital sectors in the Gulf. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.At its core, the creator economy refers to individuals who build audiences online and»»»
China slams Trump claims of US election meddling as ‘pure fabrications’
BEIJING: Beijing accused US President Donald Trump of making “fabrications” on Friday, after he said China had meddled in US election data, reviving his long-standing baseless claims of voter fraud ahead of midterm polls many expect him to dispute. Trump said in a White House address on Thursday th»»»
PM Confident of Lowering Budget Deficit
Prime Minister Rumen Radev Friday said he was confident that Bulgaria would achieve a lower budget deficit. Speaking to reporters in Parliament, he said that most importantly, the 2026 Budget reveals the full picture of the country's finances, provides a solid foundation and introduces rules for fi»»»
Three strategic islands in the crosshairs of US-Iran war
The expanding U.S. military campaign against Iran has put three small islands that sit at the confluence of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in the crosshairs once again. The islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb — which were seized in 1971 by Iran from what would become the Unit»»»