French parliament backs social media ban for under-15s in EU first
FRANCE 24's Clovis Casali reports from France's National Assembly, where lawmakers have approved a ban on social media for children and teenagers under-15, the first EU country to do so. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Philippe Coen, lawyer and founder of the NGO Respect Zone.»»»
Russia’s FSB Quashes Ukrainian ‘GPS’ Bomb Plot in St. Petersburg
A Ukrainian agent was tasked with planting a bomb—disguised as a GPS tracker—under the car of a defense-enterprise employee, according to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). The suspect was apprehended in the St. Petersburg subway."During questioning, the detainee explained that he carried out»»»
QNB Group wins multiple Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026
Doha, Qatar: QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, has been recognised with four major titles at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, reinforcing its continued leadership across digital banking, customer experience, sustainability, and inclusive growth. The »»»
Nakilat achieves QR857m net profit for first half
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) announced its consolidated financial results for the first half of the year ended 30 June 2026, with a net profit of QR857m compared to QR860m for the corresponding period in 2025. Eng. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, Nakilat’s Chief Executive Officer, commen»»»
What is Pickaxe Mountain, home to Iran’s underground nuclear site threatened by Trump
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly issued threats to bomb an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain as the two nations exchange blows over the Strait of Hormuz. The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or “Pickaxe Mountain,” lies on the south side of Iran’s Natanz»»»
Ant garnish on dessert? Michelin-star restaurant owner faces jail
Dubai: A Michelin-starred restaurant owner in South Korea is facing a possible one-year prison sentence after admitting to serving ants as a garnish on desserts, an ingredient that is not approved for human consumption under the country's food safety laws, according to a BBC report. Prosecutors hav»»»
UDC posts net profit of QR115m on revenues of QR885m in Q2
Doha, Qatar: United Development Company (UDC), a leading Qatari public shareholding company and the master developer of The Pearl and Gewan Islands, announced its financial results for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, reporting net profit of QR115m on revenues of QR885m. The net profit attributable»»»
Democratic Bulgaria Refuses to Back US Plane Deployment Without Military Intelligence Briefing
Democratic Bulgaria (DB) lawmaker Ivaylo Mirchev said his party chose to abstain during the parliamentary Defense Committee vote on the proposed deployment of up to eight US tanker aircraft at the Bezmer airbase because it believed lawmakers had not been given enough information to make an informed»»»
Bulgaria's Borissov Demands Emergency Security Council Meeting Over US Tanker Aircraft at Bezmer
GERB leader Boyko Borissov called on President Iliana Yotova to urgently convene the Consultative Council for National Security (CSNS) to discuss the proposed deployment of US tanker aircraft at the Bezmer airbase, accusing the governing Progressive Bulgaria party of sending contradictory messages »»»
India's domestic workers go online as instant services boom
New Delhi: Racing against a stopwatch, a group of women folds bedsheets as they train to join an Indian startup that offers instant home services, transforming a traditionally word-of-mouth sector and promising better pay. Households in India have long relied on an informal army of domestic workers»»»
UAE National Aircraft Registry surpasses 1,000 aircraft for first time
Dubai: The UAE National Aircraft Registry has surpassed 1,000 aircraft for the first time after aircraft number 1001 was added to the register, the General Civil Aviation Authority said. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.National carriers account for 554 aircraft, repres»»»
QFC and CCI France Qatar sign MoU
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) a leading onshore financial and business centre, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CCI France Qatar, the French Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, to promote bilateral trade, investment, and business connectivity between Qatar and France. The M»»»
Kuwait lodges formal protest with Iran over tanker attack; ministry says power station fires contained
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs today summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Totonchi to deliver a formal protest note over Iran's targeting of the Kuwaiti tanker Kaifan in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, which resulted in injuries to several crew members. The move came as power generati»»»
Danish fish fossil cliffs set to gain UNESCO status
Nykøbing Mors, Denmark : Two Danish coastal cliffs where palaeontologists have uncovered 55-million-year-old fossils of prehistoric wildlife are likely to gain World Heritage status as UNESCO’s committee meets in South Korea. They have for decades been known for what UNESCO terms “exceedingly well-»»»
Budget Committee Approves Bulgaria's 2026 Budget After 12-Hour SessionOpinions
Parliament's Budget and Finance Committee approved the 2026 State Budget Bill at second reading following an extraordinary session that stretched for more than 12 hours, completing its review of the legislation after debating dozens of proposed amendments. During the marathon meeting, lawmakers exa»»»
KOICA Alumni Association holds second knowledge sharing seminar on AI - | 24.KG
On July 21, 2026, the 2nd Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination Seminar on the theme «Utilizing AI for Digitalization in the Kyrgyzstan Government» was held at the Innovation Center. The seminar was organized by the KOICA Alumni Association in the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the KOICA Office »»»
Oil extends gains on fresh Mideast supply risks
SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended gains on Wednesday as fears of further supply disruptions intensified after US forces struck Iranian military targets for the 11th straight night, while oil tankers made U-turns in the Red Sea after warnings by Iran-backed Houthi militia. Brent crude futures rose $1,»»»
Flying today? Check the full list of UAE and regional cancellations
Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE to Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and several international destinations face a fresh round of cancellations, with airport listings showing disrupted services across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and major Gulf hubs. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balan»»»
Baqaei: Hosting Iran’s Enemies is a Sign of Ingratitude Toward Past, a Lack of Foresight
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that hosting Iran’s enemies and colluding with them to stoke conflict against Iranians is a sign of ingratitude for the past and a lack of foresight. In a post on his X account, sharing a photograph of Iranian specialists who had traveled to Kuwait »»»
On This Day, July 22: Longest total solar eclipse of 21st century - UPI.com
On July 22, 2009, millions of people across Asia sought vantage points to view a rare 6 1/2-minute total solar eclipse, longest of the 21st century. 1 of 3 | A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle aircraft from the 44th Fighter Squadron out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, releases a flare over Okinawa, Japan, Jul»»»
GERB Chair Calls on President to Convene National Security Council to Discuss Allowing US Military Aircraft in Bulgaria
Addressing GERB-UDF MPs in a video that was livestreamed on his Facebook webpage on Wednesday, GERB Chair Boyko Borissov called on President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council on National Security in order to have a discussion on the Council of Ministers' proposal to have US aerial r»»»
Iran says it hit radar sites in Kuwait as US strikes continue
DUBAI: Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said on Wednesday it had struck several radar systems in Kuwait as part of its latest retaliatory operation against the United States. Iranian state media also reported fresh US strikes in several provinces early Wednesday. The IRGC said it targeted an early»»»
Hungary submits landmark bill to open Communist-era secret service files
The Hungarian government has submitted a new bill to Parliament that would pave the way for the most comprehensive disclosure yet of Communist-era state security files, fulfilling what it describes as a promise left unfulfilled since the country’s democratic transition more than three decades ago. »»»
UAE passport’s historic 20-year journey: From 35 to 188 visa-free destinations
The UAE passport has climbed to second place among the world's most powerful travel documents, marking the biggest rise in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index. The July 2026 index, based on exclusive IATA Timatic data, shows Emirati passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arriv»»»
Hormuz vessel crossings fall further as security concerns linger
SINGAPORE: Vessel crossings via the Strait of Hormuz dropped further on Tuesday, shipping data showed, as security concerns lingered amid ongoing attacks by the United States and Iran. A total of three commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from four the previous day, Kpler data sho»»»
Iranian Army: We targeted US military housing buildings and equipment storage facilities at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base early today - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iranian Army: We targeted US military housing buildings and equipment storage facilities at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base early today 22-07-2026 »»»
In Bulgarian mountains, local doctor still on call at 90
Skrat, Bulgaria: Doctor Kiril Apostolov shows no sign of being short of breath as he climbs a steep street in the mountain village of Skrat in southwestern Bulgaria, medical briefcase in hand, despite his advanced age. Apostolov turned 90 in May but still scales the same hill almost every day to vi»»»
US estimates cost of war in Iran at $37.5 billion as it renews strikes on Tehran
The United States renewed its strikes on Iran, where an air raid alert was triggered Wednesday in Tehran, after US President Donald Trump warned he was “not finished” with the war, the cost of which is skyrocketing for Washington. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth estimated on Tuesday that the w»»»
Investment project for glass production implemented in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
On July 22, Chairman of the National Investment Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan Ravshanbek Sabirov visited the construction site of Glass Center joint venture of KU LLC in the village of Novopokrovka. The working visit was held as part of monitoring investment projects aimed at strengtheni»»»
Parking spaces for people with disabilities to be created in Bishkek - | 24.KG
Additional spaces for people with disabilities will be created in municipal parking lots of Bishkek. This instruction was given by Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev, the City Hall reported. District administrations, together with the municipal enterprise City Road Transport Infrastructure, will check all m»»»
50% tariffs Trump is imposing on Canada: What to know
Washington: President Donald Trump has reached back to the Great Depression for an obscure trade weapon he can use to wallop Canada again. Trump on Monday announced 50% tariffs on some Canadian products, ratcheting up tensions with one of the closest U.S. allies. The move threatens to push prices h»»»
Andy Biggs claims victory in Arizona GOP gubernatorial primary - UPI.com
Rep. Arizona Andy Biggs was poised Tuesday night to win the Republican nomination for Arizona governor. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- Rep. Andy Biggs, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump who supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, claimed victor»»»
Bulgarian Households Among Least Indebted in the EU as Northern Europe Leads in DebtOpinions
Bulgarian households remain among the least indebted in the European Union, according to the latest Eurostat data. Household debt in Bulgaria represents 28% of the country’s gross domestic product, placing it among the lowest levels in the bloc. Only seven EU countries report a lower household debt»»»
Angela Merkel will launch the book “Freedom. 1954-1921 Memories” in Bucharest, in September
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel will launch her book “Freedom. 1954-1921 Memories” in Bucharest, on September 1st. According to a Tuesday press release by Litera Printing House, the event will take place at the Romanian Athenaeum, at 7.00 p.m. under the form of a public dalgue between Merkel»»»
Cadastre blockage comes at a time of recovery of the residential market
The cyber-attack that took out of operation the systems of Romania's National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Advertising (ANCPI) occurred amidst a sustained recovery of the residential market, and the effects are spreading throughout the economy, real estate consultants believe."After a diffic»»»
BraveX Aero and Romaero to roll out first airframe for unmanned platforms in September
The companies BraveX Aero and Romaero will produce in September this year the first aircraft structure for the BraveX-1, one of the company's unmanned platforms now in production, shows a press release sent on Tuesday.BraveX Aero is also expanding its own production capacity with a new hall that wi»»»
PM Bolojan: Black Sea gas extraction is turning Romania into the EU's largest gas producer
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Tuesday that offshore gas extraction in the Black Sea is turning Romania into the largest gas producer in the European Union, and thanked representatives of Romgaz and OMV Petrom for keeping to the project timetable."Yesterday, Romgaz and OMV Petrom compl»»»
EBRD grants 25 million euros for electrification of Constanta South Container Terminal
The UAE-owned multinational company DP World and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a loan agreement of up to 25 million euros to support the electrification of operations at the Constanta South Container Terminal, owned by the Emirati company.The EBRD financing»»»
AmCham firmly demanding timely completion of PNRR, continuation of reforms
The AmCham American Chamber of Commerce in Romania firmly demands that the timely completion of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the continuation of reforms, the correction of twin deficits, and strategic economic development take precedence in the responsible exercise of any polit»»»
Court Upholds Suspension of PNL Congress Convocation Order
The Bucharest Court of Appeal heard on Tuesday the appeal filed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) against a Bucharest Tribunal ruling that suspended the party’s decision to convene the Extraordinary Congress at which Ilie Bolojan’s new leadership team was elected. The Court of Appeal rejected the»»»
PNL ready for extraordinary parliamentary session
Liberal Mircea Abrudean, the Senate President, announced on Tuesday that PNL was ready for an extraodinary parliamentary session organized next week for the adoption of the remaining legislation of PNRR, pointing out it was an important stake for Romania, and party responsibilities should be up to »»»
AUR will not be able to make any political understanding with PSD as long as Grindeanu is president
Petrisor Peiu, the leader of AUR (opposition) senators, told Sorin Grindeanu, the president of PSD, that AUR would not make any political agreements with PSD as long as the latter was head of the party. “If political ridicule had a name, it would be Sorin Grindeanu. After getting his party out of g»»»
Deputies Chamber decided to convene the Standing Bureau on Wednesday
Speaker of the Deputies Chamber Sorin Grindeanu said that he has decided to convene the Standing Bureau on Wednesday with an extraordinary session to follow after July 27."I have decided to convene a meeting of the Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies for tomorrow, during which I will request»»»
Senate: Permanent Bureau on Wednesday to summon extraordinary session over July 27-31
The Permanent Bureau of the Senate will meet on Wednesday, 11.00 a.m. to summon an extraordinary session over July 27-31. The Senate will send certifying institutions two draft laws needed to fulfill PNRR conditions. Then, the bills, together with reports of specialised commissions will be debated »»»
President Dan: State institutitions on alert to clarify circumstance of incident involving LPG tanker Gas Lisbon
State institutions will establish the circumstances surrounding the serious incident involving the LPG tanker Gas Lisbon, President Nicusor Dan said on Tuesday.In a Facebook post, the head of state said that during the night from Monday to Tuesday, the Liberia-flagged LPG tanker Gas Lisbon was stru»»»
No signs of plague detected among marmots in Chui region — Ministry - | 24.KG
Specialists have found no signs of plague among marmots in Chui region, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan reported. The inspection was conducted with the participation of representatives from the Veterinary Service, the National Academy of Sciences, »»»
Sidra Medicine advances precision nutrition research
Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, is advancing the future of maternal and child healthcare through groundbreaking research in precision nutrition. The studies demonstrate how a mother’s diet during pregnancy can influence not only pregnancy outcomes but also the long-term h»»»
Landmark Group announces winner of the ‘Shukran Millionaire – Shop & Win’ campaign in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, proudly announced the winner of its highly successful “Shukran Millionaire – Shop & Win” campaign in Qatar, reaffirming its commitment to rewarding customers and creating exceptional shopping experiences The gran»»»
Ministry of Awqaf concludes intensive Quranic course in Madinah; honours outstanding students
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance, has concluded its intensive Quranic course in Madinah, held from July 2 to 13, 2026, with the participation of 30 Qatari students from the Al Noor Quranic Educational Centre and A»»»
Day 8 of Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: NBI says it has 'persons of interest' in alleged threat against Marcos
Manila: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 8th day on Tuesday (July 21) with investigators revealing they have identified "persons of interest" in the probe into Duterte's alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., one of the key issues under Article IV of »»»