In tonight's edition: The new South African Netflix drama "The Polygamist" is winning over global audiences; we speak to its lead screenwriter. But first: Cameroon's President Paul Biya has not been seen in public for more than 50 days, his longest absence from public view. Also, the impa»»»

The lengthy absence of Cameroon's long-serving President Paul Biya, who has been in Switzerland since early June, has reignited debate about government inaction, in a country where many crave change. Biya has made frequent trips to Geneva over the years and has faced waves of speculation and rumour»»»

Riyadh: More than 6,500 BMW vehicles have been recalled by the Ministry of Commerce due to a defect in the driver's seat wiring harness that may cause an electrical short circuit, increasing the risk of smoke emission or a vehicle fire. The recall affects 6,574 BMW 5 Series and 7 Series vehicles fr»»»

Nicolas Cage stars in "Fortitude," an unreleased film. A master copy was stolen from the Netflix office, and the production company is suing Netflix for $105 million. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- A production company is suing Netflix for $105 million for losing »»»

The war in Iran has been a boon for oil companies with ExxonMobil and Chevron reporting a combined $26.5 billion in second-quarter profits. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- The war in Iran has been a boon for oil companies with ExxonMobil and Chevron reporting a combin»»»

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the renewed Iranian hostile attack targeting the brotherly State of Kuwait with drones. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereign»»»

TUNIS, July 31 (TAP) – The Tunis Stock Exchange ended trading lower on Friday, with the benchmark index slipping 0.16% to 20,038.09 points.Market turnover reached TND 65.9 million, driven primarily by a TND 59.3 million block transaction in Attijari...»»»

The success of the measures will depend on reliable energy, timely tax refunds, access to imported inputs, better logistics, and expansion into higher-value products and new markets," an expert notes. The Economic Coordination Committee has approved a $918 million stimulus package to finally break »»»

Spain said on Friday it had largely reversed a surge of migrants into its North African enclave of Ceuta, with 25,000 of the people who crossed from Morocco by land and sea already returning voluntarily. Spain said on Friday that it had reversed a huge rush of migrants into a Spanish enclave in Nor»»»

Bulgaria spent the past ten days absorbing a stream of Iranian warnings, opposition demands for emergency security councils, and a foreign minister fielding a hostile phone call, all before a single American aircraft had even landed. The first US KC-135 refueling tanker touched down at Bezmer air b»»»

The first of up to eight U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft expected to be temporarily deployed in Bulgaria has landed at Bezmer Air Base, the Ministry of Defense confirmed. The ministry said the arrival is part of the previously approved deployment and stressed that Bulgaria's security services contin»»»

TUNIS, July 31 (TAP) – The Tunis Stock Exchange ended the week of July 27–31, 2026, in negative territory after a sharp wave of profit-taking during Tuesday's trading session significantly weighed on listed stocks.The Tunindex fell 3.9% to 20,036.09...»»»

Doha, Qatar: Nadhira Al Harthy, the first Omani woman to summit Mount Everest in 2019, was among two climbers who have been confirmed dead following an avalanche on Broad Peak in northern Pakistan on July 30, according to an Instagram post by the Alpine Club of Pakistan. Al Harthy's death was confi»»»

The Hungarian government has convened an emergency meeting of its defence task force to address growing concerns over the country’s water and energy systems as an intense heatwave continues to grip Hungary. Prime Minister Péter Magyar said key decisions would be taken on Friday evening following co»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian forces struck the Odessa Oil Refinery's production facilities with precision-guided weapons in the port of Odessa, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. The ministry said that the Russian forces continued to strike ports and sea vessels intended for the interes»»»

US President Donald Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Hamas has agreed to the deal. Here is the full text of the deal: A Roadmap for Completing the Implementation of President Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan in Gaza Principles: 1. All parties r»»»

Spain has deployed just 60 troops to its North African exclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants overwhelmed security forces and stormed across the border from Morocco, with up to 30,000 more people reportedly swarming the frontier. The Spanish Interior Ministry said the military contingent cons»»»

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle nearly 37,000 amphetamine pills into the Kingdom after discovering them hidden inside a specially designed compartment beneath a passenger bus, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. Inspectors at the Al-Haditha border crossing uncov»»»

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 14. The State Department said of the map that it takes "full responsibility for the confusion and misrepresentation it caused for attendees, including our African partners." File Photo by Bonn»»»

A US military aircraft has landed at Bezmer Air Base in Southeastern Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry told BTA on Friday. On July 22, the National Assembly approved the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers, together with their crews, up to 250 US service perso»»»

Dubai: Dubai has been ranked the world's second most intelligent city in a new global study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), placing ahead of New York City, Washington and Amsterdam in the consultancy's inaugural Intelligent Cities Index. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balanc»»»

Zurich: FIFA reiterated today its commitment to holding open and democratic consultations with all member associations on its proposal to establish an independent commercial entity to manage its commercial activities and organize its flagship tournaments, saying all member associations would have t»»»

Heightened maritime security, air travel disruptions and uncertainty over regional stability remain key concerns for Gulf countries as the military confrontation between the US and Iran continues. Although daily life in the UAE remains largely unaffected, the conflict is continuing to disrupt regio»»»

A funeral director was sentenced to 20 years in Hull, England, for not burying or cremating bodies. July 31 (UPI) -- A funeral director in Hull, England, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for failing to bury or cremate the bodies of his clients and stealing money raised for charities. Robert Bush»»»

GAZA CITY: Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a deal announced by US President Donald Trump to end the war with Israel, that includes it handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel did not immediately comment on the an»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut said on Friday the situation in the national energy system was under control, but urged the citizens to consume electricity rationally in view of a prolonged heat wave in the country. "Macut stated that our country currently has enough electricity, and the competen»»»

Could this be the deal that finally disarms Hamas? US president Donald Trump is confident that it is, announcing the complete disarmament of all armed groups in the Gaza strip. Hamas officials meanwhile told the AFP that they'd reached an agreement on weapons, as well as on the withdrawal of Israel»»»

Hamas said on July 31 it agreed to a deal to end the war with Israel that included provisions addressing its weapons and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. US President Donald Trump announced the plan, calling it a critical step towards a new Palestinian government in Gaz»»»

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has unveiled a rare 1829 copy of the first printed English translation of Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta’s travels. The 294-page work by British Orientalist Samuel Lee from an abridged manuscript at Cambridge University features extensive historica»»»

Over half of the people evacuated from France's southwest due to massive wildfires were allowed to return to their homes. French firefighters have been battling a massive wildfire west of Bordeaux, which forced the evacuation of 220,000 people. It destroyed more than 200 homes, burned through 42,00»»»

South Korean pop group BTS said Wednesday they will not enter the Grammys' contest next year in protest of the introduction of a new Asian pop category: Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The new category, introduced alongside four others, is slammed by critics for boxing regional artists into »»»

Democratic Bulgaria (DB) submitted a draft declaration seeking urgent measures to improve road safety and infrastructure, the party's press service said on Friday. DB wants the National Assembly to vote on the document when MPs return at the end of August. The declaration would commit the National »»»

BEIRUT/LONDON: A sanctions-hit tanker ​is leaking oil off the coast of Oman and the spill has spread in recent days, increasing concern about possible environmental damage to coastal areas, according to an analysis of satellite imagery and shipping specialists. The Caroline Bezengi took Russian oil»»»

Fantasy anime has become crowded with overpowered heroes and endless battles, which makes “The Frontier Lord Begins with Zero Subjects” feel like a refreshing change of pace. The series, which premiered on July 10, adapts Fuurou’s popular light novel and shifts the focus away from conquest toward r»»»

Spain's Pedro Sanchez criticised a sudden arrival of around 40,000 migrants from Morocco to the north African enclave Ceuta as "an attack, a violation" of Spain's national territory. The prime minister blamed the influx of immigrants on criminal networks manipulating a recent court ruling that imme»»»

In the span of 24 hours, Spanish authorities estimate that over 49,000 migrants crossed in Spain from Morocco, with at least 18 dying as they tried to reach the enclave of Ceuta. The migrants crossed the border by swimming across, sometimes spending hours in the water. The arrivals are way over hal»»»

About 30 kilometres to the west of Naples lies one of the Roman Empire's most prestigious coastal thermal resorts. It gradually sank below sea level over time due to subsidence caused by the volcanic nature of the region. Today, it continues to reveal new secrets. To better understand and preserve »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Washington must immediately stop threatening Cuba with the use of force, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday. "The US needs to immediately stop threatening the use of force against Cuba, and stop any form of unilateral sanctions and blockade against Cuba»»»

A July 24 Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital hit a drone factory belonging to Terminal Autonomy – a Delaware-HQ’ed maker of low-cost UAV and AI navigation systems. The attack deprived Ukraine’s military of a key long-range strike drone capability in the form of AQ-400 Scythe (32kg payload, 750»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A direct conflict is emerging between Ukrainian new Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi and assault regiments, Ukrainian online media outlet reported on Friday. Now, after the change of command, there are fears that assault units may soon be disbanded, the media outlet reported.»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The imposition of a land blockade on Iran is an option being considered by the United States and Israel, media reported on Friday. The possibility was flaunted during President Donald Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office this week,»»»

State-owned defence repairs group TEREM Holding has been asked to draw up a restructuring and optimization plan and submit it to Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov by August 10. During question time in the National Assembly on Friday, Stoyanov answered a question raised by MPs Nezhdet Shaban and Dzh»»»

Bulgaria has never officially been part of the Coalition of the Willing, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said in a written reply to an MP's question published on Parliament's website. Atanas Slavov of Democratic Bulgaria asked when and on what legally valid grounds a decision had been taken to w»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia registered 400,000 tourist visits In June 2026, which is a 1.7 pct increase y-o-y, the national statistical office RZS said on Friday. The visitors generated 1,142,000 overnight stays, or 2 pct more relative to the same month of last year. Serbian tourists accounted for 601,000 of»»»

RIYADH: Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund company, has launched its first flight to Kuala Lumpur, making the Malaysian capital the airline’s inaugural destination in Southeast Asia. Flight RX0783 departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh Thursda»»»

RIYADH: An increasing number of young Saudis are turning their passion for engines into successful careers and promising investment opportunities. Mohammed Abdullah’s passion for cars began during his childhood, which led him to pursue automotive mechanical engineering. With more than a decade of e»»»

Hungary’s population continued to decline during the first half of 2026, with births once again significantly outnumbered by deaths, according to the latest preliminary figures published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). While both the number of births and deaths fell compared with»»»

Dubai: Many UAE expatriates frequently travel to Oman for work, family visits, or holidays. With popular tourist destinations like Musandam and Salalah, Oman is a top choice for short getaways. If you are a UAE resident, you may be eligible for either a visa on arrival or a GCC resident eVisa - bot»»»

London: British singer Boy George pulled out of a West End production of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" after facing a backlash for releasing a pro-Israel song, "We Will Dance Again". The 65-year-old musician "will no longer be appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar at the London Palladium", his»»»

British oil giant BP announced plans Friday to sell off its North Sea business ending six decades of exploration and extraction on the U.K. Continental Shelf since the company first struck gas there in 1964. File photo by Neil Hall/EPA July 31 (UPI) -- British oil giant BP announced plans Friday to»»»