Six candidates in race to lead UN set for televised debate
United Nations, United States: The six candidates for United Nations secretary-general will debate Thursday in the symbolic General Assembly Hall, one week before the formal start of a selection process crucial to an organization in deep crisis. With the campaign lacking a clear favorite and strugg»»»
Superbrands Romania announces the research results of the 2026–2027 edition, “The Innovation Legacy”
Superbrands Romania announces the main results of the research conducted as part of its 12th edition, 2026–2027, “The Innovation Legacy,” which are relevant to the local branding landscape and the key developments across the Consumer and Business sectors. The concept of this edition brings to the f»»»
‘I will put 50-50 grams of powder in your bags’: Mumbai cop suspended for threatening to frame protesters
A viral video showing a Mumbai police driver allegedly threatening student protesters with fabricated narcotics cases has triggered an official inquiry, with the officer suspended pending investigation. Pawan Sangle, a driver attached to the Mumbai Police's Motor Transport (MT) department and curre»»»
2026 Asian Games: Qatar U-23 football team drawn in Group D
TOKYO: The draw for the 20th Asian Games football tournament, scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4, has placed the Qatar Under-23 national football team in Group D alongside South Korea and Saudi Arabia. The football competition features 15 national teams divided into fou»»»
Flying to Nigeria? Etihad's new partnership unlocks 20 more destinations on one ticket
Dubai: Etihad Airways has signed a new interline agreement with Nigeria's largest airline, Air Peace, allowing passengers to book onward travel to 20 destinations across Nigeria, West and Central Africa on a single ticket. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The partnershi»»»
Vucic: Czechia increasingly important economic partner to Serbia
BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Czech PM Andrej Babis in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday the friendship between Serbia and Czechia was on a high level and that it was reflected not only in bilateral political relations, but also in steadily improv»»»
Norway set to make formal complaint to FIFA over Balogun red card saga
London: Norway's football chief told The Times they are set to make a formal complaint to FIFA over the suspension of Folarin Balogun's World Cup ban because it has put "the whole game at risk". Lise Klaveness, the president of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), says she will seek the backing»»»
Colosseum Mall strengthens its international tenant mix with the opening of MR.DIY
Colosseum Mall announces the official opening of MR.DIY, one of the world’s leading home improvement and lifestyle retailers, marking an important new step in the shopping centre’s ongoing tenant mix refinement and retail diversification strategy. The opening of MR.DIY’s store is part of a consiste»»»
Systemic use of 'goons' in Kenya amplifies political repression
With one year to go before Kenya's 2027 presidential election, human rights organizations are sounding the alarm. They are denouncing the rise of “goons”—henchmen recruited by political leaders to infiltrate rallies, sow chaos, and intimidate opponents. This is a long-standing phenomenon that has w»»»
Eye on Africa - Ebola outbreak kills over 1,000 people in DR Congo
In tonight's edition, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC has crossed a devastating threshold, with more than 1,000 lives lost. Also, in Kenya, human rights groups warn that political “goons” are increasingly being used to disrupt rallies ahead of elections next year. And, in Senegal, four years after de»»»
Parliament Debates 2026 State Budget Bill with 5.7% Deficit at Second Reading
Parliament on Thursday began the second-reading debate on the 2026 State Budget Bill, which envisages a budget deficit of 5.7%. The debate is expected to continue on Friday. The Budget and Finance Committee approved the bill on second reading at an over 12-hour extraordinary meeting which ended in »»»
Need a US visa urgently? America is trialling a $750 fast-track option
Dubai: The United States has officially launched the new pilot programme allowing some tourist and business visa applicants to pay an additional $750 for an earlier visa interview, on top of the initial fee of $185. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Announced by the US D»»»
EU to Freeze Russian Oil Price Cap for 1 Year – von der Leyen
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The European Union is going to freeze the oil price cap adjustment mechanism, applied to Russian oil under the new package of sanctions, for one year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. Earlier in the day, EU ambassadors agreed on the 21st packa»»»
Russia Continues Dialogue With US on Ukraine Settlement Via Working Channels - Kremlin
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Russia continues dialogue with the United States on the Ukrainian settlement through working channels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "We are continuing our dialogue with the Americans through existing working channels," Peskov told reporters. Moscow expects t»»»
Sweden to ban 'forever chemicals' in clothing
Stockholm: Sweden said Thursday it plans to ban so-called "forever chemicals" in consumer products such as clothing and kitchenware as early as 2028, before expected European Union regulation comes into force. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS "have no place in clothing, cosmetics, cookwa»»»
Befit expands its Bucharest network with four new clubs following an investment of over €2.5 million
Befit, the fitness brand operating in the accessible segment of Romania’s fitness market, launched by Vectr Holdings, is expanding its Bucharest network with four new clubs: Befit Mpark Titan, Befit Pipera Plaza, Befit Șoseaua Giurgiului, and Befit Bd. Timișoara, following an investment of over €2.»»»
From risk to resilience: building climate-resilient value in AI-era data center infrastructure
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, launched today new findings showing climate risk is not yet fully priced into physical asset valuations, and that structured resilience investment reduces climate exposure by a third. The research, conducted by the Schneider Electric Research I»»»
Bulgaria: Trust in the Radev Government Falls for the Second Month
Trust in Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s government has continued to decline for a second consecutive month, according to a nationally representative survey by the Market Links polling agency conducted in partnership with bTV. The survey was carried out between July 11 and 19 among 1,002 adult Bulgari»»»
Orbán Viktor at the White House: What we know
The prospect of Orbán Viktor at the White House has returned to the Hungarian political agenda after an American newspaper reported that the former prime minister visited both the White House and the US State Department during a recent trip to the United States. However, it remains unclear whether »»»
New AI centre to monitor Abu Dhabi's 45,000sqkm waterways
Abu Dhabi has launched a new Waterway Monitoring and Control Centre, an AI-powered platform that will oversee more than 45,000 square kilometres of waterways to improve maritime safety, strengthen emergency response and manage public maritime services across the emirate. The centre was inaugurated »»»
Bulgarian Journalist Christo Grozev Criticizes UK Over Release of Russian Spy ConvictsOpinions
Investigative journalist Christo Grozev has criticized British authorities for failing to inform him in advance about the release and deportation to Bulgaria of two Bulgarians convicted of espionage for Russia, who were part of a network that also monitored him. Grozev said the lack of warning from»»»
New threat by Houthis could widen Iran war, put another trade chokepoint at risk
The Houthi rebels' threat to blockade Saudi Arabia has the potential to widen the Iran war and further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade. The Iran-backed rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yeme»»»
India's Gen Z protesters on whats driving them to join CJP movement
New Delhi: Student protests in India demanding education reforms grew on Thursday despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing a crackdown following a string of exam paper leaks. Five Gen Z protesters at the main protest site in the capital New Delhi spoke to AFP about what was driving them to join »»»
Iran claims US radars suffered a ‘dark night’ of strikes in Kuwait and Jordan
Iran’s latest round of missile and drone strikes disabled multiple US radar, communications, and air-defense systems in Kuwait, according to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC which claimed American bases across the region had suffered a “dark night.” In a series of statements carried»»»
Turkiye targeting $10bn in trade volume with Syria, official reveals
RIYADH: Turkiye aims to increase its trade volume with Syria to $10 billion as bilateral commerce surged more than 40 percent year on year to a record $3.75 billion in 2025, an official revealed. Speaking at a meeting titled Free Trade and Industrial Zones in Syria and the Investment Environment in»»»
Russian Forces Moving Civilian Population From Konstantinovka - Deputy Commander of Unit
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces are moving the civilian population from the city of Konstantinovka (Kostyantynivka), and any assistance is being provided to them, the deputy commander of the Yug (South) group of forces' unit said on Thursday. "At the moment, we are already at the stage»»»
Jana Nayagan box office Day 1: Vijay’s farewell film opens to packed houses, targets Rs800 million worldwide debut
Dubai: Thalapathy Vijay's swansong, Jana Nayagan, has hit cinemas with the kind of fanfare reserved for the biggest stars. Directed by H. Vinoth, the political action drama opened to packed theatres across Tamil Nadu and key overseas markets on Thursday, with fans celebrating the release with firew»»»
EU fines Google $1b over Google Search and Play Store competition
Brussels: The European Union on Thursday hit Google with a fine of 890 million euros ($1 billion) after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by using Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers towards its own services and apps, to the detriment o»»»
Proud of UAE forum brings together diplomats, business leaders
Dubai: Business leaders, diplomats and entrepreneurs gathered in Dubai to celebrate the UAE’s remarkable transformation into a global hub for investment, innovation and opportunity at a special “Proud of UAE” forum organised by the Diplomat Business Club. The event brought together investors, CEOs,»»»
Hiring in the UAE? Employers must now secure worker insurance before a work permit can be issued
Abu Dhabi: Private sector employers in the UAE must purchase an insurance policy for every employee before obtaining a work permit, under a labour protection scheme that guarantees workers' financial entitlements, including unpaid wages of up to Dh20,000 over a 30-month period if an employer fails »»»
Ukraine strikes more Wildberries warehouses
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk overnight, with the Nevinnomyssk facility left fully ablaze, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said on Telegram on July 22, adding that staff had been evacuated and some workers injured. The strikes are the latest in an »»»
Philippines to open new airport lounge at Clark to support overseas Filipino workers
Dubai: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) departing from Clark International Airport in Pampanga, Philippines will soon have a dedicated space where they can rest, grab a meal, and seek assistance before boarding their flights. The new OFW Lounge at Clark International Airport's Terminal 2 has been s»»»
Cash held by citizens of Kyrgyzstan grows to 286 billion soms - | 24.KG
The amount of cash held by the population in Kyrgyzstan continues to increase, while the activity of cash and settlement transactions at commercial banks is growing, the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan reported. Total money supply and non-banking sector As of July 1, 2026, the total amount of cash in c»»»
EU fines Google €890 million over competition rules
PoliticsEuropeEU fines Google €890 million over competition rulesSaim Dušan Inayatullah with AP, AFP, dpa, ReutersThe European Commission said it found that Google had preferenced its search engine and app store in ways that unfairly harmed competition. https://p.dw.com/p/5HcuoThe EU has again fine»»»
EXPO opening up opportunities for joint projects, Vucic says after meeting with Babis
BELGRADE - After meeting with Czech PM Andrej Babis in Belgrade on Thursday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed the confidence the upcoming EXPO 2027 in Belgrade would be an opportunity to showcase innovation, connect the Serbian and Czech economies and open up new opportunities for joint»»»
RSV 421 to Celebrate Bulgaria's National Day in 2027 with Diaspora in Buenos Aires
Bulgaria's research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421) is expected to celebrate Bulgaria's National Day, March 3, in Buenos Aires in 2027, together with the Bulgarian diaspora there, Rear Admiral Prof. Kalin Kalinov, Commandant of the Naval Academy in Varna, said here on Thursday. Kalinov als»»»
Should a Business Lease a Copier? Weighing the Real Costs
For most businesses, a reliable copier or multifunction printer is not a luxury but a daily necessity. Contracts, invoices, marketing materials, and everyday paperwork all depend on it. Yet when the time comes to acquire one, companies face a deceptively tricky decision: should they buy the machine»»»
Dentons advises Biofarm and its majority shareholders on acquisition by Polpharma through voluntary public takeover offer
Global law firm Dentons has advised Biofarm S.A., a leading Romanian pharmaceutical company listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, and its majority shareholders, Longshield Investment Group S.A. and Lion Capital S.A., on the acquisition of Biofarm by Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. through a»»»
Romanian holidaymakers favour local destinations and short stays – survey
Most Romanians choose to spend their holidays in the country, opt for stays of three to four days and prefer to organise their trips independently rather than use travel agencies. Domestic destinations were selected by almost three times as many respondents as foreign ones, according to a survey co»»»
Who is Rhiya Ahir? The model who blocked a Mumbai Police van carrying student protesters: ‘Release them now’
In one of the most defining photographs of the protests taking across India: A police van packed with detained student protesters. A 27-year-old woman standing directly in its path. Rhiya Ahir, a model, actor and entrepreneur, has become one of the most recognisable faces of the demonstrations afte»»»
Killer whales: Orcas blow fish to bits 'for fun', study finds
Sydney: A group of killer whales have been documented blowing a sunfish to bits in an unusual underwater escapade offering never-before-seen insights into orca behaviour, according to research released Thursday. Video released by the US-based NGO Beneath The Waves shows one orca holding the tail of»»»
PM Radev Confers with EU Innovation Commissioner Zaharieva, Outlines Bulgaria's Efforts to Secure Place in Europe's Reindustrialization
Bulgaria is working to secure its place in Europe's reindustrialisation and develop an innovative, high-value-added economy, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during a meeting with European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, the Government Information Service said»»»
Social media becomes key source of Islamic knowledge for Kyrgyz youth - | 24.KG
Social media is increasingly influencing how young Kyrgyz people learn about Islam, observe religious practices, and form their understanding of what it means to be a «good Muslim.» This is the conclusion reached by Baktygul Shabdan, a researcher at Goethe University Frankfurt. Her paper on female »»»
S. Korea unification minister says policy on N. Korea has shifted to peace-first approach - UPI.com
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young speaks to the press during a briefing marking his first year in office on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday the government has shifted away from a policy focused on the denuclearization of North Korea, instead pointin»»»
Forest Fires Set New Records Across Four Continents, Bulgaria Among Worst Hit in EU
Forest fires have set new records across four continents over the past two years, with the fire season starting earlier, affected areas expanding and economic and human losses increasing, the Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry said. Official data from the European Commission's EFF»»»
Philippines says China harassed vessels in disputed waters
Manila: The Philippines accused China's coast guard of firing water cannon and using a "dangerous manoeuvre" on Thursday to block vessels bringing aid to Filipino fishermen near a disputed South China Sea reef. The incident took place near Scarborough Shoal, hours before Manila hosted a regional se»»»
Modi vows punishment for exam leaks fuelling India protests
New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed on Thursday "stringent punishment" for those involved in exam leaks that has fuelled student anger, in his first direct comments tied to major protests challenging his government. The comments came after thousands of protesters, led by the social»»»
Fadlallah says Hezbollah ready to recognize achievements but warns state against 'confronting its people'
MP Hassan Fadlallah of Hezbollah noted Thursday that Israel “has not withdrawn from any meter it has occupied in south Lebanon,” despite the declared start of the pilot zones process. "What happened was the Lebanese Army strengthening its deployment in liberated villages and towns that the enemy fa»»»
UNESCO adds ancient Crimea ruins to heritage danger list
Kyiv, Ukraine: UNESCO added an ancient city in Crimea to its list of endangered heritage sites Thursday, saying the site was "under threat" from construction work and archaeological activities while under Russian occupation. The ruins of Chersonese, founded by Dorian Greeks in the fifth century BC,»»»
S. Korea's GDP expands 0.6 pct in Q2, with 3 pct annual growth on track: BOK - UPI.com
The South Korean economy grew 0.6 percent in the second quarter on robust exports, central bank data showed Thursday. In this photo, containers are stacked at a port in Busan on July 15. Photo by Yonhap The South Korean economy grew 0.6 percent in the second quarter from a quarter earlier on robust»»»