Saudi Arabia, France mark 100 years of ties with eye on the future
RIYADH: On the occasion of France’s National Day on July 14, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Patrick Maisonnave highlighted the strength and momentum of relations between Paris and Riyadh in an interview with Arab News en Francais, as the two countries prepare to celebrate the centenary of their »»»
Macut, German ambassador discuss advancement of bilateral ties, economic cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with German Ambassador to Belgrade Anke Konrad on Monday to discuss advancement of bilateral relations, economic cooperation and continued partnership between the two countries. Macut said Germany was one of Serbia's most significant external trade partners and»»»
Iran Rejects Trump's Bid to Police the Strait of Hormuz
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran will not allow Washington to interfere in the governance of the Strait of Hormuz, the Khatam Al-Anbiya central headquarters of the Iranian military command said on Monday. "We will not allow the United States to interfere in the governance of the Strait of Hormuz under any c»»»
Trump says US is ‘taking over’ Strait of Hormuz as Iran claims closure
US President Donald Trump has claimed that America is “taking over” the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, and will act as the “guardian angel” of the key waterway “and get paid for it.” Tehran has earlier declared the strait closed, blaming “hostile actions” by US forces. Speaking by phone to ‘Fox & Frie»»»
Tunindex closes Mondays session up 0.04%
Tunis, July 13 (TAP) - Tunindex closed Monday's session up 0.04% to 20,167.11 points with a traded volume of TND 11 million, said broker Tunisie Valeurs. CIL shares were the best performers after rising by 5.4% to TND 39, trading for TND 183,000...»»»
Kingdom records a sharp decline in dust storms
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has recorded a dramatic decline in dust and sandstorm activity this year, with officials attributing the improvement to environmental restoration efforts, expanded vegetation cover and favorable climatic conditions, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The National Center for Meteo»»»
EU parliament lets Meta and Google keep scanning users’ messages, in a win for ‘Chat Control’ backers. What it means – and why it matters
First published in Deník N. MEPs have voted on whether Big Tech companies such as Meta, Google and Microsoft should have the right to scan our unencrypted messages and emails for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Although a majority of lawmakers opposed it, a legislative trick used by the Europea»»»
Jeddah’s new mayor sets municipal services as top priority
JEDDAH: Ehsan Bafaqeeh, Jeddah’s new mayor, has pledged to prioritize the development of municipal services, expanded fieldwork and improvements to residents’ quality of life, he told Al-Eqtisadiah. Appointed by a royal decree issued on Sunday at the “excellent” grade rank, Bafaqeeh succeeds Saleh »»»
Global City Dammam expands for second season
DAMMAM: The Eastern Province municipality has reviewed plans for the second season of the Global City Dammam project, which will feature major expansions, world markets, and an interactive fountain, with more than 5.2 million visits expected. After recording more than 3 million visits in its first »»»
Qatar condemns continued attacks on Kuwaiti Consulate General in Basra
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar condemned the continued attacks targeting the headquarters of the Consulate General of the State of Kuwait in the city of Basra, in Iraq, along with the accompanying violation of the sanctity of consular missions. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that targeti»»»
Qatar strongly condemns repeated Iranian attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait
Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms the repeated Iranian attacks that targeted the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Kuwait. It added that it considers these attacks a blatant violation of the sovereignty of these sisterly states, and»»»
War, visa delays, heatwaves — and now a wildfire. Why Europe travel has become more complicated for UAE holidaymakers
Dubai: For UAE travellers planning a European summer holiday, 2026 has turned into one of the most challenging travel seasons in recent years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.First came flight disruptions linked to regional conflicts, followed by fewer flight options o»»»
Why Britain’s planned IRGC ban marks a major shift
Dubai: Britain has unveiled plans for one of its toughest measures yet against Iran, proposing legislation that would ban the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and make supporting the force a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Also Read: Who are Iran’s IRGC and why the »»»
Over 2,700 may have died due to England heatwaves: researchers
London: At least 2,700 people could have died in England and Wales as a result of heatwaves that struck in May and June, according to a study released Monday. Experts from Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used weather data, climate model»»»
Bahraini army accuses Iran of targeting civilians
Bahrain's military on Monday accused Iran of targeting civilians with its latest attacks on the kingdom, after Tehran said it had struck U.S. military facilities and infrastructure there. "Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through its heinous attacks with missiles and drones that targe»»»
Former Athens Olympic hall gutted by fire
Athens: Fire has severely damaged a badminton hall built for the Athens 2004 Olympics, causing the roof to cave in. The fire department said it sent nearly 40 firefighters and 13 vehicles to contain the fire, which started late Sunday, inside the hall, which had not been used for several years. It »»»
Trump says US 'taking over' the Strait of Hormuz
Washington, United States: President Donald Trump said Monday the United States was "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz as fighting over the strategic waterway threatened to derail efforts to permanently end the war in the Middle East. "We're taking over the Strait. They have nothing. They've got no»»»
Hungarian Parliament: President to be removed today, Fidesz group boycott, leader stepping down
Hungary’s National Assembly convened on Monday for a politically charged session dominated by debate over the government’s proposed constitutional amendment, while the opposition Fidesz and Christian Democratic People’s Party (KDNP) parliamentary groups stayed away from the proceedings. Fidesz and »»»
Egypt signs UN TIR guarantee agreement to facilitate cross-border trade Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: The Egyptian Customs Authority and the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce have signed a guarantee agreement under the UN International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), according to a statement. Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Tra»»»
Closing Bell: Saudi benchmark index ends lower at 10,801
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index, or TASI, closed 0.16 percent lower at 10,801.71 on Monday. The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index, or MT30, declined 0.26 percent to 1,437.61, while the Nomu parallel market index slipped 0.07 percent to 22,539.59. A total of 201.2 million shares were tr»»»
Israeli military ‘lying’ about detention, US congressman Ro Khanna says
LONDON: US Congressman Ro Khanna has accused the Israeli government and military of lying about his detention during a visit to the occupied West Bank. The California Democrat representative posted footage on social media of Israeli settlers and soldiers blocking the path of his convoy last week, T»»»
Philippines strengthens cooperation with Saudi Arabia to combat human trafficking
MANILA: The Philippines has strengthened cooperation with Saudi Arabia in addressing human trafficking, authorities say, following a joint program in Manila on knowledge sharing. The Philippines hosted this month a delegation from the Saudi National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking under a »»»
Dammam property sales surge 71% as Riyadh rents ease
Dubai: Dammam recorded the fastest residential property growth among Saudi Arabia’s main cities during the first quarter of 2026, with the value of home sales rising 71% in three months to SAR3.6 billion. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Around 2,900 homes were sold in »»»
Ansarullah: Saudi Crime of Targeting Sanaa Airport Represents Brutal Aggression against Yemeni people
The political bureau of Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement confirmed that “the criminal Saudi regime bombed Sanaa Airport in a dangerous escalation aimed at preventing our delegation from returning home, but this attempt failed.” Ansarullah explained that “the crime of targeting Sanaa Airport constitutes »»»
UK envoy: People’s Assembly marks key step in Syria’s political transition
Damascus, July 14 (SANA) UK Special Envoy to Syria Barrie Peach said Monday that the inaugural session of Syria’s People’s Assembly, held on Sunday, marked an important step in the country’s political transition, reaffirming the United Kingdom’s support for efforts to strengthen Syrian state instit»»»
Egypt trade deficit rises 20% to $4.8bn in April despite export rebound
RIYADH: Egypt’s trade deficit widened 20.2 percent year on year to $4.8 billion in April, compared with $4 billion in the same month a year earlier, as imports continued to outpace a strong recovery in exports, official data showed. According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statis»»»
Regional conflict drags MENA startup funding down 22%
RIYADH: Middle East and North Africa venture funding showed signs of deeper stress in the first half of 2026, with startup investment falling 22 percent year on year to $1.35 billion while deal count dropped 41 percent to 214 transactions, the lowest half-year total since at least 2022, according t»»»
Vucic, Tajani discuss current European and regional affairs, Serbia-Italy relations
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke by phone on Monday with Italian Deputy PM and FM Antonio Tajani about current European and regional affairs, Serbia-Italy relations and opportunities for advancing them further. "We exchanged views on Serbia's European integration process, continu»»»
Russia’s Port Blitz Aims to Cripple Ukraine’s Western Lifeline & Seal its Ground Defeat - Expert
Supplies are being funneled from Europe to Ukraine's ports via Romania, which is why Russia's latest barrage of precision strikes, including on Izmail, has been so relentless, retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin tells Sputnik. The strategic goal of this pummeling of Ukraine’s po»»»
Rompetrol Energy tested island-mode operation capability of the cogeneration plant
Rompetrol Energy, the operator of the cogeneration plant on the Petromidia platform, has successfully tested the plant’s capability to operate in island mode and to start up without power supply from the National Energy System (SEN), under the hypothetical scenario of a large‑scale blackout. This c»»»
Dammam leads Saudi residential property growth as Q1 sales surge 71%
RIYADH: Dammam led Saudi Arabia’s residential property market in the first quarter of 2026, with quarterly sales values surging 71 percent year on year to SR3.6 billion ($957 million), latest data showed. According to real estate advisory and property consultancy Cavendish Maxwell, around 2,900 hom»»»
Industry: Declared investments rise 18% late in April 2026
TUNIS, July 13 (TAP) – Declared investments in Tunisia’s industrial sector reached 754.6 million dinars (MD) by the end of April 2026, marking an 18% increase compared with the same period in the previous year, according to the latest Business...»»»
Dubai students meet their newest buzzing classmates
There's a new buzz around campus as the UAE's first native swarm of bees has found a home at Deira International School (DIS). DIS has become the first school in Dubai to join Terra Expo City Dubai's Hundred Hives initiative, bringing a working beehive onto campus and giving thousands of students a»»»
Shipping through Strait of Hormuz falls to five-week low amid U.S.-Iran tensions
London, July 13 (SANA) Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to its lowest level in five weeks on Sunday, with only six vessels transiting the strategic waterway, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler, as renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran heightened »»»
In a first, BJP councillor to take oath from inside Kerala jail
Kochi: In a first for Kerala, a BJP councillor will take the oath of office from inside a central jail on Tuesday after the Kerala High Court allowed the swearing-in ceremony to be conducted within the prison premises. R. Sugathan, elected from the Vazhottukonam ward of the Thiruvananthapuram Corpo»»»
Yemeni Transport Minister: Iranian plane lands in homeland carrying patients, stranded individuals and official delegation - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Yemeni Transport Minister: Iranian plane lands in homeland carrying patients, stranded individuals and official delegation 13-07-2026 15:25»»»
Bulgaria Has Highest Ratio of Hospital Beds per 100,000 People - Eurostat
Among the EU countries, Bulgaria reported the highest ratio of hospital beds per 100,000 people relative to its population size, with an average of 870 hospital beds, followed by Germany (759), Romania (731), Austria (655) and Czechia (639), according to data published by Eurostat on Monday. Conver»»»
Number of Foreign Students Doubles at Plovdiv University of Food Technologies
The number of foreign students at the University of Food Technologies in Plovdiv has doubled in 2026, rising from 100 to 200, the university told BTA on Monday. The figure is expected to increase further as admissions are still open. The university emphasized that international enrollment has been »»»
Aoun urges Netanyahu to 'change approach' if he really wants peace
President Joseph Aoun vowed Monday not to compromise on Lebanon's sovereign rights or the security of its southern border, ahead of crucial regional negotiations in Rome. Aoun insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories and a written commitment from Israel that it has no amb»»»
Oil prices surge on US-Iran attacks
LONDON — World oil prices surged Monday as a fresh flare-up between the United States and Iran rattled investors, while a selloff in chipmakers sent South Korea's stock market plunging.European equities were muted and the dollar was mixed against main rivals."While [oil] prices are still not at cri»»»
Egypt Attracts More Than $1.1bn in New Hospitality Investment for Sharm El Sheikh
International and regional investors have committed more than US$1.1 billion (approximately EGP55 billion) to new hospitality developments in Sharm El Sheikh, reinforcing Egypt’s strategy to expand tourism capacity and attract higher international visitor numbers as the sector continues to underpin»»»
DIFC Courts records highest H1 caseload as claims reach Dh10 billion
Dubai: Businesses are increasingly choosing the DIFC Courts to resolve commercial disputes, with nearly one in three cases filed during the first half of 2026 brought through agreements that expressly selected its jurisdiction. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.A record »»»
EU says donors offering $1 bn to help Gaza 'early recovery'
Brussels, Belgium: The EU said Monday that European donors had put some $1 billion on the table to help initial recovery efforts in war-torn Gaza. "We will present the initial package today of almost 900 million euros or one billion dollars," Dubravka Suica, EU commissioner for the Mediterranean, s»»»
Sharjah launches campaign to cut single-use waste
Sharjah: The Department of Municipal Affairs has launched a campaign to encourage residents to replace single-use products with environmentally friendly alternatives as part of the emirate's wider efforts to promote sustainable living. The 'Sharjah Deserves the Best' campaign will run until Decembe»»»
New Liverpool boss Iraola says club need more signings ahead of new season
New Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola said he was impatient to sign more new players as the Premier League side set out to improve on last season’s campaign. Liverpool, who finished fifth last season, have so far signed center-back Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais and winger Victor Munoz from Osasun»»»
The Arab World Cup journey may have ended, but the unity remains
RIYADH: The journey may have ended for all eight Arab nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the tournament will remain ingrained in the memories of Arab fans who supported each nation as one of their own. The JAX District Coca-Cola Fan Zone has been one of the prime spots to watch the World Cup i»»»
Iran tells Hezbollah, Berri that ending war, withdrawal are priorities in talks with US
Speaker Nabih Berri and Hezbollah’s leadership have received a “new message” from the Iranian leadership, which was sent on Sunday, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday. “Tehran informed the Qatari and Pakistani mediators that ending the war on Lebanon and completing the Israeli withdrawal are pr»»»
Djuric, OSCE secretary general discuss cooperation, situation in Kosovo-Metohija
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met on Monday in Belgrade with OSCE Secretary General Feridun Sinirlioglu to discuss further cooperation with the OSCE, the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as current regional and global issues. Djuric noted that Serbia maintained good cooperation and intens»»»
Macron says France has fulfilled 'commitment to rearm' in annual speech to military
French President Emmanuel Macron said France has fulfilled its "commitment to rearm" on Monday during his annual speech to the military services – his last as president – on the eve of the French July 14 national holiday. The increase in defence budgets since Macron took office in 2017 with a focus»»»
Dubai diamond trade reaches record $41.7 billion in 2025
Dubai: Dubai’s diamond trade reached an all-time high of $41.7 billion in 2025, surpassing a record that had stood since 2011 as both the value and physical volume of trade climbed to new peaks. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The emirate handled 359.5 million carats a»»»