Damascus, July 27 (SANA) Syria’s Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh met with a delegation from the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the SIGMA Programme to discuss technical assistance for the country’s public financial management reform agend»»»

Another night has passed without further US air strikes on Iran after nearly two weeks of nightly bombardments. US media reports that Washington's concerns over dwindling stockpiles of Patriot interceptors and other air defence munitions could be behind the pause in fighting.  Iran passed anot»»»

Bordeaux: Fire crews in France and Spain battling unchecked wildfires that have forced more than 300,000 people to flee were overwhelmed on Sunday as the unpredictable blazes advanced. France's southwestern city of Bordeaux, at the heart of a region of vineyards, was under threat, with a major high»»»

Peach growers in Bulgaria’s Sliven region are considering abandoning their orchards as low purchase prices and rising production costs push many farmers to the edge of survival. In the country’s so-called “Valley of Peaches,” processing companies are currently buying peaches for compote production »»»

Bulgaria recorded the biggest annual increase in fuel prices among all European Union countries in June, according to data from Eurostat. Prices of fuels and lubricants for personal vehicles across the EU rose by 13.7% in June compared with the same month in 2025. The increase was registered in eve»»»

Dubai: Oman's Tax Authority has introduced amendments to the Executive Regulation of the Income Tax Law, setting new conditions for the deduction of certain corporate expenses and announcing mandatory use of the THEQA digital identity application to access its electronic portal from August 1, 2026.»»»

Dubai: Dubai Municipality has opened the Animal Welfare Shelter, a new integrated pet shelter at the Birds and Pets Market in the Warsan area, expanding the emirate's veterinary services while promoting animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and adoption. The project is designed to provide a saf»»»

The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani, has demanded that Saudi Arabia immediately lift its nearly 12-year-long blockade on Yemen, advising Riyadh to draw critical lessons from what he characterized as Washington’s “unwise and c»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZ) has announced the Qatar Diamond Exchange (QDE), a fully integrated platform for the trade of rough and polished diamonds and precious stones hosted within Ras Bufontas Free Zone. Bringing together trading, membership, vaulting, certification, and indust»»»

RIYADH: Bilateral trade between the UAE and Canada is set to receive a boost through lower tariffs and improved market access after the two countries concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The CEPA is set to enhance the already significant bilateral trade, which r»»»

As millions of travellers prepare for the peak summer holiday season, the July 2026 Henley Passport Index highlights how global mobility has transformed over the past two decades. The 20th anniversary edition shows that the average passport now offers visa-free access to 108 destinations worldwide,»»»

Egypt’s petroleum sector, in cooperation with British Petroleum company (BP), is preparing to bring the North Fayoum-4 gas well in the Mediterranean Sea online in the near term, with expected production estimated at around 80 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. The move comes as part of the »»»

The Hungarian forint strengthened on Friday against all three major foreign currencies, recovering from recent losses and ending the week on a firmer footing. While the domestic currency remains weaker than it was at the start of June, it has posted solid gains since the beginning of the year. Fori»»»

Syrian state media said Israeli forces carried out an incursion into the country's south on Sunday, a day after the visiting U.N. chief urged an end to Israeli violations and respect for Syria's sovereignty. State news agency SANA said that "Israeli occupation forces carried out an incursion early »»»

Iran passed another night without U.S. airstrikes on Sunday, as Washington paused a war nearing its fifth month and reports emerged that concerns over dwindling munitions were restraining plans for further escalation. The lull has revived hopes of a return to negotiations after nearly two weeks of »»»

Military pressures, diplomacy and political realities have combined to slow the US campaign against Iran, but none of the underlying drivers of the conflict have disappeared. By the end of last week, the rhythm of the conflict had become familiar. American aircraft struck Iranian targets night afte»»»

India has warned its nationals to carefully assess the risks of taking jobs on commercial vessels operating in the Black Sea after a wave of missile and drone attacks since April. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the security situation in the Black Sea and adjoining maritime areas remain»»»

Dubai: A resignation that ended weeks of protest. Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation as India's Union Education Minister on Saturday, submitting his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after weeks of pressure from the Cockroach Janta Party-led student movement. The reaction from Bollyw»»»

In a bTV interview on Sunday, National Assembly Deputy Chair Ivan Angelov of Progressive Bulgaria said that the adoption of the 2026 state budget brings an end to the crisis in public finance management and, in one way or another, weakens the opposition by depriving it of the opportunity to blame t»»»

Syrian state media said Israeli forces carried out an incursion into the country’s south on Sunday, a day after the visiting UN chief urged an end to Israeli violations and respect for Syria’s sovereignty. State news agency SANA said that “Israeli occupation forces carried out an incursion early Su»»»

BEIRUT: Compensation for victims of the latest war with Israel has stalled, with neither the Lebanese state nor Hezbollah putting forward a mechanism to begin payments. Damage surveys are continuing in several areas, but thousands of residents are still waiting for an official announcement on when »»»

Madrid: Spanish firefighters on Sunday battled a new front of fires near the coastal city of Valencia, where at least 15,000 people were evacuated. Spain has already evacuated tens of thousands of people from villages west of the capital Madrid where extremely dry conditions have been worsened by h»»»

The UAE is expanding medical and rehabilitation support for people injured in Gaza, as estimates show that more than 100,000 people are now living with disabilities caused by the war. Through Operation Gallant Knight 3, the UAE is providing treatment, prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and other medical»»»

India’s passport now offers visa-free, visa-on-arrival or simplified entry access to 55 destinations, but four countries changed their rules in 2026, making travel more complicated for Indian holidaymakers. With summer travel season underway, many Indians are planning international holidays, family»»»

The strongest pressure on prices in Bulgaria over the past two to two-and-a-half years has come from the services sector, Svilen Kolev, deputy head of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), told Nova TV on Sunday. He said prices for hotels, restaurants and accommodation had risen by between 20% »»»

Iran’s military actions during the 40-day war were aimed at responding to US and Israeli attacks rather than targeting regional states, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Iran newspaper. “I see the will to rebuild trust. We are neighbors and will remain neighbors. We must live togethe»»»

My previous columns looked at the Hungarian property market almost entirely through the buyer’s eyes – how foreign nationals can purchase, where to look, how the process works and what happens on inheritance. This piece is about the other side: the seller’s. The occasion is a natural one – those wh»»»

TEHRAN: Iran said on Sunday it had made progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway crucial for oil and gas trade that both countries border. The latest talks come after the United States resumed attacks on Iran in an effort to end Tehran’s control of t»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a major new bridge under the Oud Metha and Al Asayel Streets Development Project, bringing motorists closer to relief from one of the city’s busiest traffic bottlenecks. The latest opening is part of a wider road upgrade designed to unta»»»

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation of the U.S. military. 1 of 5 | Graduating midshipmen arrive for the graduation and commissioning ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. on May 26, 2017. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman ordered desegregation »»»

Doha, Qatar: Reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd are undergoing an intensive pre-season camp in Austria, where midfielder Claudinho says the squad has embraced new head coach Razvan Lucescu's ideas from the very start. “Training has been very good. We are working very hard and also unders»»»

Dubai: A new villain takes over Metropolis. Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has a new resident, and he's not one of the good guys. Kryptonite Collider, the park's newest thrill ride, officially opened to the public today, marking the first permanent new attraction the park has added since »»»

Doha, Qatar: QIIB has announced the winner of the QR1m grand prize in the June 2026 draw for its ‘Joud’ savings account. Abdullah Hamad Al-Mesaifri Retail Branches Manager at QIIB presented the QR1m cheque to the winner, Enas Jamal A S Nasser during a ceremony held at the Bank’s headquarters on Gra»»»

Tehran: Iran said on Sunday it had made progress in talks with Oman on management of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway crucial for oil and gas trade that both countries border. The latest talks come after the United States resumed attacks on Iran in an effort to end Tehran's control of t»»»

Doha, Qatar: In recent years, the US dollar has faced mounting pressure from structural headwinds, including an overvalued real exchange rate, persistent fiscal and trade deficits, and the gradual diversification of international reserves by central banks. These factors have led many analysts to qu»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Chamber (QC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Portuguese Industrial Association – Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AIP–CCI), aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two organizations, promoting business development, encouraging investment in Qatar a»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Doha Film Institute (DFI), in collaboration with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, successfully conducted an immersive five-day summer workshop on Visual Scoring and Sound Design, empowering young creatives to explore innovative approaches to audio-visual creation. Held recently a»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) has launched a month-long awareness campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of blood cancers and highlighting the importance of early detection, which plays a vital role in improving treatment outcomes and quality of life. The Society noted that recent »»»

Bulgaria's parliament approved the deployment of up to eight US KC-135 tanker aircraft and 250 service members at the Bezmer air base near Yambol on July 22, voting 135 to 13 with two abstentions. The planes, needed for refueling in Middle East operations (as Western media likes to call the f'n US-»»»

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Sunday celebrated the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a 37-day youth-led agitation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, calling it a victory for students. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - s»»»

Egypt’s North Coast is entering a new phase of development in which tourism, urban expansion, and private-sector innovation are increasingly tied together. Rather than being shaped by isolated projects or seasonal activity, the region is evolving into a more integrated investment landscape where Ne»»»

Arab Finance: As Egypt accelerates its industrialization agenda and intensifies efforts to expand non-oil exports, the ready-made garments (RMG) sector has emerged as one of the country's fastest-growing manufacturing industries and a key source of foreign currency earnings. Benefiting from strateg»»»

Dubai: Ask any adult to sit a competitive exam today, and most would struggle. Now imagine sitting it twice, months apart, with a war breaking out in between. That is what nearly 1,900 students across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi went through this year, after India’s National Eligibility cum Entran»»»

Doha, Qatar: The General Tax Authority (GTA) has addressed common misconceptions surrounding the application of the excise tax on sweetened drinks, emphasising that the levy is applied selectively based on sugar content and product type rather than across all sugary products. In an official social »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Center (QPC) has strongly condemned the decision by the Israeli occupation authorities to extend the ban on Al Jazeera’s operations, keep its Jerusalem office closed, and prohibit broadcasting companies from providing their services for an additional 90 days in occupied»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has made significant progress in reducing water and electricity consumption through the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency (Tarsheed), with the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) highlighting the role of public awareness, smart techn»»»

Arab Finance: Egypt's crude oil production has recorded its highest level in nearly two years, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi announced during his visit to refinery efficiency enhancement projects at Alexandria Petroleum Company. The milestone reflects the success of the m»»»

Dubai: Just over a year after moving to Dubai, Steve found himself moving unexpectedly up the property ladder, taking advantage of a cooling real estate market amid the Middle East war. His new apartment is larger and closer to work than his previous residence, but the rent is nonetheless 15 percen»»»

BERLIN: A van slammed into people gathered for Berlin’s famed Pride festival on Saturday night, killing one person, injuring at least 16 others and prompting police to call off the celebrations and a concert in the German capital hours after they had begun. Berlin police said they have identified a»»»