Bulgaria Better Prepared to Fight Wildfires in 2026, Says Interior Minister
Bulgaria is better prepared to fight wildfires in 2026 thanks to the coordination established among institutions, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said here on Monday. He was speaking at a ceremony for the handover of new equipment to the General Directorate Fire Safety and Civil Protection under»»»
Mercedes-Benz opens Europe’s largest plant in Hungary after EUR 1 billion expansion
Mercedes-Benz has officially inaugurated the expanded production facilities at its plant in Kecskemét, marking the completion of a roughly EUR 1 billion investment that has transformed the site into the company’s largest manufacturing facility in Europe and its second largest worldwide. New product»»»
Israel drags feet on Lebanon troop pullout ahead of legislative vote
Israel is still procrastinating and coming up with excuses to delay withdrawal from south Lebanon despite U.S. and Lebanese pressure in this regard, media reports said. The Israeli government wants to delay any withdrawals until after the Israeli parliamentary elections, scheduled for October, the »»»
Planes fight fire in Fontainebleau forest near Paris
Le Vaudoué, France: Firefighting aircraft battled for a second day Monday to contain a fire that could have been intentionally started in a forest south of Paris, with the blaze forcing evacuations as the region baked in a latest heatwave. The fire erupted Sunday in the sprawling Fontainebleau fore»»»
Over 1,500 People to Be Trained in Fire Prevention Under European Programme
Over 1,500 people are to be trained in fire safety under the project, and 130 have already undergone training, said Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova on Monday during a ceremony to provide new equipment under the Human Resources Development Programme 2021–2027, co-financed by th»»»
Sharjah to bring Malaysia’s BookXcess bookstores to Middle East, Africa
Sharjah has secured the exclusive rights to develop and operate Malaysia’s popular BookXcess bookstores across the Middle East and Africa, marking another major step in the emirate’s ambition to become a global centre for publishing, books and knowledge. The agreement was signed during a visit by a»»»
Saudi Arabia invests $171m to expand Jeddah Islamic Port capacity
RIYADH: Cargo-handling capacity at Jeddah Islamic Port is set to expand after Saudi Arabia announced a SR641 million ($171 million) investment to strengthen supply chains and support trade growth. The investment, announced by the Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, will be implemented in p»»»
Did Trump’s Iran deal hand Tehran control of Hormuz?
Dubai: Less than a month after President Donald Trump hailed his agreement with Iran as the breakthrough that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway has once again become the centre of military confrontation — raising questions over whether the deal may have unintentionally stren»»»
Zverev second in ATP rankings behind Sinner after Wimbledon
Paris, France: Alexander Zverev moved second in the latest ATP rankings released on Monday behind Jannik Sinner who defeated the German in the Wimbledon final. Sinner, 24, retained his crown on the London grass against Zverev -- who had won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open just weeks e»»»
British Airways vs Norwegian: How an Instagram profile picture became the internet's favourite airline feud
Dubai: Football fans had another rivalry to entertain them. Over the weekend, British Airways and Norwegian entered a fun social media spat. No boarding passes were harmed. But there was a clear winner. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.It started innocently enough. A ch»»»
Domestic Buying Broadens Market Gains as EGX30 Pauses After RallyDomestic Buying Broadens Market Gains as EGX30 Pauses After Rally
The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) delivered a mixed but broadly positive performance on Sunday, 12 July, as gains in small- and mid-cap shares outweighed a marginal decline in the benchmark index. While the EGX30 eased 0.11% to 52,256.18 points, the EGX70 and EGX100 outperformed the benchmark despite con»»»
Naguib Sawiris denies media reports of stadium and events area at Pyramids plateau
Businessman Naguib Sawiris Businessman Naguib Sawiris on Sunday denied media reports about the construction of a sports stadium and events area on the Giza Pyramids plateau. Sawiris said via his official X platform account that these statements were not made by him or any of his company’s represent»»»
Russia Warns Striking Bushehr Nuclear Plant Would Bring ‘Catastrophic’ Fallout for Gulf States - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Russia Warns Striking Bushehr Nuclear Plant Would Bring ‘Catastrophic’ Fallout for Gulf States 13-07-2026 12:12 PM Russia has issued a star»»»
US hits Iran, Iran retaliates on Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan
The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran into Monday morning over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing over the weekend. Iran retaliated by targeting countries across the Middle East. Missile alert sirens »»»
German hospital treats US Ebola patient infected in Congo
BERLIN: A United States citizen infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo was admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital early on Monday, officials said. The patient arrived at the hospital’s special isolation unit at around 3 a.m. local time (0100 GMT) after contracting t»»»
Iran to Open Hormuz Once US Stops Interfering in Strait Affairs – IRGC
TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the United States stops interfering in the affairs of the waterway, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday. "The only way for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened for vessel traffic is for the interventions of the »»»
Ukraine Faces 3-4-Year Delay to Build Patriots With Official License
Historical execution timelines from Japan and Germany indicate Ukraine would face a manufacturing lag of three to four years even if it secures an official license to produce Patriot missiles - an authorization still distant despite Trump's preliminary proposal, per a Sputnik analysis of public rec»»»
Abu Dhabi freelance licences jump 261% as new business formation rises
Abu Dhabi: Entrepreneurs and independent professionals are increasingly choosing Abu Dhabi to establish businesses, with freelance licences rising 261% during the first quarter of 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.New economic licences across the emirate increased »»»
Naguib Sawiris denies construction of stadium and events area at Pyramids plateau
Businessman Naguib Sawiris Businessman Naguib Sawiris on Sunday denied media reports about the construction of a sports stadium and events area on the Giza Pyramids plateau. Sawiris said via his official X platform account that these statements were not made by him or any of his company’s represent»»»
Seoul shares nose-dive 9 pct on tech losses amid Middle East tensions - UPI.com
This photo, taken Monday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks plunged by nine percent on tech stock losses amid Middle East tensions. Photo by Yonhap Seoul shares plunged 9 percent Monday as investors dumped technology stocks for profit-taking amid renewed tensions i»»»
Global winners of ICC Development Awards announced
DUBAI: The International Cricket Council has announced the winners of the ICC Development Awards 2025, celebrating the outstanding programs, initiatives and performances driving the game’s growth around the globe. This year’s winners were selected from the regional nominees announced in June, recog»»»
Tunisia’s trade deficit widens to $4bn in H1 as imports outpace export growth
RIYADH: Tunisia’s trade deficit swelled to 12.6 billion dinars ($4.2 billion) in the first half of 2026, up from 9.9 billion dinars a year earlier, as import growth outstripped a solid rise in exports, according to official trade data. Figures from the National Institute of Statistics showed export»»»
Bulgarian Pension Security Companies Generate EUR 584 Mln in Investment Income in H1 2026 - Industry Expert
Bulgarian pension security companies generated EUR 584 million in accumulated investment income in the first half of 2026, which was credited to the individual accounts of insured persons, Evelina Miltenova, head of the Bulgarian Association of Supplementary Pension Security Companies, said on Mond»»»
International Workplace Group opens four new hybrid work centres in Bucharest, Iași and Timișoara
International Workplace Group (IWG), which owns brands including Regus, Spaces, and HQ, has announced the opening of four new centres in three Romanian cities, as part of its efforts to meet growing demand from organisations seeking modern, accessible and adaptable workspace solutions. The new cent»»»
Hungary pushes Serbia ties, Italy cooperation and Western Balkans agenda after Rome talks
Hungary will deepen its cooperation with Serbia and Italy while taking a more active role in supporting the Western Balkans’ European future, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said after a series of high-level meetings in Rome. During her visit to the Italian capital, Orbán held talks with Serbian Forei»»»
'I repurposed my life': Meet UAE cancer survivor cycling 3,333km across Europe
Dubai: Nine days into the ride, Guido De Wilde is taking a rest today somewhere between Spain and France, the first pause in a journey that has already raised Dh2,285,000 (around $622,000) for charity. The 68-year-old stage 4 colon cancer survivor set off from Barcelona on July 1 with 14 other ride»»»
U.S. officials see growing opportunities for economic cooperation with Syria
Damascus, July 13 (SANA) U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jacob McGee said on Monday that Washington views Syria’s transition from economic isolation to greater openness as an opportunity to strengthen stability, support economic growth and expand bilateral economic cooperation. In a record»»»
Grave Robbing a ‘European Value’: Russian MFA Spox Slams Ukrainian Vandals’ Theft of WWII Tank
Unidentified perpetrators stole a Soviet T-70 tank from a mass grave in the village of Oskol, Kharkov region, the very site where the tank’s crew, who gave their lives liberating the area during World War II, were laid to rest. The brazen crime didn't end with the theft of the tank—at least 12 head»»»
Massive fire at Bangkok pub kills at least 27 people
At least 27 people were killed and 63 injured after a fire tore through a Bangkok bar late on Sunday, Thai officials said. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the blaze spread rapidly, with smoke believed to be the main cause of death. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause»»»
One United Properties marks five years since its IPO
One United Properties (BVB: ONE), Romania’s leading investor and developer of sustainable residential, office, and mixed-use real estate projects, marks five years since its listing on the Main Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Since its IPO in July 2021, the company has raised a total of RON»»»
Dubai SME opens Hi2 technology incubator programme for 20 Emirati entrepreneurs
Dubai: Dubai has opened applications for a new technology incubator that will help 20 Emirati entrepreneurs turn early-stage ideas into commercially viable businesses. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 16-week programme will begin in October 2026 and is open to UAE n»»»
US and Iran Swap Strikes for Second Straight Night
In a second night of strikes, the US military hit “dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions,” Central Command said on X. It struck Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats using fighter planes, naval vessels, one-way a»»»
Media Review: July 13
HEADLINES Energy policy, public finances and infrastructure dominate the Bulgarian media on Monday. Print outlets focus on proposed energy-efficiency requirements for new buildings, the government's plans concerning strategic water infrastructure, and the management of the country's beaches, while »»»
US hits Iran, Iran retaliates on Oman and Bahrain
The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran into Monday morning over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing over the weekend. Iran retaliated by targeting countries across the Middle East. Missile alert sirens »»»
Typhoon Bavi brings heavy rain, flood alerts to north China
Shenyang: Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, issued a red flood alert and raised its flood control emergency response to the highest level Monday morning, as the northward-moving Tropical Storm Bavi brought extreme downpours to the city. The municipal meteorological service f»»»
Oil prices jump and Asian shares slip as US and Iran carry out airstrikes
Oil prices jumped and Asian shares were mostly lower Monday after the U.S. carried out airstrikes and Iran retaliated. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, gained 3.6% to $78.76 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark crude added 3.5% to $73.97 per barrel. Prices for both types of crude o»»»
US and Iran vie for Strait of Hormuz, waterway key to global energy supplies
The United States and Iran each asserted Monday they controlled the Strait of Hormuz after a weekend of attacks stretching across the wider Middle East, further threatening any diplomacy to end the war. The attacks, sparked by Iran striking a container ship Sunday in the strait off the coast of Oma»»»
Syrian Petroleum chief touts investment opportunities at Syrian-American Forum
Damascus, July 13 (SANA) Syrian Petroleum Company CEO Youssef Qablawi said on Monday that Syria’s oil and gas sector offers significant investment opportunities and is ready to expand cooperation with international energy companies, as the country seeks to attract foreign investment and support rec»»»
Self-driving vehicles in Abu Dhabi get special 'Auto Drive' and 'Test' plates
Abu Dhabi has introduced the emirate's first dedicated licence plates for autonomous vehicles, marking another step in its drive to expand smart mobility and regulate the deployment of self-driving technology. The new licensing system was introduced by the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mob»»»
Economy minister tells Syrian-American Forum new chapter opening in U.S. economic ties
Damascus, July 13 (SANA) Syrian Economy and Industry Minister Nidal al-Shaar said on Monday that Syria was opening “a new chapter” in its economic relationship with the United States, following recent U.S. decisions that would help revive trade, investment and financial cooperation. Speaking at the»»»
Gulf Egypt unveils EGP 20B integrated hospitality destination in Sharm El Sheikh Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Gulf Egypt for Hotels and Tourism, a subsidiary of United Real Estate Company, has launched a landmark integrated lifestyle hospitality destination in Sharm El Sheikh, with planned investments exceeding EGP 20 billion, according to a press release. The project marks a new model of col»»»
Parking at Dubai Harbour just got easier: Pay through your Salik account
Dubai: Motorists using Dubai Harbour's newest multi-storey car park can now pay for parking automatically through their Salik accounts, removing the need for cash, cards, or parking machines. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Dubai's toll operator announced on Monday tha»»»
Naguib Sawiris denies plans for stadium and events area at Pyramids plateau
Businessman Naguib Sawiris Businessman Naguib Sawiris on Sunday denied media reports about the construction of a sports stadium and events area on the Giza Pyramids plateau. Sawiris said via his official X platform account that these statements were not made by him or any of his company’s represent»»»
World leaders salute Father Amir, architect of Qatar’s renaissance
Doha, Qatar: The passing of Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani prompted an outpouring of condolences and tributes from heads of state, royal families, and senior leaders across the world, who praised his enduring legacy and extended heartfelt sympathy to the leadership, people, and g»»»
Top UN official accuses Hamas of Gaza aid obstruction
JERUSALEM: A senior UN official on Monday accused Hamas of interfering with humanitarian deliveries in Gaza and intimidating aid workers, warning that the group’s actions were making relief operations increasingly dangerous. Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas continues to control parts of Gaza, ev»»»
Philippine peso weakens against UAE dirham as Dh1 reaches 16.78
Dubai: Filipinos sending money home from the UAE are getting the strongest exchange rate in a month after the peso weakened to 16.78 against the dirham on Monday morning. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.One dirham bought 16.78 pesos at 9.51 am, placing the rate close t»»»
Ukraine war fatigue laid bare by anti-conscription riot in Lviv
Tensions are approaching boiling point in Ukraine after citizens rioted in a protest against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s compulsory conscription programme in the western city of Lviv on July 9. An anti-mobilisation demonstration turned violent after a large crowd of people attacked re»»»
England, Argentina to renew bitter rivalry in semi-final
Los Angeles: England and Argentina will meet on Wednesday in a blockbuster World Cup semi-final infused with decades of bitter rivalry after they battled past Norway and Switzerland respectively in the quarter-finals. The South Americans and their talisman Lionel Messi must defeat England in Atlant»»»
On This Day, July 13: Live Aid concerts raise $125M for famine relief - UPI.com
On July 13, 1985, musicians and celebrities gathered at arenas in London and Philadelphia to hold a 16-hour Live Aid concert, raising more than $125 million in famine relief for Africa. 1 of 5 | Singer Bob Geldof, pictured in 2005 at the Live 8 Concert in Hyde Park in London, organized the benefit »»»
First Syrian-American Business Forum opens in Damascus to boost economic cooperation
Damascus, July 13 (SANA) The first Annual Syrian-American Business Forum opened in Damascus on Monday, bringing together government officials, business leaders and investors from Syria and the United States to explore opportunities to expand bilateral economic cooperation and attract investment. Th»»»