Bulgaria has incurred a deficit of EUR 2,416.2 million (1.9% of projected GDP) under its Consolidated Fiscal Programme (CFP) as of June 30, 2026, the Finance Ministry reported on its website on Friday. The Ministry's data on the implementation of the state budget in the first half of 2026 match pre»»»

Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev responded to questions related to recent protests staged by students of the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) during Question Time on Friday. Valchev responded to questions by Continue the Change MPs Velislav Velichkov and Nikolay Denkov»»»

At the initiative of Yes, Bulgaria co-chair Bozhidar Bozhanov, a working meeting has been held in Parliament to discuss possible solutions for the operations and future of Information Services AD, with representatives of Bulgaria's IT sector taking part. Although Innovation and Digital Transformati»»»

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»»»

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 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 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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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»»»

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 »»»

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.»»»

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»»»

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»»»

CAIRO: A dispute over access regulations at a luxury residential and resort development on Egypt’s North Coast has ignited a wider debate on the balance between private investment and public rights. The controversy, at Emaar Misr’s Marassi project, began when homeowners there objected to the introd»»»

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s oldest women’s group is seeking to form new collaborations and increase cultural exchanges with Saudi Arabia, its chairwoman told Arab News following a meeting with the Kingdom’s envoy in Jakarta. Founded in 1928, the Indonesian Women’s Congress — known as Kowani — is the large»»»

Opposition parliamentary groups voiced concern on Friday over Bulgaria’s foreign policy surrounding the decision to temporarily allow the allied US forces to use Bezmer Air Base, which was followed by a stern response by the West Asian country. On Thursday, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Velislava Pet»»»

TradeUnited States of AmericaHumanoid robots: Trump's latest China trade battle?Nik MartinThe US has banned foreign-made humanoid robots — a market dominated by Chinese tech firms. Although Washington cited national security risks, analysts think Trump is buying time for US robot makers to catch up»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov and the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan attended the opening of Baku Hotel on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, the press service of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic reported. The event was held as part of an informal consultative meeting of the le»»»

NEW DELHI: The India & Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture on Friday announced a new partnership with one of India’s largest apex industry bodies as it seeks to foster stronger business connections and strengthen India-Arab economic cooperation. The IACCIA has signed a memora»»»

Dubai: Malayalam actor Kunchacko Boban has made a career out of playing men wrestling with their demons. In Unmadham, his latest Malayalam-language psychological thriller, he once again slips into the uniform of a flawed police officer whose biggest battles aren't just with crime, but with his own »»»

A new Chief Physician has been appointed at the National Hospital: Talantbek Arstankulov. According to the Ministry of Health press center, the head of the ministry, Damir Osmonov, introduced the new head to the National Hospital staff. Talantbek Arstankulov, born August 1, 1972, holds a PhD in Med»»»

Miami: Brazil star Casemiro sang the praises of new Inter Miami teammate Lionel Messi on Thursday, calling his former La Liga rival a "god of football." "Of course, if I'm here it's because of him and to help him and Inter Miami," the former Real Madrid midfielder said of the Argentine star who now»»»

Brussels, Belgium: The European Union on Friday accused Temu of failing to hand over information during an inspection as part of a probe into the Chinese-owned online retailer. The EU's powerful antitrust sheriff said it carried out surprise raids between December 2 and 5, 2025, seeking evidence in»»»

Hamas said Frsay that it reached an agreement to disarm, a significant move that could help end the war in Gaza — but one that will face many hurdles and could take a long time to achieve, if at all. The group agreed to a road map as long as Israel also makes concessions, including ending hostiliti»»»

Dubai: The European Union has accused Temu of failing to provide information requested during a surprise inspection, prompting the online retailer to reject the preliminary findings and deny receiving foreign subsidies that distorted competition. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques &»»»

Cape Canaveral: A drifting SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon after launching a pair of lunar landers more than a year ago. The rocket's upper stage will unintentionally slam into the moon on Wednesday, carving out a crater and sending up a plume of dust and rubble that scientists»»»

San Francisco, United States: Anthropic's artificial intelligence (AI) models "gained unauthorized access" to three outside organizations during testing that was supposed to keep them away from "real-world" systems, the company said on Thursday. The announcement comes just days after rival OpenAI f»»»

Bulgaria ranks as the least affordable country in the European Union for purchasing a €1 million property, with an average-income buyer needing the equivalent of 7.8 average salaries to cover the mortgage burden. The figure is the highest in the EU, while in Luxembourg the same type of property wou»»»

Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with assisting terrorist activity and begun procedures to place him on an international wanted list, sharply escalating the Kremlin's confrontation with one of the country's most prominent technology entrepreneurs. Russia's Federal Security Service ac»»»

One of the Trump administration’s more measured hands in national security and foreign policy, US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz was rushed out in front of the cameras last week to extinguish a diplomatic fire. In live interviews with Face the Nation and Meet the Press, he was asked»»»

Dubai: The trailer of Ramayana, director Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious mythological epic, is winning praise beyond India's borders, with several Pakistani influencers and film commentators applauding its visuals, performances and cinematic scale. The trailer, unveiled this week, has generated widesprea»»»

Bulgaria will continue implementing its national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), focusing on completing the remaining reforms and investments to secure the full amount of EU funding and deliver long-term benefits for citizens and businesses, the government said on Friday. The statement followed»»»

Ceuta, Spain: Thousands of migrants crossed overnight from Morocco into Spain's north Africa's Ceuta enclave as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday arrived to manage one the largest migrant crisis on the country's border. In recent days, a total of around 40,000 migrants have crossed into the te»»»

RIYADH: Fijian conjoined twins Jesipeli and Di Cecea arrived today in Riyadh to undergo medical assessment at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital. Specialists at the hospital will determine whether they can undergo separation surgery, following directives from King Salman and Crown Prince»»»

Ceuta: Some 60,000 migrants have entered Spain's Ceuta from Morocco in the past 24 hours, Ceuta's president says. That is equivalent to 70% of the city's regular population. At least 34 migrants have died in the process. "The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable," said »»»