How Iran built Iraq’s powerful network of militias — and why it matters now
LONDON: Joint US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq on Wednesday exposed the depth of Tehran’s military network inside the country, where militias have evolved from insurgent movements into some of the most powerful political and security actors in the Iraqi state. The operation, which fol»»»
Gaza’s lighter shortage turns making tea into test of endurance
LONDON: Palestinians in the embattled Gaza Strip once flicked a lighter or pushed a button to make tea. Now, brewing a single cup can take mother of four Maysa Yousef nearly an hour as wartime shortages turn a simple flame into a luxury. As Israel’s war in Gaza grinds on, shortages of gas, a near-t»»»
Egypt invites Indian manufacturers to establish production, export hubs
Egypt is seeking to deepen industrial cooperation with India by attracting more Indian manufacturers and industrial developers to invest in the country, Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem said during a meeting with India’s Ambassador to Egypt, Suresh K. Reddy. The meeting focused on expanding bilat»»»
GAFI, DP World discuss expansion plans, new investment opportunities in Egypt
Mohamed Awad, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), met with a delegation from DP World to discuss the company’s plans to expand its operations in the Egyptian market over the coming period and review a range of investment opportunities aligned with its global expertise»»»
FRA authorises syndicated mortgage financing to support high-value property purchases
The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), chaired by Islam Azzam, has authorised mortgage finance companies to provide financing through a syndicated financing model, allowing multiple lenders to jointly finance customers purchasing high-value property units, provided each participating company com»»»
Investment minister launches ‘Egypt Exports’ initiative to expand exporter base
Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid launched the “Egypt Exports” initiative at Tanta University in Gharbeya during a major event held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and attended by representatives of government entities, affiliated agencies, the business c»»»
Cyprus’ ethnic split must be resolved to stabilize a tumultuous region, UN chief says
NICOSIA, Cyprus: Resolving Cyprus’ ethnic division is “absolutely crucial” for stabilizing a turbulent region where persistent conflicts have the potential to escalate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday. Guterres made a rare, two-day visit to Cyprus to underline his commitment to»»»
Sexual harassment of female Palestinian detainee revealed
LONDON/RAMALLAH: A female Palestinian prisoner, in a testimony documented by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs following a visit by her lawyer to Israel’s Damon Prison, revealed that she was subjected to serious abuses since her arrest and through her detention. The detainee said»»»
Cyclosporiasis cases rise to more than 18,000, spread to 45 states - UPI.com
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters are shown in Atlanta. A report by the CDC said Wednesday that the number of suspected cyclosporiasis cases has risen to more than 18,000. File photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE/ July 29 (UPI) -- The number of suspected cyclosporiasis ca»»»
New racing rules to boost falcon auction
RIYADH: The International Falcon Breeders Auction has introduced a new feature for its 2026 edition, expanding opportunities for breeders, investors, and buyers by making only those birds sold through the auction eligible to compete in all local and international chick-racing categories. The move i»»»
Sen. Lindsey Graham's S.C. funeral attended by state dignitaries, family - UPI.com
An armed forces team carries the casket of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., following his funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Graham's South Carolina funeral was held Wednesday. Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- The late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Grah»»»
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Wisdom of the Shoguns’ by Naoko Mikami
In the wake of the Emmy Award-winning Shogun series, interest in Japan’s ancient Samurai culture has never been higher. This book offers a bridge between their world and ours with a collection of sayings drawn from the turbulent final years of Japan’s Warring States period and the dawn of the Shogu»»»
Eala beats defending champ Fernandez in Washington
Washington, United States: Filipina rising star Alexandra Eala dumped out defending champion Leylah Fernandez to reach the quarter-finals of the Washington Open on Wednesday. Eala, 21, defeated the seventh seed from Canada 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) for a place in the WTA Tour tournament's last eight, battling»»»
Central Bank of Syria opens official account with Turkish counterpart
Damascus, July 29 (SANA) Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Mohammad Raslan and Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye Fatih Karahan signed an agreement on Wednesday to open an official account for the Central Bank of Syria with the Turkish central bank, with the aim of facilita»»»
Few families return to southern Lebanese village as part of Israel ‘pilot zones’ deal
ZAWTAR AL-GHARBIEH, Lebanon: Mahasen Faqih and her husband returned this week to their village in southern Lebanon, digging through the debris of their home in search of their belongings, as part of the US-brokered “pilot zones” agreement in which Israel agreed to withdraw in exchange for the disar»»»
EU needs 'Team Enlargement' coalition to drive next expansion push, think-tank says
The European Union needs a coalition of key member states to overcome political divisions and prepare the bloc for its next enlargement wave, including the possible accession of Ukraine, Moldova and Western Balkan countries, a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) said. The rep»»»
Slovak InoBat seeks Nasdaq listing through SPAC merger
Slovak battery technology company has announced a definitive business combination agreement (BCA) with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Cartesian Growth Corporation II (Cartesian II) aiming at US Nasdaq listing. The BCA values InoBat at $1.265bn (€1.1bn) on a pre-money, pre-merger basis, »»»
Hundreds of migrants are swimming from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta
BARCELONA: Hundreds of migrants are swimming from Morocco to the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta at the country’s northern tip, overwhelming border security, local authorities said Wednesday. While good weather usually brings a surge in migrant crossings by sea in the summer, Ceuta authorities said»»»
First test of US-backed ‘pilot zones’ in south Lebanon lays bare difficulties
ZAWTAR AL-GHARBIYEH, Lebanon: A US-brokered plan for Israel to withdraw gradually from occupied areas of southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia is off to a painfully slow start. To the US, the “pilot zone program” is the centerpiece of a June 26 fr»»»
Al-Sisi reaffirms Egypt’s support for Jordan, condemns Iranian attacks on Arab states
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi held a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Wednesday, reaffirming Egypt’s unwavering support for Jordan’s security and condemning the Iranian attacks targeting the kingdom and other Arab states. According to the Egyptian presidency, Al-Sisi underscor»»»
Egypt, China’s CNCEC discuss expanding investments in petrochemicals, strategic industrial projects
Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa held talks with Deng Zhaojing, President of China National Chemical Engineering Group Corporation (CNCEC), to discuss the company’s plans to expand its investments in Egypt and review progress on its ongoing industrial projects, parti»»»
Egypt, Mozambique sign MoU to strengthen civil aviation cooperation
Egypt and Mozambique have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance technical cooperation in the civil aviation sector, marking a new step in strengthening aviation ties between the two African countries. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of AFI Aviation Week 2026, in the presen»»»
M squared announces one-year sponsorship of Egyptian HYROX athlete Aly Mazhar
Egyptian real estate developer M squared, the real estate arm of Intro Holding, has signed a one-year athlete sponsorship agreement with Egyptian entrepreneur and HYROX athlete Aly Mazhar to support his competitive journey throughout the 2026-2027 season. Running from July 2026 to July 2027, the pa»»»
Mexico to unveil sargassum plan as crisis worsens in Caribbean - UPI.com
People walk on a beach covered in sargassum in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, earlier this month. Photo by Alonso Cupul/EPA July 29 (UPI) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday her government will present a comprehensive agreement to address the sargassum crisis in the Mexican Caribbe»»»
Hundreds of migrants are swimming from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta
BARCELONA: Hundreds of migrants are swimming from Morocco to the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta at the country’s northern tip, overwhelming border security, local authorities said Wednesday. While good weather usually brings a surge in migrant crossings by sea in the summer, Ceuta authorities said»»»
Senate passes Graham's “hellish sanctions” package during Zelenskiy's trip to Washington in coup for Bankova
The US Senate passed the “sanctions from hell” package advanced by the late Senator Lindsey Graham on July 29 with an overwhelming majority of 86 to 12 in favour, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in attendance. Zelenskiy was in Washington to visit US President Donald Trump to consolidat»»»
President Finds Insufficient Grounds to Justify Veto of State Budget Act
There are insufficient grounds to delay the entry into force of the 2026 State Budget Act, which should therefore be promulgated in the State Gazette, the President’s administration says in an opinion released by its press secretariat on Wednesday. The National Assembly adopted the Act on July 24, »»»
President to Promulgate 2026 State Budget as Parliamentary Groups Dispute Its Constitutionality, Prepare Court Challenges
President Iliana Iotova announced on Wednesday that she will promulgate the 2026 State Budget Act, arguing that returning it to Parliament would deepen Bulgaria’s financial and institutional uncertainty, while Continue the Change, Democratic Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane and GERB-UDF criticized the decisio»»»
How two wars and El Nino could fuel world hunger
Food SecurityGlobal issuesHow two wars and El Nino could fuel world hungerNik MartinThe wars in Ukraine and the Middle East haven't yet crippled global food supplies. Add a powerful weather pattern like El Nino, however, and the risks multiply. https://p.dw.com/p/5HoFlSupplies of rice — consumed by»»»
CDC: High blood pressure rates rise in pregnant women - UPI.com
July 29 (UPI) -- Rates of high blood pressure in pregnant women throughout the United States rose substantially over an eight-year-span, a new report released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The report said that one in 10 pregnant women in the United States ha»»»
Crisis-hit Cuba opens pharmacies, gas stations to private firms
HAVANA — Cuba moved to open crisis-ravaged parts of the state-run economy to private firms Wednesday, as the communist government struggles to ease acute shortages resulting from a US energy blockade.A lengthy decree lifted restrictions on a swath of sectors including petrol distribution, electrici»»»
Yemen govt says Houthis planning to impose fees for Red Sea transit
RIYADH, WASHINGTON — A minister in Yemen's internationally recognised government on Wednesday accused Houthi rebels of working under Iranian guidance to establish a system to impose fees for ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandab Strait.The narrow maritime artery has been a critical wat»»»
JoPetrol expands fuel network, advances CNG, EV infrastructure projects
AMMAN — The Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JOPCO) said Wednesday that its wholly owned subsidiary, the Jordan Petroleum Products Marketing Company (JoPetrol), is continuing to expand its fuel station network and invest in new energy infrastructure projects across the Kingdom.According to Al Mam»»»
JOPCO says talks with government continue to settle outstanding dues
AMMAN — The Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company (JOPCO) said on Wednesday that it is continuing discussions with ministries and relevant public entities to resolve outstanding financial issues, with priority given to recovering dues owed to the company.According to data, cited by Al Mamlaka TV, the M»»»
Brazil opens zero-tariff trade with Singapore through Mercosur - UPI.com
Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Trade Marcio Elias Rosa (L), Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira (C) and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin arrive for a press conference at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 16. Vieira said the new 25% U.S. tariff on »»»
Netanyahu Proposed Hiking US Military Aid to $16Bln Under Renegotiated MoU - Reports
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested to President Donald Trump a renegotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security assistance for Israel where Washington would hike the contribution to $16 billion, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing officials. Accordi»»»
UAE keeps key interest rate unchanged in July, mirroring US Fed move
Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.This CBUAE decision was taken following the U»»»
Syrian authorities seize 186,000 captagon pills in Afrin
LONDON: Syrian authorities on Wednesday arrested two drug traffickers and seized 186,000 captagon pills during an operation in the Afrin area of Aleppo province in the north of the country. The Drug Enforcement Department said that authorities seized the pills from 186 bags with a combined weight o»»»
BCT keeps key interest rate unchanged at 7% [Update 1]
TUNIS, July 29 (TAP) – The Executive Board of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) decided at its meeting on Wednesday to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 7%.The Board reviewed recent economic, monetary and financial developments at both the...»»»
Baladna reports H1 2026 results with surges in all financial and operational indicators
Doha, Qatar, 29th July 2026: Baladna Q.P.S.C., Qatar’s leading dairy and juice company, today announced its financial results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026. The Company delivered continued growth in revenue and profitability, supported by the strong performance of its core business, r»»»
Portico Marina begins
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Housing market cools
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Ochnik expands Młociny
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ECB holds watch
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Eurozone wages moderate
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AI Challenges Central Banks
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Labor risks rise
The Bureau of Information and Economic Cycles (BIEC) has raised concerns over Poland's labor market after its July Labor Market Index (WRP) increased to 77.7 points, signaling a greater risk of rising unemployment in the months ahead. Although the registered unemployment rate fell to 5.8% in June, »»»
Healthcare funding gap
Poland's chronic underinvestment in healthcare may be contributing to more than 10,000 avoidable deaths each year, according to experts cited in a new report highlighting the economic and human cost of insufficient health spending. The analysis argues that limited funding has led to longer waiting »»»
Eurocash names executive
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BNP targets growth
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