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 »»»

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 first of up to eight U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft expected to be temporarily deployed in Bulgaria has landed at Bezmer Air Base, the Ministry of Defense confirmed. The ministry said the arrival is part of the previously approved deployment and stressed that Bulgaria's security services contin»»»

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»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian forces struck the Odessa Oil Refinery's production facilities with precision-guided weapons in the port of Odessa, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. The ministry said that the Russian forces continued to strike ports and sea vessels intended for the interes»»»

A US military aircraft has landed at Bezmer Air Base in Southeastern Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry told BTA on Friday. On July 22, the National Assembly approved the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers, together with their crews, up to 250 US service perso»»»

BEIRUT/LONDON: A sanctions-hit tanker ​is leaking oil off the coast of Oman and the spill has spread in recent days, increasing concern about possible environmental damage to coastal areas, according to an analysis of satellite imagery and shipping specialists. The Caroline Bezengi took Russian oil»»»

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»»»

Bulgaria has never officially been part of the Coalition of the Willing, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova said in a written reply to an MP's question published on Parliament's website. Atanas Slavov of Democratic Bulgaria asked when and on what legally valid grounds a decision had been taken to w»»»

BELGRADE - Serbia registered 400,000 tourist visits In June 2026, which is a 1.7 pct increase y-o-y, the national statistical office RZS said on Friday. The visitors generated 1,142,000 overnight stays, or 2 pct more relative to the same month of last year. Serbian tourists accounted for 601,000 of»»»

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»»»

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 &»»»

ALGIERS: An Algerian passenger bus crashed into a ravine on Friday killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens, the country’s civil defense agency said. The bus left the road near the coastal town of Boumerdes, east of the capital Algiers, for unknown reasons, according to the civil defense. At »»»

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»»»

Israeli forces carried out a series of powerful detonations overnight near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon, Lebanese state media reported Friday, with Israel saying it destroyed tunnels used by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. "Israeli forces triggered very powerful explo»»»

RAMALLAH (Sputnik) - Israel is seeking to extend its Gaza policy of destruction and displacement from the strip to the occupied West Bank, Hassan Brejieh, director of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, told Sputnik. "The far-right Israeli government is persistently seeking to attack the»»»

Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed Friday that it had agreed to a deal with Israel that would lead to the group's disarmament in return for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Here's what we know so far. Hamas said on Friday it agreed to a deal to end the war with »»»

Kuwaiti forces destroyed Iranian drones targeting "vital and military facilities", the defense ministry said on Friday. "The hostile targets were engaged and destroyed. This resulted in material damage due to falling shrapnel, without any human casualties being recorded," it said in a statement.»»»

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended the decision to expel pro-Kremlin commentator Xenia Fedorova, saying on Thursday that the measure was "not an infringement on freedom of expression". Authorities ordered her to leave France on Wednesday amid allegations that she had relayed Kremlin »»»

Tokyo: Japan's National Intelligence Bureau held its first meeting Friday, a body aimed at centralising information-gathering and addressing accusations that the country is a "spy paradise". Under a bill enacted in May, Japan has upgraded an existing intelligence body to serve as the central comman»»»

The Democratic Bulgaria (DB) coalition on Friday urged President Iliana Iotova to convene the Consultative Council for National Security over developments concerning Iran. The DB said the President should not sideline this format. DB MP Bozhidar Bozhanov told journalists that "the whole row over Ir»»»

Abu Dhabi: PureHealth’s net profit increased 20% year on year to Dh1.2 billion in the first half of 2026, supported by higher patient activity in the UAE, international expansion and continued growth across its insurance business. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Revenu»»»

Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) approved a 4.5% increase in the price of natural gas for August, setting the rate at 39.43 euros per megawatt-hour, excluding access, transmission, excise and VAT costs. The new price will apply to sales by Bulgargaz to end suppliers and to c»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia remains committed to its relationship with Iraq and its people, and the recent strikes against Iran-backed group targets were not directed at the Iraqi government or the population, a senior Saudi official told Al Arabiya. What the operation targeted, according to the senior of»»»

Dubai: Protests over the long-running Cauvery river water-sharing dispute have disrupted screenings of Thalapathy Vijay's latest film, Jana Nayagan, across Karnataka, with several theatres voluntarily suspending shows as a precaution against possible unrest. The film, which was released on July 23,»»»

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether Washington will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, despite previously promising to grant Kiev a production license. Trump told the Financial Times in a telephone interview on Thursday that he was “not sure” whether Ukraine »»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic spoke with the special envoy for energy integration at the US Department of Energy, Joshua Volz, on Thursday to discuss the issue of the Serbian oil company NIS, which is under US sanctions due to its Russian majority own»»»

Jakarta: A Malaysian pilot who tested positive for meth, MDMA, and cocaine after flying a passenger plane to Indonesia risks the death penalty for allegedly smuggling more than 70,000 ecstasy tablets in his suitcase, officials said Friday. The 39-year-old pilot, identified only by his initials, MSO»»»

Russia donated over 1,700 tons of enriched flour and over 200 tons of vegetable oil to Kyrgyzstan to provide food aid to citizens in need. A ceremony to hand over the humanitarian aid, as part of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), took place in Bishkek. Russian Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Sergei Vakun»»»

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat once again criticized the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which he argued does not mandate a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Speaking to a Turkish newspaper, Jumblat called the framework deal "a huge trap" as it »»»

Hungary is preparing for a critical period in its energy system after Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced that the Paks Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be shut down from Monday due to the Danube’s exceptionally low water level. Speaking alongside MOL Chairman and CEO Zsolt Hernádi on Friday, t»»»

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat once again criticized the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which he argued does not mandate a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Speaking to a Turkish newspaper, Jumblat called the framework deal "a huge trap" as it »»»

LABOUR MARKET SHIFT According to a signed commentary in Capital.bg (“The Labour Market Is Beginning to Turn”), after several years of exceptionally strong demand for workers, Bulgaria's labour market is beginning to show signs of cooling. So far, these changes have translated into fewer job adverti»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have taken control over the settlement of Verovka in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Yesterday control was established over the village of Verovka in the Kharkov region," the ministry said in a statement. Additionally, th»»»

Dubai: UAE nationals interested in aviation careers will be able to explore pilot, engineering, flight dispatch and graduate programmes at flydubai’s Careers Open Day on August 16. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The event will be held at the flyd»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Swiss neutrality bends exactly where it is convenient, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday, adding that in the 1940s it leaned toward Berlin, while today it bends toward Kiev and Brussels. Citing the Swiss foreign ministry, Zakharova said that on S»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa discussed during a phone call the fraternal ties between the two countries and ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields in support of mutual interests and the wellbeing of their»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the land border into the autonomous Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa without encountering resistance from Moroccan security forces, a Spanish newspaper reported, citing law enforcement sources. After the bulk of the migrants had already»»»

Dubai: Residents, office workers and visitors will have a new way to travel around Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Uptown Dubai from August 1, when a fully electric community bus service begins operating across the two neighbourhoods. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simp»»»

The Democratic Bulgaria (DB) parliamentary group called in a declaration for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov and expressed their expectation for a different approach in the consideration of the reformist and non-partisan bills tabled to the Parliament's registry office. Democra»»»

In recent days, Bulgaria has found itself drawn into a diplomatic sequence that has called into question the manner and ability of the Bulgarian State to defend its own decisions, GERB-UDF Floor Leader Daniel Mitov said in a declaration on behalf of his Parliamentary Group. The declaration was prom»»»

President Donald Trump said Thursday that a deal has been reached for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, but many hurdles, conditions and long timelines remained to wind down the war in the Palestinian territory. The White House announcement comes nine months after a U.S.-»»»

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov has claimed he was dismissed because reforms to overhaul military procurement and tackle entrenched interests within the ministry triggered a backlash. Fedorov was removed by Vladimir Zelensky earlier this month after just six months in office as pa»»»

Dubai: A phone call from Dubai Police is not one most tourists expect after returning home. For some, it has brought relief that a cherished possession thought to be lost forever had been found. For others, it has come as a complete surprise, with officers informing them they had misplaced an item »»»

Kazakhstan’s leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, arrived in Kyrgyzstan to participate in the informal Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of Azerbaijan. The meeting will be held on July 31 in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was welcomed at Is»»»

Dubai: Property buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants in Abu Dhabi Global Market will have a new way to identify high-performing brokers after the financial centre activated its Broker Classification Framework. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The»»»

Bulgaria will continue operating its MiG-29 fighter jets to protect its airspace and meet its NATO obligations until the new F-16 Block 70 aircraft become fully operational, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said in a written response to a parliamentary question. The response, published on the Nati»»»

Abu Dhabi: 2PointZero Group reported net profit of Dh7.7 billion for the first half of 2026, supported by Dh2.2 billion from its operating businesses and one-off gains across its investment portfolio, including SpaceX and Anthropic. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - »»»