Iran said Wednesday it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said a deal could be announced this week. That could potentially reopen the critical waterway, ease pressure on the world economy and help bring an end to»»»

BusinessRussian FederationWhy is Russia selling its gold?Arthur SullivanRussia has become one of the world's biggest sellers of gold over the past 12 months. It's an attempt to raise cash in the face of budget issues, but not necessarily a sign of a looming financial crisis. https://p.dw.com/p/5Ht6»»»

There is a peculiar contradiction in the Philippine debate over Pax Silica. A country that has spent decades complaining about poverty, underemployment, brain drain, weak industrialisation, unreliable infrastructure and the export of raw resources suddenly finds itself being offered a place in one »»»

Sharon Gaffney is pleased to welcome Peter Zalmayev, director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. He rejects narratives that portray Moscow as only now "taking the gloves off," against Ukraine, arguing instead that Russia has consistently pursued maximalist objectives while adapting its tactics to»»»

The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan commented to 24.kg news agency on the situation with the acceptance and exchange of cash Russian rubles at the country’s commercial banks. The regulator noted that the change in transaction conditions are linked to stricter controls imposed by Russian commercial bank»»»

Andrei Gemeneanu, ROPEA president, talked to BR about Romania’s private equity market, which saw investment values quadruple to EUR 433.6 million in 2025. Gemeneanu discusses the drivers behind this surge, the record-breaking exit activity, and the need to unlock domestic pension funds to reduce re»»»

A brutal fatal assault in Plovdiv has prompted a major police investigation, with authorities examining whether the attack was motivated by hatred based on sexual orientation or involved a victim being lured through a dating app. Several teenagers, including minors, have been detained as investigat»»»

Dubai: Space42 reported record first-half revenue after growth across its satellite services and geospatial intelligence businesses, while preparations continued for the commercial rollout of direct-to-device services on standard mobile phones. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & B»»»

RIYADH: S&P Global Ratings has cut its 2026 forecast for Middle East sustainable bond issuance to $15 billion-$20 billion, citing geopolitical volatility and weaker market conditions. The ratings agency had previously projected issuance of $20 billion-$25 billion for the year. First-half 2026 issua»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese state media reported Israeli airstrikes and shelling overnight into Thursday morning, after Israel announced its first military fatalities in more than a month as renewed hostilities flared. The strikes — which began Wednesday afternoon and were accompanied by the first evacuation »»»

AFP journalist Christina Assi, who lost a leg in an Israeli strike while reporting from the Lebanese border, will be honored at the International Press Freedom Awards, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In October 2023, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed and six others w»»»

Bulgaria recorded the sharpest decline in road freight transport in the European Union in 2024, with the sector shrinking by 18.6% compared with the previous year, according to the latest Eurostat data. The drop placed Bulgaria at the bottom of the EU ranking, while overall road freight transport a»»»

The former military airport at Dobroslavtsi, where flight operations ended 25 years ago, is set to become what the Bulgarian government describes as Europe's largest advanced space and defense center. The project, based on a public-private partnership, was officially launched with the signing of a »»»

Business activity in Kazakhstan's services sector accelerated for a fourth straight month in July, according to the latest Freedom Holding Corp Kazakhstan Services PMI survey published by S&P Global. July recorded the strongest pace of expansion in more than 12 months, the survey noted. The hea»»»

The Israeli army launched strikes overnight into Thursday on Burj al-Shemali, Mansouri and Majdalzoun, wounding four people. Artillery shelling also targeted the areas of Mansouri, Majdalzoun and Haddatha, the National News Agency said, while troops detonated houses and buildings in Zawtar al-Sharq»»»

A national centre using space data to monitor key processes will be built at Dobroslavtsi Airport, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Thursday. “We will finally begin building what I have been talking about since 2020, a national centre for observation, coordination and management using data from s»»»

The Israeli military said it began striking targets in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to a "blatant violation of the ceasefire" by Iran-backed Hezbollah, just as Israel and Lebanon held talks in Rome. "In response to a blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organiz»»»

Israel reported on Thursday its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, after carrying out fresh strikes despite ongoing U.S.-backed talks in Rome aimed at ending hostilities. The military identified the two reservists, who were killed in combat on Wednesday, as Major Ha»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Southern Lebanon: Civilians Wounded, Displaced as Israeli Strikes Pound Tyre Towns 06-08-2026 10:32 AM Smoke rises after Israeli strikes on»»»

US President Donald Trump demanded answers from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at Camp David after learning that severe munitions shortages could limit US military options against Iran, American media reported, citing people familiar with the exchange. The shortages reportedly involve long-range gui»»»

Political pressure is mounting on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as an end-of-September deadline for US forces to leave Iraq approaches, while disputes over weapons, corruption, and a deepening financial crisis pile fresh strain on his government. Informed sources said al-Zaidi’s recent meetings»»»

New Delhi: The Bombay High Court on Thursday set aside the acquittal of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in the 2013 sexual assault case involving a junior colleague and convicted him of rape and other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A Division Bench of Justices Neela Gokhale and Amit»»»

Gold prices demonstrated the fastest single-day growth in the past six months, driven by easing tensions in the Middle East, a weakening US dollar, and a number of other factors, former Central Bank of Turkiye analyst Onur Dashdemir told Sputnik. "The combination of positive signals from the Middle»»»

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (C) signs the Protect Act into law on Wednesday at La Colaborativa, a Latina-led nonprofit economic development agency in Chelsea, Mass. Photo courtesy Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey/X Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has signed landmark legislation t»»»

On Aug. 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 1 of 6 | An unidentified newsman stands amid the rubble of Hiroshima in September 1945. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city. UPI File Photo | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- On this date»»»

Romanians don't pay more because their petrol is expensive, but because cheap petrol is heavily taxed, argues Dumitru Chisalita, president of the Intelligent Energy Association (AEI) in an analysis published on Friday.He notes that "Romania has the cheapest petrol in the region - until the state re»»»

Breast pain, nursing strikes and weaning are among mothers’ most common breastfeeding concerns, La Leche League counsellor Elena Gvozdeykova told BTA on Thursday. Gvozdeykova is taking part in events organized by the Sliven Regional Health Inspectorate for World Breastfeeding Week, observed from Au»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar national junior chess team delivered an impressive performance at the Arab Junior and Youth Chess Championship in Egypt, winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal as the tournament concluded yesterday The championship, organised by the Egyptian Chess Federation under »»»

Doha, Qatar: American JuVaughn Harrison produced a world-leading jump of 2.34m to win the inaugural Monaco Athletics Festival yesterday, while Qatar’s three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic gold winner Mutaz Barshim finished ninth in the elite high jump competition yesterday. The event was par»»»

Kyrgyzstan views Russia as a strategic partner, President Sadyr Japarov said in his address to participants of the Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum. The president emphasized that the country is following the right course. «During the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin held last year, long-ter»»»

Russia accounted for 27.1 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade turnover, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said at the Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum in Issyk-Kul region. According to him, mutual trade between the two countries increased by 25.5 percent in the first five months of 2026,»»»

SEOUL: South Korean police raided the headquarters of Starbucks’ local operation as part of an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign that was perceived as defaming 1980s’ pro-democracy movements. Investigators searched the Starbucks headquarters in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police »»»

DUBAI: Fourteen runners will compete for the $40,000 (SR150,000) Alhada Cup at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif on Saturday, with Aez Alkhatir (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) seeking to improve on his runner-up performance in the Sarawat Cup on Saudi Cup weekend. Not seen since that run on Feb. 13, the Hom»»»

‘Brothers’ Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor Where: Apple TV+ from Sept. 23 Comedy series in which two of Hollywood’s best-loved bros — Harrelson and McConaughey — play fictionalized versions of themselves. When Harrelson’s daughter is jilted at the altar, he takes her »»»

MOSCOW: Russia shot down 605 Ukrainian drones during the night over its territory and the annexed Crimean Peninsula, the defense ministry said Thursday. “During the night … air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 605 Ukrainian aerial drones,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry fla»»»

DUBAI: Nearly two decades after bonding over hip-hop in a Jeddah neighborhood where almost no one else listened to it, Saudi rappers Alyoung and Randar have released “R2,” a four-track EP — pairing it with three music videos. The duo — Ahmed, who performs as Alyoung, and Bandar, who performs as Ran»»»

NEW YORK: Lebanese journalist Christina Assi, who lost a leg in an Israeli strike while reporting from the Lebanese border, will be honored at the International Press Freedom Awards, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. In October 2023, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was kille»»»

Doha, Qatar: American sprint legend Allyson Felix has chosen Aspire Academy in Doha as a key training base as she prepares for a return to competition with the goal of racing at the 2028 Olympic Games in her hometown of Los Angeles. Felix, 42, announced her return to competitive athletics in April »»»

The Romanian Modern Art Gallery is reopening on Wednesday with the Brancusi Hall fully restored, following the return of the works from the international exhibition dedicated to the artist, the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR) informs on Wednesday."As of Wednesday, August 5, we look forward»»»

Romania’s long-term sovereign bond yields have fallen slightly after the publication of the report through which the international financial evaluation agency Fitch Ratings confirmed, with some reserve, the sovereign rating for Romania at BBB-, the last investment-grade. At the same time, the short»»»

The interim Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragos Pislaru, stated on Wednesday that the PSD is engaging in the "systematic sabotage" of projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), arguing that amendments made in Parliament to the bill on the decarbonization of t»»»

The coordinated efforts of the governments and businesses of Russia and Kyrgyzstan have made it possible to build a strong economic foundation for cooperation between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, RIA Novosti reports. The head of state sent greetings to the participant»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s banking sector remained resilient in June 2026, with total assets holding steady at QR2.197 trillion, according to QNB’s latest monthly banking sector report. Total assets were unchanged from May but 2.1 percent higher than year-end 2025. The report showed that the sector’s tot»»»

Kyrgyzstan has introduced a permit system for climbers attempting to summit Pobeda Peak, the highest point of the Tien Shan mountain range at an altitude of more than 7,400 meters. The State Agency for Tourism Development of Kyrgyzstan reported. «We are introducing a permit system for ascents of Po»»»

Doha: The Social and Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) and the Qatar Foundation for Social Work have signed a funding agreement to support the Vocational Rehabilitation Programme at Al Shafallah Centre. Through this partnership, DAAM will provide financial support to help deliver a structured programm»»»

Dubai: Eleven hundred tonnes of moon went up on Wednesday morning, and nobody on Earth watched it happen. The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9, designated 2025-010D, struck the Moon at 06.34 GMT on Wednesday 5 August, which was 10.34am UAE time. It was travelling at around seven times the speed of »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has successfully concluded its “Your Bridge to the Future” programme, which provided university students with practical, hands-on experience in the electricity and water sectors. The initiative featured field visits to key Kahr»»»

Doha, Qatar: Old Doha Port today announced that Qatar Airways, the Official Travel Partner of Qatar Boat Show 2026, is offering exclusive discounted fares for visitors travelling to Doha to attend the third edition of the event, taking place from November 4-7, 2026. Available across Qatar Airways’ »»»

On 29 July, a drone struck a floating American storage and regasification unit at Damietta Port on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, setting it ablaze. The fire spread to a Greek-owned LNG tanker anchored nearby. The port is central to Cairo’s plan to turn Egypt into an energy hub for the Eastern Medite»»»

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has reminded travellers to take necessary health precautions before embarking on their journeys, emphasising the importance of advance planning, vaccinations and managing existing health conditions while travelling. In a social media awareness message ti»»»