Syrian, UAE economy ministers discuss expanding economic and investment cooperation
Dubai, Aug. 8 (SANA) Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar and UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and expand investment partnerships during a meeting in Dubai on Friday. The two ministers reviewe»»»
How Chef Nabhan Al Ali is preserving Emirati flavours and memories in Dubai
Dubai: The warmth of your mother's hands as she kneads the dough. The aroma of bread baking before sunrise. The crackle of spices blooming in hot Emirati ghee. Long before recipes are written down or traditions are spoken about, this is where a cuisine truly begins. For Chef Nabhan Al Ali, Executiv»»»
ING: Hungarian economy takes a summer breather as industry and retail disappoint
Economic activity data for June confirmed what we saw in the second quarter GDP data: as summer arrived, the Hungarian economy went on holiday. Both industry and retail sector growth rates came in lower than expected, but we are still optimistic about the future. The Hungarian »»»
Europe demands Turkey certify its gas exports are not Russian in origin
European buyers are demanding that Turkey provide documentation proving natural gas transported through Turkish territory is not of Russian origin, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said in an interview with A Haber TV on August 6. Bayraktar said Turkey is legally obliged to process »»»
FAA orders inspections of Boeing 737 Max jets due to cracks - UPI.com
The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets due to reports of cracks near doorways. File Photo by Cityswift/Flickr Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets. The F»»»
Bulgaria to Have New Minehunter by Year-End
By the end of this year, the Bulgarian Naval Forces will have another minehunter, said Rear Admiral Kiril Mihaylov, Commander of the Bulgarian Naval Forces, in his address to the people attending the official awards ceremony for military personnel and civilians here on Friday. He specified that, un»»»
As much as 170 km of Polish coast under new supervision
Poland has restored the Maritime Office in Słupsk six years after it was abolished, giving it responsibility for about 170 km of Baltic coastline from Dźwirzyno to Łeba, including the Port of Kołobrzeg. The Ministry of Infrastructure says the move is intended to strengthen Central Pomerania and sup»»»
Look: Lake Mead water level hits record low - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Declining water levels due to climate change and more than 20 years of ongoing drought have reshaped Lake Mead's shorelines as seen in this file photo on Nov. 16, 2022. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The water level in the United States' largest reservoir, Lak»»»
After centuries in India, the last Cochin Jews try to keep their history alive
KOCHI, India: As the sun set over Kochi’s historic Jew Town neighborhood, Keith Hallegua donned a gray kippah and began a solitary walk to the synagogue at the end of his cobbled street. It was Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating God giving the Torah to Moses. Hallegua reached the 458-year-ol»»»
Structural Reform Proposals in Health Care to Be Put to Broad Public Discussion
Proposals for structural reforms will be presented for broad public discussion, Health Minister Katya Ivkova said, as quoted by the Ministry's press centre on Friday. These are not final decisions, but proposals for structural reforms aimed at creating an administration that is more accountable to »»»
Qatar U-20 Football Team Beat Austria's Kapfenberger 7-0 in Friendly
Ljubljana: Qatar's under-20 national football team defeated Austria's Kapfenberger 7-0 in a friendly match on Friday as part of their ongoing training camp in Slovenia. The camp forms part of Qatar's preparations for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to be held from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6, w»»»
Political struggle of far-right ally Smotrich shows faultline in Netanyahu coalition
BEIT EL, West Bank: Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich faces a fight for political survival in elections in October after angering his fellow West Bank settlers by voting not to punish ultra-Orthodox Jews who refuse to serve in the military. The political travails of Smotrich are»»»
Trump revives effort to fire Governor Lisa Cook from the Fed - UPI.com
Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and her attorney, Abbe Lowell, leave the U.S. Supreme Court, which blocked President Donald Trump's attempt to remove her from the independent central bank. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump is once again trying t»»»
US sanctions Iran-linked crypto exchanges and shadow banking networks
LONDON: The United States announced sanctions on Friday targeting crypto exchanges and shadow banking networks used by Iran to launder billions of dollars. The announcements were the latest effort by Washington to squeeze Iran’s finances with its “Economic Fury” campaign, which was launched alongsi»»»
OCHA confirms limited improvement in aid entry to Gaza
New York: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday confirmed a limited improvement in the flow of essential supplies into the Gaza Strip recently, despite acknowledging that humanitarian needs remain immense as the population continues to rely heavily »»»
Defence Minister Khaled Sehili visits Bizerte Military Dog Training Centre
Tunis, August 7 (TAP) - National Defence Minister Khaled Sehili visited the Bizerte Military Dog Training Centre on Thursday to inspect the units' operational readiness and assess their working and accommodation conditions, the ministry said...»»»
World Bank approves $100 million grant to modernize Syria’s financial sector
LONDON: The World Bank on Friday approved a $100 million grant to help the Syrian Arab Republic build a modern, secure and digitally enabled financial sector. The grant from the International Development Association will finance the Syria Financial Sector Modernization Project, which aims to make t»»»
Palestinian patients face mounting barriers to care in West Bank as NGOs struggle to fill widening gap
LONDON: Sujood Faroun, 29, a mother of two young children, suffered cardiac arrest in late July as an ambulance rushed her toward a hospital in Ramallah. But at the edge of her hometown of Sinjil, the ambulance encountered a closed Israeli army gate guarded by soldiers. Her husband pleaded for help»»»
Exclusive: WFP to extend Palantir contract despite concerns raised in leaked audit
The UN's World Food Programme is finalizing a five-year renewal of its contract with US data software firm Palantir despite “key privacy concerns” raised in a leaked 2025 internal audit. The audit, seen by PassBlue and FRANCE 24, reveals UN misgivings about allowing Palantir to process data for the»»»
US appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project
A federal appeals court on Friday ordered US President Donald Trump’s administration to stop construction of its $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing. The court added that a president cannot fundamentally reshape the White House without congressional»»»
Developer drought coming for offices
Poland’s office development pipeline has fallen to historic lows, with less than 200,000 sq. m of new space expected annually in 2026-2027, compared with 700,000 sq. m completed in 2020. Despite the slowdown, the commercial real estate market remains active. Office investment reached EUR 549 mln in»»»
PIE: labor costs biggest barrier for companies
Labor costs, economic uncertainty and rising energy prices remain the biggest obstacles facing Polish businesses, according to the Polish Economic Institute’s Monthly Business Climate Index. Labor costs have ranked as the leading barrier since late 2023, cited by about two-thirds of companies, whil»»»
U.S. sanctions crypto exchanges for laundering Iranian military assets - UPI.com
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran uses a sprawling network of corporate entities to obscure the origin of the funds and launder money to benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, leading to sanctions. File Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Trump administrat»»»
US tightens travel rules for people returning from Ebola-hit regions
WASHINGTON: The US is temporarily restricting travel for certain passengers who recently visited Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to reduce the risk of Ebola transmission. The measures are a part of US public health protocols for travelers arriving from a»»»
How settler violence and settlement expansion are impacting life across the West Bank
LONDON: The morning after Israeli settlers descended on Khirbet Al-Tuba, a small shepherding community in the Masafer Yatta area of the occupied West Bank, the silence was broken only by the crunch of ash underfoot. Three homes had been reduced to blackened shells and several defaced with Hebrew gr»»»
Syria condemns Houthi militia attack on Najran, reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia
Damascus, Aug. 7 (SANA) The Syrian Arab Republic on Friday strongly condemned attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against civilian infrastructure in the Najran region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, saying the assault, which injured several civilians, constituted a flagrant violation of the K»»»
UK-funded, British Steel-supplied Ankara-Izmir railway project quarter complete after 13 years
The material completion of the Turkish government’s 503-kilometre (313-mile) Ankara to Izmir high-speed rail project stands at just 24%, daily Birgun has reported. Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) broke ground on the ambitious project in 2013. Back then, the transport minis»»»
Israeli fuel denials risk hospital and bakery closures in Gaza, UN warns; shelter aid also still restricted
NEW YORK CITY: Repeated rejections by Israeli authorities of requests to bring engine oil into Gaza threaten to shut down critical operations at hospitals, water-pumping stations and bakeries, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned. Even though overall aid deliveries in»»»
Diaz inspires Bayern to friendly win over Villa
HONG KONG: A wondergoal from Luis Diaz powered a youthful Bayern Munich to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong on Friday. Diaz starred in Colombia’s run to the World Cup last-16 and the winger lit up a sometimes scrappy game between last season’s German double-winners a»»»
Spain imposes border controls for Italy: Ministry
Spain will introduce temporary border checks on travellers from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures after a mass migrant rush into Ceuta, the interior ministry said on Friday. The checks, which come "amid the persistent irregular migration pressure" facing Italy, will start at midni»»»
Senate passes bill sanctioning Russia, Iran - UPI.com
The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Friday that imposes new sanctions on Iran and on Russia for its war with Ukraine. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., cosponsored the bill with late Sen. Lindsey Graham. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate passed a bill on Fri»»»
Mexican national admits laundering nearly $2M in U.S. drug proceeds - UPI.com
Daniel Gordiano Valenzuela transferred the funds from drug sales in the united States to Mexico through cryptocurrency and wire transfers, the U.S. Justice Department said. Photo by https://kaboompics.compexels Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A Mexican national pleaded guilty in the United States to participating »»»
Enough with ‘theater diplomacy’ – Iran’s top negotiator Ghalibaf tells Trump
US President Donald Trump should curb his “theater diplomacy” as it will not work with Iran, Tehran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has said. Trump announced on Saturday that he had called off a planned attack on Iran, which, according to him, would have been on a scale “not seen since »»»
Chinese brands continue expansion into Polish market
Chinese automakers are rapidly expanding in Poland, accounting for a record 15.5% of new passenger car registrations in July 2026, up from 14.9% in June. BYD nearly tripled registrations in the first seven months of the year to 6,600, while MG and Omoda remained the largest Chinese brands by volume»»»
WSJ: Putin may carry out limited attack on one NATO country
New U.S. intelligence assessments suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin could test NATO’s resolve within the next few years through a limited attack on a member state, according to The Wall Street Journal. Possible scenarios range from cyberattacks and operations by unmarked armed groups to a li»»»
Saudi Crown Prince, Turkish President discuss ties, regional updates
Makkah: Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia HH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met in Makkah on Friday with President of Turkiye HE Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both sides reviewed aspects of bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in addition to key regional developme»»»
Winemakers across Europe face the challenges of climate change
Winegrowers in France are harvesting their grapes unusually early this season because of the effects of climate change. While the rising global temperatures offer a new chance for winemakers in northern and Scandinavian countries, experts say it’s too early to expect a drastic shift in the viticult»»»
Germany holds security meeting over explosive drone amid Russia protest
BERLIN: Chancellor Friedrich Merz convened Germany’s national security council Friday to discuss an explosive-laden drone found near a Ukrainian cargo plane and the mid-air collision of another aircraft with an unidentified object this week. While Germany has not blamed anyone for the incident at L»»»
WHO urges Ervebo vaccine trial in DR Congo Ebola outbreak
GENEVA: WHO vaccine experts on Friday recommended a full-scale human trial of the only existing approved Ebola vaccine to see if it offers cross-protection against the strain spreading in the DR Congo. The Ervebo vaccine has proven safe and efficacious against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola »»»
Israeli Channel 15: The Israeli army concealed that Hezbollah launched a drone over the past 24 hours toward an Israeli army force in southern Lebanon - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli Channel 15: The Israeli army concealed that Hezbollah launched a drone over the past 24 hours toward an Israeli army force in south»»»
MACRO ADVISORY: Russia’s August Angst - 2026
One of our quirkier rituals is to write every year about why Russians view August as some sort of cursed month and to highlight what could happen this year. Or, to paraphrase (ex US Secretary of Defence) Donald Rumsfeld, the “known knowns” and, possibly, the “known unknowns”. But, of course, it is »»»
Russia builds crypto infrastructure, adopts regulation
Russia's Sber is launching crypto trading infrastructure against the backdrop of tightening Western sanctions. Meanwhile, a recently enacted crypto bill is making crypto settlements legal for Russian companies involved in export and import transactions, while making it more difficult for regular ci»»»
Ukraine loses more than half its Kyiv-region warehouse space to Russian strikes
Russia has destroyed more than half of the Kyiv region's pre-war warehouse capacity since its full-scale invasion began, after strikes overnight on August 5 hit 10 warehouse facilities totalling about 100,000 square metres, according to Ukrainian real estate analysts cited by Ukraine Business News.»»»
US Shoots Itself in Foot With Bill on Secondary Sanctions Against Russia - Senator Paul
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US would be shooting itself in the foot with its new bill on secondary sanctions against Russia, Republican Senator Rand Paul said in an article published on Friday. Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 86-11 to pass the bill spearheaded by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (w»»»
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan enter new defense pact - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sign a trilateral defense agreement in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. Photo by Turkish Presidency/UPI | License Photo Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Officials from Turkey, Saudi Ara»»»
US court orders halt to Trump ballroom construction
An appeals court on Friday upheld an order halting work on Donald Trump's prized White House ballroom, setting up another battle in the Supreme Court over the limits of presidential authority. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which had allowed construction to continue while it considered»»»
What We Are Reading Today: Hopeful Pessimism
Author: Mara van der Lugt The climate debate is rife with calls for optimism. While temperatures rise and disasters intensify, we are asked to maintain optimism and hope, as if the real threat is pessimism and despair. In this erudite and engaging book, Mara van der Lugt argues that this is a mista»»»
Two dead after abandoned school collapses in Cuba - UPI.com
Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Cuban authorities have concluded rescue operations after the collapse of an abandoned school in Villa Clara province that left two people dead and one injured. Investigators said the building had been declared unsafe year ago. More than 100 rescuers worked for more than 16 hours to »»»
Dubai Police introduce Horizon X to shape future of policing
Dubai Police have launched Horizon X, a new initiative designed to transform future opportunities into innovative projects that strengthen institutional readiness and accelerate the development of next-generation policing solutions. Led by the Future Foresight Centre, the initiative supports Dubai »»»
Four Seas Initiative offers Syria new path to regional economic integration
Damascus, Aug. 7 (SANA) The “Four Seas” initiative is emerging as a major pathway for to restore its regional economic role by leveraging its geographic position to connect the Gulf, Iraq and Central Asia with Türkiye and Europe through the Mediterranean, while opening opportunities in trade, energ»»»