After two days of debate and voting, Parliament adopted the 2026 State Budget Act at second reading on Friday, approving a budget framework with a projected deficit of 5.7%. The bill was passed by a vote of 125 to 84, with no abstentions, following more than five hours of voting and over 12 hours o»»»

TEL AVIV, (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that it is preparing for a large-scale counterterrorist operation in the West Bank, citing an increase in attacks on civilians in the area. "Following the terror attack earlier today (Friday) in the area of Tell, IDF soldiers are »»»

Lausanne: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced Friday that Senegal's appeal of the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in favour of Morocco has been set for October 8. At the January 18 final in Rabat, Senegal won 1-0 thanks to Pape Gueye's extra-time goa»»»

Bulgaria's National Assembly gave final approval to the 2026 state budget on Friday, ending a monthlong legislative process that opened with a record 5.7% deficit and closed with the ruling Progressive Bulgaria party abolishing the automatic wage and minimum-wage formulas that have driven public sp»»»

The vote on Bulgaria's 2026 state budget, which was adopted by the National Assembly conclusively on Friday, showed that there is no pilot in the cockpit, Democratic Bulgaria (DB) MP Martin Dimitrov told reporters. "There is no pilot, no governing programme and no plan for reforms. This leaves Bulg»»»

In Japan, many people see Marine Day as a chance to get away. Families go to the beach. Office workers take a real break. Trains are crowded with people hoping to escape the summer heat, even if just for a little while. But Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used the day to catch up on something differe»»»

The National Assembly on Friday approved the development of a new mechanism for determining the country's minimum wage. Until the new system is adopted, the minimum wage will remain at its 2026 level of EUR 620.20 per month. The decision came as MPs approved provisions in the 2026 State Budget Bill»»»

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) proposed introducing optical ballot scanners, the party said on Friday. The proposal was submitted between the bill’s first and second readings. MRF said the scanners combined the advantages of paper and machine voting and had proved reliable, having been »»»

LONDON: Politicians in Ireland have insisted that the government send observers to Germany ahead of the trial of an Irish citizen detained over an incident at an Israeli-owned arms factory. Daniel Tatlow-Devally is one of five pro-Palestine activists who entered the facility owned by Elbit Systems »»»

Opening of a central park took place in the city of Talas. The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev during a working visit to Talas region. At least 165 million soms were allocated from the budget for the park’s construction. Modern amusement rides, green»»»

Dubai: Dubai has recorded the fastest climb in the global rankings of cities attracting wealthy individuals, with the emirate now home to 81,200 millionaires, including 237 centi-millionaires, people with investable wealth exceeding $100 million, and 20 billionaires, according to the Henley & Partn»»»

July 24, 2026, marks the 243rd anniversary of the birth of Simón Bolívar, the great liberator of Latin America and a man whose name became a symbol of the continent’s struggle for independence and unity. He was born in Caracas in 1783 into a wealthy Creole aristocratic family. His background seemed»»»

Moscow: Ukraine has hit the warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries -- Moscow's equivalent of Amazon -- at least three times in a week, killing several employees, causing fires and business losses. Kyiv accuses the e-commerce giant -- which employs thousands of people and has bec»»»

July 23 (UPI) -- A South Carolina zoo revealed the animal whose escape prompted the facility to remain closed Thursday was an Amur leopard. The Greenville Zoo said on social media that Irina, a 4-year-old Amur leopard, left her enclosure Thursday morning and was loose within the zoo grounds. The le»»»

Dubai: Gulf News is mourning the passing of former colleague Patrick Gayong Masahud, a respected newsroom professional whose dedication and commitment helped shape the organisation's transition from print to digital over more than three decades. Patrick passed away on July 19 after a courageous bat»»»

AL-AHSA: Al-Ahsa Governorate is renowned for the rich diversity of its summer produce. During this season, local markets come alive with an abundant supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, attracting growing demand from across the Eastern Province and neighboring countries, particularly for Al-Ahsa »»»

Only a full statutory working day will count as one day of employment service from January 1, 2027, Parliament decided conclusively on Friday. Parliament adopted the change at second reading through Labour Code amendments in the 2026 State Budget Bill. For part-time work, length of service will be »»»

Budget-funded organizations will suspend the planning, spending and transfer of funds for festive, entertainment and sporting events for their employees, MPs decided on Friday. The decision was adopted on second reading as part of the 2026 State Budget Bill. Budget-funded organizations will stop ho»»»

The kids are doing fine. And neither do they need anyone to tell them otherwise. As protests spread across India over the NEET paper leak in May, eventually prompting the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, each day, and each protest site, seemed to offer something new. There were»»»

The head of the Lawyers’ Circle, Lóránt Horváth, said on the programme Konkrétan with Egon Rónai that he is convinced the case of the Ukrainian gold convoy lies behind the resignation of chief prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy, and that the affair could eventually reach Orbán himself. Gold convoy case: »»»

Bahrain activated its sirens early Friday, warning residents to shelter from detected fire hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran. The Gulf states have come under frequent fire over the past week as the U.S. and Iran exchange escalating strikes i»»»

First Sermon (Khutbah One) All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, Who has commanded us to invoke blessings and peace upon the Seal of the Prophets. I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship but Allah alone, and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muḥammad, is the M»»»

TradeUnited States of AmericaWhy Trump's 'forced labor' tariffs leave the world puzzledNik MartinAfter the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's emergency tariffs, the White House has turned to another trade law linked to alleged human rights abuses. DW explains the new tariffs and the debate»»»

Residents of southern Lebanese town of Zawtar Al-Gharbiya began on Friday entering the village in a controlled, phased process on the fourth day since the Lebanese Army’s deployment there. Al-Manar correspondent reported the entry of residents, saying it was organized in batches, with five vehicles»»»

GENEVA: Women and ​girls in Sudan’s Al-Obeid face a dire choice between the threat of drone attacks during the day and sexual violence at night when they go out to fetch water in the besieged city, UN Women said on Friday. Access to food and health care is severely limited in Al-Obeid, the capital »»»

I recently read about a new trend where men are having fillers injected into their scrotums to make themselves more attractive. Some, trying to save money, turn to unlicensed beauty therapists. Others go even further and inject hyaluronic acid themselves at home and, as a result, they sometimes los»»»

RIYADH: In a country where fresh water is manufactured rather than naturally abundant, every advance in desalination carries significant value. Saudi Arabia’s vast desalination network supplies millions of homes, businesses and industries every day, transforming seawater into one of the Kingdom's m»»»

Dubai: As many people go for their summer holidays, Pope Leo XIV has encouraged Christians to use the season as an opportunity to deepen their faith through acts of mercy, simplicity, and service to others. In the July/August edition of the Italian magazine Piazza San Pietro, cited by Vatican News,»»»

The corporate landscape is experiencing a structural realignment as companies navigate the complexities of modern working arrangements. According to a new report published by CBRE Romania, the prevailing narrative that professionals are inherently resistant to returning to physical offices is funda»»»

JEDDAH: Al-Tawkilat Motorsport has announced the Motor Mania Track Challenge 2026 calendar as an official Aramco F4 Saudi Arabian Championship support series. It marks the latest phase of a growing motorsport platform designed to develop competitive racing in the Kingdom under the Saudi Automobile »»»

The United States launched a new series of strikes in Iran on Friday, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels opened a second front in the conflict, attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and sending oil prices skyrocketing. Follow our liveblog for the latest developments. • US President Donald Trump&»»»

Thousands of people were forced to flee deadly wildfires that continued to sweep through parts of France, Spain and Italy on Friday.Hundreds of firefighters backed by water-bombing planes battled the blazes fanned by scorching temperatures and strong winds. Follow our liveblog for the latest develo»»»

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Friday after talks with government ministers, but student-led protests over leaked medical entrance exam papers continued, with demonstrators demanding the education minister's resignation and wider reforms. Indian activist Sonam Wang»»»

More than 40,000 were evacuated from southwestern France over the past two days as wildfires continued to sweep through the region and were not yet under control, the local prefect said Friday. Spain’s government declared a national emergency and hundreds of firefighters backed by water-bombin»»»

The second reading of the draft state budget for 2026 and Parliament’s decision to authorize the deployment of US aerial refuelling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base dominate Friday’s news media. POLITICS Under the headline “With One Foot Out: Bulgaria’s Geopolitical Change under Radev,” Mediapool.bg wri»»»

Berlin: Two years after stepping down from Liverpool citing a lack of energy, Jurgen Klopp has returned to the dugout to oversee the mammoth task of restoring German football to its former glory. Football's most decorated European nation, the once-formidable Germans have lurched from setback to dis»»»

CAPE TOWN: A South African court ruled on Friday in favor of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid to pause impeachment proceedings against him over a scandal involving half-a-million dollars stashed in a sofa at his ranch. Ramaphosa asked the Western Cape High Court to stop the work of a parliamentary i»»»

GENEVA: United Nations Human Rights chief Volker Turk, an ​outspoken critic of Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s conduct in Gaza, faces opposition from both countries to a second four-year term ahead of a vote on Friday, diplomats told Reuters. Turk, a lawyer who has worked for the United Nation»»»

Ichikawa, Japan: Punch, a plush-clutching Japanese baby monkey that has become a global online sensation, will celebrate his first birthday on Sunday as his zoo is flooded with fan letters from around the world. Abandoned by his mother and spurned by some peers, the young macaque shot to stardom af»»»

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev inspected the progress of several construction and reconstruction projects during a working visit to Talas region. Kasymaliev visited the construction site of the Aitmatov Aalamy historical and memorial complex, where he was brie»»»

A series of explosions broke out near a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq, hours after the U.S. military said it had wrapped up its 13th night of strikes against Iran. A journalist with the Associated Press heard at least seven blasts around 9:30 a.m. local time in the city of Irbi»»»

CAIRO: Ghizlane Chebbak does not remember a time without a ball at her feet. Her late father, Larbi Chebbak, who helped guide Morocco to the Africa Cup of Nations title back in 1976, gave her a football when she was a little girl — and it was love at first sight. She would play in the streets of he»»»

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence becomes self-aware, decides humans are the problem, launches a nuclear war and then thinks of a way to change history using a time-travelling robot. I know, you’ve heard this one before. The links between The Terminator movie and the current advancement»»»

Dubai: India's Gen Z may have taken to the streets to protest repeated examination paper leaks, but they've also unleashed something else entirely: a meme storm that has swallowed social media whole. Every march now spawns a hilarious, acerbic reel. Every police chase becomes a cinematic edit. Ever»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total point-of-sale transactions value reached SR13 billion ($3.5 billion) in the week ending July 18, with freight transport and courier services the sole gainer. According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, this represented an 8.5 percent decline from the previ»»»

1/13Palestinian girl Ahed Tamimi (C) challenges Israeli soldiers during a protest in the West Bank in 2018.AFP2/13This UGC image posted on Twitter reportedly on October 26, 2022 shows an unveiled woman standing on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa A»»»

Lège-Cap-Ferret, France: Luggage-clad residents and tourists fled a French peninsula by boat and the smell of smoke drifted into parts of Madrid on Friday as wildfires swept through parts of western Europe, triggering states of emergencies and calls for EU help. In France, fires raging near the cou»»»

Tokyo: A Swiss man died after losing consciousness hiking up Mount Fuji, authorities said on Friday, taking fatalities this climbing season on the scenic but potentially dangerous mountain to two. Rescuers separately managed to save a 99-year-old woman, however, after she was injured on the mountai»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanon hailed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he ordered all American airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon. He made the announcement earlier this week following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. The move carries political, economic and »»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices moved lower on Friday afternoon, giving jewellery buyers a cheaper entry point after 24-karat gold briefly climbed above Dh500 earlier this week. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 24-karat variety stood at Dh485.25 per gram at noon, down Dh2.»»»