e& H1 revenue climbs 11.6% to Dh38.1b as subscriber base tops 251 million
Dubai: e& reported double-digit revenue growth for the first half of 2026 as its subscriber base expanded sharply across domestic and international markets, while the telecom and technology group continued reshaping its investment portfolio through asset sales. Get updated faster and for FREE: Down»»»
The Bulgarian Government Declares Two Lukoil Firms National Security AssetsOpinions
The Bulgarian government has declared two companies from the Lukoil group as objects related to national security in an effort to maintain state control over key fuel operations and prevent possible disruptions on the energy market. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Ind»»»
Aoun seeks Turkey’s backing to implement framework deal
President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that Turkey is well-positioned to advocate for the framework agreement internationally and urge all parties to abide by its terms, as he visited the country to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other officials. Aoun said he thinks Turkey can su»»»
European Commission to Reassess Bulgaria's Excessive Deficit Procedure in November
The European Commission will issue a new assessment of Bulgaria under the excessive deficit procedure (EDP) in November, a Commission spokesperson said on Thursday in response to a question about the adoption of this country's 2026 State Budget Act. The National Assembly passed the 2026 State Budge»»»
Bulgaria's LB Bulgaricum and Japan's Meiji to Complete Joint R&D Laboratory by Year-End
A joint research and development laboratory between Bulgaria's state-owned dairy company LB Bulgaricum and Japan's food manufacturer Meiji Corporation will be completed by the end of the year, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during a meeting with representatives of Meiji, as reported by the governm»»»
Iraq's balancing act gets harder as war between US and Iran widens
Strikes launched by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia against Iran-allied fighters in Iraq have put Iraq's government in a delicate position — and not for the first time. Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq has walked a tightrope between Washington and Tehran, seeking to avoid becoming a battleground fo»»»
Iran's Guards say three members killed in US attack on northwest
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that three of its members were killed in an attack by the United States on the northwestern province of Zanjan. "In the brutal attack carried out by the terrorist regime of the criminal United States on 30 July 2026, three brave and devoted members of th»»»
stc Group delivers strong financial performance in the first half of 2026
Commenting on the results, stc group CEO Olayan bin Mohammed Alwetaid affirmed that the financial results demonstrated strong financial and operational performance, alongside continued progress in executing the group’s strategic priorities. This sustained progress reflects the strength of the group»»»
Employer's Analysis Says Foreign Workers Do Not Replace Bulgarian Employees
Bulgaria's National Employment Agency issued 49,179 permits, opinions and registrations granting third-country nationals access to the labour market in 2025, of which 27,943 (56.8%) were for seasonal or other short-term employment, according to an analysis by the Bulgarian Industrial Association (B»»»
Armenia's $500mn AI data centre moves closer to completion
Armenia is preparing to launch a major artificial intelligence (AI) data centre in the city of Hrazdan, with the first phase of the project involving $500mn in investment and thousands of high-performance computing processors, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry said. High-Tech Industry Minister&nbs»»»
Bulgaria's Business Climate Improves Slightly in July Despite Persistent Challenges
Bulgaria's overall business climate indicator rose by 0.7 points in July 2026 compared with the previous month, reaching 16.8%, driven by improvements in the industrial and construction sectors, while confidence in the services sector declined, according to data released by the National Statistical»»»
Bulgaria: Radev Cabinet Holds 42% Support After First 100 Days, but Faces Pressure Over Results
The government of Prime Minister Rumen Radev enters its first 100 days in office with a positive public assessment, but voters are increasingly looking for concrete results, according to a national representative survey by Alpha Research. The poll was conducted between July 17 and 23 among 1,000 ad»»»
Iraq's balancing act is only getting harder as war between US and Iran widens
Strikes launched by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia against Iran-allied fighters in Iraq have put Iraq's government in a delicate position — and not for the first time. Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq has walked a tightrope between Washington and Tehran, seeking to avoid becoming a battleground fo»»»
Sanctions on Russia backfire, leaving Spain's firefighting helicopters grounded as wildfires rage
EU sanctions on Russia have backfired, leaving Spain's best Russian-built Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopters grounded as severe wildfires burn across southern Europe, reported Berliner Zeitung. Spain can no longer maintain the aircraft, the newspaper said, because sanctions on their manufacturer »»»
Radev Cabinet Has 42% Approval, Alpha Research Poll Shows Ahead of Government's First 100 Days
At the end of July, positive assessments of Rumen Radev’s Cabinet stood at 42%, negative assessments at 33%, and neutral assessments at 25%, according to a survey conducted by the Alpha Research polling agenct on public attitudes ahead of the Government's first 100 days in office. The survey was co»»»
Israel's military chief visits soldiers in south Lebanon
Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited soldiers deployed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. He said the army "will not withdraw from the security zone until long-term security is ensured". "If required, we will deepen our operations and reach additional areas," he added, acc»»»
Why Did President Yotova Refuse to Veto Bulgaria’s 2026 Budget?
President Iliana Yotova has decided not to veto Bulgaria’s 2026 state budget, saying that returning the law for another discussion would create even greater financial and institutional uncertainty. Instead, she announced that she would promulgate the budget despite concerns over some of its provisi»»»
Nuclearelectrica responds to PM's Control Body report: SMR project development legally compliant
Nuclearelectrica responded to the conclusions of the Prime Minister's Control Body regarding the Doicesti small modular reactor (SMR) project, stating that none of the company's decisions caused any loss and that all actions were taken legally and in the interest of the company. The reaction follow»»»
Bulgaria Extends State Control Over Lukoil Fuel OperationsOpinions
Bulgaria's ruling majority has approved emergency legislative amendments that preserve the authority of the state's special administrator over all major Lukoil companies operating in the country, extending government oversight to aviation and marine fuel operations. The changes were backed by Progr»»»
On This Day, July 30: Lyndon B. Johnson signs Medicare into law - UPI.com
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law, dedicating it to former President Harry Truman, who "planted the seeds of compassion." 1 of 3 | President Lyndon B. Johnson (2nd L) signs the Medicare bill July 30, 1965, at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Mo. Former Presid»»»
PM Bolojan: Credit ratings influenced by political instability created by PSD's actions
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Wednesday that the credit ratings of the rating agencies for Romania are influenced by political instability and by the statements that everything that was done was wrong and can lead to a "worrying perspective", claiming that it came to this point not be»»»
Fitch review of Romania's sovereign rating to test investor confidence amid junk risk
Fitch Ratings is due to announce on Friday whether it will downgrade Romania's sovereign credit rating to speculative, or "junk", status, in what financial consultant Adrian Negrescu described as a finely balanced decision. He argued that, beyond the rating action itself, the agency's assessment of»»»
France's top court reviews extradition appeal filed by Prince Paul of Romania
France's highest court examined on Wednesday the appeal filed by Prince Paul of Romania, whose extradition to Romania was recently authorised by French judges so he can serve a prison sentence in a influence-peddling case, AFP reports.Prince Paul's legal team argued before the Court of Cassation th»»»
Interim PM Bolojan holds talks with Kazakh PM on Romania's crude oil supply
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan held a telephone conversation on Wednesday with Kazakh Prime Minister Oljas Bektenov on the security of Romania's crude oil supply.According to a Government release, the talks focused on the operation of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline, a key infra»»»
Bomb Threat Triggers Shutdown at Romania’s Constanta Port
Romania’s Constanta Port was temporarily closed on Wednesday following a bomb threat, according to local media reports.Authorities launched an emergency response near Gate 1 of the Port of Constanta after receiving the threat. The area was evacuated as a precaution, while specialized bomb disposal »»»
President Dan to receive Moldova's new PM on Thursday
The new Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Tofan, will be received on Thursday by President Nicusor Dan at the Cotroceni Palace.According to the Presidential Administration, the two will meet at 11:00.The high-ranking official from the neighboring country will also be received by int»»»
Russia maintains that Romania’s allegations regarding the violation of its airspace by Russian drones are unfounded
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow stated on Tuesday night that Romania’s allegations regarding the violation of its airspace are unfounded and promised to answer following the expulsion of a Russian diplomat by the authorities in Bucharest, reports Reuters.The Russian Ministry of Foreign Af»»»
US says it struck dozens of Iranian targets in latest wave of attacks
The two-hour operation came in response to Iran’s missile launches targeting American forces in the Middle East, with Washington saying it hit military command centres, drone and missile facilities as well as coastal defence sites. The US military said on Wednesday it completed its latest wave of s»»»
Bezmer Residents Protest US Aircraft Deployment Again
Residents of Bezmer and the Yambol region are set to stage another protest on Friday evening against the planned deployment of US tanker aircraft and military personnel at the Bezmer Air Base. The demonstration, described by organizers as a peaceful civic protest, is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.»»»
ADNOC Drilling first-half profit rises to $706 million, dividends reach $525 million
Dubai: ADNOC Drilling shareholders are set to receive a second-quarter dividend of $262.5 million, equivalent to approximately 6 fils per share, after the company reported record revenue and profit for the first half of 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The payment»»»
Trump warns ‘it’s our turn’ to hit Iran after strikes on US bases, gas tanker
A suspected drone has struck a US-owned floating liquefied natural gas facility at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, setting two vessels ablaze and prompting President Donald Trump to threaten retaliation against Iran. British maritime security firm Ambrey assessed that at least one drone had»»»
Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
KUMAMOTO, Japan: Rural communities in southwestern Japan were struggling to get their lives back to normal Thursday, two days after a powerful earthquake set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes, killing at least 23 people. Time was running out to find survivors»»»
Spain eases evacuations as France battles fresh wildfires amid new heatwave
Thousands of evacuees were allowed home in Spain after firefighters gained ground against some of the country's worst blazes in decades, but soaring temperatures and new outbreaks in France underscored the broader wildfire emergency unfolding across southern Europe. Thousands who fled huge wildfire»»»
Drone hits storage tanker at Egyptian port in major Middle East escalation, security firm says
A drone hit a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, British maritime security firm Ambrey said in an initial assessment on Wednesday, and U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to retaliate against Iran for an overnight attack, as the Middle East conflict appeared to e»»»
Zelensky warns of possible major Russian strike overnight
The warning comes as Kyiv pushes its allies for additional Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine says are crucial to countering a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russia would likely carry out another massive attack on t»»»
Man convicted in terrorism trial over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie
A man was convicted Wednesday of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel “The Satanic Verses.” After just a couple of hours of deliberations, a jury found Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him, i»»»
US bombs Iran after Trump vows to ‘beat the f***ing s**t out of them’
The US has launched a “powerful” bombing raid against Iran after President Donald Trump warned that it was “our turn to hit them,” following Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on American forces in Jordan the previous night. US Central Command said the new strikes began at 8pm Eastern Time on Wednes»»»
US stocks slide as rates unchanged, oil price spikes
Wall Street stocks finished sharply lower Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged despite lofty US inflation as escalations in the Middle East war pushed oil prices skyward. Major US indices ended down more than 1.5 percent after initially greeting the Fed's decision to ke»»»
Iran launches new missile attacks as US and Saudi Arabia strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq – Ya Libnan
Share: Iran launched a wave of missile attacks targeting U.S. forces across the Middle East on Wednesday, as American and Saudi forces struck Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. US and Saudi forces targeted an armed Iraqi alliance © – / US NAVY/AFP»»»
Education minister resigns: 'Exhilarating moment' for India's youth as they demand accountability
Delano D'Souza is pleased to welcome Anish Gawande, National Spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). As India's younger generation challenges Modi's hardline government, Gawande frames recent government concessions, including the resignation of the Education Minister, the passage of »»»
Russia's fuel crisis eases further as refineries restart, but shortage remain
Russia's two-month fuel crisis is showing signs of easing, with Omsk becoming the first Russian region to lift all limits on petrol and diesel sales at filling stations, Governor Vitaly Khotsenko said on July 28. The caps, in place since June 22, had held drivers to about 40 litres of petrol and 80»»»
UNESCO committee session in S. Korea closes with 25 new heritage sites - UPI.com
South Korea's delegation, including UNESCO Ambassador Kim Ji-hee (R), applauds as Turkey is selected as the next host country at the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan on Wednesday. Photo by Yonhap The first UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting held in South Korea wrapped up Wednesday»»»
Iran launches new missile attacks as US and Saudi Arabia strike Tehran-backed militias in Iraq
Iran launched a wave of missile attacks targeting U.S. forces across the Middle East on Wednesday, as American and Saudi forces struck Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. US President Donald Trump vowed to hit back hard at Iran after it attacked US»»»
Madagascar struggles to deal with wave of kidnappings hitting capital city
In Madagascar, the capital remains shaken. Since the end of June, a wave of disappearances and kidnappings has hit Antananarivo, affecting mostly children and teenagers. Last Friday, the country observed a national day of mourning for the victims. The government has announced the creation of an ant»»»
New U.S. Ambassador Steel set to arrive in S. Korea on Thurs. - UPI.com
New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel (C) will arrive in Seoul on Thursday, sources said Wednesday. In this photo, she speaks to South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan (L) and Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha at an event in Washington on July 23. Photo by Yonhap New U.S. Ambassa»»»
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»»»
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»»»
Continue the Change's Ribarski: We Shouldn't Be Focusing on Restoring Old Defence Equipment
"We should not focus on restoring old defense equipment," MP Radoslav Ribarski of Continue the Change party told journalists in Parliament on Wednesday. He was commenting on the Ministry of Defence's request for a possible purchase of MiG-29 aircraft for spare parts. "We are for real modernization »»»
Defence Minister Stoyanov Says Bulgaria's F-16s Not Yet Ready for Combat Duty
The claims that currently the F-16 can be used for combat duty are strange, said Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov during Wednesday's meeting of the parliamentary Defence Committee. The minister pointed out that among the main obstacles is the training of the flight crew. "The pilot's training shou»»»
Taliban's homegrown drone programme outpaces Pakistan's defences
The Afghan Taliban's growing investment in drone technology is a direct response to their lack of a conventional air force, and Pakistan's defence establishment — built around fighter jets, tanks and artillery — is struggling to keep pace, Umair Jamal of the Diplomat Risk Intelligence consultancy a»»»