Ukraine Attacks Belarusian Bus in Russia's Bryansk Region With 19 Aboard
Two residents of Belarus were injured and received medical assistance. "The drone attack on the passenger bus is part of a calculated strategy by Ukraine that could not have taken place without the approval of its Western sponsors," Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said»»»
UAE traffic alert: Heavy congestion reported in Deira, Dubai Creek and Sharjah border areas this evening
Dubai: Commuters across Dubai and the Sharjah border faced a mixed evening on the roads on Thursday, with heavy congestion reported around Deira, the Dubai Creek crossings, and the Sharjah Dubai boundary along Al Ittihad Road (E11). Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - »»»
Oman unveils $250m real estate development fund
JEDDAH: Oman has launched the Oman Real Estate Development Fund, a new investment vehicle that aims to channel at least 96 million Omani rials ($249.4 million) into property development projects across the Sultanate. The initiative is a partnership between Oman National Investments Development Co.,»»»
Bibi’s Bid to Cut Loose From US Aid Could Be ‘Leap in the Dark’
The Israeli military-industrial complex will surely have significant problems in sustaining the never-ending wars that the country has launched, Ambassador Marco Carnelos, former Italian Diplomat and Middle East Adviser to Prime Ministers Prodi and Berlusconi, tells Sputnik. Carnelos warned that Is»»»
Cricket’s force for good needs repair
The third and final stage of the 2026 women’s T20 World Cup generated some compelling cricket, not all of it flawless. One of the most noteworthy outcomes was Ireland’s first ever T20 World Cup victory. The team had almost achieved that historic landmark against New Zealand on June 19, failing to s»»»
Blast in cafe in central Damascus, cause unclear
Damascus: An explosion was heard on Thursday at a cafe in central Damascus, near the Palace of Justice, a Syrian security source said, after state TV reported a blast in the capital. An AFP correspondent saw ambulances weaving their way through traffic with their sirens sounding as they headed to t»»»
Inter-communal clashes kill 48 in Nigeria: intel report
KANO: Intercommunal violence in western central Nigeria killed at least 48 people on Wednesday, a security report seen by AFP said on Thursday. The report, prepared for the United Nations, said “herder militia” armed with machetes raided farmers from the Kamuku ethnic group in the town of Tegina in»»»
DR Congo’s Ebola official death toll exceeds 400: authorities
KINSHASA: The official death toll in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo now exceeds more than 400, according to official figures released on Thursday. The highly contagious disease has claimed 438 lives, with 1,406 people infected since the outbreak was declared in northeastern I»»»
Blast in cafe in central Damascus, cause unclear
Damascus: An explosion was heard on Thursday at a cafe in central Damascus, near the Palace of Justice, a Syrian security source said, after state TV reported a blast in the capital. An AFP correspondent saw ambulances weaving their way through traffic with their sirens sounding as they headed to t»»»
Blast in cafe in central Damascus
An explosion was heard on Thursday at a cafe in central Damascus, near the Palace of Justice, a Syrian security source told AFP, after state TV reported a blast in the capital. An AFP correspondent saw ambulances weaving their way through traffic with their sirens sounding as they headed to the are»»»
Justice Minister Naydenov Reaffirms Bulgaria's Commitment to Human Rights in Meeting with CoE Human Rights Commissioner O'Flaherty
Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to upholding human rights during a meeting with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty. "I assure you of the Bulgarian Government's commitment to the protection of human rights, particularly t»»»
Vazrazhdane Will Request Meeting with Patriarch Daniil Over Introduction of Virtues and Religion Subject in Schools
Speaking in the parliamentary lobby on Thursday, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that the party will request a meeting with Patriarch Daniil regarding a bill on the introduction of the subject Virtues and Religion in Bulgarian schools, which was rejected on Wednesday by the parliamentar»»»
Parliament Tasks National Audit Office with Three Audits of Public Finance Management
Parliament on Thursday tasked the National Audit Office with carrying out three audits related to public finance management, covering the social sector, the Finance Ministry and the Road Infrastructure Agency. In a unanimous 155-0 vote, MPs instructed the National Audit Office to audit social benef»»»
Look: 10 people run half-marathon in caterpillar costume, chase world record - UPI.com
The 10 members of the Tutbury Running Club ran the Ramathon half-marathon in Derby, England, while wearing a 60-foot-long caterpillar costume. Photo courtesy of Jane Tomlinson's Run For All July 1 (UPI) -- A British running club's 10 members donned a caterpillar costume together to attempt a Guinne»»»
Vucic to receive Spanish defence minister on Friday
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet with Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles Fernandez in Belgrade on Friday, the presidential press office has announced. After the meeting, the family of posthumously decorated Serbian Armed Forces NCO Milovan Jovanovic, who was recently k»»»
Dubai unveils Digital Twin Platform with 3D models of 195,000 buildings and key assets, boosting smart city planning
Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, on Thursday witnessed the launch of the Dubai Digital Twin Platform during a workshop organised by Dubai Municipality. Writing »»»
World Bank urges Pakistan to revamp NFC Award formula
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has urged Pakistan to overhaul the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award by revising both the vertical and horizontal revenue-sharing formula and adopting a fiscal equalisation model based on provinces’ spending needs and revenue capacity. According to The News, the»»»
Bloomberg: Brent crude futures fall below $71 a barrel - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Bloomberg: Brent crude futures fall below $71 a barrel 02-07-2026 14:39 PM Latest News Urgent News Bloomberg: Brent crude futures fall belo»»»
World Bank Groups MIGA grants €13.05 million guarantee for 100 MW solar project in Sidi Bouzid
TUNIS, July 2 (TAP) – The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which hosts the World Bank Group's Guarantee Platform, has approved a new €13.05 million guarantee for AEOLUS SAS of France to help finance the construction of a large...»»»
Rwanda steps up nuclear ambitions with Russia-backed SMR cooperation agreement
Russia and Rwanda have agreed a roadmap to advance cooperation on small modular reactors (SMRs) and civilian nuclear energy, marking the latest step in Kigali's ambition to introduce nuclear power into its energy mix in the early 2030s. The roadmap was signed during the inaugural meeting of the Joi»»»
Doha Municipality launches summer awareness event for children at Tawar Mall
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality, represented by Doha Municipality, organized an educational and recreational event for children to coincide with the start of the summer holiday at the Old Souq in Tawar Mall. The event aimed to encourage children to make productive use of their free time t»»»
Israel rules out troop withdrawal from occupied areas of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria
Israel will keep its troops in occupied areas of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria indefinitely, Defense Minister Israel Katz has said, describing the policy as necessary for “defending the borders.” Speaking on Wednesday at a memorial ceremony for soldiers killed in the 2006 Lebanon War, Katz said there wo»»»
Poland slams Ukraine’s Zelensky for escalating Nazi collaborator rift
The office of Polish President Karol Nawrocki has accused Vladimir Zelensky of further aggravating the rift over the honoring of Nazi collaborators in Ukraine. Relations between Warsaw and Kiev have grown increasingly strained since the Ukrainian leader named a military unit after the ‘Heroes of th»»»
Jeddah residents flock to Friday’s bird auction
JEDDAH: The Haraj Bird Market in the south of Jeddah hosts a lively, weekly public auction every Friday afternoon for amateurs, hobbyists and bird enthusiasts who make their way to buy, sell and admire a variety of bird species. The auction features a wide variety of birds, from colorful ornamental»»»
AI and virtual reality take centre stage in Abu Dhabi's anti-drug campaign
Abu Dhabi: As part of the activities marking World Drug Day 2026 and the National Anti-Drug Campaign under the slogan “United Against Drugs: Eradicating the Threat,” the Anti-Narcotics Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters organised an innovative interactive awareness exhibition at B»»»
Bulgaria and Namibia Seek to Deepen Political and Economic Cooperation
Bulgaria's Deputy Foreign Minister Hristo Polendakov has met with Namibia's Ambassador to Bulgaria Vasco Mushe Samupofu, who is based in Vienna. The meeting took place at the Foreign Ministry in Sofia on Thursday, the ministry's press centre reported. The two discussed opportunities to deepen the p»»»
Algerians vote for new parliament with turnout in focus
Algiers, Algeria: Algerians headed to the polls on Thursday to elect a new parliament in an election shadowed by expectations of low turnout among the 25-million-person electorate. The vote is taking place amid controversy over the government's disqualification of roughly a third of would-be candid»»»
Education Minister approves secondary school exam results for 2025-2026
Doha, Qatar: Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, has approved the first-round General Secondary School Certificate examination results for the 2025–2026 academic year during an official session held at the Ministry's headquarters in the presence »»»
Sharjah civil defence offers 50 per cent fee relief for businesses
Sharjah: The Sharjah civil defense authority, under the directives of the Sharjah Executive Council, has announced a wide-ranging financial relief initiative aimed at supporting the emirate’s business sector, reducing operational burdens, and stimulating economic activity. The package introduces su»»»
Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua kill American pilot, burn plane, spokesperson says
JAKARTA: Rebels in Indonesia’s restive easternmost region of Papua on Thursday shot dead an American pilot and set a civilian plane on fire in what a spokesperson for a local separatist group described as a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments. A low-level battle for independence from In»»»
Aoun says will not yield 'a single inch' of territory to Israel
President Joseph Aoun defended on Thursday negotiations with Israel, saying they were not a betrayal and he would not surrender "a single inch of Lebanon's territory", according to the presidency. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli army would remain "until furth»»»
El Shams Pyramids swings to profitability in Q1 2026 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: El Shams Pyramids for Hotels and Touristic Projects returned to profitability in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, reporting a net profit of $1.26 million, versus a net loss of $9.41 million in the corresponding period of 2025, according to the company's financial indicators released on»»»
Space startup to launch India's first private orbital rocket
Bengaluru, India: Indian startup Skyroot Aerospace said Thursday it would hold the maiden test flight of the country's first privately developed orbital-class rocket in the coming weeks. The Vikram-1 rocket, designed to carry small satellites into low-Earth orbit, will lift off from the Satish Dhaw»»»
New series of postage stamps issued ahead of World Nomad Games - | 24.KG
Kyrgyz Pochtasy OJSC has introduced new postage stamps dedicated to the 6th World Nomad Games, as well as the anniversaries of Kasym Tynystanov, Zhusup Abdrakhmanov, and Bubusara Beyshenalieva. A ceremonial first-day cancellation of the stamps was held on July 2 at the National History Museum of Ky»»»
Sadyr Japarov launches cable ways for future Ala-Too Resort - | 24.KG
President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov on July 2 gave start to technical launch of the first two cable ways at the under-construction all-season mountain Ala-Too Resort in Ak-Suu district of Issyk-Kul region. The first phase of the project is scheduled to open in December 2026. According to the pres»»»
Royal reserve signs memorandum to protect houbara bustard
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for Houbara Conservation to support national efforts to protect the endangered bird and reintroduce the houbara bustard into its natural habitats, c»»»
First-instance judgement against Anas Hmaidi upheld in appeal with immediate execution
Tunis, July 2 (TAP)- The correctional chamber at the Tunis Court of Appeal upheld in absentia the first-instance judgement against Anas Hmaidi (president of the Tunisian Judges’ Association).Hmaidi had been sentenced to one year in prison for...»»»
Serbia, R Srpska to set up coordination team for cooperation in science, technology
BELGRADE - Serbia and Republika Srpska will this month set up a coordination team for cooperation in science and technology to jointly coordinate all activities in the fields of scientific and technological development. An agreement on this was made at a meeting between Serbian Minister of Science,»»»
Leaving for a holiday this summer? Here's how to keep your home safe
Abu Dhabi: With the arrival of holiday seasons and increased travel both within and outside the country, families and individuals are placing greater emphasis on taking the necessary precautions to safeguard their homes and possessions during periods of absence. While travel offers relaxation and e»»»
Bulgarian Government Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack in Thessaloniki
The Bulgarian Government strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Thessaloniki that claimed one life and left several others injured, the Government's press service said in a Facebook post here on Thursday. "Political assassinations are incompatible with democracy," the statement said, adding that»»»
Air India Express fully restores its India-GCC network ahead of summer travel rush
Dubai: Air India Express has restored flights across its entire West Asia network, with services to Kuwait and Salalah resuming after recent disruptions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The airline said flights between Kozhikode and Salalah restarted on July 2, while s»»»
Chanel acquires historic Charvet shirtmaker
Paris, France: French luxury giant Chanel announced Thursday that it had acquired historic Parisian shirtmaker Charvet, having previously collaborated with the brand which caters mostly to men. Charvet has been making bespoke shirts and suits from its home on Place Vendome in Paris since 1838, with»»»
99.1 percent pass recorded in science as secondary school exam results announced
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced on Thursday, July 2, 2026, the results of the secondary school examinations for the 2025–2026 academic year. In a press conference, the Assistant Undersecretary for Evaluation Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Educa»»»
Lithuania moves to end nuclear weapon ban as ‘situation getting worse’
VILNIUS: Lithuania’s parliamentary parties have agreed on a plan to lift a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons and foreign military bases in the Baltic nation, the president said, in a sign of how Russia is resetting security calculations in the region. The move — a major legal overhaul which wi»»»
Democratic Bulgaria, Vazrazhdane Call on Constitutional Court Judge Desislava Atanasova to Resign
Democratic Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane on Thursday called on Constitutional Court Judge Desislava Atanasova to resign. "When will Desislava Atanasova resign as a Constitutional Court judge?" Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivaylo Mirchev said, calling on the former GERB parliamentary group chair to step down. »»»
Syria’s Al-Shaibani Discusses with Speaker Berri Development of Bilateral Relations: Ready to Meet Hezbollah if Necessary
Following his meeting with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani confirmed that “the discussion focused on ways to develop relations between Lebanon and Syria,” denying that “the issue of Hezbollah was raised during the meeting.” In response to»»»
Former Arsenal, Spain midfielder Cazorla retires
Oviedo, Spain: Former Arsenal and Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla retired from football at the age of 41 on Thursday after more than two decades in the game. The diminutive Asturian helped his local team Oviedo reach La Liga in 2025 and played his final season with them in the Spanish top flight. "No»»»
Beijing says China-EU trade talks set in the fall, to be held regularly each year
China and the European Union will hold ministerial-level trade talks once or twice a year, China's Commerce Ministry said Thursday, as the two sides work to increase and rebalance trade. The EU faces growing pressure to reduce its trade deficit with China, which widened to about 360 billion euros (»»»
United States brace for unrelenting heatwave, with calls to stay safe
An unrelenting heatwave across the US is forcing everyone, from local outreach teams to World Cup organisers to completely pivot, with the struggle to stay safe on the street and on the fields as temperatures rise. The heat isn't just a crisis on the streets - it is also hitting the sports world. P»»»
Two arrested after climbing Empire State Building antenna for marriage proposal
Two people climbed the antenna of New York's Empire State Building on Wednesday, unfurled a banner promoting “the power of love” and appeared to stage a marriage proposal before being arrested. News footage showed the masked pair kissing atop the skyscraper before one knelt and the other appeared t»»»