Hungary unveils huge EUR 3 billion housing plan as new government takes aim at controversial mega-projects
The Wekerle Sándor programme could deliver affordable rental homes and student accommodation, while the government also moves to revisit the M6 motorway deal and several controversial investments Hungary could launch a multi-billion-euro rental housing programme by the end of the year, with the Wek»»»
Radev's First Hundred Days: All the Power, Few of the Promises
Rumen Radev's government will hit its hundredth day this weekend and the numbers behind it are still remarkable. Progressive Bulgaria won 131 of 240 seats in April, forming only the second single-party government since 1990. Radev became the first Bulgarian to hold both the presidency and the premi»»»
Primary Energy: Deficit rises 10% late in June 2026 (National Energy Observatory)
Tunis, August 14 (TAP) – Tunisia’s primary energy balance recorded a deficit of 3.1 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) at the end of June 2026, up 10% from the deficit recorded a year earlier, when the gas transit royalty is taken into account,...»»»
U.S. accuses Chinese firms of avoiding tariffs by shipping through other countries - UPI.com
A container ship carrying cargo moves away from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City on November 2. A new White House report accuses Chinese companies of doing limited assembly and repackaging in third countries to avoid U.S. tariffs. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Aug. »»»
Malaysia records strong Q2 economic growth, says PM
Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian economy continued to defy expectations for the third consecutive quarter, growing strongly by 6.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026 despite shocks that have disrupted the global economy, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday. Anwar, who is also finance minister»»»
Defence Ministry Announces Movement of Italian Armed Forces Equipment across National Road Network
Convoys carrying equipment of the Italian Armed Forces, which are to take part in an exercise, will move along Bulgaria's national road network between August 17 to 21, the Defence Ministry said in a press release on Friday. The convoys will travel from the Bulgarian border with Greece to the Novo »»»
Qatar concludes its combined report discussion with UN disability committee
Geneva: The State of Qatar concluded its discussion of its combined report covering the second to fourth periodic reports on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, during the interactive dialogue with the United Nations Committee on the Ri»»»
Energy trade deficit surges to TND 7,000 million end of June 2026 (observatory)
Tunis, Aug. 14 (TAP)- The energy trade deficit surged to TND 7,000 million end of June 2026 from TND 5,175 million one year earlier, posting a 35% rise (taking into account Algerian gas royalties). The report on the energy situation released Friday...»»»
Russia swings 93% of its rail trade to friendly states as it maps corridors to the Indian Ocean
Russia is stitching together a web of new railway corridors that reach from the South Caucasus to the Indian Ocean, redirecting freight away from Europe and towards Asia and the Global South as it makes a pivot to the east. More than 93% of Russian Railways' (RZD) international traffic already runs»»»
Low Danube Forces Romania to Rely More on BulgariaOpinions
Bulgaria is becoming an increasingly important source of electricity for Romania after drought and record-low Danube levels forced the shutdown of both reactors at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The loss of 1,400 MW of nuclear capacity has put additional pressure on Romania's electricity system»»»
Assad-era officer convicted in Austria returns to Syria a free man, sources say
DAMASCUS/FRANKFURT: A former Syrian security officer sentenced to prison in Austria for abusing detainees during Bashar Assad’s rule left the country while appealing against his sentence and returned to Syria earlier this month, according to four sources and messages reviewed by Reuters. Lt. Col. M»»»
French drought could halve maize crop, deepen EU harvest losses
PARIS/HAMBURG: Relentless heat and drought could halve this year’s French maize harvest and reduce European Union production to its smallest in decades, analysts said, despite expectations that crops in Poland and Romania will hold up better. The European Commission in late July cut its forecast fo»»»
Taliban releases journalist Hamid Farhadi after 2 years
LONDON: The Taliban released journalist Hamid Farhadi after he completed a two-year prison sentence on charges of propaganda against the group and cooperation with the exiled Etilaatroz newspaper. Farhadi’s family confirmed his release on Thursday from Bagram prison. He was detained by Taliban Inte»»»
Russia's economy rebounds 1.3% in the second quarter but budget strains deepen
Russia's economy bounced back to 1.3% growth in the second quarter, beating official forecasts after a rare contraction at the start of the year. Preliminary data from Rosstat, the state statistics service, put second-quarter GDP up 1.3% y/y, above the 0.8% the central bank had forecast and the 0.9»»»
Energy sector exports up 38% through June 2026 (National Observatory of Energy and Mines)
Tunis, August 14, 2026 (TAP) — Tunisia’s energy sector exports increased by 38% through the end of June 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, while the value of energy imports rose by 36%, according to data from the National Observatory of...»»»
APII takes part in national initiative to promote women’s entrepreneurship
Tunis, August 14, 2026 (TAP) – The Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII) has joined a national initiative launched on August 10 by the Ministry of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly to establish a unified pathway for...»»»
Russia Strikes Ukrainian Forces Weapons Depot in Port of Yuzhny
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces struck a warehouse containing weapons, military equipment, and property belonging to the Ukrainian armed forces in the port of Yuzhny with missiles and drones, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Friday. "During the day, high-precision air-launched we»»»
Hormuz crisis: What UAE residents need to know this evening (August 14)
Dubai: Friday saw a steady stream of updates across the region, from maritime developments in the Strait of Hormuz to further adjustments on regional flight schedules. Airlines continue to advise passengers to check their flight status before travelling, while energy markets remain in focus. Here's»»»
Tunisian Embassy in Abu Dhabi allocates 10 days for issuing, renewing, and replacing national ID cards for Tunisian nationals
Tunis, August 14 (TAP) — The Tunisian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced on Friday that the Ministry of Interior has dispatched a technical team to the United Arab Emirates to provide Tunisian nationals residing in the country with services related to...»»»
Regulator, Mobile Operators Take Aim at Surge in Caller ID Spoofing Scams
The Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) and mobile operators will jointly combat a rise in caller ID spoofing scams, the regulator said on Friday. The initiative involves the three mobile operators holding nationwide licences, A1 Bulgaria, Vivacom and Yettel Bulgaria, as well as industry org»»»
RBI closes FCNR deposit window early after strong inflows
The Reserve Bank of India has moved up the deadline for banks to mobilise foreign currency deposits from non-resident Indians, after the scheme attracted more than $56 billion in inflows. The RBI said on Friday that banks will now have until August 31, 2026, to raise Foreign Currency Non-Resident (»»»
US National Debt Grows By Over $500Bln Since Beginning of July
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The national debt of the United States has increased by more than $500 billion since July 1 and has come close to a record high of $40 trillion, RIA Novosti calculated based on data from the US Treasury Department. In early July, that number was $39.389 trillion, by mid-Augus»»»
AIPAC attacks NYT columnist over call for Michigan’s El-Sayed to challenge pro-Israel lobby
LONDON: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee condemned senior New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman on Wednesday following Friedman’s encouragement of Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed to “be true to your pro-Palestinian, Arab American roots and stick it to” the pro-Israel lob»»»
India’s Tata Steel offload top-flight club Jamshedpur for $1
NEW DELHI: Tata Steel sold all its stake in Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC to Goa-based club Churchill Brothers for a token amount of 100 Indian rupees ($1.05) on Friday, two weeks after the conglomerate announced it was pulling out of the ISL. Twice national league champions Churchill Brot»»»
Bulgarian Orthodox Church Calls for Public Condemnation of Violence
On Friday, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church issued an official call for public condemnation of violence, following the murder in Plovdiv of 37-year-old Georgi Kuzev. "Such an act of extreme aggression and blatant lawlessness shakes the very foundations of our society’s moral conscien»»»
Foreign Ministry Ready with Protest Note over Road Traffic Case in North Macedonia
The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has prepared a diplomatic protest note over the case of Iva Mihaylova in North Macedonia, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told a briefing in Pleven on Friday. The trial against Mihaylova, who is charged with a serious offence related to road traffic safety in North Macedon»»»