Strait of Hormuz tanker traffic drops sharply as U.S.-Iran tensions escalate
London, July 20 (SANA) Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply at the start of the week as military tensions between the United States and Iran continued to escalate, according to shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Reuters, citing the data, reported that onl»»»
Corporate demand reshapes Bucharest serviced office sector
Andreas Schlote, the founder of Hotspot, talked to BR about structural shifts in corporate real estate, noting that international occupiers increasingly demand headquarters-standard flexibility, driving the expansion of Hotspot’s 5,000 sqm Bucharest portfolio towards a third premium location to acc»»»
Iran says diplomatic exchanges with US ongoing via mediators
TEHRAN: Iran said on Monday that diplomatic exchanges with the United States via mediators were ongoing despite US military strikes on the country.“We have been informed by mediators, we have received messages — without going into details — but the main point is that the diplomatic apparatus has be»»»
Indian police baton charge protesters marching to parliament
NEW DELHI: India’s riot police baton-charged protesters in New Delhi as they tried to march to parliament on Monday, escalating a protest over irregularities in major examinations. Protesters ran for cover as police in blue riot gear charged at them near the Jantar Mantar protest site, an AFP journ»»»
Chinese rescuers use explosives to clear boulders trapping landslide victims
BEIJING: Rescue teams in southwestern China used explosives on Monday to blast through heavy boulders hampering efforts to reach 34 people reported missing for three days after a landslide during torrential rain in an area famed for natural beauty. China is one of the most landslide-prone countri»»»
Johnny Eblen knocks out Impa Kasanganay at PFL Austin, eyes unification bout against Costello van Steenis
TEXAS: No.1-ranked Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (18-1) became the PFL interim middleweight world champion in the main event at PFL Austin after knocking out No. 3 Impa “Tshilobo” Kasanganay (20-7) in a thrilling third round. With the current world champion Costello van Steenis sitting cage side at Moody»»»
Egypt’s Al-Ahly reject Al-Ittihad’s bid for World Cup star Emam Ashour, sources say
RIYADH: Al-Ittihad have had a bid for Egypt’s World Cup midfielder Emam Ashour rejected by Cairo giants Al-Ahly, according to a source close to the player who spoke to Arabic sports daily Arriyadiyah. The source indicated that the Jeddah side opened negotiations with Al-Ahly to sign the 28-year-old»»»
Qatar banks’ lending tops QR1.47 trillion, deposits hold steady in May
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s banking sector continued to post steady lending growth and resilient deposit levels during May 2026, underscoring the sector’s stability despite a modest decline in total assets, according to the latest monthly banking sector update from QNB Financial Services (QNBFS). The sect»»»
Community focus drives long-term value at Amber Forest
Alex Skouras, managing partner at Alesonor Real Estate Development, talked to BR regarding the shifting dynamics of the Romanian residential market. He emphasised that the future of the sector relies on complete, energy-efficient communities rather than volume, as buyers increasingly prioritise tot»»»
How the BVB listing helped shape One United Properties’ five-year growth trajectory
Victor Căpitanu, co-founder and co-CEO of One United Properties, talked to BR about how the developer’s BVB listing five years ago has transformed its capital deployment strategy, enhanced corporate governance across regional markets, and provided the credibility required to support its initial ent»»»
Rubio says US still open to Iran negotiations but 'it has to be real'
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which saw one-fifth of traded global oil supplies transit before the war. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan. Th»»»
Kyrgyzstanis spend over 19.7 billion soms on private home construction - | 24.KG
In January—June 2026, 4,591 individual residential houses with a total area of 634,000 square meters were commissioned in Kyrgyzstan. The total volume of investment reached 19,797.8 billion soms, data from the National Statistical Committee say. Private sector dynamics The total area of commissione»»»
Ministry of Awqaf opens new mosque in Al Dhakhira
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, represented by its Mosque Department, has inaugurated the Hamad Isa Al Hassan Al Muhannadi Mosque in Al Dhakhira as part of its ongoing expansion plan to enhance mosque services across residential areas in line with Qatar’s urban development a»»»
Iran Receives Proposals From Mediators to De-Escalate Tensions With US, Cease Fire
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Tehran has received proposals from mediators to de-escalate tensions with the United States and cease fire, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday. "There are proposals, we have received them, but let me not go into details," Baghaei said during a briefi»»»
Philippines: Lino Cayetano, brother of ex-Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, offers to expose 'ghost projects' in Taguig — Senator Lacson
Manila: The bitter public feud between Senators Panfilo Lacson and Alan Peter Cayetano escalated Monday after Lacson disclosed that former Taguig congressman Lino Cayetano, the younger brother of Alan and Senator Pia Cayetano, had allegedly offered to help expose what he described as "ghost project»»»
The Palestinian economy is struggling. In the West Bank, the problem is too much cash
RAMALLAH, West Bank: Picture this: A gas station customer pulls out a wad of bills to pay for a fill-up. The cashier refuses the money, explaining that the station’s bank has stopped accepting notes and coins as deposits because it already is drowning in cash. In most places, cash is king. But in t»»»
Al-Zaidi touts major progress on US-Iraq economic partnership
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi praised the outcome of his Washington visit amid broad public support but political divisions at home. Iran, meanwhile, officially distanced itself from critical remarks of the visit made by Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to its supreme leader. Velayati had describ»»»
Qatar joins IAEA technical meeting on monitoring marine plastic pollution
DOHA: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) participated in an international technical meeting on monitoring and tracking plastic pollution, reaffirming Qatar's commitment to regional and global environmental initiatives. Represented by the Department of Environmental Monitoring an»»»
Baghaei: Iran is not a collection of isolated islands that can be dismantled; our country remains united from north to south - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Baghaei: Iran is not a collection of isolated islands that can be dismantled; our country remains united from north to south 20-07-2026 10:»»»
Almost half of fraud cases reported in the first half of 2026 were phone scams (vishing)
ING Bank Romania, together with the National Directorate for Cyber Security (DNSC), the Romanian Police, and the Romanian Institute for Active Aging, organized ING SAFE Talks, a new event dedicated to informing the public about the latest methods of digital fraud. For the first time, telephone scam»»»
Greeted with boos, Trump lingers on stage to lap up World Cup spotlight
US President Donald Trump brushed off FIFA president Gianni Infantino's efforts to gently guide him off stage after Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final Sunday, lingering alongside the celebrating team and treating the players to his trademark "Trump dance". US President Donald Trump g»»»
Over 19 million soms distributed to low-income families in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Since the beginning of 2026, at least 127 projects to support low-income families have been implemented in Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration reported. The projects are being implemented jointly with the UN World Food Program and include food aid, as well as payments »»»
ColorVerse Experience brings immersive family adventure
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s summer entertainment offerings have expanded with the launch of the ColorVerse Experience, a next-generation immersive attraction that combines interactive storytelling, digital technology and live performances to create a unique family-friendly adventure at Katara Cultural Vil»»»
Brent crude tops $90 as US-Iran strikes threaten Strait of Hormuz oil flows
Dubai: Brent crude climbed above $90 a barrel on Monday, reaching its highest level in more than a month after escalating attacks between the US and Iran raised fresh concerns over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The global b»»»
Europe: Extreme weather fuels climate concerns
Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, and this summer has already brought record-breaking temperatures, devastating wildfires, hailstorms and tornadoes. While climate change is not responsible for every extreme weather event, scientists say it is making such events more frequent and more»»»
Bulgaria Moves to Approve Deployment of Eight US Tanker Aircraft for Iran-Linked Operations
The Bulgarian government will ask Parliament to authorize the temporary deployment of up to eight U.S. military tanker aircraft at Bezmer Air Base after receiving an official request from Washington linked to American operations in the Middle East. Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced that the requ»»»
How property purchase works in Hungary
My previous articles examined why a golden visa is not required to buy property in Hungary, which Budapest districts define the capital’s premium segment, and how the purchase of a discreet home regarded as a trophy asset unfolds. The question I am then asked most often is far more practical: all r»»»
Quranic Botanic Garden strengthens regional collaboration in plant conservation
Doha: A delegation from the Quranic Botanic Garden (QBG), a member of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), concluded a scientific visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where it met with representatives from three leading regional institutions specialising in plant biodiversity conservation and »»»
Qatar participates in International Legal Symposium in Morocco
Rabat: The National Committee for International Humanitarian Law participated in the International Legal Symposium organised by Morocco’s National Committee on International Humanitarian Law under the theme “Multilateral Humanitarian Action at a Crossroads: Challenges and Issues.” The Committee’s d»»»
EAA Foundation celebrates outstanding academic results by students of Assalam Schools
Doha, Qatar: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation celebrated the outstanding achievements of Assalam Schools students during the 2025–2026 academic year, reflecting advanced levels of academic excellence, distinction in scientific, cultural and sports competitions, and meaningful participation in n»»»
MoL organises seminars to promote heat stress prevention awareness
Doha, Qatar: As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen occupational safety and health and protect workers from risks associated with working in hot weather, the Ministry of Labour (MoL), represented by the Occupational Safety and Health Department, organised a series of specialised awareness sem»»»
UAE gold prices edge higher but remain Dh18.50 below July peak
Dubai: Gold prices in the UAE moved slightly higher on Monday morning, although buyers continue to pay considerably less than they would have at the market’s July peak. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The 24-karat variety stood at Dh484.50 at 10.55 am, up by 25 fils fr»»»
Under Pressure, Syria Overhauls Its Security Apparatus
A sweeping round of senior security appointments announced Sunday by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa amounts to a fundamental restructuring of the country’s security apparatus, driven by both domestic security concerns and mounting political and economic pressure from abroad, according to Syrian s»»»
Vessel on fire in Hormuz strait, says UK maritime agency
DUBAI: A vessel is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Monday as the United States and Iran vied for control over the vital waterway.“UKMTO has received a report of an incident 8NM northwest of Kumzar, Oman. UKMTO have received information from military »»»
Government to Seek Parliament's Approval for Deployment of US Aerial Refuelling Aircraft at Bezmer Air Base, PM Radev Says
"On June 17, we received a diplomatic note from the US Embassy requesting the deployment of up to eight aerial refuelling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base to support US operations in the Middle East, pursuant to the 2006 Defence Cooperation Agreement between Bulgaria and the United States. Today, the Co»»»
President Iotova: Bulgaria Has Means to Pursue Independent Foreign Policy
"It is only natural that one of the most frequently asked questions is whether we have the means to pursue our own autonomous, sovereign and independent policy under international law. The answer is, of course, that we do," President Iliana Iotova said at the Annual Conference of Bulgarian ambassad»»»
Qatar takes part in GCC Arab Bureau of Education Executive Council meeting
Doha, Qatar: Qatar participated in the 96th Executive Council meeting of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), held virtually with the participation of undersecretaries of education ministries from GCC member states, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional educational c»»»
IRGC Strikes US Radar System, Equipment Storage, UAV Hangar in Kuwait
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that it struck a radar system, equipment base and a US UAV hangar in Kuwait during overnight attacks. "As part of the 22nd wave of Operation Nasr-2, our fighters, during a drone strike, destroyed a radar early warning sy»»»
Tax Star receives pre-approved status from UAE Ministry of Finance as official e-invoicing service provider
Tax Star, a UAE-based tax and compliance software company, has been named a pre-approved e-invoicing service provider by the UAE Ministry of Finance. The approval places Tax Star, among 42 companies nationwide cleared to help businesses meet the UAE's new e-invoicing rules. This pre-approved status»»»
Outgoing court chief hits back: guilt needs evidence, not a Facebook post
In Hungary, criminal liability is determined not by a ministerial Facebook post, but by an independent court acting on the basis of the law. The presumption of innocence is a fundamental right that belongs to everyone, not a political favour — wrote the outgoing president of the Constitutional Cour»»»
New government axes tax perks it says were tailor-made for Orbán’s allies
The TISZA government committed to putting an end to the system in which state regulations served the interests of companies favoured by the government rather than Hungary and the Hungarian people; to that end, it has submitted a comprehensive tax amendment package to parliament, Finance Minister An»»»
Teen dies during Spain World Cup celebrations: local authorities
Madrid: A teenager died and several people were injured during celebrations of Spain's victory in the World Cup after a fountain onto collapsed in the west of the country, local authorities and media said on Monday. "The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences»»»
2 Filipino seafarers killed, 12 hurt in Black Sea drone attacks as war threatens global shipping
Manila: Two Filipino seafarers have been killed in recent drone attacks on commercial ships operating in the northern Black Sea, while 12 others were injured and one remains missing, the Philippine government said Monday. This underscores the growing dangers facing merchant mariners in one of the w»»»
Oil jumps 3% as US, Iran expand strikes in the Middle East
SINGAPORE: Oil prices jumped about 3 percent on Monday, with Brent oil prices surpassing $90 per barrel, as escalating US-Iran hostilities in the Middle East restricted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures climbed $2.77, or 3.14 percent, to $90.87 by 09:12 a.m. Saudi ti»»»
On This Day, July 20: Viking 1 is first spacecraft to land on Mars - UPI.com
On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander, an unmanned U.S. planetary probe, became the first spacecraft to successfully land on the surface of Mars. 1 of 6 | After an interplanetary cruise of more than 300 days, Viking 1 reaches Mars orbit on June 19, 1976. The orbiter began photographing potential si»»»
PM Radev Calls for Clear Vision, Consensus on Bulgaria's Foreign Policy Priorities
In the current complex geopolitical and regional environment, Bulgarian diplomacy is called upon to find solutions and formulate positions that it can uphold in various international formats and within the alliances of which it is a member, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said here on Monday at the open»»»
Iran signals openness to talks amid 'split within regime', says US Secretary of State Rubio
Washington, DC: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that Washington is receiving feelers through diverse channels regarding Tehran's willingness to hold talks, against the backdrop of widening fissures within the Iranian leadership. Speaking to CNN, Rubio remarked: "We are receiving sig»»»
Andy Burnham set to take over as new British PM
Andy Burnham will on Monday become Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade, with an in-tray overflowing with challenges that have trounced his predecessors and little time to make his mark. The new leader takes over from the unpopular Keir Starmer just two years after the outgoing prime minist»»»
Book review: A queen reclaims her voice in Saara El-Arifi’s historical epic ‘Cleopatra’
JEDDAH: In “Cleopatra,” British author Saara El-Arifi — who has Sudanese and Ghanaian heritage and spent her early years in Abu Dhabi before moving to the UK — sets out to reclaim the Egyptian monarch’s voice through a first-person narrative styled as a memoir. “This is not the story of how I died.»»»
Hundreds evacuated as wildfire scorches 13,000 hectares in Spain
MADRID: Firefighters were battling a wildfire north of Madrid on Sunday that has burned around 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) of land and forced some 700 residents to evacuate, authorities said. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a post on X that his government was closely monitoring the wildfire»»»