Domestic capital and mega-developments anchor Romania’s retail sector
Romania’s retail real estate sector is undergoing a profound structural rebalancing as robust domestic capital and institutional funding step in to drive consolidation amid macroeconomic headwinds. Facing a revised 2026 GDP growth forecast adjusted downwards to 0.1% and the European Union’s highest»»»
Media Review: July 23
HEADLINES Thursday’s media coverage is dominated by Parliament’s authorization of the temporary deployment of up to eight US aerial refuelling aircraft and 250 military personnel at Bezmer Air Base. Trud reports on the vote, while Nova TV, bTV and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) examined the po»»»
Qatar Cultural Center for the Blind highlights responsible AI use at seminar
Doha: The Qatar Cultural Center for the Blind organised a cultural seminar titled “Artificial Intelligence: Between Assistance and Reliance,” aimed at raising awareness about the optimal use of AI tools and their conscious and responsible application. Mohammed Shafi’ Al Fahida, a member of the cent»»»
Islamic Trade Finance Corp. signs $100m financing agreement with Uzbekistan’s Hamkorbank
RIYADH: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corp., a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, has signed a $100 million financing agreement with Hamkorbank of Uzbekistan, marking the largest standalone Islamic trade finance deal granted to a bank based in the country. The ITFC explained th»»»
Arab Media Summit Mallathon builds momentum for region's biggest media gathering
Dubai: The conversations that will shape the future of Arab media began with a step forward, quite literally. Before the region’s leading media figures gather in September for the Arab Media Summit 2026, over 350 journalists, content creators, influencers and industry professionals have come togeth»»»
Philippines says China harassed vessels in disputed waters
MANILA: The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of firing water cannon and using a “dangerous maneuver” on Thursday to block vessels bringing aid to Filipino fishermen near a disputed South China Sea reef. The incident took place near Scarborough Shoal, hours before Manila hosted a regional sec»»»
US measles cases reach highest level in 35 years
The number of measles cases reported across the US this year has climbed to 2,295, the highest annual total since 1991, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease that was officially eliminated in the US in 2000 following a successful mass »»»
Lindsey Graham was gay and “closeted gay mafia” rules Washington, Hunter Biden claims
Washington is controlled by a “closeted gay mafia” largely made up of Republican politicians, former US President Joe Biden’s scandal-plagued son, Hunter, has claimed, alleging that “everybody knew” late Senator Lindsey Graham was gay. Longtime Russia hawk Lindsey Graham died earlier this month at »»»
Ukraine has a new butcher-in-chief – all the better to feed Ukrainians to the grinder
The rule of Vladimir Zelensky has been a catastrophe for Ukraine, and that is how it will be remembered once the dust of relentless info war campaigns in his favor – and against his critics – settles. While the corruption of the Zelensky regime is stupendous, that fact – sad as it is – is not what »»»
China-owned oil tankers transit Bab al-Mandab amid Houthi attacks on Red Sea
Two Chinese-operated oil tankers carrying nearly full cargoes of crude were on course on Thursday (July 23, 2026) to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait a day after two Saudi-owned ships were attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Bloomberg reported. Ship-tracking data showed the Xin Long Yang nearin»»»
Widam Food, Anaam sign MoU to market domestic livestock production
Doha: Widam Food, a Qatari public shareholding company and the main operator of Al Wakrah Central Abattoir and private abattoirs in the country, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Qatar Livestock Society (Anaam). The MOU aims to market livestock products from Qatari breeders by»»»
‘One last time’ for Thalapathy: Vijay fans turn Jana Nayagan release into farewell festival across UAE and India
Dubai: Jana Nayagan, out in the UAE cinemas today, isn't just another film release for Thalapathy Vijay's fans and it's being treated like a farewell celebration. The film, widely believed to be Vijay's final movie before he shifts his focus completely to Tamil Nadu politics, has sparked extraordin»»»
Qatari expertise earns global trust, says Ballan
Doha, Qatar: Qatari officials continue to play an increasingly influential role on football’s biggest stage, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 once again highlighting the country’s growing contribution beyond hosting major tournaments. From organising global events to shaping key areas of football admin»»»
Snap Inc. to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi digital spending shifts focus to returns
LONDON: The Saudi Digital Advertising Maturity Framework, launched by Snap Inc. and Kearney, identifies an eight-percentage-point gap between growth in digital advertising spending and e-commerce growth in the Kingdom, pointing to scope for more efficient investment and a clearer link to measurable»»»
Dubai Airports names three new senior leaders for DXB and DWC growth
Dubai: Dubai Airports has appointed three senior leaders to strengthen the operational and technology teams responsible for Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The changes cover airport operati»»»
Recipes for Success: Chef Victor Martinez offers advice and a crab salad recipe
DUBAI: Mexican chef Victor Martinez’s journey has been shaped as much by circumstance as by ambition. Hurricanes, specifically, have been a “transformative force” in his life — pushing him toward career-shaping opportunities, he tells Arab News. “I started my culinary journey at 17 (at culinary sch»»»
Philippines: VP Sara Duterte, the billionaire?
Manila: Vice President Sara Duterte's bank accounts and Income Tax Returns (ITRs) are set to be opened on July 30, following long-standing allegations that she has billions of pesos in bank deposits. As early as 2016, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that Vice President Duterte and her f»»»
CI affirms Qatar’s long term rating at AA with stable outlook
Doha, Qatar: The Capital Intelligence Ratings (CI Ratings or CI) announced yesterday that it has affirmed the Long-Term Foreign Currency Rating (LT FCR) and LT Local Currency Rating (LT LCR) of Qatar at ‘AA’. At the same time, CI Ratings has affirmed the sovereign’s Short-Term (ST) FCR and ST LCR a»»»
Arizona reports first Clade I mpox case in resident with recent travel - UPI.com
July 23 (UPI) -- Arizona health officials have confirmed the state's first infection of an mpox strain responsible for a global outbreak, identifying the case as having been infected while traveling outside the United States. The Arizona Department of Health and Services said in a statement Wednesd»»»
Emirates NBD loans climb Dh114 billion after record first half
Dubai: Emirates NBD expanded its loan book by Dh114 billion during the first half of 2026, taking gross lending to Dh771 billion after strong growth across its core markets and the consolidation of RBL Bank. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Dubai-based lender report»»»
Chief prosecutor quits, warning politics is swallowing justice
Chief Prosecutor Gábor Bálint Nagy submitted his resignation on Wednesday; the announcement was published on the prosecution service's website. In a statement also sent to MTI, Gábor Bálint Nagy wrote that safeguarding the independence and authority of the justice system, including the prosecution »»»
US-Iran conflict: What UAE residents need to know today (July 23) as Gulf tensions escalate
The war between the US and Iran has entered a more dangerous phase, with fighting spreading across the Gulf, Red Sea and key shipping lanes that are critical to the Gulf and regional security, and the global economy. While the UAE has not been directly targeted, residents are closely watching devel»»»
Deadly wildfires force thousands from homes in parts of Europe
ROME: Wildfires swept across parts of Italy, France and Spain on Wednesday, killing three firefighters and forcing thousands to flee as scorching temperatures and strong winds fueled the blazes. The fires come as southern Europe endures another spell of severe heat, with temperatures topping 40°C i»»»
House Republicans narrowly pass $1.15T defense spending bill - UPI.com
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive defense spending bill on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- House Republicans narrowly passed a massive $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill Wednesday, despite strong Democratic opposition to th»»»
Retail surprise
Poland’s retail sector delivered a stronger-than-expected performance in June, reinforcing signs that domestic consumption remains a key driver of economic growth. According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), retail sales rose 6.2% year-on-year in constant prices, comfortably exceeding econom»»»
Major visa-free update: India’s passport journey in 20 years - from 71st rank to 81st
India’s passport ranking has fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting changing global mobility trends, visa policies and diplomatic ties. In the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, India ranks 81st globally, with passport holders having access to 55 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.»»»
46°C, fair skies and light winds: Here's what to expect from the UAE weather this weekend
Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set for a spell of settled summer weather, with fair skies, light winds and calm seas expected to dominate through the weekend, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Low clouds are forecast to form over eastern areas during the morning hours, while northwester»»»
Commonwealth Games ‘where champions are made’ despite slimmed down model, argues president
GLASGOW: The president of Commonwealth Sport, Dr. Donald Rukare, told AFP the Commonwealth Games remains a stage “where champions are made” as Glasgow prepares to host a slimmed down version of the event. The Games were plunged into crisis when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in »»»
Dutch riders dreaming of crazy party corner of Alpe d’Huez
VOIRON, France: Dutch corner is known for being the biggest and craziest party in cycling. Thousands of orange-clad, booze-fueled cycling enthusiasts and young revellers flock to corner seven of Alpe d’Huez every time the Tour de France climbs the iconic mountain. And they create a unique, noisy an»»»
House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump’s priorities
WASHINGTON: The House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal Wednesday, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the midterm elections. House Republicans were divided over the»»»
Rubio: Iran's shipping attacks 'kill' ceasefire deal, but 'door to diplomacy stays open'
Manila: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran’s continued attacks on commercial shipping have rendered a recent agreement with Tehran "invalid" -- even as he stressed that Washington remains "open" to future diplomacy if Iran complies with its commitments. Rubio’s remarks, made»»»
Proud to have represented Qatar at the World Cup for a third time: Hani Ballan
Qatari talent continues to solidify its presence at the world’s biggest sporting events, confirming the status that Qatar has achieved, not only in hosting and organizing major tournaments but also in strengthening the international sports system with national talents who assume leadership roles in»»»
Qatar Cultural Center for Blind raises awareness about use of AI tools
QNA Doha The Qatar Cultural Center for the Blind organised a cultural seminar titled “Artificial Intelligence: Between Assistance and Reliance”, aimed at raising awareness about the optimal use of AI tools and their conscious and responsible application. At the beginning of the seminar, Mohammed Sh»»»
Super El Niño arrives more than a month early
Sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region of the tropical Pacific have remained above the +2.0°C threshold for a "super" El Niño for more than a week, reaching an anomaly of around +2.1°C by mid-July — more than a month earlier than the 1997/98 and 2015/16 events that mark the previous benchm»»»
Kremlin lowers Duma election turnout, vote targets
Russia's Presidential Administration has lowered its targets for turnout and United Russia's vote share in September's State Duma election, climbing down from the 50% turnout and 55% party-support benchmarks set in February, according to Russian media reports cited by Riddle Russia analyst Ksenia S»»»
Russia's jet-powered drones outpace Ukraine's interceptors
Russia is increasingly deploying jet-powered strike drones with speeds far beyond the reach of Ukraine's own interceptor drones, Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said, as Moscow's newest models close in on the performance of cruise missiles. In the escalting tit-for-tat missile war, an »»»
Spain’s Gavi: No suspension for Argentina’s Leandro Paredes
Spain midfielder Gavi doesn’t feel Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes should be suspended for his postgame tirade following Spain’s 1-0 victory in Sunday’s World Cup final. Tensions were high after the match and Paredes had a hand in elevating them further. While players were mixing it up, Pare»»»
Orphaned by war in Gaza, Palestinian siblings reunite with their sister in Israel
NAZARETH, Israel: The last time Mais Al-Gharam saw her seven siblings was in the Gaza Strip two months before the war. That was before she left the Palestinian territory to go live in Israel and before an Israeli airstrike on the family’s home killed her parents and younger brother. But on this day»»»
CDC updates cyclosporiasis tally to 4K+ confirmed cases - UPI.com
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters is shown in Atlanta, Ga. On Wednesday, The CDC increased its count of cyclosporiasis cases in the country. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE July 22 (UPI) -- On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention increased it»»»
Chile storms kill three, displace hundreds as heaviest rains expected
SANTIAGO: Heavy rains sweeping central and southern Chile have left three people dead in addition to power cuts, multiple floods and road closures, authorities said Wednesday. President Jose Antonio Kast traveled to the Biobio region, one of the hardest-hit areas, as the storm system brought strong»»»
Nicaragua’s parliament moves to abolish elections under Ortega’s order, fueling criticisms
MEXICO CITY: Nicaragua’s lawmakers said they will carry out a plan by President Daniel Ortega to abolish elections in the Central American country, prompting renewed criticisms Wednesday by the international community. The move was announced in a statement Tuesday by Nicaragua’s congress, which is »»»
The UK has swapped one failure for another
Earlier this week, Andy Burnham traipsed out to Buckingham Palace, symbolically kissed the hands of King Charles III – as tradition demanded – and the “King of the North” was duly anointed the new UK prime minister. Amidst the subsequent euphoria within the Labour Party, the fact that Burnham’s swi»»»
His brother jumped into the river to save him. The final moments were caught on camera
Dubai: A holiday in northern Turkey ended in tragedy after a Saudi tourist was swept away by a fast-flowing river while posing for a photograph in the popular Black Sea destination of Uzungöl, despite desperate rescue attempts by his younger brother and nearby visitors. Abdulaziz Al Harbi, 39, lost»»»
Salam: Withdrawal from Zawtar al-Gharbiya a beginning for a complete Israeli withdrawal
Beirut July 22 (SANA)- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam affirmed on Wednesday that his country will continue its political and diplomatic efforts to achieve a complete Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, considering the start of the withdrawal from the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya as t»»»
Hegseth grilled over Iran war in Senate
Democrats grilled US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over the Iran War during his testimony before the US Senate as the White House requested additional funding for operations in the Middle East. The US and Iran resumed regular exchanges of strikes earlier this month, with both sides saying the truce»»»
'We'll miss you, Dad' a child's loving message turned into an airport nightmare.
Dubai: A father's journey from Egypt to Germany was abruptly halted after airport authorities deemed his passport invalid because of a handwritten message left by his young daughter, turning an affectionate gesture into an unexpected travel ordeal. The Egyptian traveller, who lives in Germany, said»»»
Guyana to launch independent inquiry after ferry disaster kills 53 - UPI.com
Guyana Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips said an independent inquiry will be established "as early as possible" to determine what happened before the MV Barima departed and whether operating procedures were followed. File Photo by Nathalia Aguilar/EPA July 22 (UPI) -- Guyana will establish an in»»»
Russian Economy Stable, Despite External Attempts to Destabilize Energy Situation - Putin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The situation in the Russian economy is stable, despite the external attempts to destabilize the situation in fuel and energy sector of the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. "Immediately, at the beginning of our meeting, I would like to note that the st»»»
India parliament deadlock deepens as Rahul Gandhi demands Pradhan’s resignation over NEET leak
New Delhi: The political confrontation over the NEET-UG paper leak intensified on Wednesday, with India’s Parliament remaining deadlocked as the Opposition renewed its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. The government insisted it was prepared for a full debate but rejec»»»
Germany greenlights controversial joint French-Russian nuclear project
Germany's environment ministry on Wednesday approved a French-Russian project to produce fuel rods used in Russian-designed reactors in the northwestern German town of Lingen. The joint venture project by a subsidiary of French company Framatome and Russia's state-owned Rosatom sparked fears o»»»