Hungary convenes emergency task force as heatwave puts water and energy systems under pressure
The Hungarian government has convened an emergency meeting of its defence task force to address growing concerns over the country’s water and energy systems as an intense heatwave continues to grip Hungary. Prime Minister Péter Magyar said key decisions would be taken on Friday evening following co»»»
US-Iran war: What UAE residents need to know tonight (July 31, 2026)
Heightened maritime security, air travel disruptions and uncertainty over regional stability remain key concerns for Gulf countries as the military confrontation between the US and Iran continues. Although daily life in the UAE remains largely unaffected, the conflict is continuing to disrupt regio»»»
Hamas agrees to disarm under Trump plan to end Gaza war
GAZA CITY: Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a deal announced by US President Donald Trump to end the war with Israel, that includes it handing over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel did not immediately comment on the an»»»
BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop category
South Korean pop group BTS said Wednesday they will not enter the Grammys' contest next year in protest of the introduction of a new Asian pop category: Best Asian Pop Music Performance. The new category, introduced alongside four others, is slammed by critics for boxing regional artists into »»»
Hungary population decline continues: country loses tens of thousands of people in 6 months
Hungary’s population continued to decline during the first half of 2026, with births once again significantly outnumbered by deaths, according to the latest preliminary figures published by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH). While both the number of births and deaths fell compared with»»»
BP puts North Sea oil fields up for sale as part of restructuring - UPI.com
British oil giant BP announced plans Friday to sell off its North Sea business ending six decades of exploration and extraction on the U.K. Continental Shelf since the company first struck gas there in 1964. File photo by Neil Hall/EPA July 31 (UPI) -- British oil giant BP announced plans Friday to»»»
'Don't call me Psycho Chacko': Kunchacko Boban on reinventing himself, rejecting cop films and Unmadham
Dubai: Malayalam actor Kunchacko Boban has made a career out of playing men wrestling with their demons. In Unmadham, his latest Malayalam-language psychological thriller, he once again slips into the uniform of a flawed police officer whose biggest battles aren't just with crime, but with his own »»»
Casemiro keen to team with Messi at Miami
Miami: Brazil star Casemiro sang the praises of new Inter Miami teammate Lionel Messi on Thursday, calling his former La Liga rival a "god of football." "Of course, if I'm here it's because of him and to help him and Inter Miami," the former Real Madrid midfielder said of the Argentine star who now»»»
Russia puts Telegram founder Pavel Durov on international wanted list over terrorism allegations
Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with assisting terrorist activity and begun procedures to place him on an international wanted list, sharply escalating the Kremlin's confrontation with one of the country's most prominent technology entrepreneurs. Russia's Federal Security Service ac»»»
Still alive: why the US-Saudi nuclear agreement remains possible
One of the Trump administration’s more measured hands in national security and foreign policy, US Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz was rushed out in front of the cameras last week to extinguish a diplomatic fire. In live interviews with Face the Nation and Meet the Press, he was asked»»»
60,000 migrants enter Spain's Ceuta as at least 34 die
Ceuta: Some 60,000 migrants have entered Spain's Ceuta from Morocco in the past 24 hours, Ceuta's president says. That is equivalent to 70% of the city's regular population. At least 34 migrants have died in the process. "The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable," said »»»
Defence Minister Backs Changes to Military Disability Pension Rules
The Defence Ministry will work towards removing military disability pensions from the category of unearned income, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said during parliamentary question time on Friday. "We will work towards this goal. I am making that commitment," Stoyanov said in response to a quest»»»
Oil prices fall as supply concerns ease amid increased shipping flows
London, July 31 (SANA) Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel on Friday as increased supply flows through key maritime routes eased concerns over potential disruptions, despite continued geopolitical tensions in the region. Brent crude futures fell $1.03, or 1.2%, to $88 a barrel, while U.S. West»»»
Interior Minister Refers Magnitsky-Sanctioned Peevski to Audit Office over Suspected Discrepancies between Declared Assets, Income
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev referred Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Floor Leader Delyan Peevski to the National Audit Office over suspected discrepancies between the publicly declared assets and income of a public office holder and his actual lifestyle, the Interior Ministry said on »»»
What we know about the Hamas disarmament deal announced by Trump
Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed Friday that it had agreed to a deal with Israel that would lead to the group's disarmament in return for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. Here's what we know so far. Hamas said on Friday it agreed to a deal to end the war with »»»
Interior Minister Refers Peevski to Audit Office over Suspected Discrepancies between Declared Assets, Income
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev referred Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Floor Leader Delyan Peevski to the National Audit Office over suspected discrepancies between the publicly declared assets and income of a public office holder and his actual lifestyle, the Interior Ministry said on »»»
Progressive Bulgaria Claims Early Reform Success
Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary group leader Petar Vitanov said the first three months of the new parliament marked only the beginning of the governing majority's work, warning that there was no room for complacency despite what he described as significant legislative achievements. Speaking from»»»
Bulgaria: Interior Minister Seeks Audit of Peevski’s Declared Wealth
Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has submitted a report to the Court of Auditors over what he described as a possible discrepancy between the declared income and assets of a public figure and their actual lifestyle. The report refers to Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) leader and»»»
Bulgaria Raises Natural Gas Price by 4.5% in AugustOpinions
Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) approved a 4.5% increase in the price of natural gas for August, setting the rate at 39.43 euros per megawatt-hour, excluding access, transmission, excise and VAT costs. The new price will apply to sales by Bulgargaz to end suppliers and to c»»»
Trump pours cold water on Kiev’s Patriot dream
US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether Washington will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, despite previously promising to grant Kiev a production license. Trump told the Financial Times in a telephone interview on Thursday that he was “not sure” whether Ukraine »»»
Pax Silica and the water question: Central Luzon has water — the real question is how to manage it
The loudest argument against Pax Silica is increasingly becoming a simple one: “There won’t be enough water.” That concern should not be dismissed. But neither should it be allowed to become an argument against the Philippines joining the global AI economy. The more important question is: Does Cent»»»
Vojvodina, Zeleznicar knocked out of UEFA Conference League qualifiers, Partizan march on
AMSTERDAM/BRAGA/LUXEMBOURG - Serbian football clubs Vojvodina Novi Sad and Zeleznicar Pancevo are out of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, while Partizan Belgrade are through to the competition's third qualifying round. In Thursday's return leg of their second qualifying round tie against Dutc»»»
Pakistan rescuers find 4 bodies as search for remaining 6 climbers continues on Broad Peak
Rescuers searching for 10 climbers missing after an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak located four bodies Friday and were continuing to search for the other six despite adverse weather that hampered helicopter flights, officials said. Efforts were underway to retrieve the bodies of the four climbe»»»
Saudi gold market to outshine regional peers: World Gold Council
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is poised to outperform other Middle Eastern gold markets in the coming months as resilient domestic demand and rising investor interest offset weaker jewelry consumption, according to the World Gold Council. The Kingdom’s gold market is benefiting from a growing shift toward i»»»
Jaissle has a lot to prove at Newcastle after Asian success
LONDON: It’s not just Newcastle United fans who will be scrutinizing Matthias Jaissle in the coming days and weeks. Fans around the world, and especially Saudi Arabia, will be curious to see if he can translate his success in Asia to the unforgiving English Premier League. At just 38, the German le»»»
Jaissle has a lot to prove at Newcastle after Asian success
LONDON: It’s not just Newcastle United fans who will be scrutinizing Matthias Jaissle in the coming days and weeks. Fans around the world, and especially Saudi Arabia, will be curious to see if he can translate his success in Asia to the unforgiving English Premier League. At just 38, the German le»»»
Pakistan rescuers find 4 bodies as search for 10 missing climbers continues on Broad Peak
Rescuers searching for 10 climbers missing after an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak located four bodies Friday and were continuing to search for the other six despite adverse weather that hampered helicopter flights, officials said. Efforts were underway to retrieve the bodies of the four climbe»»»
Media Review: July 31
LABOUR MARKET SHIFT According to a signed commentary in Capital.bg (“The Labour Market Is Beginning to Turn”), after several years of exceptionally strong demand for workers, Bulgaria's labour market is beginning to show signs of cooling. So far, these changes have translated into fewer job adverti»»»
flydubai opens doors to Emirati aviation careers
Dubai: UAE nationals interested in aviation careers will be able to explore pilot, engineering, flight dispatch and graduate programmes at flydubai’s Careers Open Day on August 16. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The event will be held at the flyd»»»
Onager returns to Saudi deserts after 100 years with landmark birth
JEDDAH: The birth of an onager foal in Saudi Arabia after more than a century marks a major milestone in the Kingdom’s efforts to restore native species and revive ecosystems that once shaped the Arabian Peninsula. “There is something profoundly beautiful about an animal once sung of by poets in th»»»
Thousands lose water supply in Hungary as Paks output is cut and red warnings are issued
Hungary is facing mounting pressure from an unprecedented heatwave, with thousands of residents temporarily left without drinking water, water restrictions introduced in several municipalities, and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant forced to reduce electricity production as the Danube reaches record-low»»»
What UAE families paid for summer camps in 2026: Dh125 to Dh5,000
As the school holidays will draw to a close this month, thousands of children across the UAE are packing away football boots, paintbrushes and science kits after another summer spent at camp. For many families, these programmes have become less of a childcare solution and more of an annual traditio»»»
Saudi consumer spending holds above $3bn
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s weekly point-of-sale spending remained above $3 billion in the week ending July 25, although transaction values extended their recent decline, central bank data showed. Total POS transactions fell 5.8 percent week on week to SR12.26 billion ($3.27 billion), according to the l»»»
Progressive Bulgaria Began Delivering on Campaign Promises from Day One, Floor Leader Says in End-of-Session Declaration
Progressive Bulgaria began delivering on its campaign promises from the first day in office, the party's Floor Leader, Petar Vitanov, said in a declaration marking the end of Parliament's current session ahead of the August recess. "The past three months are only the beginning, and there is no room»»»
Tisza holds commanding lead over Fidesz despite weeks of political controversy, according to new poll
Hungary’s governing Tisza Party has maintained its commanding lead over Fidesz despite several weeks of heated political debates, according to the latest opinion poll by the Republikon Institute. The survey suggests that recent domestic political controversies have had little impact on voter prefer»»»
BMW to Volkswagen: How deep is Germany's auto industry cull?
TradeGermanyBMW to Volkswagen: How deep is Germany's auto industry cull?Nik MartinBMW joins VW, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz in cutting thousands of jobs, as Chinese rivals erode their market share. DW recaps the major reforms German automakers are pursuing to safeguard their future. https://p.dw.com/»»»
Bahrain top Gulf U-18 qualifiers in Doha, Qatar secure silver
Doha, Qatar: Bahrain completed a perfect campaign with four consecutive victories to emerge champions of the Gulf U-18 qualifiers in Doha, while Qatar came second in the five-team competition. Both Qatar and Bahrain earned qualification for the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup which will be held in Ahmedabad, In»»»
Bulgaria Officially Changes Machine Voting and CEC
Parliament has approved the final amendments to Bulgaria's Electoral Code, restoring mandatory machine voting in larger polling stations and introducing a series of other changes that will apply ahead of the country's upcoming elections. Under the new rules, polling stations with more than 300 regi»»»
How UAE small businesses survive and thrive during summer
Dubai: When temperatures rise and many UAE residents pack their bags for summer holidays, some businesses prepare for quieter days. But for a growing number of small business owners, summer is not simply a slow season, it is a test of strategy, resilience, and creativity. Across various sectors, en»»»
Kyrgyzstan gained UN Security Council seat; now comes hard part
Kyrgyzstan’s election to a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council came after a diligent campaign to gain support for its candidacy. It means a Central Asian state will have a seat on the UN’s most powerful body for the second time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Attention now »»»
Chasiv Yar's fall in Donbas fighting opens the road to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk
Chasiv Yar, one of the longest and most fought-over battles in the Donbas of the Ukraine war, has fallen to Russian forces, with the last Ukrainian holdouts withdrawing from the southwestern part of the city in the past week, the open-source tracker AMK Mapping reported on July 29. The city, reduce»»»
Vazrazhdane Calls for Security Council Meeting Over Bulgaria-Iran Foreign Ministers' Phone Call
The Vazrazhdane party is calling for a meeting of the Security Council under the Council of Ministers and a meeting of Parliament's Deputy Chairpersons and the Floor Leaders over the phone conversation between the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Iran on Thursday. "We will demand that Bulgaria, th»»»
Turkey wants to join a new Lebanon security initiative after UN mission ends
Turkey is interested in participating in a new security initiative for Lebanon when the 7,500-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in the south of the country expires at the end of the year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a joint press statement with his Lebanese counterpart on Thur»»»
Civil Defense intensifies fire prevention drive, urges public vigilance
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s General Directorate of Civil Defense has intensified fire prevention efforts during the summer season, focusing on public awareness campaigns and compliance with safety requirements to reduce risks to lives and property. Despite increased awareness, officials said some unsafe p»»»
FSB Busts Russian Citizen Over Spying for Ukraine
A Russian man apprehended in the Nizhny Novgorod region was collecting intelligence on Russian military-industrial enterprises for the Ukrainian special services, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement. The detainee is a member of the Artpodgotovka terrorist organization banned»»»
FIFA vows to go ahead with private investor proposal
PARIS: World football’s governing body FIFA vowed on Friday to press ahead with an “open and democratic” consultation on a proposed private investment plan despite widespread opposition to the proposal. That opposition included a pledge by Europe’s governing body UEFA to boycott the World Cup if FI»»»
Saudi-backed PFL and Most Valuable Promotions merge to create new global combat sports platform
DUBAI: Most Valuable Promotions and the Professional Fighters League have announced a landmark merger, creating a new home of combat sports under the MVP banner. The transaction accelerates MVP’s expansion into mixed martial arts following the success of MVP MMA 1. The merger creates a global sport»»»
Dubai gold prices fall on Friday after a volatile July
Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai fell on Friday, bringing a volatile month to a close after rates moved through a range of more than Dh21 for 24-karat gold. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The 24K variety dropped to Dh491.75 per gram from Dh495.50 on T»»»
High gold prices cut jewellery demand 17% in second quarter
Dubai: Gold jewellery demand fell 17% year on year during the second quarter of 2026 as high prices prompted consumers to buy less and move towards lighter products, according to the World Gold Council. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The decline »»»
FIFA vows to go ahead with private investor proposal
Paris, France: World football's governing body FIFA vowed on Friday to press ahead with an "open and democratic" consultation on a proposed private investment plan despite widespread opposition to the proposal. That opposition included a pledge by Europe's governing body UEFA to boycott the World C»»»