MoECC showcases 'Smart Observer' boat for marine environment monitoring
DOHA: The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) showcased the operational mechanism of the 'Smart Observer' boat, which is designed to monitor the marine environment and is equipped with advanced systems to track environmental changes and collect samples and data from marine sites. The»»»
Record Russian LNG Imports Fail to Boost EU Winter Gas Reserves
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Despite record purchases of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the first half of 2026, EU gas storage levels remain at their lowest for this time of year in a decade and a half, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and EU regulators analyzed by Sputnik on Th»»»
Secret meeting? Report claims Iran’s president couldn’t even see supreme leader Mojtabad Khamenei
Dubai: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was reportedly taken to a secret location in Tehran for a highly unusual meeting with supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, where the two allegedly spoke from inside a dark, tinted-window vehicle without seeing each other, according to a report by Iran Internat»»»
Brazil cuts benchmark rate for fourth consecutive time
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil's central bank on Wednesday cut its benchmark interest rate for the fourth time straight, two months before presidential elections when incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seeks another term.The so-called Selic rate, one of the highest in the world, was lowered from »»»
Hezbollah Parliamentary Bloc Calls on Lebanese Authorities to Stop Direct Talks with Israeli Enemy
The “Loyalty to Resistance” Parliamentary bloc convened on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, issuing a statement that calls on the Lebanese authorities to stop the direct talks with the Israeli enemy. The statement also rejected the government’s policy to surren»»»
'She was haemorrhaging': In the West Bank, the checkpoint ordeal for pregnant women
Roads blocked and checkpoints closed: After every outbreak of violence, Israel seals off the West Bank. Like after events in Nablus, where two Israeli settlers and four Palestinians died on July 24. Our correspondent Claire Duhamel travelled with a paramedic who regularly transports pregnant women »»»
Polish exports recorded strong June growth
The value of Polish exports reached EUR 30.51 billion in June 2026, according to an analysis by economists at the Polish Chamber of Commerce. The result represented a 7% increase from the corresponding period of 2025, indicating that foreign demand for Polish goods remained relatively resilient des»»»
Poll Shows Strong Support for Radev Government, Despite Foreign Policy Concerns
A Gallup International Balkans survey shows that public support for Bulgaria’s government remains relatively strong after its first 100 days in office, while the cabinet’s foreign policy is facing significant criticism. According to the nationally representative poll, conducted by telephone between»»»
Man Beaten to Death in Plovdiv, Several Teens DetainedOpinions
A brutal fatal assault in Plovdiv has prompted a major police investigation, with authorities examining whether the attack was motivated by hatred based on sexual orientation or involved a victim being lured through a dating app. Several teenagers, including minors, have been detained as investigat»»»
U.S. halts Mexican avocado imports after security alert - UPI.com
A farmer picks avocados in the municipality of Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico, in 2004. File Photo by Ivan Villanueva/EPA Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily suspended inspections and certification of new avocado shipments from the Mexican state of Michoacán, the country'»»»
Ukraine faces $3bn grain export loss as Russia's blockade empties Odesa of ships
Ukraine's alternative grain export routes will not reach the capacity needed to compensate for Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports until the end of August at the earliest, and even then will cover only half the volume normally handled through Odesa, Agrarian Policy Minister Taras Vysotskyi told Re»»»
Hantavirus detected in France tourist now isolated in Spain
PARIS: A case of hantavirus, which recently sparked international alarm, has been detected in a Franco-Argentine national who holidayed in France in July before being put in isolation in Spain, the French health ministry said Thursday. The patient had few symptoms and now has none, the ministry sai»»»
Nadia Sawalha threatens ITV with legal action over ‘Loose Women’ removal
LONDON: British TV presenter Nadia Sawalha has threatened legal action against ITV, accusing the broadcaster of removing her from its daytime talk show “Loose Women” because of her public support for Palestinian rights. In a video posted on Instagram, Sawalha said her lawyers had sent ITV a pre-act»»»
Hantavirus case detected in France traveller isolated in Spain: What we know
Paris, France: A case of hantavirus, which recently sparked international alarm, has been detected in a Franco-Argentine national who holidayed in France in July before being put in isolation in Spain, the French health ministry said Thursday. The patient had few symptoms and now has none, the mini»»»
Why is shopping abroad cheaper than in Hungary? New research
A new study suggests that Hungarians are right to feel that shopping abroad can be cheaper – but much depends on what they are buying. Food prices paint a very different picture from, say, the cost of services. Meanwhile, a fresh survey has shown that Romania and Bulgaria still outperform Hungary o»»»
Hezbollah bloc slams authorities 'continued policy of submission and surrender'
Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc on Thursday condemned what it called Lebanese authorities’ “continued policy of submission, surrender, and humiliating negotiations” with Israel, which is pressing on with its “killing, bombing, bulldozing, and destruction.” Lebanese authorities “are continuing their »»»
Algeria buys around 540,000 to 720,000 tons wheat in tender, traders say
HAMBURG/PARIS/DUBAI: Algeria’s state grains agency OAIC has bought around 540,000 to 720,000 metric tons of milling wheat in an international tender which closed on Wednesday, European traders said. The size of the initial purchase in tonnage terms was not immediately certain, as is usual in Algeri»»»
Suspected Ebola death on boat heading for DR Congo capital
Kinshasa: A suspected Ebola death has been reported on a boat heading for Kinshasa, which has so far avoided the outbreak raging in DR Congo's east and northeast, authorities said Thursday. Ebola, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids and causes haemorrhagic fever, has killed at least 1,»»»
New Ahli head coach Pusic has big shoes to fill at reigning Asian champions
LONDON: It has been a whirlwind week for Al-Ahli, with the announcement of Matthias Jaissle’s departure followed today by the confirmation of Marino Pusic as new head coach. The Dutch-Bosnian manager has some big shoes to fill in Jeddah. Just three months after lifting a second successive AFC Champ»»»
Local Dates Festival enhances presence of palm tree in national memory
DOHA: The Local Dates Festival, in its 11th edition at Souq Waqif in Doha, combines celebrating local production and recalling the status of the palm tree in the social and economic history of the State of Qatar, where the festival welcomes visitors of different nationalities and ages to learn abou»»»
Saudi economic council reviews global outlook, Q2 budget performance
RIYADH: The Council of Economic and Development Affairs held a meeting via video conference to review the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s monthly report. The report outlined the key developments and challenges facing the global economy, its growth prospects in light of geopolitical developments,»»»
Salah completes move to Turkiye's Trabzonspor
Istanbul: Former Liverpool star Mohamed Salah on Thursday signed a two-year contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor after leaving the Premier League giants at the end of his contract. The 34-year-old Egyptian international reached "a two-year agreement" with the club on the Black Sea coast who will »»»
Kompany hopes new signings can push Bayern to Champions League glory
HONG KONG: Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said on Thursday it would be “really tough” to improve on last season’s performances but was hopeful new signings could help power the German giants to a first Champions League title since 2020. The Bavarian side won a league and cup double last season»»»
How Zohran Mamdani and Dr Abdul El-Sayed turned Bollywood, memes and reels into campaign gold
Dubai: Not too long ago, politicians fought for votes with rousing speeches, newspaper interviews and carefully choreographed campaign rallies. Today, they're just as likely to drop a Reel with a trending soundtrack, collaborate with content creators or walk off stage to a Bollywood banger. Safe to»»»
Israeli Raids, Settler Arson Wound 16 Across West Bank as Military Escalation Intensifies
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched extensive raids across multiple areas of the occupied West Bank early Thursday, while Israeli settlers simultaneously attacked Palestinian communities in the southern Hebron hills, torching homes in the Masafer Yatta area. The coordinated operations form par»»»
Pentagon drawing up nuclear strategy for conflict with Russia and China – NBC
The Pentagon is developing a nuclear strategy that would give the US president a wider range of nuclear options in a potential conflict with Russia or China, NBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plans. The proposed approach would reportedly place greater emphasis on shorter-r»»»
Dubai gold price hits Dh516.25 per gram, 10g of 24K costs over Dh5,100
Dubai: Gold prices moved higher again on Thursday afternoon, taking the local 24-karat rate to Dh516.25 per gram and extending a rapid increase that has added Dh29 since the beginning of August. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and »»»
Landslides kill at least 4 in northern Philippines
Manila: Landslides in the Philippines killed four people, authorities said Thursday, as heavy rains driven by a tropical depression raked the country's north and forced school closures. The archipelago nation's main island Luzon has been battered by heavy rains over the past four days. Government o»»»
DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak outpaces response as health workers strike over pay
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Families said many frontline workers in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, have gone on strike over pay issues, worsening acces»»»
Ukraine faces $3bn grain export loss as Russia's blockade empties Odesa of ships
Ukraine's alternative grain export routes will not reach the capacity needed to compensate for Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports until the end of August at the earliest, and even then will cover only half the volume normally handled through Odesa, Agrarian Policy Minister Taras Vysotskyi told Re»»»
Is Kazakhstan’s Tokayev planning to rule 'forever'?
In Central Asia, the spectacle of a president going on and on, and on, as if they plan to rule forever is a norm, not an exception. Thus, a Constitutional Court ruling that Kazakhstan’s 73-year-old president of seven years Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to seek another term in office under the c»»»
Ukraine faces $3bn grain export loss as Russia's blockade empties Odesa of ships
Ukraine's alternative grain export routes will not reach the capacity needed to compensate for Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports until the end of August at the earliest, and even then will cover only half the volume normally handled through Odesa, Agrarian Policy Minister Taras Vysotskyi told Re»»»
Israeli killing of journalist in Lebanon a war crime: Rights groups
LONDON: Three human rights groups have labeled an Israeli attack that killed a Lebanese journalist and injured another a war crime. Amal Khalil, 42, died while traveling in southern Lebanon to verify Israeli troop movements on April 22. Her colleague Zeinab Faraj, 21, was wounded in the attack. Isr»»»
Did the Danube run dry in Budapest because of Slovakia?
When Hungary abandoned plans to build the Bős–Nagymaros dam system following mass opposition born of environmental protests, Czechoslovakia completed the project and diverted 85 per cent of the Danube’s flow. An international agreement governs how much water must be released into the Old Danube – b»»»
Culture Ministry urges tourists to temporarily avoid visiting Tash-Rabat - | 24.KG
The Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan recommends that citizens and tourists temporarily refrain from visiting the Tash-Rabat historical and architectural complex. The restrictions are related to repair and restoration work currently underway on the complex’s grounds. »»»
Saudi consumer spending rises 6.8% in Q1: Knight Frank
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending rose 6.8 percent year on year to SR425 billion ($113.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, supported by resilient demand, stable inflation and continued non-oil economic growth, Knight Frank said. The consultancy firm’s Saudi Arabia Retail Market Overview»»»
Government prepares legal framework for mandatory industrial power cuts during supply crises
The Romanian government is preparing a legal framework that would allow the authorities to impose phased electricity consumption limits on large industrial users during severe imbalances in the national power system. A draft government decision approving Romania’s Electricity Risk Preparedness Plan»»»
N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missile toward East Sea: military - UPI.com
North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea's military said. In this January photo, people watch a news report of a North Korean missile launch at Seoul Station. File Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile t»»»
Media Review: August 6
The August 2 confrontation between Bulgarian and Italian teenagers in Bansko, the race ahead of the October 25 presidential election, concerns over fentanyl and key economic issues feature prominently in Bulgaria's news media on Thursday. COMMENTS ON BANSKO INCIDENT On Thursday, Prime Minister Rume»»»
US requests Filipino pastor's extradition on sex charges: ambassador
The United States has formally requested the extradition of a Filipino pastor wanted on sex-trafficking charges, the Philippines' ambassador to Washington said on Thursday. Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God" and ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in the Ph»»»
Saudi food giant Savola posts 36% rise in H1 profit
RIYADH: Saudi food and retail group Savola reported a 36 percent increase in 2026 first-half net profit, driven by stronger operational performance in its food processing business and resilient retail performance despite a competitive market environment. Net profit rose to SR401 million ($106.9 mil»»»
Israel Intensifying Attacks on Southern Lebanon, People Wounded - Military Source
BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The Israeli army launched a series of airstrikes and artillery strikes on villages in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon last night and this morning, wounding four people, a Lebanese military field source told Sputnik on Thursday. "The Israeli army has significantly intensifie»»»
Vivien Keszthelyi and David Schumacher share sweet baby news
Vivien Keszthelyi, the 25-year-old wife of David Schumacher, is expecting a baby. The Hungarian racing driver married the son of Ralf Schumacher — and nephew of Michael Schumacher — in February this year. A new milestone in the youngest Schumacher family: Vivien Keszthelyi to become a mother The im»»»
'She gives us hope': Why Alex Eala means so much to Filipinos overseas
Dubai: Every time Alex Eala steps onto the court, millions of Filipinos are watching. Among them are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE, many of whom see more than a promising tennis player chasing titles. They see someone who embodies the same perseverance, discipline, and sacrifices that»»»
Burjeel H1 2026 profit rises 97.4% to Dh227m after 3.7 million patient visits
Dubai: Burjeel Holdings treated more than 3.7 million patients during the first half of 2026 as higher demand for outpatient services, surgeries and complex medical care supported a 97.4% increase in net profit excluding one-off items. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.N»»»
Why is Russia selling its gold?
BusinessRussian FederationWhy is Russia selling its gold?Arthur SullivanRussia has become one of the world's biggest sellers of gold over the past 12 months. It's an attempt to raise cash in the face of budget issues, but not necessarily a sign of a looming financial crisis. https://p.dw.com/p/5Ht6»»»
Philippines: Anti-Pax Silica slogans amount to poverty of ideas
There is a peculiar contradiction in the Philippine debate over Pax Silica. A country that has spent decades complaining about poverty, underemployment, brain drain, weak industrialisation, unreliable infrastructure and the export of raw resources suddenly finds itself being offered a place in one »»»
Unlocking pension capital crucial to sustaining Romanian PE growth
Andrei Gemeneanu, ROPEA president, talked to BR about Romania’s private equity market, which saw investment values quadruple to EUR 433.6 million in 2025. Gemeneanu discusses the drivers behind this surge, the record-breaking exit activity, and the need to unlock domestic pension funds to reduce re»»»
Gay Man Beaten to Death in Plovdiv, Several Teens DetainedOpinions
A brutal fatal assault in Plovdiv has prompted a major police investigation, with authorities examining whether the attack was motivated by hatred based on sexual orientation or involved a victim being lured through a dating app. Several teenagers, including minors, have been detained as investigat»»»
Space42 H1 2026 revenue rises 15% to $260m, D2D services set for year-end rollout
Dubai: Space42 reported record first-half revenue after growth across its satellite services and geospatial intelligence businesses, while preparations continued for the commercial rollout of direct-to-device services on standard mobile phones. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & B»»»