Public Investment Fund: 10 key takeaways from its new strategy
RIYADH: The Saudi Public Investment Fund is entering the period leading up to 2030 with a different investment philosophy from the one that guided its expansion over the past decade. After a period characterized by rapid growth, the establishment of companies and sectors, and large-scale capital in»»»
Cuba’s Intelligence Thwarted 640 Plots to Kill Fidel Castro – Ex-Security Officer
The FBI was already involved in plotting Fidel Castro’s assassination before the Cuban Revolution, and later the CIA picked up where it left off, former state security officer Carlos Serpa Maceira tells Sputnik on the 100th anniversary of the revolutionary icon. Between 1959 and 2000 roughly 640 at»»»
Closing U.S. consulate in Indonesia may undermine Indo-Pacific strategy - UPI.com
The United States is considering closing its consulate in Medan, Indonesia, which is near the highly strategic Strait of Malacca. File Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Trump administration's decision to close the U.S. Consulate in Medan, Indonesia, may save relatively little money. Bu»»»
UAE women leaders invited to join six-month C-suite programme
Senior female marketing and communications professionals in the UAE are being invited to apply for the second edition of The Leadership Accelerator by Think Equal, a six-month programme aimed at preparing women for future C-suite roles. The programme, launched by The Marketing Society UAE in partne»»»
Nadia Comăneci, guest of honour at the 2026 Singureni Manor Polo Cup international tournament
Nadia Comăneci will officially open the third edition of the Singureni Manor Polo Cup international polo tournament, taking place from 25 to 27 September 2026 at Singureni Manor Equestrian Retreat. As guest of honour, she will mark the start of the competition by throwing the first ball onto the fi»»»
Bulgaria Performs First Combined Liver and Kidney Transplant
For the first time in Bulgaria, a combined liver and kidney transplant has been performed at the Military Medical Academy (MMA), the hospital said. The recipient is a 20-year-old man who is currently in satisfactory condition, conscious and responsive. One medical team first performed the liver tra»»»
US ambassador to Israel denounces settler siege on Palestinians as 'terror'
The U.S. ambassador to Israel, a staunch supporter of West Bank settlements, on Thursday denounced as "terror" a siege by settlers against Palestinians that drew an unsuccessful intervention by the army. Settlers near Nablus since Sunday have blockaded Palestinian homes, including one owned by a U.»»»
Hungarian construction industry falls again: What happened?
Hungary’s construction sector weakened again in June, marking a second consecutive monthly decline after a sharp reversal in May. The latest figures show that the Hungarian construction industry remains highly volatile: a relatively strong spring was followed by two months of falling output, while »»»
Stefanini Infinit wins the MOL Romania pitch and becomes the company’s new digital and social media agency for its brand portfolio
The new partnership will bring together strategy, creativity and social-first content to strengthen a coherent, relevant digital presence connected to MOL Romania’s business objectives. Stefanini Infinit, an independent full-service agency with digital at its core and part of Stefanini Group, has w»»»
ADX becomes first MENA exchange to open live market data to ChatGPT and Claude
Dubai: Investors will be able to pull official Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange market data into AI platforms including ChatGPT and Claude, giving them a new way to check prices, trading activity, company disclosures and market flows using everyday language. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, »»»
How seismic activity around the world is renewing fear of a Middle East quake
LONDON: It was no more than a faint whisper, appearing to come from beneath the ruins of one of the many buildings devastated by the earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday. After two days, hope of finding anyone still alive was running out. But by sheer luck, Brian Zuluaga, walking home from wor»»»
In pictures: Partial to total eclipse sweeps across much of Europe
The total eclipse in Spain – and partial eclipse seen across much of Europe – gave rise to a host of incredible photos. »»»
Egypt plans to launch a car tire factory with investments of $500m
RIYADH: The Egyptian government plans to tender a project to establish a passenger car and light commercial vehicle tire factory with an estimated investment of about $500 million, with the aim of meeting local market needs and reducing reliance on imports, according to an official document seen by»»»
After Plovdiv Murder, Focus Turns to Bulgaria’s Violent Youth GroupsOpinions
The deadly beating of Georgi Kuzev in Plovdiv has renewed attention on groups of young people who organize online and carry out aggressive attacks against others in Bulgaria. Journalists Eduard Papazyan and Nikolay Hristov say such groups are not a new phenomenon in Bulgaria and have been operating»»»
Bulgaria: 5-Year-Old Boy in Critical Condition After Beating by His FatherOpinions
The condition of the 5-year-old boy who was beaten by his father yesterday remains critical, with doctors continuing to fight for his life at Sofia’s Pirogov emergency hospital. The child was transferred by air ambulance from a hospital in Montana, where he was initially admitted after being brough»»»
Russia Welcomes Indian Oil and Gas Investments — Deputy PM
The relationship between the two countries is a strategic partnership, with their leaders in constant contact and mutually beneficial projects actively advancing, Russian Deputy PM Alexander Novak says. Russia officially wants Indian capital in its oil and gas sector, as well as a sales network for»»»
UAE weekend to bring cloudy skies, light rain and chance of mist
Dubai: UAE residents can expect a mostly fair start to the weekend before clouds increase over parts of the country on Sunday, bringing a chance of light rain, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Saturday is forecast to be fair to partly cloudy across the country, with humidity i»»»
Tucker Carlson says Netanyahu-linked Israelis brought him Hunter Biden laptop material
US journalist Tucker Carlson has said that people linked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached him with material from Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 US presidential election. The laptop belonging to the son of then-presidential candidate Joe Biden became the focus of a ma»»»
Romania begins shutdown of nuclear plant due to low Danube
Buchares: Romania began Thursday the complete shutdown of its only nuclear plant after water levels in the Danube, used to cool the site, fell to a record low, the national nuclear energy company said. Nuclearelectrica already shut down last month one of the two reactors at the Cernavoda power plan»»»
Republic of Korea’s auto exports hit high of $6.24 billion in July
Seoul: Republic of Korea's car exports hit a record high in July, exceeding $6.2 billion, thanks to a 7% year-on-year increase to $6.24 billion, surpassing the previous record of $5.9 billion set in July 2023. Yonhap news agency reported, citing data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resourc»»»
UK Extends LUKOIL License in Bulgaria Until October 29Opinions
The UK has extended the license allowing business operations with Bulgarian companies from the LUKOIL group until October 29, 2026, the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy said. The extension, requested by Bulgaria, covers LUKOIL Bulgaria, LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas, LUKOIL Aviation Bulgaria and LUKOIL Bunk»»»
Cameroon stun hosts Morocco on penalties to reach WAFCON final — hosts pay price for late penalty miss
RABAT: Cameroon won a penalty shootout 3-1 against Morocco after a scoreless draw in the other semi. Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in the first semifinal match on Wednesday, led by Tabitha Chawinga with a pair of goals. Upstart Malawi will face Cameroon in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations o»»»
Saudi inflation remains among Gulf’s lowest at 1.8% in July
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate edged up to 1.8 percent in July, with housing rents continuing to drive price gains in the Kingdom, official data showed. According to the latest report by the General Authority for Statistics, the country’s consumer price index rose 0.2 percent in July »»»
Here to Stay: US Rebukes ‘Israel’ Over Katz’s Push to Entrench Occupation in Southern Lebanon
Washington’s warning exposes growing rift as Israeli minister openly defies framework commitments, raising fears of permanent land grab The Trump administration has issued an unusually sharp rebuke to Israeli War Minister Israel Katz after he declared that Israeli enemy forces would maintain a long»»»
President Saïed says dismantling corruption networks "sine qua non" to meet peoples demands
Tunis, Aug.13 (TAP)- President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed met on Wednesday in Carthage with Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani, Minister of Public Works and Housing and Acting Minister of Industry and Energy Salah Zouari and Minister of Social...»»»
Protesters in Plovdiv Call for Fair Trial in Brutal Murder Case, Changes to Penal Code
Protesters gathered outside the Courthouse in Plovdiv on Thursday, calling for a fair trial in the brutal murder of Georgi Kuzev, and for amendments to the Penal Code. The two girls among the five teenagers charged with the murder on Youth Hill in Plovdiv are appealing their detention measures befo»»»
Burgas to Host Eurovision Song Contest in 2027
The coastal city of Burgas will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year, it was announced at a joint press conference of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) here on Thursday. The two semifinals will take place on May 11 and 13. The final will be held»»»
5.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Northern Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan: An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale struck northern Pakistan on Thursday. The US Geological Survey reported that the epicenter was at a depth of 58.9 kilometers in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan. There were no immediate reports of casualties or da»»»
Iraq PM Aiming for Legislation that Limits Possession of Weapons to the State
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stressed that October 1 will be a new chapter for the state after the withdrawal of all foreign military forces from the country. By then, it would have achieved national sovereingty over its territories as it continues to build its military and security capabiliti»»»
Uncertainty surrounds Ali Al-Bulaihi’s future at Al-Hilal
DUBAI: Negotiations between Al-Hilal and Ali Al-Bulaihi over the termination of the defender’s current contract, which has one season remaining, have stalled, according to Arabic daily newspaper Arriyadiyah. Sources close to the club have revealed that the Saudi Arabia international is no longer pa»»»
Al-Ain seek more dominance as UAE Pro League season kicks off
DUBAI: The eagerly anticipated 2026/27 ADNOC Pro League kicks off this weekend, with questions ranging from whether an era of Al-Ain dominance awaits, to what revolutionary upstarts United FC can achieve on their debut with Italy icon Andrea Pirlo, somehow, still at the helm. The unbeaten Boss live»»»
Al-Fateh defender Robin Kelder’s mother is cheering him on from the sidelines after Saudi homecoming
DHAHRAN: When 55-year-old Anita Maas stepped off the airplane in Dammam last month with her 21-year-old footballer son, Robin Kelder, it was like deja vu. It was just as hot as she remembered when the family had lived there for three years nearly two decades ago. That visit marked their return to t»»»
Young Saudi fans embracing football across multiple platforms, study shows
RIYADH: Ahead of the new Saudi Pro League season, a new report from football media and culture company Footballco has revealed the preferences of young fans across the Kingdom and how they can impact commercial opportunities for brands and rights holders across creator content, gaming, and culture »»»
US official to Asharq: We expect Israel to abide by the framework agreement with Lebanon
A US State Department official said the United States expects Israel to act in accordance with the framework agreed with Lebanon, in response to comments by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said that Israeli forces would not withdraw from areas they have seized in Lebanon and Syria. The US»»»
How rugby opened unexpected opportunities for a Saudi athlete
RIYADH: An oval-shaped ball was enough to make Ameera Marghalani curious about a sport she had barely heard of growing up. Rugby was still new in Saudi Arabia when her coach introduced her to the game during her senior year of high school. “I think what first drew me to rugby was honestly how diffe»»»
Salam condemns 'systematic' Israeli destruction in south
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday condemned Israel's "systematic destruction" in the country's south as a violation of international law, as Israel's defense minister said its military was "destroying all the houses" there. Salam said Israeli "attacks, incursions, demolitions and the systemat»»»
Families of Lebanese seized by Israel ask for news of loved ones
Relatives of Lebanese seized by Israel during its last two wars with Hezbollah held a rally in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Beirut on Wednesday to demand information. Israel is estimated to have seized dozens of people in Lebanon since 2024, including Hezbollah fighters »»»
Justice Department charges former SPLC official - UPI.com
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has filed fraud-related char»»»
Labour ministry urges compliance with summer working hours to prevent heat stress
DOHA: The Ministry of Labour has urged workers and employers to adhere to designated working hours during the summer to reduce the risks associated with high temperatures and heat stress. In a social media post, the ministry said regulating working hours helps reduce workers’ direct exposure to hig»»»
Morocco arrests suspects over calls for mass crossings into Spanish enclaves
Dubai: Morocco has arrested several people suspected of inciting mass irregular migration into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and stepped up security to prevent a repeat of large-scale border crossings, the Interior Ministry said. The measures follow the circulation of anonymous posts on»»»
Ashghal enhances surface water drainage efficiency, installs over 4000 stormwater debris traps
Doha, Qatar: The Public Works Authority, Ashghal has announced the installation of 4,061 debris traps to improve the performance and operational capacity of the stormwater drainage network, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the management and maintenance efficiency of the country’s infrastructu»»»
Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves surpass $50 billion
The Executive Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), Omar Radwan, affirmed that the Egyptian stock market acts as a mirror to the country’s economy. He noted that proactive measures taken by the Egyptian government at the onset of the region’s geopolitical crisis since March enabled the Central B»»»
Natural disasters cause $100 billion in global losses in first half of 2026
Zurich, Aug. 13 (SANA) Natural disasters caused an estimated $100 billion in global economic losses in the first half of 2026, as extreme weather events continued to impose mounting costs on economies worldwide, according to reinsurance group Swiss Re. Swiss Re said in a report published Tuesday th»»»
Watch: Near total solar eclipse takes place in central London
Dubai: A near-total solar eclipse was visible over Westminster in central London, as the Moon passed directly between Earth and the Sun, blocking more than 90 per cent of the Sun’s disk. The rare celestial event briefly transformed daylight conditions, with the sky taking on a noticeably darker app»»»
‘Abu Dhabi kids can survive anywhere’: Benny Dayal on his journey from the UAE to Bollywood
Dubai: Before Benny Dayal became the voice behind some of Bollywood’s most infectious songs, before Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman came calling and before arenas and millions of listeners became part of his musical universe, he was an Abu Dhabi schoolboy. And apparently, that explains quite a l»»»
Deputy Prime Minister Hristov on Policy Priorities in Government Programme: Constitutional Reform, Economic Model Changes
The government’s programme contains a wide range of new ideas, from radical measures such as constitutional reform to changes to the country’s economic model, Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov said in an interview for Bulgarian National Television’s (BNT) morning programme. The Council of Ministers»»»
Emirates SkyCargo flies UAE-built AI satellite Altair-1 to US ahead of October launch
Dubai: The UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled earth observation satellite has left Dubai for the United States ahead of its scheduled launch in October, marking the next stage for a locally developed system designed to support environmental monitoring, disaster response and infrastructure assessment»»»
Voting begins in Zambian presidential and parliamentary elections
Lusaka: Voters in Zambia began casting their ballots this morning in the one-day presidential election, in which incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema is competing against 13 other candidates. Around 8 million voters of the 22 million population registered to participate in the elections, which al»»»
Putin Visits Kuril Island of Iturup
ITURUP (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to the Far Eastern Kuril Island of Iturup. The head of state's working program began with a visit to the Yasny fish processing plantA strong ruble is good for ordinary Russians, but it creates problems for export-oriented businesses, Puti»»»
US Forces on Track to Leave Iraq by Sept. 30 — Reports
The US military is expected to complete its withdrawal from Iraq by the end of September, marking the end of a military presence that began with the US invasion in 2003, American media reported. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Sept. 30 remains the “fixed and final date” for ending the milita»»»