Egypt’s GDP growth seen slowing to 5.5% in current fiscal year

CAIRO, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s economic growth is expected to slow to 5.5% in the fiscal year that began this month, below the government’s target, and 5.8% the following year, as Cairo nears the end of an IMF-backed economic reform programme. The forecasts were similar to a survey of…

Europe Heatwave: Paris Latest To Break Record With 42.6C

PARIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Paris saw a record high temperature of 42.6C (108.7F) on Thursday, amid a heatwave that broke records across Western Europe. A red alert was issued in north France. Germany also set a new national temperature record of 41.5C, passing the figure set just a day before. The UK recorded a…

At least 5 injured in blast at Chilean police station

SANTIAGO, July 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least five police officers were injured by an explosion at the 54th Police Station in Huechuraba, in northeast Santiago, Chile’s police said. General Jorge Avila told the press that an artifact exploded inside the police headquarters. “Five officers were injured, including the commissioner,” he said. Two of the officers…

Terms of draft Brexit deal ‘unacceptable’: new British PM Boris Johnson

LONDON, July 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson onThursday called the terms of the current draft Brexit deal “unacceptable” and called on Brussels to rethink its refusal to renegotiate it. Johnson also said the government would set as a “top priority”preparations for exiting without an agreement if…

Afghanistan: At least 10 killed as three blasts rock Kabul

KABUL, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 10 people including several women and a child were killed and 41 others wounded by a series of blasts that rocked the Afghan capital Thursday ahead of the election season. The three blasts came amid a wider surge in violence in Kabul and…

Riyadh, allies say thwart new Yemen rebel drone attack

RIYADH, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi air defences intercepted a Yemeni rebel drone targeting a southwestern city on Thursday, a Riyadh-led military coalition said, as cross-border attacks by the rebels showed no let-up. The rebels’ top political leader, Mahdi al-Mashat, had said on Tuesday that they were ready to stop…

Tunisia: Pres Beji Caid Essebsi dies at 92 – presidency

TUNIS, July 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, theNorth African country’s first democratically elected leader, died Thursday at the age of 92, the presidency said. The veteran politician, the oldest head of state after Britain’s QueenElizabeth II, came to power in 2014, three years after the Arab Springuprising…

India: Lok Sabha passes bill declaring triple talaq illegal

NEW DELHI, July 26 (NNN-BSS) – The Indian Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliamentr) ssed “The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019”, popularly known as the “triple talaq” bill that declares the practice of instant “triple talaq’ illegal and punishable offence with up to three years in…

Italy surpasses France to become second most popular destination for European tourists

ROME, July 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — Italy says it has surpassed France to become Europe’s second most popular tourist destination, a claim that shines new light on the importance of the tourism sector in the country’s otherwise moribund economy. According to Italy’s National Tourism Agency’s data released recently, tourists from Europe…

Tunisian president admitted to military hospital over health trouble

TUNIS, July 25 (NNN-Xinhua) — Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday evening was transferred to the military hospital in capital city Tunis following a “health trouble,” reported the local radio station Mosaique Fm. This is the third time that Essebsi was admitted to the military hospital in over a…