Saudi Arabia has suspended large-scale work on the construction of The Line—a key component of the futuristic city of NEOM—until at least 2030.
The Line was conceived as one of the most ambitious urban development projects in the world: a linear city 170 km long and up to 500 m high, free of cars and traditional streets, designed to accommodate millions of residents. The project was intended to become a symbol of the Saudi Vision 2030 program and Saudi Arabia’s economic transition from oil dependence to technology, tourism, logistics, and innovative infrastructure.
According to Semafor, NEOM has postponed further major work on The Line until after 2030. Investments in a number of other project areas have also been postponed or frozen, including some tourist facilities on the Red Sea coast and the Trojena mountain resort, which was previously planned as a venue for the 2029 Winter Asian Games.
The reasons for the revision include rising costs, the need to reallocate resources, and a more pragmatic approach to implementing Saudi Vision 2030 projects. Instead of the most complex and expensive futuristic facilities, the priority may shift toward ports, logistics, industrial infrastructure, data centers, and facilities that yield economic benefits more quickly.
The Line and the entire NEOM project have been controversial from the start due to their scale, cost, technical complexity, and environmental risks. It was initially stated that the city would be able to accommodate up to 9 million residents, but the plans were later revised several times. In 2024, The Guardian reported that by 2030, only a small section is actually planned to be built instead of the originally announced 170 km.
The suspension of The Line is part of a broader review of Saudi megaprojects. Reuters previously reported on the suspension of work on Mukaab—a giant cubic skyscraper in Riyadh costing about $50 billion, which is also part of the Vision 2030 portfolio.
For the real estate and construction market, the decision regarding The Line is an important signal: even the largest state-backed projects in the Gulf countries are facing funding constraints, a shortage of investors, rising construction costs, and the need to demonstrate economic viability.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is not abandoning NEOM entirely. The project will likely develop in a more realistic format, with a focus on individual functional zones, industry, logistics, maritime infrastructure, digital services, and energy projects.
NEOM is a megaproject in northwestern Saudi Arabia, announced in 2017.
It includes The Line, the Oxagon industrial cluster, the Trojena mountain resort, the Sindalah island tourism project, and other zones. The project is funded with the participation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, and is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy.
Portugal has dramatically accelerated the processing of backlogged immigration cases following several years of delays in the system for issuing and renewing residence permits. According to government data, the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) and a special unit tasked with clearing backlogged cases have conducted 763,000 interviews and issued decisions on more than 525,000 cases, of which approximately 473,000 were approved.
This represents a massive clearance of the backlog that formed following the dissolution of the former Service for Foreigners and Borders (SEF), the creation of AIMA, and the abolition of the former “expression of interest” mechanism. This mechanism allowed foreigners already in Portugal to regularize their status if they had a work and tax history.
According to government data, AIMA notified 445,000 people under the now-abolished “expression of interest” scheme alone. A total of 246,000 decisions were made in this category, of which 229,000 were positive and 26,000 were negative, and 225,000 residence cards have already been issued.
Cases involving citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) were considered separately. Under this scheme, 215,000 people were notified, 207,000 interviews were conducted involving 161,000 migrants, and AIMA issued 153,000 decisions, of which 140,000 were positive. 136,000 residence cards have already been issued.
Another major category involves the renewal of expired residence permits. According to Minister for the Presidency António Leiteu Amaro, there were approximately 360,000 such cases; 193,000 people were notified of the need to regularize their status, 104,000 attended appointments, and 82,000 have already received new permits.
Immigration reform has become one of the most sensitive issues for Portugal. The authorities are attempting to simultaneously reduce the administrative backlog, strengthen controls, transition to a more digital system, and abandon the practice whereby the country effectively legalized a large number of people after their entry.
According to AIMA data, as of the end of 2024, there were 1.543 million foreign nationals in Portugal with valid documents or ongoing regularization procedures. This is nearly four times more than in 2017, when 421,800 foreigners were registered in the country.
Brazilian citizens remain the largest foreign community in Portugal, numbering 484,600 people, or 31.4% of all foreigners. The Indian community is the second largest, with 98,600 people. They are followed by citizens of Angola—92,300, Ukraine—79,200, Cape Verde—65,500, Nepal—58,100, Bangladesh—55,200, the United Kingdom—48,200, Guinea-Bissau—47,300, Pakistan—41,500, São Tomé and Príncipe—40,100, and Italy—40,000.
Ukrainians remain one of the largest European migrant groups in Portugal. According to AIMA data for 2024, 79,232 Ukrainian citizens resided in the country, including 31,271 men and 47,961 women. Some Ukrainians are in Portugal under temporary protection, introduced in the EU after the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
AIMA specifically noted that as of the end of 2024, there were 61,242 recipients of temporary protection in Portugal who are not considered holders of a standard residence permit but are included in the statistics on foreign residents.
Geographically, Portugal’s foreign population is concentrated primarily along the coast. The districts of Lisbon, Faro, Setúbal, and Porto account for 1.101 million foreign citizens, or 71.3% of the total. The Lisbon metropolitan area itself is home to many municipalities with the largest foreign communities: Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, Amadora, Lores, Odivelas, Almada, and Seixal.
The growth in the number of foreigners reflects several processes at once: labor demand, the influx of migrants from CPLP countries, the increase in the number of people from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, as well as the presence of Ukrainians who received protection after 2022. Authorities emphasize that more than 1.03 million foreign nationals pay contributions to Portugal’s social security system.
In May 2026, 1,032 new vehicles were added to Ukraine’s fleet of new trucks and specialty vehicles, which is 8% more than in May 2025 but 8% less than in April of this year, according to a report by Ukravtoprom on its Telegram channel.
Renault remains the market leader with 144 units, though this is 38.7% less than in April of this year.
Fiat took second place with 84 units (118 units in April 2026), and Volkswagen took third with 83 units.
Rounding out the top five were Mercedes-Benz with 77 units and Opel with 72 units.
As reported, in May of last year, the top five were MAN, Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, and Mercedes-Benz.
According to Ukravtoprom, a total of 5,065 new vehicles were added to Ukraine’s fleet of trucks and special-purpose vehicles from January through May, which is 6% more compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the information and analytical group AUTO-Consulting, analyzing the segment of trucks with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tons, noted that in May, for the first time in 14 months, a 10% increase in truck sales was recorded.
“This marks the end of a long and protracted slump caused by the suspension of foreign aid through U.S. funds last year,” the report states.
JAC became the leader in this segment in May, overtaking MAN thanks to large deliveries of special-purpose vehicles, while Volvo finished third. Meanwhile, MAN took first place among heavy-duty trucks with a 16% market share. Overall, the segment of heavy-duty vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 16 tons grew by 35%.
Increased demand was recorded for dump trucks, tractor-trailers, and municipal special-purpose vehicles. A slight increase also began in the concrete mixer and tanker segments.
As reported, according to data from “Ukravtoprom,” registrations of new trucks and special-purpose vehicles in 2025 decreased by 5% compared to 2024—to nearly 12,300 vehicles.
auto market, special-purpose vehicles, TRUCKS, UKRAINE, UKRAVTOPROM
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are launching the “Ukrainian SME Recovery” program, which is expected to provide approximately EUR135 million in financing and advisory support for small and medium-sized enterprises, larger companies, and startups in Ukraine, the financial institution announced on its website.
EU support under the program is being implemented through the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF) and amounts to EUR46 million, including EUR41 million in guarantees and approximately EUR5 million in technical assistance.
According to the announcement, the program provides for financing at least 15 investment projects by Ukrainian companies, as well as advisory support for up to 34 startups.
The first component of the program will be implemented through the EBRD’s Risk Sharing Framework (RSF) in collaboration with partner banks. EU guarantees will be used to cover the first-loss risks of the EBRD and partner banks on a parity basis.
According to the bank’s assessment, this will expand Ukrainian companies’ access to long-term financing, particularly for the restoration and expansion of production assets and capacity.
The second component involves expanding the EBRD’s Star Venture program in Ukraine, aimed at supporting high-potential startups and developing an innovative ecosystem.
Under this initiative, selected startups, accelerators, and venture capital firms will receive advisory support. The funding is intended to help early-stage companies cover operational and market development costs and enhance their readiness to attract commercial investment.
The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the bank has allocated nearly EUR10 billion to Ukraine.
Pork sausages are one of the worst breakfast options for people with high cholesterol, according to nutritionists surveyed by EatingWell.
According to experts, the problem lies not in the fact of having a protein-rich breakfast, but in the combination of two factors: pork sausages are processed meat and contain a lot of saturated fat. It is saturated fats that can contribute to an increase in low-density lipoproteins (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol.
The publication notes that 100 grams of fried pork sausages can contain about 9 grams of saturated fat. This is a significant portion of the recommended daily limit for an adult on a diet of about 2,000 calories.
Nutritionists emphasize that eggs, long considered a controversial food due to their cholesterol content, do not need to be completely eliminated from the diet for most people. The modern approach focuses more on overall diet quality, the amount of saturated fat, fiber, and the degree of food processing.
Experts advise limiting pork sausages, bacon, and other types of processed meats not only because of saturated fats but also due to their high salt content and processing methods. When combined with white bread, butter, cheese, or fried foods, such a breakfast can place an increased strain on the cardiovascular system.
That said, experts aren’t calling for a complete rejection of traditional breakfasts; instead, they suggest adjusting their composition: adding more fiber-rich foods, opting for leaner protein sources, and reducing the amount of processed meat. Oatmeal, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and moderate egg consumption as part of the overall diet are typically cited as more balanced breakfast options.
High cholesterol remains one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Doctors and dietitians usually recommend that people with this condition discuss their diet individually with a specialist, especially if they have comorbidities or are taking prescribed medications.
Ukraine must ensure the right to a defence is rigorously upheld in cases involving war crimes, as breaches of procedural safeguards could lead to complaints being lodged with the European Court of Human Rights and damage the country’s international reputation, according to Inna Linyova, Director of the Human Rights Institute of the Ukrainian Bar Association.
In an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, she noted that Ukrainian courts are hearing a large number of war crimes cases in absentia, without the accused being present. Such a practice is permissible, but requires the court, the prosecution and the defence lawyers to observe procedures with particular care.
According to Linyova, if a Russian serviceman who has been found guilty in absentia subsequently claims that he was not notified of the case or the trial, and that his lawyer failed to provide a proper defence, he may appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. In such a case, Ukraine risks a ruling that it has violated the right to a fair trial.
She emphasised that the issue of notifying defendants is one of the key concerns. Ukrainian legislation currently does not require the prosecution or the investigating authorities to take all possible steps to locate the defendant. If there is no access to the defendant’s address, it is sufficient to publish information about the trial on the website of the Office of the Prosecutor General and in the newspaper ‘Uryadovy Kurier’.
However, according to Linyova, it is clear that Russian military personnel are unlikely to read such sources. Therefore, the prosecution must additionally use other methods of notification: search for the defendants’ profiles on social media, send messages, and write official letters, including to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
In her view, such actions are necessary not because Ukraine expects a conscientious response from the Russian Federation, but to demonstrate that the Ukrainian system has done everything possible to ensure a fair hearing of the case.
“We cannot expect the Ukrainian judicial system to be fair to Ukrainian citizens and unfair towards Russians. Courts are either fair or unfair,” noted Linyova.
The expert also drew attention to the pressure faced by lawyers representing defendants in such cases. According to her, some lawyers and members of the public mistakenly equate the lawyer with their client, accusing defence lawyers of supporting Russian narratives. However, international standards and professional ethics explicitly prohibit equating a lawyer with their client.
In Linyova’s view, it is extremely important for Ukraine to explain to the public that the fact that an accused Russian serviceman has a defence is not a sign of the state’s weakness, but rather a testament to the strength of the legal system. This is particularly important in the context of future European integration, international legal proceedings and compensation mechanisms.
