Italian prosecutors request to drop sports fraud case against referee chief
MILANO: Milan prosecutors have requested that a sports fraud case against Gianluca Rocchi, the former referee designator for Italy’s Serie A and Serie B, be dismissed, Italian news agency ANSA reported on Wednesday. Rocchi, who was responsible for appointing referees in Italy’s top two divisions»»»
IRGC Fires Warning Shots at Two Ships Trying to Illegally Pass Strait of Hormuz - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC Fires Warning Shots at Two Ships Trying to Illegally Pass Strait of Hormuz 15-07-2026 18:40 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IR»»»
Customs Agency, UK Authorities Agree to Expand Cooperation on Risk Analysis
The Bulgarian Customs Agency and the UK Home Office will strengthen their cooperation in the field of risk analysis, the Agency's press office said after a meeting with British officials on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Customs Agency Director Nikolay Shushkov and a delegation from the UK »»»
Trump says ICE should resume traffic stops despite recent deaths - UPI.com
President Donald Trump speaks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in the White House on Tuesday. Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should resume traffic stops after agents shot and killed two people. Photo by Graeme Sloan/UPI | License Photo J»»»
Russia prepares legal offensive against Baltic states over treatment of Russian minorities
Russia is stepping up efforts to pursue legal action against Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, accusing the three countries of discriminating against ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in a case it plans to bring before the International Court of Justice. An investigation by LRT, Re a»»»
Safadi and Rubio condemn Iranian attacks as Jordan intercepts more missiles
LONDON: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Iranian attacks against Jordan and Gulf Cooperation Council countries during a meeting in Washington. Jordan announced on Wednesday that it intercepted and shot down three Iranian ballistic missiles that»»»
Lebanon, Israel conclude two days of ‘positive’ talks: US official
BEIRUT: Lebanon and Israel completed a new round of Washington-mediated negotiations in Rome on Wednesday, agreeing to implement the “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon agreed under a recent framework deal, a US official said.“Talks concluded after two days of productive and positive discussions,” th»»»
Cricket World Cup revamp could see extra India-Pakistan clash
LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday a revamped format for the men’s 2027 one-day international World Cup that could lead to an additional fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. While next year’s edition in southern Africa remains a 14-team competition, th»»»
Russian government prioritizes fuel for vehicles servicing food retail chains
MOSCOW: Russia’s government discussed prioritising fuel supplies to vehicles that service large food retail chains, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday, as the country grapples with nationwide fuel shortages. The discussions underscore the government’s unease about the fuel cru»»»
US Trade Fraud Task Force recovers $1bn in first year
CHICAGO: In a rare US Department of Justice press conference in Illinois on Tuesday, officials showcased the recovery in less than a year of more than $1 billion by the Trade Fraud Task Force, the creation of which in August 2025 was spearheaded by prosecutions in 2008 by Andrew Boutros, shortly af»»»
Yemeni Information Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: We prevented Sanaa Airport becoming Iranian platform
RIYADH: Yemeni Minister of Information Moammar Al-Eryani said on Wednesday that the state will not tolerate any new violations, and will take all political, diplomatic, legal, and military measures guaranteed by the constitution and international law to prevent any attempt to undermine Yemen’s sove»»»
PayPal shares jump on reported $53 bn Stripe takeover bid
Washington: Shares in PayPal surged as much as 13 percent on Wall Street Wednesday after reports that payments firm Stripe and private equity group Advent International had made a joint offer to buy the digital payments pioneer. US media said the deal would value PayPal at about $53 billion, with t»»»
Senior Daesh security leader in Syria lived ‘semi-permanently’ in Lebanon
BEIRUT: A senior Daesh security official arrested in Lebanon had been living in the country on a “semi-permanent” basis, Lebanese judicial sources said Tuesday. Investigators suspect he served as the group’s general security emir for its self-proclaimed Southern and Central provinces in Syria. Leba»»»
Canada central bank holds key rate steady, says economy improving
Toronto: Canada's central bank held its key lending rate at 2.25 percent on Wednesday, its sixth consecutive hold, citing signs of economic "improvement" while warning of risks from the Middle East and uncertain US ties. Canada's economy had sputtered over the past year, as US President Donald Trum»»»
Dubai Basketball signs American forward Jason Blossomgame from AS Monaco
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball has reached an agreement to sign American forward Jaron Blossomgame on a two-year deal. Blossomgame joins from AS Monaco, where he spent the last four seasons (2022–2026), adding further experience and versatility to Dubai Basketball’s roster ahead of the 2026-27 season. The»»»
Local ‘hero’: Bellingham’s hometown buzzing ahead of semifinal clash
STOURBRIDGE, UK: As England gears up for the World Cup semifinal Wednesday, there will be one name on everyone’s lips: Jude Bellingham, the star midfielder who powered the Three Lions through to the marquee clash against Argentina. In packed stadiums in North America and pubs back home, people belt»»»
Lebanon, Israel agree 'structure and guidelines for pilot zone process'
The talks between Lebanon and Israel have concluded in Rome and there is a possibility of another round of virtual military talks between the two countries on Friday to discuss the implementation of pilot zones, media reports said on Wednesday. "Talks concluded after two days of productive and posi»»»
Sorry, conspiracy theorists, Lindsey Graham isn’t worth your effort
Some guys die falling down the stairs while putting their pants on. Lindsey Graham went out much more boringly. Sorry to disappoint. His demise is a tale as old as time. A guy with a medically-documented bad ticker has a jammer at home around the same age as his own father did. Pretty straightforwa»»»
Mozambique to establish state-owned fuel procurement company to strengthen energy security
MAPUTO: Mozambique's government has approved the creation of a state-owned company to centralize the procurement and management of petroleum products, aiming to strengthen the country's energy security following months of fuel supply disruptions. The National Petroleum Products Procurement Company »»»
Bulgaria Records 0.9% Monthly Deflation in June, Annual Inflation Remains at 5.4%Opinions
Bulgaria recorded monthly deflation of 0.9% in June 2026, while annual inflation remained at 5.4%, according to the latest data published by the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The statistical agency reported that inflation since the beginning of the year has reached 2.9%. The average annual »»»
War vs diplomacy: What Gulf states got right that Washington didn’t
Dubai: As the US-Iran conflict entered its fifth month with no clear end in sight, one theme has become increasingly apparent: Many of the priorities repeatedly emphasised by Gulf states have proved more durable than several early assumptions made in Washington. While US President Donald Trump and »»»
Tunidex closes Wednesdays session up 2.09%
Tunis, July 15 (TAP) - Tunindex closes Wednesday's session up 2.09% to 20,764.08 points with a traded volume of TND 24.5 million, said broker Tunisie Valeurs. ASSURANCES MAGHREBIA shares were the best performers after rising by 6% to TND 79.500,...»»»
Sofia Revises Borisova Gradina Development Plan After Expert Consensus
Sofia's Municipal Expert Council on Spatial Planning reached a consensus to revise the Detailed Development Plan for Borisova Gradina Park, Sofia Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and Development Lyubomir Georgiev said on Wednesday. The revised plan will be returned to the designer, updated, and resu»»»
Ukraine says it will protect ports to maintain export volumes after attacks
KYIV: Ukraine will do everything possible to protect its seaports and guarantee grain exports at no less than last season’s level, when the country shipped more than 37 million tons, deputy economy minister Taras Vysotskiy told Reuters on Wednesday. Russia has sharply stepped up attac»»»
Far-right motorbike fan hopes to cruise to power in east Germany
JEßNITZ, Germany: Mobbed by fans for selfies and autographs, the man who hopes to become the far-right Alternative for Germany’s first state premier cuts more of a rock star figure on the campaign trail. Ulrich Siegmund, 35, regularly climbs onto a vintage East German motor scooter for rallies with»»»
Wholesale prices fell 0.3% in June driven by falling gas prices - UPI.com
Wholesale prices declined in June by 0.3% and two-thirds of the drop was tied to a 12% fall in gas prices, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 15 (UPI) -- Wholesale prices declined in June by 0.3% and two-thirds of the drop was ti»»»
Turkiye’s ousted opposition leader says preparing for possible new party
ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s ousted main opposition CHP leader said on Wednesday that preparations are under way for the possible establishment of a new political party, but any formal step would wait until after ongoing legal proceedings. In May, a Turkish court annulled the Republican People’s Party’s (C»»»
Todd Blanche testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee - UPI.com
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is sworn in at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his nomination to be attorney general Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 15 (UPI) -- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday»»»
EU chief announces ‘drone deal’ with Ukraine
KYIV: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday announced a “drone deal” with Ukraine to boost joint production of the key battlefield technology. “This deal will bring together Ukrainian ingenuity and Europe’s industrial scale,” von der Leyen said in Kyiv, after receiving an award from President »»»
10 Ethiopians presumed drowned crossing into Botswana
LUSAKA: Ten Ethiopians are believed to have drowned after a canoe carrying migrants capsized attempting to illegally cross the Zambezi River from Zambia into Botswana, Zambian officials said Wednesday. Migrants often use rivers to bypass official border posts across southern Africa. An AFP report d»»»
Indian Muslim stabbed 15 times in suspected US hate crime
Dubai: A routine workday at a shopping mall in the US state of Utah turned into a nightmare after an Indian Muslim employee was allegedly stabbed in a targeted hate attack by a man who later told police he “intends to kill Muslims.” Peter Michael Larsen, 48, has been charged with attempted murder a»»»
France's lower house to pass final vote on assisted dying after years of debate
France’s National Assembly is set to give final approval Wednesday to a bill allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication, the culmination of years of debate over end-of-life care. France was on Wednesday set to move closer to joining the ranks of countries that guarantee t»»»
Former BDB Chief Stoyan Mavrodiev Released on 50,000 Euro Bail after Extradition from SerbiaOpinions
Former Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) chief executive Stoyan Mavrodiev was released on bail of 50,000 euro after spending only several hours in custody following his extradition from Serbia. Mavrodiev was transported to Bulgaria yesterday at noon in a convoy and handed over to Bulgarian authoriti»»»
Saudi defense minister offers condolences to Qatar PM after passing of former emir
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman expressed his condolences on Wednesday to Qatar’s prime minister after the passing of the country’s former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. In a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prince Khalid praye»»»
Closing Bell: Saudi main market stable in Wednesday’s trading
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index closed 0.1 percent lower at 10,704.51 on Wednesday. The MT30 index declined 0.05 percent to 1,424.07, while the NomuC index rose 0.19 percent to 22,581.79. A total of 205.8 million shares changed hands on the main market, with trading valued »»»
Bulgarian Parliament Passes 2026 Budget on First Reading with Record 5.7% DeficitOpinions
Bulgaria's National Assembly adopted the draft 2026 state budget on first reading on Wednesday, approving a deficit of 5.7% of GDP, or 7.191 billion euros, the highest in the eurozone and nearly double the figure that brought down the previous government seven months ago. The bill passed with 143 v»»»
Marinkovic: Serbia-US-Israel partnership natural, we share same values
BELGRADE - There is nothing more natural and more logical than Serbia, Israel and the US being allies and strategic partners as, throughout history, they have shared the same values, Serbian-American Friendship Congress (SAFC) President Vladimir Marinkovic said on Wednesday. In changed geopolitical»»»
12 killed, 90 injured in Ukraine as Moscow. Kyiv trade aerial trikes - UPI.com
At least a dozen people were killed and 90 injured overnight in Russian missile, drone and guided-bomb strikes across Ukraine. File photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA July 15 (UPI) -- At least 12 people were killed and 90 injured overnight in a major Russian airborne assault on targets across Ukraine, a»»»
Kuwait Airways resumes flights to Damascus after years-long suspension
Damascus, July 15 (SANA) Kuwait Airways resumed scheduled flights to Damascus on Wednesday, restoring its direct service to Syria after years of suspension as international air links with the country continue to recover. Damascus International Airport welcomed the carrier’s first inbound flight fro»»»
Power restored across Cuba: state-owned energy company
HAVANA: Cuba has restored its power grid, authorities said Wednesday, after the third total blackout in less than ten days as the island faces an energy crisis amid a US oil blockade. The island’s electrical system was fully functioning at 7:00 am local time (11:00 GMT), the state-owned electric co»»»
Uganda opposition leader refuses court-appointed lawyers at treason trial
KAMPALA: Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye refused to accept the lawyers being forced upon him for his treason trial on Wednesday after his chosen advocates were arrested or barred from the country. Besigye, 70, a long-time rival of President Yoweri Museveni, has been in jail since late 2024 »»»
Trump administration orders ICE to halt traffic stops after Maine shooting, US media reports
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suspended the use of traffic stops to detain immigrants across the country, US media reported Tuesday, a day after an ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian driver in Maine. The fatal shooting came a week after an ICE officer killed a motorist in Texas, r»»»
Iran threatens to cut off major vital seaways in response to Trump's renewed blockade
After closing the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran on Wednesday threatened to shut additional energy export routes including the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea, a major global shipping route through which Saudi Arabia exports its oil. The warning comes after the US launched a fresh round of strikes o»»»
Saudi mango farm cuts irrigation by 50 percent with AI tech
JEDDAH: Nestled among green valleys and terraced hillsides in the mountains of southern Saudi Arabia, Haswa Mango Farm is using artificial intelligence and smart agricultural tools to improve crop quality, conserve water and increase production. Located in the village of Hiswah, about an 80-minute »»»
US reports 'wave of strikes' on Iran as war returns
The United States launched a wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, after it reimposed a naval blockade in a return to war between the two foes. Nearly a month after they signed a memorandum of understanding towards ending the Middle East war, the two sides resumed fighting with strikes on targ»»»
Kuwait, Bahrain say intercepted Iran attacks
The Gulf monarchies of Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday confirmed they had intercepted fresh aerial salvos from Iran as Tehran and Washington exchanged fire over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait's military said it was intercepting attack drones, and blamed "nefarious Iranian aggression"»»»
Israel jails soldier for sending missile intercept videos to Iran agent
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had sentenced an active-duty soldier to five years in prison for sending videos of missile interceptions to an Iranian agent. The soldier sent two such videos during the 12-day war with Iran in June last year and "received payment for them," the military sa»»»
Cricket World Cup revamp could see extra India-Pakistan clash
London: The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Wednesday a revamped format for the men's 2027 one-day international World Cup that could lead to an additional fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. While next year's edition in southern Africa remains a 14-team competition, th»»»
EU’s Von der Leyen seals deal with Ukraine to scale up drone production
Ukraine and the European Union have signed a "drone deal" to combine Kyiv's expertise with Europe's industrial capacity in order to boost production, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Wednesday. Her visit comes as Russian strikes killed six people and wounded at l»»»
“Revival” Attacks Government Over Ukraine Policy: “Bulgaria’s Interests Are Being Ignored”
The parliamentary group of “Revival” launched sharp criticism against the government’s foreign policy, with MP Angel Georgiev presenting a declaration in parliament. The statement was made following Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova’s visit to Kyiv. According to Georgiev, Bulgaria’s foreign policy»»»