Trump urges cutting off all trade with Spain at NATO summit - UPI.com
1 of 3 | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump at the Beştepe Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on Tuesday. Photo by Turkish Presidency Office/UPI | License Photo July 8 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday at the NATO summit that he wants to cut»»»
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 10,853
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Wednesday, gaining 1.32 points, or 0.01 percent, to close at 10,853.73. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.36 billion ($1.15 billion), as 60 listed stocks advanced while 200 declined. The MSCI Tadawul Index also rose, gai»»»
Bulgaria Leads EU in Services Sector Growth with 9.3% Annual IncreaseOpinions
Bulgaria recorded the fastest annual growth in services production among European Union member states in April 2026, according to the latest preliminary figures released by Eurostat. Output in the country's services sector climbed 9.3% compared with April 2025, placing Bulgaria at the top of the EU»»»
INTERVIEW: Uzbekistan's largest lender bets on retail banking as reforms transform financial sector
The National Bank of Uzbekistan, the country’s largest commercial bank, is betting that the next phase of the country's economic transformation will be driven not by state-backed megaprojects but by households and small businesses. After a decade of reforms since Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev »»»
Economy Committee Approves 2026 State Budget at First Reading
Parliament's Committee on Economic Policy, Investment and Industry approved at first reading the 2026 State Budget Bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers on July 1. The bill was backed by 13 committee members, while eight voted against. There were no abstentions. The committee rejected the ver»»»
DOJ threatens state officials with prosecution for noncitizen voting - UPI.com
The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday sent a letter to all 50 stateds and the District of Columbia threatening criminal prosecution if they allow noncitizens to vote. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter warning states that i»»»
Lebanon approves release of singer-turned-militant: judicial official
BEIRUT: The Lebanese judiciary on Wednesday approved the released of crooner-turned-fugitive militant Fadl Shaker months after he surrendered himself to authorities, a judicial official told AFP. The entertainer, born to a Lebanese father and a Palestinian mother, turned himself over to authorities»»»
Iran reappoints an ultra radical chief justice who calls for avenging Khamenei’s – Ya Libnan
Share: Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei. His appointment as Judiciary Chief paves the way for more political executions, analysts say The judiciary chief has emphasised the need to avenge the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and prosecute foreign ‘aggressors’. Iran has reappointed Gholam-Hossein Moh»»»
France's Le Pen says still running for president, despite embezzlement conviction confirmed
French far-right chief Marine Le Pen Tuesday said she was still standing for president next year, after an appeals court confirmed her embezzlement conviction but paved the way for her to run with a shorter ban from office. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Dr Katy Brown, Fellow in Language and Soc»»»
Driver Who Killed Two Women on Varna Sidewalk Had Stopped Taking Epilepsy MedicationOpinions
A court in Varna has decided to keep the 53-year-old driver accused of killing two women after crashing onto a sidewalk under a signed undertaking, rejecting requests to place him back in custody. The decision came after lawyers representing the victims' families argued that the defendant poses an »»»
UN experts slam Pakistan activist’s life sentence
GENEVA: United Nations rights experts on Wednesday condemned the life sentence a Pakistani court handed a prominent rights activist, calling it a “travesty of justice.” Mahrang Baloch, a 33-year-old from the southern Balochistan province, was arrested in 2025 on charges stemming from a protest in t»»»
Lebanese judiciary approves release of Fadl Shaker
The Lebanese judiciary on Wednesday approved the release of crooner-turned-fugitive militant Fadl Shaker months after he surrendered himself to authorities, a judicial official told AFP. The entertainer, born to a Lebanese father and a Palestinian mother, turned himself over to authorities in Octob»»»
Qatar Cabinet condemns Iranian attacks, advances key legislative reforms and expands social support
Doha, Qatar: Qatar's Cabinet has strongly condemned Iranian attacks on Qatari, Saudi, Bahraini and Kuwaiti interests, while approving a series of legislative, judicial, educational and diplomatic measures during its regular weekly meeting chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE»»»
Dalic quits after 'incredible era' as Croatia coach
Zagreb: Croatia's most successful football coach, Zlatko Dalic, resigned on Wednesday, ending a tenure that included taking the team to the 2018 World Cup final. "As much as I still feel the ambition and desire to achieve new successes with Croatia, I feel that this is the right moment to bring thi»»»
Brnabic: Belgrade Declaration adopted, commitment to EU path confirmed
BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday a Belgrade Declaration adopted at a conference of parliament speakers of EU candidate countries established a new permanent format of cooperation confirming the commitment of all participant countries to the EU path. In a statement»»»
Manhattan high-rise deemed stable after columns buckled
New York: An under-construction Manhattan high-rise at risk of collapse was stabilised late Tuesday and some evacuations of nearby buildings were lifted. “We’ve been monitoring the building for many hours and have not seen any movement,” Ahmed Tigani, commissioner of the New York City Department of»»»
Feared as 'Hitler', loved as 'Princi': Rich tributes paid to former Indian expat educationist in UAE who died back home
Dubai: Days after the death of Prof KK Abdul Gaffar, the techno-educationist, who helped shape engineering and medical education across India and the UAE, tributes have poured in from former students, colleagues and community leaders across the UAE. As reported by Gulf News, Prof KK Abdul Gaffar, w»»»
Poll finds 2 in 5 Britons believe Muslims cannot integrate
LONDON: Two in five British people believe that Muslims cannot integrate into society, a new report has found. The study by Sara Khan, a former government adviser on extremism, also found more than half of Britons believe their country’s national identity is disappearing due to “diversity,” The Gua»»»
More Than 7,000 Pensioners Continue Working in Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry System
A total of 7,057 people employed within Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior are simultaneously receiving pensions and salaries, according to data from the National Social Security Institute cited by newspaper Sega. The figure, based on information from June this year, is significantly higher than previ»»»
Cabinet condemns Iranian attacks on vessels, neighbouring countries
DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani chaired the regular Cabinet meeting held at its headquarters in the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HEIbrahim bin Ali Al Moha»»»
Oil prices surge, stocks slide as Trump says Iran ceasefire over
London, United Kingdom: Oil prices soared and stock markets slid Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was over, following renewed strikes in the Middle East. The latest bout of fighting was sparked by Iranian attacks on ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping »»»
Israeli strike kills World Cup screening organizer in Gaza just before kickoff
DEIR AL-BALAH: An Israeli strike on Gaza just before the kickoff of the Egypt-Argentina World Cup match killed a top Palestinian aid official who helped organize public screenings of the game across the enclave, according to local health officials. The blast turned what was supposed to be a moment »»»
Egypt Expands Capital Market Reform with 10 New Non-Banking Financial Licences
CAIRO — Egypt has taken another step in its long-term programme to deepen capital markets and diversify sources of financing beyond the traditional banking sector after the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) approved ten new licences spanning securities rating, derivatives brokerage, insurance, r»»»
RAK Police Air Wing flies 51 missions, urges mountain visitors to stay safe
Ras Al Khaimah : The Air Wing Department of Ras Al Khaimah Police carried out 51 aerial missions during the first half of 2026, underscoring its role in strengthening emergency response capabilities, supporting security operations and enhancing public safety across the emirate. The missions include»»»
India's Supreme Court seeks CBSE reply on Gulf students' plea
Dubai: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on a petition filed by Class 12 students from Gulf and West Asian countries seeking relief over disruptions to the 2026 board examinations caused by the regional conflict. A Be»»»
UAE FDI inflows hit record Dh177.3b in 2025 with 1,562 greenfield projects and 65,000 jobs
Dubai: The UAE attracted a record Dh177.3 billion in foreign direct investment inflows in 2025, lifting the country to ninth place globally among destinations for inbound FDI, according to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The figur»»»
Ruling Majority Backs Two Democratic Bulgaria Election Reform Proposals, DB Floor Leader Says
Democratic Bulgaria (DB) Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova said here Wednesday that the ruling majority supports two proposals long advocated by DB: restoring machine voting as the main voting method in Bulgaria and removing the limit on the number of voting sections in countries outside the European »»»
Administrative Court in Plovdiv Voids Karlovo Referendum on Gunpowder Plant
The Administrative Court in Plovdiv has declared void the Karlovo Municipal Council's decision to hold a local referendum on a planned gunpowder factory, the municipal administration said on Wednesday. The court ruled that the proposed referendum questions concern national defense and security rath»»»
UAE tops Arab region in FDI inflows in 2025 with $48.2 billion
The UAE topped the list of Arab destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, attracting US$48.2 billion, representing 40.4 percent of the total. It also ranked first in the Arab world and 17th globally in Dhaman's 2025 Composite Investment Climate Index, improving by two places compare»»»
UAE attracts record Dh177.3bn in FDI in 2025
Dubai: The UAE attracted a record Dh177.3 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in 2025, a 6 per cent increase from the previous year, while the country's total FDI stock climbed to Dh1.17 trillion, according to the latest World Investment Report. Announcing the results in a post on X,»»»
Israeli strike kills World Cup screening organizer in Gaza just before kickoff
An Israeli strike on Gaza just before the kickoff of the Egypt-Argentina World Cup match killed a top Palestinian aid official who was instrumental in efforts to organize public screenings of the game across the enclave, according to local health officials. The blast turned what was supposed to be »»»
Supreme Judicial Council Prosecutors' Chamber Defers Decision on Temporary Suspension of Sofia City Prosecution Office Acting Head
The Prosecutors' Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Wednesday postponed until its next meeting a decision on whether to temporarily suspend Emilia Rusinova, the acting administrative head of the Sofia City Prosecution Office. The item had been added to the agenda as an extraordinary i»»»
Seoul shares plummet 5.4 pct on extended tech losses - UPI.com
This photo, taken Wednesday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks plunged by more than five percent on tech stock losses. Photo by Yonhap Seoul shares plummeted 5.4 percent Wednesday as technology stocks extended their losses and investors reassessed the outlook for a»»»
Record revenues mask rising financial pressure in European football – Deloitte report
European football revenues passed the €40 billion mark for the first time in the 2024/25 season, but the industry is entering a more difficult phase, as growth slows, costs remain high and the match calendar becomes increasingly crowded. According to Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance 202»»»
U.S., S. Korea, Japan reaffirm N. Korea denuclearization, target cyber threats - UPI.com
This photo, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry, shows South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (C), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of South Korea Foreign Ministry SEOUL,»»»
Vazrazhdane Backs Fully Machine-Based Voting, Opposes More Polling Stations Abroad
Vazrazhdane will support the introduction of fully machine-based voting, but not the provisions allowing paper ballots to be used in polling stations with fewer than 300 registered voters, Vazrazhdane Deputy Floor Leader Peter Petrov told journalists on Wednesday, commenting on proposed amendments »»»
Media Review: July 8
POLITICS - ELECTIONS Several media outlets report that the governing parties have tabled amendments to the Election Code less than three months before this autumn's presidential election. 24 Chasa writes that Progressive Bulgaria has proposed restoring compulsory machine voting, as introduced in 20»»»
Turkish Truck Driver Gets 10 Years in Prison for Crash That Killed Bulgarian ChildOpinions
A court in Veliko Tarnovo has sentenced a Turkish truck driver to 10 years in prison for a crash in the Hainboaz Pass that killed a 9-year-old Bulgarian child and seriously injured her parents. The verdict was issued six months after the accident, which claimed the life of the child, Chrissy, after»»»
Djokovic overcomes Auger-Aliassime to advance to Wimbledon semis
LONDON - Serbia's top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic is through to the Wimbledon semi-finals after a (12-10), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-4) victory over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals on Tuesday evening. Djokovic, who has seven career titles at Wimbledon, won after five»»»
Runway conflict between two Air India aircraft averted in Mumbai
A potential runway incident involving an Air India and an Air India Express aircraft was averted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday night after air traffic controllers instructed an Air India flight to abort its take-off, The Indian Express reported. The incide»»»
Romanian consumers remain stressed but show renewed interest in durable goods – study
A new study by iSense Solutions finds that the pressure felt by Romanian consumers increased in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the beginning of the year, and remains at alert level. Romanians are facing higher prices, political instability, health concerns and a tense international context »»»
Hungarian suspect identified in Europol investigation into network drugging and raping women
A Hungarian suspect has been identified as part of a major international investigation into online criminal networks accused of drugging and raping women, according to the Hungarian National Police Headquarters (ORFK). The investigation is being carried out under Project Medusa, a Europol-coordinat»»»
Romanian companies see the circular economy as a cost reduction and competitiveness tool – Deloitte study
The circular economy is increasingly emerging as a solution for cost reduction and the use of renewable energy is the main direction for approximately eight out of ten companies in Romania (77%) that invest in the transition to this economic model, according to the “Circular economy. Perception and»»»
Iraq holy cities host funeral processions for Khamenei
Funeral processions for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began Wednesday in the Iraqi city of Najaf with thousands of mourners present. The Islamic Republic's dayslong funeral for Khamenei began Saturday, with authorities shutting down streets, airspace and daily life in Tehran as »»»
Dubai rolls out #DubaiDestinations campaign for summer
Dubai is stepping up its summer tourism drive with the launch of the sixth edition of its #DubaiDestinations campaign, showcasing everything from water parks and indoor attractions to family entertainment, hotel deals and exclusive seasonal offers aimed at residents and international visitors. Laun»»»
Bulgaria: Court Blocks Karlovo Referendum on Gunpowder Plant
The Administrative Court in Plovdiv has issued a final ruling overturning the Karlovo Municipal Council's decision to hold a local referendum on the planned gunpowder plant in Iganovo and the production of 155-mm ammunition for the German defense company Rheinmetall. The court concluded that the re»»»
The EDB's next frontier: Uzbekistan and the future of Central Asian integration
For much of the past decade, Uzbekistan's economic story has been one of domestic transformation. The government liberalised the currency, opened previously closed sectors to foreign investment, modernised state institutions, reduced trade barriers and launched one of the region's most ambitious pr»»»
It's official: Aoun to visit White House on July 21
The Embassy of Lebanon in Washington announced Wednesday that the White House has officially invited President Joseph Aoun to visit Washington and meet with President Donald Trump on July 21. "The invitation reflects the enduring partnership between Lebanon and the United States and provides an opp»»»
The EDB's next frontier: Uzbekistan and the future of Central Asian integration
For much of the past decade, Uzbekistan's economic story has been one of domestic transformation. The government liberalised the currency, opened previously closed sectors to foreign investment, modernised state institutions, reduced trade barriers and launched one of the region's most ambitious pr»»»
Justice Minister Seeks Temporary Suspension of Acting Sofia City Prosecution Office Head
Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov said on Wednesday that he had submitted a reasoned request to the Prosecutors' Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to temporarily suspend Emine Rusinova, the acting administrative head of the Sofia City Prosecution Office, pending the outcome of disciplin»»»