Qatari LNG tanker awaits salvage off Oman after projectile strike
LONDON/DOHA: A Qatari LNG tanker remained stranded off Oman on Wednesday after a projectile strike sparked a fire in its engine room, though industry sources said the vessel’s cargo appeared secure and the risk of an explosion was low for now.The attacks on the tankers prompted Washington to revok»»»
Jordan’s ‘Restoring Hope Society’ provides more than 1,200 prosthetic limbs in Gaza
LONDON: The Jordanian field hospital in southern Gaza has provided 126 prostheses for upper and lower limbs to patients in the Palestinian coastal enclave since May. The assistance is part of an initiative launched in 2024 by the Restoring Hope Society, under King Abdullah’s directives. It has prov»»»
Kremlin hails ‘important step’ as IOC eases Olympic restrictions on Russia
MOSCOW: The Kremlin has welcomed as an “important step” the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove many of its restrictions on Russia, a big step closer to letting it field a full team when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Games. The IOC provisionally lifted a suspension of the Russian Olym»»»
Trump says he thinks he will remove Syria from US terrorism sponsor list
ANKARA: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he thought he would remove Syria from the United States’ list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. “I think I will,” Trump told reporters in response to a question during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Turkiye. The US ha»»»
Geopolitical resilience, not predictions, will shape future investment, experts say at BMG Economic Forum
LONDON: Investors should focus less on predicting geopolitical crises and more on building resilient, adaptable business models, experts said during a panel at the BMG Economic Forum at the London Stock Exchange. The session brought together energy economist Dr. Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy»»»
Former Yugoslav Army chief Momcilo Perisic released from prison
BELGRADE - Former Yugoslav Army Chief of General Staff Gen Momcilo Perisic has been released from prison after serving more than two thirds of a four-year prison sentence he had received for espionage. On June 25, the Higher Court in Belgrade approved a request for Perisic's conditional release, fi»»»
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen to run for president of France - UPI.com
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen poses before an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, following the verdict in her appeal trial over misuse of EU funds, in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris Tuesday. Photo by Christian Hartmann/EPA July 8 (UPI) -- Marine Le Pen said »»»
Why the Damascus blasts during Macron’s visit are a blow to al-Sharaa
The twin blasts that rocked Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Syria this week underscore the fragility of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s authority and the security challenges he faces. They also undermine the message of stability that Damascus is striving to convey to the int»»»
Istanbul mayor presents defense in corruption case
ISTANBUL: Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure, is due to present his defense in court on Wednesday, at the latest hearing in his trial for corruption. Imamoglu, considered to be the main opposition challenger to Turkiye’s veteran President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has»»»
EU Parliament Slams Ukraine for 'Disregarding Polish Sensitivities' by Glorifying Nazis
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - European Parliament lawmakers on Wednesday condemned Ukraine for naming a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA, banned in Russia as an extremist organization), arguing that this move disregarded Poland's "sensitivities" as the UPA had committed multiple crimes ag»»»
Cuba reconnects to power grid after latest island blackout
Havana: Cuba fully restored its energy grid early Wednesday after the third nationwide blackout this year, but authorities warned more outages could follow due to fuel shortages. The Caribbean island is reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades -- one made worse by a fuel blockade imposed b»»»
Tisza MP apologises after alleged offensive remark in Parliament directed at Fidesz MP
A heated debate in Hungary’s Parliament has birthed political controversy after Krisztián Kulcsár, an MP for the governing Tisza Party, apologised for making an offensive remark during a speech by Anna Lezsák of the Fidesz-KDNP alliance. Although the alleged comment could not be heard on the offici»»»
Kostyuk sets up Wimbledon semi-final against Noskova
London, United Kingdom: Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk cruised past Jasmine Paolini on Wednesday to book a Wimbledon semi-final clash with Linda Noskova, before Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli attempt to set up a rematch of their French Open final. Kostyuk raced to a 6-3, 6-2 victory after just 69 min»»»
What France’s repatriation of Syrian artifacts means after years of rupture
LONDON: France has returned 23 Syrian archaeological artifacts that had been in Paris since before the outbreak of the civil war in Syria, handing them back during President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Damascus. The move has been welcomed as a sign of renewed ties and respect for Syria’s cult»»»
Berlin court sentences a doctor to life for murdering 15 patients under palliative care
BERLIN: A Berlin court on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a German doctor to life in prison on charges of murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care, in a case involving allegations he torched the homes of victims to try to cover up the crimes. The 41-year-old doctor, who has onl»»»
Brazilian police search former President Bolsonaro’s home for weapons, lawyer says
SAO PAULO: Brazil’s federal police searched the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro for weapons and ammunition on Wednesday, but did not find anything, one of Bolsonaro’s lawyers said in a post on X. “The defense had already previously informed the whereabouts of all the weapons. Result: Noth»»»
Huge crowds flood Iraq’s holy cities for Khamenei funeral procession
The funeral procession of Iran's late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued to draw massive crowds as it made its way through the holy cities of Iraq, home to some of the Shia faith's most sacred shrines. The six-day funeral ceremony will conclude on Thursday when Khamenei's body is retur»»»
IMF raises Saudi Arabia’s 2027 growth forecast to 5.5% on resilience outlook
RIYADH: The International Monetary Fund has raised Saudi Arabia’s economic growth forecast for 2027 to 5.5 percent, up from the 4.5 percent it projected in April, as the Kingdom is expected to be less affected by regional disruptions due to its diversified export routes. The revised forecast, publi»»»
Noskova reaches first Wimbledon semi-final
London, United Kingdom: Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova reached her first Wimbledon semi-final with a 6-3, 7-5 win against Belgium's Elise Mertens on Wednesday. Noskova dominated from start to finish in a last-eight clash lasting one hour and 50 minutes in searing temperatures on Court One. The 21-y»»»
Bulgarian Interior Ministry Contacts US Treasury Office Over Alleged Circumvention of Magnitsky Sanctions
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior has contacted the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, saying it is prepared to provide information and evidence related to the implementation of sanctions imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act. According to the ministry, Bul»»»
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»»»
Le Pen hits campaign trail morning after announcing run
LA FLECHE, France: France’s far-right supremo Marine Le Pen hit the campaign trail on Wednesday fresh off her announcement she would run for president despite an embezzlement conviction. Surrounded by crowds and journalists in the western town of La Fleche, that was won by her National Rally (RN) p»»»
Former Judge Hannah Dugan to be sentenced for blocking ICE arrest - UPI.com
Former Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan is set to be sentenced Wednesday for trying to hide an undocumented immigrant from ICE agents. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo July 8 (UPI) -- Former Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday for obstruction for trying to »»»
Nakilat says crew safe after projectile hits LNG carrier 'Al Rakiyat'
DOHA: Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat) announced that 'Al Rakiyat', the liquefied natural gas carrier, was struck by a projectile while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, confirming that the incident resulted in no injuries among the crew members, nor did it cause any env»»»
Saudi healthcare fintech Seha Invest signs $500m partnership with Y-Innovations at BMG Forum
LONDON: Saudi fintech and private credit firm Seha Invest has signed a $500 million partnership with Boston-based Y-Innovations to support biotechnology and healthcare development in the Kingdom. The agreement was announced on the sidelines of the BMG Forum at the London Stock Exchange. Seha Invest»»»
Qatar strengthens state audit powers with amendments introducing criminal penalties and financial disclosure requirements
Doha, Qatar: Amendments to Qatar's State Audit Bureau Law will enter into force on July 25 2026, introducing new enforcement powers, criminal penalties and financial disclosure requirements aimed at strengthening public-sector oversight after nearly a decade of experience under the existing legisla»»»
Al-Sharaa and congressional delegation discuss US-Syria ties in Ankara
LONDON: Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the president of the Syrian Arab Republic, has held talks on ties and regional development with American members of Congress and US Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack. The officials met on Wednesday in Ankara, where Turkiye is hosting the 36th NATO Su»»»
Hypatia of Alexandria The Last Light of the Ancient World
Part VII – Why the World Still Remembers Hypatia “Civilizations are remembered not only by the empires they build, but by the ideas they refuse to abandon.” On an ordinary spring day in AD 415, the citizens of Alexandria could not have imagined that the murder of a philosopher would echo across six»»»
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 »»»
Trump on Iran: 'We're gonna hit 'em hard tonight'
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that U.S. forces would strike Iran "hard" in the coming night, after earlier declaring Washington's ceasefire with Iran over at a NATO summit in Ankara. "We're gonna hit 'em hard tonight," he said before holding talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, s»»»
'Want our normal lives back': Bahrain, Kuwait residents distressed by Iran attacks
People in Bahrain and Kuwait awoke on Wednesday to the now familiar sound of warning sirens and explosions in the distance, as Iranian strikes again dashed hopes of a return to normalcy. The latest round of strikes pushed U.S. President Donald Trump to declare the ceasefire was "over", raising fear»»»
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»»»
Gulftainer launches US$2b strategy to expand Khorfakkan Port capacity, logistics parks and Etihad Rail-linked trade infrastructure
Dubai: Sharjah-based Gulftainer has unveiled a $2 billion strategy to expand from port operations into a wider global trade infrastructure platform, with Khorfakkan Port, inland logistics parks, maritime services and AI-powered supply chains forming the core of its next phase of growth. Sign up for»»»
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»»»
Saudi host opens home to give visitors a taste of local life
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia welcomes a growing number of international visitors, locals are opening their homes to tourists, offering firsthand glimpses of daily life, traditions and hospitality beyond the Kingdom’s national museums and historic sites. Among them is Norah Al-Baloud who welcomes guests »»»
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»»»
Saudi host opens home to give visitors a taste of local life
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia welcomes a growing number of international visitors, locals are opening their homes to tourists, offering firsthand glimpses of daily life, traditions and hospitality beyond the Kingdom’s national museums and historic sites. Among them is Norah Al-Baloud who welcomes guests »»»
Tête à tête - 'I feel forgiveness': Daniel Gwynn on life after 30 years on death row
Daniel Gwynn spent 30 years on death row for a murder he did not commit. In an interview with FRANCE 24, the Pennsylvania man, exonerated in 2024 after his conviction was found to be deeply flawed, said he now feels "forgiveness" towards those who wronged him – but that the state has offered him "n»»»
How Iran uses the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the US
BusinessIranHow Iran uses the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the USNik MartinIran's latest attacks show it can easily disrupt shipping, energy markets and draw in Gulf neighbors. DW asks how much leverage Tehran really has over Washington and if its high-risk strategy could backfire. https://p.dw.com»»»
Syria-U.S. relations: From sanctions to partnership
Damascus, July 8 (SANA) Syria-U.S. relations have shifted repeatedly over the past eight decades, from cautious diplomacy and periods of cooperation to political tensions, diplomatic rupture and sweeping sanctions, before entering a new phase after the fall of the ousted regime in late 2024. The ch»»»
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»»»
Historic turnaround? Hungary records biggest June budget surplus ever
Hungary’s central government finances recorded a HUF 424.1 billion (EUR 1.2 billion) surplus in June, marking the strongest June budget balance on record and offering a welcome boost after months of mounting fiscal pressure. According to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Finance, the sur»»»
Dubai Taxi Company completes Dh1.45b National Taxi acquisition to create UAE’s largest taxi operator
Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company has completed its Dh1.45 billion acquisition of National Taxi, creating the UAE’s largest taxi operator with a combined fleet of more than 9,500 vehicles across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The deal gives Dubai Taxi Com»»»
Live: Trump says 'very upset with NATO' over Iran war, Greenland
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he was “very upset with NATO” after alliance members continued their resistance to his desire to acquire Greenland for the United States from member state Denmark. Speaking to reporters alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte at the summit in Ankara, he also repe»»»
Trump lashes out at NATO allies during key summit in Ankara
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday insisted he still wanted Greenland, calling European resistance to his stance a "big problem". He added that he considered Spain a "terrible partner in NATO". The comments come on the final day of a two-day summit in Ankara. US President Donald Trum»»»
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 »»»
Drone strikes on civilian vehicles kill at least 20 in Sudan, rights groups say
CAIRO: Drone strikes on civilian vehicles headed to social gatherings in Sudan have killed over 20 people in recent day, according to rights groups, as the use of unmanned aircraft becomes increasingly common in the north eastern African country’s war. A drone hit the outskirts of Khartoum killing »»»
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»»»
Lebanon agrees to take part in Rome talks after guaranteeing US participation
Lebanon has agreed to participate in the Rome negotiations after its concerns were calmed and after it secured the presence and sponsorship of the United States, MTV reported on Wednesday. "This means the negotiations will not be bilateral between Lebanon and Israel, but trilateral under U.S. auspi»»»