Hezbollah Bloc: Lebanese Authorities’ Performative Measures Are a Clear Attempt to Capitalize on Illusion
Hezbollah’s Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc criticized the Lebanese authorities of pursuing “political theater” and making successive concessions that undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty, arguing that recent government actions are a failed attempt to create the illusion of progress while the country rem»»»
Former JP Morgan banker allegedly pushed to keep Epstein as client - UPI.com
Former CEO of Barklay's Jes Staley testified Thursday for the House Oversight Committee about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. File Photo by Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA July 23 (UPI) -- Former JP Morgan Chase investment banking boss Jes Staley pushed the bank to keep Jeffrey Epstein as a client »»»
Hormuz, Red Sea crises pull Middle East into ‘widening circle of confrontation,’ UN chief warns
NEW YORK CITY: The UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, warned the Security Council on Thursday that the security crises in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea risk pulling the Middle East into “an ever-widening circle of confrontation,” as he called for the full restoration of international na»»»
Who are the six candidates vying to lead the UN?
Four women and two men are in the running to succeed Antonio Guterres as leader of the United Nations, which faces unprecedented global instability, wars and its own crushing budget crisis. Observers say it is difficult to pick a favorite, given that the world's major powers are divided on the outc»»»
PM Magyar unveils pay caps, VAT cuts and wealth probes
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar presented a wide-ranging package of government reforms on Thursday, including salary caps at state-owned companies, possible VAT reductions, retrospective wealth investigations and a review of public-spending oversight. The Péter Magyar press conference also ad»»»
Salman Rushdie testifies at the terrorism trial of the man convicted of stabbing him
NEW YORK: Four years after being stabbed on an amphitheater stage, Salman Rushdie sat across a courtroom from his convicted attacker Thursday and told jurors for a second time about the ambush that nearly killed him. The prize-winning writer recalled feeling what he thought was a punch under his ch»»»
Another global milestone for Dubai: Dubai Municipality is now officially recognised as a world benchmark for governance
Dubai: Dubai Municipality has been officially recognised by Official World Record (OWR) for implementing best practices and governance standards, reinforcing its position as a global benchmark for institutional excellence and innovation. The recognition follows a comprehensive assessment by an inte»»»
Climate change, not dams, driving Caspian Sea shrinkage, researcher says
Climate change is the dominant force behind the falling water level of the Caspian Sea and outweighs human intervention such as upstream damming, water policy researcher Anoush Nouri Esfandiari said on July 22. The world's largest enclosed body of water, surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan»»»
Uzbekistan balances secular rule with Islamic revival
The first International Forum of Islamic Civilization earlier this month brought over 450 religious leaders, scholars, diplomats, government officials and other participants from more than 50 countries to Uzbekistan. Across events in Tashkent, Samarkand and Termez on July 7-11, participants discuss»»»
Climate change, not dams, driving Caspian Sea shrinkage, researcher says
Climate change is the dominant force behind the falling water level of the Caspian Sea and outweighs human intervention such as upstream damming, water policy researcher Anoush Nouri Esfandiari said on July 22. The world's largest enclosed body of water, surrounded by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan»»»
Fedorov's popularity surges after sacking as Ukraine protests continue
Trust in Mykhailo Fedorov has surged since President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed him as defence minister on July 15 as part of a surprise government reshuffle, with a new Rating Group poll putting him second only to former commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny among Ukraine's most trusted public fig»»»
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Is Kazakhstan quietly ditching Russia?
China’s continuously growing leverage over Russia is not in question and reports in recent days have continued to stress the point. For instance, Beijing has apparently flexed a muscle by declining to provide marine propulsion systems needed for Russia's planned expansion of the Northern Sea Route,»»»
Brazil could triple palm planted area in 10 years, industry leader says
SAO PAULO: Brazil could more than triple its planted area for producing palm oil over the next decade by expanding cultivation on already deforested land in the Amazon, said Victor Almeida, president of industry association Abrapalma. Demand for biofuels is expected to boost growth in the sector, »»»
Barcelona signs forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund until 2031
BARCELONA: Spanish champion Barcelona signed forward Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract on Thursday, as they rebuild the attack following the departure of veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona announced the signing on their website and said Adeyemi was being “reuni»»»
Modi vows to punish exam fraud fueling student anger in India
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed “stringent punishment” for those involved in exam fraud that has fueled student anger, in his first direct comments tied to major protests challenging his government. “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth»»»
World Athletics’ Extension of Russian Athletes’ Suspension is Peak Cynicism, Russophobia
“The position taken by World Athletics is totally cynical, openly cynical,” political scientist Yevgeny Semyonov told Sputnik, commenting on World Athletics president Sebastian Coe’s announcement that Russian and Belarusian athletes would remain banned from track & field events despite the IOC’s re»»»
Bab El-Mandeb Strait: Another key oil shipping route under threat
LONDON: Yemen’s pro-Iranian Houthi rebels have claimed attacks in the Red Sea on two Saudi oil tankers and say they will blockade the Bab El-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea, as part of a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. Gateway to the Red Sea Known as the “Gate of Tears” in Arab»»»
Kuwait says Abdali border crossing targeted by hostile drones
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that the Abdali border crossing came under repeated attacks by hostile drones, causing material damage but no casualties. The official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said the border crossing "was subjected, this evening, to repeated »»»
Kuwait says Abdali border crossing targeted by hostile drones
KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that the Abdali border crossing came under repeated attacks by hostile drones, causing material damage but no casualties. The official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense said the border crossing "was subjected, this evening, to repeated »»»
Bab El-Mandeb Strait: Another key oil shipping route under threat
LONDON: Yemen’s pro-Iranian Houthi rebels have claimed attacks in the Red Sea on two Saudi oil tankers and say they will blockade the Bab El-Mandeb strait, a crucial passage into the Red Sea, as part of a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. Gateway to the Red Sea Known as the “Gate of Tears” in Arab»»»
Brazil to seek new markets in face of U.S. tariffs, Lula says - UPI.com
July 23 (UPI) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said his government will continue negotiating with the United States despite an additional 25% U.S. tariff on Brazilian products. Lula also said his country will seek to expand exports to other markets if the talks fail. Speaking during»»»
Strumyani-Berovo Border Crossing Expected to Be Completed by 2029, Deputy Regional Development Minister Says
Work is proceeding according to schedule for the Strumyani–Berovo border checkpoint between Bulgaria and North Macedonia to be completed by 2029, Deputy Regional Development and Public Works Minister Desislava Georgieva said on Thursday. She was speaking at a press conference in Blagoevgrad on the »»»
Morocco extends duty aimed at halting soft wheat imports to end-August, traders say
RABAT: Morocco will maintain a customs duty on soft wheat until August 31, effectively extending a halt to imports aimed at protecting the local harvest, the heads of the country’s grain traders association (FNCL) and millers federation (FNM) said on Thursday. Authorities had introduced a 170 perc»»»
Alonso welcomes Aston Martin upgrade, warns against unreal expectations
Budapest: Fernando Alonso on Thursday warned that Aston Martin's long-awaited upgraded chassis, being introduced at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, was unlikely to change their position as tail-enders. But, he said, he believed the team would close the gap and may do better once they understan»»»
Racing returns to Taif this weekend at King Khalid Racecourse
DUBAI: A new 10-week summer season of horse racing begins on Friday at King Khalid Racecourse in Taif. Races will take place every Friday and Saturday, with the season culminating in the National Day Cup on Sept. 26. A purse of SR450,000 ($120,000) will be up for grabs in both the National Day Cup »»»
Sweden’s far right party says it won the arguments. Now it wants a share of power
STOCKHOLM: After championing huge policy shifts in Sweden by propping up a minority center-right government for four years, the far-right Sweden Democrats say they have won the political arguments and now deserve a share of power for themselves. But it is a demand that could prove a step too far fo»»»
Three Villages in Sliven Region Collect Signatures against US Aircraft Deployment at Bezmer
Residents of the villages of Skobelevo, Bozadzhii and Chokoba in Sliven Region are collecting signatures against the deployment of US Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base in the neighbouring Yambol Region, Skobelevo Mayor Stelli Stefanova told BTA on Thursday. She said the in»»»
Trump Says He's on the Brink of Approving Biggest Iran Strikes of the War
"I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it," the US president told Axios on Thursday. Israel "would join in two minutes if I ask them to," but the US doesn't "need anybody" for the potential new round of aggression, Trump adde»»»
Oil soars to $100 on fresh Mideast attacks
LONDON — Oil prices surged to $100 a barrel on Thursday as Tehran-backed Houthi rebels targeted Red Sea shipping and US President Donald Trump threatened to strike them in return.International benchmark oil contract Brent North Sea soared more than six per cent to hit the symbolic $100 level, as th»»»
Appeals court pauses end of TPS for Haitians through Monday - UPI.com
Haitian Red Cross volunteer Antoine Macul, left, speaks with Napoleon Delfe, 6, at a First Aid Post in Pesionville in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2010. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake had hit Haiti. On Wednesday, an appeals court paused the deportation of Haitians with Temporary Protected Status at least u»»»
Shipowners halt vessel calls for farm exports at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, minister says
KYIV: Shipowners have temporarily suspended vessel arrivals at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for agricultural exports after a recent surge in Russian attacks on ports and merchant shipping, the country’s agriculture minister said. Ukraine has lost about a third of its capacity to export grain via the B»»»
Ex-Foreign Minister: First U.S. Request Was for NATO Exercises, Current One Supports Middle East Military Operations
American requests to deploy military aircraft in Bulgaria have fundamentally changed over time and should not be treated as part of the same operation, former Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynski said in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, commenting on the government's decision to allow the d»»»
Oil prices jump back above $100 per barrel - UPI.com
The price of Brent crude oil rose above $100 per barrel on Thursday, a sign of global concern over the renewed fighting between Iran and the United States. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA July 23 (UPI) -- The price of Brent crude oil rose above $100 per barrel on Thursday, a sign of global concern over th»»»
Google hit with ‘bare minimum’ EU fine for steering users to their services
The European Commission’s latest belated attempt of regulating Big Tech came in the form of a €890m fine for breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) on Thursday (23 July), which commentators immediately deemed “the bare minimum.” “It’s taken the commission over two years to get to this stage of t»»»
Three crypto protocols lose $35.55mn in day of bridge exploits
Attackers drained $35.55mn from three cryptocurrency protocols within 24 hours on July 22 and 23, with decentralised perpetuals exchange AFX Trade losing $24.15mn after its bridge validator keys were compromised, blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain said. Two of the three breaches targeted cross-c»»»
Zelenskyy names young general Drapatyi as Ukraine’s new military chief
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has named youthful Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi as Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces, replacing the old guard Oleksandr Syrskyi in the most significant change at the top of Ukraine’s military since 2024. Zelenskiy announced the decision»»»
PANNIER: Central Asia on cusp of ending quest for independence in electricity provision
Since the early post-Soviet days that followed the independence achieved in 1991, Central Asia’s five states have been working toward becoming self-sufficient in meeting their energy needs. However, after 35 years, it is only Turkmenistan, with its massive natural gas and significant oil reserves, »»»
Hungary crypto regulation enters new phase
Hungary crypto regulation has reached a turning point after the National Bank of Hungary granted its first domestic licence under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework. CoinCash, once one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency brokers, can now prepare to restart services after mo»»»
Concerns of Palestinian economic crisis grow as Israeli banks prepare to cut ties
JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH: Two Israeli banks will halt working with their Palestinian counterparts in the coming months citing risks of associating with possible terrorism financing and money laundering, Israeli officials said, fueling concerns of a Palestinian economic crisis. Israeli officials and the »»»
Wealth shifts to longevity
The wealthiest clients expect more from financial advisors than just high rates of return. Planning for a longer and more fulfilling life is becoming a new goal. According to Capgemini's latest "World Wealth Report 2026," 69% of wealth management executives consider longevity strategies and health-»»»
Kuwait jails money laundering ring, imposes over $1.3b in penalties
Dubai: A Kuwaiti court has handed down prison sentences and record financial penalties exceeding $1.3 billion after convicting a cross-border money laundering network that used restaurants, taxi companies and currency exchange businesses to disguise illicit funds before transferring large sums abro»»»
Houthis claim attacks on 2 Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea - UPI.com
An armed student rallies in support of the Houthi-imposed naval embargo against Saudi Arabia in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday. Hundreds of students gathered at Sanaa University to support the move. Photo by Yahya Arhab/EPA July 23 (UPI) -- The Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for two attacks on Sa»»»
The UAE has condemned the Houthi attack on a Saudi-flagged vessel, warning it threatens the security of global shipping
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has condemned in the strongest terms the attack by the Houthi group targeting the Saudi-flagged vessel Encelia while sailing in the Red Sea. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this attack constitutes a grave threat to the safety and security of i»»»
Qatar Airways temporarily suspends passenger flights to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait until July 31
DOHA: Qatar Airways has announced the temporary suspension of its passenger flight services to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait until and including July 31, 2026. In a travel advisory issued on Wednesday, the airline said passenger flights to Bahrain International Airport (BAH), Erbil International Airpor»»»
Hezbollah says Lebanon president’s US visit ‘submission’ to foreign power
BEIRUT: The Iran-backed Hezbollah group on Thursday branded Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s recent visit to Washington a failure and said it showed the government’s submission to a foreign power. In a statement, the group’s lawmakers said the visit revealed “the extent of subservience and submissi»»»
Publishing religious rulings online without a licence? UAE authorities say it could lead to websites being blocked
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Council For FATWA has taken action against unlicensed online fatwa accounts, warning operators to cease publishing religious rulings without official approval as authorities step up enforcement of the country's new fatwa law. The move comes under Federal Law No. 3 of 2024, which »»»
Yambol Governor Stresses Temporary Nature of US Tanker Aircraft Deployment at Bezmer
The presence of US Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft at Bezmer Air Base in Bulgaria is temporary and does not constitute permanent basing, Yambol Regional Governor Georgi Chalakov said in an official statement released to the media on Thursday. Chalakov noted that the decision to allow the a»»»
A spectacular ancient tomb packed with treasures has been uncovered in Egypt's Nile Delta
Dubai: Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably preserved funerary complex dating to the Late and Greco-Roman periods at the Tell Athar Quesna necropolis in Menoufia Governorate, revealing hundreds of burial artefacts, imported pottery and evidence of ancient trade links across the Medit»»»
A thief allegedly spent three months cutting up Gamal Abdel Nasser's 1961 Cadillac, then sold it as scrap.
Dubai: An Egyptian court has ordered the detention of a man accused of breaking into a private garage in Alexandria and dismantling a rare 1961 Cadillac once owned by former Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, allegedly selling its parts as scrap metal over a period of several months without rea»»»
Greece won’t extradite to Australia a fugitive wanted for a 1999 fatal nightclub stabbing
THESSALONIKI, Greece: A Greek appeals court denied an Australian request to extradite a man wanted on suspicion of a 1999 nightclub killing because the statute of limitations on the crime has run out, the fugitive’s lawyer said Thursday. James Dalamangas, 56, was arrested in Aigio, southern Greece »»»