Pakistan says US-Iran talks still alive despite fresh wave of US strikes
The renewed fighting has widened fears of a broader regional conflict, with Egypt hit for the first time and Gulf states scrambling to secure key shipping routes. Mediator Pakistan insisted Thursday that negotiations between Iran and the United States were ongoing, even as Washington carried out a »»»
France, Spain eye respite from wildfires as other blazes break out in Europe
A massive wildfire that has devastated southwestern France was no longer advancing on Thursday, local authorities said, raising hopes the crisis was easing. In Spain, most of the tens of thousands of people evacuated from areas west of Madrid were cleared to return home after the state of emergency»»»
Trump says ‘Board of Peace’ reaches Gaza disarmament deal
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his so-called “Board of Peace” reached an agreement for the complete disarmament of Palestinian Hamas militants and other armed groups in Gaza. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cast it as a “major milestone in the implementation of the Trump 20-Point Pl»»»
Trump claims his Board of Peace reached ‘historic’ Gaza deal
US President Donald Trump has claimed that his Board of Peace reached a “historic agreement” on the complete disarmament of Hamas and every other armed group in Gaza, although neither the Palestinian movement nor Israel immediately confirmed that a final deal had been concluded. Trump announced the»»»
Kyrgyzstan gained UN Security Council seat; now comes hard part
Kyrgyzstan’s election to a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council came after a diligent campaign to gain support for its candidacy. It means a Central Asian state will have a seat on the UN’s most powerful body for the second time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Attention now »»»
Iran says tanker 'broke' blockade — Washington says 'not true'
Iranian state media reported that the commercial oil tanker M/T Nora had successfully broken through the US naval blockade. On Friday, however, US Central Command (CentCom) rejected the claim, saying the tanker had not breached the blockade. CentCom said US warships, hundreds of aircraft and thousa»»»
Pentagon seeks robot boats to launch drone attacks - UPI.com
The U.S. Department of Defense has put out a call for robot boats with the capability of launching drones to be deployed within 120 days. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Defense has put out a call for robot boats with the capability of launching»»»
Palestinians face new limits on settlement fuel access amid West Bank shortages
LONDON: As fuel shortages deepen across the occupied West Bank, Palestinians who had turned to nearby Israeli settlements for gasoline now face new restrictions that could further limit mobility and work. Palestinian employees at the Barkan Industrial Park in the northern West Bank said they were t»»»
Saudi leaders, Netanyahu give Trump their input on Iran war as conflict enters 6th month – Ya Libnan
Share: File- President Trump and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House . The U.S.-Israeli war in Iran has rocked the Mideast and spread through the region, and President Trump is now weighing what to do next to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extract any concessions fro»»»
Russian missiles interception rate in Ukraine dropped from 90% back in March to 70%, expert says
A Russian ballistic missile and drone barrage across Ukraine overnight killed at least 10 civilians, including children. Ukraine's air force said it had managed to intercept 55 missiles and 265 drones launched by Moscow -- but it has struggled to intercept the advanced ballistic missiles that Russi»»»
Ongoing dialogue between Lebanon and Syria benefits both countries, Erdogan tells Aoun
BEIRUT: The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said on Thursday that Lebanon stands to benefit from a more stable Middle East. Standing alongside his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, following talks in Ankara, Erdogan said Turkiye supports all efforts to strengthen Lebanese-Syrian ties, and»»»
What We Are Reading Today: ‘Revolution’ by Eric Metaxas
Eric Metaxas’ “Revolution” is a new account of stories about the American revolution from 1775 to 1783. At more than 500 pages, it is a definitive, sweeping and fabulously entertaining book, containing the dazzling array of extraordinary stories every American should know, ranging from the many eve»»»
Friday sermon calls on Muslims to embrace humility
First Sermon (Khutbah One)All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, who has elevated the rank of the humble and condemned the traits of the arrogant. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad is the Messen»»»
Sheriff marks 6 months since Nancy Guthrie went missing with statement - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Nancy Guthrie was last seen Jan. 31 around 9:45 p.m. and was reported missing after failing to show up for church the next day. File Photo courtesy Pima County Sheriff's Department July 30 (UPI) -- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos released a statement Thursday marking six months since the d»»»
Renewed Iran war raises US missile supply concerns
Washington: Tehran's forces have carried out frequent missile and drone attacks in the Middle East since the breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire, raising renewed concerns about Washington's supply of the weapons needed to intercept them. Highlighting the issue, the US military said it shot down mult»»»
Seoul shares again dip over 1 pct after 2-day deep rout amid AI spending concerns - UPI.com
This photo, taken Thursday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks fell by over one percent following two days of deep declines amid AI spending concerns. Photo by Yonhap Seoul shares fell by more than 1 percent Thursday as retail investors heavily sold tech stocks foll»»»
USAGM nominee cites N.K. defectors in stressing power of free information - UPI.com
This photo, taken on April 7, shows Sarah Rogers, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, speaking during a press conference at the Foreign Press Center in Washington. Photo by Yonhap The nominee to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on Thursday cited North Korean defectors in unde»»»
Egypt port strike shows US interests vulnerable across region: Analysts
Cairo: A drone strike on the Egyptian port of Damietta, the first attack on the country since the US-Iran war broke out, could be a high-risk message for American interests everywhere in the Middle East, analysts say. No party has claimed the strike on the Mediterranean port and Egypt has not assig»»»
New U.S. Amb. Steel vows efforts to ensure alliance with S. Korea as 'linchpin' of peace - UPI.com
New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel speaks to reporters after her arrival at Incheon International Airport on Thursday to assume her post. Photo by Yonhap New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel said Thursday she is ready to work with Seoul to ensure the decadeslong bilatera»»»
Zawtar al-Gharbieh examplfies Israel's destruction in southern Lebanon - UPI.com
Lebanese soldiers stand guard as the Army deploys to Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon on July 23. Lebanon sent troops to take control of so-called pilot zones in southern Lebanon from which Israeli troops are to withdraw. Photo by EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 30 (UPI) -- The widespread destructi»»»
RT opens submissions for 2026 Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards
RT has opened submissions for the 2026 Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards, which honor outstanding war reporters working in conflict zones around the world. This year’s contest will accept news reports or series of reports from conflict zones, with a maximum running time of ten minutes. »»»
Father of Georgia school shooter gets 15 years in prison - UPI.com
Student Jose Ortiz, 14, accepts an embrace from chaplain Ronald Clark at a makeshift memorial, one day after a deadly school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., in September 2024. Four people were killed by Colt Gray, who was 14 at the time. On Thursday, his father was sentenced to 15»»»
Trump says he may withdraw Blanche nomination 'temporarily' - UPI.com
1 of 3 | President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is open to withdrawing his nomination of Todd Blanche, pictured, as U.S. attorney general as two Republican senators oppose the appointment. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 30 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said Thursday that»»»
Egypt’s president warns of regional escalation after port strike
CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warned on Thursday that the Middle East was heading towards a serious escalation after a drone strike caused fire in two gas vessels at Egypt’s Damietta Port. During a phone call with Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, El-Sisi stressed the need for »»»
Parliament Ratifies SAFE Loan Agreement, Operational Arrangements with European Commission
Parliament on Thursday passed on first and second reading in a single sitting a bill ratifying the SAFE Loan Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Bulgaria, as well as the SAFE Operational Arrangements between the European Commission and Bulgaria. Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said it w»»»
Trump Says Will Resume Full-Scale War Unless Iran Meets All US Demands
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would resume a full-scale war against Iran unless the United States receives 100% of what it wants. "If we don't get 100% of what we want, absolutely," Trump told French LCI news channel, when asked whether he was considering resu»»»
Pope Leo says he wants to visit the U.S. in the next 'couple of years' - UPI.com
Pope Leo XIV speaks as he presides over the "Canticle of Peace" prayer gathering in the gardens of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, Italy, Wednesday. The ecumenical event brought together religious leaders, environmental advocates and musicians to promote ecological responsibili»»»
US issues sanctions targeting support networks for Iran's Mahan Air
WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions on Thursday targeting global networks supporting Mahan Air, the Iranian carrier Washington says transports Iran's Revolutionary Guards personnel, as well as weapons and drones. The US Treasury designated six entities and individua»»»
Qatar strongly condemns targeting of two LNG vessels in Egypt's Damietta port
DOHA: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the targeting of two liquefied natural gas vessels at the port of Damietta in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, considering it a direct threat to global energy supplies, a clear and explicit violation of the rules of international law, and an irrespons»»»
Qatar Airways extends suspension of flights to Kuwait, Bahrain and Erbil
Doha: Qatar Airways announced today that it has extended the temporary suspension of its flights to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait and Erbil in Iraq until Aug. 7. The announcement was published on the national carrier's official website. The decision follows the airline's announcement »»»
Drone attack sparks fire at Mediterranean port in Egypt - UPI.com
Egyptian authorities said Thursday that a drone attack set two gas ships ablaze at the Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday. File Photo by Olivier Hoslet/EPA July 30 (UPI) -- Egyptian authorities said Thursday that a drone attack set two gas ships ablaze at the Mediterranean port of Damietta»»»
US Senate warns Trump against pardoning Epstein-linked sex trafficker
The US Senate has unanimously urged President Donald Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker who helped Jeffrey Epstein recruit and abuse underage girls. Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced British newspaper tycoon and former MP Robert Maxwell, who had suspected ties to I»»»
GCC Secretary-General Condemns Drone Attack Targeting Egypt's Port of Damietta
Riyadh: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, on Thursday strongly condemned the drone attack targeting Egypt's Port of Damietta. In a statement, Albudaiwi stated that such terrorist acts and attacks are aimed at undermining regional security and stability»»»
Qatar welcomes Ireland's enactment of law banning import of goods from Israeli settlements
Doha: The State of Qatar welcomed the Republic of Ireland's enactment of a law banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements, describing it an important step that supports efforts to deter the occupation's settlement policies, which constitute a flagrant violation of international law, parti»»»
Meta ignored internal findings on Instagram's risks to teens, jury told in US trial
Lawyers for the US state of Tennessee argued that the company ignored its own research linking Instagram to compulsive use, eating disorders, depression and self-harm among teenagers, while keeping features such as autoplay, notifications and infinite scroll to maximise time spent on the platform a»»»
Qatar condemns targeting of two LNG carriers off Egypt's Damietta Port
Doha: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the targeting of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers off the Port of Damietta in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, considering it a direct threat to global energy supplies, a clear and flagrant violation of international law, and an irresponsible »»»
Aoun Says Ankara Visit Opens New Chapter in Lebanese-Turkish Relations
President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, said his visit to Turkey reflected the longstanding ties between Lebanon and Turkey and a shared determination to expand cooperation in ways that serve both peoples and contribute to regional stability. Speaking after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip»»»
UEFA says will boycott World Cup if FIFA pushes private investor proposal
PARIS, France: European football’s governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan. “No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been aba»»»
Car driven by woman ploughs into café at Ain Sokhna’s Lasirena Resort in Egypt, injuring 17
Dubai- Seventeen people were injured after a car driven by an Egyptian woman crashed into an open-air café at the Lasirena Resort in Ain Sokhna, authorities said on Thursday, in an accident that eyewitnesses said turned a quiet afternoon into panic. Preliminary investigations indicated that the wom»»»
Husband of N.C. woman missing in Grenada says there was no foul play - UPI.com
Royal Grenada Police are searching for Liz Waddell of Cary, N.C. They don't believe there was foul play in her disappearance. Photo courtesy of FindLiz.com July 30 (UPI) -- The husband of a missing Cary, N.C., woman in Granada said he believes there is no foul play in her disappearance. Elizabeth "»»»
Abu Dhabi, Qatar races ‘confirmed,’ says president, CEO of Formula 1
DUBAI: Stefano Domenicali, the president and CEO of Formula One, has said that the 2026 races in Abu Dhabi and Qatar are “confirmed,” despite ongoing speculation due to the political situation in the region. Domenicali revealed the news during a media interview on F1’s official website. He added th»»»
Djuric: Demolition of properties, works at monastery deliberate pressure on Serbs
BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday that demolition of properties in the Kosovo-Metohija Zubin Potok municipality, illegal works at the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani and administrative barriers hindering pilgrims represented "a deliberate pattern of pressure" on Serb p»»»
Seattle mayor fires police chief, sources say - UPI.com
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson speaks to the media at the scene after a fatal shooting during the Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center in Seattle on Sunday. Photo by Genna Martin/EPA July 30 (UPI) -- Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson has fired Seattle Police Department Chief Shon Barnes, local news»»»
Japan to slash sales tax on food as inflation bites
TOKYO — Japan will temporarily slash consumption tax on food from eight percent to just one percent starting next April, the prime minister said on Thursday, as her administration seeks to tackle rising inflation.It will be the first such reduction since the tax was introduced in 1989, and the rate»»»
Stocks diverge on earnings, as oil steadies
LONDON — Global stock markets diverged Thursday as traders tracked major earnings and central bank updates, while oil prices steadied after recent volatility caused by the Middle East war.The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, weighing on the dollar, though three policymakers »»»
Britain’s ban on Palestine Action group to be considered by top court
LONDON: The United Kingdom’s Supreme Court has said it will hear an appeal against a lower court ruling that Britain’s decision to ban campaign group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was lawful. London’s Court of Appeal ruled in June that proscribing Palestine Action under terrorism l»»»
Deadly attack on police checkpoint in Pakistan leaves 15 dead
The assault on a checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comes days after another deadly clash in the volatile border province, where authorities have blamed a growing wave of attacks on militants operating from neighbouring Afghanistan. An attack late Wednesday on a checkpoint in northern Pak»»»
Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry Spent €3.7 Million on Closed Unit
More than €3.7 million was spent on salaries and other remuneration for a special unit at Bulgaria’s Ministry of Interior that former Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev ordered to be closed, describing it as a “parasitic” structure. According to information provided by the ministry under the Access»»»
F-16s Delayed, MiGs Aging: How Bulgaria Ended Up Shopping for Poland's Old Fighter Jets, Destined for Ukraine
Bulgaria's Air Force spent this week at the center of an unusually candid public admission: the country's Soviet-era MiG-29s are running out of spare parts, the American F-16s meant to replace them are years behind schedule and Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov has sent letters to four different co»»»
Bulgaria: Electoral Code Changes Approved Ahead of Presidential Vote
The Bulgarian Parliament approved amendments to the Electoral Code that remove restrictions on opening polling stations in countries outside the European Union, with the changes passing their second reading in the plenary hall with 151 votes in favor, 36 against and one abstention. The adopted amen»»»