North Korean hackers stole $643 million in cryptocurrency in the first half of 2026, a report by TRM Labs said, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all crypto funds stolen worldwide. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo SEOUL, July 3 (UPI) -- North Korean-linked hackers stole roughly $»»»

The European Union is transforming into a military-political-economic bloc, and a military identity is taking shape within it, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. "The fact is that a military identity is generally taking shape in the European Union, and the EU itself is transforming into a mil»»»

Dubai :Dubai Police have warned parents and children against a dangerous social media trend involving heating “slime” in microwave ovens, following the circulation of viral videos showing children and teenagers attempting the practice. The warning comes as summer holidays begin, a period during whi»»»

The first edition of the Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival will begin on July 6, bringing together education, entertainment, technology and sports in what organisers describe as one of the region’s largest summer events for children and families. Held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh»»»

A 70-year-old former official from Varna’s Primorski District has been charged in connection with issuing allegedly falsified construction tolerance certificates in the Baba Alino area, according to the District Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities have placed him in 72-hour detention while a court con»»»

African startups raised $1.44bn during the first half of this year, marginally surpassing the $1.42bn secured in H1 2025, as investors concentrated capital in fewer but significantly larger funding rounds despite a subdued global venture capital market. H1 2026 funding data show startups completed »»»

The IRGC warned that any miscalculation by Iran’s adversaries would be met with a “decisive and crushing response,” as it called for massive public participation in the farewell and funeral ceremonies of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei. In a statement released»»»

Countries are lining up to reach agreements with Central Asian states for access to the region’s abundant critical minerals. The minerals are there, and continued surveying turns up new deposits all the time.  One of the problems for the Central Asian countries most often cited is that they do»»»

An official Hezbollah delegation paid an emotional tribute to martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran on Friday. The footage shows the delegation lined in silence, heads bowed, before emotion overtook some officials who tried to contain their grief during the mo»»»

Construction of a drinking water supply system has been completed in the village of Muras in Leilek district of Batken region. As a result, approximately 3,500 residents now have access to clean drinking water, the office of Presidential Envoy to the region reported. Mamyrzhan Rakhimov, Presidentia»»»

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev met with members of the German Bundestag’s Central Asia — Germany Friendship Group. The Cabinet of Ministers’ press service reported. The parties discussed bilateral and interregional cooperation. Adylbek Kasymaliev noted that in»»»

Prices for fuel and lubricants in Kyrgyzstan will remain unchanged. Deputy Energy Minister Nasipbek Kerimov announced on Birinchi Radio. He stated that the government is negotiating with foreign partners to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies. Issues of cost, product quality, and logistics are also »»»

Incheon, South Korea: Thirty seconds before kick-off, humanoid robot footballers in red and blue jerseys await the referee's signal in the South Korean port city of Incheon. The match setting is RoboCup, branded as the world's largest robotics competition, where engineers are betting on a fully aut»»»

FRIBOURG - The Serbia men's national basketball team outclassed Switzerland 97-73 in a FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers Group C game in Fribourg on Thursday evening. With three wins and two losses, Serbia has now secured a berth in the second stage of the qualifiers. Switzerland has five los»»»

An Indian-founded global payments company has chosen Hungary as the base for its European expansion after receiving a key financial licence from the Hungarian National Bank (MNB). PAY TEN EU Kft., the Hungarian subsidiary of Pay10, has been granted an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence, all»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said here Friday that the government aims to introduce the Virtues component of the Virtues and Religion school subject in the 2027/2028 school year. He was speaking during Parliament's Question Time in response to a question from Vazrazhdane MP Angel Yanchev. Radev said »»»

Sydney: New dawn-to-dusk drone patrols of Sydney's beaches spotted sharks 73 times in the first two days, forcing multiple closures, data obtained by AFP showed on Friday. Authorities launched the expanded drone programme on Wednesday to protect beachgoers after a spate of shark attacks in Sydney a»»»

RIYADH: The net profit of listed banks operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council region rebounded in the first quarter of 2026, posting a solid recovery after a decline in the previous three months, an analysis showed. According to the latest report by Kamco Invest, aggregate net profits for listed»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Almost 8,500 Russian civilians have been killed and 22,500 people have been injured by the attacks of the Ukrainian armed forces since February 2022, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said on Friday. "From February 2022 to June 30, 2026, the number of »»»

No single political party will be able to completely control Hungary’s public-service media, only part of Fidesz’s media empire will survive, and serious challenges await independent newsrooms. An earthquake – that is how the new media law, approved by parliament on 23 June, is being described in H»»»

Residents of Guam and the Northern Marianas boarded up windows and stocked up Friday as a monster weather system forecast to become a "super typhoon" approached the US Pacific territories. Just months after a previous major storm, cars queued at petrol stations, while residents thronged hardware st»»»

The school term is ending, the temperatures are rising and the airport is full. Peak summer has finally arrived. I’m still getting used to these sweltering weeks, despite growing up in Saudi Arabia (the UK has softened me up). I’m currently in the ‘how does it get even hotter than this?’ stage as w»»»

State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan reported the seizure of a large shipment of narcotics at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. According to the agency, border guards from Leilek border detachment, acting on received information, observed an unidentified individual on the territory of Tajikistan throwing a la»»»

State-owned Asman Airlines, together with tour operator Malva Tour (Uzbekistan), will launch a new seasonal direct route Tashkent — Tamchy (Issyk-Kul International Airport) from July 8. Flights will be operated once a week on Wednesdays. According to Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC, the new flight is d»»»

European authorities on Thursday said cases such as that of Gisele Pelicot (C) are not rare, with an international operation disrupting four online networks of men sharing videos, photos and information about during and sexually assaulting women, often their own partners. File Photo by Guillaume Ho»»»

JALUD: Palestinian Mohammad Salameh was building a home for his family in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where his recently ​engaged son was meant to start married life. Instead, before construction was complete, a group of Israeli settlers seized the property. Video filmed earlier in the week and»»»

Dubai: Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Abu Dhabi as it restores more of its Middle East network following a temporary suspension of services. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Istanbul-based airline restarted Abu Dhabi flights on July 1, with services to Damm»»»

Geneva: El Nino will quickly develop into a strong event between July and September, fuelling the likelihood of extreme weather, the United Nations' weather and climate agency warned Friday. The World Meteorological Organization said the climate phenomenon had already set in, and would quickly gain»»»

Colombo: Authorities in Sri Lanka arrested a former navy commander on Friday over allegations he illegally helped secure the recruitment and overseas training of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa's son. Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, 73, was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission ove»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale transaction value remained above $3 billion in the week ending June 27, driven by increased spending in the food and beverages sector, official data showed. According to the latest report by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, the total POS transaction v»»»

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who announced Thursday the creation of a high-level committee tasked with developing economic partnerships and security agreements with Syria, said Friday that the cooperation aims at "strengthening bilateral relations" to achieve the common interests of the two countrie»»»

Authorities in Sri Lanka arrested a former navy commander on Friday over allegations he illegally helped secure the recruitment and overseas training of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa's son. Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, 73, was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission over the 200»»»

La Guaira, Venezuela: In the Venezuelan resort town of La Guaira, a group of rescuers watched as sensors that once detected life under the rubble now showed nothing, as silence gave way to resignation. Friday -- the ninth day since the devastating double earthquakes that killed nearly 2,600 people »»»

Pilot night bus routes will begin operating in Bishkek today, July 3, the municipality announced. The buses will run daily from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Fares have been set at 70 soms for cashless payments, including bank cards, transport cards, and QR code payments, and 90 soms for cash payments. Accordi»»»

After meeting Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani for the first time, Hezbollah ally and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon has no choice but to engage with Syria. "Lebanon cannot cooperate with Israel, and if it refuses to deal with Syria, the Lebanese will be left with no choice but t»»»

A 26-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room in Hyderabad in the early hours of Friday after allegedly dying by suicide while on a video call with a friend, according to media reports. The woman, identified as Renuka from Alwal, was found inside a room at Hotel Grand Lodge near MD Lines. Acco»»»

Pomorie East Beach has opened the summer season once again with the Blue Flag certification, which flies from the stone breakwater, a popular spot for walks and photos. The beach has held the certification since 2019. The beach features a wide sandy shoreline, lifeguard stations, a medical point, a»»»

Duni South Beach is one of Bulgaria's Blue Flag beaches for the 2026 summer season. Located in the southern part of Duni Holiday Village, about 7 km south of Sozopol and 40 km from Burgas, the area is known for its peaceful atmosphere and favorable conditions for surfing. The beach offers well-deve»»»

As financial literacy becomes increasingly important in today's digital economy, VI Markets launched VI Academy, a next-generation platform that makes financial education more accessible, interactive, and rewarding for learners at every stage of their investment journey Powered by technology develo»»»

Dubai: The UAE has reaffirmed that delivery riders cannot be compelled to work during the country's midday summer work ban, while expanding a nationwide network of more than 12,000 air-conditioned rest areas to protect workers from extreme heat. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mo»»»

Gold bar and dollars Andrew Naylor, Head of Middle East and Public Policy at the World Gold Council, stated that the direction of gold in the coming period will be determined by several factors, most notably global interest rate expectations—particularly the Federal Reserve’s decision expected next»»»

Millions of people are expected to attend funeral ceremonies in Iraq for martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei, a spokesman for the Iraqi media committee organizing the event has said. The funeral will be held in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, with no ceremonies »»»

Tunis, July 3 (TAP) – The weather, on Friday, will be partly cloudy across most regions, becoming occasionally cloudy in the north with temporary thundery showers. Rain is expected to be locally heavy along the northern coast and will extend to the...»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said during Parliament's Question Time on Friday that he had proposed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Bulgaria and Ukraine jointly build the Belene Nuclear Power Plant with European funding. Radev said the proposal was made during a meeting with Zelenskyy »»»

Abu Dhabi: Zayed International Airport welcomed more than 93,000 passengers a day during the five-day period from June 26 to June 30, as travel demand continued to accelerate, with daily passenger numbers and flight movements exceeding levels recorded during the same period last year. According to »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, in partnership with Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, is hosting the Pakistan Fruit Festival from July 2 to 8 across 15 almeera stores in Doha. Held during the peak summer harvest season, the festival celebrates Pakistan’s rich agricultur»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE's national cybersecurity system has successfully thwarted a series of sophisticated cyberattacks targeting organisations in the financial sector, helping to safeguard critical digital infrastructure and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of financial services, the UAE Cybersecurit»»»

Hungary has revoked the political asylum previously granted to Polish opposition politicians Zbigniew Ziobro and Marcin Romanowski, as well as to Ziobro’s wife, according to an announcement by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. Writing on X on Thursday, Sikorski said Poland had received wri»»»

MELBOURNE: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday condemned senators who blocked changes to a world-first social media ban for children, saying tech giants would use the delay to destroy incriminating documents that could be used as evidence against them. The government this week intr»»»

Dubai: Dubai's property market opened trading on Friday with transactions worth nearly Dh900 million, driven by the sale of four land plots and a luxury villa, highlighting continued demand for premium real estate. According to the Dubai REST app, four land plots in City of Arabia were sold for a c»»»