Islamic Development Bank eyes $1.4bn funding for Kazakhstan road corridor
The Islamic Development Bank signed a memorandum of understanding to support a strategic road project in Kazakhstan, paving the way for potential funding of up to $1.4bn, state media reported on July 1. The agreement points to the bank's role in financing regional transport infrastructure in Centra»»»
The EU can’t fix Europe – but it can fund Kiev forever
NATO-EU Europe, that tense, unhappy realm of deeply unpopular yet aggressively doctrinaire centrist regimes, has many grifts. Its elites, whether national or EU, in business, politics, and the mainstream media and think-tank sinecure system are stunningly inept when it comes to addressing the urgen»»»
Two arrested after climbing to top of Empire State Building for proposal - UPI.com
Sunlight hits the Empire State Building and the buildings of the Manhattan skyline in March in New York City. Two people were arrested Wednesday after climbing to the top of the building's spire and antenna, a perch more than 1,000 feet in the air. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 1»»»
Syria foils attempt to smuggle more than 800,000 captagon tablets from Lebanon
LONDON: Syrian authorities said on Wednesday that they thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of the illicit amphetamine captagon from Lebanon into the Al-Nabek district. The Drug Enforcement Administration, working with the Internal Security Command in Rif Dimashq governorate, seized 832,»»»
ADP: Private payrolls rise by 98K, less than expected - UPI.com
According to ADP, hiring rose by 98,000 in June, which is lower than expectations. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- Employers hired fewer employees than expected in June with the most gains in healthcare, according to an ADP report released Wednesday. Private sector empl»»»
New York prepares for Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding
NEW YORK: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s official wedding plans are tightly under wraps, but New York is bracing to host the celebrity marriage of the year this week at Madison Square Garden. The billionaire pop superstar and the three-time NFL Super Bowl champion, both 36, have kept fans guessing»»»
Saudi interior minister receives Pakistani counterpart in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Raza Naqvi in Riyadh on Wednesday. Following the meeting, Prince Abdulaziz and Naqvi signed a memorandum of understanding, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The agreement aims t»»»
Turkish ambassador in Damascus affirms strategic nature of bilateral relations
Ankara, July 1, (SANA) Türkiye’s Ambassador to Syria, Nuh Yilmaz, affirmed that relations between Damascus and Ankara are strategic, noting that the two countries are currently cooperating across multiple fields under a clear vision for future development. Yilmaz expressed Türkiye’s readiness to ac»»»
Salah fitness race in focus for Egypt ahead of Australia clash
DALLAS, USA: Mohamed Salah remains in a race to be ready for Egypt’s last 32 clash with Australia in Dallas on Friday with the forward continuing his recovery from a hamstring strain sustained in the 1-1 draw with Iran. The Egyptians are in the knockout rounds for the first time after group phase »»»
Lebanon and Syria join US-led Middle East military talks
LONDON: Military leaders from Syria and Lebanon joined for the first time commanders from across the Middle East at a United States defense conference on Wednesday. The regional security dialogue was held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, and led by US Central Command, which coordinates military ope»»»
Israeli lawmakers move to restrict mosque loudspeakers
LONDON: Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted in a preliminary reading to approve a bill that will restrict the use and volume of mosque loudspeakers across the country, according to Palestine News Agency. The bill requires three additional votes before it can be enacted into law. Knesset member Zvi»»»
Parents Hold Nationwide Protest for Higher Maternity Allowances
Parents staged a protest outside the Council of Ministers building in Sofia on Wednesday, calling for higher maternity allowances. The protest, held under the slogan "Maternity Is Not Charity", was organized through social media. Police were present in the area. Demonstrators carried placards readi»»»
Kane rescues England from DR Congo calamity to reach World Cup last 16
ATLANTA, USA: Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late goals to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and secure a place in the last 16. Aiming to end a 60-year wait to win a major tournament, Thomas Tuchel’s men escaped humiliation and one of England’s»»»
Has the US-Iran war’s real cost been obscured by economic fallout?
ATLANTA: People living in Bahrain and Kuwait awoke to the sound of sirens on June 28, despite there being a ceasefire between the US and Iran. Two Iranian ballistic missiles were intercepted over Kuwait, and an Iranian drone struck a residential building in Bahrain. Although no casualties were repo»»»
US Navy helicopter crashes in Arabian Sea; 3 rescued, 1 missing
Dubai: The US Navy said it had rescued three crew members after one of its helicopters crashed in the Arabian Sea and that search operations were continuing for a fourth person. The Navy said there was no indication of hostile activity linked to the incident, without providing further details on th»»»
Bulgarian Government Unveils Wildfire Action Plan
Bulgaria's Ministries of the Interior, Defence, and Agriculture have drawn up a joint action plan to prevent and combat wildfires during the summer, officials announced at a joint briefing. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said the plan was prepared on the instructions of Prime Minister Rumen Rad»»»
Qatar's Lusail district cooling network recognized by Guinness
Doha: Qatari Diar has announced the registration of two world records in the Guinness World Records, related to the district cooling system in Lusail City. This is a new global milestone added to Qatar's record of achievements in the fields of infrastructure and sustainable development, the company»»»
Salam says framework agreement should lead to Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday defended the framework agreement that Lebanon has signed with Israel, saying that if it gets implemented, it should lead to an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. It would also "allow our displaced people to return to their villages and homes in a safe and digni»»»
Syria, Türkiye discuss joint investment, border trade facilitation
Damascus, July 1, (SANA) The Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Industry discussed with a visiting delegation from the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association of Türkiye (MÜSİAD), headed by Chairman Nivafk Yilits, a new roadmap for joint investment, knowledge transfer, and overc»»»
Canadian Ambassador welcomes formation of Syria’s People’s Assembly
Damascus, July 1 (SANA) Canadian Ambassador to Syria Gregory Galligan said Wednesday that President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s appointment of 70 members to the People’s Assembly marks an important step in Syria’s transitional phase, highlighting the role the legislature can play in advancing reforms and bui»»»
Justice Ministry Sees Significant Improvements in Prison Conditions
Bulgaria has made significant progress in improving both prison conditions and the working environment for correctional officers, Deputy Justice Minister Stanimir Stanev said Wednesday as inspections of the country's prisons near completion. Speaking to reporters during the opening of a photo exhib»»»
Kane strikes twice as England beat DR Congo to reach World Cup last 16
Atlanta: Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late goals to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and secure a place in the last 16. Aiming to end a 60-year wait to win a major tournament, Thomas Tuchel's men escaped humilation and one of England's worst»»»
Chinese fishing fleet raises alarm across South America - UPI.com
The practice of Chinese fishing boats operating illegally has been ongoing for years. Here, several Chinese boats that were caught while reportedly operating illegally in South Korea's exclusive zone are moored at a port in Incheon, South Korea, in 2016. File Photo by Yonhap/EPA SANTIAGO, Chile, Ju»»»
Storm cells with scattered showers expected Wednesday night
Tunis, July 1 (TAP) - Storm cells with scattered showers are expected for the rest of Wednesday and during the night on heights, then partly cloudy over most regions.The wind will blow north-west in the north and centre and east in the south,...»»»
Bulgaria Introduces Monitoring of Trucks Overtaking in Restricted Motorway Sections
Bulgaria's National Toll Administration is introducing a new functionality to its electronic toll system that will automatically detect heavy goods vehicles driving in overtaking lanes where it is prohibited. The new monitoring mechanism came into effect on July 1, 2026. It will operate in motorway»»»
Google launches its fastest new image generation model
Washington: Google announced the launch of Nano Banana 2 Lite, an artificial intelligence image generation model optimized for speed and lower costs, targeting businesses and developers that need to generate large volumes of images for commercial applications. The model (also called Gemini 3.1 Flas»»»
TCHAKAROV: New shade of success? Think Uzbek green!
Uzbekistan is Central Asia's rising heavyweight, and its economic story is generally being told through the now-familiar lenses of macroeconomic reform, improving policymaking and an increasingly attractive investment climate. Yet one of the country's most important structural shifts has received f»»»
Ultra-conservative Catholic group defies pope, ordains four bishops - UPI.com
Pope Leo XIV (C) greets the people after presiding over a meeting June 7 in Madrid, Spain, 07 June 2026. An arch-conservative Catholic group on Wednesday consecrated four bishops without the pope's permission and despite his appeal to them. Photo by Fernando Villar/EPA July 1 (UPI) -- The Society o»»»
Trump flies on Qatari-gifted plane to Roosevelt Library opening in N.D. - UPI.com
1 of 2 | The new Air Force One is a refurbished 747-8 with red, white and navy blue and gold paint, a design selected by Trump. Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force | License Photo July 1 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump flew to North Dakota on Wednesday on the new plane given to him by Qatar, his first of»»»
Oregon store suspends Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments due to hygiene concerns - UPI.com
Participants in the German Championships of Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game compete in Kassel, Germany, in 2010. An Oregon game store announced it is suspending Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments for one week due to complaints about the hygiene of attendees. File Photo by Uwe Zucchi/EPA July 1 (UPI) -- An Oregon game»»»
Business leaders gather in Damascus for Syrian-British conference on economic diversification
DAMASCUS: Business leaders and officials from Syria, the UK and other nations gathered in Damascus on Wednesday for an economic conference to discuss investment opportunities and development in Syria, as postwar recovery efforts in the country continue. The one-day event, organized by the Syrian-Br»»»
Arab Americans celebrate 250th Independence Day with pride despite challenges
CHICAGO: Arab American leaders are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence with pride despite concerns over continued discrimination and misunderstanding. Leaders of several Arab and Muslim organizations told Arab News that they have more freedoms in the US than anyw»»»
UAE Lottery kicks off July with second Dh30m jackpot winner
Dubai: One participant has kicked off July with a life-changing windfall, winning the Dh30 million grand prize in Wednesday's UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260701, the winning numbers in the Days section were 9, 1, 15, 20, 19, 25, while the winning number in the Months section w»»»
Fire in Antwerp, Belgium apartment building kills 5 - UPI.com
July 1 (UPI) -- Five people died Wednesday in a fire at a 10-story apartment building in Antwerp, Belgium, local police announced. The fire broke out before 10 a.m. on the eighth floor of the building in the Linkeroever district of the city, the BBC reported. The blaze also injured multiple people »»»
Uganda finds isolated Marburg virus case, Africa CDC says
NAIROBI: Ugandan health authorities have confirmed an isolated case of Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, while conducting surveillance for an Ebola outbreak, Africa’s top public health agency said on Wednesday. No contacts of the Marburg case have developed symptoms and »»»
Israeli forces arrest Palestinian herder attacked by settlers east of Bethlehem
BETHLEHEM: Israeli forces detained a Palestinian herder on Wednesday in the village of Al-Rashaydeh, east of Bethlehem, days after Jewish settlers attacked him while he was grazing sheep, according to Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency affiliated with the PLO. Bakr Rashaydeh, head of the vi»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Winning numbers revealed – check your ticket
Dubai: A number of participants have celebrated cash prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw conducted on Wednesday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260701, the winning numbers in the Days section were 9, 1, 15, 20, 19, 25, while the winning number in the Months section was 6. Three fortunate partici»»»
IFC appoints Imad Fakhoury as MCA Regional Vice President
DUBAI, UAE — International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, announced today the appointment of Imad Fakhoury as the new Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia (MCA) region effective July 1, 2026.Based in Dubai, UAE, Fakhoury will lead »»»
Number of certificates of origin issued in April reached 1,587 — ICI
AMMAN — The value of certificates of origin issued by the Irbid Chamber of Industry (ICI) in April reached $129.2 million, marking a 28.5 per cent increase from $100.5 million in the same month last year.According to chamber figures, the number of certificates of origin issued in April reached 1,58»»»
Why is France betting on Oman amid the Hormuz crisis?
After months of crisis in the Middle East, France is looking to build its influence in the region by strengthening relations with Oman – a small country long seen as a quiet, neutral regional player. On his first state visit to France, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and French President Emmanuel Mac»»»
How barbers help Kenya's largest mental health hospital, one haircut at a time
In Kenya, mental health workers are trying to get men to take their psychological wellbeing more seriously. It can be a huge uphill battle, particularly when people feel like they have to suffer in silence. However, doing small things intentionally is a powerful start. The country's largest psychia»»»
No, this video doesn’t show Muslims enslaving Christian Africans
A viral video showing handcuffed men walking in single file is being shared by Islamophobic accounts claiming it depicts Muslims enslaving Christian Africans. However, the video has been taken out of context. A video showing a long line of shirtless men, their hands tied behind their backs, walking»»»
Protesting Parents Demand Higher Maternity Allowances
Parents staged a protest outside the Council of Ministers building in Sofia on Wednesday, calling for higher maternity allowances. The protest, held under the slogan "Maternity Is Not Charity," was organized through social media. The protesters' main demand is an increase in the maternity allowance»»»
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Slovak Academy Discuss European Research Projects and Industry Cooperation
The participation of researchers from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) in major European projects and cooperation with industry were among the topics discussed during a meeting between BAS representatives and the President of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dr. Martin Venhart, the Bulgarian »»»
Myriad of French presidential candidates to face off in late April election
Emmanuel Macron has just a few months left in office: the dates for the French presidential election have been made official. The first round is set to take place on April 18th, while the second - and final - one is set for May 2nd. Those dates coincide with a heavy holiday season, something that s»»»
Floods kill 59 in I.Coast since mid-May: government
Abidjan: Widespread flooding has killed at least 59 people in Ivory Coast since the "particularly heavy" rainy season began in mid-May, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. Each year, the rainy season from late May to late July brings landslides and flooding that kill dozens, especially in poo»»»
Bayern sign Morocco midfielder Saibari on five-year deal
Munich, Germany: Bayern Munich on Wednesday announced the signing of Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven until 2031. The midfielder joins the German champions for a reported fee of 50 million ($57 million). An attacking midfielder with a goal threat, the 25-year-old will»»»
Press Review - 'Cloak of secrecy' surrounds plane that crashed into Beijing skyscraper
PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 1: Papers discuss a story from China that has flown under the radar: a plane crashed into the tallest building in Beijing in unclear circumstances. Next: why was "controversial figure" Vadim Ermolaev targeted in Monaco? Also: could Ireland become the next summer holid»»»
A sharp turn may be in store for cryptocurrencies in Hungary
A significant shift could be on the horizon for Hungary’s cryptocurrency market after the new Magyar government submitted legislation to Parliament that would ease controversial rules introduced last year. Government to overhaul crypto rules According to the proposal published on Parliament’s websi»»»
Syria hosts first Syrian-British business conference to boost economic ties
Damascus, July 1 (SANA) Participants in the Syrian-British Business Council (SBBC) conference held Wednesday in Damascus affirmed the importance of boosting economic cooperation between Syria and the United Kingdom. The event served as a platform to explore investment opportunities and discuss pros»»»