N. Korean economy grows over 3 pct for 3rd consecutive year in 2025: BOK - UPI.com
The North Korean economy grew more than 3 percent in 2025, South Korea's central bank said Friday. In this June 2025 photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends an opening ceremony for a tourist zone in Wonsan. File Photo by KCNA/EPA The North Korean economy grew more than 3 percent for the thir»»»
Defence minister inspects 1st Mechanised Infantry Brigade in Gabès
Tunis, July 31 (TAP)- National Defence Minister Khaled Sehili headed to the premises of the 1st Mechanised Infantry Brigade in Gabès where he inspected its functioning and the readiness state of its various units. He familarised with the missions...»»»
S. Korea, U.S., 9 other countries issue joint alert on N. Korean IT workers - UPI.com
South Korea, the United States and nine other countries on Friday issued a joint alert about North Korean IT workers. In this 2016 photo, the North Korean flag flies over its embassy in Beijing. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo South Korea, the United States, Japan and eight other c»»»
Italy suspends EU Schengen free-travel pact with Spain over Ceuta crisis
ROME: Italy said on Friday it was suspending the EU's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain for one month in response to a mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco. Italy does not share a land border with Spain but the measure - which looks certain»»»
UAE opens nominations for inaugural Year Of Award
Abu Dhabi: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Year Of Award has been launched as a national recognition platform establishing the enduring legacy of the annual themes of the UAE Year Of initiative. The Award celebrates individuals and organisa»»»
Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs holds telephone conversation with Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau
Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani and Chairman of the Political Bureau of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Dr. Khalil Al Hayya held a telephone conversation on Friday. at the outset of the call HE the Prime Minister and M»»»
No, this video does not show a drone attack on ships in Egypt
Following reports of a drone attack on a US-owned gas storage vessel at Egypt’s Damietta port, a video purporting to show the incident began circulating online. The footage, however, is unrelated to the conflict in the Middle East. FRANCE 24 found that the footage instead shows a Ukrainian drone st»»»
Hamas disarming would be 'first concrete step to re-energise peace plan', but questions remain
Israel will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip until Hamas's "genuine disarmament", a political source told AFP on July 31, after the group said it had agreed to a deal involving its disarmament and Israel's exit. But officially, the country has stayed silent regarding the agreement. It was announced»»»
Why did Riyadh join US strikes on Tehran's allies in Iraq?
Saudi Arabia joined the United States for the first time in launching air strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the kingdom's regional posture after months of restraint. While Riyadh insists it was acting in self-defence, »»»
Hungarian government announces one of the country's largest renewable energy investment programmes in decades
The Hungarian government has announced one of the country’s largest renewable energy investment programmes in decades, unveiling plans to dramatically expand wind power, electricity storage and grid infrastructure as it responds to the ongoing energy crisis triggered by the Danube’s record-low wate»»»
Seoul shares surge record 18 pct to reclaim 6,500-point level on chip rally - UPI.com
This photo, taken Friday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks skyrocketed by a record eighteen percent on semiconductor gains. Photo by Yonhap South Korean stocks skyrocketed by a record 18 percent to reclaim the 6,500-point level Friday, driven by robust semiconduct»»»
Greece orders partial evacuation of Athens suburb as wildfire burns
Greek authorities on Friday ordered the partial evacuation of a suburb west of Athens after a forest fire broke out on a nearby mountain, prompting an emergency alert as firefighters battled to contain the blaze. Greek Civil Protection on Friday ordered the partial evacuation of part of Haidari, a »»»
Hot, humid weather to continue during August: Qatar Met
Doha: The Qatar Meteorological Department released the climate information guide for the month of August. According to QMD, in August, the third month of summer, the hot and humid weather continues, with no significant rainfall. The month is also dominated by the presence of low pressure at the sur»»»
Running on empty: the Danube is draining the lights
Following a trial run on Friday evening, the Dunamenti Power Plant is expected to operate at full capacity from Saturday, while the Paks nuclear power plant is currently running at close to half of its nominal output. Due to falling water levels caused by continuing heat and drought, further produc»»»
ADNOC changes pricing method for Abu Dhabi crude from November
Abu Dhabi: ADNOC today announced an update to the Official Selling Price (OSP) methodology for its Abu Dhabi crude grades, following a regular commercial review. Effective 1 November 2026, ADNOC will transition from the current ICE Futures Abu Dhabi-based pricing methodology, which uses the Murban »»»
Bosnians lose faith in government but support for EU membership stays strong
Trust in Bosnia & Herzegovina's institutions has continued to deteriorate as concerns over corruption, the economy and political instability weigh on public sentiment, while support for European Union membership remains resilient, according to a public opinion survey released on July 30. The su»»»
North Macedonia’s gasification push enters new phase as Greece interconnector nears completion
The supply of natural gas to households in North Macedonia is moving closer to reality as the country’s long-awaited gas interconnector with Greece advances towards completion, opening the way for a more diversified energy system and the gradual expansion of the domestic gas distribution network. T»»»
At least 19 die as 49,000 migrants cross from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta
At least 19 people died after about 49,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in a single day, prompting both countries to reinforce controls along the European Union’s border with Africa. Spain and Morocco moved to halt further crossings on July 31 after the unpreceden»»»
MACRO ADVISORY: Best Eurasia books published in 1H26
Macro-Advisory Limited has issued its annual mid-year compilation of the best business, political and general interest books published in 1H26, covering the twelve states in the Eurasia region plus Iran and Afghanistan. The document also includes the updated Recommended Reading list for the region »»»
Israeli demolition of Beaufort Castle tunnels triggers tremors across southern Lebanon
BEIRUT: Massive Israeli explosions targeting a Hezbollah tunnel network beneath Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon triggered tremors that were felt across large parts of the country overnight, with residents describing the blasts as resembling an earthquake. The explosions, which occurred shortly »»»
Macut: Serbia-North Macedonia cooperation to see even greater upsurge in future
OHRID - Speaking to reporters in Ohrid after Friday's meeting with North Macedonian counterpart Hristijan Mickoski, Serbian PM Djuro Macut said he was confident the cooperation between the two countries would see an even greater upsurge in the future, and noted that transport, infrastructure, energ»»»
Saudi Arabia welcomes Gaza agreement for Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday an agreement announced by President Donald Trump for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from Gaza. The deal would see Hamas hand over its weapons to the Palestinian technocratic body set up to run the territory. Under the 15-point roadmap, Israel will car»»»
Brazil court OKs probe into Lula's son over medical marijuana dealings - UPI.com
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's son is being investigated over allegations he sought to influence Health Ministry decisions involving the commercialization of medical cannabis. Photo by Andre Coelho/EPA July 31 (UPI) -- Brazil's Supreme Court authorized a federal police investigatio»»»
Ex-wife of Rep. Max Miller files restraining order, alleges violence - UPI.com
Max Miller arrives for a State Dinner hosted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in 2019. Miller, now a congressman from Ohio, is facing a restraining order against him from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. Grisham has also accused him of domestic violence. File Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI »»»
UAE opens nominations for inaugural Year Of Award
Abu Dhabi: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Year Of Award has been launched as a national recognition platform establishing the enduring legacy of the annual themes of the UAE Year Of initiative. The Award celebrates individuals and organisa»»»
Saudi Arabia welcomes Gaza agreement for Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday an agreement announced by President Donald Trump for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from Gaza. The deal would see Hamas hand over its weapons to the Palestinian technocratic body set up to run the territory. Under the 15-point roadmap, Israel will car»»»
Netanyahu, Vance discussed Israel criticism during Washington meeting, report says
LONDON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised Vice President JD Vance’s recent criticism of Israel during a private meeting in Washington this week, according to a report by Axios. The two leaders met at Blair House on Tuesday during Netanyahu’s visit to the US, which included talks with»»»
6.5 million cruise passengers visit Mexico in first half of 2026 - UPI.com
he Norwegian Bliss ship arrives at the port of Acapulco, Mexico, in 2024. Some 6.5 million cruise passengers visited Mexico during the first half of 2026, File Photo by David Guzman/EPA July 31 (UPI) -- Some 6.5 million cruise passengers visited Mexico during the first half of 2026, a 17.1% increas»»»
Vucic: Serbia has highest GDP growth rate in Europe
KNJAZEVAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday Serbia had registered the highest economic growth rate in Europe in Q2 2026, with 3.6 pct real GDP growth y-o-y. "In Q2, Serbia saw the highest growth in Europe, but in the second half of this year, it is currently number one in Europe, »»»
Temperatures between 25°C and 33°C on Friday night
Tunis, July 31 (TAP) - The weather will be clear to a bit cloudy nationwide on Friday night, with temperatures ranging between 25°C and 30°C, reaching 33°C in the south-west. The wind will blow north in the north, and east in the midland and south...»»»
Trump Blames Situation in Spain's Ceuta on 'Weak Law, Bad Management'
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the migration crisis in Ceuta is the consequence of weak law and poor decisions implemented by the Spanish government. "What that is is weak law, bad management," Trump said during the cabinet meeting. Earlier in the day, mayor-pr»»»
Hamas Says Israel Must Halt Gaza Strikes to Implement Trump's Peace Plan
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Palestinian movement Hamas on Friday said that Israel must completely stop its strikes on the Gaza Strip in order to begin implementing the second phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan. "The [Israeli] occupation forces must stop the killings and attacks. This is the»»»
PM Magyar says Hungary enters 'one of the worst energy crises in decades', shares new Paks shutdown date
Hungary is entering what Prime Minister Péter Magyar has described as one of the country’s most serious energy crises in decades, with the most critical period expected to begin on Monday as the Paks Nuclear Power Plant moves closer to a possible full shutdown. Speaking at two emergency press brief»»»
Health Ministry Launches Public Consultation on National Children's Hospital Interdepartmental Coordination Council
The draft government decree establishing an interdepartmental coordination council on the National Children's Hospital has been published on the Health Ministry's website for a two-week public consultation. Speaking at a briefing at the Council of Ministers a few days ago, Health Minister Katya Ivk»»»
Arabian horses enhance visitor experience at Raghadan Forest
AL-BAHA: Visitors to Raghadan Forest Park during Al-Baha Summer Season can get up close to purebred Arabian horses and enjoy the chance to ride, photograph and learn more about these beautiful creatures. Set against the forest's mountainous terrain, dense vegetation and cool mist, the initiative hi»»»
Bako Motors exports first batch of cars to Germany
Tunis, July 31 (TAP) - The Tunisian start-up Bako Motors, which specialises in the electric car industry, exported its first batch of cars to Germany on Thursday, having recently obtained a European certificate of conformity as Tunisia's first...»»»
Sri Lanka’s ex-police chief sentenced to death over Easter bombings that killed 260
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: A Sri Lankan court on Friday sentenced former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to death after finding him guilty of criminal negligence that allowed Daesh-inspired bomb attacks on Easter Sunday in 2019, killing more than 260 people. A death penalty in Sri Lanka typically means li»»»
Singapore's labor market continues to expand in Q2 despite global uncertainty
Singapore: Singapore's total employment grew by 10,700 in the second quarter, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth, according to advance data released by the Ministry of Manpower. The increase was driven mainly by non-resident employment, particularly in sectors such as construction and m»»»
Chile ministers' tariff criticism draws U.S. ambassador's rebuke - UPI.com
U.S. Ambassador to Chile Brandon Judd raised diplomatic tensions with the Chilean government Thursday by saying that criticism from Cabinet ministers of the additional 12.5% tariff imposed by Washington on some Chilean exports complicates diplomatic negotiations aimed at reversing it. File Photo by»»»
Hezbollah: The blatant attack on an Iraqi state institution, carried out with the participation of an Arab state, opens the door to extremely dangerous consequences for the entire region - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah: The blatant attack on an Iraqi state institution, carried out with the participation of an Arab state, opens the door to extreme»»»
Djedovic Handanovic: There are indications NIS will get new licence from OFAC
OHRID - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Friday there were indications the Serbian oil company NIS would receive a new operating licence from the US authorities and that this was expected to be formalised by an official letter from the US administration. Si»»»
Moroccan Embassy in Damascus holds reception on 27th Throne Day anniversary
Damascus, July 31 (SANA) The Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Damascus hosted an official reception on Thursday on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne. The Chargé d’Affaires of the Moroccan Embassy in Syria, Abdullah Babah, received the attendees, »»»
First Two US Aircraft Arrive at Bezmer Base under Middle East Support Deployment
Two US military aircraft have landed at Bezmer Air Base in Southeastern Bulgaria, the Defence Ministry told BTA on Friday. On July 22, the National Assembly approved the deployment in Bulgaria of up to eight Boeing KC-135 aerial refuelling tankers, together with their crews, up to 250 US service pe»»»
Lebanon ex-central banker hospitalized, under police guard: judicial official
BEIRUT: Former Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh was placed under police guard in hospital on Friday, a day after missing a hearing in an alleged embezzlement case, a judicial official told AFP. Salameh had been due to appear in court on Thursday in connection with a complaint filed by ne»»»
EU inflation rises to 2.9% in July
Brussels: The eurozone's annual inflation rate rose to 2.9% in July 2026, up from 2.8% in June, according to data released today by Eurostat. Eurostat said energy prices recorded the largest increase among the inflation components in July, rising 10.0% year-on-year compared with 8.5% in June. Servi»»»
Macut, Mickoski meet in Ohrid to discuss Serbia-North Macedonia cooperation, relations
OHRID - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with North Macedonian counterpart Hristijan Mickoski in Ohrid on Friday afternoon to discuss advancement of cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries. The two PMs exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in numerous areas, including infrastruct»»»
Kuwaiti oil prices rise $1.69 a barrel
Kuwait: The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced that the price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil rose by $1.69 in Thursday's trading, reaching $86.69 per barrel, down from $85 in previous trading. Globally, oil prices declined, with Brent crude falling by $1.71 to settle at $89.03 a barrel, and US West»»»
Half-Year Consolidated Fiscal Programme Deficit at EUR 2.4 Bln
Bulgaria has incurred a deficit of EUR 2,416.2 million (1.9% of projected GDP) under its Consolidated Fiscal Programme (CFP) as of June 30, 2026, the Finance Ministry reported on its website on Friday. The Ministry's data on the implementation of the state budget in the first half of 2026 match pre»»»
Education Minister Heard in Parliament on NATFA Protests
Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev responded to questions related to recent protests staged by students of the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) during Question Time on Friday. Valchev responded to questions by Continue the Change MPs Velislav Velichkov and Nikolay Denkov»»»
Yes, Bulgaria's Bozhanov Meets with IT Sector Representatives to Discuss Operations of Information Services AD
At the initiative of Yes, Bulgaria co-chair Bozhidar Bozhanov, a working meeting has been held in Parliament to discuss possible solutions for the operations and future of Information Services AD, with representatives of Bulgaria's IT sector taking part. Although Innovation and Digital Transformati»»»