NAIROBI: Kenya on Wednesday launched an 11.4-billion-U.S. dollar national agricultural initiative to transform the sector into a modern, high-tech and commercially viable industry. The Kenya AgriConnect Compact (2025-2030), unveiled in Nairobi, seeks to create more than 2.4 million new and upgraded»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese Authorities Should Stop Direct Talks with Israeli Enemy, Occupation Forces Will Certainly Get Out 17-06-2026 19:53 »»»

CASABLANCA: Their red jerseys stood out against the green pitch. Most were teenage girls. Some had fled war. Others had never played in an organized soccer league or set foot in a major stadium before. Yet when they took the field at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, they marked Sudan’s »»»

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he expected the accord with Iran ending the Middle East war to be signed "shortly" but added uncertainty over the date. "The deal we reached with Iran on Sunday will be signed shortly, tomorrow (Thursday), maybe the next day (Friday)," Trump said at the G»»»

The World Bank's board approved a $2 billion financial guarantee package for Argentina. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- The World Bank's board approved a $2 billion financial guarantee package for Argentina, a move aimed at helping the country meet upcoming foreign cu»»»

Ierapetra, Greece: On his fishing boat moored in the Greek port of Ierapetra in southwestern Crete, Alexis Charlambakis pries open the mouth of a freshly-caught pufferfish to reveal two massive teeth on each jaw. "If one of these bites you, it will take your finger clean off," the 43-year-old said.»»»

Since the US-Israel strikes on Iran began on February 28th the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blocked - a key strategy by Iran that upended global oil supplies and pressured its opponents. But what has it meant for the seafarers stranded there? Or those who call its islands home? With plans »»»

BELGRADE - At the end of May, National Bank of Serbia (NBS) gross FX reserves reached a historical end-of-month high of 29,882.1 mln euros, rising by 1,725.8 mln euros compared to a month earlier. The reserves "covered 167.5 pct of money supply M1 and 6.9 months’ worth of the country’s import of go»»»

LONDON: Six multinational construction firms may be aiding and abetting war crimes by providing excavators and bulldozers to the Israeli military, human rights experts have said. It comes after widespread documentation of Israeli forces using the vehicles to systematically demolish villages across »»»

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip have killed 1,005 Palestinians since a ceasefire was reached between Israel and the militant group Hamas last October, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The enclave has seen near-daily strikes, as well as shelling and gunfire»»»

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip have killed 1,005 Palestinians since a ceasefire was reached between Israel and the militant group Hamas last October, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday. The enclave has seen near-daily strikes, as well as shelling and gunfire»»»

MEXICO CITY: Born in 1986, the last time Mexico hosted a World Cup, Eduardo Marin likes to joke that he’s measured his life not in years, but in soccer tournaments. In 1994, as a young kid, he watched with his family as Mexico crashed out on penalties to Bulgaria. In 2006, by then at college, Marin»»»

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to ensure the safety of Indian seafarers as part of the implementation of the Iran deal. His comments come days after three Indians were killed in a US strike on a commercial vessel off Oman. Get updated faster and for»»»

Paris will allow people to cool down with a swim in its famous canal Saint Martin from Wednesday evening as the capital – and the rest of France – braces for a heatwave that could see temperatures reach highs of 40C in some regions. France braced for another heatwave on Wednesday, with Pa»»»

The Pont Neuf Cavern, an artwork by French street artist JR, sometimes referred to as the French Banksy, is now open to visitors in Paris. The installation made from printed fabric and air transforms Paris' oldest bridge into an artificial cavern, through a visual, auditory and olfactory experience»»»

As France is bracing for another heatwave, Paris is allowing swimming in one of its canals so residents could cope with the heat. It will be the second spell of hot temperatures this year, after an unusually scorching week in May. Later in the summer, swimmers will also be able to cool off at desig»»»

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday hailed the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains as "a success", adding that the multilateral talks between leaders demonstrated "a moment of unity and real cooperation" as he delivered closing remarks. Macron added that on the issue of the war in Ukraine, leade»»»

Tropical Storm Arthur is the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Photo courtesy NOAA June 17 (UPI) -- Tropical Storm Arthur -- the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season -- formed along the Texas coast Wednesday. The eye of the storm was about 40 miles east-northeast of »»»

TYRE, Lebanon: In the dimly lit hospital room where he has lived for months, Youssef Fares broke down in tears as he spoke of his home in the historic southern Lebanese city of Tyre — now a pile of rubble and rebar after Israeli strikes during a three-month war. An interim agreement between Iran an»»»

Passengers wait to drop their luggage while traveling during the holiday season at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on December 22. The airport is scheduled to close for most of July 4 to accommodate events celebrating Independence Day in the capital. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UP»»»

Metropolitan Nahum of Ruse has strongly condemned the Russian strike that caused fire damage to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine, describing the attack as “senseless aggression” and saying the wider military actions in Kyiv amount to “barbarism.” The remarks followed a large-scale Russian attack »»»

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova has warned that plans to blockade border crossings between Bulgaria and North Macedonia would be counterproductive and risk undermining Sofia’s diplomatic position, particularly amid ongoing tensions between the two countries. Further reading: Protests Ann»»»

BRUSSELS: Belgium’s Wout van ‌Aert will miss this year’s Tour de France because of an elbow injury sustained at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, his Visma-Lease a Bike team said on Wednesday. The 31-year-old, who won Paris-Roubaix in April, would have been a key member of the Dutch team’s Tour squad »»»

With the harvest season beginning, Bulgarian farmers, tenants, and landowners are preparing for what is expected to be a strong agricultural year, though one burdened by sharply rising costs. The barley harvest has already started in parts of southern Bulgaria, particularly around Karnobat, while t»»»

In the first quarter of 2026, labor costs across the European Union continued to rise, with Eurostat reporting a 3.6% annual increase in hourly labor costs across the bloc. In the euro area, the rise was slightly lower at 3.2% compared with the same period in the previous year. These figures includ»»»

After a 20-month qualifying campaign that included four draws with the continental heavyweight Iran, Uzbekistan will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the first Central Asian country to participate in the world’s most watched sports tournament.  Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut crowns three-an»»»

After a 20-month qualifying campaign that included four draws with the continental heavyweight Iran, Uzbekistan will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the first Central Asian country to participate in the world’s most watched sports tournament.  Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut crowns three-an»»»

Thousands of Chileans who financed their university studies through state-backed student loans are facing the seizure of funds from their bank accounts over unpaid debts. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Thousands of Chileans who financed their university studies th»»»

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France: US President Donald Trump ‌said on Wednesday he had spoken to Syria’s leader about combatting Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, a day after criticizing Israel for killing too many civilians and not getting the ​job done. Asked at a Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, »»»

WASHINGTON: An emotional ‌Lionel Messi was wiping his tears with his shirt after scoring ​Argentina’s first goal against Algeria in the World Cup, a strike that marked the beginning of a memorable performance where he netted thrice to secure a 3-0 win. ‌ But while ‌his first World ​Cup ‌hat-trick ⁠»»»

BEIRUT/DUBAI: Iran’s interim deal with the US looks set to bolster Hezbollah’s political and financial hand in Lebanon, with Tehran promising more funding for its ally once cash starts to flow, according to four sources familiar with ties between Tehran and the group. A cash infusion to Hezbollah c»»»

The Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to propose that the National Assembly denounce the Energy Charter Treaty and the Protocol on Energy Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects, signed in Lisbon on December 17, 1994, the Government Press Service said on Wednesday. This places Bulgaria»»»

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks during a roundtable on education at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has joined a lawsuit Wednesday to stop a housing reparations program for Bl»»»

The recent turmoil in the Philippine Senate has become more than a contest for leadership. It has become a test of whether one of the country's most important democratic institutions can still fulfill its constitutional purpose. The leadership reshuffle, the standoff between majority and minority b»»»

KYIV: Ukraine has won key pledges of further support for its fight against Russia from world leaders attending the Group of Seven summit in France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday. The leaders of the world’s leading industrial economies promised to strengthen Ukraine’s air def»»»

EVIAN, France: Europe and the United States must work closely together on artificial intelligence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday, after US giant Anthropic blocked AI models over national security concerns. “The US and EU need to be strong partners in AI,” she »»»

ATLANTA, USA: Curaçao fans went wild. The Germans were in shock. Livano Comenencia had scored a goal for the smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the World Cup against four-time champion Germany. At 1-1 in Houston a famous upset looked possible. Then came the hydration break. Curaçao l»»»

DUBAI: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa joined supporters in the stands as the kingdom’s national football team made their historic FIFA World Cup debut against Austria. The royal couple, accompanied by Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, attended the match at San Francisco »»»

Sharjah: From prized Khneizi and Khalas dates to a new competition for women growing palms at home, this year's Al Dhaid Dates Festival is set to offer more than a showcase of the UAE's finest harvests. Returning for its milestone 10th edition from July 23 to 26 at Expo Al Dhaid, the festival will »»»

LONDON: Syria’s state-owned telecom operator restored internet traffic to normal capacity on Wednesday via the undersea fiber cable connecting the coastal city of Tartus with Alexandria in Egypt. Syria Telecom announced on Monday that the Tartus-Alexandria cable had been subjected to an “act of sab»»»

Kazan, Russia, takes center stage from June 17–19 as it plays host to the Russia-ASEAN Summit. Sputnik comes to you live from Kazan, where President Vladimir Putin hosts an official reception and holds bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Russia-ASEAN Summit.Kazan rolls out the welcome mat to 11»»»

Kevin Warsh will take to the podium Wednesday for the first time as the chairman of the Federal Reserve to reveal the latest interest rate decision. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Kevin Warsh will take to the podium Wednesday for the first time as the chairman of the Fede»»»

The Brave Boar 2026 exercise is in fact part of NATO’s plans for total domination in the Baltic region, retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin tells Sputnik. Set in the Suwalki Gap – a 65km stretch of land that separates Kaliningrad region from Belarus, the exercise is meant to let»»»

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung asked US President Donald Trump to take the lead in seeking a peaceful resolution of tensions with North Korea during a brief exchange at the Group of Seven summit on Tuesday, Lee’s office said. The two leaders greeted each other during a G7 leaders’ grou»»»

DUBAI: Eight months into a ceasefire that has failed to stop Israeli attacks or fully open Gaza’s borders, the 2.1 million Palestinians inside the besieged enclave are entering a summer that aid agencies warn could accelerate an already unfolding public health catastrophe. As summer temperatures so»»»

KABUL: Government workers in different parts of Afghanistan have started switching off their smartphones, following an order imposed Wednesday that they told AFP came from Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. A letter announcing the ban on smartphones for all government employees started circulati»»»

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Wednesday that his country's negotiations with Israel in Washington were independent of the US-Iran deal to bring an end to the Middle East conflict. Lebanon and Israel have been holding direct talks in Washington since April, seeking to end the hostilities betwe»»»

A purported draft of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding circulating online suggests that Washington could grant Tehran sweeping sanctions relief and access to frozen assets while leaving key nuclear issues to future negotiations. The 14-point list emerged on Tuesday as the administration of US»»»

By Sherif Abdel Ghaffar I read an article for an expat who used to live in Egypt from 2002 till 2014, this writer apparently also started an English-speaking magazine in Egypt when she lived there. The article in so many words was bashing up the new capital city project in Egypt. I was filled with »»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Wednesday, losing 30.65 points, or 0.28 percent, to close at 11,114.90. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index reached SR4.23 billion ($1.12 billion), with 72 stocks advancing and 182 retreating. Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel »»»