China and President Xi Jinping are now viewed more favorably than the US and Donald Trump across most of the world, a new Pew Research Center survey spanning six continents has found. Pew says China enjoys a more positive image than the US in 25 of the 36 countries and territories surveyed, includi»»»

A US military strike reportedly destroyed a key road bridge near Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas, severing a major transportation link across the Shur River, according to reports circulating on social media and regional monitoring accounts. The reports claimed the bridge, which connects B»»»

WASHINGTON: Republicans on the House Budget Committee advanced a $95-billion package late on Thursday for the Iran war, farm aid and President Donald Trump's push for strict new voter ID requirements, moving forward on a party-line vote despite trouble in the full House — and the Senate. Get update»»»

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil has described the latest US tariffs on certain Brazilian imports as unjust and politically motivated, threatening Thursday to impose reciprocal measures on US products. The country's top diplomat criticised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the move. Get — updated faster »»»

Smoke from wildfires in Canada drop hazy skies on the Manhattan skyline on Thursday in New York City. All of New York State and parts of New Jersey were under an Air Quality Advisory due to the smoke from more than 100 wildfires burning in Canada. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 16»»»

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters its next phase, the proceedings have evolved into something larger than a legal contest over alleged misconduct. They have become a test of the Philippines' constitutional system — its checks and balances, the resilience of its democrat»»»

RIYADH: While most people know Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud as the first Arab and Muslim astronaut to travel into space, the years that followed were devoted to a different mission: reviving Saudi Arabia’s heritage and documenting the people whose lives helped shape the Kingdom’s history throug»»»

The US has launched yet another round of overnight strikes, reportedly hitting civilian infrastructure, including several bridges across Iran, as Tehran warned that any further escalation would have consequences for the entire region. US Central Command announced its sixth consecutive night of stri»»»

A major bill funding veterans benefits was pulled from House floor Thursday after a backlash against its cuts to coverage for sleep apnea and tinnitus. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. House leadership on Thursday shelved a comprehensive veterans' benefits bil»»»

Agencies New Delhi India and Britain’s trade pact took effect on Wednesday, cutting tariffs on thousands of goods and expanding market access for services firms and professionals in both countries. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement gives Indian exporters duty-free access to mo»»»

LONDON: When a team of Egyptian archaeologists revealed details last month of excavations at an ancient burial ground on the east bank of the Nile, there was the usual flurry of international media excitement at the prospect of yet another breakthrough in our understanding of how the great pyramids»»»

The World Health Organization on Thursday warned that the Ebola virus is spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo faster than during any previous outbreak, with more than 2,000 confirmed cases and 796 deaths recorded in just two months. Health officials say the rapid spread, lack of »»»

The world is not on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Not because ambition is lacking or the science is unclear. We have the evidence and the solutions. We also have an increasingly clear understanding of the problem and the consequences of inaction. The challenge lies elsewhere. Too »»»

Ukraine's ousted defence minister directed stunning public criticism at the army's top commander on Thursday, forcing President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for unity amid signs of an emerging split in the military's top ranks. Large protests erupted in several Ukrainian cities against the removal of»»»

NEW YORK: A jersey worn by soccer giant Pele in the first World Cup final ever won by Brazil sold for $4.9 million at a US auction on Thursday. The Brazilian attacker nicknamed “The King” was 17 when he scored two goals in his country’s 5-2 victory over host country Sweden in 1958. The blue shirt b»»»

The world is not on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Not because ambition is lacking or the science is unclear. We have the evidence and the solutions. We also have an increasingly clear understanding of the problem and the consequences of inaction. The challenge lies elsewhere. Too »»»

NEW YORK: The wreckage of a New York sightseeing helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people, showed signs of a bird strike, investigators said on Thursday. A senior Spanish business executive, his wife and three children died along with the pilot when the helicopter malfuncti»»»

SOUTHPORT, England: Debutant Jackson Suber led The Open ‌with a stunning five-under opening round of 65 on Thursday as fellow Americans reigning champion Scottie Scheffler and big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau also made their mark. England’s Dan Brown and South Korea’s Im Sung-jae had shared the lead a»»»

ADEN: Concerns are mounting over a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen as renewed military escalation by the Houthis coincides with the fallout from the resumption of the war involving Iran, which has begun to disrupt trade flows and commodity supplies to the country. At the same time, the Unite»»»

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the anti-cholesterol pill Lipfendra for use in the United States. Backers say its ability to lower bad "LDL-C" cholesterol with just a pill is a breakthrough in the field. Photo courtesy of Merck & Co. July 16 (UPI) -- Heralding what some are ca»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, the White House said, saving his first appearance at the tournament for its grand finale. “His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in Am»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has suspended a teleprompter operator over allegations he placed bets with a prediction market on the content of Trump’s speeches, the White House said Thursday. Gabriel Perez allegedly made more than $100,000 with bets placed on the prediction market Kalshi ab»»»

Albania's Parliament on Thursday approved a series of bills related to the agriculture sector, with the votes exposing an unusual split within the ruling Socialist Party after Socialist lawmaker Erion Braçe opposed one of the government's initiatives and abstained on another. The opposition did not»»»

June retail sales were slower than expected despite the tourism boost added by the World Cup. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 16 (UPI) -- U.S. retail spending was weaker than expected while tourists from around the world came to the country for the World Cup. Retail sales rose»»»

Poland’s housing market outlook for the second half of the year will depend largely on who buys homes. If demand is driven by buyers in their 30s and 40s seeking affordable housing, developers are expected to add lower-priced projects, keeping annual price growth near inflation at 2–4%. This is con»»»

1 of 3 | SpaceX's next-generation Starship is stacked on the pad atop the new Super Heavy V3 booster, at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX is preparing to launch its thirteenth flight test on Thursday. SpaceX/UPI | License Photo July 16 (UPI) -- SpaceX on Thursday is set to launch the 13th test»»»

MIAMI: France and England will bid a gloomy farewell to the World Cup on Saturday when they face each other in the dreaded third-place play-off in Miami. Both teams head to Florida still raw from semifinal defeats that have left both footballing nations licking wounds, which, in the eyes of many, w»»»

NEW YORK: FIFA should stage a minute’s silence before the World Cup final for the two people shot dead by US immigration agents this month, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. A Colombian man was killed in Maine on Monday, while a Mexican man was killed in Houston last week, both during traffic stops»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump remains open to diplomacy with Iran, the White House said Thursday, adding that Washington is still talking to Tehran despite the renewal of hostilities. The comments come a day after Trump thanked Iran for freeing a US citizen detained since December 2024, in »»»

Hungary was the European Union’s largest purchaser of Russian pipeline natural gas during the first five months of 2026, spending EUR 1.1 billion despite a year-on-year decline in imports. According to Eurostat data analysed by the Russian state news agency TASS, Hungary accounted for nearly half o»»»

Ajman: Ajman Police has continued supporting residents affected by the recent fire at Ajman corniche tower, deploying its mobile smart police centre at the scene to provide on-the-spot police services, answer inquiries and assist those impacted by the incident. The mobile unit, which operates aroun»»»

Craig Melvin arrives on the red carpet at the National Board of Review annual awards gala in 2022 in New York City. A man lunged at Melvin on the set of the Today show Wednesday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 16 (UPI) -- A man allegedly breached the Today show set Thursday i»»»

NEW YORK: If LeBron James knows where he will play this coming season, he’s still not saying. The NBA’s career scoring king and current free agent spoke publicly for the first time in weeks Thursday afternoon, though stopped short of revealing which team he’ll choose to play for this fall — despite»»»

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Max Verstappen will race with a conventional rear wing at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull reacted to his claims that their ‘Macarena’ wing was “super-dangerous.” The four-time world champion spoke out after crashing in the final stages of the British Grand »»»

July 15 (UPI) -- A professional dog trainer and her pet Pomeranian broke a Guinness World Record when the tiny dog jumped through her owner's arms 10 times in under 8 seconds. Canadian trainer Jennifer Fraser and her 2-year-old dog, Twinkie, took on the title for the fastest time to perform 10 jump»»»

1 of 2 | An Iranian woman on Wednesday walks next to a huge anti-U.S. billboard featuring U.S. President Donald Trump in a coffin, accompanied by a sentence in Persian that reads, "We kill Trump." It is displayed at the Enghelab Square in Tehran, Iran. Photo by Abedin Taherkennareh/EPA July 15 (UPI»»»

Bolivian prosecutors have identified 25 people who were offered jobs in Russia and wound up in the military in its war against Ukraine. File Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA July 16 (UPI) -- Bolivia's Attorney General's Office said it has opened three investigations into an alleged human trafficking ne»»»

The forced resignation of 35-year-old Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a sweeping government reshuffle has exposed competing visions within the country’s civil and military leadership on how best to hold back the Russian advance.  It shouldn’t come as too much of a shock that a defence min»»»

Several US lawmakers said they were “disgusted” by testimony from Kathy Ruemmler, a former Goldman Sachs chief legal officer and White House counsel under former President Barack Obama, about her relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reports. Ruemmler app»»»

Thursday represented a major milestone for millions of students across India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET UG 2026 results, with more than 1.12 million candidates qualifying for the next stage of the country's medical admissions process. More than half of those who qualified »»»

On Thursday, opposition parties accused the Government of Progressive Bulgaria of pursuing contradictory actions in Bulgaria's foreign policy towards the Coalition of the Willing, arguing that while Prime Minister Rumen Radev says Bulgaria will not participate in the Coalition, Foreign Minister Vel»»»

Ukraine's struggle to defend its skies against ballistic missile attacks is increasingly highlighting the strategic importance of interceptor production, while successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are reshaping fuel markets without significantly reducing Moscow's oil export»»»

A decree by Argentine President Javier Milei, now struck down transferred the authority to grant citizenship by naturalization from the federal judiciary to the executive branch. Photo by Chema Moya/EPA BUENOS AIRES, July 16 (UPI) -- An Argentine court struck down a decree by President Javier Milei»»»

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has confirmed that an investigation is underway into former Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s relationship with Russia, while also announcing new public safety measures for Budapest and providing updates on major transport and energy projects. Speaking at the »»»

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration moved on Thursday to tighten the duration of visas for foreign students, cultural exchange visitors and journalists. The new final rule from the Department of Homeland Security creates a fixed time period for F visas for international students, J visas that allo»»»

NEW YORK: Spain opened as the +125 favorites to win ‌the World Cup and stood at +130 as of Thursday morning, but Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina are seeing more of the betting action, according to BetMGM. Argentina — who opened at +250 at the sportsbook and have since moved to +240 —»»»

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary-General ‌Antonio Guterres will travel to divided Cyprus at the end of July to discuss peacebuilding efforts between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday. The visit comes against the backdrop of growing speculation the United Nat»»»

DUBAI: Dubai ⁠Media Office said ⁠on Thursday ‌there ‌had ​been ‌no ‌sounds of ‌explosions in downtown Dubai, after ⁠witnesses ⁠earlier reported hearing booms in ​that area. Developing...»»»

The search for three missing climbers in Peru faces major logistical challenges because the country does not have helicopters capable of landing above 19,700 feet, requiring specialized high-altitude rescue teams to conduct the operation entirely on foot. Photo by Daiji Umemoto/Pexels July 16 (UPI)»»»

The parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee on Thursday passed on second reading the 2026 Public Social Insurance Budget Bill. After the first reading, opposition MPs proposed amendments mainly intended to increase unemployment benefits, the the child-care benefit during the second year of the m»»»