Fiscal decentralization, regional development, investment, infrastructure, social services and the absorption of European Union funds were among the key topics discussed at a National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Authorities in Sofia on Thursday. The forum highlighted both the challenges »»»

The Philippines is a unique nation. It has more than 116.8 million people inhabiting a huge land area (300,000 km2), 10 times bigger than Belgium, spread across 7,641 islands. The country has nearly four times the population of Canada, living across vastly different geographic and developmental cha»»»

New Delhi In a significant boost to India's higher education credentials, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has secured the 118th position in the QS World University Rankings 2027, emerging as the country's highest-ranked institution for the second consecutive year. The prestigious glo»»»

BELGRADE - The board of directors of the ABA basketball league announced on Thursday the regional competition would feature 20 clubs next season, including Cibona Zagreb, which will return to the fold after a one-season absence, and Slovan Bratislava, which will make a debut. In view of the expansi»»»

Doha A delegation from the Russian Ministry of Defense visited the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security as part of efforts to strengthen security cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Russian Federation. The delegation was welcomed by the Director General of Coasts and Border»»»

The Islamic Resistance Operations Room issued on Thursday a statement to detail the confrontation with and frustration of the enemy’s attempts to reach Ali Al-Taher Heights. The statement indicated that the Resistance has been targeting the enemy forces with rockets, drones, and loitering gliders [»»»

LONDON: A military delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic visited the National Defense University in Istanbul on Thursday, as Syria and Turkiye deepen their defense cooperation since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in late 2024. The delegation, led by Maj. Gen. Salim Idris from Syria’s Ministry»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanon has received assurances from Syria that it will not interfere in Lebanese affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri told Arab News on Thursday, rejecting suggestions that Damascus could play a role in confronting Hezbollah as fighting between Israel and the group continues. Mitri’s»»»

Health infrastructure, staffing shortages, hospital management and the development of outpatient care are among the main challenges facing Bulgaria's healthcare system, Health Minister Katya Ivkova said on Thursday. Speaking at the National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Authorities in Sofi»»»

Doha Qatar Airways will resume its operations to Kuwait City (KWI), Kuwait, with daily flights starting 21 June 2026. The service will be operated from Terminal T4 at Kuwait International Airport.»»»

WARSAW: Polish authorities have arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting in broad daylight a Russian activist critical of President Vladimir Putin and believe there is a likely link to a foreign intelligence service, top officials said Thursday. The killing is the latest act which Polish author»»»

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks at an education roundtable on June 11. The department announced Tuesday that it's moving four segments to other agencies. Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo June 16 (UPI) -- The Department of Education will shift two of its major departments, civil»»»

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Apple CEO Tim Cook after announcing an additional $100 billion Apple investment in the U.S., which now will total over $600 billion over the next four years, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 6. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI »»»

Education Minister Georgi Valchev on Thursday warned of widening disparities across Bulgaria's education system, describing the growing gap between high-performing schools and those failing to provide adequate preparation as one of the sector's most serious challenges. Speaking at the National Meet»»»

Dubai: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for the UAE, removing its warning against all but essential travel, while continuing to caution that the wider regional security situation remains unpredictable. The move is expected to come as a welcome»»»

GENEVA: The UK, ​Norway and a group of countries on Thursday raised the alarm at the UN Human ‌Rights Council that ‌the ​paramilitary ‌Rapid ⁠Support ​Forces in ⁠Sudan could imminently escalate their assault on the central Sudanese city of Al-Obeid, possibly ⁠resulting in ‌large-scale ‌atrocities. »»»

Bulgaria is among the European countries where Austrian tourists get the highest value for their money, with EUR 1 buying around 70% more goods and services than at home, according to Bank Austria’s annual analysis of the so-called holiday euro, quoted by APA on Thursday. In some tourist destinatio»»»

BELGRADE - The Independent State of Samoa has confirmed its participation in Specialised EXPO 2027 Belgrade, the EXPO 2027 enterprise announced on Thursday. Samoa is the 139th country to have confirmed its participation in the event. As one of the most authentic Pacific states, under the theme of R»»»

Doha, Qatar: Within Education City, the arts are embedded across galleries, public spaces, academic institutions, architecture, and everyday experiences to inspire learning, spark connection, and deepen understanding of the world. And as this landscape continues to grow, Qatar Foundation has launch»»»

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the fourth game of the MLB World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in October. The couple are planning to take their children back to England for a visit in July. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |»»»

LuLu Hypermarket was officially recognized as a key success partner by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development at the closing ceremony of the Social Security Beneficiaries Empowerment Forums. The high-profile event, held under the patronage of the ministry, celebrated nationwide deve»»»

ROME: The United ‌Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme on Thursday appealed for $202 million to help protect 8.8 million people across 22 high-risk countries from the looming El Niño weather pattern. Strong El Niño conditions in the second half of 2026 are predicted t»»»

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia’s fashion sector expands, designers are increasingly drawing inspiration from the Kingdom’s diverse landscape and heritage. This was evident at the Arts and Skills Institute’s 13th cohort showcase, held under the theme “Beyond the Horizon,” where emerging designers reinterpr»»»

Bulgaria's government is making investment a national priority and a key tool for supporting municipalities and businesses, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev said on Thursday. Speaking at the National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Auth»»»

Bulgaria's social system is coming under increasing strain as the country's demographic challenges deepen, Labour and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova said on Thursday. Speaking at a National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Authorities in Sofia, organized by the National Association o»»»

Bulgaria supports in principle an EU proposal to create a unified corporate legal framework, known as the "28th regime", but insists on additional safeguards against abuse and opposes the possibility of establishing companies with zero capital. This transpired from remarks by Deputy Justice Ministe»»»

Doha, Qatar: President of the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Doha Diamond League Mohammed Issa Al Fadala confirmed that preparations have been completed for the event, which will kick off Friday at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club. »»»

Dubai: Iran has announced plans to impose charges on ships transiting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz after the expiry of a 60-day fee-free period outlined in a memorandum of understanding with the United States. Speaking in an interview aired on Iranian state television, Iran's chief »»»

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a meeting of fellow NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday that the Pentagon would be launching a review of U.S. forces deployed in Europe as part of a reboot of the alliance -- but that they would be consulted. Photo by Olivier Hoslet/EPA June 18 (U»»»

Dubai: A series of traffic incidents and heavy congestion led to significant delays across major roads in Dubai and Sharjah during Thursday evening’s rush hour, with commuters facing slow-moving traffic on key routes. The disruption caused delays for thousands of commuters on key inter-emirate rout»»»

In the US, the Memorandum of Understanding to end the war in Iran has been met with mixed reactions. While loyalists of President Donald Trump have hailed the deal, many - including from his own party - have been sharply critical of it, with one senior Republican Senator calling it "the worst forei»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will conclude its artistic season on Friday with a concert titled "Pictures at an Exhibition" at the Opera House in the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara). The concert fea»»»

Since the signing of the peace deal between Iran and the US, fighting in Lebanon has dropped. But according to Lebanese media, Israeli strikes on south of the country did kill at least five people. Whether the deal will lead to peace in Lebanon remains unclear.»»»

Bulgaria’s new pilgrimage route, “The Way to the Relics of St. John the Baptist,” is moving toward official integration into the European pilgrimage network and direct cooperation with Spain’s famous Camino de Santiago. The announcement was made Thursday in Burgas during a visit by international ex»»»

If you've spent any time in France recently, you'll have noticed it has got warmer, especially in French cities. How is climate change impacting France? Why do cities suffer more and what are big urban areas doing to combat the effects of climate change? Also, why are the French so resistant to air»»»

The newly signed memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran is a diplomatic victory for Tehran secured through strength and is evidence that Washington failed to achieve any of its military objectives, Iranian officials have said. The 14-point document was signed remotely by President Dona»»»

RIYADH: For the first time in their young lives, Filipino twins Olivia and Gianna Manuel are one step closer to experiencing the world on their own. The two-year-old sisters, who were born joined at the chest and abdomen, were successfully separated on Thursday in a complex operation carried out by»»»

DUBAI: After a divisive second season that often felt like an extended prologue to a war that viewers were desperate to see, “House of the Dragon” returns with a burning and renewed zeal. Showrunner Ryan Condal appears to have taken criticism of the previous outing to heart, wasting little time in »»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that Israel's "struggle" is not over yet, and that more challenges lie ahead, after the U.S. and Iran signed an MoU to end the war between them, which also inlcudes a clause about stopping the conflict in Lebanon and respecting its sovere»»»

Washington The United States and Iran revealed the text of the MoU that was electronically signed between the two sides. The memorandum includes an immediate and permanent ceasefire, a commitment to negotiate a final agreement within 60 days, as well as measures related to sanctions relief, freedom»»»

Rewind almost a century, to the 1930s, and the FIFA World Cup had no need to produce an official song or fashion a unified sonic identity. This was a purely sporting event, shaped by the era's politics and communication methods. Match results were printed in newspapers, and fans followed the games »»»

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway in the US, Canada, and Mexico amid mounting controversy, aspects of the world’s most popular sport are under increasing scientific and medical scrutiny. Beyond the questioning of Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein, the denial of entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulka»»»

The US-Iran agreement to be signed in Geneva on 19 June cannot really be compared to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that former US President Barack Obama’s team negotiated with European, Russian, and Chinese help from 2013-15 to restrain Iran’s nuclear programme. The most obvious di»»»

A new study in England showed that among those women vaccinated for HPV, there are nearly zero deaths from cervical cancer. File Photo by Neil Hall/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- Women have nearly zero chance of death from cervical cancer if they were vaccinated against human papilloma virus at age 12 to 13,»»»

RIYADH: The Kilmitain event held at Misk in Riyadh on June 16-17 gave creative industry leaders and participants a platform to exchange ideas and learn tangible skills through workshops and panels. The intersection of the creative and social responsibility sectors in the Kingdom continues to evolve»»»

Belgrade: A Serbian court on Thursday found the parents of a teenage school shooter guilty of his neglect and abuse, reinstating a lengthy jail sentence after a high-profile retrial. The killings of nine students and a security guard in the Belgrade elementary school on May 3, 2023, shocked the Bal»»»

Parliament has given final approval at second reading to legislation allowing the government to raise Bulgaria’s borrowing ceiling by up to EUR 3.8 billion ahead of the adoption of the 2026 state budget, expanding the executive’s fiscal room for deficit financing and other obligations. The measure »»»

Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski has pledged strict enforcement of measures aimed at preventing unfair trade practices that place Bulgarian farmers and producers at a disadvantage. Speaking in Lovech, he said the state is prepared to use all available legal mechanisms to protect domestic agricu»»»

With the quiet force of history turning a page, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that the United States and Iran—adversaries locked in decades of hostility—had reached an agreement that promises not just a cessation of hostilities but a redefinition of the strategic landscape of th»»»

Senegal’s former prime minister Ousmane Sonko has indicated he is open to discussing a debt restructuring with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), signalling a possible breakthrough in efforts to resolve a fiscal crisis that has disrupted relations between Dakar and the lender. The country’s par»»»