MAKKAH: As Saudi Arabia expands saffron cultivation across regions including AlUla, Tabuk and Al-Baha, scientists are exploring ways to improve the productivity and quality of one of the world’s most valuable crops. Prof. Salim Al-Babili, associate vice president for research for plant science at K»»»

Shawarma is a simple, wholesome food that gives you comfort in every situation, whether you are lonely at home or in your car or cheering on your favorite team with friends during a World Cup match. Who makes the best shawarma, however, is highly debatable. Now, this is not me throwing my hat in to»»»

YOBE: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief recently distributed 850 food baskets to vulnerable families in Nigeria, benefiting 5,100 individuals from 850 families. The initiative comes within the framework of the humanitarian and relief efforts carried out by the Kingdom to assist people and countries in »»»

As the on-again, off-again fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia has revealed its deadly FPV drone fleet: small quadcopters equipped with light explosives. Analysis of videos of the attacks suggests the Israeli army has turned to a Second World War-era trick to»»»

France and Italy have pushed back against an EU proposal to ban Russian servicemen and veterans from entering the bloc, warning that the measure is legally unclear and difficult to enforce, Bloomberg has reported, citing diplomatic sources. Moscow has denounced the proposal as “paranoid,” while cri»»»

People enjoy the beach at the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Sea off Muscat, Oman, in May. President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the cease-fire Friday. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has attacked ships in th»»»

Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. The agreement -- details of which were not announced -- is the result of five rounds of talks in Washington aimed at en»»»

Sharjah: In Khorfakkan, a mango is never just a mango. It is the result of months of care, irrigation, patience, and planning. It is also a competition entry, a source of income, a family project, and, for many growers, a livelihood rooted in the land. From today, June 26, that story has unfolded p»»»

The disruption to global energy markets caused by the conflict in the Middle East has triggered an unexpected resurgence in coal demand, as energy security fears outweigh Climate Crisis commitments. Coal prices and consumption both rose following disruptions to natural gas supplies from the Gulf, r»»»

The EU has effectively separated the accession trajectories of Ukraine and Moldova, with each country now expected to advance towards membership at its own pace after the opening of the first negotiating cluster, reported European Pravda. The shift reflects a more explicitly “merit-based” approach »»»

Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, is shown in his mugshot on Sept. 12, 2025. The prosecutor in his case was found to be in contempt of court Friday for speaking to the press. UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- The Utah prosecutor in the case against Tyler Robinson for the alleged murder of conservativ»»»

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela: More than 50,000 people were missing Friday after twin earthquakes in Venezuela, the United Nations' aid chief told AFP as international rescue teams and sniffer dogs arrived to join a desperate search for survivors. Interim president Delcy Rodriguez said the death toll was no»»»

TOKYO: Japan believe they can shock Brazil in the World Cup round of 32, and former coach Philippe Troussier thinks it would be a fitting reward for their progress as a football nation. Frenchman Troussier led Japan when they co-hosted the World Cup with South Korea in 2002 and took them to the las»»»

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled the Dominican Republic on Friday. Hours after, another 5.2 earthquake struck western Nicaragua, capping a week marked by intense seismic activity across several countries. File Photo by Stringer/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rattled the Dominican»»»

US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to slap a 100 percent tariff on European countries that impose a digital services tax, adding that existing trade deals would be scrapped. "Any Country that imposes such a Tax will immediately be met with a 100% TARIFF on any and all Goods sent to the »»»

No matter how hard Trump may pressure it, saying that Syria can take care of Lebanon is "a big fantasy that has nothing to do with reality," veteran war correspondent and political analyst Elijah J. Magnier tells Sputnik. Syria's military lacks the means to wage war against Hezbollah, as Syrian ars»»»

Jonathan Rinderknecht pleaded not guilty to three charges related to the setting of the Palisades Fire in 2025. File Photo courtesy of Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- A federal judge declared a mistrial Friday after a jury said it couldn't reach a verdict»»»

MOSCOW: ‌The Kremlin said on Friday it would look into a viral video appeal to President Vladimir Putin by a military veteran accusing Russian commanders in Ukraine of torturing and murdering soldiers for not fulfilling “suicidal orders.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin had not yet seen th»»»

China's Citic tower stands in Beijing in May. A small plane crashed into the tower on Friday. File Pool Photo by Maxim Shemetov/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- A small plane crashed into the tallest building in Beijing Friday, social media video and eyewitness reports have shown. The Chinese government hasn't»»»

DURBAN: Thousands of Malawian migrants queued for processing at a makeshift camp in the South African city of Durban this week while hundreds of Zimbabweans slept on the pavement outside their consulate in Cape Town. All had the same goal: to leave South Africa before nationwide anti-immigrant prot»»»

In Brief Mongolia’s dependence on Russian fuel gives it short-term supply stability but leaves it structurally exposed. Russia’s temporary petrol export ban spared Mongolia through bilateral arrangements, underscoring the strength of the relationship while revealing the risks of relying on Moscow. »»»

CASABLANCA: A Moroccan court handed prison sentences to 29 people, including prominent politicians and sports and business figures, in an international drug trafficking and corruption scandal that has rocked the country. The court also ordered the defendants to pay hundreds of millions of dollars i»»»

Oslo: From oil workers to healthcare staff, even children in daycare, all of Norway is getting in on a viral trend to support their team in the World Cup: pretending to row aboard a longship, flags in hand. The "Viking row" draws on old Norwegian rowing traditions tied to life around fjords, lakes »»»

GREENBELT, United States: Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty on Friday to illegally retaining classified information, sealing a deal with federal prosecutors that could allow him to avoid a prison term. Bolton, who became an outspoken critic of Presiden»»»

John Bolton, a former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump who has since become one of his most vocal critics, pleaded guilty Friday to withholding classified documents related to national defence. Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton pleaded guilty on»»»

GENEVA: The United Nations on Friday demanded independent investigations into dozens of deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since last year — and swift action to prevent more people from dying. At least 52 deaths have been reported in ICE holding facilities since the star»»»

Informal employment in Argentina rose to 44.2% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching its highest level since official records began in 2023. File Photo by David Fernández/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- Informal employment in Argentina rose to 44.2% during the first quarter of 2026, reaching its highest »»»

Tensions in the Kremlin are rising as the economy tanks and trust in the president is starting to wane. There is a growing consensus it’s high time to end the war in Ukraine. Two factions have appeared and are vying for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attention: the doves that want to freeze the»»»

The Central European University (CEU) could once again offer degree programmes in Budapest, nearly eight years after relocating its US-accredited courses to Vienna. University representatives say CEU is preparing to become a dual-campus institution, with accredited programmes operating in both Aust»»»

GENEVA: Dozens of NGOs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, called Friday for international action to avert looming “atrocities” in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid. In an open letter addressed to member and observer states to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the 38 NGOs ur»»»

LONDON: As governments move to tighten rules around children’s access to social media, Saudi users appear to be sending a different message: not rejection, but growing caution, selectiveness and a demand for stronger guardrails. In the Arab world, the discussion has become more visible following re»»»

Florida has shut down a controversial immigration detention center dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ after it processed around 21,000 deportations, Governor Ron DeSantis has announced. The makeshift facility was hailed by the administration of US President Donald Trump but condemned by civil rights group»»»

There is an experience every NRI knows by heart. You land in India after years, clear the terminal faster than you expected and step into a country that is somehow not quite the one you left. The airport is more tech-enabled, the billboards flashing past are increasingly aspirational. By the time y»»»

In Brief Mongolia’s dependence on Russian fuel gives it short-term supply stability but leaves it structurally exposed. Russia’s temporary petrol export ban spared Mongolia through bilateral arrangements, underscoring the strength of the relationship while revealing the risks of relying on Moscow. »»»

The Russian government has been hit by a double whammy, forced to boost crude exports just as prices tumble following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, due to sustained Ukrainian drone strikes on key facilities reducing its refining throughput. Russia is exporting crude oil at its fastest pace»»»

"Over the past 24 hours, there was a strike on the design and engineering division, as well as the destruction of private vehicles, including a periodic strike on the transport workshop, and the destruction of official vehicles," Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev sa»»»

JEDDAH: Rosie Stancer has completed her 2,000 km crossing with camels through the length of the Kingdom — from the southwest to northwest — in 69 days, entirely on foot. The British polar and endurance explorer chose this route as the setting for her most ambitious expedition to date, leading her a»»»

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was sentenced to life in prison for driving into a German Christmas market and killing 6 people. Pool Photo Filip Singer/EPA June 26 (UPI) -- The man convicted of driving his car into a German Christmas market killing six people and injuring more than 300 was sentenced to life »»»

Rossiya Segodnya intends to set up a Pakistani editorial center, expand its nationwide correspondent network, and roll out Urdu-language social media channels, Director-General Dmitry Kiselev said. Coverage is expected to focus on foreign policy issues and domestic developments.The organization als»»»

Dubai: A small aircraft crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday, damaging the upper floors of one of China's most recognisable landmarks and prompting a major security response in the heart of the capital. The aircraft, described by witnesses as roughly the size of a car, slammed into t»»»

Violations of European Union restrictive measures, as well as attempts to circumvent them, would become serious criminal offences punishable by imprisonment, substantial fines and, where applicable, deprivation of certain rights, under amendments to the Penal Code proposed by the Justice Ministry a»»»

The Cabinet is calling off all "outrageous public procurements" and a crash barrier contract for some EUR 500 million is among them, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told journalists on Friday, taking an opportunity to attack his predecessors. "We are ending all outrageous public procurements, we are end»»»

Venezuela's health minister says 235 deaths have been recorded and tens of thousands are still missing after two powerful earthquakes hit on June 24. Emergency workers are still trying to search through the rubble. Rescue teams are coming in from round the world and the US says it is sending milita»»»

LOS ANGELES, USA: A mouthwatering duel between in-form goalscorers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will take center stage at the World Cup on Friday as France face Norway in a crucial Group I decider. Real Madrid star Mbappe and Manchester City striker Haaland have started the tournament in bliste»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated suggestions that Syria’s new leader, Ahmad Sharaa, can better curb Iran-backed Hezbollah than Israel have alarmed Lebanon and Syria. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 26 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated suggestion»»»

National Park Service workers use vacuum pumps to clean algae off the bottom of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. A court filing alleges that vandals cut the pool's lining with a sharp knife. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License »»»

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rumen Radev has drawn political attention after comparing the roles of the Bulgarian Patriarch and Russia’s Patriarch Kirill, in remarks that sparked a broader debate about religion, sanctions, and foreign policy. The comments were made following earlier statements from Ra»»»

Vaccination against chickenpox (varicella) will become mandatory in Bulgaria from July 2026, according to the country's immunization ordinance published in the State Gazette in January. The vaccine will be provided free of charge. A total of 14,570 cases of chickenpox have been registered in Bulgar»»»

As Keir Starmer prepares to leave the UK’s highest office after less than two years, the media has lined up to explain why he failed to deliver on the enormous hype he received as opposition leader, and during his initial months in office. A repeated trope has been that Starmer was a “decent man,” »»»