Belgian driver convicted of murder over carnival crash
Brussels, Belgium: A Belgian driver was convicted on Friday of murdering seven people by ploughing his car into a carnival procession while filming himself at the wheel. Paolo Falzone, 38, is due to be sentenced next week over the fatal March 2022 crash in the southern town of La Louviere. He faces»»»
Garmin expands ECG App to customers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Olathe, Kansas: Garmin (NYSE: GRMN) today announced the ECG App is now available to customers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with a compatible Garmin smartwatch, including fēnix 8, Venu 4, Forerunner 970 and more. The ECG App allows users to record their heart rhythm and check for sig»»»
Kennedy Center board appeals removing Trump's name - UPI.com
The board of trustees at the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., said it wants to pause efforts to remove Trump's name from the facility while the case concerning its naming plays out in higher courts. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo J»»»
Putin makes a rare call for a rate cut
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare call for the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) to cut interest rates on June 11 for the first time since the Central Bank’s benchmark rate moved into double digits two years ago. As the economy slows and inflation continues to fall, the Russian president made»»»
Illicit gold networks fuelling conflict, organised crime across Africa and global south, GI-TOC warns
Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»
Illicit gold networks fuelling conflict, organised crime across Africa and global south, GI-TOC warns
Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»
Musk vows to reach Mars as SpaceX makes biggest-ever Wall Street debut
Elon Musk on Friday promised to take humanity to Mars as his SpaceX company began its first day of trading on Wall Street with expectations of a $12 trillion valuation blockbuster. Elon Musk's SpaceX began its first day as a public company on Wall Street Friday after the biggest initial public offe»»»
Morocco sentences 18 people over Gen Z protests
RABAT: Morocco handed prison terms to more than a dozen people arrested during youth-led protests last year, after convicting them of obstructing traffic, their lawyers said on Friday. The Gen Z movement, which took the usually stable kingdom by surprise in late September 2025, demanded sweeping re»»»
Trump to celebrate 80th birthday with cage fight on White House lawn
US President Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday with a characteristically unique event: a $60 million UFC match will see bare-knuckle fighters battle it out in a mesh-framed cage on the White House's famed South Lawn. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the »»»
Tornadoes, storms damage homes in the midwest, 1 dead - UPI.com
One man was killed as tornadoes touched down accross the midwest. Image courtesy of UPI June 12 (UPI) -- Multiple tornadoes caused severe damage across several midwestern states Thursday evening. A 54-year-old man was killed in a homeless encampment in a park Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa, after he»»»
South Korea sentences ex-president Yoon to 30 years over North Korea drone incident
South Korea on Friday sentenced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for sending military drones into North Korea in 2024 in a bid to "heighten inter-Korean military tensions and manufacture a national crisis" enabling him to declare martial law. Yeol was in February given a life i»»»
Kazakhstan’s ruling party announces merger with pro-Tokayev upstart
ASTANA: Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party said on Friday it is merging itself into a party created earlier this year by allies of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ahead of parliamentary elections expected in August. At its congress in Astana, Amanat said it would become part of the Adilet, or “Justi»»»
Somaliland says it has a right to choose its relationships as it opens new Taiwan office
TAIPEI: Somaliland has a right to choose its own relationships and pressure tactics from Beijing and Mogadishu have not succeeded in altering its friendship with Taipei, its top diplomat in Taiwan said on Friday at the opening of a new office. Strategically situated on the Horn of Africa, Somalilan»»»
Prime Minister Radev: Bulgaria and Turkey Share a Common Interest in Expanding Regional Connectivity
Rumen Radev stated that Bulgaria and Turkey share a common interest in expanding transport, energy, and digital connectivity, which is of strategic importance for the entire region. He made the remarks to journalists at the National Assembly of Bulgaria following his participation in parliamentary »»»
US plans major NATO drawdown as Trump shifts focus from Europe
The United States is planning a significant reduction in the military assets it makes available for NATO operations in Europe, a move that could reshape the alliance’s defence posture and accelerate Washington’s push for European countries to shoulder more of their own security burden. According to»»»
Salam slams Iran 'unprecedented' grip on Hezbollah after Nasrallah killing
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam sharply criticized Tehran's intentions toward Lebanon, stating that its insistence on including the country in any ceasefire deal was calculated to signal to the world that ultimate decision-making power over Lebanon rests exclusively in Iranian hands. It is glaringly obv»»»
F1 sensation Antonelli has teammate Russell against the wall heading into Barcelona
MONTMELO: This was supposed to be George Russell ‘s chance to shoot for the Formula 1 title. Coming into the season as Mercedes’s presumptive lead driver, with his team producing the best car after a rulebook overhaul, Russell looked perfectly positioned to compete for the world championship after »»»
UK PM Starmer says he has not lost authority, will fight to stay in job
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday rejected the idea that he had lost authority in his role, and said he would fight to keep his job, adding that anyone who wanted to replace him would have to deal with the same financial constraints. The comments come a day after defense minist»»»
Saudi Arabia, Indonesia in talks to deepen tourism cooperation
JAKARTA: Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are looking to further their tourism cooperation following a ministerial meeting, with Jakarta preparing to attract more tourists from the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is one of the main markets for Indonesia’s tourism sector, with more than 156,000 Saudi travelers visi»»»
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, second in line to Thai throne, dies aged 47 - UPI.com
Princess Bajrakitiyabha of Thailand, the eldest child of King Vajiralongkorn, died on Thursday after three years in a coma caused by a severe heart condition. She was 47. File Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA June 12 (UPI) -- Thai Princess Bajrakitiyabha, the eldest child of King Vajiralongkorn, died i»»»
Education Minister: School Curriculum Reform Could Be Completed by End-2027
A procedure to revise Bulgaria's school curricula is already under way, and the Ministry of Education and Science will seek to complete the process by the end of 2027 instead of the currently projected 2029 timeline, Education and Science Minister Georgi Valchev told journalists in Stara Zagora, So»»»
Polish officials urge Ukrainian city to drop street name honoring nationalist leader
Polish officials from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party have urged the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia to rename a street honoring Stepan Bandera, the nationalist leader whose movement was responsible for the massacre of more than 100,000 Poles during World War II. Relations between Poland and Ukr»»»
Snakes, scorpions, frogs: Dubai Customs uncovers 223 live animals in abandoned suitcase
Dubai Customs has foiled an attempt to smuggle 223 live animals, including lizards, scorpions, snakes and frogs, concealed inside an unclaimed suitcase at Dubai International Airport, in a major operation highlighting efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. The seizure was carried out as part of on»»»
Corruption Pressure in Bulgaria Reaches 41%, Experts Call for Stronger Safeguards Against State Capture
Experts discussed various forms of corruption and put forward recommendations for countering them at a public discussion in Sofia organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) in connection with the presentation of its latest report, "Safeguarding the Foundations: Strengthening Instituti»»»
Media Review: June 12
OVERVIEW No single topic dominates Friday’s media. POLITICS Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov in an interview for Bulgarian National Television’s morning programme said that ammunition or weaponry cannot be provided if doing so would violate the law and reduce stocks below the required minimum leve»»»
Saudi football enthusiasts flock to football merchandise shops
JEDDAH: With the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, excitement is building among football fans around the globe, as jersey shops across the Kingdom are witnessing a surge in demand as fans flock to stores to buy jerseys of their favourite teams. A visit by Arab News to Jeddah’s sports market present»»»
Marsch says wanted 'responsibility' of leading Canada in home World Cup
Toronto, Canada: Canada coach Jesse Marsch said Thursday the chance to lead the team in a World Cup on home soil was the reason he took the job, hours before the co-hosts' opening match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. "If you do this for a living this is where you want to be," the American told reporte»»»
Drive recklessly in Dubai? Your car could be gone for 60 days
Dubai: A viral video showing a young woman driving on a public road while her female passenger sat on the vehicle’s door in a dangerous position to take photos has prompted Dubai Police to issue a strong warning against reckless and life-threatening traffic behaviour. The act, which placed both occ»»»
Fight against HIV 'in peril' due to aid cuts, UN warns
Paris, France: Massive cuts to international aid have put the world's response to HIV "in peril", the UN's top AIDS official warned Friday, as a new report revealed the scale of disruption to HIV prevention efforts. Last year, the new administration of US President Donald Trump --- with help from t»»»
Brussels to ban rental e-scooters after spike in accidents
Brussels, Belgium: For-hire electric scooters will be banned in Brussels starting next year, authorities in the Belgian capital said, citing safety concerns. The decision makes the city the latest to crack down on the app-rented two-wheelers, with Paris, Madrid, and Prague having taken similar meas»»»
EIB governors endorse strategy to expand investment in energy, technology, and defence
The Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB), comprised of European Union Finance Ministers, endorsed the Bank’s strategy to deliver on shared policy priorities, with increased financing and risk appetite, deploying its full potential to mobilise investments for energy autonomy, tec»»»
Iranian woman among migrants deported from the US to the Central African Republic
BANGUI: An Iranian woman is among around two dozens migrants set to arrive Friday in the Central African Republic on a deportation flight from the United States, lawyers said, in the latest example of the Trump administration’s widely criticized deals with African and Latin American nations to take»»»
Death toll from Pakistan-administered Kashmir protest clashes rises to 20: AFP tally
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan: The death toll from clashes between police and members of a banned protest movement in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has risen to 20, according to an AFP tally on Friday based on official figures. Supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), an anti-government move»»»
European envoys seek Moscow talks after London summit demands on Ukraine
The ambassadors of France, Germany and the UK have requested a meeting with Russia’s foreign ministry following an E3 London summit at which the three European leaders issued a five-point list of demands aimed at persuading Moscow to begin ceasefire negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Russian For»»»
Prime Minister Says Georgi Kandev Cited Only Personal Reasons for Resigning as Interior Ministry Acting Secretary General
Former acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev cited only personal reasons for his resignation, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Friday, adding that no professional motives were presented. Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Radev said he had met Kandev after learning of his r»»»
BTS to launch Busan shows for 'Arirang' world tour - UPI.com
Fans stand in front of a photo of BTS member J-Hope near Busan Asiad Main Stadium, where the K-pop band will kick off the Busan leg of their "Arirang" world tour on Friday. Photo by Yonhap K-pop supergroup BTS will begin the Busan leg of its "Arirang" world tour Friday, returning to the southern So»»»
Al-Manar correspondent reports constant buzz of Israeli drones over Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent reports constant buzz of Israeli drones over Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) 12-06-2026 12:41 PM Latest News Urge»»»
India summons top US diplomat for second time over deadly strike on vessels off Oman - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe India summons top US diplomat for second time over deadly strike on vessels off Oman 12-06-2026 12:39 PM Latest News Urgent News India summ»»»
Seoul stocks spike over 4 pct to settle again in 8,000 territory on hopes for end to Mideast crisis - UPI.com
This photo, taken Friday, shows the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul as South Korean stocks spiked more than 4 percent amid hopes the war between the United States and Iran could end soon. Photo by Yonhap Seoul stocks rose by more than 4 percent Friday, as investors snapped up tech heavyweights a»»»
Drive recklessly in Dubai? Your car could be gone for 60 days
Dubai: Dubai Police has issued a fresh warning to motorists against reckless driving, stressing that offenders face a Dh2,000 fine, 23 black points and vehicle impoundment for 60 days for endangering their lives and the safety of others on the road. The force said the campaign is part of ongoing ef»»»
How Orbán misread Hungary: inside the campaign collapse that handed Tisza a two‑thirds victory (60 days post-election)
Sixty days after Hungary’s election, the new Tisza government has launched an ambitious anti-corruption programme aimed at unlocking EU funds and exposing hidden wealth, while the defeated Fidesz movement struggles to come to terms with an unexpected loss. Simultaneously, battles over state institu»»»
Former S. Korean President Yoon sentenced to 30 years in drone case - UPI.com
A Seoul court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison for his involvement in sending military drones into North Korea as a pretext for declaring a state of emergency. Yoon is seen here at a September 2025 hearing, File Pool Photo by Yonhap/EPA SEOUL, June 12 (UPI) -- A Seoul »»»
Bulgaria Begins Implementing New EU Migration and Asylum Rules
Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees (SAR) is ready to implement the requirements of the European Union's Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force on Friday, SAR Chair Ivan Ivanov said, as quoted by the agency's press office. Ivanov explained that the pact introduces a border procedur»»»
Trump cancels planned Iran strikes, claims regional deal is near
US President Donald Trump has cancelled planned strikes on Iran, saying talks with the Islamic Republic are moving forward with the country’s top leadership. The announcement came just hours after he again threatened to hit Iran “very hard.” Tensions between Washington and Tehran have surged in rec»»»
Vinicius-Hakimi duel headlines Brazil-Morocco clash
Doha, Qatar: When Brazil and Morocco meet in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the early of Sunday, the spotlight will naturally fall on the two faces of a new footballing era for their respective nations. On one side is Vinicius Junior, Brazil’s electrifying winger and the face of »»»
Will World Cup 2026 crown a new all-time top scorer?
Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup 2026 is already guaranteed to be unlike any previous edition of football’s biggest tournament. With a record 48 participating teams, 104 matches, three host nations and an expanded knockout stage, the tournament will rewrite several chapters of World Cup history. Yet»»»
Saudi Arabia’s POS spending remains above $3.5bn mark on construction gains
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale transaction value remained above $3.5 billion in the week ending June 6, driven by increased spending in the transport, construction, and eduction sectors, official data showed. According to the latest report by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, total »»»
Trump to celebrate 80th birthday with White House cage fight
Washington: It's the ultimate symbol of American politics under Donald Trump - a blood-soaked cage match on the lawn of the White House for the US president's 80th birthday. A giant arena dubbed "The Claw" has been built on the famed South Lawn for Sunday's tournament featuring 14 Ultimate Fighting»»»
Ukraine hits fuel supplies to Crimea, sparking a fuel crisis on the Russian-held peninsula
Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries, depots and pipelines. Tanker trucks attacked and left ablaze along the land corridor from Russia to Crimea. Motorists waiting in long lines at gas stations. In a new blow to the Kremlin’s narrative that Moscow is winning the 4-year-old war in Ukraine, Kyiv’s f»»»