Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is hoping to emerge triumphant from a key local election Thursday that could propel the popular Labour party veteran to the UK premiership. Several figures within the centre-left party are positioning themselves to challenge the deeply unpopular Prime Mini»»»

Geneva: The State of Qatar affirmed that safeguarding human dignity constitutes a fundamental principle of its health policies, based on its firm belief that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is a right guaranteed to everyone without discrimination. This»»»

DUBAI: Robert Tsitaishvili is the head chef of Qartuli, a Georgian restaurant in Downtown Dubai, where his goal, he says, is “to reinterpret Georgian culinary heritage for a contemporary audience.” Tsitaishvili has more than 12 years of experience spanning hotels and restaurants across Georgia and »»»

Uzbekistan is booming. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev rattled off an impressive string of successes in his keynote speech at the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) on June 17 to a hall packed with business partners, regional dignitaries and foreign investors who have come to se»»»

Brasov and Cluj-Napoca remain Romania's top two most attractive cities to live in, while Constanta climbed to third place, according to the 2026 Urban Attractiveness Index compiled by the Institute for Visionary Cities (IOV).The top 10 is rounded out by Timisoara, Sibiu, Oradea, Iasi, Bucharest, Al»»»

According to the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on the TopUniversities platform, five universities from Kyrgyzstan have been included in the world’s top 1,500 universities. The highest-ranked educational institution from the country is the American University of Central Asia, placed i»»»

People celebrate at the Umayyad Mosque following the collapse of the 61-year-long Baath regime in Syria and the end of the Assad family's rule in Damascus, Syria, on December 13, 2024. On Wednesday, a U.S. Senate committee advanced legislation to end Assad-era sanctions imposed on Syria. File Photo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar are confident of continuing their encouraging start at the World Cup as they face co-hosts Canada in an intriguing Group B clash in Vancouver. The match kicks off at BC Place Vancouver Stadium early Friday (1am Qatar time), with Switzerland taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina three »»»

It feels like a long time since the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Türkiye defeated the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the 2024 local elections, triggering a domestic political shockwave. Ever since, it has faced turbulence, with its leaders either deposed or imprisoned. Özgür»»»

During a session of the Zhogorku Kenesh, Speaker Marlen Mamataliev commented on developments related to the so-called «Letter of 75». According to him, a commission was immediately established after the letter became public, which conducted an internal investigation. «We established the entire proc»»»

Finland has lifted a long-standing ban on nuclear weapons, allowing them to be transported through or held on its territory. The Finnish parliament claims the move will “strengthen the security” of the country, but opponents say it makes Finland “a target for nuclear strikes.” Finland’s parliament »»»

Kamchybek Tashiev did not respond to journalists’ questions regarding the leak of a video of his interrogation ahead of a court hearing of the so-called «Case of 75.» Media representatives asked the former head of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) whether he knew how the video of inv»»»

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (DPSU) has confirmed that ammunition contracts worth 23 billion hryvnia — more than 1.8 billion zloty — with Polish supplier PHU Lechmar were executed in full, at prices among the lowest available on the market. DPSU spokesman Andrij Demczenko told Interfax-Ukra»»»

A new EY forecast warns that global tensions, especially the Middle East conflict, will slow eurozone growth to just 0.5 percent in 2026 before a gradual recovery. Poland is expected to keep outpacing its neighbours, with 2026 GDP growth projected at 3.6 percent on the back of strong domestic deman»»»

The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors has discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Poland covering 2026 to 2031, designed to help the country build a more innovative, competitive economy, mobilise private investment, create better jobs and navigate its next stage of eco»»»

Poland's defense minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and Germany's Boris Pistorius signed a new bilateral defense cooperation agreement in Warsaw on June 17, replacing a framework deal from 2011. The timing was deliberate: the signing fell on the 35th anniversary of the Polish-German Treaty of Good »»»

Washington, United States: US President Donald Trump and Iran's president signed a deal Wednesday, June 17, 2026, meant to end the Middle East war, with Tehran agreeing to dilute its enriched uranium in return for large-scale economic relief. Trump put his signature to the memorandum of understandi»»»

The Bavarian Administrative Court of Appeal has given the local office of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency the green light to continue surveilling the state chapter of Alternative for Germany (AfD). The right-wing opposition party has consistently polled ahead of its mainstream rivals nationw»»»

Lawmakers in the Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyzstan introduced a bill that would allow parents to give their children double surnames at birth registration. The proposed amendments would be made to the law on civil status acts. The initiative was introduced by MPs Dastan Bekeshev, Seid Atambayev, Bolot »»»

The US should avoid any interference in Brazil’s upcoming presidential race, Brazilian President Lula da Silva stated during the G7+ meeting in France. "Now, don’t meddle in the Brazilian elections, because the Brazilian elections are a Brazilian problem, just as American elections are their busine»»»

Euro news reported that London’s murder rate has surpassed New York for the first time after a man in his twenties was attacked and stabbed to death after leaving a bar in the southern borough of Wandsworth on Sunday. Attacks reveal a worrying trend. According to a report from Britain’s Sunday Time»»»

Dubai: As the UAE's summer break approaches and schools across the country prepare for the 2026–27 academic year, leading education providers are in the thick of teacher recruitment and many have already secured the bulk of their hires. With international schools following the British, American, an»»»

Central Asia used to be thought of as sitting at the “navel of the world,” about as far away from everywhere as it was possible to be. Today that perception has changed as once again the region finds itself at the centre of things and a key link between east and west. Uzbekistan is the most populou»»»

Cuba's former president Raul Castro on Wednesday backed sweeping economic reforms proposed by the government to revive the crisis-hit economy amid a longstanding US embargo. The measures would expand private investment, attract capital from Cubans abroad and reduce the state's role, with lawmakers »»»

State Republicans on Wednesday rejected Gov. Brian Kemp's call to consider redrawing the state's district maps. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Georgia Republicans on Wednesday rejected GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional and legislative maps amid a wid»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah: Sharjah Charity International has launched an appeal to donors and philanthropists to help complete the funding for a Dh2.1 million integrated charitable village in the Southern Region of Zamboanga in the Republic of the Philippines , a project designed to provide housing, educati»»»

DAMASCUS: Syrian security forces have arrested 10 remnants of the deposed Assad regime in a series of operations across the country, the latest in an ongoing campaign reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) to pursue former officials accused of crimes and abuses committed during the former g»»»

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Wednesday as Russia seeks to bolster business and other ties with the nations of the regional bloc. The two-day meeting, being held in Kazan, is set to consider ways to expand Russia’s “strategic partne»»»

BERLIN: Bilal Kreidi, a 16-year-old Syrian student based in Germany, has won first place nationally in the Mathematical Kangaroo, one of the world's largest mathematics competitions, which drew more than 881,000 students from over 12,600 schools across the country. The achievement did not stop at t»»»

Dubai: UAE travellers are increasingly looking beyond popular social media destinations and seeking new experiences this summer, with flexibility and personalisation becoming bigger factors in holiday planning. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.According to recent resear»»»

PARIS: Donald Trump explained the appeal in one sentence: “Versailles is not gold leaf — Versailles is the real deal.” For Emmanuel Macron, that was precisely the point. On Wednesday night, the French president threw open Louis XIV’s palace to his US counterpart for a private reception, show and di»»»

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jamaica is in discussions with the United States to accept third-country deportees, a move that would add the island nation to a growing number of Caribbean countries working with the Trump administration on its immigration agenda. Jamaica's National Security Minister Dr. Horace »»»

Tribune News Network Vancouver Upbeat Qatar will look to build on their opening day resilience when they face Canada in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B tie at BC Place on Thursday (Friday 1am Doha Time). Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui’s side showed character in their 1-1 draw with Switzerland, sta»»»

An image grab taken from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV shows Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivering a speech in 2024. On Wednesday, Qassem said negotiations with Israel should be limited to "mutual security." Photo by Al-Manar TV/UPI | License Photo BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 17 (UPI) -- Hezbollah lea»»»

Supporters of Hezbollah hang a banner depicting portraits of late Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah (R) and Hashem Safieddine in a partially damaged building targeted by an Israeli strike, during the first day of Ashura in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday. Israel and Lebanon have»»»

Nigel Farage’s recent Substack post lays bare the reality of Britain’s “two-tier” system, where native white Britons face systemic disadvantages in policing, housing, employment, and justice while ethnic minorities receive preferential treatment under the guise of “equality.” This is not an aberrat»»»

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has published a lengthy personal manifesto on his Substack this week. Farage is not noted for making detailed policy pronouncements, and his long-winded writeup provides an interesting insight into Reform’s policy agenda – revealing, as it does, both its intel»»»

Supporters of Hezbollah hang a banner depicting portraits of late Hezbollah leaders Hassan Nasrallah (R) and Hashem Safieddine in a partially damaged building targeted by an Israeli strike, during the first day of Ashura in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday. Israel and Lebanon have»»»

KANSAS CITY: Lionel Messi savored a “beautiful moment” after becoming the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer on Tuesday but said, “ultimately, it is just a statistic, nothing more.” The 38-year-old Argentina captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brillia»»»

The 2025 Türkiye Report adopted today (17 June) at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament (EP) contains flawed assessments based on misinformation and unfounded claims by anti-Türkiye circles. It is clear that the report, which appears to be drafted as part of a deliberate political agenda,»»»

Brazil's Supreme Federal Court convicted former federal lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison for coercion during judicial proceedings. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Brazil's Sup»»»

DOHA: beIN MEDIA GROUP (“beIN”), the global sports, entertainment and media group, today announced the renewal of its long-standing partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club, securing its exclusive broadcast rights to The Championships, Wimbledon across 24 territories in the Middle East and»»»

US President Donald Trump has signaled that Washington will refocus on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict after peace talks were put on hold by the crisis in the Middle East. The prospect of renewed US engagement has reportedly unsettled EU officials, who fear the bloc could once again be s»»»

Online shopping cart: What do Romanians prefer? In 2025 alone, 10 million items were ordered through auchan.ro. Among the most sought-after products are water, bananas, soft drinks, and coffee beans. Additionally, in the private label category, Auchan croissants rank among consumers’ top preference»»»

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Central, East and Southeast Europe grew in 2025, but gains were concentrated in just a handful of economies, a report from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) showed. Across the region, FDI rose from around €75bn in 2024 to just over €»»»

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Central, East and Southeast Europe grew in 2025, but gains were concentrated in just a handful of economies, a report from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) showed. Across the region, FDI rose from around €75bn in 2024 to just over €»»»

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Central, East and Southeast Europe grew in 2025, but gains were concentrated in just a handful of economies, a report from the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) showed. Across the region, FDI rose from around €75bn in 2024 to just over €»»»

Tehran's foreign ministry on Wednesday said it was considering a plan for the presidents of the U.S. and Iran to sign the deal ending the Middle East war, ahead of the expected ceremony in Switzerland. "So far, our plans for the Geneva meeting have not changed," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei sa»»»

Israel has accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of anti-Semitism after he compared its actions in Gaza to the horrors of the Holocaust. In a recent interview with Al Arabiya, Lukashenko condemned Israel’s destruction of Gaza and said West Jerusalem should be more careful, given the lev»»»

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 »»»