Argentina bets on citizenship-by-investment program - UPI.com
Argentina is preparing to launch South America's first citizenship-by-investment program. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Argentina is preparing to launch South America's first citizenship-by-investment program, an initiative that would allow foreign nationals to app»»»
Slim Laghmani elected judge at International Tribunal for Law of the Sea
Tunis, June 18 (TAP) - Professor Slim Laghmani has been elected judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for the 2026–2035 term during elections held at UN headquarters in New York as part of the 36th Meeting of States Parties to...»»»
US dollar surge breaks off forint's wings
The Hungarian forint came under pressure on Thursday as a powerful rally of the US dollar swept through global currency markets following the US Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting. Hungarian currency weakens against both the US dollar and the euro While investors continue to monitor geopolitic»»»
Supreme Court blocks prosecution of man who owned a gun, used cannabis - UPI.com
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a Texas man can't be prosecuted for being a regular user of marijuana and owning a gun. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court said Thursday that a Texas man can't be prosecuted under a law that bans regular use»»»
Bernie Sanders pitches $1,000 payments to public from 50% stake in AI - UPI.com
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced legislation Thursday that would give the public $1,000 annually for a 50% stake in the largest AI firms in the country. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced legislation Thursday that would give the»»»
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Says He Will Hold Talks with Ukraine's President in Brussels
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Council meeting. Radev arrived in Brussels to take part in the meeting of EU heads of state or government and spoke to Bulgarian journalists. Radev sai»»»
Kingdom prepared well for Iran crisis, asserts Saudi transport minister
ROME: Saudi Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said the contingency measures activated during the Iran crisis were the result of years of planning, and not reactive. “What we have been doing is not a reaction to what has happened,” Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said during a panel discussio»»»
Xi: I attach great significance to development of Sino-Serbian relations
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received on Thursday a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping in which the Chinese leader noted that he attached great significance to development of Sino-Serbian relations and that, during Vucic's recent visit to China, he had been impressed by the S»»»
Eight nations condemn escalating settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank
Doha The foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye have strongly condemned the continued and escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the»»»
NK leaders' sister slams G7 call for denuclearization, defends nuclear arms as 'means of self-defense' - UPI.com
On Thursday, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, denounced international calls for denuclearization, describing the country's nuclear weapons as its "core interests." File Photo Jorge Silva/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday »»»
Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru in November - UPI.com
Peruvian President José María Balcázar confirmed Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru during the first half of November. File Photo by Jose Sena Goulao/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- Peruvian President José María Balcázar confirmed Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru during the first half of N»»»
Hezbollah’s Raad Warns Lebanese Authorities against Engaging with Israeli Enemy against Resistance
Head of Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc, Hajj Mohammad Raad called on the Lebanese authorities to carefully read the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and draw out the facts and prospects that will weigh heavily on the reality of the region and the world, including Lebanon. MP Raad also »»»
Bulgaria resists Brussels’ new anti-Russian sanctions plan
The EU’s latest Russia sanctions package proposal includes counter-productive measures that could backfire on its own member states, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova has said. The government of Ukraine-skeptic Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who assumed office in May, are reportedly “diggin»»»
Egypt’s Emam Ashour tops Mbappe and Kane in World Cup shot-speed rankings
TORONTO: Egypt midfielder Emam Ashour scored the fastest goal in the first round of group-stage games at 2026 FIFA World Cup. Data captured by the “Connected Ball” technology inside the official Adidas tournament ball revealed that his strike against Belgium reached a speed of 123.4 kph, surpassing»»»
US allows more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting blockade under deal, Vance says
WASHINGTON: Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the »»»
UK relaxes travel advice for UAE and some other Gulf states after US-Iran deal
LONDON: Britain on Thursday said it was no longer advising against non-essential travel to some Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, after the United States and Iran reached an interim agreement this week to end their war. In late February and early March Britain ha»»»
Residents return to war-ravaged southern Lebanon with hope and sorrow after the US-Iran deal
TYRE, Lebanon: Adnan Kaour returned on Thursday to check on his home in southern Lebanon ‘s coastal city of Tyre — once known as an idyllic summer getaway spot — just a week after Israel issued warnings for all of its residents to evacuate. The warnings were followed by sweeping airstrikes on the c»»»
Neymar to miss Brazil's second World Cup game against Haiti
Morristown, United States: Neymar will not travel with the Brazil squad for Friday's second World Cup group game against Haiti as he continues his recovery from a calf injury. The 34-year-old has only returned to training with the national team this week and missed the five-time World Cup winners' »»»
Eight Arab, Islamic countries condemn escalating settler violence against Palestinians in Occupied West Bank
Doha, Qatar: The Foreign Ministers of the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Turkiye condemned in the strongest term the »»»
Indian Embassy, Consulate in UAE announce details of International Yoga Day events
Dubai/ Abu Dhabi: The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai have announced plans for two landmark events across the UAE to mark the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Sunday, 21 June 2026. The missions have announced mega events at iconic venues Louvre Abu Dhabi and the»»»
US-Iran agreement leaves Israelis 'in profound state of shock'
Israeli leaders are privately fuming about the US-Iran deal, seeing the initial agreement as a form of capitulation. This comes as a final blow to the increasingly fraying relationship between Netanyahu and Trump, previously thought thought to be iron-clad. FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky tells us mor»»»
Obama Presidential Center opens in Chicago - UPI.com
1 of 4 | Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama appear on stage as they surprised administration and campaign alumni in Chicago ahead of the dedication ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center, Wednesday. The center opens Thursday and will be open to the public beginnin»»»
Khorfakkan Mango Festival 2026: Eastern Region's premium local varieties, prize contests and agri-tourism showcase
A wide range of premium mango varieties grown in Sharjah's Eastern Region will take centre stage later this month at the fifth edition of Khorfakkan Mango Festival, an event aimed at promoting local agriculture, tourism and food security. The three-day festival, which will begin on June 26 at Expo »»»
Macron's 'Versailles diplomacy' yields mixed results after a decade in power
French President Emmanuel Macron courted his US counterpart Donald Trump at the G7 on Wednesday by opening the gilded gates of Versailles, a move that underscored his trademark blend of symbolism and diplomacy. While allies hailed the summit's success, analysts said Macron still faces the challenge»»»
Serbian construction permits up by 4.3 pct y-o-y in April
BELGRADE – A total 2,416 construction permits were issued in Serbia in April, which was a 4.3 pct increase relative to the same month of last year. According to figures released by the national statistical office RZS, 82.4 pct of the total permits were issued for buildings, while other structures m»»»
Air Arabia launches daily direct flights between Sharjah and Aleppo, expanding UAE-Syria air connectivity
Air Arabia will launch daily non-stop flights between Sharjah and the Syrian city of Aleppo from July 4, the low-cost carrier said on Thursday, expanding its operations in Syria and strengthening air links between the two countries. The new daily service will provide passengers with greater travel »»»
“Yes, I Will Veto”: Bulgaria’s PM Stuns Brussels With Threat to Block Russia Sanctions Over Patriarch Kirill
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has confirmed that the country will block new sanctions against Russia, linking the decision to objections over proposals that would include Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in the restrictive measures. He argued that the war in Ukraine has expanded far beyond »»»
Train derailed in Hungary while travelling below the speed limit
Rail services across several important routes in Hungary were severely disrupted on Thursday afternoon after a passenger train derailed near the town of Újszász. Although no one was injured in the incident, the accident has caused significant transport restrictions and prompted an immediate investi»»»
Russian income inequality highest since 2007
Russia’s income inequality reached its highest level since 2007 in 2025, with the official Gini coefficient rising to 0.422 from 0.410 in 2024, according to Kommersant daily citing Rosstat. As followed by IntelliNews, demographics and equality were main national goals in the economic platform prese»»»
Rio Tinto’s giant Mongolia copper mine blocked by protesters, exports halted
Protesters on June 17 blocked copper concentrate exports from Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) giant Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. The Anglo-Australian miner confirmed shipments were disrupted in a statement posted on Facebook. The demonstration was organised by the Radical Reform Movement. Mini»»»
Business - The startup betting on a European-made smartphone
With France's Emmanuel Macron and India's Narendra Modi championing the idea of tech sovereignty, French startup BeeAlp is trying to build a circular smartphone designed and manufactured in Europe. CEO Olivier Dufour joins FRANCE 24 to discuss the company's subscription model, Europe's industrial a»»»
Local and Central Executive Authorities Hold National Meeting, Seek Common Ground on Regional Development
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 »»»
Why the Philippines needs more free port zones — and a change of heart
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»»»
IIT Delhi climbs to 118th in QS World University Rankings 2027
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»»»
Darco Real Estate leadership meets Saudi ambassador to Russia in Moscow
On the sidelines of the MIPIF International Luxury Real Estate Exhibition in Moscow, and in conjunction with the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, one of the world’s largest economic forums, Adel Al-Mari, chairman of Darco Real Estate, and Dr. Omar Al-Qahtani, board member and chief exec»»»
Russian delegation visits General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security
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»»»
Syrian and Turkish military officials discuss greater defense cooperation
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»»»
Lebanon receives assurances from Syria on non-interference after Trump remarks, official says
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»»»
Israel issues demolition notices for 9 Palestinian homes near Hebron
LONDON: Israeli authorities issued demolition notices on Thursday for nine Palestinian homes in the town of Ash-Shuyukh, northeast of Hebron in the West Bank, that they said were built without permits. The houses, in the Qanan Nias area of the town, belong to the Abu Eid, Ayaydeh and Jabarin famili»»»
NASA’s High-Stakes Gamble vs. China’s Clockwork Advance in Race to Mars
NASA has tapped Relativity Space, a 3D-printing rocket startup led by former Google executive Eric Schmidt, to deliver the Aeolus Mars orbiter mission, targeting a launch in 2028. China's Tianwen-3 Mars sample-return mission is well on track for the same launch window.The contrast is striking: NASA»»»
Education Department moves civil rights to Justice Department and disabilities to HHS - UPI.com
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»»»
Bulgaria Faces Deepening Education Disparities, Minister Warns
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»»»
UK drops UAE travel warning — what travellers need to know
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»»»
UK, Norway warn of atrocities, imminent RSF escalation in Sudan’s Al-Obeid
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. »»»
EBRD Launches Tech Sofia Hub to Support Operations, Boost Digital Innovation in Bulgaria
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Vice President for Banking Matteo Patrone and Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Economy, Investments and Industry Minister Alexander Poulev opened EBRD's Tech Sofia technology hub on Thursday. EBRD Tech Sofia will support the institution's »»»
Austrian Tourists Get 70% More Value for Money in Bulgaria Than at Home, Bank Austria Says
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»»»
Greenland sees wildfires earlier in the year
Copenhagen: Greenland has recently been hit by localised wildfires, a rarity at this time of year that could be explained by global warming, a researcher at the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources said Thursday. "It is rare for such fires to occur as early as June, and it is reasonable to thin»»»
Qatar Foundation expands access to arts across Education City with new online space
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»»»
UN food agencies seek $202m to shield 8.8 million people from El Niño
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»»»
Fashion students showcase heritage-inspired collections in Riyadh
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»»»