The UK fire safety specialist is bringing its technology-enabled expertise to the market as the UAE continues to strengthen its building safety framework. FDI Consultancy Services has launched in Dubai, providing independent, expert fire safety and fire engineering consultancy services across the b»»»

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»»»

Dubai: UAE borrowers waiting for cheaper mortgages, car loans and business finance may have to wait longer after the Central Bank of the UAE kept its Base Rate unchanged at 3.65%. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The decision, announced on June 17, followed the US Feder»»»

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Qatar's constructive efforts and participation in facilitating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, which he said would enter into force immediately. Sharif confirmed in a statement that the presidents o»»»

AMMAN — The value of outgoing transfers from e-wallets in Jordan reached JD3.09 billion since the beginning of 2026, carried out through nearly 63.7 million transactions, according to a report by the Jordan Payments and Clearing Company (JoPACC).The report showed that transactions via the JoMoPay e»»»

AMMAN — The value of bounced cheques in Jordan increased to JD103.6 million in May, up from JD72.4 million in April, according to figures released by the Jordan Payments and Clearing Company (JoPACC).A total of 18,600 cheques were returned during the month. Of these, 6,190 cheques, representing 33.»»»

DUBAI: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan voiced cautious optimism over a newly reached memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran, aimed at ending the current conflict and opening the door to broader diplomatic progress in the region. Speaking at a session ho»»»

Dubai: The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, but borrowers hoping for relief received a clear warning after nearly half of policymakers signalled support for at least one rate hike later this year. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The decisi»»»

Today, June 18, a Group K match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place between the national teams of Uzbekistan and Colombia. The match was held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and was officiated by a refereeing team led by England’s Anthony Taylor. Colombia opened the scoring in the 40th minut»»»

Finland has lifted its ban on the import, storage, and deployment of nuclear weapons after parliament approved government-backed amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act. The amendments remove the existing prohibition on the transit of nuclear weapons through the country’s territory and also allow thei»»»

Over 240 million passengers are planned to be transported in Bishkek this year. Deputy Mayor Ramiz Aliev announced at a meeting of the Bishkek City Council’s Standing Commission on Housing and Public Utilities. He clarified that 248 million passengers are planned to be transported in 2026. Last yea»»»

Manila: After a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026, the first day back to school, something extraordinary emerged. It looked like the sea had "disappeared". Residents along parts of Sarangani and Davao Occidental in the southern Philippines now see beaches dramaticall»»»

Warsaw remains the undisputed centre of Poland's skyscraper boom, accounting for 74 percent of all high-rise buildings in the country, most of them offices, according to new figures from CBRE. While towers over 70 metres still make up just 2.5 percent of office stock across Poland's ten largest cit»»»

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 »»»

Elsewedy Electric Group has secured a significant engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract for the development of Hungary’s largest combined cycle power plant (CCPP). This landmark project, awarded by MVM Matra Energia Zrt., a subsidiary of the Hungarian Electric Company (MVM), sig»»»

In a powerful move to spotlight Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Awareness Month, Pfizer Egypt has teamed up with the National Council for Motherhood and Childhood and the Egyptian Society for Dermatology and Cosmetology to roll out the second edition of their impactful “Go Out into the World” campaign. »»»

Preparations for the 2026/2027 autumn-winter period continue at the Bishkek Heating and Power Plant (HPP). The press service of City Hall reported. According to the municipality, scheduled maintenance is being carried out to ensure reliable and uninterrupted heat and electricity supply for consumer»»»

Toronto, Canada: Ghana scored a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama in their opening World Cup Group L clash in Toronto on Wednesday. Caleb Yirenkyi bundled in the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sending thousands of Ghanaians in Canada's largest city into a frenzy and settling an o»»»

Mexico City: Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 on Wednesday thanks to an inspired performance from Luis Diaz at the Estadio Azteca in the Group K game. The Colombians went ahead when Daniel Munoz volleyed in Diaz's superb pass after 40 minutes but Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalized before»»»

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 »»»

As fuel prices at filling stations are expected to fall 10–15 forints below the protected price level later this week, the government decided at its Wednesday meeting to initiate amendments to the relevant legislation in Parliament and phase out the protected fuel price system, Prime Minister Péter»»»

Full-time employees’ average gross earnings were HUF 772,200 and average net earnings reached HUF 541,200 in April 2026. Average gross earnings grew by 9.0%, net average earnings increased by 11.2% and real earnings were 8.9% higher than a year earlier. The increase in net average earnings exceeded»»»

Finnish lawmakers voted to overturn a Cold War‑era ban on nuclear weapons, allowing NATO allies to import, transport and store nuclear devices on Finnish territory. Finland insists it has no plans to become a nuclear state itself – but the change allows NATO's nuclear deterrent to be deployed in th»»»

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»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s planned Gold Line is beginning to influence the investment case for some of the city’s busiest residential districts, with brokers and developers expecting the biggest lift in communities where property demand has grown faster than public transport access. Sign up for our daily busin»»»

Russia attacked Kyiv with missiles and Ukrainian drones hit Moscow’s refinery as both countries exchanged strikes hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with US President Donald Trump and European leaders. A Reuters witness heard explosions in Kyiv and authorities in the northeastern Ukrain»»»

SEOUL: South Korean police have questioned an executive of Starbucks operator Shinsegae in their investigation of a flopped promotional campaign that evoked a deadly 1980 crackdown, the group told AFP on Thursday. Starbucks Korea, which operates more than 2,000 stores nationwide under a licensing a»»»

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military announced on Thursday that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon the day before, in an incident that also wounded seven soldiers. Master Sergeant Alexander Filin, 29, “fell in combat,” the military said in a brief statement, adding that »»»

The memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States has been "digitally" signed by the presidents of both countries – the expected signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday will not take place, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated. "When the text is signed by the »»»

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»»»

A B-52 Stratofortress, similar to the one seen here, crashed Monday in California, killing eight people on board. U.S. Air Force officials identified the eight victims on Wednesday. File photo courtesy U.S. Air Force June 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Air Force officials identified Wednesday the eight crew memb»»»

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»»»

The Olympic Day sports event, originally scheduled for June 20, has been postponed indefinitely, the Bishkek City Hall announced. According to the municipality, the new date, time, and venue of the event will be announced later. The event was expected to include a run along Abdumomunov, Orozbekov, »»»

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan announces the launch of Electronic Consul mobile app. According to the ministry’s press service, the service was developed to improve the accessibility and efficiency of consular services for citizens of the country abroad, as well as for those planning»»»

Dubai: Commuters are facing another busy morning on Dubai's roads, with traffic building across key highways from Sharjah into the emirate as rush-hour volumes continue to rise, according to Google Maps. Motorists travelling from Sharjah towards Dubai are experiencing delays on Sheikh Zayed Road (E»»»

Speaker of the Zhogorku Kenesh, Marlen Mamataliev, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Kyrgyz Republic, Lesslie Viguerie, the parliament’s press service reported. During the meeting, the parties discussed issues related to strengthening bilateral re»»»

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»»»

Armenia's economy has entered a new phase following the establishment of peace with Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 16, linking stronger fiscal revenues, rising investment and demographic shifts to the 2025 peace process. He said the agreement reached last year marked a stru»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s environmental authorities and conservation bodies marked World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought on Wednesday by highlighting major achievements in land restoration, vegetation recovery and biodiversity protection, according to reports carried by the Saudi Press Agenc»»»

Based on the results of the 2026 Nationwide Testing, 55 graduates who scored the highest across the country received gold certificates. The Ministry of Education reported. According to the ministry, based on the list provided by the Center for Educational Assessment and Teaching Methods, the certif»»»

Dubai: Great Wall Motor (GWM) has strengthened its regional presence with the opening of its largest overseas showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of Dubai’s most prominent automotive and commercial destinations. Opened by GWM’s UAE distributor, Saeed Juma Al Naboodah Group, the showroom displays mor»»»

Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Traffic has warned motorists against violating vehicle window tinting regulations, saying offenders could face fines ranging from SR500 to SR900. The authority said rear window tinting is permitted provided it does not exceed 30 per cent, a level intended to ba»»»

The Iranian football team have this week criticised their treatment in the US, with the team's head coach saying they're being 'oppressed' at the World Cup. Iran - one of four countries that have been hit by a travel ban - have faced restrictions, visa complications, and logistical disruptions link»»»

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 »»»