Review: ‘King of the Shoulders’ documentary about Hasawi bisht turns threads into gold at Saudi Film festival
DHAHRAN: The 12th Saudi Film Festival opened at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran with the charming documentary “King of the Shoulders,” which had audiences laughing out loud. The documentary explores the Hasawi bisht, a formal garment usually made of dark-colored wool »»»
Trump critic John Bolton pleads guilty in classified documents case
Washington: John Bolton, who served as Donald Trump's national security advisor before becoming an outspoken critic of the US president, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of retaining classified documents. Asked by federal Judge Theodore Chuang if he was guilty, the 77-year-old veteran diplomat re»»»
Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Spain avoid Argentina clash
GUADALAJARA: Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to secure top spot in Group H. Alex Baena’s weak shot slipped through Muslera’s grasp for the only goal as Spain avoided a last-32 showdown against Argentina. The European c»»»
On This Day, June 27: Dennis Rader pleads guilty to 'BTK' slayings - UPI.com
On June 27, 2005, Dennis Rader, the so-called "BTK" (bind, torture, kill) killer, pleaded guilty to 10 slayings in the Wichita, Kan., area. He was sentenced to life in prison. 1 of 6 | On June 27, 2005, Dennis Rader, the so-called "BTK" (bind, torture, kill) killer, pleaded guilty to 10 slayings in»»»
The World Cup and the meteoric rise of sports betting
From the moment the referee blew the opening whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the players were not the only ones competing. During the 39-day competition, billions of dollars will be wagered across smartphone apps, betting platforms, and data centres scattered across the globe. In London, a fan »»»
Uruguay crash out of World Cup as Spain avoid Argentina clash
Guadalajara, Mexico: Uruguay bowed out of the World Cup as goalkeeper Fernando Muslera's howler gifted Spain a 1-0 win in Guadalajara to secure top spot in Group H. Alex Baena's weak shot slipped through Muslera's grasp for the only goal as Spain avoided a last-32 showdown against Argentina. The Eu»»»
Ready for their close-up: Saudi stars dazzle at opening of 12th Saudi Film Festival
DHAHRAN: Film stars from around the Kingdom dazzled on the red carpet at the opening ceremony for the 12th Saudi Film Festival on Friday night. The longest-running celebration of film in the Kingdom, the festival has since its launch in 2008 become a key showcase and driver of Saudi and Gulf cinem»»»
Full text of Lebanon-Israel framework agreement
Below is the full text of the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement brokered by the Trump administration as published by Axios journalist Barak Ravid: TRILATERAL FRAMEWORK BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE STATE OF ISRAEL, AND THE REPUBLIC OF LEBANON The Government of Israel and the Government»»»
Europe on high alert as deadly heat set to move east and south
The unprecedented heatwave that has been hitting Europe since the beginning of the week is spreading east and south across the continent, leading to the cancellation of events as temperatures exceed 35C and hospitals are becoming overwhelmed with demand. Health authorities across Europe were on hig»»»
Official who claimed to have teleported to Waffle House fired at FEMA - UPI.com
June 26 (UPI) -- A Federal Emergency Management Agency official who claims he was once teleported to a Waffle House has been ousted from the agency, unnamed sources familiar with the situation told media outlets Friday. Gregg Phillips, who was appointed to lead the Office of Response and Recovery i»»»
25 million pills and 1.1 tonnes of drugs: Saudi customs reveal major seizures
Dubai: More than 25 million illicit and controlled pills and 1.1 tonnes of narcotic substances were intercepted by Saudi customs authorities over the past year, Okaz newspaper reported. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) said customs officers seized 25,112,378 narcotic and prohibited pill»»»
Saudi Arabia bets on ‘red gold’ for agricultural growth
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»»»
Palisades Fire: Judge declares mistrial in Jonathan Rinderknect case - UPI.com
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»»»
06/04/2017 Tenders
Fire Safety and Seucrity Client : Misr Aluminium Company Address : 48/50 Abd Elkhalek Tharwat Street, Cairo Tender : 1) Tender No. 22/2016/2017 for supply of cars spare pars (Afiko & Skania) Opening envelopes : 10-4-2017 2) Tender No. 23/2016/2017 for supply of internal and external rubber tyres 12»»»
A Moroccan court sentences 29 prominent people in major drug trafficking and corruption case
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»»»
‘Our War Against Russia’: Germany is re-normalizing the unthinkable
For the anniversary of Operation Barbarossa, the German name for the attack on the Soviet Union of 22 June 1941, Germany’s declining yet still dominant mainstream news magazine Der Spiegel has dedicated a long title story and a sensationalist cover to Berlin’s last open war in, as the Germans used »»»
Florida closes Trump-backed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ ICE detention center, Governor DeSantis says
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»»»
Judicial Council Reallocates Judges’ Positions Across Bulgaria, Expands Staffing in Sofia Regional Court
The Plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) approved Friday the opening of 15 new judicial posts in the Sofia Regional Court, while simultaneously eliminating 15 vacant positions across 11 courts in the country. The abolished positions were previously vacant posts in the Varna District Court, »»»
Starovic, Vrtovec discuss Serbia-Slovenia cooperation
BELGRADE - Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic spoke with Slovenian Deputy PM and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Jernej Vrtovec by phone on Friday to discuss further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. In an Instagram post, Starovic wrote that he ha»»»
EU state to ban Islamic call to prayer
Denmark is considering a nationwide ban on the Islamic call to prayer. Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov has said it has “no place” in the country. The move comes amid a Danish government crackdown on “Islamization.” Speaking to local news outlet Ritzau on Wednesday, Bodskov, a senior figure in t»»»
Georgia risks losing its leverage card if wartime transit boom fades, analyst warns
Georgian Dream's repeated invocation of Georgia's strategic transit importance to fend off Western criticism is built on a temporary advantage tied to Russia's war in Ukraine that could evaporate once the conflict ends, Kornely Kakachia, director of the Tbilisi-based Georgian Institute of Politics,»»»
Charles becomes first to reveal his taxes, saying he paid $17M in 2025 - UPI.com
King Charles III salutes members of the Brtish armed forces at the annual Trooping the Color at Horseguards Parade in London on June 13. On Thursday he became the first ever monarch to reveal how much tax he pays. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- Britain's King Charles II»»»
Bulgaria’s Judiciary Still Politicized Despite Reforms, Says MP
PP-DB MP Stoyu Stoev has argued that the latest amendments to Bulgaria’s Judiciary Act do not amount to genuine judicial reform, claiming instead that they preserve existing political influence over the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council. Speaking on BNT, Stoev said that proposals aimed at»»»
Hungary’s Magyar moves to sideline senior Fidesz MPs with 12‑year term limit (74 days after election)
MPs would be limited to serving a maximum of 12 years in parliament. A key pillar of Orbán’s political system would be dismantled. Not everyone agrees with the planned removal of the president. Arrests follow the distribution of public money in the cultural sector. Magyar presents the Visegrád summ»»»
Malaysian customs foil $13 million AI chip smuggling bid
Sepang, Malaysia: Malaysian authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle advanced artificial intelligence chips through the country's main airport, customs officials said on Friday, in a case worth nearly $13 million. A team raided Kuala Lumpur airport's free trade zone on June 5 and seized 72 servers »»»
Most Poles against Ukraine joining EU – survey
Nearly six in ten Poles now oppose Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, up from four in ten a year ago, according to two IBRiS opinion polls cited by Polish media. The latest survey, conducted for Radio ZET, found that 59.7% of respondents oppose Ukrainian membership. Last year, an IBRiS poll»»»
Iran denies unfrozen assets will be spent on US foodstuffs
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has denied that the country’s unfrozen assets would be used to buy agricultural products from the US. His remarks add to conflicting interpretations of the interim US-Iran peace deal signed on June 17. “America falsely claims our unfrozen assets wi»»»
Parliament Sets October 17 as Deadline for Election of Judicial Council Members from Professional Quota
Parliament on Friday adopted final amendments to the Judicial System Act requiring the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) to organize elections for members from the judges', prosecutors' and investigators' quota by October 17, 2026. To meet the deadline, the SJC will be allowed to shorten statutory dea»»»
German court gives Christmas market car attacker life sentence
MAGDEBURG: A German court on Friday convicted a Saudi psychiatrist and sentenced him to life in prison for driving an SUV in a deadly rampage through a crowded Christmas market in 2024. Taleb Jawad Al-Abdulmohsen, 51, killed six people and injured more than 300 when he sped the vehicle through the »»»
Russia Pulverizes Key Ukrainian Targets: Recruitment Hub, Arms Depot, and Refinery
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces also hammered a territorial recruitment center and a weapons storage facilities in Kiev, in addition to an oil refinery in Kremenchug, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday Ukraine had suffered over 3,155 combat casualties in clashes with Russia's Vostok batt»»»
Bishkek Mayor elected Vice President of major global cities organization - | 24.KG
Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunishaliev has been elected Vice President of the United Cities and Local Governments organization. The decision was made unanimously at the organization’s congress held on June 25 in the city of Tangier (Morocco). United Cities and Local Governments is the world’s largest in»»»
New poll reveals what Hungarians really think about ditching the forint for the euro
A clear majority of Hungarians would support replacing the forint with the euro, according to a new Medián survey, with around three in four respondents backing the introduction of the common European currency. The findings also reveal political divisions, as supporters of the opposition Fidesz par»»»
S. Korean ex-first lady sentenced to 7 years in prison for taking gifts for job appointments - UPI.com
A TV screen shows a live broadcast of former first lady Kim Keon Hee's bribery trial at Seoul Station on Friday. Kim was sentenced to seven years in prison. Photo by Yonhap A Seoul court on Friday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for taking expensive gifts in return»»»
Media Review: June 26
HEADLINES The dominant topic across Bulgarian media on Friday is the debate over the 2026 draft budget, public-sector pay, personal social insurance contributions for state employees, and the sustainability of public finances. Coverage focuses on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab »»»
"Coal king" Nurlan Motuev passes away - | 24.KG
Politician and video blogger Nurlan Motuev has passed away at the age of 56, his brother, Nurdin Motuev, announced. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. It was previously reported that the «coal king» had been seriously ill. Motuev gained his greatest fame in the mid-2000s, when he was de»»»
‘Positive change’: FIA delivers strongest financial results in a decade
DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has reported its strongest operating result in 10 years. For FY2025, the FIA delivered an operating profit of €6.7 million ($7.6m), up 43 percent »»»
What actually proves Indian citizenship? Passport vs Aadhaar vs voter ID vs PAN
India’s citizenship framework often leads to confusion as widely used identity documents are frequently mistaken for proof of nationality. However, under Indian law, none of these documents — passport, Aadhaar, voter ID or PAN — independently establish citizenship. Following the Ministry of Externa»»»
The Debate - Divorce Italian style: Meloni-Trump row bringing Europe closer together?
Has Trump whispering run its course? Ask the departing Keir Starmer who famously brought that letter of invitation from the king to the Oval Office or Hungary’s ousted leader Viktor Orban. And how about the very public breakup with the only European leader invited to Donald Trump’s second»»»
Florida Gov. DeSantis announces closure of 'Alligator Alcatraz' - UPI.com
A protester from Chicago shows his point of view with his sign in front of the entrance to Alligator Alcatraz located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport is seen on August 6, 2025, in Ochopee, Florida. On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the facility's closure. File Photo By Ga»»»
Ecuador upset Germany to reach World Cup last 32 as Curacao eliminated
East Rutherford, United States: Ecuador upset Germany to squeeze into the last 32 of the World Cup on Thursday while the Netherlands, Japan and the Ivory Coast advanced safely as the draw for the knockout rounds began to take shape. The Netherlands wrapped up their first round campaign with a 3-1 v»»»
Dubai gold prices drop again, 24K now Dh60 below June peak
Dubai: Dubai gold prices fell again on Friday morning, giving jewellery buyers a lower entry point after a volatile month that saw rates swing from record highs to their lowest levels in weeks. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and I»»»
PM urges prosecutor to remove ‘Hungarian Cosa Nostra’ figures
Prime Minister Péter Magyar on Thursday called on the Chief Prosecutor to purge his office of members of the "Hungarian Cosa Nostra," saying that if he is unwilling or unable to do so, he should resign. At the government spokesperson's briefing, the Prime Minister also reported on the public consul»»»
Parliament Expected to Continue Second Reading of Amendment to Judicial System Act
Parliament is expected to continue the second-reading debate and voting on the amendments to the Judiciary Act. On Thursday, MPs were unable to adopt all of the proposed provisions because the parliamentary session ended before the debate was completed. Work on the bill will therefore continue at t»»»
Princess Cup: Kyrgyz women's volleyball team loses to Philippines - | 24.KG
The women’s volleyball team of Kyrgyzstan (U18) lost to the Philippines at an international tournament in Thailand. The Volleyball Federation reported. The Princess Cup tournament is currently underway in Nakhon Ratchasima, with eight teams participating. On June 25, the final round of the group st»»»
Ukrainian steelmaker loses EU market
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UK'S King Charles breaks precedent to reveal £30m paid in taxes since 2022
London: King Charles III has paid more than GBP30 million ($39.6 million) in personal taxes since becoming monarch in September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday, in the first such disclosure by a reigning British sovereign. The palace, which had confirmed at the weekend that it would make»»»
Venezuela health minister says around 235 people dead and 4,300 injured in catastrophic earthquakes
LA GUAIRA, Venezuela: Venezuelans searched for survivors beneath collapsed buildings Thursday and rescue teams raced to northern areas rocked by a pair of powerful earthquakes that officials say killed around 235 people and left at least 4,300 people injured. “Unfortunately we have received around »»»
‘Entrepreneurship is like marriage. Don't do it unless you are sure’: Why Dubai RJ Malavika Varadan left radio to build a thriving theatre school for kids
Dubai: If you lived in Dubai in the late 2000s or early 2010s, chances are you woke up to Malavika Varadan's voice. For nearly 13 years, she was one of the UAE's best-known radio hosts, chatting effortlessly with listeners, interviewing celebrities and becoming a familiar part of people's morning r»»»
Cult of Duterte: Why one man still divides the Philippines
Few politicians in modern Philippine history have inspired as much devotion — or as much revulsion — as Rodrigo Duterte. A decade after his landslide election in 2016, and even as he faces trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over alleged crimes against humanity linked t»»»
U.S. Army contracts for critical minerals processing at military bases - UPI.com
The Red River Army Depot, which is on the border of Texas and Arkansas, is one of several U.S. Army bases in the United States that is set to see processing and development of critical minerals facility as part of the Trump administration's push to bring rare Earth minerals manufacturing back on sh»»»