GCC, US reaffirm strategic partnership, welcome Qatar-Pakistan mediation roles
Manama, Bahrain: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani yesterday participated in Manama in the joint ministerial meeting of Their Highnesses and Excellencies GCC foreign ministers, with the participation of Secretary of State of the U»»»
On This Day, June 26: U.S. Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage - UPI.com
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states are constitutionally compelled to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, legalizing gay marriage nationwide. 1 of 5 | Supporters take selfies after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of gay marriage across the U.S. at the Suprem»»»
Private schools initiative hits 9,000 free and discounted seats mark
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has announced that its Social Responsibility Initiative, implemented in partnership with private schools and kindergartens across Qatar, has so far provided more than 9,000 free and discounted educational seats aimed at supporting »»»
Can foreigners buy property in Hungary? Everything you need to know before investing
Hungary’s property market has attracted growing international attention in recent years. From elegant apartments in central Budapest to lakeside homes near Balaton and charming countryside properties, foreign buyers are increasingly exploring opportunities in the country. Compared with many Western»»»
UAE eyes entry into Pacific trade pact covering 12 economies
Dubai: The UAE will begin preparatory talks to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, marking a fresh step in its push to widen market access and deepen trade links with economies across Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»
Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 235: Foreign victims identified
Desperate Venezuelans raced Thursday to find and rescue loved ones trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings after two major earthquakes that killed at least 235 people. Buildings cracked, crumbled and tilted precariously after the quakes, which the United States Geological Survey measured »»»
Bulgaria: Two Teenagers Dead After 19-Year-Old BMW Driver Enters Opposite Lane and Kills ThemOpinions
A devastating road accident near Mezdra claimed the lives of two teenagers just one day after another series of fatal crashes in Bulgaria left two children and a father dead. The tragedy unfolded on the road between Mezdra and the village of Bodenets when a moped carrying a 17-year-old boy and his »»»
Iran’s knockout hopes on line against Egypt
Doha, Qatar: The final round of Group G fixtures sees Iran face Egypt in a match with major implications for qualification to the Round of 32. With Egypt already through, attention turns to whether Iran can secure a place in the knockout stage. The crucial match will be played on Saturday (6am, Qat»»»
Myanmar torches $600 million in seized heroin, meth and other drugs
YANGON: Thick clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky on the outskirts of Myanmar’s largest city Friday as authorities burned more than 50 tons of heroin, opium, ketamine, methamphetamine, marijuana and crystal meth — some $600 million of confiscated illegal drugs destroyed nationwide. Myanmar,»»»
‘Unprecedented spike’ in new synthetic drugs: UN watchdog
VIENNA: Drug use around the world is rising, including a worrying increase of new potent and dangerous synthetic drugs, a UN watchdog warned on Friday. An estimated 331 million people used a drug in 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) said in its 2026 World Drug Report. This i»»»
Kim Jong Un inspects new weapons systems that threaten Seoul - UPI.com
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of new weapons to bolster firepower along the inter-Korean border, state-run media reported Friday. In this May 2024 photo, Kim views a 240mm multiple rocket launcher system. File Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE SEOUL, June 26 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jon»»»
Kyrgyz Marketing Association established in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
The first meeting of members of the Kyrgyz Marketing Association, established by representatives of the industry, was held in Bishkek. The organization will unite the country’s marketing specialists. The association’s mission is to develop globally relevant local marketing specialists. To achieve t»»»
Syrian officials discuss industry and housing investment with Egyptian Naguib Sawiris
Damascus, June 26 (SANA) Syrian officials discussed investment opportunities with Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris on Thursday as the country intensifies efforts toward economic recovery and reconstruction.Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Basel Abdul Hanan discussed investment opportunities »»»
Descendant of Alymbek Datka granted Kyrgyzstan’s citizenship - | 24.KG
Abdumalik Bekzat, a descendant of Alymbek Datka, has been granted citizenship of Kyrgyzstan. Taalaybek Sarybashov, a member of the Zhogorku Kenesh, reported. According to him, the country’s president provided direct support to Abdumalik Bekzat in obtaining Kyrgyzstan’s citizenship. «At one time, du»»»
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»»»
Apple MacBooks get pricier in UAE as AI boom hits shoppers
Dubai: Apple has raised MacBook prices in the UAE, with some models now costing hundreds of dirhams more than they did in March, as verified by Gulf News on Apple’s UAE website on June 26. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The biggest increase is on the 14-inch MacBook P»»»
John Achkar: ‘My whole purpose is to build trust with the audience’
DUBAI: Lebanese comedian John Achkar is still slightly stunned by what his latest milestone represents for stand-up in the Arab world. His hour-long Arabic stand-up special, “Aam Jarrib” — or “Tryin’” — which began streaming on MBC Shahid on May 27, is, according to a press release, the first full-»»»
St. Bernard dogs honored in a museum that bridges the breed’s history with its future
BOURG-SAINT-PIERRE: At the Great St. Bernard Pass high in the Swiss Alps, the eponymous dogs still walk the same mountain paths their ancestors patrolled for hundreds of years to find travelers buried beneath the snow. Down in the valley, a living museum honoring the Swiss national dog’s history — »»»
Indian expats in UAE face major changes: New passport fees and travel rules explained
Indian expatriates in the UAE are set to face a series of important changes affecting travel, documentation and consular services in the coming weeks. From higher passport fees to a new service delivery system and additional pre-boarding requirements for travel to India, the updates will impact rou»»»
Australia draw with Paraguay to clinch World Cup last 32 place
SANTA CLARA: Australia qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after battling to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to claim second place in Group D. The Socceroos, who defeated Turkiye in their opening match before losing to the United States, were never seriously threatened o»»»
Arab teams at World Cup 2026: Tunisia boss Renard has ‘no regrets’ despite World Cup flop
KANSAS: Herve Renard said Thursday he had no regrets about taking on the job as Tunisia’s emergency coach at the World Cup despite the North African nation’s catastrophic campaign. Tunisia were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in Kansas City on Thursday, following a 5-1 defeat against Sweden and a 4-0»»»
“Very strong” nuclear verification needed in Iran after war: IAEA head
TOKYO: A “very strong” verification system is needed in Iran following the Middle East conflict to ensure that the country does not develop nuclear weapons, the UN atomic watchdog chief said Friday. “I think the objective of this (recent US-Iran) agreement is to ensure that there is no development »»»
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»»»
Caracas Resident Recounts Venezuela Earthquake Devastation
Erica Sanchez, a Caracas resident whose apartment was damaged in Venezuela's devastating earthquakes, shared her story with Sputnik. “My building was hit pretty hard: the first floor was the worst affected, then the second floor, the third floor a bit, and from the fourth floor up — nothing,” Sanch»»»
Labour market weakens despite stable unemployment rate
In May 2026, the average number of employed persons aged 15–74 was 4 million 654 thousand. The number of unemployed persons was 209 thousand and the unemployment rate was 4.3%. In the period March–May 2026, the average number of employed persons aged 15–74 was 4 million 640 thousand, 33 thousand fe»»»
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»»»
Turkiye beat US 3-2 with last-gasp winner
Los Angeles, United States: Turkiye beat a heavily changed United States 3-2 with a late Kaan Ayhan winner in an action-packed dead-rubber clash that gave the World Cup co-hosts their sternest test so far ahead of the knockout rounds. Already crowned Group D winners, the US arrived in Los Angeles s»»»
Japan to play Brazil in World Cup knockouts after nervy Sweden draw
Arlington, United States: Japan will face Brazil in a World Cup last-32 clash after drawing 1-1 with Sweden on Thursday to send both teams through behind the Netherlands in Group F. A game in front of 70,000 in Texas burst into life in the second half, Daizen Maeda giving Japan the lead after the b»»»
Australia draw with Paraguay to clinch World Cup last 32 place
Santa Clara, United States: Australia qualified for the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after battling to a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara to claim second place in Group D. The Socceroos, who defeated Turkiye in their opening match before losing to the United States, were never serious»»»
Dutch march into World Cup knockouts as group winners
Kansas City: The Netherlands overcame sorry Tunisia 3-1 on Thursday to top World Cup Group F, avoiding a tricky encounter with Brazil in the last 32. Ronald Koeman's men flew into a two-goal lead in soggy Kansas City thanks to some shoddy defending from the North African side. First, Ellyes Skhiri »»»
Ukrainian steelmaker loses EU market
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Polish energy giants sign up to rebuild Ukraine
Poland's four largest state-controlled energy companies — PGE, Orlen, Enea, and Tauron — signed a letter of intent at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) in Gdańsk on June 25, committing to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine's war-damaged energy infrastructure. The event, attended »»»
Death Toll From Earthquake in Venezuela Rises to 235
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Venezuela has risen to 235, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said. "As of 19:00 today, we have provided assistance to more than 4,300 injured people. Most of them suffered minor injuries, but there are also patients in moderate »»»
'People gave us belief': Dubai family thanks UAE community after new cancer treatment begins
Dubai: Sometimes, the biggest difference between despair and hope is a community that refuses to look away. For Claire Francis, a Dubai teacher battling stage four cancer, that community has stretched from classrooms and rugby pitches across the UAE to specialist clinics in Germany. This month, she»»»
DIB unveils Unlocking Sustainable Finance series to accelerate climate transition across priority sectors
DIB, the largest Islamic bank in the UAE by assets, has launched its Unlocking Sustainable Finance series, a new sector-focused platform designed to support priority industries in accelerating their transition towards a more sustainable and resilient economy. The inaugural edition, Transitioning Re»»»
US uses Pulisic as substitute, sends out 9 new starters vs. Turkiye in World Cup group finale
INGLEWOOD, Calif: Christian Pulisic came on as a second-half substitute in the United States’ final World Cup group match against Turkiye on Thursday night. The Americans sent out nine new starters for this meaningless game with their knockout-round place already secured, but Pulisic replaced Tim W»»»
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»»»
Saudi authorities seize 1.4 million amphetamine pills hidden inside rock crusher
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have seized more than 1.4 million amphetamine pills concealed inside a rock-crushing machine in the Northern Borders Region, marking the latest in a series of major anti-narcotics operations carried out during June, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The General Direct»»»
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 »»»
Tunisia head home from 2026 World Cup after 3-1 defeat by the Netherlands
DUBAI: The Netherlands marched into the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 as Group F winners after a 3-1 win over a Tunisian side that heads home from the tournament with no points, 12 goals conceded and only two scored. The sacking of coach Sabri Lamouchi, replaced by former Saudi Arabia coach Herve Rena»»»
‘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»»»
Warning to oil giants: Trump names Exxon, Chevron, Shell and BP in gas price crackdown, accuses oil majors of ‘gouging’ Americans
President Donald Trump publicly singled out some of the world's largest oil companies on Thursday, accusing them of failing to pass lower crude oil prices on to consumers. He warned that his administration is investigating potential "price gouging" at the petrol pump. Speaking to reporters, Trump n»»»
Firefighting plane crashes in northern Canada; 3 killed - UPI.com
June 25 (UPI) -- Authorities in northern Canada on Thursday confirmed that three people are dead after a plane responding to forest fires in the Northwest Territories crashed the night prior. NWT Fire said responders were able to access the crash site on Thursday and confirmed the fatalities. "Our »»»
US Supreme Court sides with Bayer, blocking thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits
The US Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Bayer in a ruling expected to block thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller caused cancer by failing to carry adequate warning labels. The decision hands a victory to President Donald Trump's administration but drew backlash from allies in t»»»
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»»»
South Korea's LS Cable starts key work at U.S. subsea plant - UPI.com
The cable maker begins construction of a 660-foot tower at what it says will become the largest U.S. subsea cable factory From left, LS Cable & System North America executive Kim Ki-soo, Chesapeake Mayor Rick West, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie H. Chenery, LS Cable & System CEO Ko»»»
Vessel struck transiting Hormuz; U.N. pauses evacuation operation - UPI.com
People enjoy the beach as a vessel is seen waiting to cross the Strait of Hormuz in the Arabian Sea off Muscat, Oman, May 12, 2026. An effort to evacuate thousands of sailors stranded by the war in the strait was paused Thursday after a cargo ship was attacked in the vital energy transit route. Fil»»»
How the UAE became home for this Swiss expat and her dogs
Dubai: Seven dogs might seem like an unusual way to measure a life. But for Tara Eichenberger, they tell the story of how a young Swiss expatriate found not only a passion for animal welfare, but also a deep connection to the country she now calls home. At 23, Tara has spent nearly 16 years in Duba»»»
The three words we need to say more often
“I don’t know” used to be an honest beginning. Today, it feels almost like an awkward pause we rush to fill. It embarrasses us as well! Somewhere between ambition and authority, we quietly pushed “I don’t know” out of our vocabulary. It was once simply honesty. Today, it is often mistaken for hesit»»»