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»»»

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia should be invited to join the Group of Seven nations as the organization adapts to a changing global order, according to a column published in the Daily Telegraph by former UK prime ministerial representative to Saudi Arabia Ken Costa. Costa argued that while the G7 was created »»»

Dubai: Water security in arid regions took centre stage at a panel discussion hosted by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) on Tuesday, bringing together policymakers, researchers, industry experts and educators to discuss practical solutions for tackling growing water scarcity. Held to coincide»»»

Since June 11, 2026, comprehensive scientific research has been conducted on Issyk-Kul Lake as part of an international project implemented by the Iskhak Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU), the International Medical University, and the Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inl»»»

Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup 2026 has got off to an epic start and just six days after the thrilling curtain-raiser at Mexico City Stadium, the tournament’s all-time daily attendance record has been broken. In total, 281,223 fans took their places in the stands across four group-stage encounters»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 555 Ukrainian drones over the country's regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday. "During the past night, 555 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed by air de»»»

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 »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Tourism has officially launched the fourth edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards, held in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), with applications opening for 2026 as the initiative continues to recognise excellence, innovation and sustainability across the c»»»

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»»»

LONDON: Middle ‌East oil producers face a reckoning. The Iran war exposed the dangers of relying on a single chokepoint for vital oil and gas exports, leaving Gulf governments with a clear strategic imperative: diversify – at all costs. An Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had long been view»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) has announced the results of the first cohort of the National Initiative for the Qatarization of Trainers in Educational and Training Service Centers, with 90 Qatari trainers successfully qualifying after completing the assessment »»»

WASHINGTON: France’s move Tuesday to drop Palantir from its intelligence services is the latest sign of European unease with the American data-mining firm — a company that has grown from a CIA-backed startup into one of the most powerful technology players of the Trump era. - ‘Lord of the Rings’ - »»»

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»»»

A man has been detained in Kyrgyzstan for activating SIM cards and selling accounts that were allegedly used by scammers to defraud citizens. The investigation was launched after a woman reported losing 7.8 million soms. According to her statement, unknown individuals contacted her via WhatsApp and»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai surged on Thursday morning, reversing Wednesday’s dip as global bullion rose after the signing of an interim peace agreement between the US and Iran. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and India.) Sign up f»»»

Dubai: In an age of endless scrolling, streaming platforms, and shrinking attention spans, a Dubai student is on a mission to convince young people that one of the most powerful tools for learning, empathy, and self-discovery is still a book. Fatima Rida, a student at Rochester Institute of Technol»»»

Arab Finance: Pickalbatros Group has secured a $200 million loan from the World Bank to support the expansion of its hotel portfolio in Morocco, Chairman Kamel Abou Ali told Asharq Business. Abou Ali noted that the group expects to receive the funding in August or September. As for the group's loca»»»

Los Angeles, United States: From Lionel Messi rolling back the years to full stadiums and a Cape Verde team that shocked Spain, here is what we learned after the first round of games at the World Cup: Messi's still got it Lionel Messi's World Cup odyssey appeared to reach its perfect climax in Qata»»»

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»»»