Dubai: When Judy Dimayuga was eight years old, her classroom was often a rice field. Growing up in Bicol in the Philippines, she spent her childhood helping her grandparents work on the family farm and sell rice and vegetables to supplement the household income. Long before she has learned about en»»»

Dubai: When regional conflict put pressure on global shipping routes, Al Dahra rerouted more than 5,500 containers, secured new food supplies and raised grain stocks to keep essential commodities moving into the UAE. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The UAE-grown agribu»»»

The US and Iran on Friday signaled that an initial peace agreement to end the Iran war was close although details of the deal were not officially released. The consensual signaling came hours after President Donald Trump posted a message lashing out at "very dishonorable" Iranians after local media»»»

BANGUI, Central African Republic: An Iranian woman is among around two dozen migrants who arrived Friday in the Central African Republic on a deportation flight from the United States, lawyers said, in the latest example of the Trump administration’s widely criticized deals with African and Latin A»»»

BEIRUT: Hezbollah said on Friday its fighters had confronted Israeli forces advancing toward a southern Lebanese town, as Israel pressed on with its strikes in Lebanon.In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters first targeted Israeli troops advancing toward Majdal Zoun, around five kilometers (thr»»»

A judge on Friday permanently blocked President Donald Trump's "anti-weaponization" fund because, despite administration officials' statements that the fund will not be enacted, she does not believe them. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo June 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Friday extended »»»

TORONTO: Canada striker Cyle Larin came off the ​bench to grab a 1-1 draw for his side against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a frenetic Group B opener on Friday that long looked like it would end in defeat for the World Cup co-hosts. Bosnia went ahead in the 21st minute when Jovo Lukic steered home a f»»»

TORONTO: Canada striker Cyle Larin came off the ​bench to grab a 1-1 draw for his side against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a frenetic Group B opener on Friday that long looked like it would end in defeat for the World Cup co-hosts. Bosnia went ahead in the 21st minute when Jovo Lukic steered home a f»»»

BusinessUnited States of AmericaSpaceX IPO makes Elon Musk world's first trillionaireMatt Ford | Mark Hallam with AFP, AP, ReutersSpaceX floated on the Nasdaq stock exchange on Friday, with shares trading 25% above the opening price at one point. The IPO has made Musk the world's first trillionaire»»»

Toronto, Canada: Co-hosts Canada grabbed a second-half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday in the first World Cup finals game ever played on Canadian soil. Cyle Larin got Canada's goal after Jovo Lukic put Bosnia ahead with a header on 21 minutes in Toronto.»»»

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa told visitors that Damascus has no intention of intervening in Lebanon, two of them told AFP, days after US President Donald Trump suggested it might be willing to do so. One of those present, requesting anonymity to speak freely, said that Sharaa told doz»»»

FRISCO, Texas: Sweden boast a formidable strike partnership in Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, but the two will have their work cut out in their opening World Cup Group F game on Sunday when they take on a Tunisia side that didn’t concede a goal in qualifying. The 28-year-old Gyokeres arrives i»»»

Right now, the path the EU and NATO faces another set back. There's been no functioning government, despite three elections in less in 16 months. The latest one this week, produced a similar result to the last two, the party of the incumbent prime minister Albin Kurti got 43 per cent of the vote, a»»»

Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»

FOXBOROUGH, USA: Scotland star Scott McTominay is ready for the team’s opening World Cup game against Haiti on Saturday after overcoming a stomach bug, coach Steve Clarke has said. “He is perfect and ready to go,” Clarke said when asked about the fitness of the Napoli man, Scotland’s star player. M»»»

Hungary and Ukraine have officially finalised what Prime Minister Péter Magyar has described as a “historic agreement” on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community living in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, marking a major breakthrough in a dispute that has strained bilateral relations for years»»»

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu hosted political representatives from across party lines on Thursday to discuss the issue of electoral interference ahead of the country’s 2027 presidential election. French authorities are sounding the alarm over the rapid advances in artificial intelligence»»»

DUBAI: Extreme heat is becoming a defining challenge for global food production, with the Middle East among the most exposed regions. A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Meteorological Organization warns that rising temperatures are no longer a seasonal issue but a»»»

The election of the Hungary's new centre-right prime minister, Peter Magyar, in April marked a particularly stinging defeat for Viktor Orban, whose government was widely regarded as one of the most anti-LGBTQ in the EU. Rights advocates expect legal changes but wonder about the timeline Magyar will»»»

With Europeans sizzling in a record-breaking heatwave in May, and lands and rivers facing severe drought conditions in April, the effects of extreme climate-related events are becoming increasingly obvious. We sit down with the EU's Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Dutch politic»»»

GENEVA: The Ebola outbreak in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading into new areas, the World Health Organization warned on Friday. Much more needs to be done to get on top of the virus, the WHO said, with isolation bed capacity far below anticipated needs given its spread. Sin»»»

MADRID: Pope Leo has issued a stern warning to human traffickers and criminal groups who exploit desperate migrants ​trying to reach Europe through Spain’s Canary Islands, telling them to “repent” before God or face being sent to hell. On the final day of a week-long tour of Spain, in which the pon»»»

THE HAGUE: Danny van Dijk thinks that this time turning his street in The Hague completely orange is going to work, as the Netherlands again target a long-awaited first World Cup title. For 26 years, whenever the Dutch play in a major football championship, Van Dijk and other residents have turned »»»

Sharjah: A coded “pizza delivery” request made to Sharjah Police’s emergency line has led to the swift rescue of an expatriate woman who was unable to openly seek help while under threat at home, officials said. The incident unfolded by Captain Majid Al Bas, Head of the Communications Operations Br»»»

WASHINGTON: Despite not scoring in either of Portugal’s World ‌Cup tune-ups this month, 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo insists his fitness level is not a concern. “Physically? I’m fine,” the forward told reporters on Friday, per ESPN. “Have you not seen my matches?“ Ronaldo scored 28 times f»»»

KINSHASA: Violent clashes erupted Friday in Congo ‘s capital, Kinshasa, during a rally against a proposed constitutional change that opponents say could pave the way for President Félix Tshisekedi to seek a third term. The demonstration, organized by the opposition coalition C64, was dispersed by p»»»

Zurich: Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi has highlighted the growing complexity of modern conflicts and the need for stronger international cooperation to support mediation and peacebuilding efforts. Speaking during a keynote dialogue se»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has provided support to strengthen the World Health Organization’s efforts to contain the spread of Ebola in Africa, following the directives from President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The assistance, channelled through the UAE Aid Agency, is part of the coun»»»

Los Angeles, United States: The United States begin their World Cup challenge on Friday, taking on a savvy Paraguay side in a high-stakes match in Los Angeles. The World Cup co-hosts know that they must avoid a banana skin at the futuristic SoFi Stadium in the first World Cup finals game on US soil»»»

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev attended a meeting of the EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Luxembourg on Friday. During the meeting, the Council discussed the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Europe’s econom»»»

The American and British right want you to believe that the Belfast riots are a violent Irish uprising against mass immigration. In reality, the riots are steeped in the complex sectarianism of Northern Ireland, and the riot leaders don’t even consider themselves Irish. Read more Sudanese refugee a»»»

CALIFORNIA: Born in refugee camps to parents displaced by conflict in Africa, three players will show the changing face of Australian soccer at the World Cup and look to answer the nation’s call for goals. Coach Tony Popovic is putting his faith in attackers Mohamed Toure and Nestory Irankunda, two»»»

AMMAN: Jordan’s economy is expected to maintain steady growth over the next three years, reaching 3 percent by 2028 despite ongoing global economic uncertainty and regional geopolitical tensions, according to the latest World Bank projections. In its Global Economic Prospects report released on Thu»»»

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Benjamin Netanyahu of “following the path of Hitler” on Thursday after the Israeli leader alleged he was an “antisemitic dictator” who had committed a “genocide” against the Kurds. The relationship between Israel and Turkiye has nosedived sin»»»

Global crude oil benchmarks fell sharply Friday, with Brent, WTI, and Murban crude all dropping below key psychological levels as traders unwound war-risk premiums that had pushed prices higher earlier in the week. According to market data, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell to $84.99 per barrel, d»»»

Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk announced sweeping reforms aimed at enhancing the country’s tax services by the end of the fiscal year. Speaking to the Republican People’s Party at the New Administrative Capital, Kouchouk emphasized a new era of collaboration and transparency with the Tax Authority»»»

Hungary’s Foreign Ministry has launched a fresh internal investigation after uncovering what officials describe as serious irregularities in the granting of Hungarian citizenship and diplomatic passports during previous administrations. György László Velkey, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Min»»»

Bulgaria’s economy expanded by 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, placing the country fifth in the European Union in terms of economic growth, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). Around 3.5 million people were employed during the period, NSI deputy chairman»»»

After months of war, multiple ceasefires, threats of renewed bombing and repeated claims that an agreement was imminent, the United States and Iran appear closer than ever to a formal deal. Or at least that is the message coming from Washington. US President Donald Trump has declared that a settlem»»»

Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»

Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»

The EU appears to be willing to sacrifice both the well-being of its people and its own fiscal stability for the sake of military buildup justified by an alleged Russian threat. The bloc’s members push forward with their defense budget increase plans despite record debt levels, with some of them al»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with Greek FM Giorgos Gerapetritis in Belgrade on Friday to discuss further strengthening of bilateral relations, stepping up of cooperation in many areas and Serbia’s European path. "Macut emphasised that Serbia and Greece are friendly and fraternal states and»»»

Doha The International Media Office (IMO) categorically rejects the allegations published by The Washington Post on 12 June. Any suggestion that operational decisions relating to energy production were – or have ever been – made in coordination with Iran, for Iran’s benefit, or to influence the cou»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, June 12: Papers discuss Mexico's "statement" World Cup win over South Africa and detail Raul Jimenez's triumph. Also: young women in New York choose to live with nuns to save on rent. Finally, for the first time, scientists have mapped the enormous scale of subterranean »»»

On the final day of his Spanish tour, Pope Leo XIV on Friday visited Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, where he urged migrants to do their part to integrate and host communities to welcome newcomers. "All of us are migrants", said the pontiff, urging communities to save people fleeing wa»»»

Bulgarian Armed Forces are conducting exercises to enhance operational interoperability, Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov said Friday at Cheshnegirovo Air Base during the Distinguished Visitors Day of the multinational special operations exercise Stealth Dagger 26. "We are in a period of inten»»»

Founder of NanoSpace research and educational center Ulan Salamatov told 24.kg news agency about plans to develop rocket engineering in Kyrgyzstan and eventually build the country’s own cosmodrome in At-Bashy district of Naryn region. According to him, the NanoSpace team is already developing civil»»»

Paris, France: ChatGPT and Claude are betting on Spain. Le Chat from France's Mistral reckons Les Bleus will clinch it. And China's DeepSeek and Qwen have a fondness for Argentina. The 2026 World Cup is the first with widely available generative AI chatbots, and fans and researchers alike are turni»»»

The reported Iran-US ceasefire memorandum, based on Tehran's previously disclosed 14-point proposal, is nearing completion but still requires final approval by Iran's competent authorities, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported. According to the report, the draft follows Iran's proposed two-stage»»»