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Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday that he would resign his post within weeks, paving the way for early elections following youth-led protests that shook his tight grip on power.
Vucic did not specify exactly when he would resign or when an election, either for parliament or for a new president, could be held. He has said in the past that he could leave the post amid speculation that he would try to switch to the formally more powerful position of prime minister of the…

A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican US Senator Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled on Friday.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot. Matthews’ ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Lawyers for the state have said Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling…

US military conducts strikes on Iran hours after Trump's 'foolish violation' warning over Hormuz attack The US military on Friday carried out fresh strikes on Iran, hours after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of a 'foolish violation' of the ceasefire agreement following a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.The latest military action came after Iran launched four one-way attack drones at commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. One of the drones struck the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, causing damage but no casualties. The vessel was able to continue its journey along the Omani coast.Confirming the operation, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American aircraft targeted Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites in response to the attack.In a statement, CENTCOM said: “US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran, June 26, as a powerful re..

Texas education officials have approved a plan that will require public school students to read selected Bible passages as part of their classroom instruction beginning in the 2030–2031 school year.The Texas State Board of Education voted to adopt a statewide literary reading list that includes passages from the Christian Bible along with other classic texts. The requirement will apply to public school students across grades once it is fully implemented.Under the approved framework, schools will incorporate Bible excerpts into English and language arts instruction. Reported selections include well-known biblical stories such as “David and Goliath,” “Noah’s Ark,” and passages from the New Testament.Supporters of the plan argue that the Bible has historical and cultural significance in understanding references in American literature and society. Some board members have said the goal is to expose students to influential texts that have shaped Western literary tradition rather than to prom..

My four-year-old son has become fascinated with his new friend, who has endless patience and an answer for everything. She is an artificial intelligence assistant on Doubao, one of China’s most popular AI applications.
My son, obsessed with space, black holes and galaxies, keeps asking Doubao for related videos. When the video is of low quality or inaccurate, I would stop it and explain it may not be reliable. Despite my concerns about AI-generated information, I let him interact with AI within…

A high-profile visit to Washington by Taiwanese Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu reflects a broader US effort to strengthen ties with the island’s main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to analysts.
Han’s trip follows visits to the United States by Taichung mayor and KMT member Lu Shiow-yen in March and KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun earlier this month.
The succession of arrivals suggested Washington was preparing for political uncertainty after Taiwan’s 2028 leadership election by cultivating…

Indian student shares F-1 student visa rejection experience. An Indian student shared the experience of an F-1 visa denial at the Delhi consulate, at a time when visa officers have become extremely stringent in their approvals. The student, a graduate of 2025, wants to pursue an MS in Computer Science at Columbia University. The interview lasted for only 2-3 minutes and was denied under 214(b) which means the applicant did not sufficiently demonstrate to the consular officer that they qualify for the nonimmigrant visa category they applied for.The student revealed the interview questions and answers and also the red flags that might have resulted in the denial.Q. Why Columbia University?Answer: Columbia has an updated curriculum and a combination of courses across different domains.Q. Who is sponsoring you?The applicant revealed a student loan from an Indian bank of Rs 1.25 crore with parents' support.Q. What is your parents' income?Answer: Rs 12LPA.The applicant was also ask..

Giving evidence yesterday with the assistance of an interpreter, he told Bolton Crown Court (pictured) he felt 'uncontrollably sleepy' at the time of the alleged attack An Afghan migrant has claimed that he was under the influence of 'Satan' when he raped two 14-year-old girls after plying them with vodka at his flat in Bolton. Sultani Bakatash, 29, is currently on trial, facing multiple charges including rape and sexual assault, reports the Daily Mail.Bakatash moved to UK in 2022 seeking asylum. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and other sexual offences. He stated in court that he had served in the British military for seven years prior to his arrival in the UK and had fled Afghanistan due to the Taliban's presence.During his testimony, Bakatash described feeling “uncontrollably sleepy” on the day of the incidents. He claimed that he had initially invited the girls to his flat after they had requested food. The court heard that he had met one of..

Hong Kong is seizing every opportunity to consolidate its role as a global financial centre, leveraging unique advantages and national strategies. This piece, the second in a miniseries focusing on the city’s financial industry ahead of the handover anniversary, explores the likelihood of an “IPO Connect” that could inject much-needed liquidity into the market and deepen international investors’ access to top-tier China assets.
At every summer’s Lujiazui Forum, attended by China’s top financial…

Venezuela received offers of rescue teams and humanitarian aid from across the Americas on Thursday, including from right-wing governments that had broken off diplomatic relations with Caracas less than two years ago, after two earthquakes killed at least 188 people.
The quakes, of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 and 39 seconds apart, struck the north of the country on Wednesday evening and were the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez declared a nationwide…