Sirens sound in north Israel after Netanyahu visit
Drone alert sirens sounded in several border communities in northern Israel on Thursday shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials wrapped up a visit to the area, Israeli media reports said. The Israeli military later said the sirens were triggered by attempts to intercept »»»
Trianon speech shows Magyar’s tightrope: defending Hungarians abroad while courting Brussels (53 days post-election)
Our weekly digest of Hungarian politics continues, as we report on developments after April’s historic election and on the formation of the Tisza government. This week we cover the following topics: According to Péter Magyar, Hungary ‘borders itself‘ What does his breakthrough with Ukraine mean? Wa»»»
Uneasy neighbours: Can three World Cup hosts put differences aside for a month?
Uneasy neighbours: Can three World Cup hosts put differences aside for a month? 7 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAnthony Zurcher, Jessica Murphy and Will GrantWashington DC, Toronto and Mexico City Watch: World Cup hosts Trump, Sheinbaum and Carney take stage together Think of it as be»»»
Delcy Rodríguez visits India: Will oil talks lead to an energy deal?
Delcy Rodríguez visits India: Will oil talks lead to an energy deal? 10 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSoutik BiswasIndia correspondent AFP via Getty ImagesRodríguez arrives in India on Wednesday for her sixth visit, with energy ties high on the agenda Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acti»»»
Israeli settlers damage water supply line serving Palestinian Bedouins
LONDON: Israeli settlers on Wednesday vandalized a water pipeline supplying the Bedouin community of Arab Al-Tabna, located east of occupied East Jerusalem. The attack deprived families of their sole source of water, exacerbating their already difficult living conditions in the arid Jordan Valley, »»»
Syrians dispatch aid to Deir Ezzor as 54 water stations remain out of service
LONDON: Syrian authorities said that 54 water stations remain out of service due to floods that have affected the Deir Ezzor governorate, located along the Euphrates River in the southeastern part of the country. Authorities are also dispatching humanitarian aid through charities to help residents,»»»
PM Radev to Take Part in EU-Western Balkans Summit in Montenegro on June 5
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev will take part in the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on June 5, the Government Information Service said on Thursday. The event will bring together heads of state and government from EU Member States and the Western Balkan countries. It will be »»»
Hezbollah Rejects Latest Ceasefire Agreement as Israeli Strikes Kill 4 in Lebanon
Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Lebanese government, and the militant group demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as continued fighting there hampered moves to end the Iran war. The Hezbollah announcement came as Israeli str»»»
Sofia and Athens Strengthen Alliance as Leaders Discuss Water, Security and EU Priorities
Following talks in Sofia, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined an ambitious agenda focused on transboundary water management, energy security, transport connectivity, defense cooperation, and the future of the European Union. Both leaders descri»»»
How will Jordan navigate the World Cup without Yazan Al-Naimat?
RIYADH: Once the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw was finalized, it was already seen within the Jordan camp as a monumental task to qualify for the knockout stages. But when Yazan Al-Naimat ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in late December, optimism quickly gave way to concern among Jordanian fans. »»»
Macut, Ghobash discuss further strengthening of Serbia-UAE bilateral relations
BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met on Thursday in Belgrade with the speaker of the UAE Federal National Council Saqr Ghobash to discuss further strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries. "Macut emphasised that Serbia and the United Arab Emirates foster relations based on mut»»»
Minister of State for International Cooperation meets UAE Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met Thursday with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Qatar HE Saeed Abdullah Al Qamzi. Discussion during the meeting addressed Qatar-UAE cooperation relations and ways to bolster»»»
Saudi Arabia uncovers 1,700 artefacts at historic Al Juhfah Hajj Site, shedding light on early Islamic pilgrimage route
More than 1,700 artefacts have been uncovered at the archaeological site of Miqat Al Juhfah, highlighting the historical importance of one of the key stations on the ancient Hajj route to Mecca, Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission said. The discoveries were made during the completion of the first se»»»
Prime Minister of Belarus arrives in Kyrgyzstan for official visit - | 24.KG
Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on an official visit. The Cabinet of Ministers’ press service reported. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Ulan Mamatkanov welcomed the guest at Manas International Airport. The official visit includes»»»
Hezbollah Leader Calls on Lebanese Officials to Stop Humiliating Negotiations in Washington: ‘Israel’ Won’t Gain through Politics What It Failed to Reach in War
Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem lashed out at the direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and the Israeli enemy, stressing that Washington’s announcement outlines the basic principles as seen by America and Israel for Lebanon’s submission to the “Greater Israel” project. »»»
St. Petersburg Forum Brings Together Energy Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Security, Future of Global Markets
Global energy markets will turn their attention on Friday to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where a high-level panel discussion titled “Global Energy Systems: How Is the World’s Energy Sector Responding to Challenges and Risks?” will take place. The 29th edition of the forum, bein»»»
Qassem says Hezbollah demands 'comprehensive' ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal
Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Lebanese government, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a written statement read on TV, said the agreement's demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Leban»»»
Saudi Embassy in US participates in Sports Diplomacy Summit
WASHINGTON: The Saudi Embassy in the US participated in the Sports Diplomacy Summit in Washington on June 3. Saudi government officials, diplomats and leaders from the sports and business sectors attended the event, which formed part of international discussions ahead of the football World Cup. The»»»
Pakistan 'natural connector' for China's BRI & Russia's INSTC: Pakistan's Ambassador
Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Russian Federation, gave an exclusive interview to Sputnik on the sidelines of SPIEF. Your Excellency, what are Pakistan's key objectives at this year's SPIEF, and what message is Pakistan bringing to the Russian business co»»»
Irish leader Micheál Martin visits Budapest for talks with Péter Magyar ahead of Ireland’s EU presidency
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar welcomed Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin to Budapest on Thursday for high-level talks focusing on Ireland’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 July. The importance of Micheál Martin visiting Budapest and Péter Magyar The »»»
Imam Khomeini’s Legacy Continues to Overshadow Nations That Defy Arrogance
On June 3, 1989, news of the passing of Imam Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini swept across the globe, bringing profound grief to revolutionary and freedom-seeking people from diverse ideological, intellectual, and religious backgrounds. His Eminence departed after founding the Islamic Republic of Iran, se»»»
Hezbollah demands 'comprehensive' ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal
Hezbollah on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and the Lebanese government, demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a written statement read on TV, said the agreement's demand that Hezbollah fighters leave southern Leban»»»
Al Shams Housing sees 6.8% YoY higher profits in Q1 2026 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: The net profits of Al Shams Housing and Urbanization increased by 6.89% year-on-year (YoY) to EGP 48.957 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, compared to EGP 45.797 million, according to a bourse filing. Sales jumped to EGP 59.446 million at the end of March 2026, up from EGP 38»»»
The US House voted against Trump’s Iran war. Can it actually stop it?
The US House of Representatives has delivered one of the strongest political rebukes yet to President Donald Trump’s handling of the war with Iran, approving a resolution that seeks to halt American military involvement in the conflict. The vote does not immediately end the war. Nor does it guarant»»»
Dubai launches ‘SME in a Box’ platform to cut startup costs and speed company formation
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched a new digital platform aimed at helping entrepreneurs establish and operate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more quickly and at lower cost, as the emirate seeks to strengthen its position as a global business hub. The platform, »»»
ICC board grapples with cricket’s wide-ranging global issues
On Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31, the day of the Indian Premier League final in Ahmedabad, the International Cricket Council conducted board meetings in the same city. According to the subsequent press release, the outcome was “a series of decisions aimed at strengthening governance, support»»»
Russian Economy Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Russia is a Reliable Partner for Saudi Arabia
Russia’s Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov affirmed his country’s satisfaction with the level of development in its strategic relations with Saudi Arabia, explaining that the Kingdom’s participation as the guest of honor at the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this »»»
Budapest corruption scandal continues: HUF 2 billion paid in bribes, number of suspects increasing
Hungary’s largest ongoing municipal corruption investigation has expanded significantly, with prosecutors announcing that 12 additional suspects have been questioned in connection with the so-called Óbuda (Budapest’s District III) corruption case. The latest developments bring the total number of s»»»
Bulgarian, Greek Prime Ministers Discuss Strategic Partnership, Energy, Transport Connectivity
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Sofia on Thursday to discuss bilateral strategic partnership, energy, transport connectivity, security and issues on the European agenda. The two counterparts held a one-on-one meeting at the Council of Minist»»»
Mada launches Innovation Award 2026 to advance Arabic assistive technology solutions
Doha, Qatar: Mada Assistive Technology Center has launched the Mada Innovation Award 2026, aimed at encouraging the development of innovative Arabic-language solutions in assistive technology and digital accessibility to empower persons with disabilities and senior citizens and enhance their qualit»»»
Sadr once again dismantles his armed militia. Why now?
For the third time in less than two decades, prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric and politician Muqtada al-Sadr has announced the dismantling of a militia he created and oversaw. Last month, he announced that the Peace Brigades—the last and most important armed wing linked to the Sadrist current—would di»»»
Israeli strikes on south and east kill at least 3, despite 'truce'
The Israeli army carried out airstrikes in south Lebanon on Thursday, hours after Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire. An Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on the Zefta road, while other strikes targeted Kfartebnit, Shehour, Bestat, Kfar Remman, Tebnine, Maaroub, Zawtar, Shoukin, »»»
In Sofia, Greek Prime Minister Urges Stronger Defence Cooperation Between Greece and Bulgaria
Greece stood by Bulgaria in protecting its airspace from potential threats, and the two countries can further strengthen cooperation in the field of defence, said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev in Sofia. The two leaders held a one»»»
Uzbekistan welcomes election of Kyrgyzstan to UN Security Council - | 24.KG
President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov today, June 4, had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. During the conversation, Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Sadyr Japarov on the election of Kyrgyzstan as a non-permanent member of the United N»»»
Saudi Arabia Contemplates Lifting Fuel Subsidies
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, is considering lifting fuel subsidies. This move, reported by Argaam, could potentially save the nation approximately SAR 30 billion annually while curbing local fuel consumption. As petrol and diesel prices are poised to rise, this decision marks a c»»»
Kuwait arrests suspect hours after armed exchange house robbery of KD21,000
Kuwaiti authorities have arrested a suspect accused of robbing a branch of a money exchange company in the Al Shaab area after an intensive search operation that led to his identification and capture, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the incident began when security author»»»
Ranking the chances of Arab nations to progress from World Cup group stages
LONDON: An unprecedented eight teams from the Arab region will participate at the 2026 World Cup. The expanded 48-nation tournament means that there are 32 places available in the knockout stages. Arab News tries to predict the unpredictable and rank their chances to get out of their groups. Morocc»»»
Germany fails to win UN Security Council seat for first time ever
Germany has failed to win a temporary seat on the UN Security Council for the first time, losing a General Assembly vote to Austria and Portugal. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the outcome “a real disappointment,” after Berlin had won all six of its previous bids. Portugal won 134 votes an»»»
Putin faces rival visions of war and peace at Russia’s ‘Davos’
ST PETERSBURG: President Vladimir Putin faced two rival outlines of Russia’s future as he hosted his premier annual investment conference with the war in Ukraine unabated. Some participants at the glitzy St. Petersburg International Economic Forum said Russia should fight on and gird for global co»»»
Egyptian Real Estate Group’s profits hike 91% YoY in Q1 2026 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: The Egyptian Real Estate Group logged 91% higher net profits after tax at EGP 1.154 million in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, compared to EGP 604,474 in Q1 2025, as per the financial results. Earnings per share (EPS) increased year-on-year (YoY) to EGP 0.002 at the end of March 2026 »»»
Parliament Establishes Investment Coordination Council
Parliament adopted at second reading amendments to the Investment Promotion Act, creating an Investment Coordination Council under the Council of Ministers and aligning the legislation with the Government's new ministerial structure. The amendments reflect the redistribution of responsibilities bet»»»
Three Precious Gifts to Tehran from Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, and George W. Bush
Most people in today’s Middle East were born after 1979. Yet they often overlook how profoundly that year shaped their countries, their stability, and their daily lives. It unleashed storms, wars, and leaders whose ambitions and dangers far exceeded the borders from which they emerged. Some observe»»»
Foreign Buying Persists Despite Tax and Classification Uncertainty
Cairo — Overseas investors continued to accumulate Egyptian equities on Wednesday despite ongoing debate over proposed tax reforms and the review of Egypt’s market classification by S&P Dow Jones Indices, suggesting market participants remain broadly constructive on the country’s medium-term invest»»»
Former BDB Chief Stoyan Mavrodiev Arrested in Belgrade as Bulgaria Seeks ExtraditionOpinions
Former Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) chief Stoyan Mavrodiev has been detained in Belgrade, according to information confirmed through cooperation between Bulgarian and Serbian authorities. His identity has been officially verified, and Bulgarian prosecutors, together with the Interior Ministry, »»»
Bulgaria: Migrant Smugglers Charge up to €5,000 for Greece-Sofia Routes, Border Police Chief SaysOpinions
Migrants traveling from the Greek border to Sofia are paying between 3,000 and 5,000 euros, according to Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police Directorate, speaking on BNT. He said Bulgaria has significantly reduced migration pressure and dismantled 18 organized crime gro»»»
Israel plans major settlement push across occupied West Bank
JERUSALEM: Israel’s hard-line finance minister announced on Wednesday a major expansion by more than 2,000 homes of three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank that Palestinians hope will be part of a future independent state. Most nations consider Israeli settlements there to be illegal un»»»
Israel Plans Major Settlement Push Across Occupied West Bank
Israel's hardline finance minister announced on Wednesday a major expansion by more than 2,000 homes of three Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank that Palestinians hope will be part of a future independent state. Most nations consider Israeli settlements there to be illegal under internati»»»
Israel strikes south and east despite truce announcement
The Israeli army carried out airstrikes in south Lebanon on Thursday, hours after Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire. An Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle on the Zefta road, while other strikes targeted Kfartebnit, Shehour, Bestat, Kfar Remman, Maaroub, Zawtar, Shoukin, Kafra, Ze»»»
Katz Declares: “We Will Target Beirut, Keep South Lebanon”
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz asserted that the Israeli army will not cease its military operations in southern Lebanon, claiming that’ Israel’ has received US approval to target Beirut if Hezbollah launches rockets toward Israeli settlements in the north. Katz stated that the “Declaration »»»
9 Killed in Strikes in Gaza Overnight, Hospital Says
At least nine Palestinians were killed overnight in strikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals, even as much of the world’s attention was focused on the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The nine people were killed in at least four separate strikes in Gaza City, according to Shif»»»