World Cup songs: from local themes to global industry
Rewind almost a century, to the 1930s, and the FIFA World Cup had no need to produce an official song or fashion a unified sonic identity. This was a purely sporting event, shaped by the era's politics and communication methods. Match results were printed in newspapers, and fans followed the games »»»
Trump’s 2026 Iran deal differs from Obama’s 2015 JCPOA
The US-Iran agreement to be signed in Geneva on 19 June cannot really be compared to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that former US President Barack Obama’s team negotiated with European, Russian, and Chinese help from 2013-15 to restrain Iran’s nuclear programme. The most obvious di»»»
Serbian court jails school shooter's parents on retrial
Belgrade: A Serbian court on Thursday found the parents of a teenage school shooter guilty of his neglect and abuse, reinstating a lengthy jail sentence after a high-profile retrial. The killings of nine students and a security guard in the Belgrade elementary school on May 3, 2023, shocked the Bal»»»
Senegal's powerful ex-PM Ousmane Sonko opens door to IMF debt talks as fiscal crisis deepens
Senegal’s former prime minister Ousmane Sonko has indicated he is open to discussing a debt restructuring with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), signalling a possible breakthrough in efforts to resolve a fiscal crisis that has disrupted relations between Dakar and the lender. The country’s par»»»
Pune horror: Godman held for rape, forcing women to drink urine
Dubai: A self-styled godman and seven associates have been arrested in Pune after police uncovered what investigators describe as a years-long cycle of sexual abuse, psychological manipulation and financial exploitation allegedly carried out from a hidden underground ashram. The main accused, ident»»»
Péter Magyar meets Metsola in Brussels, who agrees on ending the anti-democracy investigations
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar held talks with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Brussels on Thursday, describing the meeting as successful and highlighting what he called a shared commitment to bringing Hungary’s long-running Article 7 procedure to a close by the autumn. The »»»
WEF report highlights war’s effects on energy transition
LONDON: A new report from the World Economic Forum says that “geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions and rising demand” are slowing global progress toward more secure, sustainable and affordable energy systems. According to the 16th WEF annual Energy Transition Index, overall progress “has flatl»»»
'No one understands what's happening': Confusion in Israeli army over Lebanon
Israeli commanders and soldiers currently involved in the fighting in Lebanon say the Israeli army has changed its open-fire rules in recent days, reducing troops' ability to "prevent and respond to Hezbollah attacks" and leaving soldiers vulnerable. "The open-fire rules right now are only to remov»»»
Starmer rival seeks win in UK by-election pivotal to prime minister's fate
The UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he will fight to stay in his role if a leadership challenge is launched by Andy Burnham. But before any such contest unfolds, Burnham must win a seat in parliament, which he is hoping to do on June 18 in a by-election in the Makerfield constituency»»»
UK mosques urged to improve security over fear of attacks
LONDON: British mosques have been advised to beef up security measures, including holding lockdown drills, to prepare in case of attacks. The recommendations in a framework by the Muslim Council of Britain suggest that mosques forge closer ties with local police and improve CCTV around premises ami»»»
Amazon to buy Middle Eastern online retailer Souq.com
Amazon.com Inc has agreed in principle to buy Dubai-based internet retailer Souq.com, one of the best-known names in the Middle East’s online shopping market, sources familiar with the deal said on Wednesday. Souq.com, which sells consumer electronics, fashion, household items and other goods, lays»»»
Bulgaria Recycles Less Than 17% of Household Waste, Environment Minister Warns
Bulgaria recycles less than 17% of its household waste, far below the European Union average of around 48%, Environment and Water Minister Rositsa Karamfilova said on Thursday. Speaking at the National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Authorities in Sofia, organized by the National Associatio»»»
Former Economy Minister Says Bulgaria Leads Eurozone Inflation Growth, Blames Budget and War EffectsOpinions
Former economy minister Nikolay Vassilev argued that Bulgaria currently shows the fastest inflation growth in the eurozone, attributing the trend to a combination of fiscal policy, external shocks, and rising incomes. He dismissed concerns over short-term price movements, saying, “I would not like »»»
“BRICS bank” extends $1bn loan to South Africa to finance infrastructure upgrades in eight municipalities
The New Development Bank (NDB), the multilateral lender established by the original BRICS bloc members, is providing South Africa with a $1bn loan to help finance infrastructure upgrades in the country's eight largest so-called metropolitan municipalities. The funding will be used to improve water »»»
The Debate - At the mercy of Silicon Valley? Europe exposed by Trump AI export ban
Is it better to persuade or to confront? French leader Emmanuel Macron is opting for the royal treatment with Donald Trump at Versailles, what with a dinner to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the King of France's support for the birth of a new nation. It's all about keeping the US president on b»»»
Lahore HC halts Punjab move to take over Ewing Hall
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday restrained the Punjab government from taking any further action regarding the 11.5-kanal Ewing Hall property belonging to Forman Christian College University (FCCU), following a dispute over the cancellation of its lease, Dawn reported. Justice Ahmad Nadeem»»»
Far-right MEPs chant ‘send them back’ as EU returns vote passes parliament
Far-right MEPs in the plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday (17 June) chanted “send them back”, with some pumping their fists, after the EU’s deportation bill was voted through with a clear majority. “It’s up to them how they want to yell and scream. It’s not my type of politics, it’s not how I am as »»»
S.African sentenced in 'world's largest' rhino trafficking case
Johannesburg: A South African court has convicted and fined a rhino horn trafficking "mastermind", ending a trial spanning 15 years, police said Thursday, describing it as the world's largest such case. The country is home to most of the world's rhinos and is a hotspot for poaching driven by demand»»»
Abu Dhabi property deals hit record Dh38.1 billion in first quarter
Dubai: Abu Dhabi’s residential property market recorded its strongest first quarter on record, with Dh38.1 billion worth of sales across 8,100 transactions between January and March, according to Cavendish Maxwell. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The total value of hom»»»
Hungarian universities slip down the latest QS World University Rankings, only one improves
The Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, one of the most widely recognised higher education league tables globally, has published its latest rankings for 2027. Ten Hungarian universities were included in this year’s list, but the results reveal a challenging year for the country’s h»»»
Aoun says Israeli war disrupted reforms
President Joseph Aoun said Thursday that the latest war has disrupted the economic, financial, administrative, and judicial reforms in Lebanon. "Lebanon does not need financial aid but investments," he said.»»»
Sharjah Civil Defence introduces rapid-response bikes for faster emergency action
Sharjah: The Sharjah Civil Defence Authority has strengthened its emergency response capabilities with the deployment of advanced rapid intervention motorcycles designed to reach incident sites faster, particularly in congested areas, narrow streets and large public events where conventional fire e»»»
Deputy PM Pekanov Calls for Preserving EU Cohesion Policy
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov Thursday called preserving the European Union's cohesion policy. Speaking during a National Meeting of Local and Central Executive Authorities in Sofia, organized by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB), he sai»»»
Vucic: US withhold release order for Zijin Copper products bad news for Serbia
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday a withhold release order issued by US Customs and Border Protection for copper and copper products made by Serbia Zijin Copper LLC was bad news for Serbia and that talks were underway with the US side to solve the problem. "Evidently, i»»»
Israeli police violently disperse ultra-Orthodox protest (VIDEO)
Israeli police have clashed with Haredi Jews who blocked a major highway near Tel Aviv in protest over the arrest of a draft dodger from the ultra-Orthodox community. Dozens of protesters blocked traffic in both directions on Route 4 east of Tel Aviv early on Wednesday, sitting on the road and craw»»»
What’s in Rupert Lowe’s rape gangs report?
At least 250,000 British girls suffered sickening sexual abuse by Pakistani gangs, who were enabled by police, social workers, and even Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to commit “child rape on an industrial scale,” British MP Rupert Lowe’s ‘Rape Gang Report’ has detailed. Published on Tuesday, the 218»»»
Revolut’s goal: 20 million retail customers by the end of 2026
Revolut, the fintech company with over 70 million customers globally, has appointed Wiktor Stopa to lead the Growth and Marketing Department for Central and Eastern Europe. Wiktor is also responsible for coordinating the same types of activities in Western Europe. BR sat down with him to ask him ab»»»
TIIF 2026: Uzbekistan's $4 trillion Islamic finance opportunity
Uzbekistan is an unusual case in the Islamic world. Its population of nearly 40mn is overwhelmingly Muslim — around 90% — yet the country has operated since independence as a resolutely secular state, with a conventional western-style banking system inherited from the Soviet era. Islamic finance ha»»»
Parents of teenage school killer again sentenced to years in prison after retrial
BELGRADE - After a retrial, the Higher Court in Belgrade on Thursday handed prison sentences to the parents a teenage boy who killed nine pupils and a security staff member and wounded six more people in a shooting spree in his primary school in central Belgrade on May 3, 2023. His father Vladimir »»»
Europe’s defence push creates new opportunities for Romanian industry – EY analysis
The political and strategic decisions adopted at NATO and European Union level mark the beginning of a new economic cycle for the defence industry. The accelerated increase in military budgets, the adoption of unprecedented investment targets, and the pressure on existing production capacities are »»»
Israel FM says cutting contact with EU top diplomat over ‘apartheid’ remarks
JERUSALEM: Israel’s foreign minister said Thursday that he was severing all contact with the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas over reported remarks in which she allegedly compared Israel to the apartheid regime that once ruled South Africa.“Recently, it was published that during her visit »»»
Across the globe, women’s cricket is breaking boundaries
In the first 11 matches out of the 33 scheduled for the 2026 women’s T20 World Cup, there have been several surprises, coupled with strong expressions of intent by Australia, India, and England. Margins for error are fine in T20 cricket and New Zealand illustrated that in abundance against the West»»»
Parliament Adopts Conclusive Criminal Procedure Code Amendments Introducing Judicial Review of 72-Hour Prosecutorial Detention
Parliament on Thursday adopted at second reading amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) introducing judicial review of 72-hour detention orders issued by prosecutors. The new provision is set to enter into force one month after its promulgation in the State Gazette. The amendments also req»»»
Israel FM says cutting contact with EU top diplomat over 'apartheid' remarks
Israel's foreign minister said Thursday that he was severing all contact with the European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas over reported remarks in which she allegedly compared Israel to the apartheid regime that once ruled South Africa. "Recently, it was published that during her visit to Mexico,»»»
Tehran and Washington sign interim peace deal to end US-Israeli war on Iran
President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday signed an interim deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran. The two countries now have 60 days to hammer out a lasting agreement that would see Tehran diluting its enriched uranium stocks in exchange for sweeping sancti»»»
Eye on Africa - Ghana's Partey denied entry into Canada over rape allegations
A Canadian court has dismissed Ghanaian star midfielder Thomas Partey's appeal against the government's refusal of his visa last week, meaning he won't be able to play at the World Cup. Partey is facing seven charges of rape in the UK; he denies the allegations. Next, Kenyan Pre»»»
Media Review: June 18
No single topic dominates Thursday's news media. ECONOMY Speaking on Nova TV's morning show, former economy minister Nikolay Vassilev criticized the government, arguing that it had failed to present any meaningful ideas for the budget. He said annual spending needed to be reduced by some EUR 6 bill»»»
New enforcement system aims to secure rights, not harm individuals, says Saudi justice minister
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani has said that the new enforcement system, approved by the Cabinet in April, is built on a balanced philosophy that preserves the creditor’s right to obtain their due while taking into account the fundamental rights of the debtor and their family. A»»»
Romania drops 12 places in global competitiveness ranking
Romania has recorded its sharpest decline in recent years in the 2026 World Competitiveness Yearbook, published on Thursday by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Agerpres reports. Compared with the previous edition, Romania fell 12 places to 61st out of 70 eco»»»
UAE universities hit record QS Rankings 2027: Eight institutions achieve all-time highs
Dubai: For the first time, a UAE institution has broken into the global top 150. Khalifa University climbed from 177th to 147th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, released on June 18, a landmark result for the country's higher education sector. Overall, nine of the UAE's 12 ranked universiti»»»
Prime Day returns to Amazon.ae from June 24-30 with exclusive deals and savings
Amazon UAE’s Prime Day returns from June 24-30, kicking off summer with millions of exclusive deals for Prime members on www.amazon.ae/primeday. This year’s event brings together deep discounts across more than 30 product categories from top local and international brands, in addition to deals on t»»»
Municipalities Push for Fiscal Decentralization amid Fiscal Constraints
Bulgaria's municipalities are calling for a gradual transfer of financial powers from the central government to local authorities, arguing that fiscal decentralization is essential for regional development and more effective public administration. Speaking at the opening of the National Meeting of »»»
Bulgaria Moves Closer to Removal From Global Money Laundering Watchlist After Major Reform PushOpinions
Bulgaria has received a major positive assessment in its efforts to combat financial crime after implementing all 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), according to a report published by MONEYVAL and announced by the Ministry of Justice. The development marks a significant m»»»
Jordan set to receive $188m IMF financing amid regional turmoil
RIYADH: Jordan is set to receive $188 million in fresh International Monetary Fund financing to support economic reforms and stability amid continued disruption from the Middle East conflict. The IMF Executive Board completed the fifth review of Jordan’s Extended Fund Facility arrangement and the s»»»
Senate confirms Michelle Steel as U.S. ambassador to S. Korea - UPI.com
The U.S. Senate confirmed former congresswoman Michelle Steel (R) Wednesday as ambassador to South Korea. In this April 2023 photo, Steel arrives at the White House for a state dinner with former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo The Senate has conf»»»
Abu Dhabi restricts delivery motorcycles on highways after rise in fatal accidents
Abu Dhabi: Authorities in Abu Dhabi have introduced new restrictions on delivery motorcycles, banning them from using highways with speed limits of 120km/h or above following a rise in serious accidents involving riders. Abu Dhabi Mobility, through the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), said the mo»»»
Citizenship for cash? New allegations emerge over Hungarian passport granted to wealthy Canadians
New allegations have surfaced concerning Hungary’s citizenship programme, with claims that wealthy Canadian nationals obtained Hungarian citizenship despite allegedly failing to meet the legal requirements. Former government accused of facilitating controversial citizenship approvals The accusation»»»
Seoul stocks end at record peak of above 9,000 on extended chip rally - UPI.com
Employees celebrate after the closing bell in a trading room of Woori Bank in Seoul on Thursday, as the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index surpassed a historic landmark of 9,000 points. Photo by Yonhap Seoul stocks surged by more than 2 percent past another historic landmark, surpassing th»»»
Saudi Arabia advances to 13th globally, 3rd in G20 in IMD competitiveness report
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has advanced four positions in the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, ranking 13th globally among 70 economies and securing third place among G20 economies. The yearbook, published by the International Institute for Management Development, or IMD, is one of the world’s le»»»
What do Iran and the US stand to gain from their deal? Here’s what to know
Cairo: The interim deal reached by the United States and Iran to end their war will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring the two adversaries back to the negotiating table over Tehran’s nuclear programme. It will also give Iran an immediate benefit, allowing it to sell its oil freely again, accordi»»»