Can small nations survive in a world of civilizational giants?
Alongside the ongoing debate among scholars and expert circles regarding the most accurate terminology for the emerging global order – multipolar, polycentric, or multi-nodal – the concept of the “civilizational state” has naturally gained prominence. I first encountered this framework in the work »»»
Dubai restaurant’s comedy-drama series focuses on power of storytelling
DUBAI: A Dubai restaurant has taken an unusual approach to marketing by turning its staff into actors. Bocasu, a Japanese-inspired dining concept in Al-Quoz, Dubai, has launched “BocaShow,” a 10-episode scripted comedy-drama series on YouTube featuring its own team playing fictionalized versions of»»»
Pakistan's mango trade takes a hit from regional conflict
Tando Allahyar: Beneath the scorching sun in Pakistan's southern mango belt, labourers balance on tree branches, working at a swift pace to throw the freshly picked fruit into sacks held ready by farmhands waiting below. Though mango season is well underway, far less of the fruit will be bound for »»»
Sri Lanka’s Pathirage eyes Commonwealth Games, Asian record after Doha triumph
Doha, Qatar: Sri Lankan javelin throw sensation Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage captured his maiden Doha Diamond League victory in emphatic fashion on Friday evening with a monumental 88.68m mark, and wasted no time looking ahead to claiming back-to-back global championships medals. After becoming the ei»»»
MoC opens registration for Akhlaq Award competition
Doha: The Ministry of Culture (MoC) announced the opening of registration for the second edition of the international calligraphy competition “Akhlaq Award,” inviting calligraphers and creatives from around the world. The competition aims to revive traditional Arabic calligraphy while highlighting »»»
Japan stroll to victory over Tunisia in World Cup's 1,000th game
Monterrey, Mexico: Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia on Saturday to close in on a place in the last 32. Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points»»»
Qatar prepare for must-win clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina
Doha, Qatar: Qatar began full-fledged preparations for a decisive Group B clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday, with their FIFA World Cup knockout hopes hanging in the balance. After opening their campaign with a late 1-1 draw against group favourites Switzerland, Qatar »»»
Flyweight Manel Kape continues successful run at UFC Fight Night
Flyweight Manel Kape stopped Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round for his fourth straight victory on Saturday night in the UFC Fight Night main event in Las Vegas. Kape’s TKO at 2:42 in the third of five scheduled rounds marked a transition period in a division whose champion, Joshua Van, successfu»»»
Tight security as India holds exam retest after leak scandal
New Delhi: India's 2.2 million aspiring medical students sit a re-examination under tight security on Sunday, after the last test was scrapped following a paper leak that triggered widespread outrage. The failure of the hugely competitive exam, along with a separate marking fiasco in high school te»»»
Iran says closed Strait of Hormuz as US deal hits obstacle ahead of Swiss talks
Iran said Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, while warning that upcoming talks with the United States in Switzerland are unlikely to advance unless the fighting stops. President Donald Trump countered by threatening U.S.-imposed tolls o»»»
Egypt launches 2nd State Ownership Policy Document for 2026-2030 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Aeab Finance: Egypt launched the second edition of its State Ownership Policy document for 2026-2030, outlining a framework to enhance the state's role as a regulator and enabler of economic activity while supporting greater private-sector participation, as per a statement. The document, titled "De»»»
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Resign Monday – Report
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday after accepting that his time in office has run out, The Observer reported, citing Labour MPs and ministers. The prime minister now faces an ultimatum from his own party. A majority of Labour MPs are backing Andy Burnham, the Mayor»»»
South Korea Becomes World's Fastest‑Growing Arms Exporter - SIPRI
South Korea has emerged as one of the world's fastest‑growing arms exporters, with revenues from its top defense firms projected to nearly quadruple since 2021, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The country now ranks as the ninth largest arms e»»»
The future is now for 18-year-old striker on Egypt’s World Cup squad
VANCOUVER: Egypt striker Hamza Abdelkarim is just 18 and one of the youngest players at the World Cup, but he’s handling soccer’s biggest stage as a seasoned professional. The 6-footer is one of 22 teenagers on squads at the World Cup and he’s the youngest player ever to play for his nation in the »»»
The war inside Iran's right
The deal to end Iran's war with the United States was made by one part of the hardline establishment and might be savaged by another. To judge whether the peace holds, watch the fight among the hardliners and not the reformists. In the nights after Iran and the United States agreed to end their war»»»
Tisza rejects claims of secret constitutional court deal
Márton Melléthei-Barna, deputy leader of the Tisza parliamentary group, denied that he had entered into any secret pact or behind-the-scenes agreement concerning President Tamás Sulyok’s submission to the Constitutional Court. The politician was responding on Facebook on Saturday after Fidesz claim»»»
Room heroics earn Curacao World Cup point against Ecuador
Kansas City: Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room was the hero against Ecuador on Saturday, keeping out a barrage of shots to help the tiny Caribbean nation claim their first ever World Cup point in a goalless draw that keeps alive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase. Ecuador, who finished second in»»»
Spain seek reset vs. Saudi Arabia after opening draw
Spain extended their unbeaten streak in competitive fixtures to 32 matches during their World Cup opener last week. And yet, it was hard not to see La Roja’s scoreless draw against debutant Cape Verde — the third-least-populated country to ever qualify for the World Cup — as a disastrous start for»»»
Undav scores twice, saves Germany with 2-1 World Cup win over Ivory Coast
TORONTO: Deniz Undav scored two goals off the bench as Germany pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their World Cup Group E match on Saturday, securing their place in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the title in 2014. After having two goals disallowed in »»»
Former Olympian arrested for alleged damage to Reflecting Pool - UPI.com
Paint applied to the bottom of the renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool can be seen peeling and floating to the surface of the water. A man was arrested on Friday for reaching into the water to touch paint floating near the side of the pool. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo June 20 (UPI»»»
India’s Cockroach Party supporters bang plates to call for education minister's resignation
NEW DELHI: Supporters of India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party banged steel plates with spoons in a protest Saturday to demand the resignation of the education minister over allegations of examination irregularities and repeated paper leaks. The protest near Parliament in New Delhi by hundreds of stu»»»
Trump tries to blame Reflecting Pool woes on vandalism, without offering substantiation
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that federal authorities had made “multiple arrests” of people he said were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $14-million-plus rehabilitation project he launched for the nation’s 250th anniversary seemingly ba»»»
Congo says confirmed Ebola cases rise to 956, including 247 deaths
KINSHASA: The Democratic Republic of Congo said on Saturday the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country had risen to 956, including 247 deaths. On Friday, confirmed cases were at 933, and deaths were 245. At least 30 people have died since the start of May in one camp for di»»»
Undav scores twice, saves Germany with 2-1 World Cup win over Ivory Coast
TORONTO: Deniz Undav scored twice after being subbed on in the second half as Germany defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 on Saturday and clinched a spot in the knockout phase at the World Cup. Four minutes into stoppage time, Undav received a pass from Felix Nmecha in front of the net and rifled it past Ivor»»»
Judge revokes Spanish prime minister's wife's passport ahead of corruption trial - UPI.com
Spanish first lady Begona Gomez, left, and her husband, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pictured earlier this month visiting Pope Leo XIV during his week-long trip to Spain. Photo by Alejandro Garcia/EPA June 20 (UPI) -- Begona Gomez, the wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, had her p»»»
Brobbey rewards Koeman with early double as Dutch thump Sweden 5-1
DPA Houston Netherlands forward Brian Brobbey justified the decision to bring him into the starting line-up with two poacher’s goals in a 5-1 World Cup stroll over Sweden on Saturday. Cody Gakpo also netted a double in Houston to boost the three-times runners-up, with Anthony Elanga’s goal for 4-1 »»»
Pinoy Popstar Middle East Qatar unveils Top 15 finalists
Darlene Regis Excitement, anticipation, and Filipino pride filled the air as the Pinoy Popstar Middle East 2026 — Qatar officially introduced its Top 15 finalists during a press conference at Kylin Restaurant. The event brought together media representatives, organisers, and partners to celebrate F»»»
Filipino community marks I-Day with sports, culture, and unity celebration
Darlene Regis In celebration of the 128th Philippine Independence Day, PAPAWIS QLAB organised a community sports and cultural event that brought together Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino community across Qatar. The event featured friendly competitions in Pickleball and Badminton while »»»
French police raid house for drugs and find a Picasso
Créteil, France: A police raid looking for drugs at a house in a Paris suburb turned up a painting by Pablo Picasso, prosecutors said Saturday. "This discovery was made during a search carried out as part of an investigation into drug trafficking," said the public prosecutor's office of Creteil, so»»»
Three Grand Canyon hikers die amid scorching hot temperatures - UPI.com
Three hikers were found dead in two separate incidents this week along the North Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, with all three having succumbed to extreme heat by the time emergency services arrived. Photo by U.S. National Parks Service June 20 (UPI) -- The National Parks Se»»»
Brobbey, Gakpo double delight as slick Netherlands dismantle Sweden
HOUSTON: An early double from Brian Brobbey, two more in the second half for Cody Gakpo and a late goal from Crysencio Summerville helped the Netherlands cruise to an impressive 5-1 win over Sweden at the World Cup on Saturday. The Dutch delivered the performance coach Ronald Koeman had demanded af»»»
Palestinians ‘trapped’ between Israeli settler violence and Hamas atrocities, UN Commission chair tells Arab News
NEW YORK CITY: Two systems of violence — one entrenched in the occupied West Bank and enabled by the Israeli state, the other born of Gaza’s ruin and enforced by Hamas — are closing in on the same population from opposite directions, the chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inqui»»»
Trump administration may keep Kennedy Center closed for renovations - UPI.com
The decision would be in defiance of a federal judge's order. A tarp covers the sign for the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., last week as federal employees complied with a court order to remove Trump's name from the building. Phot»»»
Russia hails Poland stripping Zelensky of state honor over ‘Nazi glorification’ controversy
Russian officials have welcomed Warsaw’s decision to strip Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honor. The decision came after Kiev named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist force implicated in massacres of Poles and»»»
Pegula powers past Sabalenka to reach Berlin final
Berlin: American Jessica Pegula rallied past world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 to reach the final of the Berlin WTA grass-court tournament for the second time. The world number four will bid for her 12th WTA title, her second on the Berlin grass after her 2024 victory, against Cz»»»
Egypt discovers two tombs dating back to early dynastic period
Cairo: The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced today that its archaeological mission successfully discovered two tombs dating back to the Early Dynastic Period, along with several burials from the Predynastic and Late Periods, in the Gebel El-Teir area in Minya governorate, south»»»
Hungary's Parliament progressing forward: wealth tax, reforming education, regulating AI and social media for children
Hungary’s government is preparing one of the most extensive legislative programmes in recent years, with 83 proposed bills scheduled for debate during the autumn parliamentary session. The plans, submitted by Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office Bálint Ruff, outline sweeping reforms affecti»»»
New Jabal Al-Tayr discovery reshapes understanding of early Egyptian funerary architecture
An Egyptian archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities has uncovered two tombs dating back to Egypt’s Early Dynastic Period, along with several burials from the Predynastic and Late Periods, during excavation works at the Jabal Al-Tayr site in Minya. The discovery sheds new ligh»»»
Iran negotiators leave for Switzerland to discuss US deal: state media
An Iranian negotiating team left Iran for Switzerland on Saturday for discussions on the implementation of its agreement with the United States to halt the Mideast war, state media said. The official news agency IRNA reported the delegation's departure, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Ba»»»
President of Hungary: Péter Magyar is abusing his parliamentary majority even more harshly than Orbán ever did
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok has pledged to use every available legal avenue to remain in office as tensions with Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s government continue to intensify. In an interview with Brussels-based news outlet Politico, Sulyok accused the new administration of attempting an unpr»»»
London Stock Exchange delegation visits ASE to explore opportunities for promoting investment
AMMAN — A delegation led by Head of Primary Markets for the Middle East and Africa at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), Abi Ajayi, discussed on Saturday ways to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise between the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE).They also explo»»»
Sharjah hits 99.7 per cent safety as trust in police surges in 2025
Sharjah: Sharjah has reinforced its position as one of the safest cities in the region, recording a 99.7 per cent sense of safety in 2025, according to the latest Quality of Life Indicators issued by the Sharjah Department of Statistics and Community Development. The achievement was highlighted dur»»»
Péter Magyar shares when the office for asset recovery could start operating after the delay
The Hungarian government has postponed the parliamentary submission of legislation establishing the new Asset Recovery Office, a key institution promised by Prime Minister Péter Magyar to investigate corruption and recover allegedly misappropriated public assets, including potentially stolen EU fun»»»
Bolivian president declares state of emergency after weeks of protests
LA PAZ: Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency across the Latin American country on Saturday after more than six weeks of road blockades and protests demanding his resignation, saying he had exhausted “all avenues of dialogue.” The decision came hours after Paz signed an agree»»»
Germany meet Ivory Coast in high-stakes World Cup clash, Sweden face Dutch
LOS ANGELES: High-scoring Germany face a powerful Ivory Coast side at the World Cup on Saturday with the winner guaranteed a place in the last 32, while Sweden can also book their ticket. Those three nations can join co-hosts the United States and Mexico who are already through. Germany thrashed de»»»
Court bans Spanish PM’s wife from leaving country
MADRID: A Spanish court has ordered the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Begona Gomez, to stand trial by jury for corruption and banned her from leaving the country, according to a court order released Saturday. The case is one of several corruption affairs that have embroiled the Socialist le»»»
Poland strips Zelensky of top state honour over WWII dispute
Poland has withdrawn its highest state honour from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after Kyiv named an army unit after a nationalist group that massacred Polish civilians during World War II. The decision by President Karol Nawrocki threatens to unleash a serious diplomatic crisis between t»»»
Qatar Gymnastics continues rise as Al Harith finishes fifth in Asia, Qadimi secures top eight ranking
Zunyi, China: Qatar's artistic gymnastics team continued to make its mark on the continental stage as athletes Rakan Al Harith and Mehrdad Qadimi delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, currently underway in Zunyi, China. Competing against some of Asia»»»
Ukrainian officials criticize Polish president’s decision to strip Zelensky of honor
WARSAW: A decision by the Polish president to strip Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s highest state honor was beneficial to Moscow, which has an interest in seeing Kyiv in conflict with its allies, Ukrainian officials said. President Karol Nawrocki announced Friday he will strip Zelen»»»
Meloni hits back at Trump after he claims she 'begged' for a photo
The Italian government closed ranks on Friday to slam US President Donald Trump over his claim that Premier Giorgia Meloni had “begged” for a photo with him during the recent G7 summit, a pushback that suggested America’s longtime European ally had had enough of Trump’s boasting and criticism. Ital»»»