RIYADH: “Esports World Cup: Level Up” returns for its second season on June 26, with all five episodes dropping that day exclusively on Prime Video. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker RJ Cutler — “Martha” (Netflix), “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry” (Apple TV) — the five-part docuseries »»»

The Macedonia Foundation is calling off a 120-minute peaceful civil blockade of all three border crossings between Bulgaria and North Macedonia planned for June 21. The Foundation's President Viktor Stoyanov announced this on Thursday after earlier in the day Bulgaria's Ambassador in Skopje Zhelyaz»»»

Our weekly digest of Hungarian politics continues, as we report on the aftermath of April’s election and on the early days of the new Tisza government. This week we cover: A bill has been submitted to completely overhaul Hungary’s public media system. Layoffs have begun across the media empire link»»»

Cairo: The State of Qatar, represented by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), participated in the 23rd meeting of the Middle East Regional Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Group (MIDANPIRG/23) and the 13th meeting of the Regional Aviation Safety Group in the Middle East (RASG-MID/1»»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that he had approved a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war despite having a “different view,” without elaborating. “In principle, I had a different view (about the memorandum of understanding), but I issued»»»

LONDON: The Saudi permanent representative to the UN on Thursday asked Guyana’s Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for her plan for the UN to resolve the Palestinian issue and bring peace to the region at a dialogue in New York. Rodrigues-Birkett announced her intention to stand as a candidate fo»»»

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has granted a 30-day grace period for individuals affected by exceptional regional circumstances to adjust their status in the country or depart without facing penalties. The grace period runs from June 10 to July 9, 2»»»

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has celebrated the achievements of 138 medical residents during a dedicated convocation ceremony for physicians who have successfully completed their residency training programs. Held at HMC's Itqan Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center, the ceremony»»»

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas is accused of comparing Israel to South African apartheid. File Photo by Thomas Traasdahl/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Thursday that he is cutting all contact with Kaja Kal»»»

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has granted a 30-day grace period for individuals affected by exceptional regional circumstances to adjust their status in the country or depart without facing penalties. The grace period runs from June 10 to July 9, 2»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei confirmed on Thursday that he has given permission to sign a memorandum with the United States. "I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed president — as the head of the Supreme Nati»»»

Draft EU summit conclusions undergo changes by nature. Some are more significant than others. The version dated 16 June has removed a line on the Gaza and West Bank, suggesting Germany still won’t budge on trade bans against Israeli settlers, let alone on Israel more broadly. Although later tweaked»»»

Abidjan: Forward Elye Wahi will miss Ivory Coast's second World Cup match against Germany after he was denied a visa to enter Canada, the Ivorian football federation said on Thursday. "The administrative authorisations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory have not been obtained at this s»»»

1 of 2 | Vice President JD Vance conducts a briefing for the media at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Iran and the United States are complying with their peace agreement but den»»»

BEIRUT: The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, said on Thursday that Israel’s war in Lebanon had “failed” to eliminate the Iran-backed group. Raad said in a statement that “the enemy’s war aimed at crushing the resistance in Lebanon has failed and will not achieve its objectives»»»

Berlin, June 18 (SANA) The Chargé d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin, Mohammad Baraa Shukri, participated on Thursday in a roundtable discussion entitled “The New Syria: Visions and Prospects for Trade Relations with German Companies,” held on the sidelines of the Arab-German Business Forum»»»

Washington, United States: The US on Thursday lifted a blockade of Iranian ports imposed during the Middle East war after President Donald Trump signed a deal to end the conflict, as uncertainty surrounded planned talks in Switzerland aiming to take the accord further. The signing of the deal by Tr»»»

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance lashed out at Israeli critics of the Iran deal on Thursday, saying President Donald Trump is Israel’s only ally in a sharp rebuke that referenced the billions in US defense aid the country receives. As the Trump administration defended its deal to end the war »»»

Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential hopeful and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, unveiled a public security plan that includes chemical castration for convicted rapists and the construction of maximum-security prisons modeled after those implemented by Salvadoran President Nayib »»»

The U.S. Treasury on Thursday imposed sanctions on Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, Hezbollah political council deputy head Mahmoud Qmati and other individuals for using their influence to "obstruct Lebanon's peace process and delay the disarmament of Hezbollah." “Hezbollah must disarm for »»»

Tunis, June 18 (TAP) - An investigating judge at Tunisia’s Judicial Counter-Terrorism Division on Thursday issued 20 detention warrants against members of two international criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion...»»»

Bulgaria will veto the European Commission’s latest proposal to broaden sanctions against Russia unless Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill is removed from the proposed sanctions list, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Thursday. Radev spoke to Bulgarian journalists after arriving for a European Council»»»

WASHINGTON: The US government on Thursday announced sanctions against several Lebanese officials it said were aligned ‌with Hezbollah and ‌members of ‌the sanctioned ⁠Alaa Hassan Hamieh ⁠business network for obstructing Lebanon’s peace process and delaying the disarmament of Hezbollah. The ⁠US Trea»»»

Argentina is preparing to launch South America's first citizenship-by-investment program. File Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Argentina is preparing to launch South America's first citizenship-by-investment program, an initiative that would allow foreign nationals to app»»»

The Hungarian forint came under pressure on Thursday as a powerful rally of the US dollar swept through global currency markets following the US Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting. Hungarian currency weakens against both the US dollar and the euro While investors continue to monitor geopolitic»»»

GUADALAJARA, Mexico: It’s number-crunching time when it comes to formations at the World Cup. Every team start with a goalkeeper in front of the net, but then it’s up to the 48 coaches to try to arrange their lineups to optimize their players and match up effectively with opponents. On paper, the l»»»

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»»»

BEIRUT: The Palestine Football Association denied on Thursday issuing any statements or commentaries regarding the Football Association of Ireland’s decision to move its UEFA Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue. A PFA statement on X said: “First and foremost, the PFA have not iss»»»

Ukraine’s allies have announced contributions to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine ‌Requirements ‌List program ​for $1 ‌billion ⁠at ​a meeting ⁠of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, known as ⁠the Ramstein ‌group, ‌Ukrainian ​Defense Minister ‌Mykhailo ‌Fedorov said on Thursday. Fedorov, speaking at ‌a joi»»»

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a Texas man can't be prosecuted for being a regular user of marijuana and owning a gun. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- The Supreme Court said Thursday that a Texas man can't be prosecuted under a law that bans regular use»»»

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced legislation Thursday that would give the public $1,000 annually for a 50% stake in the largest AI firms in the country. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced legislation Thursday that would give the»»»

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Council meeting. Radev arrived in Brussels to take part in the meeting of EU heads of state or government and spoke to Bulgarian journalists. Radev sai»»»

The UAE has extradited three wanted suspects by Belgian authorities on allegations of money laundering, drug trafficking and involvement in transnational organised crime, in a move both countries said underscored their commitment to international judicial cooperation. Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nu»»»

ROME: Saudi Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said the contingency measures activated during the Iran crisis were the result of years of planning, and not reactive. “What we have been doing is not a reaction to what has happened,” Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said during a panel discussio»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the 60-day time frame for US-Iran negotiations aimed at striking a final deal starts today. "I would say the 60-day period officially started today ... So, yes, the deal started yesterday, we're going to start the 60-day clock »»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received on Thursday a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping in which the Chinese leader noted that he attached great significance to development of Sino-Serbian relations and that, during Vucic's recent visit to China, he had been impressed by the S»»»

Doha The foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye have strongly condemned the continued and escalating violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the»»»

British counter-terrorism police announced Thursday that a Border Force officer and another have been sentenced for allegedly spying for the Chinese government. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- British counter-terrorism said Thursday a Border Force officer and forme»»»

On Thursday, Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, denounced international calls for denuclearization, describing the country's nuclear weapons as its "core interests." File Photo Jorge Silva/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday »»»

Peruvian President José María Balcázar confirmed Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru during the first half of November. File Photo by Jose Sena Goulao/EPA June 18 (UPI) -- Peruvian President José María Balcázar confirmed Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV will visit Peru during the first half of N»»»

Tunis, June 18 (TAP) - The Specialised Criminal Division for financial corruption cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance on Thursday postponed the hearing of two cases against former President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (IVD) Sihem Ben...»»»

The ruling Socialist Party is set to convene an expanded meeting of its parliamentary group and government officials on Saturday at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana, according to information obtained by local media. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m., with party members informed throug»»»

Tunis, June 18 (TAP) - Acting on behalf of and for the account of the Tunisian State, the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) concluded on June 16, 2026, a financing facility worth $500 million (equivalent to TND 1,471 million) with the African...»»»

Head of Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc, Hajj Mohammad Raad called on the Lebanese authorities to carefully read the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and draw out the facts and prospects that will weigh heavily on the reality of the region and the world, including Lebanon. MP Raad also »»»

The EU’s latest Russia sanctions package proposal includes counter-productive measures that could backfire on its own member states, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova has said. The government of Ukraine-skeptic Prime Minister Rumen Radev, who assumed office in May, are reportedly “diggin»»»

TORONTO: Egypt midfielder Emam Ashour scored the fastest goal in the first round of group-stage games at 2026 FIFA World Cup. Data captured by the “Connected Ball” technology inside the official Adidas tournament ball revealed that his strike against Belgium reached a speed of 123.4 kph, surpassing»»»

LOS ANGELES: Mexico and South Korea will aim to punch their ticket to the World Cup knockout rounds on Thursday when they meet in Guadalajara knowing a win would guarantee a last 32 berth. The Group A rivals head into the fixture at the Estadio Akron fresh from respective victories over South Afric»»»

GDANSK: Veteran coach Ismail Kartal has returned to Fenerbahce ​for a fourth managerial spell, the Turkish Super Lig side said on Thursday. Fenerbahce said in a statement to Turkiye’s ‌Public Disclosure ‌Platform (KAP) that ​they ‌had ⁠appointed ​65-year-old Kartal ⁠on a one-year contract. Kartal, »»»

WASHINGTON: Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the US Navy has allowed more than a dozen ships through to Iranian ports, lifting a blockade as part of an agreement to end the war. Vance made the announcement at a White House press briefing, where he said more oil is now flowing through the »»»

WASHINGTON: The US State Department announced visa ​restrictions targeting people it said were undermining peace in Ethiopia on Thursday, focused on hard-liners in ‌the Tigray ‌People’s ​Liberation ‌Front ⁠and ​their immediate family ⁠members. “Rising tensions between Tigray People’s Liberation Fro»»»