Mexico City, June 12 (SANA)Mexico began their2026 FIFA World Cupcampaign with a comfortable 2–0 victory overSouth Africaon Thursday at the iconic Azteca Stadium in the tournament’s opening match. The hosts made a fast start, taking the lead in the ninth minute through Julian Quiñones. South Africa’s task became significantly harder early in the second half when Yaya Sithole was sent off in the 49th minute. Mexicodoubled their advantage in the 67th minute, with Raúl Jiménez heading home from a cross by Roberto Alvarado to put the result beyond doubt. South Africa were reduced to nine men in …

Damascus, June 12 (SANA)Syria’s National Authority for Missing Persons said Thursday it had launched an investigation afterhuman remainswere discovered in the city of Douma on the outskirts of Damascus.The Authority said its forensic teams, working alongside theSyrian Civil Defense, were dispatched to the site following reports from local residents. Specialists have begun documenting, collecting and recovering the remains in line with forensic procedures designed to preserve evidence and assist in future identification efforts, the authority said. The discovery comes as the Authority continu…

Athens, June 12 (SANA)Syrian Health MinisterMusab al-Alimet with his Greek counterpart, Adonis Georgiadis, on Thursday to discuss expanding cooperation in healthcare, medical training and professional exchanges, as officials from across the Arab world andGreecegathered in Athens for a regional health conference. The talks took place on the sidelines of the 2nd Arab-Hellenic Health Conference, a two-day event aimed at strengthening cooperation between Arab countries and Greece in healthcare development, training and capacity building. According toSyria‘s Health Ministry, al-Ali and Georgiadis…

Capitals, June 12 (SANA)U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpheld separate phone calls on Thursday with Qatar’s EmirTamim bin Hamad Al Thaniand Kuwait’s Crown PrinceSabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabahas diplomatic efforts intensified around a proposed agreement between Washington and Tehran. According to statements from Qatar’s and Kuwait’s state news agencies, the discussions focused on regional security, efforts to reduce tensions in theMiddle Eastand the outcome of negotiations between the United States andIran. During his call with the Qatari emir, Trump said understandings reached in the talks had been…

Some 1,700 Syrian families return to Afrin from Qamishli after years of displacement Syrian Petroleum Company CEO highlights investment opportunities at Global Energy Forum First Pegasus Airlines flight from Istanbul lands at Aleppo International Airport U.S. Chamber official says Syria on right track, firms eye investment Damascus through the artist’s eye :Exhibition celebrates the city’s timeless heritage Homs rural market provides support for productive families Scenes from Slenfeh in Latakia, a famous tourist destination in Syria Wheat harvest season in southern Aleppo countryside

Geneva, June 11 (SANA)Around 1.3 millionSyrians returned homein 2025, making Syria one of the world’s largest refugee return movements and reducing the globalSyrian refugeepopulation to 4.9 million, the U.N. refugee agency said on Thursday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its annual report that the number of Syrian returnees nearly tripled compared with 2024 following the fall of the deposed regime in December 2024. According to the report, Syria was among six countries accounting for the majority of refugee and displacement returns worldwide, alongside Afgh…

London, June 11 (SANA)Britain, Australia and Canada have announced the launch of apeace fundaimed at supporting efforts toward a two-state solution and helping advance peace initiatives related to theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Reuters, citing theBritish Foreign Officeon Thursday, the fund will support both new and existing grassroots projects, with a particular focus on initiatives involving young people, civil society organizations and women. The fund will begin with an initial budget of £3 million and is expected to seek expansion and additional donor support as its program…

Washington, June 11 (SANA)Oil prices surged more than $2 a barrel on Thursday afterIranannounced the closure of theStrait of Hormuz, raising fears of disruptions to global energy supplies following U.S. military strikes. Brent crude futures rose $2.30, or 2.47%, to $95.40 a barrel, whileU.S.West Texas Intermediate crude gained $2.60, or 2.89%, to $92.63 a barrel, according to Reuters. U.S. crude futures had climbed more than $3 earlier in the session as traders reacted to escalating tensions in the Middle East and concerns over shipping through the strategic waterway. The gains followed a 2…

New Delhi, June 11 (SANA)Three Indian sailors reported missing after aU.S. strike on an oil tankerin the Gulf of Oman have been confirmed dead, India’s ports minister said on Thursday. Sarbananda Sonowal,India’s minister of ports, shipping and waterways, announced the deaths after the crew members had been listed as missing following the attack. TheUnited Statessaid it carried out a “precision strike” on the tanker after the vessel failed to comply with instructions and was transporting Iranian oil. The incident has drawn a diplomatic response from New Delhi. Indian sources told Reuters tha…

Doha, June 11 (SANA)Syriahas completed its first participation in a multinational urbansearch and rescueexercise inQatar,Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh said Thursday. The exercise brought together specialized rescue teams from Qatar,Franceand theSyrian Civil Defensefor training focused on disaster response and rescue operations in urban environments. Al-Saleh said the exercise provided an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, exchange expertise and enhance operational readiness for emergency situations. Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of t…

Washington, June 11 (SANA)U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Thursday theU.S.military would attackIran“very hard tonight” and vowed that Washington would eventually take control of key Iranianoil and gasinfrastructure, includingKharg Island. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said an operation to “assume total control” of Iran’s energy infrastructure and oil and gas markets would take place “at some point in the not too distant future.” Trump said the United States would take over Iran’s “oil infrastructure points,” including Kharg Island, one of the country’s main oil export terminals. He compar…

World Capitals, June 11 (SANA)May 2026 was the world’s second-warmest May globally on record since climate records began, according to the European Copernicus Climate Change Service, as global temperatures remained significantly above pre-industrial levels amid continuingclimate changeand growing indications of an emerging El Niño event. Copernicus attributed the elevated temperatures to ongoing human-induced warming, persistently high ocean temperatures and increasing signs of the development of the El Niño climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean. The European climate monitoring service report…

Capitals, June 11 (SANA)Arab states and regional organizations on Thursday condemned Iranian attacks targetingJordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, reaffirming support for the three countries and backing measures taken to safeguard their security and sovereignty. Saudi Arabiastrongly condemned what it described as repeated Iranian attacks against the three countries, warning that the escalation risks increasing tensions across the region. According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Riyadh called for restraint, a return to diplomacy and the continuation of negotiations mediated by Pakistan with support fr…

Washington, June 11 (SANA)Global military expenditure reached approximately $2.887 trillion in 2025, representing a 2.9% increase in real terms compared with 2024, according to data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). According to figures published by CNN, military spending declined in the United States, while it increased by 14% in Europe and 8.1% in Asia and Oceania. TheUnited States, China and Russia together accounted for about $1.48 trillion inmilitary expenditure, representing 51% of total global military spending. The report said the global milit…

Beijing, June 11 (SANA)Chinaon Thursday urged theUnited StatesandIranto immediately halt military operations and return to negotiations, as fighting between the two countries intensified and heightened fears of a wider regional conflict. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing was closely monitoring developments and called on both sides to support international efforts aimed at reducing tensions and securing a comprehensive ceasefire. “We urge the relevant parties to stop military operations as soon as possible and return to the track of dialogue and negotiation,” Lin said, accor…

New York, June 11 (SANA)Minister of Social Affairs and LaborHind Kabawatmet with Finnish Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy Outi Holopainen to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, currently being held atUnited Nationsheadquarters inNew York. According to a statement posted Thursday by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor on its Telegram channel, the talks focused on cooperation in peacebuilding,…

Amman/Manama, June 11 (SANA)Jordan’s military said on Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed 20 missiles launched from Iran toward theAzraq area in Zarqa governorate, while Bahrain reported shooting down severalIranian missilesand drones that entered its airspace. Jordan’s armed forcessaid air defense systems and Royal Air Force aircraft carried out the interceptions without causing casualties or material damage. A military source told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that debris from the missiles fell in several areas and was later secured by engineering teams. The source said Jordan’s mi…

Algiers, June 11 (SANA) Algeria condemned recent Iranian attacks onJordan, Kuwait andBahrainon Thursday, saying they violated the sovereignty and security of the threeArab countries. According to the Algerian Press Service (APS), the Foreign Ministry said Algeria strongly denounced the attacks targeting Jordan,Kuwaitand Bahrain and rejected any action that undermines their stability. The ministry called for respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, principles it said are guaranteed under international charters and laws. Algeriaalso warned against further escalation in the reg…

Abu Dhabi, June 11 (SANA)UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met U.S. Ambassador to the United NationsMike Waltzon Thursday to discuss developments in the Middle East and their impact on regional and international security. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the two sides reviewed issues of mutual interest, focusing on the latest developments in the region and their implications for stability, international maritime security and the global economy. The meeting also addressed the strategic relationship between theUnited Arab Emiratesand the United States and ways to strengthen…

Provinces, June 11 (SANA)Three people were killed and 28 others injured in traffic accidents and fires to which Civil Defense teams of the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management responded during the past 24 hours across Syria. According to theCivil Defense’s Telegram channel, 21traffic accidentswere recorded, resulting in three deaths and 27 civilian injuries. Civil Defense teams provided first aid to the injured and transported them to hospitals for treatment. The teams also removed debris from accident sites and secured the affected areas. The Civil Defense additionally responded t…