From:Department of Children, Disability and Equality Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has today launched the public side of the Gender Pay Gap Portal, allowing everyone to see, compare and review the employer data on gender pay gaps and filter by year, sector and company size. The public side of the portal brings employers’ gender pay gap data together in a standardised manner, to improve our understanding of the pay gap and how we might reduce it, further advancing equality between women and men. Minister Foley, as Minister with responsibility for gender equalit…

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD and Minister of State for Older People Kieran O’Donnell TD have welcomed a further milestone in the ongoing expansion of bed capacity at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), with the awarding of a public works contract for the delivery of a new 96-bed inpatient ward block. Following a public procurement process, the Health Service Executive (HSE) awarded the contract on 16 June 2026 to John Sisk & Son for the delivery of the new ‘Block B’ ward block. This will be the second 96‑bed ward block to progress on the UHL campus in recent times, follow…

Ushtruesja e Detyrës së Presidentes së republikës së Kosovës, Albulena Haxhiu, ka marrë pjesë sot Konferencën në shënimin e Ditës Ndërkombëtare për Eleminimin e Dhunës Seksuale në Konflikt: “Së bashku për njohje dhe mbështetje”. Në fjalën e saj para pjesëmarrësve të kësaj konference, U.D. Presidentja Haxhiu, ka thënë se në Kosovën e pasluftës, shumë gjëra u numëruan: shtëpitë e djegura, masakrat, njerëzit e vrarë, të pagjeturit, dëmet, varret, kolonat e gjata, u numërua ajo që shihej, por sipas saj, ajo që kishte mbetur brenda njeriut, mbeti pa emër dhe pa vend në rrëfimin tonë publik. “Dhun…

Aleppo, June 18 (SANA)Kuwait’sJazeera Airwayswill begin operating direct flights betweenKuwait CityandAleppostarting June 25, Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said on Thursday. In a statement posted on Telegram, the authority said the new route would strengthen air connectivity betweenSyriaandKuwait, expand travel options for passengers, and facilitateair transport. It added that the service is part of broader efforts to develop Syria’s aviation sector, expand its international air network, and support economic and tourism activity through improved connectivity.

Washington, June 18 (SANA)Oil pricesfell by more than $1 per barrel on Thursday, extending earlier losses after theUnited States and Iransigned an agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures dropped $1.64, or 2.06%, to $77.91 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell $1.80, or 2.34%, to $74.99 a barrel, according to Reuters. Earlier in the session, prices had already weakened following reports of a temporary US–Iran understanding. Brent fell 89 cents, or 1.12%, to $78.66 a barrel at 00:05 GMT, while WTI declined 98 cents, or 1…

Quneitra, June 18 (SANA)Israeli occupation forces advanced on Thursday into the village of al-Asbah in Syria’ssouthern Quneitracountryside and raided homes. SANA’s reporter in the province said that a unit of nineIsraeli militaryvehicles entered the village shortly after midnight on Wednesday, searched several homes, and later withdrew. Israel continues to violate the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through ongoing incursions into southern Syrian territory, including raids, arrests, land clearing operations, and artillery fire. Syria has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces f…

Damascus, June 18 (SANA)Syrian Health MinisterMusab al-Alimet his Jordanian counterpartIbrahim Bdourin Damascus on Thursday for talks on expanding cooperation inhealthcare servicesand strengthening pharmaceutical securityPharmaceutical Security. The discussions, which included health officials from both countries, focused on capacity-building and the exchange of expertise in digital transformation in the health sector. Damascushas been seeking to broaden regional and international cooperation as part of efforts to rebuild its healthcare system, which was heavily damaged during years of war. …

Rome, June 18 (SANA)Millions of people across 13 countries face worsening acutefood insecuritybetween June and November, with several Arab countries among the world’s most critical hunger hotspots, according to a joint report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The report, titled Hunger Hotspots, identified Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine as the areas at greatest risk due to the scale and severity of food insecurity. In Sudan, famine is projected to threaten 14 areas, including parts of North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan, t…

Damascus, June 18 (SANA)Interior MinisterAnas Khattabmet in Damascus on Thursday with a high-level European Union delegation headed byEUSpecial Representative for Human RightsKajsa Ollongrenfor talks on human rights cooperation. The Interior Ministrysaid in a statement that discussions focused on prospects for expanding cooperation, particularly in the fields of human rights and international coordination mechanisms. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed several issues of mutual interest and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas related tohuman rightsand institutional engagemen…

Brussels, June 18 (SANA)U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States is prepared to resume military operations and reimpose a blockade on Iran if Tehran fails to meet its commitments under the agreement. Speaking to reporters in Brussels following a meeting withNATOdefense ministers on Thursday, Hegseth said the United States would take further action if Iran does not adhere to the agreed timetable and obligations. “If Iran does not comply with its commitments within the agreed timeframe, we are fully prepared to resume military operations,” Hegseth said. He added that Washingt…

Beirut, June 18 (SANA)Lebanese PresidentJoseph Aounsaid on Thursday that Lebanon’s stability and security are essential to broader regional stability as well as to Europe, stressing the need for foreign investment to support the country’s economic recovery. According to the Lebanese National News Agency, Aoun made the remarks during a meeting with a joint Qatari-French-British ministerial delegation. He noted that instability inLebanonhas implications that extend beyond the region and directly affectEurope. Aoun underlined that economic, financial, administrative, and judicial reforms are a …

Ankara, June 18 (SANA)The head of theInternational Energy Agency(IEA),Fatih Birol, on Thursday welcomed aU.S.–Iran agreementaimed at ending the conflict in theMiddle Eastand called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of theStrait of Hormuzto safeguard global energy flows. Speaking at an event in Istanbul, Birol said the crisis had prompted several countries to reassess their energy security strategies amid renewed concerns about a possible closure of the strategic waterway, which carries a significant share of global oil and gas flows. He said the IEA would engage with member and p…

Beirut, June 18 (SANA)One person was killed and another wounded on Thursday in anIsraeli striketargeting a vehicle in southernLebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) reported. According to NNA, an Israeli drone struck a car near the Kfartebnit–Arnoun roundabout in the Nabatieh district, killing one person and seriously injuring another. The agency also reported that Israeli drones struck the town of Haddatha in theTyre district. Earlier in the day, an explosive remnant of previous Israeli strikes detonated on the Doueir–Al-Karimat road in Nabatieh, causing a fire in the area. Leba…

Berlin, June 18 (SANA)The 29thArab-German Business Forumopened on Thursday inBerlin, bringing together senior government officials, diplomats, and business leaders from across the Arab world and Germany to discuss expandingeconomic cooperationandinvestmentopportunities. The opening session was attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Berlin, Mohammad Baraa Shukri, alongside German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katherina Reiche, and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs Ahmad Mohammed Al-Sayed, as well as representatives f…

Occupied Jerusalem, June 18 (SANA)Israeli occupation forcesdetained nine Palestinians on Thursday during raids across multiple areas of theWest Bank, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. According to WAFA, Israeli forces stormed several neighborhoods in the city of Nablus as well as the towns of Azzun and Jiyous in the Qalqilya area, arresting nine people. In a separate incident, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian family in the town of al-Taybeh, east of Ramallah, and cut water and electricity supplies. On Wednesday, fourPalestinianswere injured and five others detained during a seri…

Damascus, June 18 (SANA)As the world marks the International Day for Countering Hate Speech on June 18 amid growing international concerns over the spread of inflammatory rhetoric, Syria is stepping up efforts to promote responsible media and combat hate speech. The Syrian efforts have accelerated following the introduction earlier this year of aProfessional and Ethical Code of Conductfor the media sector. The code is designed to counter hate speech, raise professional standards, encourage responsible journalism, and reinforce respect for diversity. Director of Press Affairs at the Ministry …

London, June 18 (SANA)Three Saudi-flagged supertankers carrying around six million barrels ofcrude oiltransited theStrait of Hormuzon Thursday, according to ship-tracking data. Reuters analysis of maritime traffic showed the vessels, which departed from Saudi ports, were the largest by cargo volume to pass through the strategic waterway in several weeks. The transit came hours after the signing of aU.S.–Iranmemorandum of understanding aimed at de-escalating tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route through which a large share of Gulfcrude exportsflows …

Homs closes Syria’s Intangible Heritage Week with “Zaidal Wedding” performance The wheat harvest season in Ras al-Ayn, northern Hasakah Dutch court sentences deposed regime militia commander to 26 years Homs event highlights Circassian heritage during Syria’s Intangible Heritage Week President al-Sharaa: Transitional justice should not be used for revenge or domination Homs concert celebrates Syrian musical heritage at Intangible Heritage Week Al-Shaibani welcomes Jordanian delegation led by Safadi at Damascus airport President al-Sharaa: Reports of Syria entering Lebanon are unfounded

Washington.-The United States and the Dominican Republic signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in nuclear matters, with the objective of strengthening energy security and expanding economic ties between both countries. The agreement was signed by the US Undersecretary of State, Christopher Landau, and the Dominican Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, as reported by the US Department of State in a statement. “The signing of this memorandum reflects our mutual determination to develop a strong partnership in the civil nuclear field, strengthen energy security an…

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, today attended a Bilateral Meeting with His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, which was held in Kazan, Russian Federation. Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs. During the Bilateral Meeting, His Majesty conveyed his appreciation to His Excellency President Putin for host…