Author: Samar Khouri

The Esports Foundation has named League of Legends icon Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, as the official Game Ambassador for both the Esports World Cup (EWC) and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a role he will hold through 2028. Ambassador role Nicknamed the god of the computer game League of Legends, Faker joins football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and chess world champion Magnus Carlsen in the ambassador program. The South Korean professional player will bring the voice of esports players to the foundation’s global events, player initiatives, media platforms and leadership discussions, with a focus on strengthening relationships among players,…

PLEDIS Entertainment has announced that all 13 members of SEVENTEEN have agreed to renew their contracts with the agency for a second time. Contract renewal “We are delighted to once again announce our continued journey with all thirteen members,” the group’s management agency said in a Weverse post. The announcement marks another major milestone for the self-producing group, whose first early contract renewal in 2021 was widely viewed as a testament to the members’ unity and confidence in their long-term vision. Nearly five years later, that trust appears stronger than ever. PLEDIS confirmed that the renewal process has been finalized…

NCT’s JAEHYUN has returned with his first solo release since completing his mandatory military service, unveiling the new single ’99 Degrees’ alongside its official music video. Love at 99 The emotional ballad, which JAEHYUN co-wrote and co-composed, opens with delicate piano melodies before building into a sweeping arrangement. Built around the metaphor of love at 99 degrees—just below the boiling point—the lyrics explore the idea that love is made complete not through perfection, but through another person, reflecting on finding wholeness in imperfection. Visual storytelling The accompanying music video follows JAEHYUN as he revisits places tied to memories, reflecting on…

Action-thriller K-drama ‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ climbed to No. 1 on the streamer’s weekly non-English TV list in its second week, recording 10.5 million views and continuing its strong performance across MENA, according to Netflix’s weekly top 10 tally. Second week momentum During the June 22–28, 2026, viewing period, the series debuted at No. 3 on Netflix’s weekly non-English TV rankings with 6.6 million views, entering the Top 10 TV list in 67 countries, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAEQatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE. In its second week on the…

AHOF’s third mini-album ‘RUN TO YOU’ has gained strong momentum across the Middle East, ranking high on the iTunes Top Albums chart in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar following its release on Wednesday. Regional iTunes success In addition to the Middle East, it reached No. 1 in Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines, according to its agency F&F Entertainment. ‘RUN TO YOU’ also entered the charts in 16 other countries and regions, including the US, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong, bringing its total chart presence to 22 markets worldwide. Youthful determination Building on the coming-of-age narrative established in…

WINWIN has decided to end his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment and will conclude all NCT-related activities. Agency departure His management agency announced the news in a statement on the global fan community Weverse, revealing that both parties had mutually agreed to terminate the contract, effective July 9. “We are deeply grateful to WINWIN, who has been with SM Entertainment for more than 10 years since his trainee days. We sincerely thank him for the time we have shared together and wholeheartedly support him as he embarks on a new journey,” it further added. The post did not specify whether…

DSP Media has announced that KARD will conclude its group activities after nine years, following the release of its first full-length album ”Where To Now? (Part.2): NOWHERE’ and a final world tour. Final chapter “After careful and thoughtful discussions with all four members, we have mutually agreed that this album and tour will mark the conclusion of KARD’s journey as a group,” DSPmedia said in an official statement DSPmedia expressed gratitude to fans, known as HIDDEN KARD, for their long-standing support of the group, and also asked them to continue encouraging BM, J.seph, SOMIN, and JIWOO as they embark on…

‘Agent Kim Reactivated ‘debuted at No. 3 on Netflix’s weekly non-English TV rankings for the June 22–28, 2026, viewing period, globally, and opened strong in MENA. Strong opening week The action thriller broke into the top 10 TV list in 67 countries globally. In MENA specifically, it ranked among the most-watched titles across Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE. It recorded 6.6 million views and 14.2 million hours viewed in its first week since its June 26 premiere. About the spy K-drama Mild-mannered office worker Mr. Kim (So Ji-sub) struggles to raise his…

SEVENTEEN members THE 8 and VERNON have launched their new unit, V8, with the release of their self-titled first mini-album, marking a new creative chapter shaped by experimentation, electronic music, and personal storytelling. Youth and growth Arriving amid SEVENTEEN’s military enlistment era, the eight-track project explores the complexities of youth, transforming experiences of uncertainty and “wasted youth” into the driving force behind growth and self-discovery. The unit’s name combines THE 8’s signature “8” with the “V” from VERNON, drawing inspiration from the power and performance of a V8 engine. Their logo similarly reflects the project’s ethos, blending the Chinese character…

Joshua of SEVENTEEN has attended a celebratory ceremony at UNESCO Headquarters, marking the impact of the group’s global youth empowerment partnership with UNESCO and delivering a message of encouragement to young people worldwide. The event, titled UNESCO x SEVENTEEN: Celebrating Youth, Creativity and Well-Being Together, highlighted the achievements of the Global Youth Grant Scheme, “Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being.” Supported by SEVENTEEN’s $1 million donation, the initiative has funded 100 youth-led projects across 64 countries, reaching more than 21,000 direct beneficiaries and engaging over 1.2 million people online. The ceremony also marked the launch of a new…