1 of 5 | Jay Clayton speaks Wednesday during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his nomination at national intelligence director at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Clayton's nomination hearing last month was postponed when President Donald Trump directed Clayton to not appear in front »»»

Does Marco Rubio covertly control Venezuela? A report from the New York Times suggests that the US Secretary of State now effectively controls the Latin American country's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government since the capture of Nicolas Maduro. FRANCE 24's Monte F»»»

More people have favourable views of China than the United States in 25 out of 36 countries and territories surveyed, including Canada and Mexico, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center released on Wednesday. Views were also more favourable of Chinese leader Xi Jinping than US Pres»»»

US President Donald Trump has openly threatened Pickaxe Mountain and Kharg Island. The US leader declared that the US would eventually "take out" the underground tunnel complexes deeply buried near Natanz, Iran, that Western analysts believe could support future nuclear activities. Experts say the »»»

The World Health Organization launched the first clinical trial on Tuesday to test whether an antiviral drug can prevent infection in people exposed to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the outbreak continues to outpace response efforts and spread beyond known c»»»

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that regional oil and gas exports could be blocked completely in response to US attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement on Tuesday, the IRGC accused Washington of acting like “pirates” by restricting energy flows in the region and»»»

Agencies HOUSTON Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday, reacting to stronger-than-expected inventory and largely shrugging off a new wave of US attacks against Iranian military installations that aimed to limit Tehran’s ability to strike shipping in the ‌Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures settled at $»»»

DPA Atlanta (Georgia) Holders Argentina were inspired by the great Lionel Messi to storm back in the closing stages and beat England 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Spain in the World Cup final. Anthony Gordon struck on 55 minutes for England, who then dropped deep and went ultra defensiv»»»

Satyendra Pathak Doha Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs of India Kiren Rijiju visited Doha to convey the condolences of the Indian government and people of India following the passing of His Highness the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, underscoring the dee»»»

Khaled Al Hameidi Doha The passing of the Father Amir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has inspired an extraordinary wave of reflection across the Arab world and beyond, as political observers, diplomats, journalists, and academics revisit the remarkable transformation that unfolded under his l»»»

Arab and international media figures, academics and political commentators have paid tribute to the late HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, praising his transformative leadership that reshaped Qatar into a modern, influential nation with a prominent role in regional and internati»»»

QNA Beirut Lebanese political figures have praised the legacy of HH the Late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, describing his leadership as instrumental in elevating Qatar’s regional and international standing while underscoring his longstanding support for Lebanon during pivotal momen»»»

A tornado damaged parts of northwestern San Antonio on Wednesday as rounds of severe storms and flooding continued to pound Texas, prompting a disaster declaration for dozens of counties. The San Antonio Fire Department said crews were on scene at 6023 UTSA Boulevard and were assessing multiple pro»»»

Atlanta: Lautaro Martinez scored a 92nd minute winner as Lionel Messi inspired World Cup holders Argentina to a stunning comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday and set up a final with European champions Spain. England had been on course to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Antho»»»

An illustration from the European Southern Observatory depicts the exoplanet Proxima Centauri b, the closest exoplanet to the sun. A new study by astronomers using the ESO identifies the faintest exoplanet ever imaged from Earth. File Photo by M. Kornmesser/European Southern Observatory July 15 (UP»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a phone call today from HE JD Vance, Vice President of the United States of America, who extended his sincere condolences and sympathy to His Highness on the passing of His Highness The Late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa »»»

WASHINGTON: Two human rights groups say Trump administration sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court over its investigations of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza have illegally impeded their ability to advocate for Palestinians. The organizations say in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that»»»

Apsys is completing the PLN 141 mln revitalization of Gdańsk’s historic Hala Targowa, which will reopen this summer as a major food and entertainment destination. The 1896 market hall will feature 34 dining and retail outlets, including a delicatessen level, 17 international street-food concepts, f»»»

Warsaw’s office market accelerated in Q2 2026, with leasing volume reaching a record 282,800 sq m. Net demand totaled 134,800 sq m, while renegotiations accounted for 52% of activity as many companies chose to retain existing space. The vacancy rate fell from 9.5% to 8.5%, including just 4.8% in th»»»

Poland’s property investment market accelerated sharply in the first half of 2026, with transaction volume reaching €3 bln across 66 deals, up 77% y/y and among the strongest first-half results of the past decade. Larger transactions lifted average deal size, although overall liquidity declined. Re»»»

The ETF market has never faced a full-scale crash at its current size, raising concerns about liquidity, pricing, and systemic risk. While broad-market index ETFs offer low fees and simple diversification, leveraged, inverse, and single-stock products can encourage speculation and produce unexpecte»»»

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it killed three Hezbollah members in south Lebanon on Wednesday, shortly after US-sponsored Israel-Lebanon negotiations were held in Rome. “Earlier today (Wednesday), IDF soldiers identified three armed Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Beit Yahoun, located wi»»»

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to keep pulling over vehicles, signaling his opposition Wednesday to plans announced just a day earlier to suspend most traffic stops following another string of fatal shootings. It’s not clear whether ICE will qu»»»

Top Iranian negotiator and the speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that the country has to be always prepared to battle the US, stressing the need to preserve the Iranian arrangements in Hormuz. In a message addressed to the Iranian nation released on Wedensday evening, the head of »»»

NEW YORK CITY: As governments scramble to close a multitrillion-dollar funding gap threatening the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Saudi Arabia is promoting a solution rooted not in modern finance but in a 1,400-year-old Islamic tradition. Presenting its third Voluntary National Review at the U»»»

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday he expects Ukraine to to acquire the knowhow to produce missiles for US Patriot defense systems by the end of this year. Kyiv is suffering from a shortage of ammunition for these air defense systems, considered the most effective against Russian bal»»»

Whether we like it or not, the future of artists using artificial intelligence is now. An upcoming book, out this September by a pioneer in this field, named after the artist himself, “Refik Anadol,” dives deep into this digital murky water. Working at the intersection of art, science, and technolo»»»

When Ali Cabuk spotted a washed-up military drone on a Turkish Black Sea beach, he did not reach for his phone to call the police, military or a bomb disposal unit. Instead, he consulted artificial intelligence. Reassured that the Russian drone was not packed with explosives, he then took it home. »»»

Russia is stepping up efforts to pursue legal action against Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, accusing the three countries of discriminating against ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in a case it plans to bring before the International Court of Justice. An investigation by LRT, Re a»»»

Singapore: Oil prices tumbled on Wednesday, with Brent crude futures falling $1.11, or 1.31%, to $83.62 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures shed 81 cents, or 1.02%, to $78.53 a barrel. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a draw of 1.7 million barrels i»»»

Ottawa: Wildfires sweeping across northwestern Ontario, Canada, in recent days have caused severe smog and a sharp deterioration in air quality in several regions, including Ottawa, the nation's capital, and Toronto, Canada's largest city. On Wednesday morning, Toronto's air quality index ranked th»»»

SOUTHPORT, England: As a kid growing up in Southport, Tommy Fleetwood regarded Royal Birkdale as virtually off limits — except for those rare occasions he sneaked on to hit some shots while accompanying his father on evening dog walks. “Hallowed turf,” is how a young, wide-eyed Fleetwood viewed the»»»

LONDON: Oman on Wednesday provided medical supplies and equipment to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with help from Jordanian authorities. The Jordanian Royal Medical Services and Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization worked with the Oman Embassy in Amman to arrange the shipment which will be sent »»»

Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid has pledged to streamline regulations and resolve operational hurdles for French businesses during a meeting with the heads of 22 major French companies to discuss expansion plans and boost exports. The meeting, attended by French Amba»»»

The UAE, represented by the UAE Gender Balance Council, participated in the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting and BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting held from July 6 to 9 in Kochi, Kerala, India, as part of India's 2026 BRICS presidency. The meetings brought together ministers and officials responsibl»»»

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA July 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, the parasite-based illness, in at»»»

IRBIL: Several explosions were heard Wednesday near the US consulate in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, AFP journalists said. Air defenses were activated near the consulate, which was a target of repeated drone and rocket attacks during the Middle East war. AFP journalists r»»»

THE HAGUE — Dutch tech giant ASML, which makes cutting-edge machines to manufacture semiconductor chips, Wednesday posted a gain in second-quarter net profits compared with the same period in 2025.ASML is a critical cog in the global economy and a key bellwether for the tech sector, as the semicond»»»

FRANKFURT, Germany — German chemical giant BASF raised its earnings forecast for the year Wednesday after hiking prices for some products following the outbreak of the Iran war, but warned of heightened uncertainty.BASF now expects EBITDA before special items, a key measure of profitability, to com»»»

AMMAN — Jordan's capital market is undergoing a significant recovery, driven by higher market capitalisation, stronger liquidity, increased trading activity and rising stock indices, according to a report by the Jordan Economic Forum (JEF).The report "Amman Stock Exchange: Market Transformations, G»»»

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should continue to use traffic stops despite a decision the previous day to suspend the practice. The ban on vehicle stops came after an ICE agent fatally shot a Colombian driver in Maine and another motor»»»

Does Marco Rubio covertly control Venezuela? A report from the New York Times suggests that the US Secretary of State now effectively controls the Latin American country's finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government since the capture of Nicolas Maduro. FRANCE 24's Monte F»»»

The US has pounded Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas since Tehran and Washington renewed missile strikes last week, including an unprecedented sea drone attack on a submarine maintenance facility. We take a look at why this city of more than half a million people has become a prime target f»»»

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn,, speaks during a press conference with other Minnesota representatives ahead of President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address in February at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Omar introduced a resolution Wednesday urging the United States to join the Internati»»»

Dubai: Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) granted 66,000 Golden Visas, issued more than 1.052 million new residency permits, and completed over 5 million entry permit transactions during the first six months of the year, underscoring the emirate’s continue»»»

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French papers weep, while the Spanish press celebrates the World Cup semi-final. Also in France, papers discuss the assisted dying bill that will be voted on today. Finally: are cigarettes back in vogue?  PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, July 15: French pa»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police has urged families to keep a close watch on children around swimming pools as part of its Safe Summer campaign, calling for strict adherence to safety measures to help prevent drowning incidents and injuries during the school holidays. The force said protecting children »»»

The U.S. Mint will begin producing $1 gold-colored coins with President Donald Trump's face on the, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said Wednesday. Image courtesy of the U.S. Treasury Department July 15 (UPI) -- The U.S Mint will begin producing $1 gold-colored coins featuring President Donald Tru»»»

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's main stock market index closed lower on Wednesday, shedding 11.10 points to finish at 10,704.51, as trading activity reached SAR 3.9bn ($1.04bn). A total of 105 million shares changed hands during the session. Shares in 87 companies advanced, while 170 stocks declined, reflec»»»