‘Landmark’ Makkah defense pact rooted in ‘sense of responsibility’ not confrontation, says envoy
NEW YORK CITY: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, described a newly signed trilateral defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as “one of the most important events in recent weeks,” and told Arab News it represents a landmark in regional security»»»
'Jordan-US Reciprocal Trade Agreement opens new phase of economic cooperation'
AMMAN — Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Yarub Qudah on Wednesday attended a dialogue session organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan) under the theme "Jordanian-American Economic Relations: A Business Leaders' Vision."The session brought together US Ambassador to »»»
Netanyahu gave a ‘victory to Hamas’ by rejecting US-backed Gaza peace plan
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a US-backed peace plan for Gaza last week offered a diplomatic victory to Hamas, according to some analysts. The Palestinian Islamist movement had agreed to gradually give up weapons in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but agreei»»»
Muslim, Christian leaders back MWL plan to tackle extremism, conflict in West Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria: Muslim and Christian leaders from across West Africa have agreed on a joint framework to tackle extremist ideologies, prevent conflict and strengthen social cohesion under a new initiative launched by the Muslim World League in Nigeria. The agreement was reached during an internatio»»»
Ethiopia seeks to double coffee productivity with new 10-year initiative
Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has started implementing a new 10-year national strategic initiative to modernize the country's coffee production value chain, and more than double average coffee productivity. The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture announced Tuesday that the effective implementation of the new»»»
Arab Republican who called for tougher Minnesota fraud probes loses bid to challenge Ilhan Omar
Chicago, IL: Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Arab American journalist who centered her campaign on government fraud and waste in Minnesota, lost her bid on Tuesday to win the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic US Rep. Ilhan Omar in the state’s 5th congressional district. Instead, Republican John Nage»»»
UK reportedly wants top-level military contacts with Russia to ease tensions
British officials and diplomats fear an unintended maritime escalation with Russia and are pressuring senior military leaders to restore direct communication with their Russian counterparts, The Times reported on Tuesday. According to the newspaper, former British chief of the defense staff Tony Ra»»»
Egyptian archaeologists discover 3 tombs in Bahariya Oasis
CAIRO: An Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered three tombs dating to different periods at the Sheikh Sobi site in the Bahariya Oasis, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced. The discovery, made during the current excavation season, includes mummies, coffins and votive figur»»»
Israel carries out first Gaza strike in more than week, one killed
Israel on Wednesday carried out its first air strike in more than a week in Gaza, both sides said, breaking a relative lull as the United States pressed a peace plan. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas commander, charging that he had been planning attacks against Israeli forces operating»»»
Israel carries out first Gaza strike in more than week, one killed
GAZA: Israel on Wednesday carried out its first air strike in more than a week in Gaza, both sides said, breaking a relative lull as the United States pressed a peace plan.The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas commander, charging that he had been planning attacks against Israeli forces oper»»»
Israel seeking to ‘remove Palestine from world’s agenda’: Erdogan
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “remove Palestine” from the world’s agenda.“The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new »»»
Syria, IFAD discuss sustainable projects to advance agricultural recovery
Damascus, Aug. 12 (SANA) Agriculture Minister Basel al-Suwaidan on Wednesday discussed with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Representative to Syria Tawfiq el-Zabri the projects implemented by the fund in Syria and its plans for the next phase. During the meeting, al-Suwaidan »»»
Houthis pound Yemen’s Mocha port for 4th day, officials say Iran behind escalation
AL-MUKALLA: Two Houthi missiles struck Yemen’s Red Sea port of Mocha on Wednesday, causing further damage to the government-controlled facility as the Iran-backed militia targeted the city and its strategic port for the fourth consecutive day, local government and military officials said. Abdul Mal»»»
Israel defense minister vows troops to stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza
JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon on Wednesday, vowing to destroy infrastructure and keep troops in a so-called “security zone” as well as in Syria and Gaza. The comments came almost two months after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-sponsored framework deal »»»
UAE President and King of Bahrain discuss fraternal ties and regional developments
Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain discussed the longstanding fraternal ties between the two countries and ways to further strengthen cooperation across various fields, particularly the economy and dev»»»
Eritrea: Key player in the geopolitical gamble at the Horn
PoliticsEritreaEritrea: Key player in the geopolitical gamble at the HornMartina SchwikowskiAmid growing tensions and security risks at the Horn of Africa, Eritrea, with its strategically important coastal points on the Red Sea and a perceived lack of conflict, is emerging as important player in th»»»
Filipino journalists face backlash over Israel-sponsored trips
MANILA: Filipino journalists are facing a backlash at home after joining Israel-sponsored press trips, with the main trade union saying that participation in such media tours may amount to complicity in the Israeli genocide in Palestine. The Israeli government has organized several media junkets fo»»»
EU rejects Colombia’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Syrian Golan Heights
LONDON: The EU said on Wednesday that it does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, reaffirming its support for Syria’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. “In line with international law and UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 497, th»»»
Israeli Circles Hail Aoun’s Remarks on Restricting Lebanon’s Choices to Diplomacy
The Israeli circles hailed the remarks of the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun who stressed several times that Lebanon’s exclusive choice would be the direct talks with ‘Israel’. The Zionist circles considered that Aoun excludes the military confrontation from his choices, adding that his remarks abo»»»
Gulf states scramble for Strait of Hormuz alternative
ConflictsAsiaGulf states scramble for Strait of Hormuz alternativeAmir SoltanzadehSaudi Arabia has redirected oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, but most Gulf producers still lack a reliable backup option to the world's most important energy choke point. https://p.dw.com/p/5IgwpBefore the »»»
Why Saudi Arabia is betting on camel racing to grow a new investment and breeding ecosystem
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is using a new SR500,000 ($133,300) camel racing prize to deepen investment in domestic breeding, attract new owners, and strengthen the economic foundations of a sport that sits at the intersection of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and Vision 2030 ambitions. The Saudi Camel R»»»
Gulf states scramble for an alternative to Strait of Hormuz
ConflictsAsiaGulf states scramble for an alternative to Strait of HormuzAmir SoltanzadehSaudi Arabia has redirected oil exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, but most Gulf producers still lack a reliable backup option to the world's most important energy chokepoint. https://p.dw.com/p/5IgwpBefore»»»
‘This Is Michael’ director sets his sights on a Jeddah crowd
DUBAI: Fans of Michael Jackson will get the chance to relive the King of Pop’s iconic performances when tribute show “This Is Michael” comes to Jeddah for one night at Abadi Al-Johar Arena on Aug. 21. Ahead of the show, Spanish director Javi Fernandez told Arab News that authenticity — not imitatio»»»
Marseilia’s standalone profits leap 377.76% YoY in H1 2026 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Marseilia Almasreia Alkhalegeya for Holding Investment generated a standalone net profit after tax of EGP 126.733 million in the first half (H1) of 2026, 377.76% year-on-year (YoY) higher than EGP 25.559 million, according to the financial results. Revenues hiked to EGP 974.376 millio»»»
Moderate Crowley beats progressive Hong in Wisconsin Democratic primary
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley on Wednesday eked out a stunningly narrow win against democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic party primary for the Wisconsin governor's race. Crowley's win by less than a percentage point comes as the party faces a divide between establishment»»»
Security Expert Warns of Gaps in Bulgaria's Air Defense
Bulgaria has missed several opportunities over the years to establish a stable and effective air defense system, according to Ivan Anchev, a former deputy interior minister, diplomat and national security expert. Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio, Anchev said the recent downing of a foreign dron»»»
Russia bids farewell to its last strongholds in Syria
Russia said on 11 August that it had reached a deal with Syria on the future of Moscow's military bases, describing it as "an important step that would boost ties between the two countries", the state RIA news agency reported, citing the Russian foreign ministry. For its part, Syria's foreign mini»»»
Gamingtec secures UAE Gaming-related vendor licence, unlocking new iGaming opportunities
Abu Dhabi: Gamingtec has officially secured a Gaming-Related Vendor licence issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the United Arab Emirates. This enables the company to offer its iGaming Platform, as well as their range of iGaming products, to licensed operators wit»»»
International Youth Day: The UAE’s young generation is already building its future
What does being young in the UAE look like in 2026? It might be a university student working on a start-up between lectures. It could be an athlete training before sunrise, a young Emirati sitting in a government meeting and offering an idea, or a teenager learning how to build with artificial inte»»»
67 million young people are jobless as weak growth and shrinking entry-level jobs hit youth
Dubai: Young people are facing a worsening global jobs market, with youth unemployment rising to 12.4 per cent in 2025 and an estimated 67 million people aged 15 to 24 out of work, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The findings, published on Tuesday in the IL»»»
Infantino hoping individual country federations will be his salvation
LONDON: There is usually a lull after a World Cup, as the global football family takes a deep breath before the club season begins, but not this summer. FIFA’s turmoil has dominated headlines and, as the Saudi Pro League kicks off on Thursday, the politics off the pitch is attracting almost as much»»»
The UAE will not see a total solar eclipse until September 2081, 55 years from now
Dubai: Today's total solar eclipse sweeps across northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain. It does not come anywhere near the Emirates. The next total solar eclipse visible from the UAE falls on 3 September 2081. Fifty-five years from now. Most people reading this will not see one fro»»»
N. Korea vows to secure 'unparalleled' retaliatory capability over S. Korea's nuclear submarine push - UPI.com
North Korea on Wednesday condemned South Korea's push to build a nuclear-powered submarine. In this May 2026 photo, President Lee Jae Myung (C) is briefed on the country's submarine plans in Changwon. Photo by Yonhap North Korea on Wednesday denounced South Korea's efforts to build a nuclear-powere»»»
EU has no idea who will pick up tab for €90 bn Ukraine loan – MEP
The EU is pumping €90 billion ($105 billion) into Ukraine without knowing how the burden of the interest-free loan will be distributed among member states, German MEP Fabio De Masi told the Berliner Zeitung, warning that the money will enrich “corrupt oligarchs” in Ukraine. Member states gave the g»»»
Iranian-backed Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel
Six people were killed Tuesday by Houthis firing missiles on a vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Yemeni authorities said. Yemen's coast guard said the dead included four crew members and two members of the government-allied National Resistance Forces. Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the»»»
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed: UAE youth will write new chapters in nation’s success story
Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, has hailed young Emiratis as the nation’s future-makers and true wealth, saying there are no limits to their ambitions or what »»»
Mohammed bin Rashid hails UAE youth as nation’s greatest wealth and hope on International Youth Day
Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reaffirmed the UAE leadership’s confidence in young Emiratis, describing them as the nation’s greatest wealth and greatest hope as the world marks International Youth Day.»»»
World's happiest countries: 3 surveys, 3 ways of measuring 'happiness' — Finland tops life satisfaction, rival survey crowns Indonesia, others
Happiness is difficult to measure. But the latest global surveys agree on one thing: where people live, how they judge their lives and how they feel day to day can produce very different pictures of what it means to be happy. The 2026 World Happiness Report, released by the Wellbeing Research Centr»»»
Kuwaiti student sues Education Ministry, wins case overturning failed school year
Dubai: A Kuwaiti court has overturned an Education Ministry decision that failed a middle-school student and ordered that she be declared successful and promoted to the eighth grade after a technical glitch prevented her from accessing online classes. The dispute began during the second semester wh»»»
Saudi sprinter Sarah Al-Ablan targets Olympic dream after rapid rise in athletics
ALKHOBAR: Sarah Al-Ablan had never trained in athletics when she lined up for her first 100-meter race in Riyadh in 2023. The King Faisal University student had been passionate about sport since 2020, but it was one of her university instructors who noticed her athletic ability at the gym and encou»»»
Afghanistan to host India for T20 cricket in Delhi
New Delhi, India: Afghanistan will host India in a three-match Twenty20 international series in New Delhi next month, the cricket boards of both countries said Wednesday. Afghanistan have long used India and the United Arab Emirates as home venues because of the country's political and security cha»»»
QRCS inaugurates dialysis centre in Yemen's Lahej Governorate
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has inaugurated a 920-m2 one-story dialysis centre at Ibn Khaldoun Hospital in Al-Hawtah, Lahej Governorate, Yemen. Being the governorate’s first specialised dialysis facility, the centre was constructed and highly equipped at a total cost of $1,366,57»»»
Misr Hotels’ FY 2025/2026 profits up 5% YoY Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Misr Hotels Company reported a 4.95% year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit after tax to EGP 1.374 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2025/2026, according to financial indicators filed with the Egyptian Exchange (EGX). The company’s net profit rose from EGP 1.31 billion in the previous fi»»»
Qatar expands global cybersecurity footprint as NCSA concludes youth summer camp
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has solidified its position as a global hub for digital innovation and cybersecurity as the third edition of the 20-day Youth Cyber Security Camp wrapped up yesterday, equipping young talent with essential online defense skills and aligning with Qatar’s 2030 strategic vision to r»»»
Study:Business services sector contributed 35.5 billion euros to Romania's economy in 2025
The business services industry generated gross value added of 35.5 billion euros in Romania last year, accounting for approximately 10% of the economy's total gross value added, according to a study conducted by Deloitte Romania for the Business Service Leaders Association (ABSL).'Romania combines »»»
Egypt considers 5% customs duty on imported EVs Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: The Egyptian government is considering imposing a 5% customs duty on fully imported electric vehicles (EVs) for the first time, according to six sources, four of whom are government officials who spoke to Asharq Business on condition of anonymity. Such a move aims at protecting local »»»
Emirati women in private sector: 71.5% hold skilled jobs, 69.8% are 35 or younger
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has revealed significant growth in the participation of Emirati women in the UAE’s private sector, where the total number of Emirati men and women employed exceeded 190,000 by the end of the first half of 2026. According to the ministry’s 20»»»
Five years on, Afghanistan's Taliban build foreign ties despite rights concerns
Since they seized power in Afghanistan five years ago, the Taliban have succeeded in expanding their diplomatic and economic ties with countries around the world. But Afghanistan remains largely isolated due to a widespread refusal to formally recognise the Taliban government over human rights abus»»»
UAE temperatures to reach 49°C as humid, foggy conditions return
Dubai: Temperatures could reach 49°C in parts of the UAE on Wednesday, with hotter conditions expected along the coast on Thursday before humidity and the possibility of fog return over the weekend, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Wednesday will be fair to partly cloudy at ti»»»
NAWAH: Empowering leaders who will shape Abu Dhabi’s future
As Abu Dhabi’s global influence accelerates, the emirate’s long-term economic success relies on ensuring its story being told by those who have lived it, shaped it and understand its deeper purpose. On the occasion of International Youth Day, this commitment takes on added resonance, underscoring o»»»