Dubai, July 18 (SANA) Most Gulf stock markets ended the trading week lower as rising military tensions between the United States and Iran weighed on investor sentiment following a new round of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) gained 0»»»

PARIS: The World Cup has engaged punters like never before with an 80 percent increase in betting volume compared to the 2022 edition, even taking into account the higher number of matches for a 48-team tournament, a betting expert told AFP. Although many football fans were skeptical about the incr»»»

KHARTOUM: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently distributed 1,681 food baskets to displaced families and returnees in Khartoum state, Sudan, benefiting 11,327 individuals, as part of the 2026 Madad Project in Sudan. Meanwhile, the aid agency distributed 400 personal care kits »»»

Researchers from St. Petersburg State University and Almazov National Medical Research Center have created a mathematical model that distinguishes between two "twin" lung diseases using routine blood samples and avoids invasive procedures. The algorithm analyzes immune cell ratios - specifically re»»»

ANKARA: Turkiye’s interior ministry said on Saturday that authorities had arrested 119 people across the country accused of links to the Daesh group. “(The) 199 suspects were arrested in a police operation carried out in 30 provinces against the Daesh terrorist organization,” including in Istanbul »»»

Hungary has launched diplomatic efforts in Washington in an attempt to avert potential US tariffs that could severely affect the country’s exports if new sanctions targeting buyers of Russian energy are approved. Márton Hajdu, chairman of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said h»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call on Saturday from President of the Republic of Cyprus HE Dr. Nikos Christodoulides, who conveyed his condolences on the passing of the forgiven, by Allah's will, HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. For h»»»

Doha: The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a phone call on Saturday from President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea HE Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who conveyed his condolences on the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. HH the Amir expressed his gr»»»

Each degree above 30°C may reduce labor productivity by about 3% and increase energy consumption by 1.2%, according to Allianz Trade. The greatest long-term damage, however, comes from lower business investment rather than temporary production losses. Companies facing weaker profits may postpone sp»»»

Fuel prices in Poland are expected to rise further next week if oil and wholesale fuel prices remain near current levels. Diesel could climb to PLN 7.80–7.90 per liter, while regular gasoline may reach PLN 7.30. Prices have already risen sharply since early July due to a VAT increase and higher fue»»»

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Creotech Instruments has been selected by OrbitFab to participate in the ASTRAL project, developed with the European Space Agency. Creotech will supply two of its HyperSat satellite platforms for an orbital refueling demonstration scheduled for 2028–2029. The platforms will support a servicing spac»»»

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has declared the results of the Class 10 Second Board Examination 2026. Students can check their results through the DigiLocker Results Portal using their credentials. The second board examination was introduced from 2026 in line with the recommendati»»»

Israel has reportedly reclassified Nile crocodiles as “tended” animals, potentially clearing the way for their use as part of prison security. The controversial proposal to surround prisons with crocodile-filled moats was reportedly floated late last year by far-right National Security Minister Ita»»»

DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a phone call on Saturday from President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea HE Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who conveyed his condolences on the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Tha»»»

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. In its statement on Saturday, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the t»»»

NEW DELHI: India’s space startup Skyroot Aerospace completed its first orbital flight on Saturday, making India the third country in the world with a private company capable of such a feat. The Vikram-1 rocket lifted off at 12.05 p.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, an island of»»»

MOSCOW: The foreign minister of North Korea, which supports Russia’s war against Ukraine, was due in Moscow on Saturday for talks with her counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, the latter’s office said. The Russian foreign ministry said North Korea’s Choe Son Hui would “arrive in the Russian Federation on Ju»»»

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium: Ferrari is rushing to get Lewis Hamilton’s car repaired in time for qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix later Saturday after the seven-time Formula 1 champion hit a barrier in practice. Hamilton ran wide over a gravel trap and clipped the barrier with his rear-right wh»»»

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of its new Tourism Package Visa, allowing visitors to obtain an electronic visa as part of a single package that includes flights, accommodation and insurance booked through authorized travel providers. The initiative, introduced by the Ministry of »»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ports Authority (Mawani) on Saturday signed seven agreements with national and international companies to establish and expand logistics centers at Jeddah Islamic Port and Al-Khumra Logistics Zone, with total investments approaching SR1 billion ($267 million). The signings we»»»

Russian forces have continued striking Ukrainian ports and vessels involved in supporting the Ukrainian military, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. In the port of Yuzhny, a dry cargo ship delivering military supplies to Ukrainian forces was hitIn the port of Odessa, two dry cargo vessels ca»»»

Hungary is looking to deepen its partnership with Germany’s state of Baden-Württemberg after a series of high-level meetings in Budapest, with economic cooperation, youth exchanges and regional development among the key priorities. Foreign Minister Anita Orbán announced on Facebook that she had wel»»»

East Rutherford, United States: Spain and Argentina prepared to do battle in Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey as organisers said they were keeping a close eye on smoke from wildfires in Canada. Lionel Messi's Argentina are bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-b»»»

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call on July 18 with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan about the situation in the Gulf region amid ongoing US-Iran strikes, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. The ministers stressed the importance of an immediate cessation of h»»»

AUCKLAND: The “fast and fearless” style New Zealand rehearsed in their Nations Championship wins over France and Italy bore fruit Saturday against Ireland in a 40-21 victory that extended the All Blacks’ winning streak at Eden Park to 53 matches over 32 years. This was the toughest test of Dave Ren»»»

MADRID: Former Spain defender ‌Joan Capdevila has appealed to President Donald Trump for help after being denied permission to enter the United States for Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and defending champions Argentina. Capdevila, a member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning team, said his a»»»

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation on Saturday said one of its oil facilities was hit by “repeated Iranian attacks” amid an escalation in hostilities between the US and Iran and the subsequent spillover across the Middle East. The strikes resulted in significant material damage and some inju»»»

HANOI: Severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains killed at least four people in Vietnam, state media reported on Saturday. More than 238 hectares of rice and other crops across four northern mountainous provinces had been damaged since Wednesday, with livestock or poultry killed or washe»»»

Dubai: The Middle East crisis intensified on Saturday as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes for a seventh consecutive night, with tensions rising around the Strait of Hormuz and concerns growing over regional security. The escalation has triggered flight disruptions, security alerts and i»»»

NABEUL, July 18 (TAP) – Tunisia's Nabeul-Hammamet tourist destination welcomed 413,000 visitors from the beginning of the year through July 10, up 10% compared with the same period in 2025, while the number of overnight stays reached 1.6 million,...»»»

Doha: Qatari international referee Khamis Al Marri has been appointed to the officiating team for the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) announced on Saturday. Al Marri will serve as an Assistant Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during the final between Spain and Argentina»»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar has strongly condemned the renewed attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the territories of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait, describing them as a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial »»»

BAGHDAD: Iraq signed 48 agreements and partnerships with American companies, many in the oil sector, during a visit to the US by Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, his office said Saturday. Oil-rich Iraq has been trying to move past decades of war and unrest, but still suffers from poor infrastructure, f»»»

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s recent summit in Ankara has produced a decision that demands scrutiny. NATO member states have committed to providing Ukraine with military assistance worth €70 billion for 2026. This is not an emergency measure. This is the institutionalization of a permane»»»

Share: The US embassy in Beirut issued the following travel advisory with regards to travel to Lebanon and the Middle East : “Due to high tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the cont»»»

Cairo: The State of Qatar participated on Saturday in an international conference on Jerusalem, entitled "Jerusalem: The Frontline of Displacement and Annexation and the Key to Achieving a Just and Lasting Peace," held by the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the»»»

VIENTIANE, LAO: Laos authorities said on Saturday they could not determine blame or the cause of the deaths in 2024 of six tourists previously linked to methanol-tainted alcohol because their families had refused to allow autopsies. Two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton and two Australians die»»»

DUBAI: Iranian authorities said Saturday they have executed a man convicted of killing a member of security forces during the 2022 nationwide protests that erupted after the death of a woman in custody of the country’s morality police. Authorities said the fatal shooting took place during unrest in»»»

Iran has ruled out negotiations with the United States, vowing instead to defend the country decisively in response to what it calls American violations of its commitments. Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, said Washington's aggressive actions ha»»»

TUNIS, July 18 (TAP) – Voters in El Kabaria constituency will head to the polls on Sunday for the runoff in the parliamentary by-election to fill the vacant seat in the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP), following the death of MP...»»»

The winners of the 72nd National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi on Saturday, honouring the best of Indian cinema from 2024. Films certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) between January 1 and December 31, 2024, were eligible for this year’s awards. An 11-member jury hea»»»

Tunis, July 18 (TAP) – The use of non-conventional water resources in agriculture is one of the main pillars of Tunisia's National Water Strategy 2050, aimed at addressing worsening water scarcity and the impacts of climate change. The issue was...»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Public Prosecution has expanded its investigation into the publication and circulation of a false report claiming explosions were heard in central Dubai. UAE Attorney-General Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the investigation is continuing into the report, which contained »»»

Air raid warning sirens have been activated in Bahrain for the sixth time in the last few hours. The Interior Ministry told people to “remain calm and head to the nearest safe place”.»»»

MANILA: Saudi oil giant Aramco has opened its first branded gas station in the Philippines, less than a year after acquiring a 25-percent equity stake in Unioil, one of the country’s largest fuel retailers. The station, on Sucat Road, Paranaque City in the Manila capital region, was inaugurated on »»»

With the Eastern Province’s sweltering summer sun in full swing, one respite is Out of the Ordinary Artisan Gelato. Established in 2020, this charming little space in Alkhobar’s Qurtuba Square hits the spot with the slogan: “Fresh gelato made today. Tomorrow, too.” Staff are friendly with recommend»»»

A Lebanese soldier ​was killed and an officer and another soldier ‌were ‌wounded ​when ‌a ⁠suspicious object ​exploded in ⁠an army vehicle in the ⁠southern Lebanese ‌town of ‌Mansouri, ​the ‌Lebanese ‌army said on Saturday. The army ‌said it was continuing to ⁠investigate ⁠the incident and did not »»»

Delayed orders from senior military commanders, a lack of basic equipment and overall confusion were among the issues ‌that hindered the deployment of Venezuelan troops in the crucial first days after two devastating earthquakes struck the country’s coast last month, eight sources familiar with the»»»