Ear nerve stimulation shows promise in reducing lung inflammation, study finds
Tokyo: Researchers from Kyoto University in Japan and the Icahn School of Medicine in the United States have identified a potential new biological treatment for lung inflammation and asthma by stimulating a nerve in the outer ear. The study, published in the journal Immunity, found that stimulating»»»
Startup Wrap: MENA startup funding stands as $1.7bn in H1 2026
RIYADH: Startups in the Middle East and North Africa raised $1.7 billion across 242 funding rounds in the first half of 2026, as investors continued to deploy capital despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty, according to Wamda’s H1 2026 report. The figure represents an 18 percent decline from t»»»
Palestinian teenager dies of wounds sustained during Israeli raid
RAMALLAH: A 17-year-old Palestinian died on Saturday after being shot and wounded by Israeli forces in the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah. Marzouq Abu Naim, deputy head of the Al-Mughayyir village council, said that Fadi Naasan had been struck in the thigh by an explosive bullet dur»»»
3 Palestinians killed in Israeli drone strike on Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood
GAZA: Three Palestinians were killed and others wounded on Saturday morning when Israeli drones struck the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. A correspondent from Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, reported that three bodies and several injured people were taken to Al-Ma’madani H»»»
Saudi ambassador joins GCC, Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with US Undersecretary of State
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar joined fellow Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with Allison Hooker, US under-secretary of state for political affairs, on Friday. During the meeting, they reaffirmed the importance of close coordination to »»»
Saudi ambassador joins GCC, Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with US Undersecretary of State
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar joined fellow Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with Allison Hooker, US under-secretary of state for political affairs, on Friday. During the meeting, they reaffirmed the importance of close coordination to »»»
From founder formation to exits: where MENA’s venture capital journey needs to go next
RIYADH: Venture capital across the Middle East and North Africa has been trapped in a paradox: more money, more international attention and more government-backed ambition, yet still a market that looks small beside the economies it is meant to help transform. Startups in the region raised $3.8 bil»»»
Qatar advance to West Asia Men's Volleyball Championship semifinals
MUSCAT: Qatar advanced to the semifinals of the Second West Asia Men's Volleyball Championship, currently underway in Muscat, Oman. The team secured the second victory of the tournament by defeating Kuwait in straight sets in Group A. The tournament runs through July 22. Qatar's players sealed the »»»
Kenya presidency website hacked: media
Nairobi: Kenya temporarily shut down the presidency's website on Saturday after what local media reported was a cyberattack that included a ransom demand. Media reports said hackers had altered the site's homepage with messages critical of President William Ruto. They had also demanded five bitcoin»»»
PM Magyar reveals what qualities Hungary's next President should have
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has outlined the qualities his Tisza Party wants in Hungary’s next president, saying the ideal candidate would have no party-political background or affiliations. In a Facebook post published after President Tamás Sulyok signed the constitutional amendment endi»»»
Creotech Instruments selected by OrbitFab to participate in ASTRAL project
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»»»
UAE, Russian foreign ministers discuss regional developments, bilateral ties
Abu Dhabi, July 18 (SANA) UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday to discuss regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East. According to the UAE’s state news agency (WAM), the t»»»
Mbappe pays tribute to ‘legend’ Deschamps ahead of coach’s final dance at World Cup
NEW YORK: France captain Kylian Mbappe paid an emotional tribute to Didier Deschamps ahead of the coach’s final match in charge, saying the players had failed to give him the ending he deserved at the World Cup after 14 years at the helm. “Today is your last dance. You, who have given us so much. »»»
Middle East crisis becomes a boon for Cairo plastic recyclers
CAIRO: In the labyrinthine alleyways of Cairo’s Garbage City, recycling specialist Peter Romany finds himself fielding calls from factories scrambling for plastic to plug supply shortfalls caused by the Iran war. The 25-year-old is among the hundreds of recyclers and manufacturers across Egypt bene»»»
FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks at UN, proclaims the World Cup a success
NEW YORK: FIFA President Gianni Infantino deemed the World Cup a success on Friday, saying the tournament achieved its mission of uniting people from all corners of the globe. Infantino spoke at the United Nations as part of a daylong session there about how the game can be a catalyst for youth men»»»
England World Cup star Rogers set to join Chelsea: reports
LONDON: Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign England World Cup midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, according to several reports on Saturday. Rogers, 23, who has impressed during the tournament in North America, will fetch a transfer fee of 117 million pounds ($157 million) and will sign a seve»»»
Iran's Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei calls the U.S. 'The Great Satan' - UPI.com
Iranian women hold an image of supreme leader Ayatolla Mojtaba Khamenei as Iranian officials, military commanders, families of war victims and their supporters gathered at Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran on Sunday. On Saturday, Khamenei called the United States "The Great Satan." Photo by Behnam Tof»»»
India Achieves Major Breakthrough With Its First Private Orbital Rocket
Startup Skyroot Aerospace has successfully launched India's first privately developed orbital-class rocket, Vikram-1. A key feature is its all-carbon composite structure, which makes it significantly lighter and more efficient than traditional rockets. Its upper stage is powered by a 3D-printed eng»»»
Spain braces for third heatwave with highs above 40°C
Spain is set to enter its third heatwave of the summer on Tuesday, with temperatures forecast to climb above 40°C across large parts of the country, the national weather office said. The heatwave will be fuelled by a persistent area of high pressure that will trap hot, dry air from North Africa ove»»»
Laos says unable determine cause of tourists’ deaths linked to tainted alcohol
Vientiane: 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 died fol»»»
Ukraine kills at least 8 in Russian warehouses, hits oil facility - UPI.com
A handout photo shows a building damaged during a Ukrainian drone attack in Elektrostal, Moscow region, Russia, Saturday. The building caught fire but was quickly extinguished. Photo by Moscow Regional Governor Andrey Vorobiev's Telegram Channel/EPA July 18 (UPI) -- Ukrainian drones hit two Russian»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Two players walk away with Dh100,000 – check the winning numbers
Dubai: Several participants have walked away with cash prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw held on Saturday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260718, the winning numbers in the Days section were 13, 8, 10, 30, 31, 22, while the winning number in the Months section was 2. Three lucky participants h»»»
Two US service members killed in retaliatory Iranian strikes – Pentagon
Two US service members have been killed, while another is unaccounted for, after Iranian forces struck American military facilities in Jordan with ballistic missiles and kamikaze drones, the Pentagon has reported. According to a statement released by the US Central Command on Saturday, the casualti»»»
New York Mayor Mamdani weighs Netanyahu arrest during UN summit
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is in talks over whether to try to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an upcoming UN summit, he said in an interview published Saturday -- prompting a sharp rebuke from Netanyahu's camp. "I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague»»»
Israeli strike kills five in Gaza City, including three children
Gaza: Five Palestinians were killed Saturday, including three children, and others were wounded after Israeli fighter jets bombarded an apartment in the Al-Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said. Today, the death toll from the war of annihilation that the Israeli occ»»»
Kenya investigating cybersecurity incident affecting president’s website
JOHANNESBURG: Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy said on Saturday it was investigating a cybersecurity incident that affected the official website of the president, adding that there was no evidence so far of unauthorized access to sensitive data or loss of i»»»
Lebanese media group Annahar launches AI-powered journalist ‘Nahar’
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Annahar Media Group this week launched Nahar, its first artificial intelligence-powered “news correspondent.” In its announcement, the media outlet said the step opens a new chapter in the relationship between journalists and technology. Nayla Tueni, Annahar’s editor-in-chief, sai»»»
Dh30m UAE Lottery: Winning numbers announced – see if you’re a winner
Dubai: Several participants have walked away with cash prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw held on Saturday. In Lucky Day Draw No. 260718, the winning numbers in the Days section were 13, 8, 10, 30, 31, 22, while the winning number in the Months section was 2. Three lucky participants h»»»
UK economy rebounds as nation awaits new PM
LONDON — Britain's economy rebounded slightly in May with growth of 0.1 per cent thanks to expansion in the services sector, official data showed last week as Britain awaits a new prime minister.Gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 0.1 per cent in April as the US-Iran war pushed up inflat»»»
Tech share selloff rolls on, oil prices jump on Mideast clashes
NEW YORK — Wall Street stocks fell decisively last week, joining most global markets in retreating on continued weakness in artificial intelligence shares and rebounding oil prices.Tech shares have been under pressure in recent days on questions about their lofty valuations following Nasdaq's surge»»»
Jordan renews citizenship-by-investment scheme to attract higher-value investments — minister
AMMAN — Minister of Investment Tareq Abu Ghazaleh said that recent amendments to the country's citizenship- and residency-by-investment programme mark a “significant” shift towards attracting higher-quality investments that generate tangible economic benefits, create jobs, and support balanced deve»»»
Worker remittances to Kingdom rises 13% during first four months, totalling around $1.6 billion — JBA
AMMAN — The Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) held the Ninth Conference of Jordanian Businessmen and Investors Abroad on Saturday under the theme of "Investment Opportunities with a Global Vision."Major structural revisions to the national investment framework designed to fast-track the entry»»»
President Aoun heads to Washington to meet president Trump at the White House – Ya Libnan
Share: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday left Beirut for Washington, where he is expected to meet president Donald Trump at the White House , the Lebanese presidency said It will be the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since former President Michel Suleiman met former U»»»
Syrian, U.S. diplomats discuss bilateral ties and cooperation in Ankara
Ankara, July 18 (SANA) Syria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Ankara, Fadi al-Qassem, held talks on Saturday with the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Ankara, Maria Olson, on ways to boost bilateral relations and expand cooperation across a range of fields. According to the Syrian Embassy in Ankara, the two diploma»»»
Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attacks on Gulf states, rejects strikes on vital infrastructure
Saudi Arabia has renewed its condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting civilian and vital infrastructure, including a power generation facility and water desalination plant in Kuwait. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Iran’s continued attacks on Kuwait»»»
Egypt’s microfinance portfolio approaches EGP 108bn in Q1 2026: MSMEF chairperson
Egypt’s microfinance sector maintained strong growth during the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, with the total outstanding microfinance portfolio approaching EGP 108bn, according to Hala Abu Elsaad, Chairperson of the Egyptian Federation for Financing Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEF). The to»»»
CIB leads EGP 18bn syndicated loan for Orascom Development’s O West project
Orascom Development Egypt (ODE), one of Egypt’s leading real estate and tourism developers, announced that its subsidiary, Orascom Real Estate, has secured a 10-year syndicated financing facility worth EGP 18bn from the Commercial International Bank-Egypt (CIB), Banque Misr, and the National Bank o»»»
M squared CEO Karim Malash named in CNBC Arabia’s Top 100 Business Leaders for 2026
Karim Malash, chairperson and chief executive officer of M squared, has been named one of CNBC Arabia’s Top 100 Business Leaders for 2026. The ranking identifies executives, founders, and innovators based on their measurable performance and tangible impact on Middle Eastern economies and markets, r»»»
Iran Affirms Agreement Process Suspended After US Breached Commitments - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran Affirms Agreement Process Suspended After US Breached Commitments 18-07-2026 20:30 PM Iran flagIran has suspended implementation of it»»»
German conservative parliamentary leader resigns over surrogate baby controversy
Jens Spahn, the parliamentary head of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU faction, resigned on Saturday amid mounting pressure over his use of a surrogate mother in the US despite a surrogacy ban in Germany. Spahn and his husband welcomed the child earlier this week, sparking criticism»»»
From Maradona to Messi: Bangladesh’s enduring love for Argentina
DHAKA: There are rooftops draped in blue and white and murals of Lionel Messi everywhere — but this is not Argentina, it is Bangladesh where football-crazy fans are again celebrating their unique bond with the South American giants. The craze for Argentina has endured for decades in a country of 17»»»
Qatar's Khamis Al Marri named VAR official for World Cup final
DOHA: Qatar's international referee Khamis Al Marri has been appointed as the support video assistant referee (support VAR) for the FIFA Club World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, adding yet another laurel to the country's rich sports legacy. Germany's Bastian Dankert will serve as»»»
New hotel will open in center of Jelenia Góra
The four-star Bellevue Hotel is under construction just 300 meters from Jelenia Góra’s main square and is scheduled to open in October 2026. The project, developed by the Kocham Góry Group, is about 80% complete and will operate under a condo-hotel model. It will offer 92 rooms ranging from 27 to 6»»»
Russian Strikes Wipe Out Ukrainian Army Fuel Reserves at Key Port Near Odessa: MoD
The precision-guided air strike hit fuel and lubricant storage tanks at Yuzhny Port, some 30 km east of Odessa on the Black Sea Coast. The fuel was intended for use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russia's Defense Ministry said. "The Russian Armed Forces continue to strike Ukrainian ports and vessel»»»
Summer rain, mountain attractions draw visitors to Al-Baha and Taif
JEDDAH: Summer rain, relatively mild temperatures, and mountain attractions are drawing residents and tourists to Al-Baha and Taif, where parks, forests and recreational sites have recorded increased visitor activity, according to a report from the Saudi Press Agency. As scattered rainfall across A»»»
Umrah pilgrim numbers surge by 22.5%
MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program have revealed there was a 22.5 percent increase in Umrah visa arrivals this year between the start of the season on Dhul Hijjah 15 and the end of Muharram. Total international arrivals for Umrah exceeded 1.27 million pi»»»
Beauty is in the eye of Saudi photographer
JEDDAH: For most people, the human eye is simply a feature of the face. For Saudi photographer Ashraf Habib, it is a canvas of extraordinary beauty. “The Gate of Sights” exhibition, which concludes on Saturday at Galleria Center in Jeddah, is dedicated to iris photography and is an extension of the»»»
Baqaei: Iran targeted only US military bases and equipment, and the MoU contains no provision granting the United States the right to establish a separate independent route through the Strait of Hormuz - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Baqaei: Iran targeted only US military bases and equipment, and the MoU contains no provision granting the United States the right to estab»»»
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei: Washington has violated all the terms of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in the past ten days - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei: Washington has violated all the terms of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in the»»»
Tucker Carlson accuses Trump of betraying America
The US is on the path to revolution because President Donald Trump has betrayed Americans by putting foreign interests ahead of those of his own country, journalist Tucker Carlson has said. In an interview on Bloomberg’s The Mishal Husain Show aired on Friday, the conservative commentator – once am»»»