Kuwait City, Kuwait: Kuwait and Bahrain's militaries said on Sunday they were responding to Iranian aerial attacks, and air raid sirens sounded in the two Gulf countries as Tehran pressed its retaliatory strikes across the region. "Kuwaiti air defences are currently confronting hostile missile and »»»

New Delhi: The wife of an Indian hunger strike activist taken to hospital against his will accused the government on Sunday of "illegal detention" disguised as medical care. Police cited a court order and "deteriorating health condition" on Saturday when they picked up Sonam Wangchuk, who had refus»»»

Tokyo: Indian badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu ended a title drought of almost two years at the Japan Open on Sunday and said winning would give her "a lot of confidence". Sindhu, a world champion in 2019 and Olympic silver medallist in 2016, beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in Tokyo »»»

TORONTO: The common saying in the Middle East, “al-qahwa da’wa,” or “coffee is an invitation,” is the premise behind London-based Qahwa Sessions, a daytime social concept that blends the brew, culture and sound. Featuring music, brands, art and, of course, coffee, Qahwa Sessions is a series of pop-»»»

Tears streamed down south Lebanon resident Fatima Hajj Ali's face as she stared at a host of keys hanging like windchimes from the ceiling of a Beirut museum -- each one symbolizing a home, like her own, destroyed by Israel. Hajj Ali is among the thousands of southerners who lost their houses in th»»»

President Joseph Aoun has arrived in Washington, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, after the latest round of Lebanon-Israel talks wrapped up in Italy. It is the first trip to Washington by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Suleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2»»»

Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup is remembered for stunning goals, iconic celebrations and unforgettable players. But behind many defining moments is another battle, one fought from the touchline. At World Cup 2026, several of the tournament’s biggest results were shaped not only by individual brill»»»

Bulgaria has increasingly turned to foreign workers as businesses struggle to find enough employees, with more than 108,000 citizens from countries outside the European Union gaining access to the labor market over the past three years, Labor and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova said. The de»»»

Doha, Qatar: Lionel Messi has dazzled once again on football’s biggest stage and now stands just one victory away from ending his remarkable World Cup journey in perfect fashion as defending champions Argentina take on European champions Spain in what promises to be a spectacular FIFA World Cup fin»»»

TORONTO: The common saying in the Middle East, “al-qahwa da’wa,” or “coffee is an invitation,” is the premise behind London-based Qahwa Sessions, a daytime social concept that blends the brew, culture and sound. Featuring music, brands, art and, of course, coffee, Qahwa Sessions is a series of pop-»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s digital payments ecosystem continued its rapid expansion in May 2026, with the figures released by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) showing robust growth across card payments, bank transfers and instant payment services. The data highlights the country’s accelerating adoption of ca»»»

Newsmax, the US cable news network that describes itself as the country’s fourth-largest cable news channel and is available in more than 100 countries, is preparing to expand its brand into Bulgaria, Mediapool reports. The company has announced that it has reached agreements for further internatio»»»

Confusion erupted after the fifth Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Kyiv on July 15, with claims circulating on social media that Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova had signed the so-called Kyiv Declaration, thereby committing Bulgaria more deeply to support for Ukraine and the Coalition»»»

The Hungarian government has announced a major overhaul of environmental and corporate tax rules that is expected to have significant implications for companies from China operating in the country’s fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry. Government unveils sweeping reforms affecting battery a»»»

Doha, Qatar: Former Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), H E Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, has paid tribute to the late Father Amir, H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, describing him as a visionary leade»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s air-conditioned outdoor parks have become a preferred destination for residents and visitors during the summer months, offering a comfortable environment for recreation, walking, jogging, and sports despite soaring temperatures. Equipped with fully air-conditioned walking and r»»»

SOKOTO: Maryam Aminu was hardly surprised when the last of her six children was diagnosed with malnutrition in April for a second time. She was barely feeding the 18-month-old regularly, let alone with nutritious foods. Although the family in northwest Nigeria has struggled with economic hardship, »»»

Arab Finance: As Egypt works to strengthen food security, boost agricultural exports, and optimize the use of its limited natural resources, the agricultural sector is undergoing a profound transformation. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the Egyptian economy, contributing approximately 11% to »»»

BEIRUT, Lebanon: Tears streamed down south Lebanon resident Fatima Hajj Ali’s face as she stared at a host of keys hanging like windchimes from the ceiling of a Beirut museum — each one symbolising a home, like her own, destroyed by Israel. Hajj Ali is among the thousands of southerners who lost th»»»

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said President Donald Trump's comments about Canada’s efforts to control the ongoing wildfire crisis are a “shame” and “totally unacceptable.” File Photo by CJ Gunther/EPA July 18 (UPI) -- Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday shot back at President Donald Trump, saying hi»»»

Share: File photo- President Joseph Aoun left for the U.S. on Saturday, along with first lady Nehmat Aoun, to hold a summit with President Trump on the conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based, Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. Here is the latest on the Middle East war today: Iran’s Revolutionary»»»

MIAMI: England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semifinal exits — France were outplayed by Spain while Englan»»»

Miami, United States: England beat France 6-4 in a chaotic World Cup third-place playoff on Saturday as Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Both teams had higher aspirations at the 2026 tournament but suffered painful semi-final exits -- France were outplayed by S»»»

MIAMI: Kylian Mbappé became the leading goalscorer in World Cup history, but his France team said farewell to coach Didier Deschamps with a 6-4 defeat to England in the World Cup match for third place on Saturday. England completely overpowered France in the first half to build a 4-0 lead. Declan R»»»

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida: Kylian Mbappé moved past Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record on Saturday, scoring twice for France in the third-place match against England to reach 22 goals. Mbappé has 10 goals in this World Cup, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which i»»»

British runner Josh Kerr reacts after winning the men's one-mile event with a new world record of 3 minutes, 42.66 seconds in London. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA July 18 (UPI) -- British runner Josh Kerr broke the men's mile world record on Saturday, crossing the finish line in 3 minutes, 42.77 seconds.»»»

ADDISABABA: Thousands gathered in the Ethiopian capital on Saturday for a pro-government rally against an alleged forced recruitment campaign by authorities in the northern Tigray region. AFP reported in June on the recruitment drive in Tigray — which fought a brutal civil war against the central g»»»

Agencies East Rutherford Spain and Argentina will both be aiming to create more history when they square off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Lionel Messi’s Argentina are bidding to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back FIFA Wor»»»

Darlene Regis Broadway Princess. People’s Choice Award winner. Pinoy Popstar Qatar Top 15 finalist. At just 17 years old, Marthylda Jameel Flores has already earned accolades that have established her as one of the Filipino community’s most promising young performers in Qatar. But beyond the titles»»»

LONDON: Once a bustling trading hub linking Darfur, Kordofan, and central Sudan, El-Obeid now finds itself trapped in an ever-tightening noose as the Rapid Support Forces gradually impose a siege that could echo the horrors of El-Fasher. Warnings of what may lie ahead intensified on Wednesday when »»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

The EU is set to use a multibillion-euro antitrust fine imposed on Google to help ease pressure on the bloc’s budget after years of increased military spending and aid for Ukraine. The US tech giant has paid €4.6 billion ($5.4 billion), including interest, after losing a years-long legal battle ove»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has pledged $5 million to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to quality education and empowering children and young people around the world. The contribution will support the Fund's efforts to improve educational opportunities t»»»

AMMAN — Truck movement to and from the Aqaba Special Economic Zone increased by 23 per cent during the first four months of a new truck entry and exit management system, the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) said on Sunday.The system, operated by Maqta Ayla, recorded approximately 445,0»»»

AMMAN — Aqaba Container Terminal (ACT) has reported “strong” operational and commercial performance during the first half of 2026, driven by growth in cargo volumes, continued infrastructure investments, high safety standards, and progress toward its sustainability and community development goals.I»»»

Japan's parliament on Friday enacted changes to imperial succession rules, allowing male distant relatives to rejoin the imperial family and women to retain royal status after marrying commoners. The legislation, however, keeps the ban on female emperors despite opinion polls showing broad public s»»»

NEW YORK: For some fans following this World Cup, the calculation has been ‌simple: support whoever is playing against Argentina. Across the tournament, that has meant wearing the green of Algeria, the blue of Cape Verde, or the red of Switzerland. Even the often maligned England got a boost in glo»»»

DOHA: Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has paid a glowing tribute to HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in an article under the title ‘Yuba’ – My dear father. The full article reads as follows. “المقياس قطر (The measure is Qatar)” There is no liter»»»

Ghana's rural banking sector has grown into a GHS26bn ($2.2bn) industry with 147 licensed institutions serving more than 8mn customers, Bank of Ghana Governor Johnson Asiama said, Citi News reported on July 17. The figures land as the central bank overhauls a 50-year-old financial inclusion model w»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Hungary’s government investigation into a controversial state-backed data deletion programme has intensified, with independent MP Ákos Hadházy arguing that the case alone would justify criminal proceedings against former minister Antal Rogán and businessman Gellért Jászai. The controversy centres o»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has temporarily shut down a branch of Yummy Indian Bite Restaurant in Abu Dhabi after inspectors found repeated food safety violations that were deemed to pose a risk to public health. The restaurant, which operates under Comme»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Araqchi Vows Iran Will Defend ‘Every Inch’ of Homeland after Deadly US Strike 18-07-2026 13:24 PM Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (imag»»»

RIYADH: Reforms across logistics, governance and business environment could see trade more than double between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. A report published by the International Monetary Fund, and supported by experts speaking to Arab News, set out that »»»