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 »»»

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid confirmed on Friday, July 17, 2026, that the ministry is committed to strengthening ties with the Bank of New York (BNY) and other international financial institutions. The minister explained that the move aims to develop financing tools, expan»»»

MOSCOW: Waves ​of Ukrainian drone attacks killed seven warehouse workers and injured dozens more, while another attack sparked a fire at an oil depot in the wider capital region, regional governors said on Saturday. Governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said 25 people were injured ‌after Ukrainian drones slam»»»

Kazakhstan and China have signed more than 70 commercial agreements and memoranda worth over $15bn spanning artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, transport, manufacturing, energy and critical minerals. Deals were inked as Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a working visit to Sha»»»

The long-delayed demolition of abandoned railway workers’ housing in Budapest’s Rákosrendező district could begin soon after the state-owned railway company MÁV reached an agreement with the Budapest Municipality. Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy announced that MÁV has now granted all»»»

Sharjah: A Sharjah court has sentenced a man to six months in prison after convicting him of defrauding an Arab buyer of Dh692,000 in a fake wholesale iPhone transaction, ruling that he used deception and false commercial claims to obtain the money without supplying the promised devices. The verdic»»»

DAMASCUS: A Damascus criminal court has heard testimony from prosecution witnesses during the second session of the trial of Ahmad Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, who faces charges including inciting violence and justifying killings during the rule of the ousted Assad regime. The Fourth Crimin»»»

Smoke from wildfires in Canada creates a haze on the city of Pittsburgh's skyline. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian imports over wildfire smoke pouring into the United States, accusing the countr»»»

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters in Washington he would apply "maximum pressure" against states that refuse to work with his department on election security. File Photo by Daniel Heuer/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- The Department of Homeland Security on Friday ramped up the Trum»»»

Boeing will be allowed to take responsibility for certifying all of its 737 Max and 787 planes starting next week, the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday. The FAA said that after months of review the agency decided that Boeing's final safety checks on its planes are good enough to ensure t»»»

BETHLEHEM: When Mohammed Adnan Sbeih, also known as Abu Amous, began building a home for his family, he believed years of sacrifice would finally provide the stability he had worked so hard to achieve. Instead, 4 years of continuous labor, decades of savings, and mounting debt were erased within ho»»»

Addis Ababa: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday commended China for its solidarity with Africa in response to the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya made the remarks following a meeting with Jiang Feng, head of the Ch»»»

Two South African soldiers died on Friday after falling down a mine shaft during an operation targeting illicit mining, a police spokeswoman said. The deaths are the first military fatalities since President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed troops in March to bolster police operations against crime and ill»»»

New York: US officials on Friday pinned the source of a diarrhea-causing foodborne parasite as shredded iceberg lettuce used by the fast food chain Taco Bell. A federal investigation by the Food and Drug Administration traced the contamination back to a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexic»»»

ATLANTA: Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five US states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday confirmed the source and warned cons»»»

France's ​main ​gambling sector regulator said ⁠on Friday it had ‌instructed the ‌country's ​internet service providers to ​block access ​to ​the Polymarket ​website, one of a number of online prediction markets that allow people to bet on the outcome of future events. The move aims to enforce»»»

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, voted to dissolve Friday ahead of the October 27 election. File Photo by Debbie Hill/ UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- Israel's parliament, the Knesset, voted to dissolve on Friday after pushing through controversial legislation favorable to Prime Minister B»»»

The education system in areas under Houthi control is facing a fresh wave of criticism as the group launched the new academic year during the summer. The Houthis are accused of limiting the distribution of school supplies and cash assistance to their supporters and to the families of fighters kille»»»

The Guadalupe River rises to the top of a bridge near Boerne, Texas, Thursday. Severe flooding affected parts of south-central Texas and the Texas Hill Country, with a dangerous flood wave moving down the Guadalupe River. Photo by Dustin Safranek/EPA July 17 (UPI) -- Two people are dead in flooding»»»

GENEVA: The transport of Ebola victims’ bodies between different areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo, often for funerals in their home communities, risks further spreading the virus, the UN migration agency said on Friday. More than 2,000 Ebola cases and 700 deaths have been recorded in Congo»»»

A 42-year-old woman was detained in Sofia's Krasna Polyana district during a specialized police operation targeting drug distribution. Police officers found dozens of doses of fentanyl during the action, Sofia police deputy chief Commissioner Stanislava Todorova said. According to her, the operatio»»»

Donald Trump is reviving his long-running claims about the security of US elections. In a primetime address, the president accused China of what he called the largest election data breach in history. He also released documents he says reveal foreign interference, despite intelligence officials sayi»»»

Pakistani-born Shabir Ahmed, a rape gang ringleader recently released in the UK after serving a prison term for dozens of child sex offenses, committed his crimes because of his upbringing in England, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday. The 73-year-old, who first en»»»

China has rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Beijing masterminded the theft of 220 million American voter files to meddle in the 2020 election. Trump’s explosive remarks came ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington in late September and amid a tentative trad»»»

LONDON: West Ham United ‌captain Jarrod Bowen has pledged his future to the club as they prepare for life in the second-tier Championship following relegation from the Premier League, the England forward said in an interview published on Friday on the team’s website. The 29-year-old was part of the»»»

Russia’s international reserves edged up to $722.4bn in the week ending 10 July, according to the Central Bank of Russia, extending a recovery after a sharp fall in late June. (chart) The stockpile increased by $700mn, or about 0.1%, from $721.7bn a week earlier. It remains well below this yea»»»

Ukraine’s lawmakers approved chairman of the national gas company Naftogaz’s board, Serhii Koretskyi as the new Ukrainian Prime Minister on July 16 in anticipation of intense winter attacks by Russia. Zelenskiy announced a surprise government reshuffle at the weekend, after asking Ukraine’s Prime M»»»