After 30 years of service, NASA astronaut Mike Fincke retires - UPI.com
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke helped out of the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship SHANNON after landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Fincke announced his retirement on Wednesday. Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA/UP»»»
Colombia earthquake rescue efforts enter 'final phase' as death toll rises
Rescuers in Colombia faced a race against time Wednesday as they searched collapsed buildings for survivors after the country's strongest earthquake this century. The magnitude 7.4 quake has killed 265 people and injured more than 3,500, with nearly 500 still missing. Colombia's earthquake rescue e»»»
US forces redirect 59 commercial vessels in Iran blockade: CENTCOM
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Wednesday that it had redirected 59 commercial vessels as part of its “blockade against Iran.” The CENTCOM announced the updated figures in a post on X, saying that “An F/A-18 fighter jet launches from the flight deck of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) while t»»»
US floats prospect of joint strikes on Colombian armed groups
PANAMA CITY: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth floated on Wednesday the possibility of joint strikes on Colombian armed groups, as he welcomed the nation into a military-led counter-narcotics coalition after its conservative president took over last week. Colombia had authorized “joint military ope»»»
Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, TASS reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, an island in the disputed Kuril Islands chain claimed by both Russia and Japan, state news agency TASS said on Thursday. The neighbors never signed a formal World War Two peace treaty as the main hurdle was the unresolved territorial dispute »»»
Trump sued over service that offers paid early access to Truth Social posts
NEW YORK: Donald Trump was sued on Wednesday by two media entities seeking to shut down a new service that sells paid access to the US president’s posts, including some that can move markets, on his Truth Social platform. The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court by the Intercept and the Freed»»»
Pentagon accused of ‘whitewashing’ US civilian casualties
The Pentagon was accused of whitewashing US Army crimes after publishing its annual estimate of civilian casualties in 2025.The report, submitted to Congress late Monday and obtained by US news outlets, contains numbers that are far lower than estimates by independent outlets.The Pentagon concluded»»»
Danube so low the government is sinking barges and building a dam to save the nuclear plant
The government has ordered the immediate construction of a riverbed weir on the Danube between the Paks nuclear power plant and the settlement of Dunaszentbenedek. In parallel, as a temporary measure, two barges, each eighty metres long, are being placed on standby at Paks so that, if necessary, th»»»
Shorter bang for your forint
The government is preparing a three-day series of events for the national holiday on 20 August, during which the fireworks display will be shorter than usual, government spokesperson Éva Magyar said at a Wednesday event in Budapest where the programme was presented. The series of events will cost 4»»»
Beggar caught with $46,600 in cash after collecting money on Amman streets
Dubai: Jordanian authorities have arrested a woman found begging in central Amman with about $46,600 in cash, the Ministry of Social Development said. Anti-begging teams from the ministry, working with the Public Security Directorate, apprehended the woman in Amman’s downtown area as part of effort»»»
Dubai-Sharjah traffic report: Heavy delays on E11 and E311
Dubai-Sharjah traffic is building across several key commuter routes this morning, with the latest Google Maps view showing a mix of heavy congestion and slower-moving traffic at major interchanges. On the Sharjah side, E88 Al Dhaid Road is mostly moving, but the map shows pockets of orange and red»»»
46kg loss: Indian Minister Nitin Gadkari’s remarkable journey from 135kg to 89kg
Dubai: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has opened up about his long fitness journey, revealing how he brought his weight down from 135kg to 89kg and made regular exercise a non-negotiable part of his daily routine. Gadkari discussed his transformation during a recent ap»»»
Chicago jury awards $29m to family of Irish UN worker killed in Boeing crash
New York: A Chicago jury awarded $29 million in damages to the family of an Irish-born United Nations employee who died in a 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash, a US court spokesman said Wednesday. The civil suit was brought against Boeing by Naoise Connolly Ryan, widow of Michael "Mick" Ryan, an engineer w»»»
Pakistan Independence Day: Expats call for education and economic strength
Dubai: As Pakistan marks its 79th Independence Day anniversary, Pakistanis living and working in the UAE have renewed their call for greater unity, stronger institutions, quality education and wider opportunities for the country’s young population, while expressing pride in their homeland and confi»»»
Search for Colombia earthquake survivors enters critical window
CALI/PEREIRA, Colombia: Colombian rescue teams raced on Thursday to find survivors still trapped beneath collapsed buildings two days after a powerful earthquake killed close to 250 people across the nation’s western valleys and coffee-growing region. “We are in a race against time to save lives,”»»»
US jury awards $29 million damages to Boeing 737 MAX victim’s family
NEW YORK: A Chicago jury awarded $29 million in damages to the family of an Irish-born United Nations employee who died in a 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash, a US court spokesman said Wednesday. The civil suit was brought against Boeing by Naoise Connolly Ryan, widow of Michael “Mick” Ryan, an engineer w»»»
35 Mauritanians return from Mali detention, some tortured
NOUAKCHOTT: Thirty-five Mauritanians who had been detained in Mali returned home on Wednesday, a government spokesman said, alleging some had been tortured during an episode that caught national attention. The individuals had been suspected of being terrorists, a foreign ministry source and a polic»»»
Spain darkens as solar eclipse races south from Arctic
BURGOS, Spain: Day briefly turned to night in Spain on Wednesday, as the country witnessed its first total solar eclipse in more than a century, plunging it into eerie darkness in one of nature’s greatest spectacles.The spectral glow of the Sun’s outer corona, shimmering out of the edges of the sha»»»
Moscow warns of higher global food prices as Russia, Ukraine strike grain ports
MOSCOW/KYIV: Russia warned Wednesday that attacks on its grain and agricultural infrastructure were worsening global food shortages and could drive food prices higher, as Moscow and Kyiv traded strikes on key ports and export facilities on both sides of the Black Sea. Russian Foreign Ministry spoke»»»
Jeju 4.3 cave considered for national cultural heritage status - UPI.com
A man pays his respects during the 76th anniversary of the Jeju 4.3 memorial ceremony at the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park in Jeju City, South Korea, on April 3, 2024. File Photo by Darryl Coote/UPI JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The Korea Heritage Service announced Wednesday that Jeju Island's D»»»
Egypt shuts three private blood banks over serious safety violations
Dubai: Egypt’s Health Ministry has revoked the licences of three blood banks at private hospitals after inspections uncovered serious violations that authorities said posed a direct threat to public health and patient safety. The blood banks, located in Cairo, Sharqia and Qalyubia governorates, wer»»»
Heavy rain, thunderstorms forecast across southwestern Saudi Arabia through Saturday
Dubai: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to affect parts of southwestern Saudi Arabia through Saturday, with Jazan and Asir expected to bear the brunt of the unsettled weather, according to the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM). Forecasts from the Saudi Numerical Model show rain develop»»»
Most Poles want unemployed military-age Ukrainian men deported – IBRiS survey
Most Poles would back the deportation of unemployed military-age Ukrainian men, a recent survey by the Warsaw-based IBRiS Institute for Market and Social Research has indicated. Public perception of Ukrainians in Poland has deteriorated in recent months amid a diplomatic spat between the two countr»»»
UAE temperatures to hit 49°C with rain and mist forecast
Dubai: Temperatures could reach 49°C in parts of the UAE on Thursday as the country faces a mix of intense heat, possible afternoon rain and overnight humidity, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). The NCM said conditions would be fair to partly cloudy at times, with convective cl»»»
White House press secretary and Trump adviser Karoline Leavitt to leave role
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of the month, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ending the tenure of one of his most prominent and trusted advisers as the administration heads towards November's midterm elections. White House press secretary Ka»»»
Iran blockade: US Navy redirects 4 more ships near Hormuz as Tehran's oil lifeline chokes
Four more Iran-linked ships were blocked or redirected by the US Central Command on Wednesday, as American forces continue to enforce the “steel wall” naval blockade against Iran. This brings the total of ship redirections to 59 commercial vessels, 3 “disabled”, and 2 boarded as of August 12, 2026.»»»
10 things to do in Dubai this weekend: Lucky Ali and Usha Uthup concert, live music, comedy and more
Dubai: It is a significant weekend for two of the largest communities in this country. Pakistan marks Independence Day on Friday 14 August, India on Saturday 15 August, and the calendar has arranged itself accordingly. Here is everything worth knowing, in the order it happens. 1. Book Week at The H»»»
When home is suddenly somewhere else: Helping children find belonging after moving to the UAE
Every year, thousands of families relocate to the UAE, home to more than 200 nationalities. They arrive with hopes of new opportunities, career growth and a better future for their children. For many families, Dubai represents possibilities, a diverse, international environment where their children»»»
Ukraine hits Russia with hundreds of drones, Moscow warns even bigger missile salvos on the way
Ukraine launched a barrage of more than 450 drones against Russia overnight on August 10, targeting 16 regions and occupied Crimea in one of its deepest and broadest strikes of the war, as Moscow's own military signalled it plans to sharply scale up the missile salvos it fires at Ukraine in return.»»»
Tributes pour in for Indian expat student in UAE who died in Tamil Nadu after rare cancer battle
Sharjah: When Grade 12 C at GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah, returns from the summer break, one seat will stay empty. It belonged to Glowin Chell, and her seatmate Reema is already heartbroken. Glowin, an 18-year-old Indian expat who grew up in Sharjah, died on Tuesday during treatment ba»»»
'To make the civilians leave': Russia pummels Ukraine's petrol stations
A streak across the sky, then a muffled blast. Near Izyum in eastern Ukraine, another petrol station has just been blown to pieces. The scene has become commonplace as Russia multiplies its strikes against the country's logistics infrastructure. Since July, Moscow has hit more than 200 petrol stati»»»
Two soldiers killed in military helicopter crash in Salado, Texas - UPI.com
A U.S. AH-64 Apache helicopter is shown in 2025 during a training exercise. An Apache helicopter crashed Wednesday in central Texas, killing the two soldiers on board. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- An Apache attack helicopter based at Fort Hood crashed into a fie»»»
Rare solar eclipse crosses Europe, bringing darkness to Spain
People across Europe looked to the western horizon on Wednesday evening to see the moon moving in front of the sun, bringing twilight-like conditions and plunging parts of the continent into darkness. The totalsolareclipse began in northern Siberia, before the moon's umbra swept in an arc over Gree»»»
UK PM Burnham calls for wider distribution of asylum seekers
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for immigrants to be housed more widely across the UK, as the country continues to grapple with large numbers of people crossing the English Channel. More than 3,000 illegal immigrants have reportedly reached the country by boat in the three weeks sinc»»»
Strait of Hormuz remains blocked; claims don't change reality: Iran dismisses Trump's "total US control" claims
Tehran: Iran has rejected President Donald Trump's claim that the United States has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway remains blocked and will not be reopened until Tehran's conditions are accepted. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, in a post on X, said Trump»»»
US on track for record natural gas production in 2026: EIA
Washington: US natural gas production is on track to hit a new annual record in 2026, with output forecast to average 122.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), according to the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That would eclipse the prev»»»
'Another world': total solar eclipse enthralls Europe
A total solar eclipse swept across parts of Europe on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night along a narrow path of totality from Iceland to northern Spain. But clouds and rain spoiled the view for many spectators, obscuring the Moon’s dramatic passage across the Sun. The Aug. 12 eclipse was the»»»
Strait of Hormuz remains blocked; claims don't change reality: Iran dismisses Trump's "total US control" claims
Tehran: Iran has rejected President Donald Trump's claim that the United States has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategic waterway remains blocked and will not be reopened until Tehran's conditions are accepted. The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, in a post on X, said Trump»»»
US calls Kiev to heel over Black Sea tanker attacks – FT
The US has called Ukraine to heel for targeting oil tankers in the Black Sea after Kiev began launching drone attacks on vessels sailing to a partly US-owned Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Russia, the Financial Times has reported. Ukrainian drone raids targeting the CPC – which funne»»»
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt to resign - UPI.com
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks July 23 during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. Leavitt will resign the position at the end of August. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Karoline Leavitt, th»»»
Zimbabwe ferry capsizes with 95 people on board
Multiple people were feared dead after a ferry with 95 passengers capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, police and eyewitnesses said. The boat, which provides transport between the northern town of Kariba and several islands and fishing camps, overturned after hitting strong waves. Lake K»»»
IEA expcts 2026 oil demand to drop by 1.6 mb/d
PARIS: World oil demand is forecast to decline by 1.6 mb/d in 2026, 510 kb/d more than estimate in last month’s report, as the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz and elevated fuel prices continue to weigh on oil consumption, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Oil Market Report »»»
Education ministry organises interviews for N-engineering scholarship candidates
TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), in cooperation with the Civil Service and Government Development Bureau and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, has organised interviews for students nominated for scholarships in nuclear engineering for t»»»
QC provides cash aidto 1,500 Somali families
Tribune News Network Doha With the support of generous donors in Qatar, Qatar Charity (QC) has provided cash assistance to 1,530 families affected by food insecurity in camps on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. The intervention is part of Qatar Charity’s ongoing humanitarian efforts t»»»
Negombo Kings crowned community cricket champions, Negombo Challengers runners-up
Ashraf Siddiqui Doha The Negombo community from Sri Lanka in Qatar recently came together for a vibrant and highly competitive cricket tournament aimed at bringing community members together through sport. Held at Pearling School Gharaffa, the tournament concluded successfully last Friday, with sev»»»
Qatar’s Skydiving team readies up for WMPC in Slovakia
QNA Bratislava The Qatar national skydiving team, affiliated with the Qatar Air Sports Committee under the Joint Special Forces, is currently preparing for the CISM 48th World Military Parachuting Championships (WMPC). Taking place in Slovakia starting Friday until August 23, the WMPC will see the »»»
US military Apache AH-64 helicopter crash kills 2 in Texas
An Army Apache helicopter crashed in a central Texas field on Wednesday, killing both people on board and sparking a wildfire that forced several homes to be evacuated, sheriff’s official said. Officials from nearby Fort Hood announced that the AH-64 Apache helicopter had crashed. Cliff Coleman, sp»»»
Gold prices surge 1% toward 2-month high
LONDON: Gold prices rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday, supported by easing expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next month as market participants awaited pivotal US inflation data that is likely to shed light on the central bank’s future policy path. Spot gold rose 1.1 percent to $4,413»»»
Rising Kenyan lakes push crocodiles closer to homes
BARINGO, Kenya: A crocodile basks in the sunshine on the roof of a submerged conference hall at a holiday resort in central Kenya, in a visible sign of how rising lake waters are endangering thousands of families and local businesses. Lake Baringo and other lakes in Kenya’s Rift Valley have risen t»»»
Gaza detainees ‘face dire conditions in Israeli prisons’
RAMALLAH: The Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said on Wednesday that living and humanitarian conditions for Palestinian prisoners from the Gaza Strip in Janot prison continue to deteriorate severely amid punitive measures, restrictions and deprivation of basic necessities guarante»»»