Reform U.K.'s Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Robert Jenrick, unveils his party's plans for drastic cuts to welfare at a news conference in London on Monday. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Britain's Reform U.K. party said Monday that it would slash almost $68B from welfare, were it to »»»

Dubai: The 60-day clock has run out on Donald Trump’s Iran deal. Now the US president faces a harder question: What does he do next? The memorandum of understanding signed by the United States and Iran in June was supposed to provide a pathway out of the war. It envisioned an end to hostilities, th»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund reported a 9 percent rise in 2025 revenue to $120 billion, while net profit more than doubled to $17 billion, helped by contributions from maturing portfolio companies. In its annual report, the sovereign wealth fund said assets under management exceede»»»

The U.N. rights chief voiced alarm Monday at the rising civilian toll of escalating hostilities in Yemen, urging restraint and an immediate de-escalation to avoid plunging the country back into a full-scale war. "I urge all parties to halt immediately any actions that risk returning Yemen to full-s»»»

DOHA, Qatar: Qatar Airways Holidays is set to elevate the Qatar stopover experience with the launch of exclusive FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2026 packages. For the first time, three-day Formula 1 race tickets have been integrated into Qatar Stopover packages along with flights and hote»»»

Dubai: Before Thaikkudam Bridge took the stage in Dubai, rhythm guitarist Ashok Betty Nelson made me a promise: “If you want to dance, if you want to listen to good melodies, come to our show. You will not be disappointed.” Having now watched them in action at Coca-Cola Arena this weekend as a part»»»

MOGADISHU: Somali federal troops drove opposition forces out of one of the country’s biggest cities, Baidoa, on Monday, following heavy clashes that left many people dead, residents told Reuters. Baidoa, which is home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict and hunger in other area»»»

GENEVA: The UN rights chief voiced alarm Monday at the rising civilian toll of escalating hostilities in Yemen, urging restraint and an immediate de-escalation to avoid plunging the country back into a full-scale war.“I urge all parties to halt immediately any actions that risk returning Yemen to f»»»

The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan (SDMK) has announced a tender among domestic suppliers to purchase influenza and meningococcal vaccines for citizens of Kyrgyzstan planning to perform Hajj in 2027. The suppliers and vaccines must meet specific requirements regarding quality, stora»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said the Qiwa platform recorded more than 3 million services during this year’s second quarter, as it continued efforts to develop the labor market and enhance the efficiency of digital services provided to businesses and ind»»»

GAZA CITY (Sputnik) - Palestinian movement Hamas on Monday welcomed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries condemning Israel's rejection of the roadmap proposed by the Board of Peace for further implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the wa»»»

Officials in Washington are allegedly discussing the possible use of nuclear weapons against Iran as the months-long conflict continues to escalate, former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed. Greene, once a prominent MAGA ally, made the allegation in a post on X on Sunday. She said»»»

US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said he was “not happy” that Washington had agreed to take part»»»

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is now the deadliest in the country's history, according to the latest government data, with 2,235 reported killed from the virus. Confirmed cases have risen to 4,945, including 101 new cases detected in the last 24 hours, Congo's public health ins»»»

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was on Monday booed by dozens of residents of the town of Le Porge in southwestern France, a region ravaged by wildfires, in a show of anger at the government's handling of the worst such crisis to hit the country in decades.  Dozens of residents on Mond»»»

US President Donald Trump called for US-South Korean military drills to be scaled back just hours before they were due to begin, describing North Korea as 'unthreatening and respectful'. South Korea said it hoped Trump’s personal relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could help bring Py»»»

At least 19 people were killed Sunday in drone and missile strikes in Russia and Ukraine which destroyed a book market in Kyiv while Moscow faced one of the most massive attacks since the start of the war. Ukraine and Russia have been escalating their long-range strikes for months, resulting in a g»»»

Paris, France: Two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard will not race again this season as he is still recovering from the broken collarbone he suffered in this year's race, his team Visma-Lease a bike announced on Monday. The 29-year-old Dane had had a successful campaign up to his crash »»»

The deal that US President Donald Trump signed at Versailles in June set an ambitious 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program.The deadline was Monday, and the two sides are further apart than they were then.Talks, such as they are, have focused on »»»

POLITICS On bTV's morning show, former foreign affairs minister Nadezhda Neynsky said Bulgaria was losing its foreign policy influence due to inconsistent actions. According to her, Prime Minister Rumen Radev's governance programme fails to provide a clear development plan for Bulgaria up to 2030. »»»

Dubai: UAE shoppers with eligible Emirates NBD credit cards can now split purchases of Dh100 or more into four or eight monthly instalments, without paying interest or fees. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The option is available for eligible purchases made both online»»»

Iran said Monday it is working to finalize a joint statement with Oman on a plan to manage the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Fully reopening the waterway to commercial shipping has been a key demand of the United States, but it remains unclear whether the deal will meet Washington'»»»

Russia’s comprehensive and coordinated strikes on ports, railway junctions, fuel stations and warehouses are piling systemic strain on the Ukrainian economy, Alexander Dudchak, a researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, tells Sputnik. These facilities can be described as dual-use, he says, sin»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has begun preparations for the 2027 Hajj season, holding coordination meetings with Hajj affairs offices from more than 75 countries as part of efforts to ensure early readiness and smoother services for pilgrims. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the meetings focus on prepara»»»

DUBAI: Iran ‌said on Monday that two French embassy employees involved in a diplomatic dispute ​last month would not be allowed to return to Iran. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the two had violated the Vienna Convention — which defines the rules and privileges of diplomatic missio»»»

Shares were mixed in Europe and Asia on Monday after U.S. stocks edged back from their all-time high following a weaker than expected report on the U.S. economy. Oil prices also were mixed. In early European trading, Germany's DAX was nearly unchanged at 26,438.04, while the CAC 40 in Paris lost 0.»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has welcomed a parliamentary initiative calling for the extension of the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, saying an international presence remains vital to stability and to supporting the Lebanese Army. Aoun said Lebanon’s first preference was to r»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran’s central bank governor, Iraqi trade minister discuss ways to boost economic ties 17-08-2026 11:05 AM Latest News Urgent News Iran’s c»»»

At least 10 killed, 7 injured as Ukraine, Russia trade attacks overnight. File photo by Strnger/EPA Aug. 17 (UPI) -- At least six people were killed and four, including a child, were injured overnnight in a Ukrainian missile strike on a small community in Russia's southwestern Belgorod province. Be»»»

Abu Dhabi: Indonesia's Red and White flag flew above a colourful display of traditional attire and textiles from across the country as members of the Indonesian community in the UAE gathered at the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday morning to commemorate the 81 Anniversary of Indonesia's In»»»

Checks on individuals’ wealth have become increasingly prominent in the activity of Romania’s tax authority, ANAF, in recent years. Tax authorities have access to a growing volume of information and analytical tools, including through exchanges of information with other countries, making it easier »»»

LUGANSK (Sputnik) - Ukraine is frantically trying to solve the shortage of air defense missiles by combining Soviet and Western systems, which ultimately threatens to result in civilian casualties, military expert Andrey Marochko told Sputnik. "According to my information, Ukraine is now franticall»»»

Seoul, Aug. 17 (SANA) A South Korean oil tanker is heading home with crude loaded at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port after transiting the Suez Canal, marking the first such shipment since the Strait of Hormuz was closed in late February, South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Monday.The mini»»»

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Iran and Oman are continuing talks on the Strait of Hormuz despite the factors that complicate the process, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday. "The talks between Iran and Oman are seriously continuing, with the parties exchanging views on a joint s»»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday blamed pollution in Gulf waters on US military operations in the region, after several oil spills were reported. “This environmental damage stems from the US military presence and the wars it has waged in the region over the past five decades,” foreign mini»»»

Dubai: Commercial Bank of Dubai customers can now initiate payments from eligible accounts held with other banks directly through the CBD mobile app, bringing multiple banking relationships into a single app experience. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click »»»

Several regional powers including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued a statement Sunday condemning Israel’s rejection of the road map, saying, “Israel now bears responsibility for obstructing the efforts to bring peace in Gaza.” Other signers included Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and t»»»

Many believe Viktor Orbán breathed a sigh of relief after his election defeat, first travelling to the United States for the final matches of the football World Cup, then to Serbia for a festival, and more recently being spotted in Croatia in decidedly illustrious company. Is he truly merely on hol»»»

U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet on Monday with Israel's prime minister, who is under pressure after rejecting the new»»»

Robertville, Belgium: Much-needed rain brought some respite Monday to firefighters on their fourth day battling Belgium's worst wildfire in a century, which has scorched vast expanses of nature reserve on the German border. Europe has been swept by weeks of devastating wildfires fuelled by dry cond»»»

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Iran has accused Qatar of holding three of its pilots for half a year in violation of international law, heightening tensions between the two nations and threatening to expand the war in the Middle East, despite Doha claiming not to have the pilots. "Qatar's government has exhauste»»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday it will consider three missing pilots to be prisoners in Qatar, despite Doha’s denials, until it clarifies their fate.Tehran has said the Iranians went missing while carrying out an operation against the United States’ Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Mar»»»

What if your hot coffee came with a bit of cloud? In a (now) viral move, one café in Singapore crafted an interactive drink that makes for great photos and sweet sips. Called Sweet Little Rain, this drink by Mellower Coffee, comes with a puff of candy floss suspended over a cup of black coffee. As »»»

Dubai has stepped up operational readiness across its airports to handle an expected influx of citizens, residents and visitors returning from holidays, with additional staff and smart-gate capacity deployed to speed up procedures. The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai »»»

Seoul: Republic of Korea's industry minister Kim Jung-kwan has said that Seoul and Washington need to resolve outstanding issues over a US$200 billion investment plan agreed upon as part of their bilateral tariff negotiations. Industry Minister made the remarks after arriving in Dallas, Texas, as R»»»

US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered the Pentagon to scale back "inappropriate and hostile" military drills with South Korea, claiming that the ally had failed to help with the war against Iran and citing his "good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.   US »»»

Dubai: A vast expanse of white marble waste in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, is drawing tourists, photographers and filmmakers to a landscape that resembles a snow-covered valley. Kishangarh, one of India’s major marble-processing centres, generates huge quantities of slurry and discarded stone as marble »»»

ABU DHABI: The Ultimate Fighting Championship, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is set to return to the UAE capital with UFC 333. The event will see UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev headlining »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC General Says; ‘Israel’ Too Weak for War with Iran 17-08-2026 10:56 AM A senior IRGC official said that Israel is not capable of waging»»»

Jyoti Thakur | Daniela RivasAs deadly heat threatens livelihoods, women working in Delhi's informal sector are trying out heatwave insurance that pays out automatically when temperatures spike. https://p.dw.com/p/5ImFwAdvertisementMillions of workers in India face a growing threat from extreme heat»»»