Lake Como in northern Italy has disappeared after a “geological rupture”, a sensational report posted on TikTok claimed. This isn’t true. For one, the footage and photos in this report were all generated by artificial intelligence. Secondly, while the water levels in the lake have dropped, it's bec»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Entries for the Qatar-Japan Illustration Contest 2026 will now be accepted until August 31, 2026, the Embassy of Japan in Qatar has announced. “Building on last year’s strong response, the deadline—originally set for August 27—has been extended to encourage broader partici»»»

Satyendra Pathak Doha Indian expatriates in Qatar have welcomed the Supreme Court of India’s move to regulate airfares, saying a transparent mechanism to check sudden increases in ticket prices would provide much-needed relief to NRIs and migrant workers who depend on affordable air connectivity to»»»

View taken from a Danish F-16 interceptor of the Nord Stream 2 gas leak just south of Dueodde, Denmark, on September 27, 2022. The leak was one of three on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea. File Photo courtesy of Danish Defense | License Photo Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian man was arr»»»

Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated András Baka on taking office as Hungary’s new president, stressing the long-standing friendship between the two countries. The message comes, however, at a sensitive moment for Hungary-China relations: after years of exceptionally close political and e»»»

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued the comprehensive regulatory framework for short selling, paving the way for the imminent activation of the mechanism on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) for the first time. FRA Chairman Dr. Islam Azzam issued Resolution No. 155 of 2026 following e»»»

There is no direct threat to national security, Bulgaria's Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters on Wednesday. He was speaking at a news briefing prompted by reports in the international press about a possible Iranian threat of a strike on US targets in Europe, including Bulgaria. Earlie»»»

Hungary’s long-stagnant wind energy sector could be on the verge of a major transformation. The government has unveiled a package of measures aimed at increasing the country’s wind power capacity more than tenfold by 2030, backed by a planned EUR 1.5 billion investment in electricity grid upgrades,»»»

Ukrainians trade more cryptocurrency per head than anyone else on earth. What they mostly do not do is trade it under Ukrainian law. Ukraine ranks eighth in the world for the spread of crypto-assets and first once the ranking is adjusted for population, Oleksiy Semenyuk, head of the National Securi»»»

UAE nationals working in the private and banking sectors will see three key changes to Nafis support programmes starting in September 2026. The Emirates Competitiveness Council (Nafis) said the updates cover salary support, the Eshtirak pension contribution programme and child allowances. Get updat»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Education has set out a revised study framework for Grade 11 and 12 pupils in the general and advanced streams, grouping subjects into three categories, compulsory, scientific and elective, in an effort to balance core academic requirements with greater choice ahead o»»»

Dubai: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has introduced a sweeping regulatory framework for psychotherapy in the public and private sectors, tightening licensing requirements and banning a range of practices it says are not supported by established scientific evidence. Ministerial Decision No. 225 of 202»»»

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers approved a decision endorsing the Association Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Principality of Andorra and the Republic of San Marino, respectively, on the other. The Agreement provides»»»

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday that the continent could not afford to miss out on the artificial intelligence revolution as the continent's growth model comes under increasing pressure. The United States and China are seen leading the AI race, with their companies prod»»»

Pedestrians wear protective face masks in Madison Square Park in New York City on Dec. 2, 2021. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo Aug. 19 (UPI) -- David Morens, a former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases employee, pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to hide fed»»»

The Council of Ministers adopted a decision on Wednesday launching a new procedure for the selection of Bulgaria's candidates for the post of European Public Prosecutor, based on clear, pre-announced and verifiable rules, and with guarantees of the selection committee's professional independence an»»»

UAE citizens can now receive government scholarships to study academic programmes delivered entirely online, under new regulations issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR). Under Ministerial Resolution No. 179 of 2026, scholarships may be granted for fully distanc»»»

San Francisco, United States: ChatGPT creator OpenAI said Tuesday that it was tapping the brakes on development of its most advanced AI model and tightening internal controls, a month after revealing that one of its AI tools carried out an autonomous cyberattack. OpenAI is a key player in the rapid»»»

The prospect of US control over Venezuela’s sovereign assets would amount to a “colonial relationship” and set a “terrible precedent” for Latin America, former IMF Executive Director Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr. has told RT. Reports have surfaced that some 31 tons of Venezuelan gold – valued at appro»»»

Agricultural producers across the EU have warned of sharp drops in yields after Europe has been hit by successive heatwaves this summer. Economists have said the losses are likely to push food prices higher in the coming months. June and July were the hottest on record in western Europe, according »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday it detained another suspect in connection with Nord Stream pipeline blast case. "This morning (August 19, 2026), the German Federal Prosecutor's Office, acting on the basis of a European arrest warrant issued by the investigati»»»

Dubai: Nearly six months into the war, Donald Trump appears to be settling on a new strategy for Iran: Stop chasing an elusive diplomatic breakthrough, maintain economic and naval pressure and wait for Tehran to bend. Iran is signalling something very different. It says that if the squeeze continue»»»

An investigation is under way into the cultivation of 3,215 kg of marijuana in a field near the southwestern village of Sugarevo, the Blagoevgrad District Prosecution Office (BDPO) said on Wednesday. The investigation is proceeding under the BDPO's direction and supervision. The authorities have fo»»»

Ukraine's popular ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov called for wartime elections on Tuesday evening, stating that the nation was facing a crisis of governance. Fedorov was dismissed last month, sparking days of protests across Ukraine. It is the first time since Russia launched its full-scale in»»»

Ukraine has been using UK-made jet drones for deep strikes inside Russia for the past six months, The Sunday Times reported on August 16, citing Ukrainian military sources. The use of UK-made weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia has lead to fears that Russia will retaliate by targetting those »»»

FINANCIAL TIMES: IRAN EYES TARGETING US MILITARY ASSETS IN EUROPE IF TENSIONS ESCALATE Denevnik.bg and 24 Chasa reproduce a Financial Times report, citing people close to the Iranian regime, according to which Iranian officials and military planners have examined potential targets at American milit»»»

Oman has suspended all powered paragliding activities across the country until further notice following a fatal accident in Salalah, according to the Oman Air Sports Committee. The decision covers all types of powered paragliding and applies to all locations licensed for the activity in the Sultana»»»

Dubai: UAE travellers will get another direct option to Germany from December, with Air Arabia launching daily non-stop flights between Sharjah and Frankfurt from December 15, 2026. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click hereThe new service will connect Sharj»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Natural gas reserves in underground storage facilities in Germany, the Netherlands and Croatia have reached record lows for this time of year, while in four other countries gas storage levels are at their lowest since 2017-2018, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe (G»»»

Lebanese authorities began reviewing security restrictions against some 600,000 Syrians in the latest move that reflects Beirut’s desire to open a new chapter in relations with Damascus based on clear security and legal foundations. The restrictions are among the thorniest issues in Lebanon and tha»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign in the second edition of the FIVB U17 World Championship against Venezuela in Group A at the Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall today at 5pm. This will be followed by France on August 21 and Tunisia on August 23. Yesterday, the Qatar 2026 Organizing Commit»»»

Washington: Thousands of Indians seeking US green cards could face wider scrutiny of their finances and use of public benefits under new immigration guidance taking effect on September 18. US Citizenship and Immigration Services said officers may consider housing assistance, food stamps, college fi»»»

President Joseph Aoun will head to Rome this week for talks focusing on future of the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, whose mandate ends this year, a Lebanese official told AFP. The visit scheduled for Thursday comes after Italy and France said in June that they wanted to set up»»»

Doha, Qatar: Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokes person for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari has said that Gulf coordination continues at various levels to deal with the potential repercussions of the crisis and to work jointly to prevent the return of »»»

GENEVA: A record number of humanitarian workers were attacked last year, driven partly by increased use of armed drones, the United Nations said on Wednesday, calling the trend “appalling.” Some 907 aid workers were killed, injured or kidnapped in 2025 versus 833 the year before, according to the A»»»

Dubai: Six Abu Dhabi districts will drive 77% of projected incremental residential supply through 2030, concentrating the emirate’s next wave of development in Al Saadiyat Island, Al Reem Island, Yas Island, Zayed City, Khalifa City and Al Hudayriyat Island, according to the latest market data from»»»

Dubai: People who acquire Kuwaiti citizenship through naturalisation would not be entitled to vote, stand for parliamentary election or be appointed to any parliamentary body under amendments to the country’s Nationality Law approved by the Cabinet. The Cabinet approved a draft decree-law amending »»»

We didn’t use AI, in our days. We were just wrong, confident and proud. Why not? Without AI, our own imagination could convince us that Enid Blyton wrote Great Expectations, until the teacher would give us a verbal rap on our knuckles and we were humbled into rewrites. (Charles Dickens wrote Great »»»

Krakow is renewing efforts to introduce a tourist tax similar to those used in major European cities. The city has had a legislative proposal ready since 2017 and wants the government to change current rules, which effectively prevent large cities from charging a standard tourist fee. Krakow propos»»»

Polish landowners and residential developers face important regulatory changes that could affect property values and investment potential. From September 1, 2026, no new proceedings can be launched under the special “lex developer” housing procedure, although cases started before that date may cont»»»

PA Media/DPA London Audio of on-field conversations between Premier League referees and players will be heard during live broadcasts for the first time this season, the Press Association understands. Howard Webb, chief refereeing officer for Pro Ref, has pushed for greater transparency on decision-»»»

The Polish government has approved changes to the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 program, making defense technologies the fourth key area eligible for financing from the Critical Technologies Support Fund. Companies developing technologies for defense and security, including dual-use»»»

AMMAN — The Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) is expanding its training programmes and partnerships with the private sector and international institutions to meet changing labour market needs, its General Director, Raafat Sawafin said.In an interview with The Jordan Times, the General Director »»»

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military is touted as the most powerful in the Middle East, striking targets deep into enemy territory. But for more than a week, Israeli troops have somehow failed to evict a small group of settlers sitting on rocks in the occupied West Bank. Experts say the military has lon»»»

Kenyan cryptocurrency startups are considering shifting operations to Mauritius or South Africa after new regulations imposed minimum capital requirements that founders say could price smaller companies out of the country's rapidly growing virtual-asset market. At least five startup founders are co»»»

European gas storage has fallen further behind its usual pre-winter pace, with Germany just 47.6% full against a normal 75% for early August and the Netherlands at 38.5% against a typical 77%, fuelling fears that Europe will face yet another energy crisis of fuel shortages and high prices. The Krem»»»

Just over half of the Ukrainians living abroad still intend to come home, down from more than two-thirds a year ago, as new lives in the EU take root. The share planning to return fell to 53% from 68%, while the share who say they do not intend to return at all doubled to 34% from 17%, according to»»»

Poland says it stopped a Russian-directed plot to murder a US citizen in Warsaw - the first time, its prime minister says, that Moscow has tried to kill an American inside another Nato country. Polish security services detained a Russian citizen on August 7 who had been recruited by Russian intelli»»»

Dubai: US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman for the second time in four months — an extraordinary warning against a longtime American partner that has traditionally served as a bridge between Washington and Tehran. This time, however, the immediate trigger is becoming clearer. The »»»

AL-MUKALLA: The Iran-backed Houthis used Iranian missiles in their latest attacks on the city of Mokha on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, according to a Yemeni military official. Brig. Gen. Sadiq Duwaid, spokesperson for the government’s National Resistance, said an examination of debris from projectiles fi»»»