The US Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) has a new commander, with Rear Adm. Thomas Donovan taking over from Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers as the Iran war continues to reshape the US military’s focus in the Middle East. Donovan assumed command during a change-of-command ceremony in Tampa, Flo»»»

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Droupadi Murmu of the Republic of India on the occasion of her country's Independence Day. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.His Highness Sh»»»

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with the Republic of Indonesia over an earthquake that struck the country, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, in addition to substantial damage to property. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply»»»

Dubai: Parts of the UAE could see light rain this weekend, with the best chance coming on Sunday across northern and eastern areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Saturday itself is expected to remain largely dry. Conditions will be fair to partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times »»»

Dubai, UAE: United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil giant ADNOC said Saturday one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) "confirmed that one of its vessels was attacke»»»

From a personal message by Dubai's Ruler about the value of family time to a new visa offer for Indian tourists, several stories captured readers' attention this week. Other major developments included Dubai's announcement of a public holiday for the Prophet Mohammed's Birthday, new travel options »»»

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia prepares to host Expo 2030, the experience of Osaka 2025 offers lessons on how the Kingdom can turn the six-month event into longer-term economic and business opportunities. Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to attract more than 42 million visits from 197 countries across a site »»»

United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil giant ADNOC said Saturday one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict. Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait, a vital shipping route for global energy supp»»»

Iran on Saturday fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that he would soon declare the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory, saying the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded "will remain Iranian". Trump has repeatedly said the strait, which Tehran effectively closed at the start of»»»

Arab Finance: The consolidated net profits attributable to the shareholders of Telecom Egypt rose by 46.68% to EGP 15.266 billion in the first half (H1) of 2026 from EGP 10.407 billion in H1 2025, according to the financial results. The company generated operating revenues valued at EGP 59.215 bill»»»

RIYADH: Global financial institutions are rapidly expanding across the Gulf as market reforms and economic transformation programs reshape the region into one of the world’s fastest-growing capital markets. The shift is particularly visible across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with wave of regional hea»»»

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been grappling with dismal conditions for months during the US-Israeli war on Iran, amid mounting reports of severe exhaustion, supply shortages, and mental-health problems among crew members. The problems have sparked an uproar among crew members’ families and prompted »»»

RIYADH: The latest wave of startup activity across the Middle East and North Africa spanned new funding rounds, regulatory approvals and product launches in construction technology, gaming, financial services, insurance, education and digital healthcare. Companies are directing fresh capital toward»»»

On the auspicious occasion of the 80th Independence Day of India, I extend my heartiest greetings to Indians in the UAE. I also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presi»»»

A second vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, August 14, just a day after two ADNOC-affiliated ships were struck in the same waterway. The back-to-back incidents highlight the escalating risks facing commercial shippi»»»

The US-Iran conflict remains centred on the Strait of Hormuz, with tensions rising after President Donald Trump said he could declare the strategic waterway US territory. Iran has rejected the claim and said the strait will remain under its authority. For UAE residents, the developments continue to»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have sent separate cables of condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the death of former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, state news agency SPA reported on Friday. King Salman expressed his deepest condolences and sincere s»»»

LONDON: It is almost 11 months since US President Donald Trump, standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025, unveiled his 20-point peace plan for Gaza. It was, said the president, a “big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the greatest days»»»

Walk the lobby of any five-star hotel in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and you will find a workforce under unprecedented pressure. Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030, a pipeline of major sporting events, and the legacy of Expo are generating sustained demand for hospitality talent at a scale the region has nev»»»

DAKAR: Authorities in eastern Libya under military commander Khalifa Haftar helped secure the release of an American missionary held hostage held by a Daesh affiliate in West Africa’s Sahel region, escorting him to freedom through Libya, five sources told Reuters on Friday. Four of the sources said»»»

ADNOC confirmed that one of its vessels came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening, August 14. No injuries were reported, and the situation was brought under control. The company said it remains committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of seafarers, while supp»»»

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates state-owned oil company said one of its vessels came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported on Saturday. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Comnpany (ADNOC) “confirmed that one of its vessels was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the eveni»»»

Palestinian residents of the West Bank village of Qusra have been ordered to leave their homes after a days-long siege and repeated attacks by Israeli settlers, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declaring the area a closed military zone in what it claims is a move to protect civilians. In an int»»»

For nearly a week, Israeli settlers have been surrounding homes in the West bank village of Qusra in a coordinated offensive to force Palestinian residents from their homes in order to seize new land. Palestinian Amin Rahal and his three brothers haven't gone to work in weeks, instead taking turns »»»

Cairo, Aug. 15 (SANA) Syria’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League and head of the Syrian mission in Cairo, Yahya Diab, met Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Ehab Fahmy. During the meeting, the two sides stressed the importance of Syria’s unity and stability.They also disc»»»

ABUJA: Muslim World League Secretary-General and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivered the Friday sermon at the National Mosque in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, where he also led a large congregation in prayer attended by senior Nigerian Musl»»»

The escalation of US armed action against Iran, coupled with the sharp weakening of pro-Iranian groups across the region under parallel Israeli operations, has pushed Tehran to abandon its policy of strategic patience. In its place, according to a former ambassador to Tehran, Aleksandr Maryasov, Ir»»»

1 of 3 | Judges for the Peace Innovation Challenge pose during the 2026 One Korea Youth Forum in Seoul on Aug. 12. From left are Hyo-geon Kim, manager at Gain Consulting Group; Namsik Yoo, co-representative of Alliance for Korea United USA; Joo-hyuk Kim, producer at New Korea Foundation; Geon-dong »»»

NEW YORK CITY: Olga Cherevko has spent the past several months crisscrossing Afghanistan, from Bamiyan and Herat to Paktika, Khost and, most recently, Nuristan, where flash flooding recently tore through villages, leaving families with nothing. Across different landscapes and provinces, the stories»»»

NEW YORK CITY: Five years after the Taliban seized control of Kabul for the second time, Afghan women and girls are trapped in what the UN’s top official responsible for the issue described as an unparalleled crisis of rights, which has been worsened by a collapse in international funding that is s»»»

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem called Friday for “reversing the sinful, disgraceful and humiliating mistake” of Lebanon negotiating peace with Israel. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem lashed out at the Lebanese offic»»»

QUSRA, West Bank: Israeli military operations to remove extremist settlers encircling three homes on a hilltop in Qusra are “just a performance,” the village’s mayor told Arab News, as 15 Palestinians remain trapped in a siege in its sixth day. Abdul Azim Wadi said Thursday’s operation marked the n»»»

JEDDAH: After many years building and developing digital content teams at major media organizations, Saudi media content creator Farah Al-Ibrahim decided to start her own project to tell stories about art, artists and culture. The result was Fann Culture, an independent Arabic cultural media platfo»»»

JEDDAH: After many years building and developing digital content teams at major media organizations, Saudi media content creator Farah Al-Ibrahim decided to start her own project to tell stories about art, artists and culture. The result was Fann Culture, an independent Arabic cultural media platfo»»»

RIYADH: “Sigma,” “chicken banana,” “Italian brain rot” — to an adult scrolling through a child’s phone, the phrases can sound like fragments of a fever dream. But behind the bizarre characters, repetitive sounds, and seemingly nonsensical memes is a digital language increasingly shaping how young p»»»

LONDON: Liverpool’s owners have agreed to sell a minority stake in the Premier League club to a consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. US-based Fenway Sports Group, owners of the 20-time English champions, said they had agreed the deal with 1892 Holdings, a consortium led by British-Indian»»»

LONDON: PIF and Formula E are announcing the expansion of the Driving Force program through a new online platform, giving young people worldwide a backstage pass to the future of motorsport through STEM and sustainability education. The multi-dimensional learning program was first launched in April»»»

LONDON: Eurovision organizers are floating major rule changes that aim to prevent influence campaigns affecting voting, the BBC reported on Friday. Voters can vote up to 10 times for their favorite act, according to existing rules. The European Broadcasting Union, in a letter to broadcasters, repor»»»

Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered on Friday a televised speech on the anniversary of the Divine Victory over the Israeli enemy in 2006, affirming that the Israeli enemy has always resorted to pretexts in order to wage prepared wars on Lebanon. Sheikh Qassem pointed out that o»»»

Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov did not set out to run world chess. In late June the founder of Freedom Holding Corp, the Nasdaq-listed financial services group, agreed to stand as deputy to Arkady Dvorkovich, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) president seeking a third term. Then on July 23»»»

Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov did not set out to run world chess. In late June the founder of Freedom Holding Corp, the Nasdaq-listed financial services group, agreed to stand as deputy to Arkady Dvorkovich, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) president seeking a third term. Then on July 23»»»

MELBOURNE: New Zealand became the latest nation to withdraw its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s reelection bid on Friday over the aborted commercial rights stake sale plan, while Oceania’s confederation cautiously backed the governing body’s leadership. Infantino has faced open revolt»»»

LONDON: Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked outcry both in Israel and the UK after he referred to Britain as the “first Islamic republic” with nuclear weapons. The Israeli prime minister’s comments appeared to mirror inaccurate far-right conspiracies claiming that Britain is being “taken over” by its Mu»»»

Jerusalem: US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner will visit Israel next week in hopes of bridging gaps on a Gaza plan rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officials said Friday. Kushner and Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump's so-called B»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Trump Stops Short of Endorsing Netanyahu as His Campaign Falters: Axios 14-08-2026 18:08 PM US President Donald Trump and Zionist Prime Min»»»

Geneva: The State of Qatar concluded its discussion of its combined report covering the second to fourth periodic reports on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, during the interactive dialogue with the United Nations Committee on the Ri»»»

Russia is stitching together a web of new railway corridors that reach from the South Caucasus to the Indian Ocean, redirecting freight away from Europe and towards Asia and the Global South as it makes a pivot to the east. More than 93% of Russian Railways' (RZD) international traffic already runs»»»

Dubai: Friday saw a steady stream of updates across the region, from maritime developments in the Strait of Hormuz to further adjustments on regional flight schedules. Airlines continue to advise passengers to check their flight status before travelling, while energy markets remain in focus. Here's»»»

Tunis, August 14 (TAP) — The Tunisian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced on Friday that the Ministry of Interior has dispatched a technical team to the United Arab Emirates to provide Tunisian nationals residing in the country with services related to...»»»

LONDON: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee condemned senior New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman on Wednesday following Friedman’s encouragement of Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed to “be true to your pro-Palestinian, Arab American roots and stick it to” the pro-Israel lob»»»