MWL Condemns Continued Israeli Violations in Gaza Strip
The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, including the ongoing targeting of civilians, vital facilities, and civilian infrastructure, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. In a statement, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Or»»»
Hundreds of expatriates have had residency conversion requests rejected in Kuwait
Kuwait: Hundreds of expatriates in Kuwait have had applications to convert visit visas into residency permits rejected after failing to meet the conditions set out in a recently introduced ministerial decree, according to a security source. The source said many expatriates submitted applications at»»»
Last Jews of Kochi: A vanishing community fights to preserve centuries of Cochin Jewish heritage
Kochi: As the sun set over Kochi’s historic Jew Town neighbourhood, Keith Hallegua donned a grey kippah and began a solitary walk to the synagogue at the end of his cobbled street. It was Shavuot, the Jewish holiday commemorating God giving the Torah to Moses. Hallegua reached the 458-year-old Para»»»
UAE leaders express sympathy to Saudi King over death of prince's mother
Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, expressing his sincere condolences and sympathy over the passing of the mother of Prince Hamoud bin Saud»»»
Tara Reade: The US is handing its war machine to Israel
In the early 2000s, I worked with domestic violence victims in Seattle, Washington. One of my trainers was a scrappy woman who told me she was a former member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Looking back, I remember wondering why several former Mossad and IDF personnel were involved in training»»»
Meta says its AI hacked another company during testing
Meta has become the third major tech company to report its AI going rogue and hacking a third-party company. The incident involved Muse Spark 1.1, an AI model marketed by the company as “superintelligent.” In a statement to the media on Wednesday, Meta said that the model was undergoing testing by »»»
Ithra unveils shortlisted works for 7th Ithra Art Prize
DUBAI: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) has opened an exhibition of the five shortlisted works for the seventh edition of the Ithra Art Prize, bringing all the finalists together under one roof. The exhibition, which opened on Aug. 6 in Dhahran, featured new works by Aseel Al-Yaq»»»
Private equity funds in Romania maintain investment appetite despite weaker macro outlook – Roland Berger study
Private equity (PE) funds active in Romania continue to seek new investments despite a significantly weaker macroeconomic environment and greater political uncertainty, according to the Roland Berger European Private Equity Outlook 2026. The study suggests that the industry is entering a new stage »»»
Saudi Energy Ministry and Syrian Electricity Co. ink solar energy projects deals
DAMASCUS: Under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Energy, three Power Purchase Agreements were signed in the Syrian capital, Damascus, between Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Ahmed Al-Harfi Co. and the Syrian Electricity Co. Two technical cooperation agreements were also signed between Mohammed Ahme»»»
New artwork by late Saudi artist Abdulsattar Al-Mussa surfaces
RIYADH: This summer, Ali Al-Mussa, son of the pioneering Saudi artist Abdulsattar Al-Mussa, made a surprising and significant discovery: an oil painting by his late father of a woman washing another woman’s feet. Ali believes the painting dates back to 1979, and is likely the original on which Al-M»»»
Saudi actor Meshal Alsunaid is serious about being ‘the silliest guy in the room’
RIYADH: When Saudi actor Meshal “Mish” Alsunaid was a kid — around nine years old — he used to record short skits about knights and ghosts with his cousins on a Nokia phone. “Some of it was shot in Riyadh and some in the Eastern Province; we did some at my grandparents’ house, we did some at my aun»»»
Chamber of Deputies in Extraordinary Session Between August 11-12
The Permanent Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies approved on Thursday the summoning of an extraordinary session on August 11 and 12. The agenda includes three draft laws and a legislative proposal. The agenda approved by the leaders of the Chamber of Deputies includes the bill completing law 7/2023 »»»
Dr Suaad: How UAE’s first woman aircraft engineer broke barriers — ‘A woman can be whatever she dreams of becoming’
For 21 years, Dr. Eng. Suaad Al Shamsi, has been challenging perceptions of what women can achieve in one of the world's most demanding industries. As the first female aircraft engineer in the United Arab Emirates, she has built a career at the intersection of aviation, technology and leadership, w»»»
Saif Mohammed shines with silver and four records in Germany
DOHA: Qatar’s Saif Mohammed claimed the silver medal at the 30th International Pole Vault Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, after producing a personal best clearance of 5.83m on Wednesday. The 5.83m effort saw the Qatari vaulter set new Qatari, Gulf, West Asian and Arab records, marking a major milesto»»»
SC signs Mou to advance sustainability efforts for future events
Doha: As part of its continued efforts towards enriching Qatar’s sustainability legacy, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seashore Group – a Qatari business group with expertise in multiple fields including cutting-edge environmenta»»»
Fourth edition of Qatar Toy Festival attracts 148,000 visitors
Doha: The fourth edition of the Qatar Toy Festival concluded after welcoming more than 148,000 visitors, marking its highest attendance to date. The month-long festival, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), was organised by Qatar Calendar in collaboration with Spacetoon Group, »»»
Asean-Qatar partnership gathers pace as bloc marks 59th anniversary
DOHA: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)’s relationship with Qatar has entered a new phase of strategic engagement, with both sides poised to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, digital transformation, energy, education and regional connectivity, according to a publication »»»
Friday Sermon, August 7, 2026: Their Greeting Will Be: Peace (Salām)
First Sermon (Khutbah One) All praise is due to Allah, who has made peace (salām) the greeting of the people of Islam, the key to affection and harmony. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and we bear witness that our master Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah. May Allah send His prayers»»»
What is underwater hockey? Meet the Filipino expats growing the sport in Dubai
Dubai: It looks more like a synchronised dive than a hockey match. A group of players disappears beneath the surface of a swimming pool, armed with small curved sticks as they race after a bright pink puck. Seconds later, they pop up for air before diving straight back into the action. There are no»»»
Argentine police clash with people protesting property law: AFP
Argentine police on Thursday clashed with people in Buenos Aires who were protesting outside Congress against a private property law, AFP observed. Officers used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon against protesters, some of whom lobbed objects back as thousands gathered to denounce the gove»»»
Qatar’s Saif pole vaults to personal best of 5.83m in Germany
Qatar’s Saif Mohammed produced a personal best clearance of 5.83m to finish runner-up at the 30th International Pole Vault Meeting in Jockgrim, Germany, on Wednesday. The 5.83m effort also saw Saif rewrite the record books by setting new Qatar, Gulf, West Asian and Arab records. Saif cleared 5.83m »»»
Qatar Calendar’s Qatar Toy Festival 4th edition attracts over 148,000 visitors
Tribune News Network Doha The fourth edition of the Qatar Toy Festival concluded after welcoming more than 148,000 visitors marking its highest attendance to date. The month-long festival, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), was organised by Qatar Calendar in collaboration wit»»»
YoC brings QM’s video art and film expo to Centro Cultural La Moneda
Tribune News Network Santiago, Chile and Doha Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, and Years of Culture (YoC), an annual initiative celebrating cross-cultural exchange, announced that ‘Your Ghosts Are Mine: Expanded Cinemas, Amplified Voices’ opened in Chile »»»
Saudi employers embrace AI hiring, but trust emerges as the next challenge
ALKHOBAR: Saudi employers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to streamline recruitment, but as AI-generated CVs and job applications become more prevalent, verifying candidates is emerging as an equally important challenge. New YouGov research commissioned by workforce solutions pr»»»
What Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win says about AIPAC’s political influence
CHICAGO/LONDON: Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary was narrow in votes but outsized in political significance. The Egyptian-American physician and former public health official defeated four-term US Rep. Haley Stevens by roughly one percentage point, after vote-countin»»»
Foreign Ministry Warns Air Travel between EU, UAE Remains Uncertain, Issues Advice for Bulgarians in Israel
Air travel between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates remains uncertain amid the tensions in the Persian Gulf, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry warned on Thursday. The Ministry said European airlines are currently waiting for the security risk in the region to ease before resuming regular f»»»
Youngest Black Cambridge professor Jason Arday resigns over plagiarism probe
London: A University of Cambridge professor engulfed in a high-profile plagiarism storm resigned from his posts Wednesday, shortly after the prestigious British institution announced a probe into the various accusations against him. Jason Arday -- who made headlines when the university appointed hi»»»
‘Qudwati’ programme connects Abu Dhabi youth and experienced mentors
Young people in Abu Dhabi will have the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and retirees through a new programme launched by the Department of Community Development (DCD). Called “Qudwati”, the initiative brings together young people aged 18 to 24 and mentors from different professi»»»
Inside the UAE's floating hospital inspected by Sheikh Mansour
Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, inspected the Floating Hospital and reviewed its operational readiness and advanced medical capabilities, which enhance the UAE's humanitarian and relief response capacity an»»»
11 Qatar-based CEOs named among Forbes Middle East's Top 100
Doha, Qatar: Eleven chief executives leading Qatar-based organisations were named in Forbes Middle East's Top 100 CEOs 2026 ranking, highlighting the country's growing influence across key sectors including banking, energy, telecommunications, insurance and financial services. The annual ranking re»»»
Qatar Toy Festival attracts over 148,000 visitors
DOHA: The fourth edition of the Qatar Toy Festival concluded after welcoming more than 148,000 visitors, marking its highest attendance to date. The month-long festival, held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), was organised by Qatar Calendar in collaboration with Spacetoon Group, »»»
Kingdom's exports reach JD4.5b in seven months with 7% increase — ACI
AMMAN — Exports from the Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) surpassed the JD4 billion mark during the first seven months of 2026, registering a 7 per cent growth compared with the same period in 2025, according to statistical data released by the chamber.The ACI reported that exports rose to JD4.506 b»»»
Syrian authorities uncover Assad-era corruption case at Real Estate Bank
LONDON: Authorities in the Syrian Arab Republic said they have uncovered a corruption case from the era of the Assad regime worth more than $8 million, as legal and security agencies in the country pursue individuals and organizations involved in violations and crimes against Syrians. Anticorruptio»»»
Rome talks focus on Lebanon detainees as negotiations with Israel make limited progress
BEIRUT: A seventh round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Rome shifted attention to the fate of Lebanese detainees and missing persons, as Beirut sought progress on one of the conflict’s most sensitive humanitarian files while broader security negotiations remained deadlocked. The talks, held for»»»
Board of Peace prepares construction contract for stabilization force base in Gaza
GAZA: The US-backed Board of Peace is preparing its first contract to build a military outpost for an international stabilization force in Gaza, proposed under Washington’s postwar road map for the enclave, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. The project involves building a temporary base for an in»»»
SDAIA reschedules fourth Global AI Summit to September 2027
RIYADH: The Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority has announced the rescheduling of the fourth edition of the Global AI Summit, which will now be held in Riyadh from Sept. 7-9, 2027. The decision was made following a shared request from the summit’s international partners to allow for furt»»»
Israeli authorities demolish residential building in Arab-majority town of Kafr Qasim
LONDON: Israeli authorities demolished a residential building in the Arab-majority town of Kafr Qasim on Thursday, citing unlicensed construction. Palestinian citizens of Israel said the situation reflected an escalating housing crisis in their communities. Arab towns in Israel have faced restricti»»»
Years of Culture brings Qatar Museums’ video art, film Exhibition to Centro Cultural La Moneda
Santiago, Chile and Doha, Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM), the nation’s preeminent institution for art and culture, and Years of Culture, an annual initiative celebrating cross-cultural exchange, announced that Your Ghosts Are Mine: Expanded Cinemas, Amplified Voices opened in Chile for its first present»»»
Israeli army returns women who illegally crossed into Lebanon
LONDON: The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had returned all Israeli women who illegally crossed the border into Lebanon the day before, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate in southern Lebanon. Some 15 women arrived on Wednesday at Ghajar, a border community and»»»
Hiroshima marks 81st atomic bomb anniversary as mayor deplores the pursuit of nuclear weapons
TOKYO: Hiroshima on Thursday marked the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with its mayor criticizing major powers for waging wars and urging them to stop justifying the possession of nuclear weapons as a method of deterrence. “Downplaying the inhumanity of nucl»»»
US-Iran conflict: What UAE residents need to know thsi evening
US President Donald Trump has dismissed reports of ammunition shortages, warning of action against alleged “leakers”, as Iran says it has reached an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, oil prices are hovering near $80 a barrel, gold continues its upward run to reach Dh516.25 p»»»
Houthis threaten the Red Sea to distract from domestic failures
On 20 July, Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, formalising the collapse of the UN-sponsored 2022 truce, reactivating the Red Sea pressure front and threatening once again international trade passing through the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. Four days l»»»
Pakistan steps up Gulf diplomacy as PM visits Saudi Arabia
Dubai: Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarking on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit comes as Islamabad pushes for de-escalation in the Gulf, supports renewed dialogue between the United States and Iran, »»»
How Zohran Mamdani and Dr Abdul El-Sayed turned Bollywood, memes and reels into campaign gold
Dubai: Not too long ago, politicians fought for votes with rousing speeches, newspaper interviews and carefully choreographed campaign rallies. Today, they're just as likely to drop a Reel with a trending soundtrack, collaborate with content creators or walk off stage to a Bollywood banger. Safe to»»»
Sharjah RTA completes Dh30 million Al Hisn Island Bridge in Dibba Al Hisn to boost road connectivity
Sharjah's Roads and Transport Authority (Sharjah RTA) has completed the Dh30 million Al Hisn Island Bridge project in Dibba Al Hisn, as part of its strategy to expand the emirate's transport infrastructure and improve road connectivity. The 54-metre bridge spans the Dibba Al Hisn waterway, linking »»»
Iran warns Gulf states: tell Trump to desist or we hit you hard
Iran has made a concerted diplomatic push with Gulf states, warning them explicitly that Tehran will hit their oil, power and water plants unless they convince Donald Trump to end US strikes on Iran and instead seek a negotiated end to the war. The warning envisaged attacks on the energy facilities»»»
[Interview] Ireland’s Mary Robinson on Israel-Palestine: ‘Unless there is accountability, the situation is going to get so much worse’
Mary Robinson has long blazed a trail for women in power. The first female president of Ireland later became UN high commissioner and climate envoy, pursing human rights advocacy until this day as chair of The Elders, a global leaders collective formed by Nelson Mandela. Robinson visited the West B»»»
Lithuania says Russia could use Ukrainian drones against Baltic region
VILNIUS: Lithuanian intelligence officials believe Russia is considering using captured Ukrainian-made drones to stage provocations against the Baltic region, Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Thursday. Leaders of Poland and the three Baltic states have warned that Russia is consi»»»
Israeli Raids, Settler Arson Wound 16 Across West Bank as Military Escalation Intensifies
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) launched extensive raids across multiple areas of the occupied West Bank early Thursday, while Israeli settlers simultaneously attacked Palestinian communities in the southern Hebron hills, torching homes in the Masafer Yatta area. The coordinated operations form par»»»
UAE blocks 14,000 illegal sports streaming sites during 2026 FIFA World Cup to combat digital piracy
Dubai: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism said its instant blocking centre (InstaBlock) shut down more than 14,000 websites and applications illegally streaming sports content during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of efforts to combat digital piracy and protect broadcasting rights. The ministry »»»