PARIS: The development of AlUla is at the center of deepening Saudi-French cooperation in heritage, archaeology, culture, tourism and sustainable development, according to Jean-Yves Le Drian, executive chairman of the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (Afalula). Le Drian, who also serves a»»»

Some 10,000 people rallied in Stockholm on Sunday to demand stronger action on climate change, weeks before Sweden’s general election. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg joined the rally, as organisers accused the government of weakening emissions policies and urged politicians to act faster to meet»»»

Damascus, Aug. 23 (SANA) A high-level Syrian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and including the heads of the General Intelligence and Military Intelligence services held a meeting Sunday with a high-level Israeli delegation under U.S. mediation and hosted by Jordan, a »»»

Doha: As part of its tireless efforts to promote peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, the State of Qatar continues to play a pivotal and effective role in bringing together the views of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/March 23 Movemen»»»

BEIRUT: The US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkiye on Sunday walked back his comments from two days ago that Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions, remarks that went against US President Donald Trump ‘s position on the disputed territory. Israel captu»»»

Kuala Lumpur: A sharp increase in asthma and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) cases has been recorded amid haze conditions affecting several areas in the country, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Sunday. Ongoing monitoring has shown that asthma cases increased by 259 percent, while U»»»

Russia's federal budget deficit reached RUB6.45 trillion ($78bn, or 2.8% of GDP) in the first seven months of 2026, already more than the RUB5.63 trillion shortfall recorded across the whole of 2025, according to Finance Ministry data. The July figure widened the year-to-date gap by around RUB0.7 t»»»

Around 30 people attacked a Ukrainian Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centres (TCK) military recruitment team in the western city of Lutsk, injuring two servicemen and smashing their vehicle. The clash began with a routine stop. Officers halted a car at a checkpoint near the city's car m»»»

Ukraine's armed forces have taken into service the Alexa Spatium, the first jet-powered interceptor drone designed and built in the country to shoot down Russian attack drones. The Alexa Spatium, Ukraine's first domestically designed jet-powered interceptor drone, now codified for service. The air»»»

North Korea has sent another 8,500 soldiers to Russia, among them 400 drone operators, taking the total rotated through the country since October 2024 to around 25,000. Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian intelligence expects Putin to ask for up to 50,000 more North Korean troops when the tw»»»

Veteran actress and mimicry artist Aasha Singh Jaiswal has died in Mumbai at the age of 83. She passed away on August 22 at around 7.30pm, her son Akkash Bharadwaj confirmed. Speaking to ANI, Bharadwaj said the family performed her last rites and cremated her at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai»»»

Madrid: Atletico Madrid salvaged a 2-2 draw against Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday despite having defender Robin Le Normand sent off. Giuliano Simeone grabbed his team a draw after Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze's penalties put Villarreal in front following Marc Pubill's 59th-minute opener. »»»

Brazilian president Lula de Silva and his political opponent Flavio Bolsonaro pressed on with their presidential campaigns over the weekend, as both candidates held rallies in Rio De Janeiro. Top of the agenda for both candidates was crime, though the two took distinctly different approaches to the»»»

House Democratic Leader Jeffries, D-NY, speaks during a press conference in Washington, DC on Feb. 4. Jeffries reportedly met with Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 23 (UPI) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffr»»»

A dispute has erupted over an alleged handshake snub involving former parliamentary speaker László Kövér and Krisztián Kőszegi, a Tisza Party MP and deputy speaker, at a memorial ceremony in Báta on Sunday. Kőszegi said Kövér refused to shake his hand during the event commemorating the 500th annive»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel warned Hamas on Sunday that it would step up operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones and balloons toward Israel continued, after a recent increase in such incidents, while Hamas denied responsibility. Israeli media reported that four kites were found in communities near th»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel warned Hamas on Sunday that it would step up operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones and balloons toward Israel continued, after a recent increase in such incidents, while Hamas denied responsibility. Israeli media reported that four kites were found in communities near th»»»

OSLO: The health of Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald V, in hospital due to complications from a blood condition, has “deteriorated” over the weekend, a statement from the palace said Sunday. Europe’s oldest reigning monarch is being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormall»»»

Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Thailand's southern region has been hit by dozens of coordinated arson attacks and bombs "aimed at creating unrest," officials said Sunday. The Thai Military said there were more than 50 incendiary attacks overnight on Saturday, injuring at least two people, the BBC reported. At le»»»

OSLO: The health of Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald V, in hospital due to complications from a blood condition, has “deteriorated” over the weekend, a statement from the palace said Sunday. Europe’s oldest reigning monarch is being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormall»»»

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended a new memorandum of understanding with the United States as the “best way” for the country to overcome a state of “no war, no peace,” citing the urgent need to stabilise an economy battered by sanctions and conflict. In a speech published by the offi»»»

Egypt is strengthening its position as a regional investment and business hub as Gulf companies and international investors increasingly look to the country as a long-term base for expansion, according to Mohamed Awaad, Egypt Corporate Agent at Ziada DC – UAE. Awaad said the renewed interest reflec»»»

Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir said Egypt has successfully forged strategic partnerships with major global port operators, shipping lines and international operators, strengthening the ability of Egyptian ports to attract transshipment trade and enhance their global competitiveness. He also expr»»»

International investors have lowered their assessment of investment risk in Egypt to its lowest level since 2014 in response to recent economic reforms, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said. Speaking at an open dialogue with the heads of newly appointed Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad, Kouchouk»»»

MOGADISHU: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has launched the Peace Journalists strategic media initiative in Mogadishu “to strengthen national media capabilities and counter extremist discourse, hate speech, disinformation and terrorist propaganda online.” The initiative was launche»»»

NARATHIWAT: Dozens of coordinated arson and incendiary attacks across Thailand’s insurgency-hit south left at least three people wounded and government property burned, the military said. Multiple local government offices and several vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the 51 attacks, according t»»»

PARIS: The economic relationship between France and Saudi Arabia appears to have reached a new stage, after long being characterized by a trade balance favorable to the Kingdom. It now presents a different picture, particularly since 2025, when France exported nearly $4.5 billion worth of goods to »»»

NABLUS: Israeli settlers continued besieging three Palestinian homes in Qusra, south of Nablus, for the 15th consecutive day on Sunday, under the protection of Israeli forces. In the Ras Al-Ain area of Qusra, settlers kept surrounding the three homes while Israeli forces barred residents from enter»»»

Escalation was the name of the game this week, as the full extent of British involvement in Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russia was revealed, and as US President Donald Trump laid claim to the Strait of Hormuz and shifted to a policy of subjecting Iran to long-term economic strangulation. Trump »»»

Cairo: Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, met with Abdullah Ateya Al Messabi, CEO of ADNOC Drilling, to discuss strategic partnerships and the company’s participation in Egypt’s expanded onshore and offshore well-drilling program to support higher oil and gas product»»»

"I have not found any grounds so far to convene the Consultative Council for National Security," President Iliana Iotova told journalists after attending an official ceremony at the foot of the Shipka Monument, where the 149th anniversary of the Battle of Shipka will be observed. Iotova was comment»»»

US far-right influencer Jake Lang, known for his Quran-burning stunts, has been arrested on suspicion of rioting after clashes with counterprotesters outside Minneapolis City Hall. Lang spent four years in prison over the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, before being pardoned by US Presid»»»

Washington’s clash with the International Criminal Court exposes the contradictions between supranational legal claims, American exceptionalism, and the rise of multipolar sovereignty. The latest clash between Washington and the International Criminal Court says more about the structure of the pres»»»

Denmark plans to stop issuing temporary residence permits to Ukrainian refugees from regions least affected by the conflict with Russia, the EU nation’s immigration minister, Morten Bodskov, has said. The announcement follows a wider trend among European nations to cut benefits to those fleeing the»»»

Dubai: Omani citizens can travel to Botswana without a visa for stays of up to 90 days, the Sultanate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. The ministry said Botswana had confirmed that Oman was not among the countries whose nationals are required to obtain a visa before travelling to the so»»»

Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat met with Huawei Egypt CEO Benjamin Houwei and senior company officials to review progress on a project to locally manufacture battery energy storage systems (BESS). The project includes plans to establish a number of standalone BESS»»»

Three major projects on Egypt’s North Coast generated combined sales of approximately EGP 258bn from the beginning of 2026 through August 15, representing nearly half of the total sales recorded across the North Coast during all of 2025, according to a report by The Board Consulting. The three proj»»»

MODON Developments and BINBAZ Developments have signed agreements with UK-based Campbell Gray Hospitality to manage and operate two hotels in East and West Cairo, as the developers expand their residential and hospitality portfolios. Under the agreements, Campbell Gray Hospitality will manage a 110»»»

Asl Holding, a Saudi investment fund, announced the acquisition of Saudi-based Alkayan Technical Alarabia and Zurich Developments as part of its plans to expand activities in the Egyptian market. The acquisition supports Asl Holding’s investment strategy in Egypt’s real estate sector and provides Z»»»

Cazamond Developments has launched a new strategy to expand its presence in Egypt’s Delta region, with projects planned in New Damietta and New Mansoura. The company said the strategy builds on more than 11 years of experience in the Delta, where it initially operated in engineering, architectural,»»»

Times Developments has reported construction investments of about EGP 30bn over the past two years as the company prepares to expand its land portfolio and pursue new projects in the North Coast, Red Sea, and West Cairo. Chairperson Ahmed El Sergany said Times Developments’ construction program has»»»

There was understandable intrigue raised by US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Syrian army may be best placed to disarm Hezbollah in Lebanon. Historians of the Middle East were quick to recall events half a century ago, when thousands of Syrian soldiers and scores of Syrian tanks cross»»»

Oslo: The health of Norway's 89-ear-old King Harald V, in hospital due to complications from a blood condition, has "deteriorated" over the weekend, a statement from the palace said Sunday. Europe's oldest reigning monarch is being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally»»»

Conakry: A landslide at the Dar-es-Salam rubbish dump on the outskirts of Conakry, the Guinean capital, on Sunday has killed 30 people and injured 22 others, according to a statement issued by the Guinean government. "Since the early hours, significant human and material resources have been mobiliz»»»

A fast-growing wildfire in Nevada has grown to 10,000 acres since it began burning just outside Reno on Saturday, forcing thousands to evacuate. Photo courtesy of Nevada Governor's Office/X Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A fast-growing wildfire in Nevada has grown to 10,000 acres since it began burning just outs»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (L) on Oct. 7, 2025. Trump on Sunday said Canada wants the "benefits of being a state, without being one." File Photo by Shawn Thew/UPI | License Photo Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Canad»»»

The Rutb Season 2026, organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority through three consecutive festivals in Liwa, Al Ain and Al Wathba from July 14 to August 9, 2026, has concluded. The festivals served as comprehensive platforms celebrating the UAE’s agricultural heritage and showcasing the diversi»»»

PARIS: Just a few years ago, the Franco-Saudi relationship appeared to move forward in fits and starts, overshadowed by the privileged ties Paris maintained with other Gulf capitals. Today, the landscape is radically different. President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Saudi Arabia in December 202»»»

Hungary’s Kossuth Radio is set to relaunch on Monday with a completely revamped programme structure, new presenters and a new slogan promising that the public broadcaster will once again be “everyone’s”. The renewed station will officially return on 24 August, with the Rákóczi March marking the sta»»»

Jerusalem: Israel warned Hamas on Sunday that it would step up operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones and balloons towards Israel continued, after a recent increase in such incidents. Israeli media reported that four kites were found in communities near the Gaza border on Saturday and one »»»