DUBAI: Since Sunday, Israeli settlers have laid siege to the West Bank village of Qusra to drive out its Palestinian inhabitants and claim their homes as their own. The harrowing event, which has seen three Palestinian families cut off from water, electricity and the outside world by a settler enca»»»

TOKYO: Record-breaking rainfall flooded cities east of Tokyo overnight, killing at least five people, injuring over two dozen others and stranding thousands, authorities said Friday. As the deluge subsided, the Japan Meteorological Agency downgraded its most severe heavy-rain warning in more than a»»»

BANGKOK: Myanmar’s largest city has registered a concerning rise in acute diarrhea cases, state media said Friday, adding to the hardships of a country grappling with severe flooding and civil war. The state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper said 182 patients from Yangon were admitted to the city’s genera»»»

JEDDAH: Baek Seungyeon’s debut novel, “The Seoul Letter Shop,” is a story about letters, the companionship born of ink, and the connections that can grow in unexpected places. Translated from Korean by Clare Richards and forthcoming from Harper Perennial in October, I picked the novel as my first r»»»

Dubai: A randomly chosen number has delivered a first-ever Big Ticket win for Akhil Chandran R P, who has taken home Dh 100,000 in the Series 289 consolation prize draw. The 28-year-old from Kerala in India works in sales and customer service and has been living in the UAE for the past five years. »»»

Speaking to reporters in Pleven on Friday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said that two anti-drone systems are expected to arrive on Saturday, but technological time will be needed to train the personnel. "We are in the process of acquiring two more such systems, and I expect us to acquire them »»»

The Government will propose legislative changes on youth violence by the end of September, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said on Friday. Speaking at a media briefing in Pleven, he was responding to a question about the killing of Georgi Kuzev at Youth Hill in Plovdiv. “What is happening with some youn»»»

Riyadh: Jamie Meconi, a 10-year-old from the UK, recently made a milestone visit to Saudi Arabia, which became the 100th country visited by the young Briton in his lifetime. When Meconi was eight, he became the youngest Brit to visit all seven continents. And his family’s decision to make the journ»»»

PARIS: France said on Friday it welcomed with “great satisfaction” Mali’s decision to pardon a French intelligence agent serving a 20-year jail term, a rare gesture after years of tensions between the two countries. “France expresses its great satisfaction following the release of Yann Vezilier,” t»»»

RIGA: NATO said Friday its fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace, the latest incursion along the military alliance’s eastern flank bordering Russia. The military alliance has launched an investigation, a NATO spokesperson said, as concerns grow in Europe over unauthorized dro»»»

Members of the Selenicë Municipal Council have unanimously rejected a proposal to merge the municipality with the neighboring Municipality of Vlora, with both majority and opposition councilors taking a united stance against the plan. All 19 council members present voted against the proposed merger»»»

The U.S. Court of International Trade threw out a legal challenge to President Trump's executive order scrapping the so-called de minimum exemption loophole under which goods worth less than $800 could enter the United States duty free. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo Aug. 14 (UPI) »»»

Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A suspicious object left outside a Washington, D.C., firehouse shut down rush hour traffic and prompted a bomb squad response before being identified as an adult toy. Police were called to the station of D.C. Fire and EMS Engine 20 on Wisconsin Avenue in the Tenleytown neighborhood»»»

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oak Hammock Marsh (@oakhammockmarsh) Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A 15-year-old African spurred tortoise who escaped from her owner's Manitoba home was found two weeks later at a nature preserve more than 12 miles from home. The Oak Hammock Marsh nature preserve in »»»

Vladimir Zelensky has made an unusually specific claim about what Ukraine needs to defend itself against Russian ballistic missiles. In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine currently has enough Patriot interceptors to amount to roughly 1% of America’s existing stockpile – itself reportedly »»»

Rome: The Colosseum has extended opening hours at night this summer to allow more visitors to see the famous Roman amphitheatre in cooler temperatures after sunset. The night tours, which run until 11:00 pm, are sold out and tourists on one visit this week spoke of a "magical" and "romantic" atmosp»»»

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police have urged electric scooter riders to follow traffic rules and basic safety measures, warning that unsafe riding practices can increase the risk of accidents and injuries. The force said riders should wear protective helmets and reflective clothing, use designated cyclin»»»

Dubai: In the West Bank, Palestinian mothers are living with the lasting grief of losing their children amid continuing violence. A visual story by featuring 12 women photographed between July 10 and August 7, 2026, documents their personal stories of loss. The women describe family lives abruptly »»»

Geneva: Swiss police said Friday they were still appealing for witnesses to come forward in connection with a fire they believe was deliberately started outside the Romanian embassy in Bern. The blaze broke out on Monday and according to initial findings, "the fire was started deliberately", the Be»»»

Beijing: A Chinese shipowner is set to begin the first weekly container service through the Arctic on an express route to Europe this Saturday, making the voyages until October and prompting concerns over vessels warming polar ice. The company, Sea Legend, tested the premise last year when it compl»»»

JAKARTA: Saudi utility developer Acwa has announced that it will set up a $400 million integrated facility for seawater desalination and salt production in Indonesia’s East Java, with Jakarta eyeing tech upgrades and knowledge transfer through its latest collaboration with the Kingdom. Acwa and Ind»»»

Responding to a question whether he agreed with Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov’s statement on Bulgarian National Television (BNT) that the oligarchy had taken over Bulgarian media, including public media, with the exception of BNT, and that he could not say the same about Bulgarian National Radi»»»

The Minister of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ulan Niyazbekov met with the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze. The parties discussed the development of bilateral cooperation and security issues, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. Special attention was paid to the documents signed »»»

Messages have reached relevant parties in Lebanon indicating that Israel is preparing to launch an offensive to occupy the Ali al-Taher hills and is on high alert, awaiting a signal from the United States, a senior security official said. This official told al-Joumhouriya newspaper that the U.S. in»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine is short on interceptor missiles it needs to counter ballistic threats, a report prepared by the US Departments of State and War for Congress read. "Ukraine lacked interceptor missiles to counter ballistic missiles and remained reliant on foreign air and missile defense s»»»

RIYADH: MBC Studios hosted an exclusive premiere on Thursday of the first episode of the Saudi Arabia series “Ahmar Wala Abyad,” with the cast and creative team behind the show. The event offered an early look at the eight-episode drama, which explores family tensions, ambition and betrayal through»»»

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday told US ambassador and the head of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L) that the key to stability remains compelling ‘Israel’ to cease its war on Lebanon and withdraw to the international borders. Speaker Berri received Ambassador Mic»»»

Dubai: Egyptian food-control authorities have shut down an unlicensed biscuit factory in Qalyubia governorate after inspectors found expired ingredients and a black vegetable-carbon colouring, known as E153, that was reportedly being used in place of cocoa to give biscuits their dark colour, local »»»

Dubai: A single Powerball ticket sold in Illinois has won a $1.04 billion jackpot, ending a run of 44 consecutive drawings without a grand-prize winner and delivering the game’s biggest payout of 2026 so far. The winning ticket was bought at a Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh store in Quincy, western Illinois, »»»

EducationGerman teens worry as schools reopen in pandemicNicolas MartinIn Germany, schools are already preparing for students to return. But some parents and children think that the authorities are being too hasty in easing coronavirus lockdowns. https://p.dw.com/p/3bKihImage: picture-alliance/dpa/»»»

Visiting Pleven on Friday, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told reporters: "We have taken the risk this year of running a higher deficit so there would be a solution to people’s problems." He gave a briefing after a meeting with Pleven Mayor Valentin Hristov, Pleven Regional Governor Ivan Petkov, and th»»»

Kochi: The Kerala government led by Chief Minister Satheesan is mounting an ambitious drive to attract more tourists from the Arab world, targeting nearly three lakh additional visitors and hoping to generate more than Rs 25,000 crore in economic activity from the segment over the next five years. »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia proposed strengthening cooperation between the BRICS member states in artificial intelligence and digital transformation during a meeting of BRICS finance ministers and central bankers in India this week, the Russian Finance Ministry said on Friday. "The Russian delegation»»»

Dubai: The Child and Women Protection Department of the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police has urged parents to monitor their children's use of electronic games, given the significant rise in gaming activity during the summer break. The department has also warned of certain gaming l»»»

The United Arab Emirates on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two vessels linked to its state-owned oil company as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier. Iran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait, frequently attacking commercial ships, and wants to charge users for passa»»»

France on Friday called on Israel to arrest and prosecute rogue settlers blockading Palestinian homes at Qusra in the occupied West Bank and to protect the civilian population. "France strongly condemns the occupation of several Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra in the West Bank by Israeli »»»

MANILA: On a Manila court made of crushed seashells, an earnest four-year-old sends a forehand sailing wide — one of dozens of kids aiming to follow in the footsteps of the Philippines’ first homegrown tennis sensation, Alexandra Eala. The 21-year-old’s rise has sparked a rush of interest in a spor»»»

PARIS: France on Friday called on Israel to arrest and prosecute rogue settlers blockading Palestinian homes at Qusra in the occupied West Bank and to protect the civilian population. “France strongly condemns the occupation of several Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra in the West Bank by I»»»

DUBAI: An oil spill spreading along Oman’s coast is threatening fragile marine ecosystems that support endangered Arabian Sea humpback whales, critically endangered hawksbill turtles and vulnerable seabirds, raising concerns over the long-term impact on some of the region’s most threatened wildlife»»»

CATANIA: Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Saturday because of ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing volcanic activity, which has forced hundreds of flights to be canceled or rerouted over the past week. All arrivals at the island hub, Italy’s fifth-busiest airport by p»»»

German camera maker Leica has excluded a Russian photographer from its prestigious Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) following Ukrainian criticism over his links to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency. Valery Melnikov, a three-time World Press Photo winner, said in a social media post this week that his l»»»

The US intelligence community doubted reports of an Iranian plot to kill President Donald Trump by shooting down Air Force One as it departed a NATO summit in Türkiye, the Washington Post has reported. Their assessment was reportedly conveyed to the administration, yet the Secret Service still opte»»»

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has branded Israeli settlers besieging three Palestinian families in their West Bank homes “terrorists.” The days-long siege has targeted several properties, including one owned by a dual US citizen.According to the UN, the blockade in the village of Qusra bega»»»

Dubai: If you missed the Perseids Meteor Shower earlier this month, this is your second chance. Dubai Astronomy Group has added one more night by popular demand, opening the door to anyone who could not get a place at the first event. The bonus night takes place on Saturday, 15 August 2026, running»»»

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and Oman from Aug. 17 to 22. According to the Foreign Ministry, Motegi, in consideration of the prevailing circumstances in the Middle East, will convene meetings with prominent government officials including his S»»»

Defending the State's interest in the case concerning International Fair Plovdiv will show whether the government intends to fight oligarchy, as stated in its programme, representatives of Continue the Change told a news conference at BTA's National Press Club in Plovdiv. The case seeks to establis»»»

Ambulance sirens and floral tributes on Friday, Salvation Day, commemorated doctors, nurses, police officers, rescuers and volunteers who died in their line of duty saving other people's lives. A ceremony was held in the garden outside the Military Medical Academy in Sofia. Academy chief Major Gene»»»

AL-MUKALLA: The chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, has urged the Iran-backed Houthis to lay down their arms and become a political party, saying the internationally recognized government seeks permanent peace rather than another temporary truce as the militia cont»»»

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa and U.S. General Joseph Clearfield met Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Visiting General Clearfield heads a coordination group involved with the U.S. sponsored June agreement. The framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel in»»»

1/14Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE, Shafqat Ali Khan, hoists the national flag during Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi.Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi2/14In Dubai Fawad Ahmed Khan Acting Consul General along with Consul officials, led the celebrations in the city»»»