Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced that women employed by the state government will be entitled to 365 days of maternity leave for a third child, extending a benefit currently available for the first two children. The measure was among a sweeping package of we»»»

KABUL: It’s grape season in Afghanistan’s southern province of Kandahar, and the harvest this year is plentiful. But that’s small comfort for the region’s grape producers and workers, who say fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan has left them unable to access their primary market.For months, t»»»

BANGKOK: Thai schools conducted ‌active shooter drills on Wednesday, as authorities moved to strengthen security measures two weeks after a 14-year-old opened ​fire at a school and killed at least eight people.At the Surasamontree School in Bangkok, students took part in a “run, hide, fight” exerci»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s government will challenge the Supreme Court’s order to move jailed former prime minister Imran Khan to a private hospital for medical checks, the law minister said late Tuesday. The ruling “does not fall within the four corners of the law,” Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said »»»

Hosting the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 in Burgas is an opportunity for Bulgaria to showcase its hospitality, culture and traditions and improve its image as a tourist destination for years to come, the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA) said on Wednesday. On August 13, the Black Se»»»

The Israeli army struck and shelled overnight into Wednesday the Ali al-Taher hill, the outskirts of Wadi Zebqine and a house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Israeli forces also carried detonations in Hadatha and al-Mansouri.»»»

Cairo, Egypt: The Arab League has condemned the Israeli strike on the Abu Al-Duhur airbase in Syria's Idlib province on Tuesday, describing it as a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law and another escalation in Israel's repeated attacks on Syria and other countries in the r»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s companies have reached an agreement with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on the supply of oil products to the country. The corresponding agreements were signed following talks in Urumqi, the Cabinet of Ministers reported. The meeting was held as part of Deputy Chairman of t»»»

Washington, Aug. 19 (SANA) The US dollar remained near multi-month lows against major currencies Wednesday as Treasury yields retreated and investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes for signals on interest rates. The dollar index fell to 99.65, Reuters reported. The euro rose t»»»

Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Federal prosecutors have charged a man from the Bronx with hate crime offenses alleging he assaulted a security guard and a congregant in a racially motivated attack at a Manhattan synagogue last week. Larry Montes was arrested following the alleged attack at Central Synagogue on F»»»

Dubai: Dubai is planning almost 800 inspection visits during the back-to-school shopping season, covering physical stores and online retailers selling school-related products across the Emirate. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click hereThe month-long campai»»»

Dubai: Spanish authorities temporarily closed Granada’s historic Alhambra Palace as a precaution after a 4.8-magnitude earthquake caused minor damage to the UNESCO World Heritage site and injured three people. The earthquake struck at 10.38am on Tuesday. local time, with its epicentre in the town o»»»

Tunis, Aug. 19 (TAP)- The weather on Wednesday is slightly cloudy, the National Institute of Meteorology (INM) said.The wind is blowing north in the north and the midland and east in the south, relatively strong near coasts and light to mderate...»»»

Monaco: Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will be released by Monaco after a series of injuries, the French club said on Wednesday. Pogba, 33, won the World Cup with France in 2018 but since serving a ban for doping has struggled to return to elite level.»»»

Islamabad, Aug. 19 (SANA) Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Abu al-Duhur military airport in Syria’s Idlib governorate, saying they violated international law and risked further undermining regional peace and stability.In a statement posted on X, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described t»»»

The US on Tuesday imposed sanctions against two top members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which the court said "undermine the rule of law". The move represents the Trump administration's latest salvo against the court based in The Hague, which was set up in 2002 by the internationa»»»

Manila: The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified five provinces as potential hosts for the country’s first commercial nuclear power plants, marking a major step in the government’s nuclear energy programme. Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo identified the five provinces as follows: »»»

Israel struck an air base in northwest Syria early Tuesday, saying it aimed to prevent Turkish troops from deploying there. Turkey, which has close ties with the Syrian government and has been providing assistance to Syria's military, has tense relations with Israel. The rival countries have sought»»»

Doha, Qatar: Panasonic and Ghamdan Trading Company (GTC) today reaffirmed their shared commitment to serving customers across Qatar with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), following a high-level meeting between the chief executives of both organizations. The agreement builds on a p»»»

Akyn (poet) Askat Zhetigen told journalists that he had no intention of asking for an apology or a presidential pardon after his conviction. «People who are guilty ask for a pardon. I am not guilty. There are no elements of a criminal offense in my case. I did not ask for either an apology or a par»»»

The so-called Kuril Islands issue was forced upon Japan by America after its atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik. “This issue was imposed on Japan by those who looked after the country after World War II — precisely those who »»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, hosts the Recent Advances in Primary Immunodysregulation Disorders (RAPID 2026) conference from September 25 to 27, 2026, bringing together international experts, clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to discuss the latest a»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Establishments and Authorities Security Department, represented by the Sports Security Section, organized the Second Annual Forum, “Integration of Security and Organizational Roles for the Qatar Stars League,” with the participation of representatives from various entities involved»»»

Cairo, Aug. 19 (SANA) Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy condemned Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur military airport in Syria’s Idlib governorate, calling for international action to end repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.Fahmy said the strikes represented a “flagrant violation” »»»

Damascus, Aug. 19 (SANA) The Central Bank of Syria announced the adoption of an electronic payment and transfer system to expand payment options for citizens and businesses and modernize the country’s financial infrastructure.The system was approved under Decision No. 1124, issued by the General Se»»»

Iranian Zulfiqar road-mobile, ballistic missiles are displayed during a pro-government demonstration in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Behnam Tofighi/UPI | License Photo Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The United Arab Emirates announced it was indefinitely severing trade relations with Iran on W»»»

Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) is expanding the number of taxis available through Bolt in Dubai after signing a partnership agreement with Arabia Taxi to integrate 1,607 vehicles into the ride-hailing platform. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & BalancesThe move is expected to in»»»

The Government will adopt a decision to establish an Interinstitutional Coordination Council for the construction of the National Children's Hospital, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said this at the beginning of Wednesday's meeting of the Council of Ministers. "[It will be established] to make up for t»»»

DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with Ambassador of the State of Libya to the State of Qatar HE Mohammed Mustafa Al Saghir Al Lafi, on the occasion of the ambassador's departure from his post. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expre»»»

Dubai: The UAE will continue to make a lasting humanitarian impact and bring hope and life to people in need, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said on Wednesday, marking World Humanitarian Day. In a message reflecti»»»

Dubai: A 39-year-old photographer was shot dead and his friend injured after he allegedly intervened in a road-rage dispute between a car driver and a two-wheeler rider in Ludhiana’s old city, police said on Tuesday. The incident took place around midnight on Monday near JMD Mall. The deceased, Ram»»»

Dubai: Dubai-based parking operator Parkin is expanding into Egypt, signing an MoU with three Egyptian companies to explore the development of smart parking and mobility solutions in the country. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & BalancesThe MoU with Modon Misr for Asset and Faci»»»

The Israeli military said it had repatriated the remains of Sgt First Class Yehuda Katz, a soldier killed in Lebanon 44 years ago, in a joint operation with the Mossad intelligence agency. Katz was the last Israeli soldier declared missing in the Sultan Yacoub battle against Syrian forces in easter»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar secured their first win in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup yesterday as they beat Sri Lanka 90-43 in their final Group C match in Ahmedabad, India. The win capped Qatar’s group stage campaign with a much-needed triumph that saw them advance into the knock-out stage. Qatar opened with sharp»»»

Berlin: Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala said he is suffering from a neurological disorder after a second on-field collapse in three days yesterday. The 23-year-old Germany international fell to the turf just minutes after coming on late in a pre-season friendly at Heidenheim. A similar incid»»»

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»»»

Iran army chief Ali Abdollahi warned Gulf countries on Wednesday not to provide any assistance to the US military. Doing so would be tantamount to joining American military operations in Iran, Abdollahi said. Follow our live blog for the latest updates. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)»»»

Two French nationals have been detained in Togo since July 27 and are under judicial investigation, France's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. The pair are journalist-directors working for a French production company, according to local media. Paris did not provide details on the investigation or r»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with the Ambassador of the State of Libya to the State of Qatar HE Mohammed Mustafa Al Saghir Al Lafi, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has urged citizens and residents to keep its facilities and service connection equipment free from obstructions to allow field teams to carry out their duties safely and efficiently. In a social media post, Kahramaa said clear »»»

Parkour may conjure images of rowdy teenagers swinging from building to building in urban landscapes, but since 2017, coach Tan Shie Boon has been using these techniques to improve Singaporean seniors’ strength and agility. Tan’s Movement Singapore classes have gone viral online, showing people in »»»

United Nations, Aug. 19 (SANA) UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province as a “very worrying violation” of Syria’s territorial integrity and airspace. Responding to a question about the strikes, Dujarr»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces struck a cargo ship carrying military equipment in the Black Sea southeast of Odessa on August 18, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. The Russian armed forces continue to carry out drone strikes against Ukrainian naval vessels and port infras»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian specialists will select and train Myanmar's first national cosmonaut, Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said on Wednesday. "Roscosmos will conduct the initial selection and training of Myanmar cosmonauts according to Russian standards," the statement read. On Tues»»»

Abu Dhabi has plenty happening this week, whether you’re looking for a night of live music, something creative to do with the family, or a quieter afternoon surrounded by art and culture. From concerts on Yas Island to workshops, summer programmes and exhibitions around the city, here are nine thin»»»

Authorities are searching for the person who left a poisoned cow carcass in the protected area Five vultures have been poisoned in Central Balkan National Park, near the Paniците winter route leading to Mount Botev, the Ministry of Environment and Water said. The birds were found near a cow carcass»»»

Victim’s body was reportedly kept in bags for several days A 21-year-old man has been found dead in Saedinenie, Plovdiv region, in a case involving a former police officer, according to initial information. The victim was reportedly from the nearby village of Nayden Gerovo. His body was discovered »»»

DUBAI: UAE’s diplomatic adviser to the UAE president Anwar Gargash has denied claims the UAE provided financial services to Iran in a statement on X. “Some platforms targeting the UAE are circulating false information about the country, at a time when the state continues to focus its efforts on add»»»