Japan views its alliance with the US and the American security umbrella as indispensable in countering a perceived threat from China, Andrey Fesyun, associate professor at Moscow State University, tells Sputnik. That explains why Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui criticizes Russia’s actions in Ukraine »»»

France next week will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practices. The law backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government enters into force on Aug. 11. While sev»»»

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»»»

MADRID: The Spanish government remained confident the final of the 2030 World Cup will be in Spain. Speaking after a report that FIFA allegedly awarded the final to co-host Morocco, sports minister Milagros Tolón said Spain “deserved” to host the title game. “We are the reigning men’s and women’s W»»»

Authorities in Kuwait ordered the closure of a local Iranian school, a source at the education ministry told AFP on Thursday, after the country came under repeated Iranian attack during the Middle East war. The ministry source did not specify the reason for shutting the country's only Iranian schoo»»»

ARMAF, the global fragrance powerhouse behind one of the world’s most celebrated fragrance collections, proudly announces acclaimed actor, producer and entrepreneur John Abraham as the Global Brand Ambassador for Club De Nuit Intense Overdose. The partnership will make its worldwide debut through a»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The logic of the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine due to the strengthening of the armed forces of Ukraine is flawed and can bring unpredictable consequences, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department Alexey Fadeev said on Thursday. "We are a»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Half of US citizens believe that a conflict between the United States and Iran would lead to serious destabilization in the Middle East over the next year, a poll conducted jointly by Reuters and Ipsos revealed on Thursday. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he stil»»»

1 of 2 | The U.S. Food and Drug Administration headquarters is shown in Silver Spring, Md. The FDA has approved a new flu vaccine for adults over 50 that uses mRNA technology. File photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new mRNA-based sea»»»

A total of 10 teenagers aged between 14 and 17 have been detained in connection with the killing of a 37-year-old man on Youth Hill in Plovdiv, representatives of the Plovdiv Regional Prosecutor's Office and the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry said at a joint briefing on Thurs»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of Environment and Climate Change HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie met with Dr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Eissa, CEO of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, the tw»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US-led Board of Peace has awarded the first tender to construct a 150-person military base for Moroccan troops in the Gaza Strip, The Guardian reported on Thursday, citing a source familiar with the matter. Arkel International, a US firm based in Louisiana, has been award»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States and Ukraine have restored intelligence sharing to previous levels in recent months, Politico reported, citing US lawmakers. "I don't want to get into any specifics, but it has improved," Senator Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committe»»»

AL-BAHA: The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture recently concluded the fifth edition of the Khairat Al-Baha Festival at the historic Raghadan Market, with strong turnout from residents and visitors. The three-day event featured 15 booths for farmers and beekeepers, showcasing loca»»»

U.N. peacekeepers continue to observe “daily violations of Lebanese airspace and military activities on the ground” and “yesterday’s 113 projectiles launched by IDF (Israeli army) are the highest recorded by UNIFIL since 21 June,” the U.N. force said on Thursday. “While violence remains significant»»»

“Our ambition is to genuinely protect Bulgarian fruit and vegetable producers from unfair competition,” said Agriculture Minister Plamen Abrovski during a meeting with representatives of the greenhouse production sector. The discussion focused on opportunities to improve the competitiveness of Bulg»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday early elections in Serbia would be called "in a few days or in a few weeks" and that the opposition would become increasingly nervous as the elections drew closer. Asked by reporters to comment on predictions of electoral results by opp»»»

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»»»

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»»»

BRUSSELS: Some ​100 people died during the massive ‌border ‌rush ​last ‌week ⁠in ​Spain’s Ceuta, the ⁠enclave city’s leader Juan ⁠Jesus ‌Vivas said ‌on ​Thursday ‌during ‌an EU parliamentary meeting. Vivas added ‌that between 3,000 ⁠and 5,000 ⁠migrants were still in Ceuta. The European Union is vul»»»

At least ​30 Yemeni government troops were killed ‌in ‌Houthi ​attacks ‌on ⁠military ​camps in ⁠the provinces of Marib ⁠and ‌Hadramout, government ‌sources ​said ‌on ‌Thursday. The sources added ‌that the death toll ⁠could ⁠rise.»»»

Dubai: As a severe summer heatwave grips parts of Europe, Prague Zoo is helping its animals stay cool with creative frozen treats. Polar bear twins Gregor and Aleut are being given specially prepared ice cream packed with apples, carrots, mackerel and salmon, while up to three tonnes of ice are pla»»»

London: A 47-year-old woman was charged on Thursday after four men were stabbed in central London with what is believed to be a pair of scissors. Stella Gollovena was charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed Thursday's trading session lower by 69.57 points, or 0.68 percent, reaching 10,112.25 points. A total of 112,319,917 shares were traded during the session, with a total value of QAR 321,294,727.095 through 21,559 transactions across all secto»»»

Dubai: The UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced a minimum excise price for liquids used in electronic smoking devices and tools, with the new measure set to take effect from September 1, 2026. The ministry announced on Thursday that it had issued a decision establishing a minimum excise price of »»»

RIYADH: The National Center for Falcons has launched the International Falcon Breeders Auction at its headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. To be organized until Aug. 25, the event brings together a select group of local and international falcon breeding farms. The auction serves as a specialize»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Rear Adm. Abdullah bin Salem Alshehri has been appointed the commander of Multinational Maritime Defense Coalition for key regional waterways, the Kingdom’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The appointment is a part of the continued implementation of the foun»»»

FRANKFURT: A Ukrainian cargo aircraft parked near an explosive-laden drone found at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle airport on Tuesday night was carrying a payload of military ammunition, a group of news outlets including Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Thursday. Forensic experts found that the explosives»»»

US President Donald Trump denied reports that the US faces shortages of key munitions, insisting the country has ample stockpiles and warning that those responsible for leaking such claims will face prosecution. “The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types,” Trump wrote i»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani met with Chief of the Air Staff of the United Kingdom HE Air Chief Marshal Sir Harvey Smyth and his accompanying delegation during his visit to the State of Qatar. The me»»»

Damascus, Aug. 6 (SANA) The Central Organisation for Financial Control (COFC) has uncovered a corruption case involving a 2021 contract at the state-owned Real Estate Bank to develop and modernize its banking system, with financial damages totaling $8.454 million. COFC’s media office told SANA that»»»

KUWAIT: Authorities in Kuwait ordered the closure of a local Iranian school, a source at the education ministry told AFP on Thursday, after the country came under repeated Iranian attack during the Middle East war. The ministry source did not specify the reason for shutting the country’s only Irani»»»

LONDON: A 47-year-old woman was charged on Thursday after four men were stabbed in central London with what is believed to be a pair of scissors. Stella Gollovena was charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in»»»

The majority of English rivers, lakes and waters off the country's coast remain in a challenging state with none free of chemical pollution and only 14% receiving a good ecological bill of health, the Environment Agency said Thursday. File Photo by Abbasi1111/Wikimedia Commons Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The m»»»

The Pentagon is developing a nuclear strategy that would give the US president a wider range of nuclear options in a potential conflict with Russia or China, NBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plans. The proposed approach would reportedly place greater emphasis on shorter-r»»»

Dubai: Gold prices moved higher again on Thursday afternoon, taking the local 24-karat rate to Dh516.25 per gram and extending a rapid increase that has added Dh29 since the beginning of August. (Check latest UAE gold prices here, alongside prices in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and »»»

Saudi Awwal Bank, one of the Kingdom’s leading banks, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club have announced the launch of the SAB Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Card in Saudi Arabia. This Visa Infinite credit card is the first co-branded payment card between Qatar Airways Privilege Club and a bank i»»»

New York: It’s often said that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. The saying rings true under a deal where three major US egg producers will have to crack into their supplies to settle price fixing claims. Under the settlement announced Wednesday, the companies will donate 53 million»»»

Kuwait City: Authorities in Kuwait ordered the closure of a local Iranian school, a source at the education ministry told AFP on Thursday, after the country came under repeated Iranian attack during the Middle East war. The ministry source did not specify the reason for shutting the country's only »»»

Aug. 5 (UPI) -- An Australian snake catcher responded to a call from a driver who opened their glove compartment and found a large python looking back at them. Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 posted a video to social media showing a reptile wrangler named Summer removing the coastal carpet pytho»»»

Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A British woman broke her own Guinness World Record when she went wing-walking at the age of 97, just one year after suffering a stroke. Cheltenham resident Betty Bromage, who has been wing walking six times since she was 87, completed her latest stunt on Tuesday, when she was 97 ye»»»

Dubai: The first victim of Monday's gas cylinder explosion on the premises of a car showroom off Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai has also been identified. The Consulate General of Cameroon in Dubai confirmed to Gulf News on Thursday that the victim has been identified as a Cameroonian expat. More to fol»»»

The Ministry of Interior will do everything within its powers to establish the facts surrounding the verbal confrontation between a group of foreign nationals and a group of Bulgarians in Bansko, acting Secretary General of the Interior Ministry Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov said, as quoted b»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Yediot Aharonot: Lebanon demanded during third day of Rome negotiations that ‘Israel’ provide official list of all Lebanese citizens impris»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani attended the ceremony marking the promotion of a number of First Warrant Officers to the rank of Lieutenant and their taking of the military oath. His Excellency affirmed the Ministry of Interio»»»

DOHA: The Ministry of Labour has announced that some electronic services available through its Individuals and Establishments Portals will be temporarily affected over the weekend due to scheduled system maintenance and updates. In a statement, the ministry said the temporary disruption is part of »»»

Lebanese and Israeli negotiators are meeting Thursday in Rome for a third and final day to discuss the implementation of a deal under which Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from areas they are occupying in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. On Wednesday, Israel request»»»

No progress has been made in the Rome talks regarding the expansion of the so-called pilot zones, especially since the discussion is focused on the political aspect, Baabda Palace sources told Al-Jadeed television on Thursday. “The Lebanese delegation has several plans on this subject, including th»»»

The ruling Progressive Bulgaria coalition has “handed over” the Khan Tervel offshore oil and gas exploration block to Turkiye and refused to discuss the matter in Parliament, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said Thursday, according to the party’s press service. Vazrazhdane said the decision »»»