Planning to stay longer? Kuwait now charges KD150 to convert visit visas
Kuwait: Kuwait has introduced a KD150 fee for converting visit visas into regular residency permits, under amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners Residence Law aimed at updating the country's residency procedures. The changes were published in Sunday's edition of the official gaz»»»
Motor Show 2026 exhibitors target expansion in Syrian market
Damascus, Aug. 2 (SANA) Companies participating in Motor Show 2026 in Damascus said the exhibition has provided an opportunity to showcase the latest automotive technologies, strengthen business partnerships and expand their presence in the Syrian market. Representatives of local and international »»»
Five dead, 41 missing in Indonesia ferry fire: rescue officials
Jakarta: Five people have been found dead and 41 are missing after an Indonesian ferry with 271 people on board caught fire while at sea on Sunday, search and rescue officials said. The captain reported the fire as the vessel sailed from Indonesia’s second-largest city, Surabaya in East Java, to Ma»»»
Oman issues $949m in tenders as project awards reach $1.9bn
RIYADH: Oman awarded projects worth 734 million Omani rials ($1.9 billion) and issued new tenders valued at 365 million rials in the first seven months of 2026, as the sultanate stepped up infrastructure and public service investment. The Public Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content sai»»»
Pakistan: Governance reform essential for security, says DG ISPR
Pakistan’s battle against terrorism cannot be won through security operations alone, with the country’s military leadership warning that weak governance remains a central challenge threatening national stability and security, said military spokesperson. Director General Inter-Services Public Relati»»»
GERB Leader Borissov: GERB to Discuss Presidential Election in September
GERB will discuss the presidential election in September, party leader Boyko Borissov said on Sunday during the party's New Minds Political Academy. He was responding to a journalist's question about a comment by Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Ivaylo Mirchev that GERB and the right-wing parties woul»»»
How AI helped ADNOC drill 6,428 feet in just 24 hours and set a new benchmark
Abu Dhabi: ADNOC has established a new well delivery performance standard, routinely drilling well sections exceeding one mile in length within a single day in some of the UAE’s most complex carbonate rocks, including 6,428 feet drilled in 24 hours. The achievement reflects ADNOC’s commitment to op»»»
Vazrazhdane Marks 12 Years Since Its Founding
The Vazrazhdane party is marking 12 years since its founding, the party's press office said on Sunday. "On August 2, St Elijah's Day, 12 years ago, the founding congress of Vazrazhdane was held in Pliska," the press release added. "This was the second, and decisive, step toward the creation of our »»»
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors main sponsor of the Buraydah International Dates Carnival 2026
Under the patronage of Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, governor of the Qassim Region, Abdul Latif Jameel Motors has been selected as the main sponsor for the Buraydah International Dates Carnival 2026. Toyota Hilux has been named the official car of the carnival. The signing c»»»
OPEC+ expected to approve final output increase before pausing further hikes
London, Aug. 2 (SANA) OPEC+ is expected to approve a production increase of about 188,000 barrels per day from September before pausing further output hikes, according to sources, completing the reversal of the alliance’s voluntary production cuts agreed in 2023. Reuters, citing sources familiar wi»»»
Qatar resident earns five world records for speed painting
Doha, Qatar: Six-year-old Qatar resident Al Ameen bin Ahammed Danish has achieved an extraordinary milestone by setting multiple world records for speed painting, becoming one of the youngest artists to earn recognition from five international record organizations. The Grade 2 student at Scholar In»»»
Five dead, 41 missing in Indonesia ferry fire: rescue officials
Jakarta: Five people have been found dead and 41 are missing after an Indonesian ferry with 271 people on board caught fire while at sea on Sunday, search and rescue officials said. The captain reported the fire as the vessel sailed from Indonesia's second-largest city, Surabaya in East Java, to Ma»»»
Death Toll Rises as Ceuta Migrant Crisis Deepens
The death toll among migrants trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco has reached 90, according to Spanish media reports citing sources. Spanish authorities have recovered 74 bodies, while Moroccan officials have retrieved 16 others.The crisis erupted in late July, when Ceuta expe»»»
EU risks missing digital jobs target by five million, despite rapid tech growth
The EU is on course to miss its flagship Digital Decade target of employing 20 million information and communications technology (ICT) specialists by 2030, according to a new Eurofound report. Missing the target by around five million workers raises questions whether Brussels is doing enough to tac»»»
Rescuers find climber Nirmal Purja's body: Alpine Club of Pakistan
Rescuers have found the body of renowned climber Nirmal Purja, who was killed along with nine team members in a powerful avalanche in northern Pakistan this week, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Sunday. "The ground rescue team has reached Nims Dai (Purja) at approximately 5,700m on Broad Peak -»»»
FEDCOC Head urges businesses to join new licensing system
Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) Ahmed al-Wakil described the new public shop licensing system as a “historic opportunity” to integrate informal businesses into the formal economy, urging traders and business owners to take advantage of government incentives to r»»»
Major UAE tax raids seize 3.6m excise goods worth Dh82m
Dubai: Joint inspection campaigns by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and Dubai Police seized more than 3.58 million non-compliant excise goods during the first half of 2026, with tax liabilities and penalties exceeding Dh82 million. The FTA said inspectors confiscated 3,587,315 packs of excise good»»»
Starting Monday: Four days of showers could affect eastern, southern and inland areas
Dubai: Rain is expected to return to parts of the UAE from Monday and continue for four consecutive days, with the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) forecasting afternoon showers over eastern and southern regions that could extend to some inland areas. The NCM said the unsettled conditions are b»»»
Dubai issues Super Guide for Kids: Over 100 places to play, splash and learn this summer
Dubai: Families in the UAE looking to keep children entertained this summer now have a one-stop reference to work with. Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has released Dubai’s Super Guide for Kids as part of its #DubaiDestinations campaign, mapping out more than »»»
Five Helicopters, At Least One Spartan Aircraft Available for Bulgaria’s Summer Wildfire Response – Interior Ministry Adviser
Bulgaria has five helicopters and at least one Spartan aircraft ready to be deployed in wildfire-fighting operations this summer, Chief Commissioner Nikolay Nikolov, adviser to the Interior Minister and former head of the General Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, said in an intervie»»»
Tokyo and Washington took joint action to support yen: media
Tokyo: Washington and Tokyo jointly intervened to shore up the Japanese yen for the first time in nearly 30 years after the currency sank to its weakest level in decades, the Financial Times has reported. The reported intervention came after the yen slid to 163.24 per dollar last month, its weakest»»»
India's RBI revises deposit rules to protect customers
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the regulatory framework governing deposit interest rates, introducing measures aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring uniform treatment of depositors across banks. The new rules, notified on Friday, will come into effect from October 1. The»»»
Greece wildfires turn into ‘megafire’ as blazes destroy homes and forests
Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll with wildfires believed to have devastated swathes of forest and agricultural land, and the prime minister warning of "extremely difficult" days ahead. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece had faced "extreme weather conditio»»»
Messi returns as Inter Miami draw 2-2 against Columbus Crew
Miami: Lionel Messi returned to Major League Soccer action after World Cup duty on Saturday, coming on in the second half as his Inter Miami side drew 2-2 with Columbus Crew. Two weeks after Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, Messi was back on the pitch, entering in the 53rd minute t»»»
Péter Magyar: Paks Nuclear Power Plant to shut down completely
The penultimate generating unit at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant was taken offline at 1.30 AM on Sunday due to the continued fall in the Danube’s water level, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on his Facebook page late on Saturday night. The power plant is generating a fraction of its capacity P»»»
Hezbollah Races to Rebuild War-Torn Villages as MP Fadallah Slams State for ‘Diplomatic Victory’ Handed to America - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Races to Rebuild War-Torn Villages as MP Fadallah Slams State for ‘Diplomatic Victory’ Handed to America 02-08-2026 12:12 PM In a»»»
Secretary-General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives copies of credentials of Malta Ambassador
Doha, Qatar: Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, received on Sunday a copy of the credentials of Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to the State of Qatar, HE Maria Camilleri Calleja. The Secretary-General wished the ambassador success in carryin»»»
Sri Lanka deploys troops after prison riot
Colombo: Sri Lanka deployed hundreds of troops and elite commandos on Sunday to contain riots at an overcrowded prison in which one inmate was killed and six others wounded, police said. Deputy police inspector-general Sanjeewa Medawatte said the situation was under control after inmates destroyed »»»
ABC leads fresh push to bring more US investment to Pakistan
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to attract American investment, with business leaders urging US companies and the Pakistani diaspora to capitalise on emerging opportunities in key sectors as the country seeks to deepen economic ties with Washington. The push came during a high-level meeting in Kara»»»
Oil is flowing again: Iraq and Turkey sign one-year Ceyhan pipeline agreement
Dubai: Iraq and Türkiye signed a one-year agreement today to transport and load Iraqi crude oil via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to the port of Ceyhan, at a minimum rate of 750,000 barrels per day. Ministry of Oil spokesman Salim Al Rikabi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that: "the agreement represent»»»
Team Falcons’ 15-year-old prodigy Jaime ‘Craime’ Bustos claims Street Fighter 6 at Esports World Cup
PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons have surged to the top of the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Championship standings after Chilean pro Jaime “Craime” Bustos claimed the Street Fighter 6 title. The win makes him the youngest player ever to take an EWC championship, at the age of 15 years, two months »»»
Team Spirit emerges victorious in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at Esports World Cup 2026
PARIS: After nine days of competition, Team Spirit have claimed a regional first after winning the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026. Their victory against Burmese team Yangon Galacticos in the grand final marks the first time a team from the Eastern European an»»»
Egypt growth outlook cut to 5% as inflation delays rate cuts: BMI
RIYADH: Egypt’s economy is expected to grow 5 percent in fiscal 2026/27, while inflation is forecast to average 14.4 percent this year, delaying interest rate cuts until 2027, a new analysis showed. BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, lowered its fiscal 2026/27 growth forecast from 5.2 percent, citing »»»
Canada travel chaos: WestJet strike cancels over 300 flights
Flight attendants with WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, went on strike Sunday in a dispute over pay. The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents the 4,400 cabin crew at the airline. It announced the strike on its Facebook page but did not provide further details. The company had canc»»»
The conversations leaders cannot afford to avoid
I’ve worked in leadership for over 40 years and if there is one lesson that endures, it is this: most leadership failures are not failures of systems, but of conversation — things left unsaid until they become heavier than they needed to be. Giving honest feedback is never easy. It must be polite a»»»
Driving in Sharjah? Here's how new traffic diversions are keeping the city moving
Sharjah: Sharjah has rolled out a series of major traffic diversions across the emirate as it presses ahead with an ambitious programme of road, bridge and tunnel construction, with authorities saying the measures have helped maintain traffic flow despite large-scale infrastructure works. The Sharj»»»
Qatar Public Prosecution launches self-service kiosk to streamline inmate requests
Doha, Qatar: The Public Prosecution, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, has launched a self-service kiosk that enables direct and secure communication between inmates in correctional and rehabilitation institutions and the Public Prosecution. The platform facilitates the submission of re»»»
President Signs Into Law U.S.-Backed $302 Million Military Financing Agreement
Albanian President Bajram Begaj has signed into law the ratification of a loan agreement between Albania and the United States under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, paving the way for the legislation to take immediate effect. Through the presidential decree, Begaj also approved the la»»»
Running from poverty, they met with death: 19 Afghan migrants perish in desert
Kabul: Nineteen Afghan men have died of thirst and heat exhaustion while attempting to cross illegally into Iran through one of the world's harshest desert regions. Local authorities in Nimroz Province, in south-western Afghanistan, said rescue teams recovered the bodies of 14 menfrom the Rig Lalo »»»
US President suspends strikes against Iran, conditional on reaching a deal
Washington: US President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that he had suspended the planned US-Israeli strikes against Iran, following a request from Tehran and other countries in the Middle East, on the condition that a rapid agreement be reached. In a post on the Truth Social, Trump wrote that»»»
A dispute over a job transfer ends in tragedy: School principal fatally stabbed by guard
Cairo: A school principal was fatally stabbed inside a school in southern Cairo after an apparent workplace dispute escalated into violence, Egyptian authorities said, with prosecutors opening an investigation into the killing. Initial investigations indicate that the suspect, a school security gua»»»
South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5C
Seoul: South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on Sunday, as authorities warned people to "immediately" stop all outdoor activities in affected areas. The southeastern city of Yangsan saw the temperature reach 42.5C at 1:26 pm (0426 GMT), the Korea»»»
Fire toll mounts in Greece as blazes spread
Porto Germeno, Greece: Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll after a week of wildfires devastated over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land, experts said. The National Observatory's climate tracker meteo.gr said early estimates indicated that over 6,500 hectare»»»
Fire toll mounts in Greece as blazes spread
ATHENS: Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll after a week of wildfires devastated over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land, experts said. The National Observatory’s climate tracker meteo.gr said over 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) had been burned in separate f»»»
FIFA chief Infantino’s position looks unacceptable, head of European leagues says
ZURICH: Gianni Infantino’s position as FIFA president looks untenable following his failed plan to sell a stake in the World Cup’s commercial rights, the head of Europe’s professional football leagues said on Sunday. Claudius Schaefer, whose organization represents 53 professional men’s and women»»»
UN says Israeli demolitions in Lebanon 'deeply concerning'
The United Nations has expressed concern over Israel's ongoing demolitions in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah. "The scale of the detonations and demolitions taking place in south Lebanon is deeply concerning, with a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultu»»»
Saudi Crown Prince, Trump discuss regional tensions
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump discussed regional developments and the need for diplomatic solutions during a phone call, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. During the conversation, the Crown Prince stressed the need to prioritise dialogue and redu»»»
Analysts: Saudi-US nuclear deal offers strategic gains for both sides
RIYADH: The civil nuclear cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the US is expected to usher in a new phase of economic and technological partnership that extends well beyond the construction of nuclear reactors and electricity generation, encompassing the localization of high-value industr»»»
Putin Honors Russian Paratroopers on Airborne Forces Day
President Vladimir Putin has extended his congratulations to Russia's airborne troops on their professional holiday, praising their fortitude and dedication. "They are people of strong character, unbreakable spirit, and brotherly unity – always standing by each other," Putin stated.He emphasized th»»»
Planning a trip? Oman has launched a free 14-day tourist visa for eligible travellers
Muscat: Oman has introduced a free 14-day tourist visa for nationals of selected countries under amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law, in a move aimed at facilitating short-term visits and boosting tourism. The changes were introduced under Royal Oman Police Deci»»»