Poland has christened ORP Wicher, the first of three new-generation frigates being built under the Miecznik program for the Polish Navy. President Karol Nawrocki said the vessel will significantly strengthen Poland’s naval capabilities and described the program as an important boost for the domesti»»»

Japan warns companies after several nationals are detained as Beijing tightens controls on rare earths and dual-use goods 1 of 2 | Japanese national flag flies in front of the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China on the Great Hall of the People. Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / EPA Aug. 11 (A»»»

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A high school football player in Arkansas noticed something unusual about his helmet and brought it to coaches who discovered a venomous snake hiding under the padding. Maumelle High School Athletic Director Kirk Horton said the player noticed unusual movement inside his helmet aft»»»

WASHINGTON: US airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen last year killed more than 150 civilians, according to a Pentagon review of the attacks, which comes as concerns rise over civilian casualties during military campaigns under the Trump administration. The unclassified asse»»»

Argentine President Javier Milei's government is requiring nonresident foreigners to pay for non-emergency care at federally administered hospitals. File Photo by Matias Martin Campaya/EPA BUENOS AIES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Argentine President Javier Milei's government is requiring nonresident foreigner»»»

CASABLANCA, Morocco: Morocco said Wednesday it has beefed up security along its border with Spain as calls resurfaced on social media for mass crossings into the Spanish city of Ceuta, raising concerns of another surge, similar to the one last month when tens of thousands of migrants rushed the bor»»»

BUCHAREST: Romania will begin shutting down its only nuclear power plant on Thursday after the Danube’s flow fell to a record low this week and efforts to avert a complete shutdown failed, the government said on Wednesday. It will be the plant’s first shutdown since a 2003 drought, as unprecedented»»»

LOS ANGELES, United States: The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, are being sold to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner in a deal valued at $12.5 billion, ESPN reported Wednesday. The sale, which would mark a record-breaking valuation for a Nort»»»

One of nature's greatest spectacles –- a rare total solar eclipse –- cast its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia's remote Arctic north before heading towards mainland Europe. The Moon first blotted out the Sun at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia at about 1700 GMT, »»»

At least 239 people were killed and 3,755 injured across 388 municipalities nationwide. Volunteers remove rubble at the scene of a collapsed building in Pereira, Colombia, on Tuesday after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck a day earlier. Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Cali, the capital»»»

An interactive map of youth policies in Bulgaria has been presented in Pernik for the first time, bringing together data on opportunities and conditions for young people across all Bulgarian municipalities. The presentation was part of a national initiative of the National Youth Forum and the Citiz»»»

BAGHDAD: The US military is on track to pull all of its forces out of Iraq by the end of September, officials said Wednesday, marking the end of a presence that started with the 2003 invasion against Saddam Hussein. Washington and Baghdad agreed in 2024 to wind down the much smaller US-led operatio»»»

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi said he has “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for “much longer” after the death of his father Jorge, in an emotional tribute posted on social media Wednesday. “I don’t know what I’ll do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I just played football, and n»»»

All possible causes for the explosions at an EMCO storage facility near the village of Belitsa, Tryavna Municipality, are being investigated, and a leading theory is expected to emerge after the site is inspected, Gabrovo District Prosecutor Tihomir Petkov said on Wednesday. Investigators are consi»»»

MARSEILLE: Manchester City have signed Argentina international goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Marseille on a two-year deal, both clubs announced on Wednesday. The 34-year-old will serve as City’s number-two goalkeeper behind Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma. “This is an amazing opportunity for me and o»»»

LONDON: Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans ‌is ready to leave behind a disappointing end to the World Cup as he embraces life at his new club, Manchester United. Tielemans, who joined United from Aston Villa last month, captained Belgium to the quarter-finals but the 29-year-old had to pull out of »»»

ROME: AS Roma completed the signing of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning right-back Nahuel Molina from Spanish side Atletico Madrid, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday. The 28-year-old, who also featured in last month’s World Cup final when Argentina lost their crown to Spain, cost Roma a rep»»»

Budapest’s long-discussed plan to extend Metro Line 3 could finally be moving towards construction, with the city now reviewing existing plans for a new section reaching Rákospalota-Újpest. But before work can begin, around 24 properties – most of them residential – must be acquired, while the proj»»»

Israel on Wednesday carried out its first air strike in more than a week in Gaza, both sides said, breaking a relative lull as the United States pressed a peace plan. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas commander, charging that he had been planning attacks against Israeli forces operating»»»

The BG-ALERT system was activated to inform residents about an upcoming controlled disposal of ammunition at the EMCO plant in the village of Belitsa, Tryavna Municipality. The alert was issued by the governor of Gabrovo Region. This is the second activation of the system. The first took place on M»»»

GAZA: Israel on Wednesday carried out its first air strike in more than a week in Gaza, both sides said, breaking a relative lull as the United States pressed a peace plan.The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas commander, charging that he had been planning attacks against Israeli forces oper»»»

Analysts are increasingly skeptical that CD Projekt will meet the PLN 2 bln cumulative net profit target under its 2023-2026 incentive program. A Strefa Inwestorów survey found that 80% of Polish and foreign gaming analysts doubt the target will be reached. After Q1 2026, the company still needs PL»»»

Dubai: An oil spill from a tanker that ran aground off Oman's coast has reportedly begun reaching the mainland, as monsoon winds obstructs containment efforts, the United Nations' maritime agency said Wednesday. An AFP investigation had earlier found that the ship had been stranded for weeks near O»»»

LONDON: Attacks and other incidents affecting healthcare services and facilities in the occupied West Bank have surged this year, placing further strain on a system already hobbled by a worsening financial crisis and shortages of staff and medical supplies. The World Health Organization recorded 98»»»

BANGKOK: The Thai government pledged Wednesday to tighten gun controls and crack down on illegal firearms after two deadly shootings near Bangkok in less than a week. The country has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia despite its fairly restrictive gun laws. The two recent shootings,»»»

PARIS: FIFA is facing a crisis of confidence and needs sweeping governance reforms, the head of players’ union FIFPRO Europe said on Wednesday, as he raised concerns about the concentration of power within world soccer’s governing body. FIFPRO Europe president David Terrier said FIFA was trapped in»»»

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday accused the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “remove Palestine” from the world’s agenda.“The aim of the Netanyahu government is to remove Palestine from the common agenda of humanity by profiting from chaos and new »»»

A Hungarian court has ordered a prison to pay HUF 8 million in compensation to a former inmate who was beaten by guards so severely that he required life-saving surgery to remove his spleen. The man was also left with permanent health damage and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Budapest C»»»

Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed more than 200 people in the west of the country. Monday's quake was the strongest to hit Colombia this century, and the search for survivors under the rubble is ongoing.  Colombia on Wednesday declare»»»

The search for survivors continues in Colombia, more than 48 hours after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country. More than 200 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 2,000 are reported missing. The new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a state of emergency, as many »»»

Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday passed an amnesty law, the first of its kind since 1991, that is expected to benefit thousands of prisoners and wanted people. The legislation is largely aimed at easing prison overcrowding but critics say it is the result of bargaining among secta»»»

Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday passed a general amnesty law reducing sentences for inmates and people detained for more than 12 years without charges in a bid to reduce prison overcrowding. The legislation was passed a day after Lebanon became the first Middle Eastern country to abolish the deat»»»

The Bulgarian government adopted its Governance Program for 2026-2030 at a meeting on August 12, setting out its priorities for the remainder of the current term and the country's longer-term development. The document is based on the election program of the ruling Progressive Bulgaria coalition and»»»

A young girl helps her mother deposit her ballot in a drop box for the 2020 general election in Los Angeles. On Tuesday, a judge expanded a block on the USPS managing who gets mail-in ballots. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge expanded a block on Presiden»»»

LONDON: A vast oil spill in the Gulf is quickly becoming one of the world’s ​worst in years after being allowed to spread almost unchecked for weeks, according to international agencies, satellite imagery and environmental groups. The slick off the coast of Oman from a grounded tanker carrying Russ»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon on Wednesday, vowing to destroy infrastructure and keep troops in a so-called “security zone” as well as in Syria and Gaza. The comments came almost two months after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-sponsored framework deal »»»

BEIRUT: Relatives of Lebanese seized by Israel during its last two wars with Hezbollah held a rally in front of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Beirut on Wednesday to demand information. Israel is estimated to have seized dozens of people in Lebanon since 2024, including Hezbollah f»»»

PoliticsEritreaEritrea: Key player in the geopolitical gamble at the HornMartina SchwikowskiAmid growing tensions and security risks at the Horn of Africa, Eritrea, with its strategically important coastal points on the Red Sea and a perceived lack of conflict, is emerging as important player in th»»»

MANILA: Filipino journalists are facing a backlash at home after joining Israel-sponsored press trips, with the main trade union saying that participation in such media tours may amount to complicity in the Israeli genocide in Palestine. The Israeli government has organized several media junkets fo»»»

BAKU: Azerbaijan’s ‌President Ilham Aliyev has said his country could supply electricity to neighboring Armenia, saying Yerevan will not be able to extend the life of its aging Metsamor nuclear power plant indefinitely. There was no immediate comment from the Armenian government on Aliyev’s proposa»»»

New York: Introducing a finder tag, an upgraded watch that checks for respiratory problems and the latest artificial intelligence superpowers in smartphones, Google on Wednesday will unveil its newest Pixel offerings. The tech giant has organized a press launch event in New York to present the Pixe»»»

LONDON: The EU said on Wednesday that it does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, reaffirming its support for Syria’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. “In line with international law and UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 497, th»»»

A person shops for groceries at an independent food market in Los Angeles on May 9, 2024. Three of six key grocery store categories notched decreases in July's Consumer Price Index by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. File Photo by Allison Dinner/EPA Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The annual rate of inflation»»»

Kuwait: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior on Wednesday foiled a terrorist plot targeting a vital facility in the country and arrested a Kuwaiti national affiliated with Daesh before executing his plan, following intensive security monitoring and surveillance. This came in a statement by the ministry»»»

The government amended and supplemented three regulatory instruments setting out rules governing relations in connection with the implementation of Bulgaria's Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), funded through the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, the government press service said on Wednesday»»»

GENEVA: Half of Afghan women now leave their homes only once or twice a month as Taliban-imposed restrictions curtail their freedom of movement and participation in public life, according to data released by UN Women on Wednesday. As the Taliban prepare to mark the fifth anniversary of their return»»»

Dubai: The regional security situation continues to shape daily life, from flight schedules and fuel prices to shipping routes through the Gulf. Here's a round-up of Wednesday's key developments and what they mean for residents, whether you're flying out tonight, tracking the markets, or simply sta»»»

LONDON: A British serial sex attacker was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in jail on Wednesday, after he was convicted of two murders and rape following an escalating spree of sexual offenses which police and prosecutors failed to stop. Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty last week of the murd»»»

Lebanon's parliament on Wednesday passed an amnesty law, the first of its kind since 1991, that is expected to benefit thousands of prisoners and wanted people. The legislation is largely aimed at easing prison overcrowding but critics say it is the result of bargaining among sectarian groups and p»»»

Kuwait: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior on Wednesday foiled a terrorist plot targeting a vital facility in the country and arrested a Kuwaiti national affiliated with Daesh before executing his plan, following intensive security monitoring and surveillance. This came in a statement by the ministry»»»