Race to free trapped quake survivor offers hope in Colombia
Rescue workers rushed to free a survivor Friday in Colombia amid the rubble left by a powerful earthquake nearly four days earlier that killed at least 285 people and injured 4,000. Some 400 people were still missing and tens of thousands of homes were damaged, leaving many Colombians sleepin»»»
'The nightmare is over': Families reunite as Venezuela frees political prisoners
Venezuela's government freed 131 detained prisoners on Friday, as human rights groups hailed releases of some people they say were being held unjustly or for political reasons. Venezuela on Friday freed another 131 people considered to be political prisoners, in a sign of progress in talks to r»»»
'We are seeing the cracks of Israeli politics play out in the West Bank'
Palestinian residents of three houses in Qusra near Nablus in the occupied West Bank say they have been effectively cut off from food and other supplies since the siege by Israeli settlers began on Sunday. But the Israeli military has not done anything to remove the settlers. "We are seeing the cra»»»
Berri says 'massacres' prove Israel 'disregards all agreements'
Speaker Nabih Berri noted Saturday that "the two massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation aircraft in the towns of Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani, which resulted in the martyrdom of an entire family, mostly women and children, fall within the context of the ongoing genocidal war waged by the Isra»»»
11 killed in Israeli strikes on southern towns as Israel says Hezbollah acted against troops in Ali al-Taher
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south on Saturday killed seven people, including three children and two women, in the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Four people were killed and five others were meanwhile wounded in»»»
Deadly earthquake strikes Indonesia and triggers mass evacuations
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s eastern Flores island early Saturday, leaving at least 38 people dead and several others trapped beneath collapsed buildings. Emergency crews are racing to reach affected communities as landslides blocked roads and residents fled to higher »»»
Afghan women are erased from public life
Five years into Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women have been particularly affected by the government’s restrictions. They are banned from public places including parks and excluded from most jobs, while girls are barred from education beyond the age of 12. FRANCE 24’s Peter O’Brien spoke to indepen»»»
'Suffocating restrictions' shadow five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan
Five years after seizing Kabul and returning to power, the Taliban is celebrating what it calls a more secure and "free" Afghanistan. But its anniversary comes amid mounting criticism over sweeping restrictions on women and girls, economic hardship and continued international isolation. The Taliban»»»
Hear a siren in Abu Dhabi? Failing to move could cost you Dh3,000
Abu Dhabi: Drivers who fail to give way to emergency vehicles in Abu Dhabi face a fine of Dh3,000, six traffic points and the impoundment of their vehicle for 30 days, the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has said. The authority urged motorists to cooperate and move aside promptly when emergency v»»»
Watch: Three Indian expats in UAE fly Indian flag at 13,000ft in historic Guinness World Records skydive
Dubai: Three Indian expats based in the UAE have made their homeland proud, jumping out of an aircraft at 13,000 feet with the Indian tricolour to help set a new Guinness World Record for the most skydivers jumping together with national flags from a single aircraft. Jamsheer Thanalot from Kannur, »»»
Bulgaria Moves to Revive Blocked Gunpowder Plant Project
Bulgaria's government has revived a procedure that could give strategic status to a company behind an investment project to build a new gunpowder plant near Smyadovo, Shumen region. The proposal concerns Karash Invest, owned by Hristo Emilianov Gebrev, the son of arms manufacturer Emilian Gebrev, a»»»
Bulgaria Maps Out Foreign Policy Goals and Priorites Through 2030
The foreign policy program of the government of Prime Minister Rumen Radev for 2026-2030 keeps Bulgaria’s membership in the European Union and NATO as the foundation of the country’s international policy, while calling for a more active role in both organizations and a stronger defense of national »»»
UAE condemns Iranian attack on ADNOC vessel and demands full reopening of Hormuz
Abu Dhabi: The UAE has strongly condemned what it described as an aggressive Iranian attack on an ADNOC vessel while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No injuries were reported. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack constituted a flagrant violation of UN Security Cou»»»
UAE strongly condemns Iranian attack on ADNOC vessel
The UAE has strongly condemned what it described as a hostile Iranian attack on a vessel affiliated with ADNOC while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No injuries were reported. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said the attack was a clear violation of UN Security Council»»»
Heading to a match in Sharjah? Police have a message for every fan
Sharjah: Sharjah Police has highlighted its preparations to secure stadiums and sports facilities ahead of the new season, urging supporters to follow safety instructions and work with officers to ensure matches begin and end without incident. In an awareness video shared by the force, the Special »»»
Iranian Forces Brought ‘Most Heavily Armed Military’ to Its Knees: IRGC Commander
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s chief commander says that the country has brought “the most heavily armed military in the history of the world to its knees” through successful offensive and defensive operations conducted under intense fire. In a message on Saturday thanking the forces »»»
Sinking barges are already raising the Danube at Paks before reaching the riverbed
Hungary’s emergency operation to raise the Danube’s water level near the Paks Nuclear Power Plant has produced its first encouraging result, even before the two barges being sunk in the river have reached the bottom. The two 80-metre barges were positioned across the Danube as part of the emergency»»»
Qatar condemns escalation of Israeli settlers' attacks in occupied West Bank
DOHA: The State of Qatar has condemned the escalation of Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, including systematic violence against civilians, considering it a flagrant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, and an extension of the heinous crimes comm»»»
“Let diplomacy prevail”: Gargash sets out UAE response after repeated ADNOC attacks
Abu Dhabi: The repeated targeting of ADNOC vessels will not push the UAE away from a measured approach built around deterrence, diplomacy and international law, Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Saturday, following the latest attack on an ADNOC vessel in the Strait »»»
9 killed, 11 hurt in Israeli strikes on southern towns as Israel says Hezbollah acted against troops in Ali al-Taher
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south on Saturday killed seven people, including three children and two women, in the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Two people were killed and nine others were wounded in another Is»»»
Aoun says Israeli strikes send 'clear message' on negotiations
President Joseph Aoun said deadly Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday were a "clear message" on negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, ahead of the next round of U.S.-sponsored talks early next month in Rome. Aoun condemned the "ongoing Israeli attacks" on the south and "repeated v»»»
World Cup winner Ferran Torres signs for Paris Saint-Germain
Paris: Spanish international Ferran Torres, who scored the only goal in last month's World Cup final, signed for two-time Champions League winners Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona on Saturday. The 26-year-old striker cost the Ligue 1 champions a reported 50 million euros ($58 million). "Paris Sai»»»
Salam says those killed in Israeli strike on Ansar were not 'military infrastructure'
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said seven people including two women and three children killed in an Israeli strike on Saturday were not military targets, after Israel said it struck Hezbollah "infrastructure". "The seven martyrs of the Israeli strike on the village of Ansar are not 'military infrastru»»»
Qatar condemns escalating Israeli settler attacks in occupied West Bank
Doha: The State of Qatar condemned the escalating attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including systematic violence against civilians, and considered them a flagrant violation of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions, as well as an extension of the h»»»
UAE expresses solidarity with Indonesia after deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake
The United Arab Emirates has expressed its solidarity with the Republic of Indonesia over an earthquake that struck the country, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, in addition to substantial damage to property. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply»»»
Planning your weekend? Here’s when rain could fall across parts of the UAE
Dubai: Parts of the UAE could see light rain this weekend, with the best chance coming on Sunday across northern and eastern areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Saturday itself is expected to remain largely dry. Conditions will be fair to partly cloudy, becoming cloudy at times »»»
2 planes with the same flight number avoid possible disaster thanks to quick-thinking controller
A potential disaster was averted Friday when a Phoenix air traffic controller recognized two American Airlines jets mistakenly were flying the same flight number and acted quickly to avoid confusion and keep them a safe distance apart. Audio of the incident shortly after midnight Friday shows how h»»»
Nearly 5,000 inspections in July: What Dubai found at construction sites
Dubai Municipality intensified inspections of the emirate’s construction sector in July 2026, carrying out 4,992 visits to projects under construction and recording more than 1,761 engineering and technical violations. According to the municipality’s periodic bulletin on X, regulatory action was ta»»»
Vance warns US economic woes are fueling socialism’s appeal
The US Republican Party must address the economic pressures facing Americans or risk driving more young people toward socialism, Vice President J.D. Vance has said. Vance made the remarks in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, pointing to the cost of housing and education, access to well-paid j»»»
UAE state oil company says vessel attacked in Hormuz strait
Dubai, UAE: United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil giant ADNOC said Saturday one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) "confirmed that one of its vessels was attacke»»»
Qassem says Lebanon-Israel deal puts undue pressure on army
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has accused Lebanese authorities of subjecting the country's armed forces to undue pressure by implementing a framework deal agreed with Israel to end hostilities. The June trilateral framework, to which the United States is also a party, involves the disarmament »»»
7 killed in Israeli strike on Ansar as Israel says Hezbollah acted against troops in Ali al-Taher
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country's south on Saturday killed seven people, including three children and two women, in the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli army meanwhile said that the airstrike and other heav»»»
Washing your car outside? Abu Dhabi targets a common neighbourhood practice
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi City Municipality has launched a field awareness campaign to discourage motorists from washing vehicles in unauthorised areas, warning that the practice can leave water pooling on roads and pathways and affect the city’s overall appearance. The initiative is part of the municip»»»
Top 10 stories of the week: UAE holidays, visa-free travel and US-Iran conflict developments
From a personal message by Dubai's Ruler about the value of family time to a new visa offer for Indian tourists, several stories captured readers' attention this week. Other major developments included Dubai's announcement of a public holiday for the Prophet Mohammed's Birthday, new travel options »»»
Air India hydraulic fault: Second incident reported in 10 days; over 50 passengers affected
An Air India flight from Bangkok to Delhi was forced to abort its take-off after the pilots detected a hydraulic malfunction, marking the second hydraulic-related incident involving an Air India A320 in 10 days. According to an exclusive report by the New Indian Express, Flight AI2335, carrying mor»»»
Atletico sign veteran Argentinian defender Romero from Spurs
Madrid: Atletico Madrid signed 2022 World Cup winning centre-back Cristian Romero from Tottenham on Saturday for a fee reported to be 40 million euros ($46 million) including add-ons. "(Romero) signs for our club until June 30, 2031," said Atletico in a statement. The Argentina international -- who»»»
Spain boosts security in Ceuta as calls appear online for another mass border rush
CEUTA: Spain has beefed up police and military presence in its North African enclave of Ceuta amid social media messages encouraging migrants to attempt another mass border breach on Saturday, two weeks after tens of thousands rushed into the city. Soldiers in combat fatigues stood watch outside s»»»
UAE state oil company says vessel attacked in Hormuz strait
United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil giant ADNOC said Saturday one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict. Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait, a vital shipping route for global energy supp»»»
Telecom Egypt’s consolidated profits leap 46.7% YoY in H1 2026 Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: The consolidated net profits attributable to the shareholders of Telecom Egypt rose by 46.68% to EGP 15.266 billion in the first half (H1) of 2026 from EGP 10.407 billion in H1 2025, according to the financial results. The company generated operating revenues valued at EGP 59.215 bill»»»
Trump’s ‘pretty soon’ Hormuz takeover plan: What he said and Iran’s sharp response
US President Donald Trump has said the United States will declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory “pretty soon” after defeating Iran, escalating tensions over the strategically vital waterway. Speaking at a political rally in New York on Friday, Trump said the US already had “total control” of th»»»
Brad Pitt has started drinking again, the bottle doesn’t care that he’s Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt has started drinking again and this really is cause for celebration among millions of ordinary people around the world, because after all, what brings us closer to the great and famous, but our vices? I have often heard people who enjoy a glass of cognac in the morning point out that Wins»»»
Why global finance is moving closer to the Gulf
RIYADH: Global financial institutions are rapidly expanding across the Gulf as market reforms and economic transformation programs reshape the region into one of the world’s fastest-growing capital markets. The shift is particularly visible across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with wave of regional hea»»»
On This Day, Aug. 15: U.S. ship opens Panama Canal - UPI.com
On Aug.15, 1914, a U.S. ship sailed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, officially opening the Panama Canal. 1 of 3 | The SS Ancon became the first ship to transit the newly built Panama Canal on August 15, 1914. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives Aug. 15 (UPI) -- On this date in»»»
Trump says record Navy deployment in Iran operations 'not nearly long enough'
US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed concerns about the toll on sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, who have endured a record deployment of almost nine months, saying that the deployment had been “not nearly long enough”. The Lincoln has been supporting the US war»»»
How Iran war brought Abraham Lincoln close to the breaking point
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been grappling with dismal conditions for months during the US-Israeli war on Iran, amid mounting reports of severe exhaustion, supply shortages, and mental-health problems among crew members. The problems have sparked an uproar among crew members’ families and prompted »»»
Startup Wrap: Fresh capital flows into MENA gaming, fintech and AI startups
RIYADH: The latest wave of startup activity across the Middle East and North Africa spanned new funding rounds, regulatory approvals and product launches in construction technology, gaming, financial services, insurance, education and digital healthcare. Companies are directing fresh capital toward»»»
Britain Quietly Acknowledges Need for Dialogue With Russia
The reality that sanctions against Russia have failed to achieve their intended effect is increasingly creeping into the UK’s political discourse, says Dr. James C. Pearce, a cultural historian of Russia. “The need for dialogue with Russia and the fact that the sanctions have proven ineffective are»»»
Sunny Deol asks ‘Do we deserve our independence?’ as Batwara 1947 hits UAE cinemas
Dubai: If there is one actor who has become the long-enduring poster boy for patriotic cinema in Bollywood, it is Sunny Deol. For over three decades, this age-defying Indian actor has been Hindi cinema's undisputed face of unapologetic, chest-thumping nationalism. From leading Indian soldiers into »»»
Lebanon state media says Israeli strike on south kills 7
BEIRUT: Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike in the country’s south early Saturday killed seven people, the worst toll since deals in June saw a lull in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The National News Agency (NNA) said “a strike launched by enemy warplanes on a home” on the outsk»»»
Zambia resumes vote count after pause over violence
Lusaka: Zambia resumed vote counting Friday after a nationwide suspension over alleged attacks on polling staff and the theft of marked ballot papers ratcheted up tensions. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) halted the count around noon, a day after presidential and parliamentary elections an»»»