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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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: 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»»»

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»»»

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 »»»

Doha, Qatar: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee today celebrate one month to go until Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, hosts the largest multi-sport event in Asia from September 19 to October 4. Bringing together more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials»»»

Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan SC have been drawn alongside Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC, Jordan’s Al Faisaly and Oman’s Al Nahda Club in Group C of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 following yesterday’s Group Stage Draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 32-team competition will begin on September 15, wit»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will open their campaign in the second edition of the FIVB U17 World Championship against Venezuela in Group A at the Aspire Zone's Women's Sports Hall today at 5pm. This will be followed by France on August 21 and Tunisia on August 23. Yesterday, the Qatar 2026 Organizing Commit»»»

Dubai: The UAE is focused on navigating regional developments and preparing for what comes next rather than being distracted by false claims, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Wednesday, dismissing reports about cancelling workers’ residency visas and provi»»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s armed forces on Wednesday warned Gulf countries against assisting the US military, saying it would be tantamount to joining American military operations. “We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military amounts to participation in the US mili»»»

TORONTO: More than 19,000 fans packed Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday to watch Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever take on the Toronto Tempo, offering another glimpse of the growing appetite for the WNBA beyond the US. For Clark, one of the biggest names in women’s basketball, it was a first visit to C»»»

The water level of the Danube has remained unchanged at Ruse, Novo Selo and Nikopol over the past 24 hours, the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River said in its latest update on navigation conditions along the Bulgarian section of the river as of August 19. At the re»»»

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Ulan Mamatkanov took part in a ceremony to hand over 12 specialized vehicles to the state enterprise Kyrgyzfarmatsiya under the Ministry of Health. Addressing healthcare sector representatives, Ulan Mamatkanov noted that protecting public he»»»

On Aug. 19, 2003, Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations' representative to Iraq, was killed in a car-bomb attack on U.N. headquarters in Iraq. 1 of 3 | United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (R) chats on July 29, 2002, with Sergio Vieira de Mello from Brazil, the new United Nations High C»»»

A group of “headscarf-wearing women and black men” got off a Hungarian-registered bus at a rest stop near the country’s western border. That was all it took for Virág Gulyás, a journalist and influencer for Mandiner, one of the Orbán regime’s flagship media outlets, to suggest that Péter Magyar had»»»

Washington: Thousands of Indians seeking US green cards could face wider scrutiny of their finances and use of public benefits under new immigration guidance taking effect on September 18. US Citizenship and Immigration Services said officers may consider housing assistance, food stamps, college fi»»»

President Joseph Aoun will head to Rome this week for talks focusing on future of the United Nations peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, whose mandate ends this year, a Lebanese official told AFP. The visit scheduled for Thursday comes after Italy and France said in June that they wanted to set up»»»

Negotiations over the new public pay law have quietly produced a major shift, with the ceiling for additional spending accepted for public-sector pay reform rising from around 8 billion lei to 12.1 billion lei, financial consultant Adrian Negrescu says."Negotiations over the new public pay law have»»»

Doha, Qatar: The QSE Index Committee has announced the results of its September 2026 quarterly review of QSE indices, with all changes taking effect on September 1, 2026. In a statement published on its website Wednesday, the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) said there would be no changes to the constitu»»»

The situation in Kyrgyzstan’s fuel and lubricants market remains tense. Stocks of fuel purchased earlier at lower prices are running out, while oil traders are having to buy new batches at significantly higher prices, the Association of Oil Traders of Kyrgyzstan said. According to the Association, »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Al Sadd, Al Gharafa and Al Shamal have been handed challenging starts to their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 campaigns after the League Stage draw was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. The three Qatari clubs will face some of the leading teams in West Asia, with A»»»

From January to June 2026, imports of meat and edible meat by-products into Kyrgyzstan reached $50,379,400 (43,841.5 tonnes in physical volume). Data from the National Statistical Committee say. What meat does Kyrgyzstan import? The bulk of imports consisted of poultry meat and by-products. During »»»

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second five-year term with 61.4% of the vote, giving him a renewed mandate to pursue an investment-led economic programme centred on sharply expanding copper production after restructuring the country's debt. The Electoral Commission of Zambia declared»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Social and Cultural Centre for the Blind (QSCCB) organised a lecture on psychological burnout, presented by Advisor to the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs (QSRSN), Dr. Tarek Al Aisawi, with the aim of raising awareness of the concept of burnout, its most pro»»»

Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s US Senate nomination has put the rising American left firmly in the spotlight ahead of November’s midterm elections. Its significance lies partly in his position on the progressive left of the Democratic Party and his alignment with »»»

Military vehicles line up at Camp Humphreys, the main U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, on Wednesday as the allies conduct the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield combined exercise. Seoul announced Wednesday the drills would be cut short following orders by U.S. President Donald Trump. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, Aug. 1»»»

William Frances Silvia, 61, was executed by the state of Florida on Tuesday evening. Photo courtesy Florida Department of Corrections/Website Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The State of Florida on Tuesday executed a 61-year-old man for murdering his estranged wife during a September 2006 cookout, marking the 13t»»»

Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, will organise the 35th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair from 13th to 18th September 2026 at the Ab»»»

Dubai: Two workers died and six others suffered severe breathing difficulties after being exposed to fumes inside a vegetable pickling tank at a factory in Egypt’s southern Minya governorate, local media reported. The accident occurred at a factory in Sheikh Alaa village when a female worker slippe»»»