LONDON: A 35-year-old Israeli tourist has been arrested in Crete on suspicion of starting a wildfire after allegedly lighting a barbecue at a rented villa despite being warned that outdoor grilling was prohibited because of high fire risk, according to Greek media reports. The man was arrested on S»»»

A 59-year-old woman has been arrested by Kerala Police for allegedly cheating job seekers with promises of lucrative employment in Oman and collecting money for visa processing and other expenses. According to media reports, police identified the accused as L.S., a resident of Vadakara in Kozhikode»»»

Doha, Qatar: Taking photos or videos of people injured or killed in accidents without legal authorisation is prohibited under Qatari law, a legal expert has said, warning that filming an accident scene out of curiosity or for social media can expose individuals to legal accountability. Khadija Al-S»»»

Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed Sunday's trading session higher by 24.34 points, or 0.24 percent, reaching 10,045.18 points. A total of 119,902,650 shares were traded during the session, with a total value of QAR 299,183,768.362 through 20,108 transactions across all sectors. The »»»

KPM Precious Metals (KPM) has set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s longest gold bar, measuring 2.12 metres, marking a milestone for Egypt’s precious metals industry. The record was officially registered under the names of KPM and its brand BTC, which specialises in gold and silver bars, »»»

Three commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz over a 72-hour period, with maritime authorities maintaining a severe threat level amid continuing regional tensions. The latest assessment from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said the attacks involved two tankers and a bu»»»

Pasto, Colombia: Holding little Salomon in his arms, Michael Ruiz recounted how he found the pet next to his sister's body among the rubble after Colombia's devastating earthquake. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck the western parts of the South American country on Monday, has killed at le»»»

Fujairah Environment Authority has seized 21 illegal fishing traps during an inspection campaign near marine reserves off Dibba Al Fujairah, as authorities step up efforts to protect marine biodiversity and fish stocks. The field campaign was conducted within three nautical miles of Dibba Al Fujair»»»

CASTEL GANDOLFO: ‌Pope Leo called on Sunday for an end to violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, ​amid a surge of attacks by militant settlers and a siege in the territory’s village of Qusra. Israeli settlers encircled houses after cutting off water and electricity, in what rights»»»

Dubai: Iraqi authorities have recovered more than $20 million in cash, 200 million Iraqi dinars, 60kg of gold and seven vehicles in the widening corruption investigation involving detained Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan Al Jumaili, the judiciary said. Investigating Judge Diaa Jaafar»»»

US-based tech billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have rekindled their friendship after falling out last year, with Musk preparing a major donation to Republicans for the midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people who accompanied the two to China. Re»»»

Rome: Four works "of extraordinary value" by Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina have been stolen from a museum in Sicily, Italy's culture ministry said Sunday. The theft, that includes three panels of the 15th century San Gregorio Polyptych, occurred late Saturday at a museum in Messina, the r»»»

MAKKAH: The highlands of Taif rank among Saudi Arabia’s most prominent natural tourist destinations, where unique mountain geography and a temperate climate combine to create an ideal environment for growing the finest fruits and seasonal flowers. The region in recent years has undergone a qualitat»»»

LONDON: Britain’s minister of state for the Middle East on Saturday condemned what he called “settler terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, after reports that Israeli settlers had surrounded at least two Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. Stephen Doughty said the violence m»»»

Dubai: The Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC Dubai), in partnership with the Consulate General of India in Dubai, celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with an evening highlighting the country’s growing global influence and its increasingly close ties with the UAE. Held at InterContin»»»

Baelen, Belgium: Crucial air support swung into action Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has mushroomed in size since breaking out two days ago in a hard-to-access nature reserve. More than 250 firefighters and emergency workers were battling to contain t»»»

Abu Dhabi City Municipality planted more than 14 million seasonal flowers and completed a series of park and green-space projects in 2025 as part of efforts to enhance quality of life and improve the city’s urban landscape. According to the municipality’s recently issued annual achievements report,»»»

The US-Iran standoff continues to affect travel, shipping and security across the Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major flashpoint. For UAE residents, the most immediate impact is likely to be felt through flight disruptions, changes to shipping routes and the wider effects on regional »»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has approved updated regulations and classification standards for accommodation facilities serving pilgrims during the Hajj season, as part of preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage. The ministry also approved a schedule of violations covering facilities desi»»»

The top US military commander in the Middle East visited the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea during a 10-day tour in the region that concluded on Saturday, US Central Command said. Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues »»»

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense said the danger has passed in Jazan Province after the National Early Warning Platform issued an emergency warning. Authorities urged residents to continue following official Civil Defense instructions and avoid gathering in affected areas or film»»»

RIYADH: The Middle East and North Africa region is projected to return to growth in 2027, expanding 8.5 percent, after a contraction this year, according to a forecast from BMI, a Fitch Solutions company. BMI expects the MENA economy to contract by 3.3 percent in 2026, a sharper decline than the 0.»»»

UAE residents travelling to India should allow extra time at the airport as enhanced security measures remain in place at several major airports until August 20. With additional screening and higher passenger volumes expected, travellers are being advised to plan ahead and avoid last-minute arrival»»»

Dhaka: Former players and fans hailed Bangladesh's first-ever Test win in Australia on Sunday as the country's biggest achievement in the five-day game, saying it could be a turning point for their cricketing ambitions. Bangladesh sealed a historic nine-wicket thrashing inside four days in Darwin, »»»

The owner of the Polish coach company whose bus crashed on Hungary’s M3 motorway has spoken about the two drivers involved, saying both were experienced employees who had worked for the company for several years. The company’s owner immediately travelled to Hungary Tadeusz Dykas, owner of Firma Tra»»»

Dubai: Saudi security authorities arrested 14,542 people for violating residency, border security and labour laws during nationwide inspection campaigns conducted over one week, the Ministry of Interior said. The arrests were made during joint field campaigns carried out by security forces and rele»»»

Dubai: Visakhapatnam’s aviation map changes dramatically from August 17, with a new airport taking over as the region’s commercial passenger gateway. The familiar VTZ code stays, but the airport behind it changes. From where to catch your flight to airport buses, fares and facilities, here’s what p»»»

Saudi Arabia has announced the formal launch of a multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as escalating hostilities with Yemen’s Houthis threaten one of the world’s most important trade routes. Thirteen countries have completed the pr»»»

Budapest: A Polish bus crashed into a ditch on a Hungarian highway early Sunday killing 12 people and leaving at least 10 with critical injuries, officials said. The coach, heading from Serbia to Poland, crashed at 01:00 am (2300 GMT Saturday) on the M3 highway near Mezokeresztes, about 140 kilomet»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for International Cooperation HE Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, met on Sunday with Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, HE Georges Bahsa Hazim. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhan»»»

Dubai is expanding its push for greener and more efficient last-mile deliveries, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launching an e-bike delivery service across 11 authorised locations. The initiative is designed for short-distance deliveries, helping reduce reliance on delivery vehicles w»»»

JEDDAH: Calligraphy is an integral part of Saudi culture, and Ibrahim Zaki, a Dubai-based multidisciplinary designer and calligrapher, says that the Kingdom has made immense efforts in recent years to preserve and promote the art form. “There is serious investment in preservation, documentation, ed»»»

Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella on Saturday called on US President Donald Trump to suspend tariffs on the South American nation as the country contiues to reel from a deadly earthquake. At least 300 people were killed in the quake that devastated the western Colombian cities of Cali a»»»

Hawaii has narrowly avoided a historic direct hit from Hurricane Lala, but torrential rain and hurricane-force winds are still causing widespread flooding, mudslides and power outages across the islands. Authorities are urging residents to shelter in place as the storm moves west and dangerous cond»»»

Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon killed at least 11 people Saturday, some of the deadliest since deals in June eased hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel's military said the strikes were in retaliation for an attack by Hezbollah on its troops in the country's south and the Iran-ba»»»

The Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo is now the second-largest on record, with more than 2,100 deaths and the virus spreading to a sixth province. Health workers are struggling to contain the rapidly growing outbreak amid community resistance, misinformation, unpaid staff strikes and threats from»»»

Passengers aboard a Vietnam-bound plane in Munich found themselves spending more time than anticipated in their seats when ‘technical difficulties’ resulted in it returning to the airport on Saturday, reported Independent.co.uk. The Boeing 787 was reportedly seen circling above the runway for more »»»

JEDDAH: Net profits of Muscat-listed insurance and takaful companies rose 5 percent to 20.9 million Omani rials ($54.3 million) in the first half, from 19.9 million rials, despite pressure on earnings from rising claims. Financial results showed improved performance by most listed companies, while »»»

Dubai: Employees in Oman cannot be dismissed for poor performance without first being told clearly where they are falling short and being given at least six months to improve, according to guidance issued by the General Federation of Oman Workers. The federation highlighted the protections under Om»»»

US President Donald Trump has shared a photo of his 2019 meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, renewing his claim that the two leaders have a good personal relationship. Trump posted the image on Truth Social on Saturday, showing the pair meeting at Panmunjom, the village on the heavily for»»»

Dubai: Kuwait has introduced sweeping new rules governing tobacco and nicotine products, banning online sales and deliveries, setting the minimum purchase age at 21 and extending smoking restrictions to electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Health Minister Dr Ahmed Al Awadhi issued Min»»»

A woman was allegedly pinned against a wall and strangled by her former partner in broad daylight near Budapest’s Lehel Square, according to a social media account shared by actor and women’s right activist Áron Molnár. Two women reportedly intervened to help the victim, who was allegedly being for»»»

Dubai: The total solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 may be over, but skywatchers will not have to wait long for the next solar spectacle. The next solar eclipse will take place on 6 February 2027, less than six months from now. It will be an annul solar eclipse, producing the distinctive “ring of fire»»»

Sharjah: Sharjah Police have honoured an Arab resident for alerting authorities after noticing suspicious behaviour, saying his vigilance helped officers take the necessary action and demonstrated the importance of public co-operation in preventing crime. The resident was recognised by Sharjah Poli»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for International Cooperation, HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met today with Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the State of Qatar HE Oliver Owcza. During the meeting, they reviewed the relations of cooperation between the two countries and ways»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has launched the Hayyoh application, a new sports loyalty platform that rewards fans for attending eligible sporting events. Through the app, fans can earn points by purchasing tickets and staying until the end of the match. “The more matches you attend, the more points you earn »»»

Dubai: UAE motorists will be able to register from Monday, August 17, for an annual road-safety initiative that offers eligible drivers the removal of four traffic points if they pledge to follow traffic laws and meet the programme’s conditions. The Ministry of Interior said its “Day Without Accide»»»

Dubai: Six months ago, the Strait of Hormuz was open, oil and gas flowed through one of the world’s most important energy corridors, and Iran did not control which ships could pass or demand tolls for their transit. Today, after nearly six months of war, restoring something close to that pre-war re»»»

Some long-distance relationships are messy. And they can get tragically messier during meet-ups. A couple found this out first-hand when the allegedly volatile husband – a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier – returned home only to claim hours later that his wife had fallen off the roof of their ho»»»

Dubai: Amanat Holdings shareholders are set to receive an interim cash dividend of Dh75 million after the healthcare and education group reported a 46% increase in first-half profit to Dh153.3 million. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The dividend represents 3% of the c»»»