Dubai: The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has received 20,500 applications from 135 countries for its 29th edition, marking the largest international participation in the award's history. Registration for the 29th edition, corresponding to 1448H–2027, will close on Wednesday, with application»»»

Oman has suspended all powered paragliding activities across the country until further notice following a fatal accident in Salalah, according to the Oman Air Sports Committee. The decision covers all types of powered paragliding and applies to all locations licensed for the activity in the Sultana»»»

Dubai: Federal government employees in the UAE will receive specialised training in artificial intelligence, risk management, asset lifecycle planning and global asset management standards under a new programme launched by the Ministry of Finance. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf »»»

On the occasion of 19 August World Humanitarian Day, designated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2008, we once again emphasize the importance of protecting UN personnel and humanitarian aid workers and of the rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need. At»»»

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»»»

BANGKOK: Thai schools conducted ‌active shooter drills on Wednesday, as authorities moved to strengthen security measures two weeks after a 14-year-old opened ​fire at a school and killed at least eight people.At the Surasamontree School in Bangkok, students took part in a “run, hide, fight” exerci»»»

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»»»

Cairo, Egypt: The Arab League has condemned the Israeli strike on the Abu Al-Duhur airbase in Syria's Idlib province on Tuesday, describing it as a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and international law and another escalation in Israel's repeated attacks on Syria and other countries in the r»»»

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»»»

Tunis, Aug. 19 (TAP)- The weather on Wednesday is slightly cloudy, the National Institute of Meteorology (INM) said.The wind is blowing north in the north and the midland and east in the south, relatively strong near coasts and light to mderate...»»»

Monaco: Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will be released by Monaco after a series of injuries, the French club said on Wednesday. Pogba, 33, won the World Cup with France in 2018 but since serving a ban for doping has struggled to return to elite level.»»»

Islamabad, Aug. 19 (SANA) Pakistan strongly condemned Israeli attacks on Abu al-Duhur military airport in Syria’s Idlib governorate, saying they violated international law and risked further undermining regional peace and stability.In a statement posted on X, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described t»»»

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: »»»

Doha, Qatar: Panasonic and Ghamdan Trading Company (GTC) today reaffirmed their shared commitment to serving customers across Qatar with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), following a high-level meeting between the chief executives of both organizations. The agreement builds on a p»»»

Akyn (poet) Askat Zhetigen told journalists that he had no intention of asking for an apology or a presidential pardon after his conviction. «People who are guilty ask for a pardon. I am not guilty. There are no elements of a criminal offense in my case. I did not ask for either an apology or a par»»»

Dubai: UAE travellers will get another direct option to Germany from December, with Air Arabia launching daily non-stop flights between Sharjah and Frankfurt from December 15, 2026. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click hereThe new service will connect Sharj»»»

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation, hosts the Recent Advances in Primary Immunodysregulation Disorders (RAPID 2026) conference from September 25 to 27, 2026, bringing together international experts, clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to discuss the latest a»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Establishments and Authorities Security Department, represented by the Sports Security Section, organized the Second Annual Forum, “Integration of Security and Organizational Roles for the Qatar Stars League,” with the participation of representatives from various entities involved»»»

Cairo, Aug. 19 (SANA) Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy condemned Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur military airport in Syria’s Idlib governorate, calling for international action to end repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.Fahmy said the strikes represented a “flagrant violation” »»»

Damascus, Aug. 19 (SANA) The Central Bank of Syria announced the adoption of an electronic payment and transfer system to expand payment options for citizens and businesses and modernize the country’s financial infrastructure.The system was approved under Decision No. 1124, issued by the General Se»»»

Iranian Zulfiqar road-mobile, ballistic missiles are displayed during a pro-government demonstration in Tehran, Iran, on Friday, July 24, 2026. Photo by Behnam Tofighi/UPI | License Photo Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The United Arab Emirates announced it was indefinitely severing trade relations with Iran on W»»»

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»»»

DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with Ambassador of the State of Libya to the State of Qatar HE Mohammed Mustafa Al Saghir Al Lafi, on the occasion of the ambassador's departure from his post. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expre»»»

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»»»

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»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with the Ambassador of the State of Libya to the State of Qatar HE Mohammed Mustafa Al Saghir Al Lafi, on the occasion of the end of his tenure. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) has urged citizens and residents to keep its facilities and service connection equipment free from obstructions to allow field teams to carry out their duties safely and efficiently. In a social media post, Kahramaa said clear »»»

United Nations, Aug. 19 (SANA) UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province as a “very worrying violation” of Syria’s territorial integrity and airspace. Responding to a question about the strikes, Dujarr»»»

Abu Dhabi has plenty happening this week, whether you’re looking for a night of live music, something creative to do with the family, or a quieter afternoon surrounded by art and culture. From concerts on Yas Island to workshops, summer programmes and exhibitions around the city, here are nine thin»»»

DUBAI: UAE’s diplomatic adviser to the UAE president Anwar Gargash has denied claims the UAE provided financial services to Iran in a statement on X. “Some platforms targeting the UAE are circulating false information about the country, at a time when the state continues to focus its efforts on add»»»

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: 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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»

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»»»