Few families return to southern Lebanese village as part of Israel ‘pilot zones’ deal
Zawtar Al Gharbieh: Mahasen Faqih and her husband returned this week to their village in southern Lebanon, digging through the debris of their home in search of their belongings, as part of the US-brokered “pilot zones” agreement in which Israel agreed to withdraw in exchange for the disarmament of»»»
US issues new Iran sanctions targeting oil tankers
The Trump administration has issued another round of Iran-related sanctions targeting eight tankers and 10 entities, according to a notice posted on the US Treasury Department’s website. The sanctions are the latest in a series of “maximum pressure” measures Washington has imposed on Iran’s oil tra»»»
UAE offers rewards worth over AED3,000 to residents who invite family and friends to visit Dubai
Residents in the UAE can now earn rewards worth more than AED3,000 by simply inviting family members and friends from overseas to visit Dubai under a new tourism initiative launched by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Called "A Dubai Invite," the programme encourages UAE residents»»»
Ashghal president inspects 14 schools construction project, praises PPP model
Doha: President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) HE Eng. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Meer said that Ashghal is committed to delivering more projects using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This came during His Excellency's visit to inspect the project of constructing 14 new schools, »»»
Peru takes ultraconservative turn as Fujimori becomes president
Peru's new president Keiko Fujimori was sworn in on July 28, taking her oath of office before the country's Congress. The conservative leader now becomes the Andean nation's 9th chief executive in just 10 years - her electoral victory, an extremely narrow one - with just 50,000 votes separating her»»»
Public executions in Iran spark anti-regime protests
The Islamic Republic publicly executed two Iranian protesters in Isfahan at dawn on July 28. Several hundred people gathered near a stage set up in the city’s Alikhani Square, but instead of cheering the execution, they chanted slogans against the police, prompting anti-riot units to disperse the c»»»
Cats, dogs and horses: Rescuing the pets caught in France’s wildfires
Raging wildfires four times the size of Paris have forced thousands to evacuate their homes in the fire-ravaged region of Gironde in southwestern France. Many of the evacuees were forced to leave their pets behind amid the ensuing chaos. Our special correspondent in Gironde reports on the volunteer»»»
Qatar Toy Festival 2026 extended until August 4
DOHA: Qatar Calendar has announced the extension of the Qatar Toy Festival 2026, held in collaboration with Spacetoon Group, until August 4, giving families and children more time to enjoy the festival. A statement issued by Qatar Tourism confirmed that the festival, taking place at the Doha Exhibi»»»
Oman oil price rises
Muscat: The official price of Oman crude oil for September delivery rose on Wednesday by USD 2.56 to USD 79.60 per barrel, compared to Tuesday's price of USD 77.04. The monthly average price for Oman crude oil for July delivery stood at USD 102 pb, marking a drop of USD 2.73 from the June delivery »»»
Katara concludes 2026 summer camps with 190 children taking part
Doha: Qatar's Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) has concluded its 2026 summer camps after weeks of cultural, artistic and scientific activities involving nearly 190 children from different age groups. Held from July 5 to 29, the program featured 11 specialized camps across Katara facilities, off»»»
Wildfires rage near Turkiye’s tourist beaches
ISTANBUL: Turkish firefighters on Wednesday battled wildfires near the country’s southern tourist beaches that have forced the evacuation of hundreds of people, authorities said. Hundreds of firefighters went up against the biggest fire in Mugla province, with more than 20 planes and helicopters bo»»»
Israeli settlers cut down citrus trees in West Bank, residents say
LONDON: Israeli settlers cut down more than 20 lemon and orange trees in Wadi Qana near Deir Istiya, northwest of Salfit in the central West Bank, local sources said. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that dozens of settlers entered the area and uprooted trees belonging to resident Salah Yo»»»
UAE condemns renewed Iranian hostile attack on Jordan
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has condemned in the strongest terms the renewed Iranian hostile attack targeting Jordan with missiles. In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Jordan and a threat to »»»
US-Iran conflict: What UAE residents need to know tonight (July 29, 2026)
The lull did not last. After several days in which direct fighting had eased, the conflict accelerated again on Wednesday. Iran fired missiles at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed. Washington and Riyadh launched strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq. Iran's Revolution»»»
Would you rent your next iPhone? Apple launches new device leasing program
Doha, Qatar: With the rising cost of premium consumer electronics, buying a new Apple device such as an iPhone, Mac or iPad can feel like a major financial commitment. For some consumers, the price of the latest flagship smartphone can rival the cost of a used car or several months of school fees. »»»
Lenovo powers Esports World Cup 2026 as a founding partner
PARIS: The Esports Foundation and Lenovo have announced an expanded partnership, with the technology company becoming a global partner of the Esports World Cup 2026 and powering the world’s largest esports event with its high-performance Legion gaming devices. The EWC 2026 brings the world’s larges»»»
Jordan shoots down 5 missiles fired from Iran
LONDON: Jordan’s air defense systems shot down five missiles fired from Iran on Wednesday, as the conflict between Tehran and the US entered its sixth month. The Jordanian Armed Forces said the missiles were detected through the military’s surveillance and monitoring network, the Jordan News Agency»»»
Heat wave adds to European wildfire struggle; Greece may be next - UPI.com
A handout photo made available by the Fire and Rescue Departmental Service 33 shows firefighters crew battling a fire near Le Porge, in southwestern France, Wednesday, as a wildfire rages through the forest in Gironde. Photo by Benoit Vega/EPA July 29 (UPI) -- Wildfires in Spain and France have beg»»»
UAE strongly condemns renewed Iranian hostile attack on Jordan
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the renewed Iranian hostile attack targeting the brotherly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with missiles. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that this hostile attack constitutes a flagrant violation of»»»
France orders Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova to leave country over alleged Kremlin propaganda
France has ordered Russian journalist Xenia Fedorova to leave the country, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, amid accusations that she spread Kremlin propaganda through French television and radio ahead of next year's presidential election. Fedorova's lawyer said the journalist would “immedi»»»
BMW to cut up to 8,000 jobs
BusinessGermanyBMW to cut up to 8,000 jobs Isaac Holmberg with AFP, Reuters, dpaNearly half of BMW's German staff will receive a voluntary redundancy offer in the carmaker's bid to reduce staff by about 8,000 people. https://p.dw.com/p/5HxfLLast year, BMW's vehicle deliveries in China were already »»»
Syrian crews extinguish Latakia forest fire sparked by mine-clearing blast
LONDON: Syrian Civil Defense teams extinguished a large forest fire on Tuesday in Latakia province after more than 10 hours of work in what firefighters described as extremely hazardous conditions. The blaze began in the village of Kabineh during a mine-clearing operation by Syrian Defense Ministry»»»
Russia charges Telegram CEO Pavel Durov with 'promoting terrorism' - UPI.com
Telegram fouinder and CEO Pavel Durov was the target of a international warrant issued by Moscow which wants him on charges the app was used to organize terror attacks in Russia. File Photo by Nick Lubushko/Wikipedia Commons July 29 (UPI) -- Russia issued an international arrest warrant Wednesday f»»»
How this 20-year-old Emirati filmmaker is preserving the legacy of the UAE's first female teacher
Dubai: Some of the UAE's most important stories live quietly in family homes, passed down through conversations, photographs, and memories, until someone decides to preserve them. For 20-year-old Emirati filmmaker Noor Al Qasimi, that someone was her. As a third-year film student in Sharjah, she ha»»»
Qatar Toy Festival 2026 extended until 4 August
Doha: Qatar Toy Festival 2026, organised by Qatar Calendar in collaboration with Spacetoon Group, has been extended until 4 August, giving families more time to enjoy the festival. Taking place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC), the festival continues to offer an immersive experie»»»
Kyrgyzstan hit by highest number of mudslides in decades amid glacier melt
Amid the climate crisis and glacier melt, mountainous Kyrgyzstan recorded 348 mudflows in the first half of 2026, the highest total in 30-40 years. Eight people lost their lives in the local disasters. The number of mudslides is also nearly five times the roughly 70 recorded in the same period of 2»»»
Ukraine's scam call centres earn $1bn a month, study finds
Ukraine's scam call-centre industry generates as much as $1bn a month, according to a new report by the Geneva-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), which estimates that around 60,000 Ukrainians — roughly two-thirds the headcount of the country's legal banking sect»»»
Fauci invokes Fifth Amendment for Paul’s questions in Senate hearing - UPI.com
1 of 2 | Anthony Fauci is facing the Senate Homeland Security Committee in a hearing discussing COVID-19 on Wednesday and he has invoked the Fifth Amendment for Chairman Sen. Rand Paul’s questions. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- Anthony Fauci is facing the Senate Home»»»
UAE President arrives in Slovakia on working visit
Bratislava: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in the Slovak Republic on a working visit. Accompanying His Highness the President are Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed »»»
Wifaq, Qatar University launch marriage support program for newlyweds
Doha: Qatar's Family Consulting Center (Wifaq) has launched the First Year of Marriage awareness and counseling program in partnership with Qatar University (QU), targeting newly married students and promoting family well-being. The program aims to strengthen family values, enhance self-awareness a»»»
Saudi Arabia to lead GCC fixed-income maturities through 2030: Kamco Invest
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is expected to account for the largest share of fixed-income maturities in the Gulf Cooperation Council over the next five years, with $167.4 billion of bonds and sukuk due between 2026 and 2030, a new analysis showed. In its latest report, Kamco Invest said the Kingdom will le»»»
International Nuclear Science Olympiad comes to Jeddah
JEDDAH: The third edition of the International Nuclear Science Olympiad, featuring 120 students and experts from 19 countries, gets underway in Jeddah on Sunday. Established by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2024, the weeklong event promotes the peaceful use of nuclear science and techno»»»
Saudi Arabia, Italy call for maritime security in Hormuz, Red Sea, condemn West Bank settler violence
ROME: Saudi Arabia and Italy on Wednesday called for the protection of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea following a series of attacks and threats against vessels in waterways vital to global trade and energy supplies. In a joint declaration following t»»»
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian water well in West Bank’s Tubas Governorate
LONDON: Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian-owned artesian water well on Wednesday in the Tubas Governorate in the northeastern area of the West Bank, according to local officials. The well, in the Ras Al-Ahmar and Atouf area, belonged to Saleh Naji Bani Odeh, said Mutaz Bisharat, a Tubas offic»»»
Trump tells Fox: US to hit Iran ‘hard’ after Jordan base attacks
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US military will hit Iran “hard” after a missile attack against US bases in Jordan, Fox News reported.“We’ll be hitting them hard. They’re going to get a beating,” Fox’s correspondent quoted Trump as saying, adding that the US president used »»»
Trump Vows to 'Beat Effing' Out of Iran in Response to Strikes on US Air Base in Jordan
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will launch a powerful strike against Iran in response to the recent Iranian attack on an airbase in Jordan. In the early hours of Wednesday, IRNA reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired several b»»»
Al-Lith waterfront blends recreation, events and coastal charm
RIYADH: Al-Lith’s waterfront overlooking the Red Sea has become one of the Makkah Region’s leading tourism and leisure destinations, serving as a year-round attraction for residents and visitors. The waterfront features seating areas, walking paths and open recreational spaces, while hosting nation»»»
How an AFP beach snap became emblem of Europe's wildfire summer
Paris, France: AFP photo editor Maximilien Lamy was on holiday with his partner and daughter last week when he took a series of snapshots of vacationers in fire-struck southwest France with his smartphone. His instinct was to photograph, but he did not expect one of his lakeside snapshots to go aro»»»
Trump says US to hit Iran 'hard' after attack on bases in Jordan: Fox News
Washington, United States: President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US military will be hitting Iran "hard" after a missile attack against US bases in Jordan, Fox News reported. "We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating," Fox's correspondent quoted Trump as saying, adding that»»»
ADIB profit reaches Dh3.8 billion after adding 125,000 customers
Dubai: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank reported an 8% increase in first-half net profit after tax to Dh3.8 billion, supported by strong customer financing growth, higher revenue and continued expansion across its retail and wholesale businesses. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.»»»
Europe’s Militarization Brings Record Profit to EU’s Largest Shipbuilder
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Italian company Fincantieri, Europe’s largest shipbuilding group, posted record profits and orders amid the accelerated militarization of European countries, Sputnik found on Wednesday after reviewing the company's industrial plans. Fincantieri, which works closely with the defen»»»
Watch out: Budapest taxi fares to increase from Saturday
Travelling by taxi in Budapest will become more expensive from Saturday, when the latest amendment to the city’s taxi fare regulation takes effect. Higher base fare, distance and time charges approved by the city Under the new pricing, the base fare will increase from HUF 1,100 to HUF 1,300, while »»»
MOHRE completes 16 million AI-powered digital transactions in H1 2026
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) announced that it completed nearly 16 million digital transactions during the first half of this year through an intelligent, AI-powered service ecosystem, underscoring the ministry’s transformation from simply digitising procedures to b»»»
UAE motorist alert: Dubai Police warn of accident on Al Ain Street
Dubai Police has issued an alert to motorists following an accident that is currently obstructing traffic on Dubai-Al Ain Street towards Al Ain, near the exit leading to Emirates Street. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dubai Police flagged the incident under its #RoadStatus and #Accident »»»
UAE, Egypt sign deal to expand air services over next five years
Dubai: Travellers flying between the UAE and Egypt could see more flight options in the coming years after the two countries agreed to gradually expand bilateral air traffic rights over the next five years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The understanding was signed o»»»
Misr El-Gedida’s Jadinah phase 1 secures GPRS Gold Certification Arab Finance For Information Technology
Arab Finance: Misr El-Gedida has secured Gold Certification under the Green Pyramid Rating System (GPRS) for the first phase of its Jadinah development in New Heliopolis, making it the first sustainable residential project in Egypt to receive the certification, as per a disclosure. The certificatio»»»
Summer Sunset: Share your sunset photos with Gulf News
Summer evenings in the UAE often come with beautiful sunsets, filling the sky with shades of orange, pink, purple and gold. Through our new Summer Sunset campaign, Gulf News is inviting readers from across all seven emirates to share sunset photos and videos they have captured themselves. Whether i»»»
Trump says US to hit Iran 'hard' after attack on bases in Jordan
President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. military will be hitting Iran "hard" after a missile attack against U.S. bases in Jordan, Fox News reported. "We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating," Fox's correspondent quoted Trump as saying, adding that the U.S. president use»»»
Qatar's Lekhwiya joins key US explosives drill as observer
Washington: Qatar's Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) participated as an observer in the 20th edition of the Raven's Challenge explosives disposal drill in the United States. Lekhwiya's Explosives Group joined the exercise at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, to gain international expertise, exchange be»»»
Japanese population below 120 million for first time in decades
Tokyo: The number of Japanese people living in the country has fallen below 120 million for the first time in 42 years, government data showed Wednesday, as the nation confronts a low birth rate and an ageing society. As of January 1, the population of Japanese residents in Japan stood at 119.74 mi»»»