Look: India’s marble wasteland looks like a snowy mountain valley
Dubai: A vast expanse of white marble waste in Kishangarh, Rajasthan, is drawing tourists, photographers and filmmakers to a landscape that resembles a snow-covered valley. Kishangarh, one of India’s major marble-processing centres, generates huge quantities of slurry and discarded stone as marble »»»
UFC 333 to feature two title fights in Abu Dhabi in October
ABU DHABI: The Ultimate Fighting Championship, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is set to return to the UAE capital with UFC 333. The event will see UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated No. 1-ranked contender Movsar Evloev headlining »»»
IRGC General Says; ‘Israel’ Too Weak for War with Iran - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC General Says; ‘Israel’ Too Weak for War with Iran 17-08-2026 10:56 AM A senior IRGC official said that Israel is not capable of waging»»»
Can a heatwave trigger a paycheck? India is trying It
Jyoti Thakur | Daniela RivasAs deadly heat threatens livelihoods, women working in Delhi's informal sector are trying out heatwave insurance that pays out automatically when temperatures spike. https://p.dw.com/p/5ImFwAdvertisementMillions of workers in India face a growing threat from extreme heat»»»
UAE banking sector assets hit Dh5.3 trillion, profits rise 11.7% to Dh90.8 billion
Dubai: UAE banks recorded net profits of Dh90.8 billion in 2025, up 11.7% from the previous year, while the banking system’s total assets increased 17.1% to Dh5.3 trillion, according to the Central Bank of the UAE’s Financial Stability Report 2025. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf»»»
Al-Manar correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli enemy forces conduct sweep operation toward the village of Haddatha in Bint Jbeil district - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Al-Manar correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli enemy forces conduct sweep operation toward the village of Haddatha in Bint Jbeil distr»»»
Fires near Greek capital controlled after claiming two lives
Athens: Two fires on the Greek island of Salamis near Athens that claimed two lives and led to the evacuation of nearly 600 people have been largely extinguished, the fire service said Monday. "The situation is better, there is no active front," a fire department spokesman told AFP, adding that two»»»
From 97 to 123 votes: UN support grows for Syria’s right to recover the occupied Golan
Damascus, Aug. 17 (SANA) Syria has intensified diplomatic efforts to challenge attempts to alter the legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, relying on UN resolutions and growing international support for its demand that Israel withdraw to the June 4, 1967 line. Damascus has pursued the issue at»»»
Bulgaria Spends Nearly €6.5 Billion on Pensions in First Half of 2026Opinions
Bulgaria spent nearly €6.5 billion on pensions during the first half of 2026, with pension expenditure increasing by 10.2% year-on-year, according to data released by the National Social Security Institute (NSSI). Pension payments accounted for the largest share of expenditure from the state social»»»
Indonesia earthquake: Death toll rises as rescuers race to reach devastated Flores communities
Rescuers were digging through collapsed buildings and clearing landslide-blocked roads Monday as Indonesia's death toll from a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake rose to at least 54, with thousands of people still displaced across eastern Indonesia, local media reported. The earthquake struck early »»»
Oman fines labour violators OMR3.24m, deports nearly 3,000
Dubai: Oman’s Ministry of Labour imposed fines totalling OMR3.246 million and deported nearly 3,000 workers following a nationwide crackdown on labour violations, according to its latest inspection figures. The ministry said 6,707 inspection visits were carried out across Oman’s governorates as aut»»»
Netanyahu faces test of influence as Likud holds primary
DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a key test of his influence over his Likud party on Monday, as members vote in a primary to select most of the party’s candidates for the October 27 Knesset election. The vote could help determine the political direction of Likud, with several »»»
Putin’s winter campaign to freeze Ukraine into submission is already underway
Russia has begun its winter campaign to freeze Ukraine into submission early and since the end of July has been tearing into what is left of Ukraine’s power sector. Last year’s campaign only scaled up in September, hitting Ukraine's power grid in the hope of making its major cities unliveable. Temp»»»
Russia's 1H26 trade surplus rises 14% to $73.4bn on Asian demand
Russia's foreign trade surplus grew 14% to $73.4bn in the first half of 2026, with Asia now taking three quarters of everything the country buys and sells abroad. Exports rose almost 12% to $219.5bn and imports 10.8% to $146.1bn, lifting total turnover 11.4% to $365.6bn, the Federal Customs Service»»»
Nearly 13,000 displaced after deadly Indonesian quake
Mbay, Indonesia: Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia awaited aid Monday as they camped out at schools, police stations and government offices. The 7.7-magnitude quake early on Saturday killed 54 people and injured more than 100. Rescue officials have said the»»»
Saudi foreign minister receives Yemeni counterpart
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Afrah Abdulaziz Al-Zouba in Riyadh on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Faisal bin Farhan congratulated Al-Zouba on her appointment, expressi»»»
Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief signs joint executive program to support vulnerable farming families in Gaza
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed on Sunday a joint executive program with a civil society organization at KSrelief’s headquarters in Riyadh to implement a project supporting farming families in the Gaza Strip. The project will benefit 300 indiv»»»
Abu Dhabi launches Innovation Charter with 9 commitments to sustainability
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched a new Innovation Charter outlining nine commitments aimed at supporting environmental sustainability, digital transformation and the use of new technologies. Announcing the Charter through its social media platforms, EAD said the initiative aims»»»
Israel's Ben-Gvir advocates killing '30 to 40' people in Gaza nightly
An extremist Israeli lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition publicly advocated for killing "30 to 40" people in Gaza each night, comments that surfaced Sunday and were quickly shared by Palestinian media. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir made the statement while spea»»»
US Central Command chief visits aircraft carrier
The top U.S. military commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues. The Lincoln arrived in the Middle East in January and has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports. It has spent a record-se»»»
Voluntary pension funds (Pillar III) posts 40% growth in January
Voluntary pension funds (Pillar III) had assets worth 8.8 billion lei at the end of June 2026, up 40% compared with the level recorded in the same period of the previous year, according to a report by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF).'Most investments were made locally (95%), with the majo»»»
Moody’s Reaffirms Banca Transilvania’s Strong Financial Profile
Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed Banca Transilvania’s deposit and issuer ratings, maintaining the bank’s ratings at Baa1/P-2 and Baa2/P-2, respectively. The agency also maintained the bank’s baseline credit assessment at ba1, as well as its counterparty ratings and ratings associated with bonds issue»»»
Shares of companies listed on BVB now available for trading through Interactive Brokers global platform
Shares of companies listed on the Regulated Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), together with BVB-listed ETFs, are available through Interactive Brokers, as of Thursday, expanding international access to Romanian listed companies for investors using the broker's global platform.This devel»»»
Balance of payments and external debt – June 2026
In January - June 2026p, the balance-of-payments current account posted a deficit of EUR 14,202 million, compared with EUR 13,555 million in the same year-ago period. The breakdown shows that the deficit on trade in goods increased by EUR 121 million, the surplus on services expanded by EUR 58 mill»»»
Agriculture Ministry Launches Nationwide Inspections of Agricultural Land, Forests
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food is launching nationwide inspections starting on Monday to check compliance with legal requirements for activities affecting agricultural land and forest areas, the Ministry said here on Monday. The inspections will cover legal compliance related to land cultivat»»»
Kushner meets Hamas chief in Egypt, to meet Netanyahu next
U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet on Monday with Israel's prime minister, who is under pressure after rejecting the new»»»
Saudi Arabia to impose 70% localization on project management roles
RIYADH: Project management directors, engineers and specialists will be among the professions subject to a 70 percent Saudization requirement in the Kingdom from Feb. 14, 2027. The move follows a decision by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in partnership with the Ministry of»»»
Russia Hits Berthing Terminal in Izmail Port - MoD
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian drones struck a berthing terminal in the Izmail port that was used to unload military cargo from ships, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The Russian armed forces continue to carry out strikes against the port infrastructure and Ukrainian naval vessels used in »»»
US Should Return to Shuttle Diplomacy on Ukraine, Ex-White House Aide Believes
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States should resume alternate negotiations with Moscow and Kiev to bring the two sides closer together on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Thomas Graham, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Senior Director for Russia on the National Security»»»
Australia’s mushroom murderer appeals conviction
SYDNEY: Australian toxic mushroom killer Erin Patterson launches an appeal Wednesday against her conviction in a triple-murder case that made headlines worldwide. The 51-year-old was found guilty last year of murdering her husband’s parents and an elderly aunt in 2023 by serving them a beef Welling»»»
Pension Expenditure Reaches Nearly EUR 6.5 Bln in First Half of 2026, Up 10.2% Year-on-Year
Pension expenditure under the State Social Security budget amounted to nearly EUR 6.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 10.2% from the same period of last year, the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) said in a press release on Monday. Pensions accounted for the largest share of total exp»»»
Ferrari Luce becomes most expensive new car ever sold at auction at $40 million
Dubai: Ferrari’s first all-electric car has sold for $40 million at a charity auction, making it the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The 2026 Ferrari Luce Tailor Made, identified as “Chassis 0”, is the »»»
Russia's Relations With Indonesia Developing Very Successfully - Putin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Relations between Moscow and Jakarta are developing very successfully and the two countries continue to work together, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday. "Dear Mr. President, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of the national holiday — the In»»»
On This Day, Aug. 17: Turkish earthquake kills thousands - UPI.com
On Aug. 17, 1999, an earthquake in a densely populated region of northwestern Turkey killed at least 17,000 people and injured about 40,000. 1 of 5 | On August 17, 1999, an earthquake in a densely populated region of northwestern Turkey killed at least 17,000 people and injured about 40,000. UPI Fi»»»
New 5.9 quake hits Indonesia's Flores region
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region early Monday, as the death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Indonesia days earlier rose to 54, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency »»»
Pakistani Prime Minister: We will continue to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to play a constructive role in ensuring the defense of our country and the region - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Pakistani Prime Minister: We will continue to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to play a constructive role in ensuring the defense of»»»
Economist: Q2 2026 economic growth show weak developments
Q 2 2026 economic growth data showed a weak development, with a decrease from the same period in 2025 of 0.4% unadjusted and a stagnation compared with the previous quarter, according to Iulian Lolea, chief economist of the Concordia Employers' Confederation."Data on economic growth in Q2 2026 show»»»
Nazare: Romania's economy entering rebalancing phase; investment main driver of economic activity
Romania's economy is showing early signs of rebalancing in the first part of 2026, with the economic contraction easing, EU-funded investment accelerating, net exports making a stronger contribution, the external deficit narrowing and inflation resuming a downward trend, interim Finance Minister Al»»»
Negrescu: Romania could record a slight economic decline in Q3 and Q4
The stagnation of the economy in the second quarter could be followed by a slight economic contraction in the third and fourth quarters of this year, while the economy could enter 2027 on a healthier footing, economic consultant Adrian Negrescu believes.According to flash data released on Friday by»»»
Balance-of-payments current account posts EUR 14,202 million deficit in H1
The balance-of-payments current account posted a deficit of EUR 14,202 million, in the period January-June 2026, compared with EUR 13,555 million in the same year-ago period, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) announced on Friday.The breakdown shows that the deficit on trade in goods increased by E»»»
GDP remains unchanged in Q2 of 2026 and falls by 0.4% compared with Q2 of 2025
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remained unchanged in real terms in Q2 of 2026 compared with Q1 of 2026, while compared with Q2 of 2025 it fell by 0.4% on the unadjusted series and by 2% on the seasonally adjusted series, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) estimated data released »»»
Government: The list of economic sectors comprising activities carried out in line with the changing seasons has been approved
The government established on Friday through decision, the list of the sectors comprising activities carried out in line with the changing seasons with a view to implementing the rules governing the employment of foreign nationals as seasonal workers. According to a press release from the Governmen»»»
Government: Memoranda of Cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to combat crime and terrorism
The government approved on Friday the signing of cooperation agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia aiming at the combating of crime and terrorism.Accordingly, according to a government press release, the Memorandum entitled ‘Conclusion of negotiations and signing of the Agreemen»»»
Romanian Navy Day celebrated Saturday in six cities; 3,500 military personnel attended Constanta ceremony
Romanian Navy Day was celebrated on Saturday in six cities, with the main events taking place in Constanta, where more than 3,500 Romanian and foreign military personnel took part in the military ceremony and the FNR 26.10 joint and interinstitutional naval exercise.Events was held in Constanta, Ma»»»
ForMin Toiu thanks Spain for presence in Romania on Enhanced Air Policing mission
Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu had a telephone conversation on Sunday with her Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares to thank Spain after a drone that entered Romanian territory in the early hours of Sunday was intercepted and shot down by a Spanish air patrol in Galati County."Earlier thi»»»
Suspect in attempted bribery of police officer detained in Kara-Suu district - | 24.KG
A 22-year-old man suspected of attempting to bribe a police officer has been detained in Kara-Suu district. The press service of the Internal Affairs Department of Osh region reported. According to police, on August 14, the man handed 40,000 soms to an investigator. The money was allegedly intended»»»
Oil rises as US-Iran peace talks stall, Hormuz shipping slows
NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Monday as fading expectations of a US-Iran peace breakthrough and slower tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reinforced geopolitical risk concerns in the market. Brent crude futures rose as much as 1 percent to $89.40 per barrel and were last trading»»»
At least 7 Hindu devotees killed in Indian temple stampede - UPI.com
Aug. 17 (UPI) -- At least seven Hindu devotees were killed Monday morning in a crowd crush at a Shiva temple in eastern India, where tens of thousands had gathered to take part in a religious observance, according to reports. The incident occurred near Ashok Dham, a famous temple dedicated to Lord »»»
UAE becomes first in world to approve new oral vitiligo drug
Dubai: Dubai: The UAE has once again positioned itself at the forefront of global healthcare innovation, becoming the first country in the world to approve an expanded use of the drug RINVOQ (upadacitinib) for treating non-segmental vitiligo, a skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose the»»»
Team Falcons crowned EWC 2026 Rocket League Champions after dominant final win
PARIS: Team Falcons have been crowned Rocket League champions at the Esports World Cup 2026, delivering a dominant 4-0 victory over Spacestation Gaming in the Grand Final to claim the title for the first time. The Saudi Arabian Club, represented by Samy “dralii” Hajji and brothers Yazeed Abdullah “»»»