World record holder Sawe withdraws from Berlin Marathon
Paris, France: World record holder Sabastian Sawe, the first man to break the mythical two-hour barrier, has pulled out of this month's Berlin Marathon because of injury, the Kenyan announced on Thursday. Berlin, which will take place on September 27, was due to be Sawe's first outing since April w»»»
Emirati Women’s Forum 2026 opens in Dubai
Dubai: Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), on Thursday opened the second edition of the Emirati Women’s Forum 2026, held as the UAE marks Emirati Women’s Day. The forum, organised by the Dubai Women Establishment (DWE)»»»
Meta’s new child safety rules: Could a midnight social media shutdown ease UAE parents’ screen-time battles?
Has the doomscrolling finally met its doom? It might just seem that the prayer of many parents has finally been answered: Meta’s landmark settlement might just signal a significant shift. Should tech companies finally shoulder more of the responsibility for protecting children? For years, the respo»»»
Abu Dhabi announces free Darb tolls and public parking for Prophet’s Birthday
Abu Dhabi will waive fees for Darb road tolls and public parking under the Mawaqif system system on Friday, August 28, to mark the Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday holiday, Q Mobility announced. Darb toll gates at Sas Al Nakhl, Al Maqta, Rabdan and Saadiyat will be free on Friday, with charges resuming »»»
No homework, less screen time: Which UAE students will benefit from 2026-27 academic year policy changes
Dubai: If your child is starting kindergarten, grade 1 or grade 2 in public schools and private schools managed by the Ministry of Education this year, there will be no homework in their school bag when the new academic year begins on August 31. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has scrapped homework»»»
Prosecution Service Brings Charges over Investigation into Lot 4 of Hemus Motorway
Charges have been brought in connection with the investigation into Lot 4 of the Hemus Motorway, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SCPO) reported on Thursday. For a considerable time, the materials relating to the pre-trial proceedings were not actually available to the supervising prosecutors an»»»
Bahrain’s non-oil economy grows 2.2% in Q1 despite regional headwinds
RIYADH: Bahrain’s non-oil economy grew 2.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, despite a contraction in overall gross domestic product amid regional disruptions, official data showed. According to a quarterly report by the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, real GDP fell 3.8 p»»»
Networked Middle East security
The Middle East is entering a new security era. For decades, the regional order was largely shaped by the United States providing a broad security umbrella; Israel preserving its qualitative edge; Iran projecting influence through long-range weapons and proxies; and Arab states relying on Washingto»»»
Baghdad municipal police chief killed, four wounded during enforcement operation
Dubai: The head of Baghdad Municipality Police in the Karkh district was killed and four others wounded on Thursday when gunfire erupted during an operation to remove illegal structures and encroachments in southern Baghdad, local sources reported. Brigadier Hisham was killed at the scene after mun»»»
Canada is bolstering its defense industry as US relations fray
As Canada moves to reduce its dependence on American military suppliers, the push is on display inside a Toronto garment factory. Hunched over sewing machines, two workers rapidly stitch together pieces of camouflage-patterned fabric and Velcro strips. In the next room, workers snip stray threads a»»»
UAE flights to Kathmandu continue to operate despite deadly Nepal-Tibet floods
Dubai: Flights from the UAE to Kathmandu are continuing to operate despite deadly flash floods and landslides across parts of Nepal and Tibet, with flydubai confirming to Gulf News that its "Nepal services are operating as scheduled." Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & BalancesThe»»»
Drones used to monitor order in Kyrgyz-Ata National Park - | 24.KG
The Osh Regional Department of Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision has organized aerial monitoring in Kyrgyz-Ata State Nature Park using specialized unmanned aerial vehicles. The drones are being used to ensure compliance with environmental legislation. Spe»»»
UAE approves new penalties framework for higher education institutions
Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), has announced the approval of the resolution regarding the regulations governing violations, penalties and administrative measures related to the Ministry’s mandates and services. The move represents a further step in com»»»
Parliament Backs Tax Code Revisions Enabling Exchange of Crypto-Asset User Data
Parliament adopted at first reading on Thursday amendments to the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code that would give tax authorities access to information on cryptocurrency users. The bill, submitted by the Council of Ministers, was approved by 136-4, with 10 abstentions. The bill transposes i»»»
Syrian industry eyes new markets, technologies at Damascus International Fair
Damascus, Aug. 27 (SANA) Syrian industrialists and businesses participating in the 63rd Damascus International Fair said the event offers opportunities to expand exports, enter new markets, build international partnerships and adopt modern technologies in the country’s industrial sector. Participan»»»
US Envoy’s Logic: Asking ‘Israel’ to Stop Bombing S. Lebanon Is Asking It to “Do Everything”
Things are becoming increasingly clear about the US green light for the Israeli enemy to press ahead with its attacks on southern Lebanon. According to US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Washington has not, so far, reached an agreement with Tel Aviv to halt its assaults. Even more strikingly, as»»»
Bulgaria Ranks Last in EU for Paid Streaming Services
Subscriptions to various paid streaming platforms are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, but interest among Bulgarian users is the lowest in the EU, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday. In 2025, nearly one in three of 32.7% of internet users in the EU had a paid subscription t»»»
Unprecedentedly Low Danube Water Levels Highlight Need for Long-Term Action on Bulgarian-Romanian Section
Unprecedentedly low water levels on the Danube are highlighting the need for long-term measures to manage the river’s Bulgarian-Romanian section and develop strategic projects eligible for European funding. This was said during a joint press conference here Thursday by Valeri Ivanov, chair of the b»»»
Qatar and NATO agree on Individually Tailored Partnership Programme
Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Defense has announced on Thursday that the State of Qatar and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have agreed to implement the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP), which will enhance political, defense, and security cooperation between Qatar and»»»
Arab stock trading volume jumps 29% in July as value falls: AMF report
RIYADH: Trading activity across Arab stock markets surged in July, with the number of shares changing hands rising almost 29 percent from the previous month even as the value of transactions declined. Trading volume climbed 28.82 percent to 261.86 billion shares in July from 203.27 billion in June,»»»
BMF GRUP acquires ENGIE Building Solutions, targets over EUR 120 million turnover in 2026
BMF GRUP, a company founded in 2011 by Romanian entrepreneurs, is acquiring ENGIE Building Solutions, a subsidiary of ENGIE Servicii, strengthening its position as a provider of integrated solutions for buildings and critical infrastructure. ENGIE Building Solutions specialises in energy services f»»»
Jordan posts trade surplus with 10 Arab countries in H1 2026 – official data
AMMAN — Jordan recorded a trade surplus with 10 countries in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) during the first half of 2026, as national exports to Arab markets continued to grow, official data showed.According to foreign trade figures released by the Department of Statistics, Jordan’s nati»»»
Abu Dhabi hunting and equestrian expo opens tomorrow
The largest edition in the history of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) will open on Friday, bringing together 2,405 companies, brands and exhibitors from 71 countries. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al D»»»
HDFC Bank faces class-action lawsuit in US, shares decline
New Delhi: Top private sector lender HDFC Bank is facing a federal securities class-action lawsuit in New York over allegations that it orchestrated a covert scheme to illegally inflate interest payouts to a state government agency by disguising them as marketing expenses. The complaint, filed in t»»»
Iran praises China for rejecting US sanctions threats
Iran has praised China for rejecting US threats to impose sanctions on countries that continue to trade with the Islamic Republic, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf saying on Wednesday that Tehran’s strategic partnership with Beijing “needs no one’s permission.” Ghalibaf welcomed Chi»»»
Glacier collapse may have caused Nepal-Tibet landslides, experts say
Experts believe a glacier collapse might have caused the catastrophic floods at the border between Nepal and Tibet that killed at least 270 people and left more than 1,000 missing. While initial reports suggested the possibility that an earthquake had triggered the collapse, the US Geological Surve»»»
How Abu Dhabi’s community events are bringing residents closer
Dubai: In a city where people from different parts of the world live side by side, community can sometimes begin with something as ordinary as a pile of clothes, a box of toys, or a collection of old games. Across Abu Dhabi, informal gatherings built around shared interests have been creating oppor»»»
Russia, US Continue Working Level Contacts on Ukrainian Settlement - Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Contacts between Russia and the United States on the Ukrainian settlement are continuing at the working level, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. "At the working level, of course, our contacts with the US continue," Peskov told reporters.Moscow has no information o»»»
Why social media harms are hard to regulate
BusinessNorth AmericaWhy social media harms are hard to regulateNik MartinMeta and other social media platforms face lawsuits alleging they foster addictive use among young people. Now regulators are struggling to rein in their engagement-driven business models. https://p.dw.com/p/5JIl5Social media»»»
US Ambassador says all Lebanese want Hezbollah disarmed
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa criticized Hezbollah on Thursday, arguing that the Lebanese people broadly agree on the necessity of disarming the group despite differing approaches. "Thus, Hezbollah must hand over its arms to the state," he said. The remarks came following a meeting with th»»»
BVB prepares launch of new growth market for SMEs and startups
The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) has approved the registration of an SME Growth Market within the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), marking an important step towards the launch of a segment aimed at small and medium-sized companies and startups seeking financing for expansion.»»»
US, Sweden Reject Bulgaria's Requests for Used Fighter Jets
Bulgaria's Air Force is facing a difficult transition period after the United States and Sweden rejected Sofia's requests for used F-16 and Gripen fighter jets, while deliveries of the country's second batch of new F-16s are expected to be delayed until mid-2030. Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov s»»»
Radev: Bulgaria Is Returning to Political Normalcy, 2027 Budget Will Be Adopted on Time
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Bulgaria was returning to a normal political cycle after years of political instability and pledged that the 2027 state budget would be adopted on schedule and provide financial stability. Speaking at the start of Thursday's government meeting, Radev called on lawmak»»»
Saudi fintech lending to industrial projects jumps 130% in H1
RIYADH: Financing provided by Saudi fintech companies to industrial projects surged 130 percent in the first half of 2026, reaching a record SR541 million ($144 million) as the government expands access to alternative funding for manufacturers. The financing rose from SR234 million in the same peri»»»
Tie the rakhi, game on: 7 UAE gaming spots for a sibling smackdown (or not) this Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is basically an annual excuse for your brother to pretend he has never annoyed you a day in his life, hand you a gift, and call it even. Cute. But this year, why not make him actually work for that rakhi? Forget the usual sweets-and-selfies routine. it's time to drag him into an aren»»»
When lakes decline, can they recover?
ClimateEuropeWhen lakes decline, can they recover?Tim SchauenbergWhile some of the world’s largest lakes are shrinking dramatically, others show that recovery is possible. https://p.dw.com/p/5JD67The Caspian Sea is under enormous pressureImage: Hossein Beris/Middle East Images/IMAGOAdvertisementSom»»»
Young jobseekers face higher competition, rising experience requirements – eJobs
Three quarters of respondents aged 18 to 24 in the latest survey conducted by eJobs Romania say that finding a job has become much harder compared with last year. This is not only due to the overall contraction in job supply, but also to the fact that, although entry-level jobs continue to represen»»»
Why social media harms are hard to regulate
BusinessNorth AmericaWhy social media harms are hard to regulateNik MartinMeta and other social media platforms face lawsuits alleging they foster addictive use among young people. Now regulators are struggling to rein in their engagement-driven business models. https://p.dw.com/p/5JIl5Social media»»»
Dubai’s shared housing law with up to Dh1m fines comes into effect: Will there be inspections, evictions now?
Dubai: Dubai's new shared housing law is now in force, and thousands of tenants across the emirate are asking the same question: does this mean the knock on the door starts now? As first reported by Gulf News, Law No. (4) of 2026, regulating the occupancy and management of shared housing, took effe»»»
Iraq security service foils drone manufacturing attempt in Baghdad
DUBAI: Iraq’s National Security Service foiled an attempt to manufacture drones inside Baghdad, the agency’s spokesman Arshad Al-Qaim said on Thursday. Speaking at a press conference, Al-Qaim said the service had also dealt with 754 cyberattacks and 2,740 accounts deemed threatening to community pe»»»
Mass brawl reported in Bishkek - | 24.KG
A mass brawl occurred in Bishkek on the night of August 26, the Internal Affairs Department of Sverdlovsky district reported. According to police, a report about the incident on Shabdan Baatyr Street, in the new warehouses area, was received at 1:08 a.m. The complainant, U.N., said that a group of »»»
What did Syria’s Kurds gain as the SDF gives up autonomy?
LONDON: The Syrian Democratic Forces once stood at the heart of an experiment that transformed the balance of power in Syria. The Kurdish-led force, backed by the US, fought Daesh and governed a de facto autonomous administration across much of northeastern Syria. At its height, it controlled rough»»»
Saudi Arabia issues red alerts for heavy rain and flash floods as temperatures hit 47°C
Dubai: Saudi Arabia issued red weather alerts for heavy rain on Thursday as thunderstorms, flash floods, hail and strong winds were forecast across several regions, while temperatures were expected to reach 47°C in parts of the Kingdom, according to the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM). In its»»»
Dubai’s new mega-airport is coming: 10 numbers reveal just how big it will be
Dubai: Al Maktoum International Airport is on track to begin operations in 2032, setting the stage for one of the biggest changes to Dubai’s aviation landscape in decades. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & BalancesThe airport, which is already operational on a smaller scale as Du»»»
PM Radev: There Are No Longer Any Untouchables, as Evidenced by Security Services Operation
There are no longer any untouchables, and the operation by the security services and the Interior Ministry in the mafia stronghold in Sofia’s Dragalevtsi district shows that this is only the beginning of the process of reaffirming the rule of law, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said Thursday at the beg»»»
Al-Ahli set up clash with Sundowns after labored win over Auckland in FIFA Intercontinental Cup
RIYADH: Head coach Marino Pusic’s stellar start to his career at Al-Ahli continued on Wednesday as the Greens secured a fourth consecutive victory of the season in all competitions. A gritty 1-0 victory over OFC Professional League champions Auckland FC earned them a place the second round of the F»»»
Parliament Approves 33% Gender Target for Directors of Listed Companies at First Reading
The National Assembly approved amendments to the Gender Equality Act at first reading on Thursday. The changes are aimed at improving the gender balance among directors of companies listed on the stock exchange. The government-sponsored bill was approved by 159 votes to nine, with one abstention. T»»»
Media Review: August 27
POLITICS In Bulgarian National Television’s (BNT’s) morning talk show, Democratic Bulgaria Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova said the opening of the new parliamentary season coincides with an assessment of the government’s first 100 days, which she described as falling short of its promise of “normali»»»
Children's kites in Gaza dismantled over Israeli threats
Some parents said children in Gaza are dismantling their kites after Israel threatened to ramp up strikes as the toys keep flying into southern Israel. In the past, kites and balloons have been set aflame and launched across the Gaza border, igniting fields and property in Israeli communities. The »»»
Iran-Oman talks on Strait of Hormuz: What we know
Iran and Oman are negotiating the opening of a temporary shipping corridor and the clearance of mines in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, which both nations border. They have yet to agree on the conditions for the waterway's reopening as the Middle East war nears the six-month mark, but talks are on»»»