Dubai: Iran will resume sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Umrah after a six-month suspension, with 18,000 people scheduled to travel in the first phase of the programme, official Fars News Agency reported. Akbar Rezaei, deputy head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation for Hajj and Umrah af»»»

AL-MUKALLA: At least seven missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthis struck two government-controlled areas on Yemen’s Red Sea coast on Monday, as the militia continued to mourn dozens of fighters killed during its latest military escalation, local officials said. Two missiles struck Mokha seapo»»»

Nearly 10 years after the attempted referendum on Catalan independence which led to violent clashes between the public and the police, the political demands of the independence movement have not been met. ENTR travelled to Catalonia in June to meet with young people there who are continuing the fig»»»

Tunis, August 17 (TAP) — A training program destined to 100 Tunisian women entrepreneurs in e-commerce and artificial intelligence (AI) applications was launched during a recent online meeting, as part of a partnership between the Ministry of...»»»

By UPI Staff A look at the women who have served as presidents of Latin American countries, both elected and interim. This collection highlights the modern female leaders who have shaped national politics across the region in recent decades. Violeta Chamorro, Nicaragua President-elect of Nicaragua »»»

Dubai: After spending nearly six months largely out of sight, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is beginning to show what his Iran will look like. And it looks increasingly like a country preparing for a long fight. Khamenei has installed a string of veteran military and security har»»»

Russia's meat and feed exporters face a choice between two very different markets: Iran, slow and bureaucratic but predictable, and the Philippines, fast-growing but brutal on price. This is what Russia's pivot to Asia looks like at the level of an actual container. Shut out of European agricultura»»»

The EU bought €809mn of Russian liquefied natural gas in June, 57% more than a year earlier, with Belgium the single biggest buyer. That gave Russia 24.1% of the EU's LNG market by value, second only to the US on 54.3% and €1.83bn. Belgium took €268mn worth, its highest since July 2025, ahead of Fr»»»

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»»»

Russia's meat and feed exporters face a choice between two very different markets: Iran, slow and bureaucratic but predictable, and the Philippines, fast-growing but brutal on price. This is what Russia's pivot to Asia looks like at the level of an actual container. Shut out of European agricultura»»»

Five years after the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has called on Washington to reopen its embassy in Kabul and deepen diplomatic and economic engagement with the country. The appeal includes potential US investment in Afghanistan’s mineral resources an»»»

Russia's banks are earning more than ever, yet beneath the record profits lie mounting bad debts, a flight to cash and a corporate-loan pile that few in Moscow can measure. The country's largest lender, state-controlled Sberbank, posted a record IFRS net profit of RUB1.01tn ($12.6bn) in 1H26, up 19»»»

The EU bought €809mn of Russian liquefied natural gas in June, 57% more than a year earlier, with Belgium the single biggest buyer. That gave Russia 24.1% of the EU's LNG market by value, second only to the US on 54.3% and €1.83bn. Belgium took €268mn worth, its highest since July 2025, ahead of Fr»»»

Russia's meat and feed exporters face a choice between two very different markets: Iran, slow and bureaucratic but predictable, and the Philippines, fast-growing but brutal on price. This is what Russia's pivot to Asia looks like at the level of an actual container. Shut out of European agricultura»»»

Russia's main state development bank has sacked its chief economist over a speech he gave three months ago, in which he said the Russian economy would survive. Andrei Klepach, chief economist at VEB.RF for 12 years, was dismissed on August 16. VEB.RF chairman Igor Shuvalov let him go on an instruct»»»

Anxiety in Russia has climbed back to the level it reached when Vladimir Putin ordered mobilisation four years ago. Some 57% of Russians describe the situation in their country as tense and a further 13% call it critical or explosive - 70% between them, the highest since September 2022. Only 19% sa»»»

Armenian banks must now identify and freeze payments designed to slip past Western sanctions on Russia, under central bank rules that took effect on August 12. The requirements sit inside a new regulation on banks' minimum internal control standards approved by the Central Bank of Armenia. Lenders »»»

Riyadh: The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index, Tadawul All Share Index (TASI), closed lower on Monday, losing 11.62 points to settle at 10,908.06 points, with total transactions valued at SAR 4.3 billion. A total of 258 million shares were traded, with 124 companies recording price gains, while 133»»»

London: The head of Cambridge university Monday condemned a "racist feeding frenzy" prompted by plagiarism claims against black academic Jason Arday, as his supporters prepared for a London vigil after his death last week. Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest ever black professor in 2023, was fou»»»

Muscat: Omani authorities announced today that they are continuing their salvage and containment efforts for the oil spill from the vessel "CAROLINE BEZENGI", which is stranded on a rocky outcrop near Al Qibliyah Island in the Al Hallaniyat Islands archipelago in Dhofar Governorate. These efforts a»»»

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israel and the Board of Peace have agreed that the disarmament of Palestinian movement Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip must precede the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu's office said on Monday. "The prime minister and the Board of Peace held in-depth»»»

Dubai: Dubai Municipality has cracked down on tankers caught disposing of wastewater at unauthorised locations, penalising several vehicles in a fresh drive to protect the emirate's public spaces and environment. The municipality told Gulf News on Monday that multiple tankers were caught dumping wa»»»

ROME: An Italian rescue charity said on Monday it pulled 50 people to safety from a double-deck wooden boat in international waters off Libya, and recovered seven bodies. “There was nothing that could be done for seven of them. Two of them are in critical condition due to suffocation,” Emergency sa»»»

MOSCOW: A Russian court on Monday sentenced prominent opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 11 years in prison over his criticism of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine. The 63-year-old is among the very few Kremlin opponents who remained in Russia after it launched a sweeping crackdown on dissent follo»»»

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan monks have joined residents of the coastal locality of Hiriketiya in protesting the presence of Israeli tourists, whom they accuse of setting up illegal establishments and disturbing the peace near one of the country’s most famous Buddhist temples. Hiriketiya is a fishing villag»»»

Albania’s Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari has introduced Ervis Gjoshi as the new acting head of the country’s General Directorate of Fire Protection and Rescue, as authorities seek to strengthen the national response to emergencies and wildfire risks. Gjoshi takes over the leadership of the ins»»»

1 of 3 | The U.S. Supreme Court once again rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to appeal the verdict in E. Jean Carroll’s sexual abuse and defamation case on Monday. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court once again rejected President Donald Trum»»»

Dubai: James Dacombe left school as a teenager to build a technology company. Eight years later, the British entrepreneur has become Europe’s youngest self-made billionaire, after his artificial intelligence chip start-up Olix secured a $3.3 billion valuation. The 25-year-old joined the billionaire»»»

Dubai: A Canadian-bred falcon has sold for 1.3 million Saudi riyals ($346,000) at an auction north of Riyadh, making it the most expensive bird sold at this year’s event and the second-highest sale in the auction’s history. The juvenile three-quarter gyr Super White falcon, bred by Jim Wilson Falco»»»

Los Angeles, United States: Hayden Panettiere, a former child star actress who went on to play roles in the popular TV series "Heroes" and "Nashville," has died aged 36. Her father confirmed the death in a statement to ABC News. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our b»»»

Cameroon defeated tournament newcomers Malawi 3-0 in the final to win its first Women's Africa Cup of Nations title. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto added another goal. Both finalists, along with Morocco and Algeria, qualified for next year's Women's World Cup in Brazil.»»»

A ⁠Ukrainian ​missile ​strike killed six people ​and ‌wounded ⁠another ‌four, including a ⁠child, in ​Russia's border ‌Belgorod region, the ‌acting ​governor said on Monday. The assault came as Russia targeted port infrastructure in Ukraine's Izmail district in the southern region of ​Odesa ‌overni»»»

Massive wildfires are burning across Europe, from Belgium and Greece to Spain, Italy and France. Alexander Held, Senior Expert at the European Forest Institute, explains why fires are spreading into unexpected areas and whether Europe is facing a new normal. He also looks at how citizens can help p»»»

Belgium is battling its worst wildfires in over a century, with hundreds of firefighters fighting flames in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve. Germany, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands have sent reinforcements, including helicopters, as several towns are evacuated.»»»

A fire has broken out near the Lozenets quarter in Stara Zagora, the local municipality said in a press release. Dry grass and bushes are burning. Four firefighting teams from the Stara Zagora Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection have been dispatched to the scene and are workin»»»

Rabat: The State of Qatar has won 3rd place in the 20th edition of the Mohammed VI International Prize for the Memorization, Recitation, Tajweed, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran, which took place in the Moroccan capital. Held at the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams Morchidines a»»»

Doha, Qatar: Taxpayers in Qatar can apply electronically for a reduction of financial penalties through the Dhareeba tax portal, with eligible applications potentially receiving a decision within minutes, the General Tax Authority (GTA) has said. In a social media post explaining the Financial Pena»»»

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia’s capital continues to embrace visual arts outside the traditional confines of museums and display galleries, artistic installations have seamlessly woven themselves into everyday culture — appearing everywhere from the King Abdullah Financial District and metro stations to »»»

Duane "Keefe D" Davis was arrested September 29, 2023, on a single charge of murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang, in the 1996 shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur. File Photo courtesy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Aug. 17 (UPI»»»

Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi welcomed more than 3.12 million guests in the first half of 2026, reinforcing its position as one of the UAE’s most prominent religious and cultural landmarks and an increasingly important destination for international visitors. The Sheikh Zayed Gra»»»

The Abu Dhabi Centre for Hazardous Materials Management, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, organised a specialised workshop on the safe handling of hazardous materials at an industrial facility engaged in their handling and management. The workshop aimed to enhance employee»»»

Emirates NBD has launched what it says is the UAE’s first dedicated transition finance framework, creating a formal structure to help companies in high-emitting industries secure funding as they move towards lower-carbon business models. The framework is designed for corporate and institutional cli»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC Responds to Trump’s Allegations about Backchannel Talks: We Are the Arm and Voice of the Iranian People 17-08-2026 17:08 PM The Islami»»»

One of three people is on trial on Monday over an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy in the killing of Microsoft executive Jared Bridegan. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 17 (UPI) -- One of three people is on trial on Monday over an alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy in the killi»»»

Prosecutor Vladimir Nikolov from the District Prosecution Office - Pleven (Northern Bulgaria) has been nominated for election as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) from the prosecutors' quota, the SJC said on its website. Nikolov was nominated by magistrates from the Supreme Cassation P»»»

Dubai: The UAE remains open for business and commercial air travel, but the security situation around the Gulf remains tense as the United States and Iran enter another uncertain phase of their confrontation. The immediate concerns for UAE residents are air travel, shipping through the Strait of Ho»»»

Two anti-drone systems have been delivered and will now be prepared for service, the Defence Ministry said Monday, responding to a BTA inquiry. The ministry added that personnel must familiarize themselves with the equipment before it is commissioned. The systems were purchased from the US company »»»

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Medical Corporation has expanded its dental services at Al Khor Hospital and Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, increasing the number of treatment clinics to eight. The expansion has enabled the provision of a comprehensive range of specialized dental services within the North»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped 11.62 points, or 0.11 percent, on Monday, closing at 10,908.06. Trading volume totaled 258.4 million shares, while turnover reached SR4.3 billion ($1.15 billion). Market breadth was negative, with 124 stocks advancing and 133 declining. The MSC»»»

The ever-expanding radius of Russian strikes – targeting a vital steel plant in central Ukraine, drone factories in Kiev, and seaborne logistics along the Black Sea are aimed at systematically dismantling the country’s MIC, RANEPA Institute of Law & National Security expert Alexander Stepanov told »»»