Islamabad: Pakistan’s latest warning over threats to Red Sea shipping is more than a routine diplomatic statement—it signals the possible end of Islamabad’s long-standing strategic ambiguity in Middle Eastern conflicts. In a sharply worded declaration last Wednesday, Pakistan condemned Yemen’s Iran»»»

Dubai: The Philippines and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are strengthening cooperation on the medical screening of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), with plans to expand the number of accredited health facilities conducting mandatory pre-departure medical examinations for workers bound for Gul»»»

Dubai: The Foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, including attacks on healthcare facilities, civilian infrastructure and civilians, saying the actions breach internat»»»

Israeli prosecutors Thursday charged a settler for the killing of a Palestinian community leader last year in the occupied West Bank, according to an indictment filed in district court. In the document, prosecutors accuse Yinon Levi, who lives in the south of the West Bank, of reckless manslaughter»»»

Dubai: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has launched a scathing attack on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a “dangerous escalation in the centralisation of executive power” that “fundamentally rewrites the relationship between the Indian state and civil soci»»»

A total of 63 North Korean defectors reached South Korea in the first half of 2026, the Unification Ministry said Thursday. In this February 2021 photo, visitors look at ribbons wishing for Korean Unification near the DMZ in Paju. File Photo by Thomas Maresca/UPI | License Photo A total of 63 North»»»

Ukraine and Russia traded fire overnight with 4 people hurt in strikes targeting two major oil refineries in Russia while Russian attacks in the other direction killed 6 and injured dozens in Ukraine. File photo by Russian Emergencies Ministry/EPA-EFE Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Ukraine said Thursday that it h»»»

“We are confident that the institutions will do their job,” Alina Levi, Chairperson of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria Shalom, told a briefing following a meeting with Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior Lyubomir Nikolov. The meeting was held in connection with an incident inv»»»

Adwoa Tenkoramaa DomenaGhana's President John Mahama says he will push for Caribbean countries to join the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when Ghana takes over the African Union chairmanship in 2027. Supporters see a chance to deepen Africa-Caribbean trade and diaspora ties. Critics w»»»

DOHA: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt expressed their strongest condem»»»

Romania’s retail sales fell by 5.6% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, as turnover declined across food, non-food products and fuel, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics. The decrease in the unadjusted series was driven by a 7.3% declin»»»

Kyrgyzstan is considering the creation of a full-cycle fish farming cluster at Toktogul reservoir. The project includes fish farming, feed production, fish processing and the subsequent export of finished products. The project concept was discussed at the National Investment Agency during a meeting»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending rose 6.8 percent year on year to SR425 billion ($113.3 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, supported by resilient demand, stable inflation and continued non-oil economic growth, Knight Frank said. The consultancy firm’s Saudi Arabia Retail Market Overview»»»

JERUSALEM: Israeli prosecutors Thursday charged a settler for the killing of a Palestinian community leader last year in the occupied West Bank, according to an indictment filed in district court. In the document, prosecutors accuse Yinon Levi, who lives in an outpost near the city of Hebron, of re»»»

The Romanian government is preparing a legal framework that would allow the authorities to impose phased electricity consumption limits on large industrial users during severe imbalances in the national power system. A draft government decision approving Romania’s Electricity Risk Preparedness Plan»»»

Dubai: Four women have accused a British Army training college for teenagers of fostering a culture of misogyny and sexual violence, with one alleging she was raped for hours by several fellow junior soldiers when she was 17. The allegations, revealed by the BBC, have renewed scrutiny of safeguardi»»»

North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea's military said. In this January photo, people watch a news report of a North Korean missile launch at Seoul Station. File Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile t»»»

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) will encourage the consolidation of Bulgaria's water sector through new secondary legislation, to improve service quality and keep socially affordable prices. The regulator held a public consultation on a draft ordinance on incentives for water oper»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Republic of Egypt express their strongest c»»»

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov arrived in Kyrgyzstan to attend the latest meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC). He was welcomed at Issyk-Kul International Airport by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Erlis Akunbekov. The EIC meeting will be held on August »»»

Rights groups said Thursday that an Israeli attack in south Lebanon that killed reporter Amal Khalil and wounded another journalist earlier this year was an apparent "war crime". The attack took place in the village of Al-Tiri on April 22, days after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hez»»»

AMMAN: The importance of Al-Aqsa for Muslims, Christians and Jews means that Israel’s current forceful measures to maintain control of the sacred site has caused considerable strife. Ministers from Arab and Muslim nations, who held an emergency meeting in Amman recently, warned that Tel Aviv’s acti»»»

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for an emergency government response to a record-breaking heatwave. In this photo, taken Thursday, a merchant cools off with a frozen water bottle at Seoul Central Market. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae M»»»

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic met with UAE Ambassador to Belgrade Ahmed AlMenhali on Wednesday. "At the meeting they discussed possibilities for improving the provisions of the existing Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Driving Licences between Serbia and the U»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia's General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has launched a range of digital services to help visitors to the Prophet's Mosque plan their visit in advance and navigate the site more efficiently. Available through the authority's we»»»

Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, inaugurated the first phase of the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women's and Maternity Surgery Wing at Al Makassed Hospital in East Jerusalem, as part of the UAE's ongoing humanitarian support for the Palestinian healthcare sector. The project, impleme»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Airways will resume flights to Bahrain (BAH), Erbil (EBL), and Kuwait (KWI) from August 8, 2026. This is according to a social media announcement made by the airline on Thursday, August 6, 2026. Qatar Airways had on July 23 announced a temporary flight suspensions to Bahrain, Kuw»»»

The Russian Armed Forces struck fuel-energy and transport infrastructure facilities, as well as logistics centers used in the interests of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported. "Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian »»»

More than 5,000 housing transactions that were due to be completed in Romania through mortgage financing are currently frozen because the systems of the National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI) cannot be used, according to an analysis by exclusively online mortgage broker Ipotecar»»»

Dubai: Thudakkam, which fittingly translates to 'Beginning', releases in UAE cinemas this weekend. And before Mohanlal's daughter, Vismaya Mohnalal makes, her first appearance on the big screen, here's your crash course on the woman who has quietly become one of Malayalam cinema's most intriguing d»»»

Dubai: Oman's Royal Oman Police (ROP) has dismantled a transnational criminal network involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling in a joint operation with Zimbabwean authorities, rescuing a victim, arresting four suspects and seizing narcotics, Interpol said. The international police organisa»»»

The August 2 confrontation between Bulgarian and Italian teenagers in Bansko, the race ahead of the October 25 presidential election, concerns over fentanyl and key economic issues feature prominently in Bulgaria's news media on Thursday. COMMENTS ON BANSKO INCIDENT On Thursday, Prime Minister Rume»»»

Washington, USA: Google has officially announced the date on which it will begin phasing out Google Assistant on eligible devices, thus closing a chapter that has lasted for years in the use of its voice assistant, in preparation for full reliance on Gemini. According to an email the company sent t»»»

Scientists have captured new images of the sun’s surface that show turbulent, vortex-like structures in unprecedented detail - a resolution roughly equivalent to spotting a blueberry from 70 miles away. "It’s very difficult to produce such patterns, and to see them ubiquitously everywhere in the ob»»»

Ras Al Khaimah attracted Dh771.5 million in new investments during the first six months of 2026, with 967 new establishments joining the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, underscoring the emirate’s growing appeal as a regional business and investment hub. The new businesses brought 1»»»

The United States has formally requested the extradition of a Filipino pastor wanted on sex-trafficking charges, the Philippines' ambassador to Washington said on Thursday. Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God" and ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in the Ph»»»

The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE)’s Labour Claims and Advisory Centre engaged with more than 3.4 million calls in the first half of the year. This included over 1.119 million inbound calls and more than 2.3 million outbound calls, states a performance report. The figur»»»

Cairo, Egypt: Egyptian Prime Minister HE Mostafa Madbouly met with the CEO of Qatari Diar, Sheikh Hamad bin Talal Al-Thani, to discuss the latest developments in the Alam Al Roum development project on Egypt’s north coast. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the Alam Al Roum project, de»»»

Senior Lieutenant R. Saliev, deputy commander for combat training at the Ak-Saray border outpost, has been detained in Batken region. Own sources informed. According to them, the officer is suspected of assisting in the illegal smuggling of contraband goods across the state border. He was detained »»»

A 21-year-old man suspected of possessing drugs for subsequent placement in stashes was detained in Bishkek. The Department of Internal Affairs of Leninsky district reported. According to police, the arrest was made on August 5 by criminal investigation officers. During a search, the citizen P.N.,2»»»

MONTREAL - Serbian tennis player Miomir Kecmanovic has failed to qualify for the Montreal Masters third round after a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 second-round defeat to world number 29 Arthur Rinderknech of France on Wednesday evening. Rinderknech, who won after two hours and 54 minutes of play, is now 3-1»»»

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.3726 dinars for one euro on Thursday, which is a slight change relative to Wednesday, the National Bank of Serbia said. The dinar is steady against the euro m-o-m, down by 0.2 pct y-o-y and down by 0.1 pct relative»»»

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on the 60th anniversary of his accession as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, describing the UAE's Founding Father as a visionary »»»

Dubai: The UAE on Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of the accession of its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the historic milestone marked the beginning of the country's remarkable j»»»

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Thursday that its forces struck two Ukrainian cargo vessels in the Black Sea, south and east of the Odessa port, for transporting military supplies destined for Kyiv. In an official statement, the ministry confirmed that Russian armed forces are continuing thei»»»

ING Bank Romania has launched SAFEbutton, a new Home’Bank feature that allows customers to immediately block access to their accounts if they suspect fraud. Previously, customers could block their cards through the app, but had to contact the ING Call Centre to restrict account access in cases invo»»»

RIYADH: Saudi food and retail group Savola reported a 36 percent increase in 2026 first-half net profit, driven by stronger operational performance in its food processing business and resilient retail performance despite a competitive market environment. Net profit rose to SR401 million ($106.9 mil»»»

GENICHESK, Russia (Sputnik) - The Russian armed forces have carried out an airstrike destroy an underground Ukrainian military base that housed the "Magyar's* Birds" unit in the Ukraine-controlled part of the Kherson Region, a serviceman from the Russian Dnepr battlegroup told Sputnik. "Russia's ta»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has secretly created a Cuba task force to pressure the Cuban government to make the economic, political and leadership changes demanded by US President Donald Trump, The New York Times newspaper reported, citing sources. The creation of su»»»