AMMAN — The information and communications technology sector has grown into a $3.6 billion industry employing more than 46,000 people, underscoring its expanding role in investment, exports and the Kingdom’s broader economic modernisation drive.The figures were presented as the Information and Comm»»»

AMMAN — Jordanian and Pakistani business chambers have agreed to establish a joint business council as part of a broader push to expand bilateral trade, unlock investment opportunities and build direct partnerships between companies in the two countries.The Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and the »»»

LONDON: Israeli settler children were filmed on Saturday night harassing a Palestinian family outside their home in the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, according to a Palestinian human rights advocate. Ihab Hassan posted two videos on X that he said showed a group of settler children repeatedly t»»»

TEHRAN: ran’s military announced on Sunday that it was offering a bounty equivalent to $30,000 for killing or capturing US soldiers, with the reward doubled if carried out by a woman.Army chief Amir Hatami said the plan had been drawn up following a “large number of requests” to participate, accord»»»

Rescue workers recovered eight more bodies on Sunday following a ferry capsizing accident that occured earlier this week on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, bringing the death toll to at least 80. The search continues, as authorities fear the number of casualties could rise even further. Another eight»»»

Lala weakened to a tropical storm early Sunday. Photo courtesy of NOAA Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday morning after bringing flooding to the Hawaiian islands, killing one person, local officials said. Hawaiian Gov. Josh Green said a storm-related car crash cause»»»

August 16 marks 100 days since the government led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev took office. Parliament elected the new Council of Ministers on May 8. Opposition political forces criticized the first 100 days of the Radev Cabinet. GERB said the Cabinet must now deliver results and accept full respo»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) launched the "Back to School 2026–2027" campaign, which brings together interactive activities and booths for students and families, along with training workshops aimed at preparing teachers, school leaders, and the educational com»»»

Ukraine has begun combat-testing jet-powered interceptor drones fast enough to run down Russia's new deadly class of Geran-4 drones that can evade even the best of Ukraine’s new class of interceptor drone, as the drones arms race between the two adversaries continues to unfold. Ukraine’s new drones»»»

Hungary’s long spell of hot, settled weather is set to end on Monday as a cold front moves into the Carpathian Basin, bringing showers, thunderstorms, strong winds and cooler temperatures. According to HungaroMet, atmospheric activity has already increased to the north and west of Hungary. The asso»»»

MANILA: Malou Elsa Bacay used to leave Manila every week to visit her mother in the province, but since the Iran war dealt a blow to the Philippine economy, such trips can take place only once a month. The Philippines is highly dependent on imported fuel, so disruption to supplies from Gulf countri»»»

LONDON: A 35-year-old Israeli tourist has been arrested in Crete on suspicion of starting a wildfire after allegedly lighting a barbecue at a rented villa despite being warned that outdoor grilling was prohibited because of high fire risk, according to Greek media reports. The man was arrested on S»»»

A 59-year-old woman has been arrested by Kerala Police for allegedly cheating job seekers with promises of lucrative employment in Oman and collecting money for visa processing and other expenses. According to media reports, police identified the accused as L.S., a resident of Vadakara in Kozhikode»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Armed Forces struck a cargo ship carrying western military supplies to Ukraine in the Black Sea east of Odessa, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "A cargo ship delivering Western weapons to Ukraine was hit in the Black Sea east of Odessa," the statement rea»»»

Doha, Qatar: Taking photos or videos of people injured or killed in accidents without legal authorisation is prohibited under Qatari law, a legal expert has said, warning that filming an accident scene out of curiosity or for social media can expose individuals to legal accountability. Khadija Al-S»»»

KPM Precious Metals (KPM) has set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s longest gold bar, measuring 2.12 metres, marking a milestone for Egypt’s precious metals industry. The record was officially registered under the names of KPM and its brand BTC, which specialises in gold and silver bars, »»»

The Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is operating according to schedule, with additional measures taken in response to the unprecedentedly low level of the Danube, the Energy Ministry said on Sunday. The Ministry said that all technical and organizational measures continue to be implemented, whil»»»

JERUSALEM: 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»»»

A Spanish F-18 jet flies over the military base of Torrejon de Ardoz in Madrid, Spain, on August 24, 2021. On Sunday, two Spanish jets as part of NATO shot down a drone that entered Romanian airspace without authorization. File Photo by Mariscal/EPA Aug. 16 (UPI) -- NATO fighter jets shot down a dr»»»

Three commercial vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz over a 72-hour period, with maritime authorities maintaining a severe threat level amid continuing regional tensions. The latest assessment from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said the attacks involved two tankers and a bu»»»

Fujairah Environment Authority has seized 21 illegal fishing traps during an inspection campaign near marine reserves off Dibba Al Fujairah, as authorities step up efforts to protect marine biodiversity and fish stocks. The field campaign was conducted within three nautical miles of Dibba Al Fujair»»»

CASTEL GANDOLFO: ‌Pope Leo called on Sunday for an end to violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, ​amid a surge of attacks by militant settlers and a siege in the territory’s village of Qusra. Israeli settlers encircled houses after cutting off water and electricity, in what rights»»»

Dubai: Iraqi authorities have recovered more than $20 million in cash, 200 million Iraqi dinars, 60kg of gold and seven vehicles in the widening corruption investigation involving detained Deputy Oil Minister for Refining Affairs Adnan Al Jumaili, the judiciary said. Investigating Judge Diaa Jaafar»»»

US-based tech billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have rekindled their friendship after falling out last year, with Musk preparing a major donation to Republicans for the midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people who accompanied the two to China. Re»»»

Rome: Four works "of extraordinary value" by Renaissance artist Antonello da Messina have been stolen from a museum in Sicily, Italy's culture ministry said Sunday. The theft, that includes three panels of the 15th century San Gregorio Polyptych, occurred late Saturday at a museum in Messina, the r»»»

MAKKAH: The highlands of Taif rank among Saudi Arabia’s most prominent natural tourist destinations, where unique mountain geography and a temperate climate combine to create an ideal environment for growing the finest fruits and seasonal flowers. The region in recent years has undergone a qualitat»»»

LONDON: Britain’s minister of state for the Middle East on Saturday condemned what he called “settler terrorism” in the occupied West Bank, after reports that Israeli settlers had surrounded at least two Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus. Stephen Doughty said the violence m»»»

August 16 marks 100 days since the government led by Prime Minister Rumen Radev took office, with GERB saying the Cabinet must now deliver results and accept full responsibility for its policies, Democratic Bulgaria (DB) describing the first 100 days as a period of taking over a failed governance m»»»

RIYADH: A Canadian-bred Super White mottled gyrfalcon chick fetched SR1.3 million ($346,600) on Saturday at the sixth International Falcon Breeders Auction in Malham, becoming the event’s highest-priced bird of 2026 and the second-biggest sale in the auction’s history. Two falcons from the Canadian»»»

Dubai: The Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC Dubai), in partnership with the Consulate General of India in Dubai, celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day with an evening highlighting the country’s growing global influence and its increasingly close ties with the UAE. Held at InterContin»»»

Dubai: It began with a post from an X account in India. Within hours, a fabricated quotation attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commander had travelled through Israeli social media and television, entered a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and crossed the Atlantic to US politician»»»

Baelen, Belgium: Crucial air support swung into action Sunday to help firefighters tame Belgium's largest modern-day wildfire, which has mushroomed in size since breaking out two days ago in a hard-to-access nature reserve. More than 250 firefighters and emergency workers were battling to contain t»»»

RIYADH: King Abdulaziz University, in partnership with the Transport General Authority, has launched Saudi Arabia’s first specialized bachelor’s degree programs in railway transport, aiming to prepare national talent for the Kingdom’s expanding rail and logistics sector. The official launch took pl»»»

Abu Dhabi City Municipality planted more than 14 million seasonal flowers and completed a series of park and green-space projects in 2025 as part of efforts to enhance quality of life and improve the city’s urban landscape. According to the municipality’s recently issued annual achievements report,»»»

The US-Iran standoff continues to affect travel, shipping and security across the Gulf, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a major flashpoint. For UAE residents, the most immediate impact is likely to be felt through flight disruptions, changes to shipping routes and the wider effects on regional »»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has approved updated regulations and classification standards for accommodation facilities serving pilgrims during the Hajj season, as part of preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage. The ministry also approved a schedule of violations covering facilities desi»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Sunday, gaining 96.08 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 10,919.68. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR3.4 billion ($907 million), as 186 stocks advanced and 74 retreated. Meanwhile, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu los»»»

The top US military commander in the Middle East visited the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea during a 10-day tour in the region that concluded on Saturday, US Central Command said. Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln in the Arabian Sea as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues »»»

Tunis, Aug. 16 (TAP)- The International Silk Road Caravan completed in Mangolia its 6,000-kilometer transcontinental journey across seven countries after departing from Turkey (May 13, 2026) and travelling across Russia, Central Asia, and China.This...»»»

Damascus, Aug. 16 (SANA) The resumption of direct flights between Moscow and Damascus will strengthen cooperation between Syria and Russia and expand exchanges in business, science and culture, Russian Chargé d’Affaires in Damascus Zaur Guseinov said Sunday. Speaking following the arrival of the fi»»»

UAE residents travelling to India should allow extra time at the airport as enhanced security measures remain in place at several major airports until August 20. With additional screening and higher passenger volumes expected, travellers are being advised to plan ahead and avoid last-minute arrival»»»

Dhaka: Former players and fans hailed Bangladesh's first-ever Test win in Australia on Sunday as the country's biggest achievement in the five-day game, saying it could be a turning point for their cricketing ambitions. Bangladesh sealed a historic nine-wicket thrashing inside four days in Darwin, »»»

Banker-turned Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Andrii Onistrat’s call for Ukrainians to stockpile two months-worth of food and other essentials ahead of a possible total loss of electricity and heating capacity is meant as a “signal” to Kiev’s sponsors to pony up more cash, says political analyst Ale»»»

Dubai: Pakistan is racing to begin work on a $2.5 billion upgrade of one of its most critical railway corridors by January 2027, a project designed to allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 160km/h and improve a route carrying almost all of the country’s rail freight. The first phase of the long»»»

Bucharest: A Spanish fighter jet on Sunday shot down a drone that had breached Romanian airspace near the border with Ukraine and Moldova, national authorities and NATO said. A growing number of drones have crossed into NATO states in eastern Europe as Russia pursues its invasion of Ukraine. The in»»»

Dubai: Saudi security authorities arrested 14,542 people for violating residency, border security and labour laws during nationwide inspection campaigns conducted over one week, the Ministry of Interior said. The arrests were made during joint field campaigns carried out by security forces and rele»»»

Dubai: Visakhapatnam’s aviation map changes dramatically from August 17, with a new airport taking over as the region’s commercial passenger gateway. The familiar VTZ code stays, but the airport behind it changes. From where to catch your flight to airport buses, fares and facilities, here’s what p»»»

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stressed on Sunday that the Islamic Republic triumphed militarily and politically against the United States and ‘Israel’. In remarks cited by Iranian media, Ghalibaf declared that Iran successfully thwarted the primary military objectives of its ad»»»

Saudi Arabia has announced the formal launch of a multinational maritime defense coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as escalating hostilities with Yemen’s Houthis threaten one of the world’s most important trade routes. Thirteen countries have completed the pr»»»

Budapest: A Polish bus crashed into a ditch on a Hungarian highway early Sunday killing 12 people and leaving at least 10 with critical injuries, officials said. The coach, heading from Serbia to Poland, crashed at 01:00 am (2300 GMT Saturday) on the M3 highway near Mezokeresztes, about 140 kilomet»»»