At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush
Ceuta, Spain: At least 72 people died during last week's mass influx of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave, when tens of thousands of people mostly swam around the border post from Morocco, local officials said on Sunday. Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain's north African te»»»
New partnership to scale Saudi Arabia’s jazz scene ahead of October festival
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has announced a strategic partnership with the Jazz in Jeddah platform, an initiative organized by Call of Culture to boost private-sector collaboration and accelerate the growth of the Kingdom’s music sector. The partnership builds on a previously signed mem»»»
Five dead, 41 missing in Indonesia ferry fire
Surabaya, Indonesia: An Indonesian ferry caught fire at sea on Sunday, killing five people and leaving another 41 missing after some jumped overboard, search and rescue officials said. A total of 225 people on the vessel were rescued, said the regional Surabaya Search and Rescue Agency, which provi»»»
Rescuers recover climber Nirmal Purja's body: Alpine Club of Pakistan
Skardu, Pakistan: Rescuers have recovered the body of renowned climber Nirmal Purja, who was killed along with nine team members in a powerful avalanche in northern Pakistan this week, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said on Sunday. "The ground rescue team has reached Nims Dai (Purja) at approximately »»»
Germany has reached a new low in election rigging
Today’s Germany is a grim, unhappy place. Thirty-six years after West Germany’s take-over of the former East Germany (polite term: re-unification), which was supposed to herald a golden age of national fulfilment, citizens are in a very foul mood. According to Ipsos, one of Germany’s go-to pollster»»»
No spontaneous combustion? Regarding the causes of the Ceuta migrant surge, look who’s gloating
The recent burst of illegal migration into Spain’s Moroccan exclave of Ceuta was, above all, a sensational media event produced for political effect. It will have lasting consequences, but not in terms of who ended up where: Of the about 50,000 migrants who suddenly, as if on command, stormed Ceuta»»»
Saudi Arabia opens August ‘Sah’ sukuk with 4.7% annual return
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has opened subscriptions for its August “Sah” savings sukuk, offering a fixed annual return of 4.70 percent, up from 4.60 percent in the previous month’s issuance. The subscription window opened at 10 a.m. Saudi time on Aug. 2 and will close at 3 p.m. on Aug. 4, according to th»»»
Planning to stay longer? Kuwait now charges KD150 to convert visit visas
Kuwait: Kuwait has introduced a KD150 fee for converting visit visas into regular residency permits, under amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners Residence Law aimed at updating the country's residency procedures. The changes were published in Sunday's edition of the official gaz»»»
Motor Show 2026 exhibitors target expansion in Syrian market
Damascus, Aug. 2 (SANA) Companies participating in Motor Show 2026 in Damascus said the exhibition has provided an opportunity to showcase the latest automotive technologies, strengthen business partnerships and expand their presence in the Syrian market. Representatives of local and international »»»
Oman issues $949m in tenders as project awards reach $1.9bn
RIYADH: Oman awarded projects worth 734 million Omani rials ($1.9 billion) and issued new tenders valued at 365 million rials in the first seven months of 2026, as the sultanate stepped up infrastructure and public service investment. The Public Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content sai»»»
Pakistan: Governance reform essential for security, says DG ISPR
Pakistan’s battle against terrorism cannot be won through security operations alone, with the country’s military leadership warning that weak governance remains a central challenge threatening national stability and security, said military spokesperson. Director General Inter-Services Public Relati»»»
GERB Leader Borissov: GERB to Discuss Presidential Election in September
GERB will discuss the presidential election in September, party leader Boyko Borissov said on Sunday during the party's New Minds Political Academy. He was responding to a journalist's question about a comment by Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Ivaylo Mirchev that GERB and the right-wing parties woul»»»
How AI helped ADNOC drill 6,428 feet in just 24 hours and set a new benchmark
Abu Dhabi: ADNOC has established a new well delivery performance standard, routinely drilling well sections exceeding one mile in length within a single day in some of the UAE’s most complex carbonate rocks, including 6,428 feet drilled in 24 hours. The achievement reflects ADNOC’s commitment to op»»»
OPEC+ expected to approve final output increase before pausing further hikes
London, Aug. 2 (SANA) OPEC+ is expected to approve a production increase of about 188,000 barrels per day from September before pausing further output hikes, according to sources, completing the reversal of the alliance’s voluntary production cuts agreed in 2023. Reuters, citing sources familiar wi»»»
Death Toll Rises as Ceuta Migrant Crisis Deepens
The death toll among migrants trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco has reached 90, according to Spanish media reports citing sources. Spanish authorities have recovered 74 bodies, while Moroccan officials have retrieved 16 others.The crisis erupted in late July, when Ceuta expe»»»
EU risks missing digital jobs target by five million, despite rapid tech growth
The EU is on course to miss its flagship Digital Decade target of employing 20 million information and communications technology (ICT) specialists by 2030, according to a new Eurofound report. Missing the target by around five million workers raises questions whether Brussels is doing enough to tac»»»
FEDCOC Head urges businesses to join new licensing system
Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC) Ahmed al-Wakil described the new public shop licensing system as a “historic opportunity” to integrate informal businesses into the formal economy, urging traders and business owners to take advantage of government incentives to r»»»
Major UAE tax raids seize 3.6m excise goods worth Dh82m
Dubai: Joint inspection campaigns by the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and Dubai Police seized more than 3.58 million non-compliant excise goods during the first half of 2026, with tax liabilities and penalties exceeding Dh82 million. The FTA said inspectors confiscated 3,587,315 packs of excise good»»»
Russian Air Defenses Down 1,158 Drones, 6 Guided Bombs and HIMARS Missile in 24 Hours — MoD
Russian air defense forces have destroyed 1,158 fixed-wing drones and six aerial bombs over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "Air defense forces shot down six guided aerial bombs, a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system missile, and 1,158 fixed-wing unmanned ae»»»
Starting Monday: Four days of showers could affect eastern, southern and inland areas
Dubai: Rain is expected to return to parts of the UAE from Monday and continue for four consecutive days, with the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) forecasting afternoon showers over eastern and southern regions that could extend to some inland areas. The NCM said the unsettled conditions are b»»»
Tokyo and Washington took joint action to support yen: media
Tokyo: Washington and Tokyo jointly intervened to shore up the Japanese yen for the first time in nearly 30 years after the currency sank to its weakest level in decades, the Financial Times has reported. The reported intervention came after the yen slid to 163.24 per dollar last month, its weakest»»»
India's RBI revises deposit rules to protect customers
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the regulatory framework governing deposit interest rates, introducing measures aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring uniform treatment of depositors across banks. The new rules, notified on Friday, will come into effect from October 1. The»»»
Greece wildfires turn into ‘megafire’ as blazes destroy homes and forests
Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll with wildfires believed to have devastated swathes of forest and agricultural land, and the prime minister warning of "extremely difficult" days ahead. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece had faced "extreme weather conditio»»»
Péter Magyar: Paks Nuclear Power Plant to shut down completely
The penultimate generating unit at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant was taken offline at 1.30 AM on Sunday due to the continued fall in the Danube’s water level, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on his Facebook page late on Saturday night. The power plant is generating a fraction of its capacity P»»»
Hezbollah Races to Rebuild War-Torn Villages as MP Fadallah Slams State for ‘Diplomatic Victory’ Handed to America - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Hezbollah Races to Rebuild War-Torn Villages as MP Fadallah Slams State for ‘Diplomatic Victory’ Handed to America 02-08-2026 12:12 PM In a»»»
Sri Lanka deploys troops after prison riot
Colombo: Sri Lanka deployed hundreds of troops and elite commandos on Sunday to contain riots at an overcrowded prison in which one inmate was killed and six others wounded, police said. Deputy police inspector-general Sanjeewa Medawatte said the situation was under control after inmates destroyed »»»
ABC leads fresh push to bring more US investment to Pakistan
Pakistan has stepped up efforts to attract American investment, with business leaders urging US companies and the Pakistani diaspora to capitalise on emerging opportunities in key sectors as the country seeks to deepen economic ties with Washington. The push came during a high-level meeting in Kara»»»
Oil is flowing again: Iraq and Turkey sign one-year Ceyhan pipeline agreement
Dubai: Iraq and Türkiye signed a one-year agreement today to transport and load Iraqi crude oil via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to the port of Ceyhan, at a minimum rate of 750,000 barrels per day. Ministry of Oil spokesman Salim Al Rikabi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that: "the agreement represent»»»
Team Falcons’ 15-year-old prodigy Jaime ‘Craime’ Bustos claims Street Fighter 6 at Esports World Cup
PARIS: Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons have surged to the top of the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Championship standings after Chilean pro Jaime “Craime” Bustos claimed the Street Fighter 6 title. The win makes him the youngest player ever to take an EWC championship, at the age of 15 years, two months »»»
Egypt growth outlook cut to 5% as inflation delays rate cuts: BMI
RIYADH: Egypt’s economy is expected to grow 5 percent in fiscal 2026/27, while inflation is forecast to average 14.4 percent this year, delaying interest rate cuts until 2027, a new analysis showed. BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, lowered its fiscal 2026/27 growth forecast from 5.2 percent, citing »»»
Canada travel chaos: WestJet strike cancels over 300 flights
Flight attendants with WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, went on strike Sunday in a dispute over pay. The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents the 4,400 cabin crew at the airline. It announced the strike on its Facebook page but did not provide further details. The company had canc»»»
The conversations leaders cannot afford to avoid
I’ve worked in leadership for over 40 years and if there is one lesson that endures, it is this: most leadership failures are not failures of systems, but of conversation — things left unsaid until they become heavier than they needed to be. Giving honest feedback is never easy. It must be polite a»»»
Driving in Sharjah? Here's how new traffic diversions are keeping the city moving
Sharjah: Sharjah has rolled out a series of major traffic diversions across the emirate as it presses ahead with an ambitious programme of road, bridge and tunnel construction, with authorities saying the measures have helped maintain traffic flow despite large-scale infrastructure works. The Sharj»»»
President Signs Into Law U.S.-Backed $302 Million Military Financing Agreement
Albanian President Bajram Begaj has signed into law the ratification of a loan agreement between Albania and the United States under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, paving the way for the legislation to take immediate effect. Through the presidential decree, Begaj also approved the la»»»
US President suspends strikes against Iran, conditional on reaching a deal
Washington: US President Donald Trump announced early Sunday that he had suspended the planned US-Israeli strikes against Iran, following a request from Tehran and other countries in the Middle East, on the condition that a rapid agreement be reached. In a post on the Truth Social, Trump wrote that»»»
A dispute over a job transfer ends in tragedy: School principal fatally stabbed by guard
Cairo: A school principal was fatally stabbed inside a school in southern Cairo after an apparent workplace dispute escalated into violence, Egyptian authorities said, with prosecutors opening an investigation into the killing. Initial investigations indicate that the suspect, a school security gua»»»
South Korea records its highest-ever temperature of 42.5C
Seoul: South Korea registered its highest temperature since records began more than a century ago on Sunday, as authorities warned people to "immediately" stop all outdoor activities in affected areas. The southeastern city of Yangsan saw the temperature reach 42.5C at 1:26 pm (0426 GMT), the Korea»»»
Fire toll mounts in Greece as blazes spread
Porto Germeno, Greece: Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll after a week of wildfires devastated over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land, experts said. The National Observatory's climate tracker meteo.gr said early estimates indicated that over 6,500 hectare»»»
Fire toll mounts in Greece as blazes spread
ATHENS: Greece on Sunday faced multiple fronts and a growing damage toll after a week of wildfires devastated over 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land, experts said. The National Observatory’s climate tracker meteo.gr said over 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) had been burned in separate f»»»
UN says Israeli demolitions in Lebanon 'deeply concerning'
The United Nations has expressed concern over Israel's ongoing demolitions in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah. "The scale of the detonations and demolitions taking place in south Lebanon is deeply concerning, with a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure, cultu»»»
Analysts: Saudi-US nuclear deal offers strategic gains for both sides
RIYADH: The civil nuclear cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and the US is expected to usher in a new phase of economic and technological partnership that extends well beyond the construction of nuclear reactors and electricity generation, encompassing the localization of high-value industr»»»
Putin Honors Russian Paratroopers on Airborne Forces Day
President Vladimir Putin has extended his congratulations to Russia's airborne troops on their professional holiday, praising their fortitude and dedication. "They are people of strong character, unbreakable spirit, and brotherly unity – always standing by each other," Putin stated.He emphasized th»»»
Planning a trip? Oman has launched a free 14-day tourist visa for eligible travellers
Muscat: Oman has introduced a free 14-day tourist visa for nationals of selected countries under amendments to the executive regulations of the Foreigners' Residence Law, in a move aimed at facilitating short-term visits and boosting tourism. The changes were introduced under Royal Oman Police Deci»»»
Hotter than July? Here's what the UAE can expect this August
Dubai: August is expected to bring another month of intense summer weather across the UAE, with high temperatures, rising humidity and the continued likelihood of afternoon convective clouds and rainfall in some areas, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM). The NCM said August repre»»»
Up to 100 meteors an hour in UAE: Why Perseids 2026 meteor shower is unlike any other
Dubai: UAE skywatchers are in for a treat this month, as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of August 12-13, bringing up to 100 meteors an hour blazing across the desert sky, according to the Dubai Astronomy Group. This year's display arrives with a bonus: it also falls on a ne»»»
Israel says killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Saturday that it killed several Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon and that an Israeli soldier was injured there despite a ceasefire. The military said it identified several Hezbollah fighters overnight inside what Israel has labelled a "security zone" in southern L»»»
Spain installs floating barrier in Ceuta after migration influx
The Spanish authorities said on Saturday that they were installing a floating barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco, after a surge of tens of thousands of migrants into the territory earlier in the week prompted alarm across t»»»
Trump says he canceled planned Iran strike pending rapid agreement
Washington, Aug. 2 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had canceled a military strike planned against Iran later this week after receiving requests from Tehran and several Middle Eastern countries to delay military action, saying the decision was contingent on the swift conclu»»»
Israeli strikes kill eight in Gaza overnight
Overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza hit multiple residential buildings and killed at least eight people, authorities said Sunday, despite Hamas saying it agreed to the latest stage of a deal to end the war. Hamas said Friday it had agreed to a plan championed by U.S. President Donald Trump that inclu»»»
Sarabia hails Qatar Stars League’s steady rise
Doha, Qatar: Al Arabi star Pablo Sarabia believes the Qatar Stars League is making consistent progress, praising the growing quality of players and coaches while stressing the need to keep building on that momentum. The former Spain international said Qatar’s football project is moving in the right»»»