Damascus, Aug. 17 (SANA) Syria has intensified diplomatic efforts to challenge attempts to alter the legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, relying on UN resolutions and growing international support for its demand that Israel withdraw to the June 4, 1967 line. Damascus has pursued the issue at»»»

Bulgaria spent nearly €6.5 billion on pensions during the first half of 2026, with pension expenditure increasing by 10.2% year-on-year, according to data released by the National Social Security Institute (NSSI). Pension payments accounted for the largest share of expenditure from the state social»»»

Rescuers were digging through collapsed buildings and clearing landslide-blocked roads Monday as Indonesia's death toll from a powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake rose to at least 54, with thousands of people still displaced across eastern Indonesia, local media reported. The earthquake struck early »»»

Dubai: Oman’s Ministry of Labour imposed fines totalling OMR3.246 million and deported nearly 3,000 workers following a nationwide crackdown on labour violations, according to its latest inspection figures. The ministry said 6,707 inspection visits were carried out across Oman’s governorates as aut»»»

DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a key test of his influence over his Likud party on Monday, as members vote in a primary to select most of the party’s candidates for the October 27 Knesset election. The vote could help determine the political direction of Likud, with several »»»

Russia has begun its winter campaign to freeze Ukraine into submission early and since the end of July has been tearing into what is left of Ukraine’s power sector. Last year’s campaign only scaled up in September, hitting Ukraine's power grid in the hope of making its major cities unliveable. Temp»»»

Russia's foreign trade surplus grew 14% to $73.4bn in the first half of 2026, with Asia now taking three quarters of everything the country buys and sells abroad. Exports rose almost 12% to $219.5bn and imports 10.8% to $146.1bn, lifting total turnover 11.4% to $365.6bn, the Federal Customs Service»»»

Mbay, Indonesia: Thousands of people displaced by a powerful earthquake in eastern Indonesia awaited aid Monday as they camped out at schools, police stations and government offices. The 7.7-magnitude quake early on Saturday killed 54 people and injured more than 100. Rescue officials have said the»»»

Japan's economy grew an annual rate of 1.1% in the April-June quarter even as private consumption stayed flat and the growth of exports declined, according to government data released Monday. Japan 's real GDP, or gross domestic product, the sum value of nation's goods and services, grew at a seaso»»»

The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has launched a new Innovation Charter outlining nine commitments aimed at supporting environmental sustainability, digital transformation and the use of new technologies. Announcing the Charter through its social media platforms, EAD said the initiative aims»»»

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 while spea»»»

The top U.S. military commander Adm. Brad Cooper visited the USS Lincoln as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues. The Lincoln arrived in the Middle East in January and has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports. It has spent a record-se»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian women's team topped the medal table at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Zagreb. The Russian women's team led the overall medal count (6) and gold medals (3). The Russian team won the team all-around, while Angelina Melnikova won gold in the individual»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said he was pleased that Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. "Very happy to see that Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan have recently, and finally, signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement," Trump said on T»»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - After visiting the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, where sailors allegedly attempted to jump overboard, Pentagon Central Command Chief Brad Cooper said the ship's mental health situation was not the worst. "Of the US Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln curre»»»

Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed Banca Transilvania’s deposit and issuer ratings, maintaining the bank’s ratings at Baa1/P-2 and Baa2/P-2, respectively. The agency also maintained the bank’s baseline credit assessment at ba1, as well as its counterparty ratings and ratings associated with bonds issue»»»

Banca Transilvania (BT) has granted a EUR300 million financing facility to Transgaz to support the development and modernisation of Romania's national natural-gas transport infrastructure, the two companies said on Wednesday in a joint statement. The move comes as energy security, regional intercon»»»

Shares of companies listed on the Regulated Market of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), together with BVB-listed ETFs, are available through Interactive Brokers, as of Thursday, expanding international access to Romanian listed companies for investors using the broker's global platform.This devel»»»

The Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) is recording a 47.1% nominal advance of the BET index since the start of 2026, while the real return, adjusted for accumulated inflation, stands at 41.8%, placing Romania seventh worldwide, according to an analysis by president of the Financial Supervisory Authori»»»

Developments in inflation and its determinants According to Central Bank (BNR) data, the annual CPI inflation rate reached 10.42 percent in June 2026, i.e. 0.55 percentage points above the March level. The pick-up reflected mainly the effects of the conflict in the Middle East, which passed through»»»

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»»»

U.S. negotiator and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner held a rare meeting with the Hamas chief on Sunday in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet on Monday with Israel's prime minister, who is under pressure after rejecting the new»»»

Taipei: Taiwan's government will propose record defence spending for 2027, President Lai Ching-te said Monday, as the island democracy faces growing military pressure from China. "Next year's total defence budget -- including both the annual budget and the special budget -- will exceed NT$1 trillio»»»

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading faster than ever before. According to forecasts by the World Health Organization (WHO), it could become the deadliest outbreak in the history of the fight against the disease. According to the WHO, one person dies from th»»»

RIYADH: Project management directors, engineers and specialists will be among the professions subject to a 70 percent Saudization requirement in the Kingdom from Feb. 14, 2027. The move follows a decision by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in partnership with the Ministry of»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian drones struck a berthing terminal in the Izmail port that was used to unload military cargo from ships, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The Russian armed forces continue to carry out strikes against the port infrastructure and Ukrainian naval vessels used in »»»

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The United States should resume alternate negotiations with Moscow and Kiev to bring the two sides closer together on resolving the conflict in Ukraine, Thomas Graham, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Senior Director for Russia on the National Security»»»

SYDNEY: Australian toxic mushroom killer Erin Patterson launches an appeal Wednesday against her conviction in a triple-murder case that made headlines worldwide. The 51-year-old was found guilty last year of murdering her husband’s parents and an elderly aunt in 2023 by serving them a beef Welling»»»

Pension expenditure under the State Social Security budget amounted to nearly EUR 6.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 10.2% from the same period of last year, the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) said in a press release on Monday. Pensions accounted for the largest share of total exp»»»

Dubai: Ferrari’s first all-electric car has sold for $40 million at a charity auction, making it the most expensive new car ever sold at auction. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The 2026 Ferrari Luce Tailor Made, identified as “Chassis 0”, is the »»»

Kyrgyzstan and China have held negotiations on a draft agreement on cooperation in managing Kyrgyz-Chinese border crossing points between the State Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan and the General Administration of Customs of China. According to the State Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan, the draft docum»»»

On Aug. 17, 1999, an earthquake in a densely populated region of northwestern Turkey killed at least 17,000 people and injured about 40,000. 1 of 5 | On August 17, 1999, an earthquake in a densely populated region of northwestern Turkey killed at least 17,000 people and injured about 40,000. UPI Fi»»»

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Indonesia's Flores region early Monday, as the death toll from a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit eastern Indonesia days earlier rose to 54, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) and Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency »»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Pakistani Prime Minister: We will continue to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to play a constructive role in ensuring the defense of»»»

Alliance for Agriculture and Cooperation (AAC) requires, in an open letter addressed to the President, the premier and the chair persons of the two Chambers of the Parliament, rigorous monitoring and complete traceability of Ukrainian cereals in transit, as well as concrete measures for the protect»»»

The government established on Friday through decision, the list of the sectors comprising activities carried out in line with the changing seasons with a view to implementing the rules governing the employment of foreign nationals as seasonal workers. According to a press release from the Governmen»»»

Modernising the Naval Forces, whether through fleet renewal, mine-countermeasure capabilities or capabilities to monitor and protect maritime infrastructure, remains a priority for Romania, President Nicusor Dan said on Saturday.In his message on Romanian Navy Day, read at the events in Constanta b»»»

Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Toiu had a telephone conversation on Sunday with her Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares to thank Spain after a drone that entered Romanian territory in the early hours of Sunday was intercepted and shot down by a Spanish air patrol in Galati County."Earlier thi»»»

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Monday as fading expectations of a US-Iran peace breakthrough and slower tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reinforced geopolitical risk concerns in the market. Brent crude ​futures rose as much as 1 percent to $89.40 per barrel and were last trading»»»

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- At least seven Hindu devotees were killed Monday morning in a crowd crush at a Shiva temple in eastern India, where tens of thousands had gathered to take part in a religious observance, according to reports. The incident occurred near Ashok Dham, a famous temple dedicated to Lord »»»

Dubai: Dubai: The UAE has once again positioned itself at the forefront of global healthcare innovation, becoming the first country in the world to approve an expanded use of the drug RINVOQ (upadacitinib) for treating non-segmental vitiligo, a skin condition that causes patches of skin to lose the»»»

PARIS: Team Falcons have been crowned Rocket League champions at the Esports World Cup 2026, delivering a dominant 4-0 victory over Spacestation Gaming in the Grand Final to claim the title for the first time. The Saudi Arabian Club, represented by Samy “dralii” Hajji and brothers Yazeed Abdullah “»»»

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend, Reuters reported on Monday, citing data. Five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, shiptracking data from Kpler showed, versus 31 in the prior weekend. Ships ​entering the strait on Saturd»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Syrian media: Israeli occupation forces arrest several young men during incursion involving 10 military vehicles into Abdeen in western Dar»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Gaza: 3 Palestinians were reported injured after Israeli occupation tanks shelled the Al-Sanafur intersection in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Rescue teams search for survivors in Indonesia after powerful earthquake 17-08-2026 09:32 AM Latest News Urgent News Rescue teams search fo»»»

Bishkekgaz gas service announced that gas supplies will be temporarily suspended from August 17 to 19 due to work on a medium-pressure gas pipeline. The gas outage will affect areas bounded by the following streets and landmarks: the Big Chui Canal area, Ala-Archa River, L. Tolstoy Street, B. Alyku»»»

Dubai: There was an unexpected star in the front row at Lucky Ali’s Dubai concert on August 16: rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh. Singh was spotted attending the veteran singer’s live show at the Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday night, and beyond the obvious celebrity-spotting moment, there was something rather h»»»

After US President Donald Trump signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran on June 17, 2026, US officials fanned out across the Gulf to sell an agreement they hoped would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin winding down the war. Instead, according to a US Congressional report citing I»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe 6 civilians killed in Russia, 2 in Ukraine as Moscow and Kyiv exchange overnight air strikes 17-08-2026 08:43 AM Latest News Urgent News 6 »»»