London: Six years after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle dramatically walked away from royal life and moved across the Atlantic, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are preparing to return to Britain with their children. The reported move marks an extraordinary turn in a saga that has included an explosiv»»»

Moscow continues to send GRU officers to Norway under diplomatic cover. The Barents Observer looks at their identities. Colonel Sergei Belousov has held the position of military attaché at the Russian embassy in Oslo since around the middle of 2025. According to leaked data, Belousov is registered »»»

Turkey on Thursday denied having any military presence at an air base in north Syria struck by Israel earlier this week, and vowed to continue "resolutely" supporting Syrian sovereignty. The denial came two days after Syria accused Israel of hitting a disused military air base near the northwestern»»»

DOHA: The State of Qatar, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, in their capacity as mediating countries, strongly condemned the recent Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the loss of civilian lives, including women and children, and express their deep conce»»»

A court Shenzhen sentenced Hui Ka Yan, founder and former chairman of the failed Chinese property giant China Evergrande, to life in prison on Thursday, four months after he pled guilty to embezzlement, securities fraud, corporate graft and other charges. File photo by Wu Hong/EPA Aug. 20 (UPI) -- »»»

János Lázár, a former minister in Hungary’s previous government and arguably Fidesz’s most prominent political figure after Viktor Orbán, has resigned from his parliamentary mandate, effective 20 August. Former transport minister leaves Parliament Lázár announced the decision in a lengthy Facebook »»»

The Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) is set to return for its largest edition yet, bringing together 2,405 companies and brands from 71 countries. The 23rd edition of ADIHEX will run from August 28 to September 6 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, under the theme “A Legacy»»»

August 20, 2026 marks 120 years since Bulgaria and Norway established diplomatic relations, the Bulgarian Embassy in Oslo reported. The embassy added that the two countries are NATO allies and partners in the European Economic Area, with bilateral cooperation spanning a wide range of areas. The nea»»»

Turkey, Egypt and Qatar on Thursday strongly condemned ​recent Israeli strikes in ‌Gaza, saying in a joint statement that ‘Israel’ must comply with ​its obligations under a ceasefire ​agreement and refrain from steps ⁠that could escalate tensions. “The ​mediating countries underline that the intens»»»

Dubai: The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) reviewed 2,267 humanitarian cases during the first half of 2026, approving 1,295 after assessing their circumstances and eligibility under approved humanitarian criteria. GDRFA Dubai said its Humanitarian Cases »»»

Dubai: Iran says it controls the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump insists the United States has broken Tehran’s grip on the vital waterway. The reality is more complicated — and could help explain why a conflict now deep into its sixth month remains so difficult to end. Shipping traffic remains sever»»»

Dubai: Tensions across the Middle East escalated on multiple fronts on Thursday, with a US aircraft carrier strike group arriving in the region, a tanker reportedly seized by armed men off Yemen, and President Donald Trump threatening further economic pressure on Iran. Gulf states called for de-esc»»»

Leading real estate developer Tomorrow World Properties has signed an official partnership with renowned Italian luxury brand Missoni for an upcoming launch on a yet undisclosed exclusive new development in Dubai. Set in one of the city’s most desired communities, the project is expected to blend t»»»

Moscow continues to send GRU officers to Norway under diplomatic cover. The Barents Observer looks at their identities. Colonel Sergei Belousov has held the position of military attaché at the Russian embassy in Oslo since around the middle of 2025. According to leaked data, Belousov is registered »»»

The State has earmarked EUR 20 million for preparations for the Eurovision Song Contest 2027 through the end of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov said in Burgas on Thursday, as the host city began work on the organization of the event and Sofia Municipality sought detailed feedback on wh»»»

If Lebanon and Israel fail to agree on a new pilot zone in south Lebanon, Washington will designate the aforementioned zone, U.S. General Joseph Clearfield told Lebanese officials during his latest visit to Beirut, according to a senior Lebanese official. The Lebanese official spoke to al-Joumhouri»»»

Moscow continues to send GRU officers to Norway under diplomatic cover. The Barents Observer looks at their identities. Colonel Sergei Belousov has held the position of military attaché at the Russian embassy in Oslo since around the middle of 2025. According to leaked data, Belousov is registered »»»

Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar, the Republic of Türkiye, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, in their capacity as mediating countries, strongly condemn the recent Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the loss of civilian lives, including women and children, and express their deep »»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom is holding talks with another 15 countries on the construction of nuclear power plants, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev said on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting to discuss the development of nuclear energy. On Th»»»

Dubai: Pakistan has abolished the Personal Baggage Scheme for importing used vehicles for overseas Pakistanis, while retaining the Gift and Transfer of Residence schemes under stricter conditions aimed at preventing their commercial misuse. Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan confirmed the »»»

Tehran: Six months into its war with the United States, Iran's military has begun signalling a shift from retaliation to offence, which analysts say could reflect Tehran's belief it holds leverage to advance its demands and break the stalemate. Since US-Israeli strikes launched the war on February »»»

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev spoke by phone with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about the security situation in Europe, with particular attention to concerns over possible aggressive actions by Iran, according to the Bulgarian government. Rutte reaffirmed NATO's full support and the read»»»

Dubai: More than 24,000 new real estate units were added to Dubai during the first six months of 2026, an increase of 36% compared with last year, according to figures reviewed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Thursday. A total of 104 real estate projects were completed during»»»

The Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO) has opened an investigation into whether officers from the General Directorate Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC) overstepped their powers while checking Movement for Rights and Freedoms Chair Delyan Peevski, who enjoys immunity as a Member of Parliament. Off»»»

Israeli strikes and shelling targeted overnight into Thursday Houla, Markaba, Wadi Slouqi, Qabrikha, al-Mansouri, Majdalzoun, Ali al-Taher and Touline, as troops carried out detonations in Zawtar al-Sahrqiyeh, Majdalzoun, al-Mansouri and al-Khiam. The United Nations peacekeeping force in south Leba»»»

CAIRO: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt HE Dr Mostafa Madbouly on the sidelines of the seventh session of the Qatari-Egyptian Joint Higher Committee, held in Cairo, Egypt. Duri»»»

CAIRO: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt HE DrBadr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the seventh session of the Qatari-Egyptian Jo»»»

Doha, Qatar: Governor of the Qatar Central Bank HE Sheikh Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani met on Thursday with Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the State of Qatar HE Bakhyt Batyrshayev. During the meeting, they reviewed key facets of bilateral cooperation between the two countries»»»

Burgas Airport says it is ready to handle increased passenger traffic expected around Eurovision 2027, with thousands of visitors from Bulgaria and abroad anticipated to travel to the city for the competition. The airport has already begun discussions with airlines about next summer's flight schedu»»»

This week The Telegraph reported that “Russians withdraw billions from banks amid fears Putin could seize deposits.” What actually happened is Russian bank deposits have doubled since the start of the war in Ukraine and are still rising. Russians are not taking money out of banks; they are putting »»»

A Syrian police investigator who slapped a man during interrogation despite having been warned that he had hemophilia will face prosecution, officials said Thursday. Syria's interior ministry earlier this week launched an investigation into the death of Mohammad Ghamira and on Thursday announced in»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) has published Rally Guide 1 and released initial details of this year’s Qatar International Baja. The Lusail-based event takes its place in the calendar on October 28 to 31 and is the penultimate round of both the FIA World and Middle Ea»»»

A senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that Tehran would deploy significantly more advanced and destructive weaponry than those used in previous conflicts should a new war break out, signaling a major escalation in the Islamic Republic’s military posture. Bri»»»

As of August 20, 2026, the revised budget of Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Education amounts to 76.5 billion soms. First Deputy Education Minister Mukhtarbek Baimurzaev said. According to him, 60.5 billion soms of the total is allocated for salaries. «As it is known, education workers received a salary »»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched its first energy hackathon, set to take place ahead of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh in October. The Ministry of Energy opened submissions for the inaugural hackathon, held under the patronage of Energy and Industry Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. “U»»»

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) said on Thursday that the country's legislation governing what happens to children in conflict with the law was adopted way back in 1958. "Reform is decades overdue, yet instead of pursuing it, those in power are proposing something all too familiar in Bulgari»»»

Natalie Harp has spent years operating close to US President Donald Trump while attracting little public attention. But recent events have thrust the 35-year-old presidential aide into the spotlight, including accompanying Trump on a secret flight from Turkey during a reported security threat. »»»

Two areas of Bishkek will temporarily be left without gas, Bishkekgaz reported. According to the company, the disruption is due to work to reconnect above-ground low-pressure gas pipelines. Gas supplies will be suspended in areas bounded by the following streets: Bishkekgaz apologizes for the incon»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are reshaping how they finance the next wave of infrastructure, moving beyond government spending to tap private and institutional capital for projects spanning energy, water, and the digital economy. The shift marks a broader change in the Gulf’s inves»»»

Hungary’s public broadcaster has launched its revamped flagship news programme, with its first edition featuring comments from opposition figures and critics of the government: a notable change in tone following a major overhaul of the public media’s news operation. The new Híradó aired for the fir»»»

Dubai: Bitcoin climbed above $70,000 for the first time in more than two months on Thursday, extending a two-day rally that has brought buyers back into the cryptocurrency market following lower US Treasury yields, fresh institutional inflows and renewed hopes of regulatory progress in Washington. »»»

The Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO) has initiated two pre-trial proceedings based on sufficient data indicating possible crimes related to the construction of Lot 4 of the Hemus Motorway and the Northern Speed Tangent project, the prosecution service said here on Thursday. The pre-trial procee»»»

Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved a conclusion on an intergovernmental agreement with Belarus regulating the stay of citizens of the two countries. The document has been submitted to the Zhogorku Kenesh for ratification. The corresponding order was signed by Adylbek Kasymaliev. The agr»»»

A local man inspects the aftermath of Russian missile strike on a residential area of Kyiv early Thursday. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA Aug. 20 (UPI) -- A Russian aerial assault on Kyiv overnight killed at least 13 people and injured 40, with officials saying Ukraine was effectively defenseless ag»»»

The Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SCPO) has initiated two pre-trial proceedings based on sufficient data indicating possible crimes related to the construction of Lot 4 of the Hemus Motorway and the Northern Speed Tangent project, the prosecution service said here on Thursday. The pre-trial proce»»»

Cairo: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad of the Arab Republic of Egypt HE Dr. Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the seventh session of the »»»

Former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov is expected to be formally announced as a presidential candidate within days, according to Atanas Atanasov, deputy speaker of Parliament and a leading figure in Democratic Bulgaria. Speaking to Nova TV, Atanasov said preparations are already underway to»»»

JEDDAH: Morocco’s consumer price index fell 0.6 percent year on year in July, as a decline in food prices more than offset higher non-food costs, official data showed. According to Morocco’s High Commission for Planning, food prices fell 3.7 percent from a year earlier in July, while non-food price»»»

Eighteen-year-old Teodor Velev, accused of attacking Nepalese citizens in Plovdiv and causing them minor bodily injuries, will remain free on bail after the Plovdiv District Court confirmed the €700 measure. The court hearing established that Velev had already paid the bail and had cooperated with »»»

Donald Trump said just before midnight Washington time that he has a deal with Canada to avoid 50% tariffs, and thus the tariffs are on pause for three days. Although that may not be the case a few more seconds from now. Just ask Iran. Whoops, here we go already. Canada has already disputed the exi»»»