Then-Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., speaks at a press conference in Washington, D.C., in 2009. Hoekstra, now the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, is the subject of a Canadian petition to have him removed from the country. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Thousands of »»»

Washington: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the role, will leave at month’s end, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Leavitt, 28, just recently returned to the White House after taking a brief leave for the birth of her second child in May. Get upda»»»

Bratislava: The Qatar national skydiving team, affiliated with the Qatar Air Sports Committee under the Joint Special Forces, is currently preparing for the CISM 48th World Military Parachuting Championships (WMPC). Taking place in Slovakia starting Friday until Aug. 23, the WMPC will see the parti»»»

LONDON: Syrian authorities said on Wednesday they had thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of narcotics into neighboring Jordan using balloons. Officers seized 70 kg of hashish, 45,000 captagon pills and equipment allegedly used in the operation, the state-run SANA news agency reported, »»»

AMMAN: Jordanian authorities arrested a woman for begging in downtown Amman after finding $46,600 in her possession, the Ministry of Social Development said on Wednesday. The woman had previously been involved in what the ministry described as professional begging and regularly converted money she »»»

GENEVA: The World Health Organization said Wednesday it hopes to reverse the spread of Ebola in the DR Congo within three months, but warned the deadly outbreak would not be over by then. The epidemic, which began in the conflict-scarred northeastern province of Ituri, is spreading faster than any »»»

KYIV: Ukraine’s air force said Wednesday it would stop publishing detailed figures on Russian ballistic missile strikes as Ukrainian forces struggle to intercept Russia’s heightened attacks. The military leadership had decided to introduce “certain changes (restrictions)” in its morning reports on »»»

“Cloudy with a Chance of Starships” takes readers on an irreverent expedition through the marvelous world of astrobiology, using as a guide the most important equation in science since E=mc2. With an irresistible blend of wit, insight, and the latest cutting-edge research, Seven Rasmussen looks at »»»

Salalah, Aug. 12 (SANA) Syria, represented by Minister of Administrative Development Mohammad Hassan al-Sakkaf, is participating in the 25th Annual General Conference on “Government Readiness for a Sustainable Future,” which opened Tuesday in Salalah, Oman. The three-day conference is jointly organ»»»

Christmas Eve could become a genuine public holiday in Hungary as early as this year, meaning employees may no longer have to make up the day by working a Saturday. A new proposal says the change could be introduced with a simple parliamentary majority. 24 December could become a statutory day off »»»

Poland has christened ORP Wicher, the first of three new-generation frigates being built under the Miecznik program for the Polish Navy. President Karol Nawrocki said the vessel will significantly strengthen Poland’s naval capabilities and described the program as an important boost for the domesti»»»

Poland is restricting visa-free entry for citizens of Colombia, Georgia and Venezuela, citing rising illegal stays, unauthorized employment, labor exploitation and human trafficking. Experts acknowledge the problems but argue that the government is addressing the symptoms rather than weaknesses in »»»

Polish Nuclear Power Plants (PEJ) remains committed to bringing the first unit of Poland’s Choczewo nuclear plant online in 2036, despite ongoing negotiations over the key EPC contract with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium. PEJ CEO Marek Woszczyk said talks have advanced but major commercial iss»»»

MyPillow founder Mike Lindell lost the Republican primary for governor of Minnesota. He refuses to concede. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- MyPillow founder Mike Lindell is refusing to concede defeat in the Minnesota governor's Republican primary election, saying there »»»

Japan warns companies after several nationals are detained as Beijing tightens controls on rare earths and dual-use goods 1 of 2 | Japanese national flag flies in front of the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China on the Great Hall of the People. Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / EPA Aug. 11 (A»»»

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A high school football player in Arkansas noticed something unusual about his helmet and brought it to coaches who discovered a venomous snake hiding under the padding. Maumelle High School Athletic Director Kirk Horton said the player noticed unusual movement inside his helmet aft»»»

The brutal murder of 37-year-old Georgi Kuzev in Plovdiv has triggered a political dispute over responsibility for the radicalization of young people, while the government is considering new measures to prevent juvenile crime and antisocial behaviour. On August 4, a group of teenagers who described»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday condemned Israel’s “systematic destruction” in the country’s south as a violation of international law, as Israel’s defense minister said its military was “destroying all the houses” there. Salam said Israeli “attacks, incursions, demolitions»»»

Russia will respond in kind to any attempts to seize commercial vessels in any waters, President Vladimir Putin said during Pacific Fleet exercises. "By responding in kind, [Russia] means that it will detain vessels belonging to unfriendly states, as well as those of countries that support them – t»»»

H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, will pay a visit to Egypt on 13-14 August 2026 to attend the Second Meeting of the Türkiye-Egypt Joint Planning Group (JPG) and hold bilateral meetings. During the JPG meeting, to be held in an inter-agency format under the c»»»

The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) has continued its nationwide campaign to reclaim unutilized industrial land, carrying out field inspections and withdrawal procedures in the industrial zones of New Beni Suef and Al-Matahara in Minya. The campaign is being implemented in coordination with »»»

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population and Huawei have discussed expanding cooperation on the digital transformation of the country’s healthcare system, including the use of artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure and integrated health data platforms. Health and Population Minister Khaled »»»

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Karim Badawi said the regular settlement of partners’ dues, together with the incentives and corrective measures introduced by the government, has helped rebuild investor confidence and paved the way for increased drilling, exploration and field development,»»»

The Vazrazhdane party said on Wednesday that the fact that the incumbents have revised their governance programme confirms that the pledges they made during the election campaign cannot be fulfilled under the Euro-Atlantic policy line being pursued by the government. In a statement released by its »»»

NEW YORK CITY: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, described a newly signed trilateral defense agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as “one of the most important events in recent weeks,” and told Arab News it represents a landmark in regional security»»»

WASHINGTON: Eleven people were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly organizing hundreds of sham marriages for foreigners seeking US residency, mostly Chinese nationals, officials said. “This is one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in United States history,” Attorney General Todd Blanche sa»»»

DOHA: Estithmar Holding QPSCannounced its financial results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026, following approval by the company's Board of Directors. Estithmar Holding's operations today span 10 countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Egypt, the Maldives, and»»»

Moderate Democrats are damaging their brand by campaigning alongside crazy leftist radicals who openly call for the destruction of the West, White people, and the United States. Democrats are quietly expressing concern that the entire Democratic Party is about to go up in flames as increasingly rad»»»

WASHINGTON: US airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen last year killed more than 150 civilians, according to a Pentagon review of the attacks, which comes as concerns rise over civilian casualties during military campaigns under the Trump administration. The unclassified asse»»»

Home Depot CEO Ted Decker is expected to return to work within months. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Home improvement retailer Home Deport announced Wednesday that Ted Decker, its CEO, president and chairman of the board, will take a temporary medical leave of absenc»»»

AMMAN — Industry, Trade and Supply Minister Yarub Qudah on Wednesday attended a dialogue session organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham-Jordan) under the theme "Jordanian-American Economic Relations: A Business Leaders' Vision."The session brought together US Ambassador to »»»

AMMAN — The national team for empowering women-owned enterprises to access economic opportunities held its regular meeting on Wednesday, hosted by the Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women, with the participation of businesswomen and representatives of the public and private sectors.The »»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of a US-backed peace plan for Gaza last week offered a diplomatic victory to Hamas, according to some analysts. The Palestinian Islamist movement had agreed to gradually give up weapons in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, but agreei»»»

Lebanon’s parliament voted on Tuesday to abolish the death penalty, making the country the first in the Middle East to do so. Lebanon has not carried out an execution since 2004, but death sentences have continued to be handed down, with the latest issued on Monday. Amnesty International says at le»»»

Ukrainian air defenses can no longer cope with Russian strikes and will soon be completely destroyed in Odessa, Kiev and elsewhere, retired Russian Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin tells Sputnik. "They thought that if they protected Kiev and Odessa, everything would be fine. It won’t," Dandy»»»

Argentine President Javier Milei's government is requiring nonresident foreigners to pay for non-emergency care at federally administered hospitals. File Photo by Matias Martin Campaya/EPA BUENOS AIES, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Argentine President Javier Milei's government is requiring nonresident foreigner»»»

The government programme of Prime Minister Rumen Radev's cabinet was significantly delayed, despite the campaign slogan of Progressive Bulgaria being, "We are ready. We can do it," said Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of Yes, Bulgaria! and an MP from Democratic Bulgaria on Darik radio, quoted by the coali»»»

CASABLANCA, Morocco: Morocco said Wednesday it has beefed up security along its border with Spain as calls resurfaced on social media for mass crossings into the Spanish city of Ceuta, raising concerns of another surge, similar to the one last month when tens of thousands of migrants rushed the bor»»»

BUCHAREST: Romania will begin shutting down its only nuclear power plant on Thursday after the Danube’s flow fell to a record low this week and efforts to avert a complete shutdown failed, the government said on Wednesday. It will be the plant’s first shutdown since a 2003 drought, as unprecedented»»»

LOS ANGELES, United States: The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most successful teams in NBA history, are being sold to former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner in a deal valued at $12.5 billion, ESPN reported Wednesday. The sale, which would mark a record-breaking valuation for a Nort»»»

A photo illustration shows President Donald Trump's account on social media platform Truth Social in 2024. The Intercept is suing the company's plan to monetize the president's posts. File Photo by Will Oliver/EPA Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Online news site The Intercept, along with the Freedom of the Press »»»

One of nature's greatest spectacles –- a rare total solar eclipse –- cast its shadow on Wednesday, briefly turning day into night in Russia's remote Arctic north before heading towards mainland Europe. The Moon first blotted out the Sun at the northernmost tip of mainland Russia at about 1700 GMT, »»»

Islamabad: The Pakistani army said a car bomb explosion in Balochistan killed three civilians and 18 militants, while two soldiers were injured. Security forces launched a clearance operation and killed 10 militants who tried to flee the scene. Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area, cove»»»

Damascus, Aug. 12 (SANA) Two economic experts told SANA that the Tartous Shipyard Agreement, signed between Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs and Türkiye’s “DENİZCİLİK SANAYİ VE TİCARET” company to establish an integrated shipyard at Tartous Port, represents a significant step toward »»»

ABUJA, Nigeria: Muslim and Christian leaders from across West Africa have agreed on a joint framework to tackle extremist ideologies, prevent conflict and strengthen social cohesion under a new initiative launched by the Muslim World League in Nigeria. The agreement was reached during an internatio»»»

At least 239 people were killed and 3,755 injured across 388 municipalities nationwide. Volunteers remove rubble at the scene of a collapsed building in Pereira, Colombia, on Tuesday after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck a day earlier. Photo by Carlos Ortega/EPA Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Cali, the capital»»»

Doha, Qatar: Estithmar Holding Q.P.S.C. announced its financial results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026, following approval by the Company's Board of Directors. Estithmar Holding's operations today span 10 countries: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Algeria, Jordan, Libya, Egypt, the M»»»

The government has adopted a Programme for Government of Bulgaria until 2030. The document is based on the programme of Progressive Bulgaria and focuses on restoring state institutions, strengthening the rule of law, rebuilding trust in public institutions, restoring public confidence, and fosterin»»»

International Youth Day was marked in Bulgaria on Wednesday with messages from state officials, new employment data and a series of activities for young people. Labour and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova congratulated young Bulgarians in a video address, acknowledging that the first step in»»»

An interactive map of youth policies in Bulgaria has been presented in Pernik for the first time, bringing together data on opportunities and conditions for young people across all Bulgarian municipalities. The presentation was part of a national initiative of the National Youth Forum and the Citiz»»»