BEIJING — Factory activity in China contracted in August for a second straight month, official data showed Monday, as soft demand weighs on the world's second-largest economy.Leaders in Beijing are seeking to maintain pace despite hurdles including trade frictions with Washington and an entrenched »»»

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2020. He said Monday that Lebanon is facing “existential risks.” Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA-EFE BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that Lebanon is facin»»»

With the candidacy of Andrey Gurov and Georgi Kandev in the upcoming presidential election, Bulgarians will have an alternative to what Iliana Iotova is offering — a third term for Rumen Radev, Nadejda Iordanova, chair of the Democratic Bulgaria (DB) parliamentary group, said in Varna. Both Gurov a»»»

Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid, Port Said Governor Ibrahim Abu Limon, and Port Said University President Sherif Youssef Saleh launched the second phase of the “Egypt Exports” initiative in Port Said, under the patronage of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and with the partici»»»

Plans call for reorganizing the 15 Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water and transferring Water Act enforcement to them from the Basin Directorates, Environment and Water Minister Rositsa Karamfilova said Monday. Karamfilova presented the plans at a meeting with the heads of the inspector»»»

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez speaks as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba during the Closing Session of the VIII Congress of the PCC at the Palacio de Convenciones, in Havana, Cuba, in 2021. File Photo by Ariel Ley Royero/EPA Aug. 31 (UPI) -- The C»»»

Hungary’s government has already solved several crisis situations since coming to power in May, Prime Minister Péter Magyar told the Bled Strategy Forum in Slovenia on Monday, adding: “I am proud of my government.” He cited the energy supply crisis due to extreme weather conditions as an example, s»»»

AL-MUKALLA: More than 1,000 political, social, tribal and religious figures from Yemen’s southeastern province of Hadramout gathered in Al-Mukalla on Monday to establish a unified political body aimed at representing the province in an upcoming dialogue expected to be hosted by Saudi Arabia. Openin»»»

As rising temperatures reshape France's vineyards, winemakers are turning to Normandy and Brittany, regions once known for cider, not grapes. Those fleeing harsher conditions in traditional areas like the Loire Valley see opportunity up north, though some warn the same climate volatility disrupting»»»

Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft leader Alexander Tomov will run for president in the October 25 election, the party’s press office said on Monday. Tomov, born in Sofia in 1954, is an academic and politician. He studied at the University of National and World Economy and St Petersburg State Un»»»

Poland’s economy grew 3.9% y/y in Q2 2026, up from 3.5% in Q1, supported by stronger investment, industry and construction. Fixed investment rose 8.4% y/y, and ING Bank Śląski expects growth in capital spending to approach double digits in H2 as National Recovery Plan projects accelerate. Exports i»»»

Doha, Qatar: Eight years ago, Rashid AlGhafri walked into Qatar Academy Al Wakra, part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, as a fourth grader who, by his own admission, was shy and introverted. This September, he returns as Head Boy for his final year. “It’s the most important year,” he»»»

India meanwhile dismisses the ruling Pakistan welcomed on Monday a decision by an international tribunal that a landmark water-sharing treaty remained in force, despite India's suspension of its participation. "Pakistan welcomes this finding by the Court that interim measures are warranted," the go»»»

LONDON: The Saudi Pro League season is starting to take shape, with reigning champions Al-Nassr and fellow Riyadh giants Al-Hilal leading the way, just as they did last season. Here are five things we learned from the latest round of matches: Al-Nassr the comeback kings How do you beat Al-Nassr? Th»»»

LONDON: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday called for the full and nonselective implementation of a US-backed framework agreement with Israel, saying that both sides must meet their commitments to end hostilities along the border. Speaking after talks with Greek President Konstantinos Tasoula»»»

In Nepal, after the deadly flood, another ordeal begins for the survivors: finding shelter, food, and simply the means to survive. In the devastated villages, families lost everything in minutes. And while rescue workers continue searching for possible survivors, those who escaped the disaster are »»»

Despite September's adjustment, petrol remains below June highs and diesel below its peak Dubai: UAE motorists filling up in September will still spend less on petrol than they did at the peak of fuel prices earlier this year, with the difference adding up for drivers who cover longer distances or »»»

In the first half of the year, the MedLife Group recorded robust 10% growth in pro forma consolidated revenue compared with the same period in 2025, reaching RON 1.7 billion. In terms of profitability, the pro forma EBITDA margin reached 16.4%, an improvement over the same period last year, support»»»

TradeCanadaTariffs spat: Carney bets Canada can defy TrumpNik MartinCanada faces new US import penalties after Prime Minister Mark Carney refused to match US tariffs on China. Other countries are watching as the Trump trade clash turns into a fight over economic sovereignty. https://p.dw.com/p/5JYY»»»

Swiss police on Monday said they had arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of having carried out a deadly shooting at a rave in the town of Aargau Sunday morning. The attack killed a 22-year-old Italian woman and wounded five other people. Swiss police ​said on Monday that they had arrested a ​43»»»

LONDON: Israel’s proposed transfer of law enforcement powers over settlers in the occupied West Bank from the military to the police would further embed Israeli civilian institutions in the territory, in a move analysts said marks another step toward de facto annexation. Defense Minister Israel Kat»»»

ISTANBUL/BANGKOK/NEW DELHI: The leaders of China, Russia and India gathered with other heads of state in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group billed as a counterweight to US global influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir P»»»

Christopher Judge became one of the most recognizable voices in the gaming world with his portrayal of Kratos in the legendary God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök (2022). For his role in Ragnarök, the actor won the Best Performance award at The Game Awards 2022. Outside the God of War univers»»»

Bulgaria’s natural gas price for September has been set at 41.60 euros per megawatt-hour, excluding access, transmission, excise duty and VAT, after the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission approved a 5.5% increase from the August price. At the approved rate, Bulgargaz will sell natural gas to en»»»

LONDON: The UK has raised the detention and arrest of a British national in the occupied West Bank with the Israeli government, the BBC reported on Monday. The 22-year-old student activist, Finn Joughin, was arrested in Umm Al-Kheir on the weekend after being detained by Israeli settlers. They had »»»

Rugby match flyover draws flak online despite airline’s safety assurances One South African airline that wanted to showcase its pilots’ technical prowess now finds itself in turbulent waters. The stunt – two aircraft whooshing past a stadium within a few metres of the top before a rugby match – is »»»

Supported by experts from China and India, Nepal's rescue teams on Monday endeavoured to reach hundreds of workers believed to be trapped in hydropower tunnels blocked by the devastating flood of mud, water and debris that swept through the Himalayan region last week.  Nepal's rescue teams, he»»»

Oil prices surged early Monday after fighting flared in the U.S.-Iran conflict for the first time in four weeks since U.S. President Donald Trump announced a "pause" in U.S. military strikes on August 1. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Oil prices surged early Mond»»»

While not a single hope, plan or promise Márton Nagy made as economic minister concerning economic growth appears to have materialised, the minister seems to have been more than willing to spend public money – both at the time and in retrospect, inexplicably – on luxury accommodation and private je»»»

Damascus, Aug. 31 (SANA) Gold prices fell in the Syrian market on Monday, with 21-karat gold declining by 50 Syrian pounds per gram from Sunday, while bullion also slipped globally as expectations of a U.S. interest rate hike increased. According to a bulletin issued by the General Authority for Pr»»»

Construction of the Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo motorway on the section between Ruse and Byala, including the Byala bypass, is progressing and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov told reporters during an inspection near the village of»»»

Shares were mixed in Europe and Asia and U.S. futures declined Monday on expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may raise interest rates soon. In early European trading, Germany's DAX lost 0.9% to 26,339.04, while the CAC 40 in Paris edged 0.1% lower, to 8,390.43. Markets in Britain were closed»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's non-hydrocarbon Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.5% year-on-year (YoY) in the first quarter of 2026. The National Planning Council affirmed in a statement on Monday that these results reflect the resilience and economic stability of the State of Qatar despite regional con»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel will deport on Monday a British activist who was “kidnapped by settlers and assaulted” in the occupied West Bank over the weekend and subsequently transferred to police custody, his lawyer told AFP. Finn Joughin was in the southern West Bank village of Umm Al-Khair on Saturday doi»»»

LISBON: Thirty Portuguese companies and institutions are set to explore investment, expansion, and partnership opportunities with Saudi Arabia, as part of an intensive economic program accompanying Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel’s visit to Portugal. The initiative marks a fresh sign of grow»»»

OAG data puts DXB ahead of Heathrow, Incheon, Amsterdam and Istanbul for September 2026 Dubai: Dubai International Airport has retained its position as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in September, with airlines scheduling 4.34 million departing international seats for the mon»»»

Maria Montessori Home, an education provider with more than ten years of experience in Montessori program, is expanding its presence in Bucharest and will open its first kindergarten in the eastern part of the capital on September 1st, through a partnership with premium residential complex Liziera »»»

Beijing: Chinese authorities penalised 10 people accused of spreading misinformation online about a deadly mudslide along the Nepal border, police said Monday, as rescuers scour for hundreds missing at a border crossing on the Tibetan side. The penalties, which could range from fines to 10 days in »»»

Bulgarian President Iliana Yotova thanked the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) for its support after the party's National Assembly unanimously backed her candidacy for president in the upcoming election. In a letter to Bulgarian socialists, Yotova described the decision as both an important politica»»»

North Korea on Monday condemned the "hostile policy" of the United States and vowed to continue bolstering its nuclear arsenal. In this October 2025 photo, leader Kim Jong Un attends a military parade in Pyongyang. File Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- North Korea on Monday condemned what »»»

Aug. 31 (UPI) -- At least three baby goats at a North Carolina petting zoo have tested positive for rabies and a fourth is believed to have contracted the virus, state officials said over the weekend, as they warn those who have come into contact with the animals that they may have been exposed. Th»»»

The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has confirmed two outbreaks of sheep and goat pox: one in Logodazh, in the southwestern Blagoevgrad Region, and the other in Dzhinot, in the southeastern Yambol Region, the BFSA press office said on Monday. In Blagoevgrad Region, a primary outbreak has been r»»»

Romania’s women’s eight claimed gold at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam on Sunday, August 30, producing an official World Best Time of 5:51.88 in a dominant final on the Bosbaan. The Romanian crew composed of Cristina Drugă, Geanina Juncanariu, Ancuța Bodnar, Maria Lehaci, Magdalen»»»

Picked fresh in Kyrgyz villages in the morning, cherries and melons can now travel hundreds of kilometers and reach markets in Kashgar, an oasis city in the southwestern corner of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, by evening. The journey is made possible by the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan h»»»

Dubai: Dubai gold prices slipped on Monday, giving UAE shoppers a little relief after bullion came under pressure from rising expectations of a US interest-rate hike. The Dubai 24K gold rate fell to Dh533 per gram, from Dh536.75 at the previous close, while 22K gold dropped to Dh493.75 from Dh497. »»»

Iran on Monday said a supertanker attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz struck two sea mines. File Photo by EPA Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A supertanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz struck two sea mines, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Monday, days after the Trump administration said it»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will send 243 athletes to the Asian Games in Japan with the national contingent aiming for strong performances at the continent’s biggest multi-sport event, which will be held from September 19 to October 4. Officially known as the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, the 20th edition »»»

NATO remains the main driver of escalation, and the alliance’s attempts to drag Europe into the conflict in Ukraine are reckless and provocative, Russia’s ambassador to Belgium Denis Gonchar told Sputnik. NATO continues to obstruct efforts to find a political and diplomatic settlement to the Ukrain»»»

NEW YORK: Ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years on Sunday, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open. The 48th-ranked Argentine’s 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory ended Djokovic’s latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam ti»»»

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused NATO of seeking to transform the Arctic into a new theater of confrontation against Russia and its partners. "NATO and other Western countries make no secret of their true motives, openly declaring their intention to turn the Arctic into a new fro»»»