77 baggage scanners, 24-hour teams: Dubai prepares for the summer return rush
Dubai: Dubai Customs has deployed a comprehensive operational plan featuring round-the-clock staffing, advanced screening technology, and digital declaration tools to manage the influx of returning residents and international visitors following the summer break. The plan focuses on ramping up field»»»
Trump heads into midterms short on foreign policy wins
WASHINGTON: With the Iran war now at a costly standoff and crises from Ukraine to Gaza still unresolved, President Donald Trump’s ambitious foreign policy agenda appears stuck as he heads into November’s midterm elections. The setbacks are striking for a president who returned to office last year p»»»
Possible Petroline expansion shines a light on Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is leveraging its Red Sea infrastructure to advance its logistics ambitions, with a potential expansion of the East-West Crude Oil Pipeline, or Petroline, highlighting the growing convergence of energy security. The nearly 1,200 km Petroline is increasingly viewed as more than »»»
Saudi aviation’s changing landscape: Riyadh Air and Saudia Airlines shape new era
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector is emerging into a new era as the Kingdom aims to expand its global connectivity through the introduction of Riyadh Air alongside the established Saudia Airlines. The growth in the Kingdom’s airline sector has sparked conversation on the difference in airline »»»
Measles cases in Kyrgyzstan decrease 20 times, whooping cough —5 times - | 24.KG
According to the results of the first half of 2026, a decrease in a number of infectious diseases, including vaccine-preventable infections, has been registered in Kyrgyzstan. According to the Ministry of Health, the number of measles cases has decreased 20 times: 433 cases in 2026 compared to 8,57»»»
Watch: USS George Washington night flights highlight US naval presence amid Iran tensions
US sailors conducted nighttime flight operations aboard the USS George Washington as the aircraft carrier sailed through the Arabian Sea, highlighting the continued US military presence in the region amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared images on Friday showing s»»»
US, Canada fail to reach trade pact as Trump’s 50% tariffs take effect
Hefty US tariffs on some Canadian products took effect on Saturday after days of last-minute negotiations failed to produce a trade agreement between Washington and Ottawa. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed that Canada would match the US tariffs “dollar for dollar to protect our workers and»»»
Iran's Weapons Production Doubled in Past Year Despite US, Israeli Strikes
Iran's weapons and defense equipment production has doubled over the past year, a senior defense official announced, even as the country's military industry came under repeated US and Israeli strikes during the conflict. Brigadier General Reza Talaei-Nik, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Defense»»»
US imposes 50% tariffs on Canada as trade talks fail
TradeCanadaUS imposes 50% tariffs on Canada as trade talks failEmmy Sasipornkarn with AFP, ReutersUS Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada was "continuing its retaliation against the US," minutes before fresh Trump tariffs were due to come into effect. Canada says the terms proposed were »»»
UAE residents’ update: Latest on Trump’s Iran deal push, Hormuz tensions and flights status
Tensions between the US and Iran remain high, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the latest developments. President Donald Trump has stepped up economic pressure on Tehran, while Iran has rejected the measures and Oman continues diplomatic efforts over the strategic waterway. For UAE reside»»»
US says Canada declines to finalize trade deal
TradeCanadaUS says Canada declines to finalize trade deal Emmy Sasipornkarn with AFP, ReutersUS Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada was "continuing its retaliation against the US," minutes before fresh Trump tariffs were due to come into effect. Canada says the terms proposed were "unfa»»»
US says Canada declines to finalize trade deal
TradeCanadaUS says Canada declines to finalize trade deal Emmy Sasipornkarn with AFP, ReutersUS Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada was "continuing its retaliation against the US," minutes before fresh Trump tariffs were due to come into effect. https://p.dw.com/p/5JEgKTop Canadian nego»»»
1,300 commercial vessels transited Strait of Hormuz since May 2026: CentCom
US forces have assisted approximately 1,300 commercial vessels in transiting the Strait of Hormuz since early May 2026, enabling the movement of more than 660 million barrels of crude oil, the Central Command (CentCom) reported on Friday. Recent activity implies an average of roughly 7 million barr»»»
How a Nepali expat went from cleaning toilets to becoming a Dubai chef
Dubai: The first thing Shyam Ghimire learned about building a future in Dubai was that sometimes, you have to start with the jobs nobody dreams of doing. Ghimire has come to the UAE from Nepal with a simple purpose, to find better opportunities, build a future, and support his family. At the same t»»»
Three scientists beat J&J lawsuit over research linking talc to cancer
A US judge in Virginia has ruled that three researchers did not defame Johnson & Johnson by publishing research linking cosmetic talcum powder products to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, Reuters reported. Johnson & Johnson sued doctors Theresa Emory, John Maddox and Richard Kradin, alleging th»»»
Al-Ittihad cling on for much-needed victory; Ronaldo grabs first goal of season as Al-Nassr cruise
DAMMAM: In a night that was expected by some to mark a significant shift in Al-Qadsiah’s standing among the top five in Saudi football, Brendan Rodgers’ side came up short in their home clash against Al-Ittihad, the first major Pro League showdown of the season. The good news for Al-Qadsiah was tha»»»
Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief, publisher, reporter - UPI.com
Stars and Stripes, the U.S. military newspaper founded in 1861, lost its editor-in-chief, publisher and Middle East reporter to firings Friday for what the Pentagon described as insubordination. File Photo by Sgt. Brendan Mackie/U.S. Army National Guard Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Pentagon has fired the p»»»
Trump announces plan to lower beef prices, but ranchers and some Republicans are already balking
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration will allow more beef to be temporarily imported into the US without triggering higher tariffs, which drew swift pushback from cattle producers and conservative rural-state Republicans. Beef prices have climbed to record hig»»»
Trump says Iran not ready for ‘right deal’ as Tehran threatens ‘devastating’ response
WASHINGTON/DUBAI: US President Donald Trump said Iran was not ready to make the “right deal,” as Washington prepared to unveil what it described as unprecedented economic sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Tehran nearly six months into the war. “It just means that we’re seeing what happens,”»»»
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo growing 'exponentially' as death toll passes 2,500
More than half of the 2,500-plus deaths from DR Congo's Ebola outbreak have occurred within the past 20 days alone, as the virus spreads faster than any recorded outbreak, according to the UN's senior Ebola coordinator. Julien Harneis is urging a rapid scale-up of resources to prevent the epidemic »»»
New opposition group protests in Tunisia after extreme heat-driven power and water cuts
TUNIS, Tunisia: A summer of extreme heat has left many Tunisians short of water and electricity — and full of anger at the country’s leadership. Protesters rallied in the capital Tunis on Thursday, many calling on President Kais Saied to leave power. Mobilized by a new opposition collective, the de»»»
First person: How the Israeli government blocks Palestinians from their land
CHICAGO: It is a great start, but the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee will have to do more than simply tell settler extremists not to take Palestinian Americans’ land in the West Bank. Israeli settlers, often with the backing of the Israel Defense Forces, have accelerated the annexation of la»»»
Dozens of people across 15 states sickened by tainted alfalfa sprouts - UPI.com
Alfalfa sprouts under the brand names Calco and Everything Sprouts have sickened 55 people across 15 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Friday. Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Dozens of people across 15 states have been sickened »»»
World Bank projects 6.4% contraction for Lebanon’s economy - UPI.com
Inflation predicted to rise to 17.5%. Bank customers, largely locked out of their foreign-currency accounts ater the financial crisis of 2019, gather at Martyrs' Square in late July before marching toward the Sin el-Fil suburb east of Beirut, where several bank facades were vandalized. Photo by Abb»»»
Egypt's reserves hit a record as its central bank's exposure to the state jumps $3bn
Egypt's foreign reserves have never been higher. Nor has the tension been clearer between its stronger external buffer and the central bank's rising exposure to a government the IMF wants to rely less heavily on domestic financial institutions for financing. Net international reserves reached $56.2»»»
U.S., Canadian negotiators meet as deadline for new tariffs looms - UPI.com
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Canadian counterpart Dominic LeBlanc Friday in Washington as a midnight deadline for the imposition of 50% American tariffs on many Canadian goods loomed. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 21 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's threat»»»
US plans to bar Abbas from UN General Assembly for second year: Report
NEW YORK: The Trump administration plans to bar Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from traveling to New York to address the UN General Assembly next month for the second consecutive year, Israeli media reported. The reported decision follows Washington’s unprecedented move last year to deny visas»»»
Slovenia's NLB loses Addiko but keeps hunting across the Balkans
Slovenia's biggest bank has lost its year-long fight for Austria's Addiko, but the defeat has done nothing to dim its appetite for deals across the former Yugoslavia. Nova Ljubljanska banka (LJSE: NLBR), the Ljubljana-listed group that controls roughly a third of Slovenia's banking assets, failed o»»»
‘Happier than I can describe’: Saudi footballer Nadeen Kaaki sets sights on national team and Premier League return
ALKHOBAR: When Nadeen Kaaki learned in 2020 that girls could play organized football in Saudi Arabia, she did not need much convincing to be one of them. The Saudi footballer, now 21, joined a small academy called Tigers and began a journey that would take her from youth football to a national team»»»
Guatemala has received 2,284 Mexicans deported from the U.S. in 2026 - UPI.com
People walk toward the Returnees Reception Center upon arrival on the third flight of citizens deported from the United States at the Guatemalan Air Force base in Guatemala City, Guatemala on January 6. File Photo by Mariano Macz/EPA Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo said Guate»»»
Hungary’s PM Magyar reveals what moved him to tears on 20 August
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has revealed which moment of this year’s 20 August national holiday left the strongest impression on him, highlighting a meeting with 160 young people from child protection institutions. In a Facebook post on Friday, Magyar described the national holiday as a l»»»
Moroccan families travel to Ceuta border in search of missing loved ones
CEUTA, Spain – CEUTA, Spain – Moroccan families are searching for loved ones who left last month for the Spanish enclave of Ceuta during a large wave of migration. Many of them are camping outside the Tarajal border post on the Moroccan side in hopes of obtaining information. Sp»»»
Trump says he will ease tariffs on imported ground beef to lower prices - UPI.com
A cow stands during the first day of the "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall on June 25 in Washington, D.C. On Friday, President Donald Trump announced he would waive some tariffs on imported beef. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo Aug. 21 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump an»»»
Latvia publishes 'list of shame' of companies trading with Russia, Belarus
Latvia has begun publicly naming companies that continue to trade with Russia and Belarus, publishing an initial list of 170 businesses as part of efforts to increase pressure on commercial links with the two countries, Latvia’s national broadcaster LSM.lv reported on August 20. The Central Statist»»»
Iraq PM seeks oil production rise to 10m barrels a day
BAGHDAD: Iraq’s prime minister said Friday that he wants to increase the country’s oil production to as much as 10 million barrels a day within six years. Crude oil sales account for nearly 90 percent of Iraq’s revenue but its exports have been hurt by the outbreak of the Middle East war between Ir»»»
Panama cuts movements through canal due to El Niño-linked water shortage - UPI.com
Low rainfall caused by El Niño was blamed for a decision by the Panama government to slash the number of ships permitted to transit the Panama Canal each day by more than a tenth, with the policy to be phased in from early September. File photo by Carlos Lemos/EPA Aug. 21 (UPI) -- The Panama govern»»»
TikTok bets on ‘high-quality content’ as social media faces its ‘tobacco’ moment
LONDON: As social media faces its “Big Tobacco moment,” TikTok is doubling down on “high-quality content” to keep audiences engaged. “High-quality content is usually content that audiences find clear, engaging and valuable,” Haya Barghout, head of creators at TikTok MENA, told Arab News. “That can »»»
Iran’s president Pezeshkian says time has come to end war with US
Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday it was time to end the months-long Middle East war with the United States because Tehran appeared to be in a stronger position than Washington. Talks between the decades-old foes remain on hold, with both sides in the war started by the US and»»»
Domestic politics and impunity, not migration, is greatest threat to Schengen
The European Commission has staked its credibility on safeguarding the internal border-free Schengen zone – by shoring up its external borders, revamping EU migration laws and paying human-rights busting regimes large sums to prevent people from ever reaching Europe. But its soft-glove approach to »»»
Trump pledges 'golden age' of space travel
Washington, United States: President Donald Trump pledged to blast more rockets into space in a push to boost US space travel, including to Mars and the Moon, the White House said Thursday. The United States is competing with China in the race to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030, more than 5»»»
Latvia publishes 'list of shame' of companies trading with Russia, Belarus
Latvia has begun publicly naming companies that continue to trade with Russia and Belarus, publishing an initial list of 170 businesses as part of efforts to increase pressure on commercial links with the two countries, Latvia’s national broadcaster LSM.lv reported on August 20. The Central Statist»»»
Cuba says US sanctions blocking efforts to open economy to private investment
The United States has demanded that Cuba open up to private investment, and Cuba has passed sweeping reforms to encourage just that. So Cuba's U.N. ambassador says he wants to know why Washington keeps piling on sanctions that stymie the very economic opening it has sought for decades. Ambassador E»»»
Ireland’s EU presidency puts its contradictions on display: Atlantic tax haven, digital gatekeeper, defence free‑rider
Since gaining independence a little over 100 years ago, and subsequently joining the EEC in 1973, the Irish state has maintained strong diplomatic credentials among European partners. Throughout this time, Ireland has been very well looked upon due to its commercial openness, consensus-building, an»»»
Iranian families struggle to afford the basics as US ratchets up economic warfare
Tehran's grocery stores are well-stocked, but many families can barely afford the basics. Unemployment is soaring and those with jobs are working more hours for money worth half as much as a year ago, putting food, medicine and everything else — except for heavily subsidized gasoline — further out »»»
UN: DR Congo Ebola outbreak ‘growing exponentially’
GENEVA: The Ebola outbreak raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo is growing “exponentially,” with more than 2,500 deaths now recorded, with half in the last 20 days, the United Nations’ senior Ebola coordinator said Friday. The Ebola outbreak is already the biggest in the country’s history and»»»
Spain must provide adequate shelter, asylum rights to resolve Ceuta crisis: HRW
LONDON: Spain and local authorities in Ceuta must provide adequate shelter to migrants and asylum seekers who arrived in the exclave last month, Human Rights Watch said on Friday. Those who wish to apply for asylum should also be given the opportunity to do so, the organization added. “Thousands of»»»
Back to school, lower bills: du offers up to 50% off selected plans
Dubai: UAE telecom operator du has launched a series of back-to-school offers, including discounts of up to 50 per cent on selected Power Plans for six months. The promotion also gives customers an additional 60GB of data when they subscribe to annual prepaid Flexi plans, aimed at providing greater»»»
Green Balkans Proposes Bearded Vulture as Eurovision 2027 Symbol, Hoping It Will Enhance Species' Protection
The Green Balkans environment protection organization has proposed the bearded vulture as a symbol of Bulgaria for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027, hoping that it will enhance the protection of the species. The organization cites conservation efforts to restore the vulture population in Bulgari»»»
Dramatic car chase at Lake Balaton: Police shoot at driver after he tries to run them down
A dramatic police chase unfolded at Lake Balaton on 20 August after a driver who was initially stopped near Aszófő allegedly sped away, crashed into several police vehicles and tried to hit officers on a cycle path. Four police officers suffered minor injuries, while the driver was taken to hospita»»»
Israel admits killing Palestinian child but clears troops over Gaza aid worker deaths
Israel has acknowledged that its troops killed Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl, and opened a criminal investigation into the incident. At the same time, it has refused to pursue a probe into the death of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in a separate attack. Both incidents occur»»»