SANTIAGO, Chile: Ricardo Alegria is a different sort of milk man. For a quarter century or more, he and his brother Marco have led donkeys through the streets of Chile's capital, milking them on the spot for customers.
It's a rare job, but a very old one.
The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates recommended donkey's milk for some ailments and at least some claim that Cleopatra bathed in it for her skin.
The use of donkey's milk has persisted in some parts of the world. Even Pope Francis has said he drank it as a boy in Argentina, prompting an Italian company that produces the milk to give him two donkeys recently.
The Alegrias sell shot-sized cups of the milk for about $2. A half-liter, the most they say a donkey produces in a day, goes for about $20.
Ricardo Alegria said the milk "is taken as a vitamin jolt for babies with gastric problems," and researchers at the University of Camerino in Italy have reported it can be a good substitute for children with allergies to cow's milk. But adults too often drink it.
Fifty-four-year-old Carlos Aravena said he's been raising burros on the outskirts of Santiago and selling their milk as long as he can remember. His father did as well.
Fresh donkey milk for sale on streets of Chile
Fresh donkey milk for sale on streets of Chile

Bella Hadid poses for Chopard

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid is no stranger to Chopard, having worn the luxury jewelry house’s creations on numerous red carpets over the years.
This week, the brand shared new campaign images of Hadid wearing pieces from its high jewelry collection ahead of Paris Couture Week.
In one of the images, Hadid wears a diamond necklace featuring a large yellow gemstone at its center. In another, she wears a coordinated jewelry set consisting of sapphire and diamond drop earrings, matching necklace, and a statement ring.
“@BellaHadid embodies the essence of High Jewelery — radiant, refined, unforgettable. A tribute to timeless glamor ahead of Paris Couture Week,” the brand wrote on Instagram.
The model’s collaboration with Chopard began in 2017 when she became one of the faces of the brand’s high jewelry collections. Since then, she has appeared in several campaigns and has worn Chopard pieces at major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala, and Paris Fashion Week.
Hadid has had a busy summer. In June, with the help of close friends, she expanded her beauty brand Orebella with a range of accessories.
The model and entrepreneur teamed up with Wildflower Cases co-founders Sydney and Devon Lee Carlson to launch a limited-edition collaboration featuring two new products: an iPhone case and a “scentable wristlet.”
Hadid took to Instagram to announce the launch, writing: “Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to be creative with my beauty boss sisters. Life is beautiful when we have the opportunity to watch our friends winning. So proud of you two. So proud of our teams. So proud of us. Love you all — thank you for bringing this vision to life.
“Cases ANDDDD our most special scented wristlets to keep the Orebella scent of your choice on you at all times! Been wanting to make this accessory for a while, had the idea for scented bracelets and wristlets, and my sisters pulled it all together for us,” she added.
In June, Ulta Beauty, one of the largest beauty retailers in the US, awarded Orebella its “conscious brand of the year” title, highlighting the label’s ethical practices and sustainable packaging.
Hadid announced the news on Instagram, saying: “Thank you to our Ulta Beauty family for recognizing our commitment to creating a healthy daily ritual for all.”
Japan, GCC conclude second round of FTA negotiations

- Proposals were reviewed by both sides, with a focus on strengthening trade relations, finding areas to cooperate and fostering partnerships
TOKYO: The second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the GCC countries and Japan ended in Tokyo on Friday.
Taking part in the discussions — which covered topics including goods, technical barriers, terms of services, financial and telecommunications services, and intellectual property — was a government delegation led by the General Authority for Foreign Trade.
Proposals were reviewed by both sides, with a focus on strengthening trade relations, finding areas to cooperate and fostering partnerships.
Farid bin Saeed Al-Asali, deputy governor of the General Authority for International Organizations and Agreements and head of the Saudi Negotiating Team, said he was looking forward to completing the remaining negotiation rounds and reaching an ambitious final agreement which would be beneficial to the volume of trade between both sides.
He added the negotiation rounds highlighted economic ties between the GCC and Japan and supported Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
During a meeting with the Saudi ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi bin Faisal Binzagr, Al-Asali stressed the importance of free trade negotiations with Japan as they emphasized the commitment of both Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries to enhancing relations with Japan and achieving the goals of the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030.
The Kingdom’s delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Economy and Planning, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, Saudi Export Development Authority, Communications, Space and Technology Commission, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and the Saudi Central Bank.
IT ministry says Microsoft shifting to partner-led delivery model, not retreating from Pakistan

- The statement follows reports about the closure of Microsoft’s office and lay-off of its employees in Pakistan
- Islamabad to engage with tech giant to ensure any structural changes strengthen its commitment to local customers
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information technology (IT) ministry said on Saturday that global tech giant Microsoft was not retreating from the Pakistani market and was only moving to a partner-led, cloud-based delivery model in the South Asian country.
The statement followed media reports about the closure of Microsoft’s office and lay-off of a small number of employees in Pakistan, sparked by a LinkedIn post by a former head of Microsoft in the country.
The Pakistani IT ministry said the tech giant had shifted its licensing and commercial-contract management for Pakistan to its European hub in Ireland in recent years, while its day-to-day service delivery had been handled entirely by certified local partners.
“Against that backdrop, we understand Microsoft is now reviewing the future of its liaison office in Pakistan as part of a wider workforce-optimization program,” the IT ministry said in a statement.
“This would reflect a long-signalled strategy, consolidating direct headcount and moving toward a partner-led, cloud-based delivery model, rather than a retreat from the Pakistani market.”
Pakistan’s IT sector has witnessed a significant growth in recent years, reaching $3.4 million from July 2024 till May 2025, compared to $2.9 million during the same period the previous year, according to the Pakistani central bank.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has been striving to further increase these exports to support the $350 billion economy, and the IT ministry sought to allay concerns about the clousure of the Microsoft office.
It said the global pivot from on-premise software (transactional deals) to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) continues to reshape how technology firms structure their international operations, and Microsoft is no exception.
“Pakistan’s Ministry of IT & Telecom recognizes the strategic value of having leading global technology providers active in the country,” the ministry said.
“We will continue to engage Microsoft’s regional and global leadership to ensure that any structural changes strengthen, rather than diminish, Microsoft’s long term commitment to Pakistani customers, developers and channel partners.”
Ukraine strikes Russian air base

- Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region
- Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia’s military
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war.
Ukraine’s military General Staff said Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia’s Voronezh region, describing it as the “home base” of Russia’s Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets.
Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and “possibly other aircraft.”
Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack.
Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia’s military capability and demonstrate Ukraine’s capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. Last month, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia’s territory in a surprise drone attack.
Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine’s air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.
According to the air force, Ukraine’s western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional Gov. Serhii Tyurin said Saturday that no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported.
Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 26 people were wounded.
The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he had a “very important and productive” phone call with US President Donald Trump.
The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defenses might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the US and Ukraine, and broader U.S-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenksyy.
Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, “We had a very good call, I think.”
When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.”
The US has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defense missiles. Ukraine’s main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelensky says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine’s domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 12 further drones on Saturday morning. No casualties were reported.
July edition of National Geographic Al-Arabiya explores nomadic heritage, digital archaeology, ‘maligned’ wildlife

- Latest issue examines humanity’s evolving relationship with the environment
- “The New Archaeologists” profiles social media influencers turned amateur archaeologists along London’s Thames riverbanks
ABU DHABI: The July edition of National Geographic Al Arabiya examines the complex interplay between humanity and environmental forces while highlighting exceptional cultural narratives and transformative global social movements.
The magazine’s 178th issue begins with an extensive feature on Africa’s largest nomadic group, the Fulani — some 20 million people who traverse the continent’s vast desert areas. These modern-day Bedouins continue their ancestral migrations with herds of livestock, journeying from Africa’s eastern reaches to its western borders in an eternal search for water and grazing lands.
The investigation examines how this ancient pastoral society confronts 21st-century challenges, from climate change to social upheaval, while working to elevate women’s roles in their deeply rooted herding culture.
A striking counterpoint emerges in “The New Archaeologists” which profiles an unexpected phenomenon along London’s Thames riverbanks — social media influencers turned amateur archaeologists. These digital-age treasure hunters have sparked both remarkable discoveries and heated debates over proper archaeological protocols.
The feature captures an emerging conflict between grassroots passion for historical discovery and established scientific methodology in an era where technology democratizes access to archaeological exploration.
The issue’s centerpiece investigation, “Our Maligned Wildlife,” challenges readers to reconsider nature’s most misunderstood creatures. From the notoriously pungent and ferocious honey badger to small-eyed vultures and scruffy aye-aye lemurs, the feature argues these “ugly” animals play crucial ecological roles — and that their supposed flaws may actually be evolutionary strengths.
Readers then journey to Romania’s Transylvanian countryside, where traditional farming communities maintain centuries-old agricultural practices despite mounting pressure from modernization.
The magazine concludes with a photographic retrospective marking New York City’s 400th anniversary, tracing the metropolis’s remarkable evolution from a small settlement to a global powerhouse pulsing with life and renewal.