Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation said on Saturday it welcomed the scrapping of FIFA's proposal to allow private investment in the World Cup. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa "welcomed the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise," the Kuala Lumpur-based bod»»»

Researchers identified the new mineral at the Kirovsky mine in the Khibiny Massif on the Kola Peninsula. It has been named Kola Ashcroftine, a spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education told Sputnik. Even a thin coating of the new mineral on rock is valued at an average o»»»

Los Angeles, United States: A US F-35 fighter jet crashed Friday near a military base in San Diego, but the pilot was able to eject before impact, officials said. "There was an aviation mishap involving a Marine Corps F-35B in the vicinity" of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at about 10:00 am (170»»»

Paris, France: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Saturday he had scrapped a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup following fierce backlash from football officials worldwide. "Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," Infantino said in a statement»»»

Italy has temporarily suspended Schengen free-movement arrangements with Spain for one month, introducing targeted checks on some travellers arriving from Spain by air and sea. The move follows a surge in migrant arrivals into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, from neighbouring Morocco. I»»»

Dubai, UAE: An "unknown projectile" struck a tanker off the coast of Oman, a British maritime agency said on Saturday, as the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel reported it was "struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage to the engine room", the »»»

Arab Finance: Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa held an expanded meeting to follow up on the performance of the Metallurgical Industries Holding Company (MIH) and its subsidiaries, according to a statement. The meeting reviewed the ongoing development projects, modernization »»»

The United States and Israel are preparing large-scale strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure, CBS News reported, citing sources. The strikes could occur this weekend, the report said.The White House has received plans for a heavy 2-week bombardment of Iran's missile sites, including options targe»»»

More than 50,000 migrants have already returned to Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the 20minutos newspaper reported, citing local police sources. As previously reported by RTVE, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior said more than 48,300 illegal migrants have already returned from Ceuta t»»»

A senior security source commented to the Tasnim news agency on reports of possible US and Israeli attacks on Iran, stating that Tehran has prepared a comprehensive "response plan" in the event of military action. Earlier, CBS News, citing sources, reported that the US and Israel are preparing larg»»»

Restarting Hungary’s Paks Nuclear Power Plant could take up to a week if all four reactor units are shut down simultaneously, according to the plant’s Deputy CEO for Technical Affairs. The unprecedented situation is expected due to the record-low water level of the Danube, which has reduced the ava»»»

A gallery and solo exhibition of photographs by Honored Cultural Figure of the Kyrgyz Republic Erkin Bolzhurov, «From Ulitka’to Esimde,» has been opened in the village of Kuntuu at the art residence of People’s Artist of Kyrgyzstan and film director Aktan Arym Kubat. The Union of Cinematographers o»»»

Pakistani rescuers recovered three bodies on Friday after an avalanche hit Broad Peak during a climbing expedition, officials said. The Gilgit-Baltistan government identified the recovered climbers as Nepalese mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung, Omani climber Nathira Ahmed and American climber Mallory »»»

Thousands of migrants have entered Spain’s tiny North African territory of Ceuta from Morocco, with at least 57 people reported dead during the attempt, prompting Spain to deploy military support to reinforce the border. Migrant arrivals surge at Ceuta borderVideos and images from the frontier show»»»

A rockfall occurred overnight on August 1 in Boom Gorge, the Main Traffic Safety Department confirmed the information. According to the agency, traffic police officers and other emergency services are working at the scene, taking all necessary measures to deal with the aftermath of the incident. Al»»»

A rockfall occurred in Boom Gorge overnight on August 1, eyewitnesses posted on social media. Witnesses said the rockfall completely blocked the Bishkek—Issyk-Kul road, bringing traffic to a standstill in both directions. Long traffic jams quickly formed, and while waiting for heavy machinery to ar»»»

The Middle East remains on alert as the US weighs further strikes on Iran, Gaza ceasefire efforts continue, and regional shipping and aviation face disruption. Here are the key updates UAE residents need to know today. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click h»»»

The shutdown of the Paks nuclear power plant is not an emergency — every step is being taken in accordance with the strictest safety regulations and a pre-established procedure, wrote István Kapitány, Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, on his Facebook page, following a visit to the nuclear po»»»

Deputy Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan Benazir Nurlanova met with a delegation of Turkish entrepreneurs. According to the Ministry of Economy, the parties discussed prospects for expanding Kyrgyzstan — Turkey trade, economic, and investment cooperation, increasing the export of domestic berries t»»»

The collection of the National History Museum in Bishkek has been replenished with a valuable historical exhibit that belonged to one of the founders of Kyrgyz statehood, an outstanding statesman and public figure Abdykerim Sydykov. The Ministry of Culture reported. The grandson of the public figur»»»

Industrial producer prices were an average 0.4% lower in June 2026 than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Domestic output prices rose by 1.8%, while non-domestic output prices were cut by 1.4% compared to June 2025. Compared to the previous month, domestic output prices went up by 0»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is expected to experience above-average temperatures across most of the Kingdom through October, with rainfall intensifying from September and potentially reaching heavy to very heavy levels in some areas later in the season, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) said on Fr»»»

As part of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Kyrgyzstan, a ceremony to sign and exchange a memorandum establishing sister city relations between Osh and Azerbaijan’s Ganja took place at Rukh-Ordo Cultural Center in Cholpon-Ata. According to the City Hall of the southern capital, t»»»

DUBAI: A tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman, a British maritime agency said on Saturday, as the United States and Iran vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel reported it was “struck by an unknown projectile which has caused damage to the engine room,” th»»»

Israeli strikes have continued across Gaza hours after US President Donald Trump announced a “historic agreement” under which Hamas would be disarmed and the IDF would completely withdraw from the enclave. At least one Palestinian was killed and several others were wounded in the attacks on Friday,»»»

Travellers flying to and from the UAE are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as airlines continue to adjust schedules amid operational changes and heightened regional tensions. While most UAE carriers are operating near normal levels, Etihad Airways, Emirates and Ai»»»

The 730-person agency will coordinate intelligence for the prime minister, while a separate foreign intelligence service is planned The photo shows the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) in Japan. The Japanese government launched the National Intelligence Bureau on Friday as an organization reporting»»»

WASHINGTON: The State Department is making permanent a pilot program under which citizens from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, are required to post bonds to apply for a US visa, and it’s raising the cost as well, to as much as $20,000. A draft notice published Friday in the Federal Register says a »»»

President Donald Trump claimed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which cost nearly $15 million to renovate, had been damaged by vandals. But in a court filing Friday evening, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the damage was caused by a "botched installation." Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI. | Licen»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s royal reserve authorities marked World Ranger Day on Friday by paying tribute to field rangers safeguarding the Kingdom’s wildlife, natural habitats and biodiversity, while highlighting the growing use of technology and enforcement to strengthen environmental protection. Acco»»»

NEW YORK: A Turkish man was arrested Friday in the United Kingdom on charges alleging he conspired to funnel money and supplies to Hamas through his senior role in what prosecutors say was a sham global humanitarian organization. Mohammad Yousef Hasna, 45, of Istanbul, was ordered held pending extr»»»

MANCHESTER, England: Labour Party candidate Bev Craig was elected mayor of Greater Manchester on Friday, after a vote triggered by the departure of Andy Burnham to become Britain’s prime minister. Craig won 66.3% of the votes in a runoff with Sian Astley from the anti-immigration party Reform UK. “»»»

WASHINGTON: The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying evidence prosecutors had recently received refuted the idea that vandals were to blame. Government lawyers said in a 20-page »»»

SEOUL: North ‌Korea accused NATO on Saturday of preparing for war by expanding military ​fuel infrastructure across Europe, saying the alliance’s plans show it is becoming a more aggressive military bloc. In a commentary carried by state media KCNA, North Korea criticized NATO’s Fuel Supply ‌Chain »»»

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Friday that world soccer’s governing ​body had scrapped plans to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors after widespread backlash. FIFA’s plan was to raise up to $4.2 billion by selling about a 20 percent stake in a new unit that would run FIFA ev»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set for another hot weekend, with temperatures climbing to 49C inland on Saturday before the weather becomes increasingly unsettled early next week, bringing the possibility of afternoon showers to eastern and southern parts of the country. The National Centre of Meteorology (»»»

The US military said it has redirected 30 commercial vessels since the start of its blockade of Iranian ports, while maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping. In an update posted on X on Friday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that, as of July 31, its forces ha»»»

NEW YORK: American oil and gas giants raked in massive spring profits while fighting between Iran and the US impeded petroleum shipments and consumers around the world paid more for fuel and confronted shortages. The conflict, now in its sixth month, halted most shipping through the Strait of Hormu»»»

Disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has prompted oil-producing countries in the Gulf to accelerate plans for alternative export routes, with a series of pipeline projects announced or revived. Here is a breakdown of the proposals. - Regional picture -A total of 14.95 million barrels»»»

President Donald Trump said the U.S. would be hitting Iran "very hard" with new airstrikes that could be launched as early as this weekend. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- The United States military is preparing to launch a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iran as early as t»»»

WASHINGTON: The State Department is making permanent a pilot program under which citizens from 50 countries, mainly in Africa, are required to post bonds to apply for a US visa, and it’s raising the cost as well, to as much as $20,000. A draft notice published Friday in the Federal Register says a »»»

Dubai: Dubai residents will soon have more places to shop, eat, exercise and access everyday services, with nine new malls and community retail destinations planned across the city. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The pipeline stretches from Nad Al Sheba and Sobha Hart»»»

Manila is finally beginning to reshape its automotive policy for the 21st century. The government's decisions on local car-production incentives in 2026 signal a broader shift in Philippine industrial strategy — away from simply protecting conventional vehicle assembly and toward attracting the nex»»»

Federal officials said drought conditions over the past 25 years have dwindled the water capacity available to the seven states that rely on the Colorado River. File Photo by NASA/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- Federal officials on Friday released an updated framework for the Colorado River, »»»

Tunis, July 31, 2026 (TAP) - The Tunisian Confederation of Citizen Enterprises (CONECT) called for the establishment of a legal framework enshrining an official status for farmers, defining their rights and obligations, in order to reinforce their...»»»

Argentina and South Korea are set to deepen their cooperation in the critical minerals industry, the Argentine foreign ministry announced Friday. The deal comes one day after Seoul entered a similar partnership with Chile, during a visit to South America by President Lee Jae Myung. The agreement wi»»»

The US and Israel are preparing a major bombing campaign against Iran’s energy infrastructure that could begin as early as this weekend, according to multiple media reports. The proposed operation would target power plants, oil refineries and other energy-related facilities in what CBS News describ»»»

DOHA: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Chairman of the Political Bureau of Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Dr Khalil Al Hayya held a telephone conversation on Friday. At the outset of the call, the Prime Minister and Mini»»»

Elon Musk's xAI sued Minnesota seeking to block the state's law banning nudification technology. File photo by Francis Chung/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- A federal judge on Friday turned down a request by Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, to block a Minnesota law banning nud»»»

HOUSTON: A cargo of flagship US light sweet crude loaded in Texas ​was headed to Israel on Friday, the first shipment to the country in nearly three years, ship tracking data showed. Here are the details: Malta-flagged Aframax vessel Captain John loaded ‌US West Texas ‌Intermediate crude at ​Enbrid»»»