Kyrgyzstan’s election to a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council came after a diligent campaign to gain support for its candidacy. It means a Central Asian state will have a seat on the UN’s most powerful body for the second time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Attention now »»»

Closer ties between Astana and Beijing are transforming Kazakhstan from an East-West transit corridor into a regional platform for the deployment of Chinese technologies. Nasdaq-listed Freedom Holding Corp (Nasdaq: FRHC) and its founder, Timur Turlov, are among the most visible beneficiaries of thi»»»

This photo, taken on April 7, shows Sarah Rogers, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, speaking during a press conference at the Foreign Press Center in Washington. Photo by Yonhap The nominee to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on Thursday cited North Korean defectors in unde»»»

Tsoncho Ganev MP of Vazrazhdane called on National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova to urgently convene a meeting of Parliament's Deputy Chairpersons and the Floor Leaders with the participation of the State Agency for National Security, the State Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Serv»»»

Poland has officially gained access to Vietnam's market for fresh apples, opening one of the country's most promising export destinations for fruit producers. Home to more than 100 million consumers and a rapidly expanding middle class, Vietnam represents a significant opportunity for Polish grower»»»

AMMAN — Global passenger demand for air travel declined by 1.7 per cent in June 2026 compared with the same period last year, as weaker domestic markets in China, the United States and Japan offset growth across several international regions, according to new figures released by the International A»»»

LONDON — Global stock markets diverged Thursday as traders tracked major earnings and central bank updates, while oil prices steadied after recent volatility caused by the Middle East war.The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady Wednesday, weighing on the dollar, though three policymakers »»»

The assault on a checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa comes days after another deadly clash in the volatile border province, where authorities have blamed a growing wave of attacks on militants operating from neighbouring Afghanistan.   An attack late Wednesday on a checkpoint in northern Pak»»»

DUBAI: The UAE Women’s U-19 team made history at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday as they confirmed their qualification for the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2027 with a thrilling one-run win over the hosts. The win in the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2026 comes at the»»»

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee has officially awarded Japan the hosting rights for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2028, which also serves as the qualification tournament for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. he selection followed a comprehensive evaluation prais»»»

Dubai: Spinneys will increase its ownership of its Saudi Arabian business to 70 per cent after agreeing to acquire an additional 20 per cent stake from Abdul Mohsen AbdulAziz Al Hokair Holding Group for SAR18 million, as the Dubai-based retailer expands its presence in one of its fastest-growing ma»»»

Dubai: Banks in the UAE deferred repayments on Dh13.5 billion worth of loans for more than 135,000 customers under a Central Bank support package introduced earlier this year, helping businesses and individuals affected by regional disruptions while the country's banking sector continued to strengt»»»

Dubai: Mashreq reported a record first-half profit before tax as strong growth in lending, customer deposits and fee income helped the UAE lender navigate a challenging regional environment. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.The bank said profit bef»»»

Dubai: e& reported double-digit revenue growth for the first half of 2026 as its subscriber base expanded sharply across domestic and international markets, while the telecom and technology group continued reshaping its investment portfolio through asset sales. Get updated faster and for FREE: Down»»»

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon arrived in Kyrgyzstan to participate in the informal Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of Azerbaijan. According to the press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan, the meeting will be held in Cholpon-Ata in Issyk-Kul»»»

PARIS: Soaring fuel prices due to the Mideast war have supercharged sales of electric cars in the second quarter, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday. Electric vehicle sales jumped 35 percent in the second quarter from the first three months of this year, hitting records in 50 countrie»»»

Milan, Italy: Prada said Wednesday that overall net income fell by 15 percent despite higher revenue, in what the luxury fashion company said was a "disrupted" macroeconomic environment. The Milan-based fashion house is still integrating its newest brand, Versace, amid a general slump in the luxury»»»

The number of checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Uzbek state border will be increased from 15 to 30. The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov announced during talks with Uzbekistan’s leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which are taking place at Rukh-Ordo Cultural Center in Issyk-Kul region. According to the head of»»»

President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov awarded President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev the Order of Manas, 1st Class. The ceremony took place on July 30 at Rukh Ordo Cultural Center in Issyk-Kul region as part of the Uzbek leader’s state visit to the country. Shavkat Mirziyoyev was awarded Kyrgyz»»»

Dubai: Middle East airlines are slowly climbing out of the hole left by the Iran conflict, new figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show, even as global air travel demand fell for a third straight month in June. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balance»»»

FIFA’s proposal to sell stakes in a $20 billion commercial subsidiary has drawn strong criticism from football’s regional confederations, which said they were blindsided by the world governing body’s plan to bring private investors into the sport. The Confederations of North America, Central Americ»»»

RIYADH: Middle Eastern carriers showed signs of recovery in June, with cargo demand surging and passenger contractions easing as regional aviation began stabilizing after months of disruption. According to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association, international cargo traffic»»»

Kolkata: Police in West Bengal have seized more than Rs280 million in cash and 15kg of gold worth an estimated Rs210 million during a raid in Birbhum district, before arresting a man allegedly linked to a suspected crime syndicate. The raid, which began on Wednesday afternoon and continued for near»»»

Kumamoto: Twenty-five cats stuck inside a shopping mall in Japan gutted in an explosion after a major earthquake have been rescued, the operator said Thursday, triggering huge relief on social media. Momo, Kohaku, Tango, Shandy - a fluffy Norwegian Forest Cat - and the others were in Cat Cafe MOFF »»»

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Kyrgyzstan on July 30 for a state visit. President Sadyr Japarov welcomed the distinguished guest at Issyk-Kul International Airport. As part of the official welcoming ceremony, elements of Kyrgyz national culture were prepared for the Uzbek lea»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s economy is expected to stay resilient amid geopolitical conflicts and is expected to grow by 1.7 percent this year before accelerating to 5.5 percent in 2027, according to the International Monetary Fund. In its latest Article IV Consultation report, the IMF said that Saudi A»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has strengthened its position as one of the world’s leading liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters after increasing its share of the global market to 18.7% in 2025, according to the latest International Gas Union (IGU) World LNG Report 2026. The report shows that Qatar exported 81»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar secured qualification for the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup 2026 after extending their unbeaten run in the Gulf qualifiers with an 80-67 victory over Oman yesterday at Al Gharafa Sports Hall. Organised by the Qatar Basketball Federation, the tournament serves as the Gulf qualifying event fo»»»

Dubai: Philippine authorities have arrested two women accused of illegally recruiting workers for non-existent jobs in Dubai, after an investigation found that at least 18 applicants had collectively paid ₱1.15 million (around Dh68,655) in processing fees for fake overseas employment. The arrests h»»»

Doha, Qatar: Doha has been recognised as one of the world’s intelligent cities in Boston Consulting Group’s inaugural Intelligent Cities Index 2026, placing it in the Emerging Maturity category among 61 major urban centres across 39 countries. The index, released recently, evaluates how cities depl»»»

The UIM F1H2O World Championship, known as «Formula 1 on Water,» media day is being held in Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. The media day began with an official press conference «Grand Prix the Kyrgyz Republic — Issyk-Kul 2026». The event is attended by the championship management, organizers repre»»»

Hormuz squeeze on ammonia draws foreign bidders to Odesa Port Plant Four companies from the US, Asia and the Middle East are studying data on Ukraine's war-damaged fertiliser plant as the Strait of Hormuz blockade tightens global ammonia supply. Corporate/Energy — Ukraine Four foreign companies fro»»»

Singapore: A French teenager was fined in Singapore Thursday after pleading guilty to a public nuisance charge for a straw-licking stunt that landed him in hot water in the city state. Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, was handed a Sg$600 ($465) fine after admitting to posting to social media a v»»»

Manila: There is a peculiar argument emerging around Pax Silica. Build data centres in the Philippines and, some critics say, we will merely be eating the leftovers of the West — “kain suka” — becoming a dumping ground for America's technology industry while Filipinos shoulder the environmental cos»»»

TOKYO: The death toll from a powerful earthquake in southwestern Japan rose to at least 18, authorities said Thursday, as emergency crews continued searching damaged buildings and industrial sites for people feared trapped beneath debris. The Kumamoto disaster management office's latest tally put f»»»

'Hindi Lang Pauwi—May Panibagong Simula': Marcos highlights reintegration aid for returning OFWs in 2026 SONA Manila: Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to receive government assistance ranging from livelihood funding and job placement to employment support, President Ferdinan»»»

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement is reportedly considering charging commercial vessels transit fees to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and, ultimately, the Suez Canal. The proposal is still un»»»

Egyptian real estate developer M squared, the real estate arm of Intro Holding, has signed a one-year athlete sponsorship agreement with Egyptian entrepreneur and HYROX athlete Aly Mazhar to support his competitive journey throughout the 2026-2027 season. Running from July 2026 to July 2027, the pa»»»

Food SecurityGlobal issuesHow two wars and El Nino could fuel world hungerNik MartinThe wars in Ukraine and the Middle East haven't yet crippled global food supplies. Add a powerful weather pattern like El Nino, however, and the risks multiply. https://p.dw.com/p/5HoFlSupplies of rice — consumed by»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.This CBUAE decision was taken following the U»»»

Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) announced late Wednesday it has decided to maintain the Base Rate applicable to the Overnight Deposit Facility (ODF) at 3.65%. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.This CBUAE decision was taken following the U»»»

Dubai: The US Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, though the decision revealed divisions among policymakers as inflation remained elevated in the world's largest economy. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Most investors expec»»»

Record Shanghai listing fuels semiconductor ambitions, though company still trails South Korean and U.S. rivals technologically A large screen shows the latest stock exchange and economy data in Shanghai, China, 15 June 2026. Photo by ALEX PLAVEVSKI / EPA July 28 (Asia Today) -- China's successful »»»

The Afghan Taliban's growing investment in drone technology is a direct response to their lack of a conventional air force, and Pakistan's defence establishment — built around fighter jets, tanks and artillery — is struggling to keep pace, Umair Jamal of the Diplomat Risk Intelligence consultancy a»»»

The number of tigers in Nepal has risen by roughly a fifth over the past four years, wildlife officials say, strengthening the Himalayan nation's reputation for conservation. But as the number of tigers in the wild has risen, the number of tiger attacks on humans has increased with it.  Nepal'»»»

ROME: Saudi Arabia and Italy on Wednesday called for the protection of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea following a series of attacks and threats against vessels in waterways vital to global trade and energy supplies. In a joint declaration following t»»»

Kathmandu, Nepal: Nepal's tiger population has risen by roughly 20 percent in the past four years to an estimated 429, officials said on Wednesday, a conservation milestone despite challenges from human-wildlife conflict. The latest nationwide survey found tiger numbers had increased from 355 in 20»»»

Dubai: Floodwaters triggered by relentless monsoon rains have inundated villages in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, forcing residents to flee by boat as homes and farmland disappeared under vast stretches of water. In Muridke district, volunteers used small motorboats to evacuate stranded famil»»»

RIYADH: Air connectivity between Egypt and the UAE is set to receive a boost after the two countries agreed to gradually expand bilateral air transport rights, giving airlines greater flexibility to increase services. The memorandum of understanding, signed during the 11th ICAO Africa-Indian Ocean »»»