Dubai: A fresh confrontation between the Philippines and China unfolded in the disputed South China Sea on July 24, with both countries accusing each other of provoking the latest maritime incident near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has shared that Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ve»»»

New Delhi: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been handed a direct entry into the men's knockouts of the Asian Games cricket after the draw was announced. Defending champions India along with its seeded neighbours will start from the quarter-finals of the 10-team men's competition start»»»

The UAE has retained its position as the world's most powerful passport in the 2026 Passport Index published by Arton Capital, ranking first globally for travel freedom and outperforming passports from many of the world's leading economies. The Emirati passport achieved an overall mobility score of»»»

Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese militant who took part in a deadly attack on Tel Aviv's airport more than five decades ago, died Thursday in Beirut, the Palestinian group that had been protecting him said. He was 78. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a faction that is the second-largest»»»

President Donald Trump's administration has imposed new tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners under a sweeping trade action aimed at pressuring governments to strengthen bans on goods produced with forced labor. The measures, announced under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, affect 99.4% »»»

MANILA, Philippines: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a deal, saying diplomacy will require sustained effort and new ideas. Rubio, who held talks with his Rus»»»

MANILA, Philippines: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a deal, saying diplomacy will require sustained effort and new ideas. Rubio, who held talks with his Rus»»»

BEIRUT: Kozo Okamoto, the Japanese militant who took part in a deadly attack on Tel Aviv’s airport more than five decades ago, died Thursday in Beirut, the Palestinian group that had been protecting him said. He was 78. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a faction that is the second»»»

The first International Forum of Islamic Civilization earlier this month brought over 450 religious leaders, scholars, diplomats, government officials and other participants from more than 50 countries to Uzbekistan. Across events in Tashkent, Samarkand and Termez on July 7-11, participants discuss»»»

MANILA - Making an additional effort to forge ties with ASEAN countries is in Serbia's state and national interest, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said in Manila on Thursday, adding that, while they were geographically distant from Serbia, ASEAN member states were crucial for the future of humanity in the»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatari football clubs and national teams are set for a demanding 2026-27 campaign, with a packed schedule of domestic, regional and continental competitions awaiting them over the coming months. The new football season will get underway on August 20 with the Qatar Stars League, while t»»»

Doha, Qatar: The French Tennis Federation (FFT) and beIN Media Group (beIN), the global sports, entertainment and media group, are pleased to announce the extension of its exclusive broadcasting agreement for Roland-Garros across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia regions which will s»»»

MANILA: Top diplomats from Asia, Europe and North America gathered on Thursday for the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, where ministers were expected to issue calls for a peaceful settlement after renewed and intensifying hostilities in the Middle East. The war in Iran and the block»»»

India’s passport ranking has fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting changing global mobility trends, visa policies and diplomatic ties. In the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, India ranks 81st globally, with passport holders having access to 55 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.»»»

MANILA: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi discussed on Wednesday a visit to the US in September by Chinese President Xi Jinping during an Asian gathering where ministers voiced ​concern about the Iran war and South China Sea tensions. Rubio said he and Wang discussed»»»

Doha, Qatar: Philippine passport holders can now travel to 65 destinations without obtaining a visa, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released as part of its 20th anniversary edition. The Philippines ranked 72nd globally in the latest passport ranking, sharing the position with Benin R»»»

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airports recorded 51 million passenger movements across its network of airports in Malaysia during the first half (H1) of 2026, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, the airport operator said on Wednesday. In June alone, Malaysia Airports »»»

The UAE passport has climbed to second place among the world's most powerful travel documents, marking the biggest rise in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index. The July 2026 index, based on exclusive IATA Timatic data, shows Emirati passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arriv»»»

Hormuz and a handful of maritime straits around the world have served as the linchpin of global trade since the 16th century and have fuelled geopolitical rivalries throughout history. As Iran tightens its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, its Yemeni allies, the Houthi rebels, want to disrupt shipping »»»

GUANGZHOU: : A UAE corporate services provider, a UAE law firm and a leading Chinese legal practice have joined forces in a strategic move to strengthen cross-border business, investment and advisory support between the Middle East and East Asia. The Corporate Group (TCG), Ahmed AlRaeesi Advocates »»»

DUBAI: Mehak Thakur will lead the 14-member UAE Women’s team in the eight-team ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2026 which begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, July 23. The tournament is the Asia pathway event for the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup 2027. The winner of the tour»»»

International observers will monitor the upcoming elections of deputies to the Kurultai in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz reports. The media outlet reported that the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan has accredited around 90 observers. They include representatives from Pakistan, Indonesia, Uzbek»»»

New Delhi: India has approved its first vaccine to prevent dengue, clearing Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda’s Qdenga for use in people aged between four and 60 years as the country seeks to strengthen its response to one of the world’s fastest-growing mosquito-borne diseases. The Central Dru»»»

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived on a visit to the Philippines, where he will take part in events under the auspices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a Sputnik correspondent reported. Lavrov will take part in the annual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers and »»»

Kuala Lumpur: A wave of political disinformation targeting Malaysia’s Rohingya population has raised alarm among rights groups that say it is fueling xenophobia and intimidation against the refugee community. AFP fact-checkers have debunked a torrent of falsehoods about the Muslim ethnic group on p»»»

Manila: The 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and the associated coordination meetings convened in Manila on Monday. Held under the theme "Navigating Our Future, Together", the 2026 event is chaired by the Philippines and widely assembles the foreign ministers of the bloc's 10 member stat»»»

MANILA: Southeast Asia’s top diplomats will express alarm over renewed hostilities in the Middle East when they gather in the Philippine capital Tuesday for talks to be joined by Western and Asian counterparts, including from the United States, China, Russia and the European Union. Some of the worl»»»

MANILA: Asia’s only dedicated exorcism center — designed to train not only Philippine priests but clergy from across the region — sits just off a busy thoroughfare in Metro Manila. Inside, neatly made-up rooms for visiting priests line warmly lit halls that lead to a chapel where the 400-year-old r»»»

Dubai: There are cities you visit. There are cities you work in. And then there are cities that quietly become part of who you are. For Antonio Ostuni, Dubai is all three. Sixteen years after first arriving in the emirate as a young Italian hotelier eager to prove himself, there is still no one way»»»

On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800, New York to Paris, crashed off the Long Island coast, killing all 230 people aboard the Boeing 747. 1 of 6 | Family members and friends of the deceased passengers of TWA Flight 800 grieve at memorial ceremonies held July 18, 1997, at Mt. Moriches Memorial Park by t»»»

PARIS, France — Investment in critical minerals fell last year, the International Energy Agency said Thursday, even after Western nations vowed to boost domestic production for national security reasons.Furthermore the geographic concentration of supply chains for elements critical to the high-tech»»»

The Kremlin is pushing the Far East as a major investment opportunity thanks to a sanctions-driven surge in trade with China and a broader wave of investment from across the continent and the Global South. For most of the past decade, Russia's pivot to Asia has been measured in barrels of oil, cubi»»»

Qatar Airways is ending its operations in Bulgaria, bringing an end to more than 15 years of direct flights between Doha and Sofia in a move that the country's tourism industry says will significantly weaken Bulgaria's air links with Asia, Africa, and Australia. According to Dimitrina Goranova, Vic»»»

Sharjah: Kalimat Foundation has expanded its global literacy outreach by donating six portable libraries containing 600 Arabic-language children’s books to schools in Malaysia, giving more than 4,000 students greater access to Arabic reading materials. The initiative, led by Sheikha Bodour bint Sul»»»

JEDDAH: The first group of 250 pilgrims under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit has arrived in Makkah after spending several days in Madinah. Upon arrival, the guests performed Umrah and expressed their appreciation to the Kingdom’s leadership for the »»»

SYDNEY: The United Nations refugee agency is investigating reports that two boats carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority have capsized in the Bay of Bengal. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement Tuesday that the boats reportedly departed Myanmar’s western sta»»»

SYDNEY: The United Nations refugee agency is investigating reports that two boats carrying members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority have capsized in the Bay of Bengal. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement Tuesday that the boats reportedly departed Myanmar’s western sta»»»

The European Union plans to implement a social media ban on users younger than 13-years-old, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday. File Photo by Ida Marie Odgaard/EPA July 13 (UPI) -- The European Union plans to implement a social media ban on users younger than 13-years-old, Commi»»»

Dubai: For UAE travellers planning a European summer holiday, 2026 has turned into one of the most challenging travel seasons in recent years. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.First came flight disruptions linked to regional conflicts, followed by fewer flight options o»»»

MANILA: The Philippines has strengthened cooperation with Saudi Arabia in addressing human trafficking, authorities say, following a joint program in Manila on knowledge sharing. The Philippines hosted this month a delegation from the Saudi National Committee on Combating Human Trafficking under a »»»

Sharjah has secured the exclusive rights to develop and operate Malaysia’s popular BookXcess bookstores across the Middle East and Africa, marking another major step in the emirate’s ambition to become a global centre for publishing, books and knowledge. The agreement was signed during a visit by a»»»

Dubai: Football fans had another rivalry to entertain them. Over the weekend, British Airways and Norwegian entered a fun social media spat. No boarding passes were harmed. But there was a clear winner. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.It started innocently enough. A ch»»»

Doha, Qatar: The passing of Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani prompted an outpouring of condolences and tributes from heads of state, royal families, and senior leaders across the world, who praised his enduring legacy and extended heartfelt sympathy to the leadership, people, and g»»»

QNA Doha The Arab and Islamic worlds received the news of the passing of Qatar’s great statesman HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, with profound sadness. Widely recognised for his dedication to Arab and Islamic causes, HH the late Father Amir devoted his time, effort, and intell»»»

DOHA: The Arab and Islamic worlds received the news of the passing of the State of Qatar's great statesman, HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, with profound sadness. Widely recognized for his dedication to Arab and Islamic causes, HH the late Father Amir devoted his time, effort,»»»

MADINAH: The first group in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit has toured the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah. The 250 pilgrims from 16 Asian regions looked at the facility and learned about its high-precision printing, translation, and g»»»

Germany will continue allowing citizens from 62 countries outside the European Union and Schengen Area to enter without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days in 2026, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. The policy, outlined in the government's official visa requirements list, permits »»»

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia Airlines recently said it has expanded its presence in China with the launch of direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Shenzhen and Changsha, strengthening connectivity between the two countries amid growing demand for business and leisure travel. The national carrier said in a »»»

As summer travel demand reaches its peak, Pakistani passport holders continue to have access to 30 destinations through visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival (VOA) or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) schemes, according to the latest Henley Passport Index July 2026 update. Pakistan’s passport rankin»»»