Saudi Awwal Bank, one of the Kingdom’s leading banks, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club have announced the launch of the SAB Qatar Airways Privilege Club Credit Card in Saudi Arabia. This Visa Infinite credit card is the first co-branded payment card between Qatar Airways Privilege Club and a bank i»»»

New York: It’s often said that you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. The saying rings true under a deal where three major US egg producers will have to crack into their supplies to settle price fixing claims. Under the settlement announced Wednesday, the companies will donate 53 million»»»

Kuwait City: Authorities in Kuwait ordered the closure of a local Iranian school, a source at the education ministry told AFP on Thursday, after the country came under repeated Iranian attack during the Middle East war. The ministry source did not specify the reason for shutting the country's only »»»

Aug. 5 (UPI) -- An Australian snake catcher responded to a call from a driver who opened their glove compartment and found a large python looking back at them. Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 posted a video to social media showing a reptile wrangler named Summer removing the coastal carpet pytho»»»

Doha, Qatar: Minister of State for Interior Affairs HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Mohammed Al-Thani attended the ceremony marking the promotion of a number of First Warrant Officers to the rank of Lieutenant and their taking of the military oath. His Excellency affirmed the Ministry of Interio»»»

Lebanese and Israeli negotiators are meeting Thursday in Rome for a third and final day to discuss the implementation of a deal under which Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from areas they are occupying in southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. On Wednesday, Israel request»»»

Dubai: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism said its instant blocking centre (InstaBlock) shut down more than 14,000 websites and applications illegally streaming sports content during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of efforts to combat digital piracy and protect broadcasting rights. The ministry »»»

Recent attention regarding the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Iran has often focused on the issue of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the issue of Iran’s nuclear weapons poses a threat not only to the Gulf region but also to the international community. It »»»

An oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman reported hearing two explosions, a British maritime agency said Thursday.  Earlier, Iran said an agreement with Oman over the strait is in its final stages, while US President Donald Trump suggested a deal could be announce»»»

Nigerian authorities announced the rescue of 308 people abducted by armed groups, including 163 villagers seized during a deadly attack earlier this year, calling it the country's largest single-day hostage rescue operation. The Nigerian government announced the release of more than 300 kidnapping »»»

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic ⁠of Congo is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Families said many frontline workers in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, have gone on strike over pay issues, worsening acces»»»

JAKARTA: Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to promote direct investment and facilitate cross-border capital flows, as Jakarta seeks to attract more Saudi companies to its strategic sectors. The Saudi Minister of Investment Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif and his Indonesian counterpar»»»

A military ceremony was held in Pleven Thursday to welcome home members of the Bulgarian contingent returning from NATO's KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Brig. Gen. Hristo Hristov, chief of staff of the Joint Forces Command, praised the troops for their professionalism and dedication, saying t»»»

Air travel between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates remains uncertain amid the tensions in the Persian Gulf, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry warned on Thursday. The Ministry said European airlines are currently waiting for the security risk in the region to ease before resuming regular f»»»

The latest meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EIC) has begun in Cholpon-Ata. It is being held as part of Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union. The meeting is attended by Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Kasymaliev, as well as th»»»

JAKARTA: Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to promote direct investment and facilitate cross-border capital flows, as Jakarta seeks to attract more Saudi companies to its strategic sectors. The Saudi Minister of Investment Fahad bin Abduljalil Al-Saif and his Indonesian counterpar»»»

At least six people were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight into Thursday, including three in the city ​of ‌Balakliia in the Kharkiv region and another three in the northern region of Sumy, local authorities said. A Russian ​attack also damaged ​a foreign-flagge»»»

In Germany, a drone carrying an explosive device was discovered and defused on the tarmac at Leipzig Airport. A second flying object then struck a cargo plane, causing minor damage. Air traffic was suspended for two hours. A Russian connection is being suggested. The interior minister describes a n»»»

DPS leader Delyan Peevski traveled on a regular commercial flight, marking a departure from his previous use of private aviation that had drawn public attention and criticism. Photos shared on Facebook show Peevski traveling in business class on Turkish Airlines flight TK1030 from Sofia to Istanbul»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borissov said the party will create a shadow government ahead of the local elections as part of an effort to show voters that it is prepared to return to power. In a video published on GERB's political platform "New Minds," Borissov said the party plans to present a team that will»»»

BELGRADE - At Thursday's reception for participants of a Serbia Is Calling You 2026 sports and education camp for children and youth from the diaspora, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the 435 participants from the region, Europe and around the world proved that love for Serbia and mutual re»»»

Eight people have been charged in connection with an organized criminal group allegedly involved in producing and distributing high-risk narcotics, including around 6 kilograms of fentanyl valued at more than 157 million euros, Bulgarian prosecutors announced. The charges follow an operation by the»»»

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation has detected unauthorized access to certain administrative networks, with initial information indicating that the activity may have continued for years. The access was discovered during the implementation of the country’s new national cyb»»»

An interactive map of registered water sports facilities along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast was added to a public register, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said on Thursday. The digital tool brings together data on registered facilities and offers residents, tourists and businesses a »»»

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to strengthen discipline in public procurement and contract execution, the government has approved a new Government Tenders and Procurement Law to enhance governance, transparency and the efficiency of the procurement system. Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that»»»

The Bulgarian National Audit Office has launched conflict of interest proceedings involving MP Delyan Peevski following a formal complaint alleging a mismatch between his declared assets and his actual lifestyle. The proceedings were initiated after a report submitted on July 31, 2026, by former In»»»

In Central Asia, the spectacle of a president going on and on, and on, as if they plan to rule forever is a norm, not an exception. Thus, a Constitutional Court ruling that Kazakhstan’s 73-year-old president of seven years Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is eligible to seek another term in office under the c»»»

The US military has used up 50% of its Patriot interceptors and nearly 80% of those for the THAAD missile defence system fighting Iran, with senior commanders warning the Pentagon's munitions stockpile is “dangerously low,” CNN reported on August 4, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.»»»

Kazakhstan could face heightened sanctions risks if Russian ecommerce group Wildberries expands its warehouse operations in the country, as "Russia's Amazon" seeks to protect and strengthen its logistics network following Ukrainian drone attacks on many of its facilities in Russia. That's the conce»»»

Ankara, Aug. 6 (SANA) Syria and Türkiye agreed on Thursday to establish a High-Level Coordination Council as the two neighboring countries seek to deepen political, economic and infrastructure cooperation. The agreement was reached during talks in Ankara between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan»»»

JEDDAH: A Saudi Arabia-developed educational device designed to give students a realistic understanding of reactor operations has debuted at the International Nuclear Science Olympiad 2026, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing capabilities in advanced scientific research and innovation. The Reactor D»»»

LONDON: Three human rights groups have labeled an Israeli attack that killed a Lebanese journalist and injured another a war crime. Amal Khalil, 42, died while traveling in southern Lebanon to verify Israeli troop movements on April 22. Her colleague Zeinab Faraj, 21, was wounded in the attack. Isr»»»

When Hungary abandoned plans to build the Bős–Nagymaros dam system following mass opposition born of environmental protests, Czechoslovakia completed the project and diverted 85 per cent of the Danube’s flow. An international agreement governs how much water must be released into the Old Danube – b»»»

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the Israeli killing of Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in a strike in southern Lebanon, describing it as an apparent war crime and calling for an urgent international investigation. In separate publications, the two organizations said the »»»

The Ministry of Culture, Information, and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan recommends that citizens and tourists temporarily refrain from visiting the Tash-Rabat historical and architectural complex. The restrictions are related to repair and restoration work currently underway on the complex’s grounds. »»»

Islamabad: Pakistan’s latest warning over threats to Red Sea shipping is more than a routine diplomatic statement—it signals the possible end of Islamabad’s long-standing strategic ambiguity in Middle Eastern conflicts. In a sharply worded declaration last Wednesday, Pakistan condemned Yemen’s Iran»»»

Dubai: The Philippines and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are strengthening cooperation on the medical screening of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), with plans to expand the number of accredited health facilities conducting mandatory pre-departure medical examinations for workers bound for Gul»»»

Dubai: The Foreign ministers of the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip, including attacks on healthcare facilities, civilian infrastructure and civilians, saying the actions breach internat»»»

Dubai: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has launched a scathing attack on the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a “dangerous escalation in the centralisation of executive power” that “fundamentally rewrites the relationship between the Indian state and civil soci»»»

Ukraine and Russia traded fire overnight with 4 people hurt in strikes targeting two major oil refineries in Russia while Russian attacks in the other direction killed 6 and injured dozens in Ukraine. File photo by Russian Emergencies Ministry/EPA-EFE Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Ukraine said Thursday that it h»»»

Adwoa Tenkoramaa DomenaGhana's President John Mahama says he will push for Caribbean countries to join the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when Ghana takes over the African Union chairmanship in 2027. Supporters see a chance to deepen Africa-Caribbean trade and diaspora ties. Critics w»»»

Romania’s retail sales fell by 5.6% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, as turnover declined across food, non-food products and fuel, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics. The decrease in the unadjusted series was driven by a 7.3% declin»»»

Kyrgyzstan is considering the creation of a full-cycle fish farming cluster at Toktogul reservoir. The project includes fish farming, feed production, fish processing and the subsequent export of finished products. The project concept was discussed at the National Investment Agency during a meeting»»»

The Romanian government is preparing a legal framework that would allow the authorities to impose phased electricity consumption limits on large industrial users during severe imbalances in the national power system. A draft government decision approving Romania’s Electricity Risk Preparedness Plan»»»

Dubai: Four women have accused a British Army training college for teenagers of fostering a culture of misogyny and sexual violence, with one alleging she was raped for hours by several fellow junior soldiers when she was 17. The allegations, revealed by the BBC, have renewed scrutiny of safeguardi»»»

North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea's military said. In this January photo, people watch a news report of a North Korean missile launch at Seoul Station. File Photo by Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile t»»»

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) will encourage the consolidation of Bulgaria's water sector through new secondary legislation, to improve service quality and keep socially affordable prices. The regulator held a public consultation on a draft ordinance on incentives for water oper»»»

Rights groups said Thursday that an Israeli attack in south Lebanon that killed reporter Amal Khalil and wounded another journalist earlier this year was an apparent "war crime". The attack took place in the village of Al-Tiri on April 22, days after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hez»»»

AMMAN: The importance of Al-Aqsa for Muslims, Christians and Jews means that Israel’s current forceful measures to maintain control of the sacred site has caused considerable strife. Ministers from Arab and Muslim nations, who held an emergency meeting in Amman recently, warned that Tel Aviv’s acti»»»

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for an emergency government response to a record-breaking heatwave. In this photo, taken Thursday, a merchant cools off with a frozen water bottle at Seoul Central Market. Photo by Yonhap SEOUL, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae M»»»