Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive defense spending bill on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- House Republicans narrowly passed a massive $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill Wednesday, despite strong Democratic opposition to th»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has highlighted afforestation as a key natural solution to rising summer temperatures, saying trees help cool urban areas, improve air quality and enhance quality of life, SPA reported. The ministry’s remarks came as the Executiv»»»

SINGAPORE: Two Chinese very large crude carriers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are heading toward the Bab El-Mandeb strait to exit the Red Sea on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region. The ships’ attempt to transit the st»»»

On the night of July 22, Wildberries logistics centers in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk (Stavropol Krai) were attacked by drones in Russia. According to preliminary information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, received from company management, as well as representatives of the Kyrgy»»»

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Meder Abakirov received copies of credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kyrgyz Republic, Abylkair Skakov. The parties also discussed current issues of Kyrgyzstan — Kazak»»»

A video of protesters performing the Viking row celebration during a demonstration in Mumbai has gone viral on social media, with several users tagging footballer Erling Haaland and urging him to watch the clip. The video, shared by user yehabizerhaina, shows protesters performing the celebration a»»»

NEW DELHI: Youth protesters demanding the education minister’s resignation clashed briefly with police on the streets of New Delhi late on Wednesday, with officers firing tear gas and wielding canes to push them back, police and witnesses said. More than 10,000 people were estimated to have gathere»»»

An earthquake measuring magnitude 3 occurred near Naryn. The Institute of Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan reported. The tremors were recorded on Wednesday at 8:53 p.m. The earthquake’s epicenter was located within the Kyrgyz Republic: 7 kilometers north of the village o»»»

Europe could enter the coming winter with its lowest natural gas reserves in more than a decade, raising concerns over supply security and further price increases. Gas storage facilities across the continent are only around 54% full, well below seasonal norms, while Germany’s storage sites remain b»»»

Poland’s retail sector delivered a stronger-than-expected performance in June, reinforcing signs that domestic consumption remains a key driver of economic growth. According to the Central Statistical Office (GUS), retail sales rose 6.2% year-on-year in constant prices, comfortably exceeding econom»»»

The Polish government has unveiled one of Europe’s most ambitious rail investment programmes, with plans to build 4,700 km of new railway lines, modernise a further 5,600 km and create an integrated high-speed rail network worth around PLN 610 billion. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the project ai»»»

Namchi (Sikkim): The death toll in the NHPC Teesta Stage VI Hydropower Project tunnel incident in Sikkim's Namchi district rose to 22 after nine more bodies were recovered during overnight rescue operations, officials said on Thursday. Search and rescue operations continued through the night as res»»»

BANGKOK: Five Thai soldiers were killed in an attack at a checkpoint in the country’s insurgency-hit south, the army said, one of the deadliest such incidents in years. Six civilians were also wounded in the Wednesday evening attack in Narathiwat province, one of three Muslim-majority provinces gri»»»

The countries of Central Asia will receive World Bank support to address one of the region’s most pressing challenges—water resources management. The funds will be used to modernize water management systems, develop digital metering systems, and prepare new transboundary projects. The project will »»»

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s army said early Thursday it was intercepting hostile drones, following several days of Iranian strikes on the country. “Kuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile drone threats,” the army said in an overnight message on X. “Any explosions that may be heard are th»»»

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.»»»

Abu Dhabi: The UAE is set for a spell of settled summer weather, with fair skies, light winds and calm seas expected to dominate through the weekend, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). Low clouds are forecast to form over eastern areas during the morning hours, while northwester»»»

GLASGOW: The president of Commonwealth Sport, Dr. Donald Rukare, told AFP the Commonwealth Games remains a stage “where champions are made” as Glasgow prepares to host a slimmed down version of the event. The Games were plunged into crisis when the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in »»»

RIYADH: An attack on a Saudi-own ship in the Red Sea caused a fire, Al Ekhbariya reported early on Thursday, adding that no crew members were injured in the incident. “The relevant authorities have taken all necessary measures to secure the vessel, safeguard its crew, and protect the marine environ»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) has signed a memorandum of understanding with premium leisure carrier beOnd to explore direct air routes linking the Red Sea destination with six major European cities, SPA has reported. The agreement was signed during Saudi Arabia’s participati»»»

Dubai: Picture a choir. Now make the youngest voice in it six years old, and the oldest seventeen. Now make every single one of them sing in a language none of them grew up speaking. That's "Junūd al-Imārāt", Soldiers of the Emirates. A tribute song to the UAE's Armed Forces, sung entirely in Arabi»»»

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has outlined a comprehensive framework governing the handling of occupational injuries and work-related diseases. This forms part of its occupational health and safety regulations aimed at reducing workplace accidents and strengthening t»»»

VOIRON, France: Dutch corner is known for being the biggest and craziest party in cycling. Thousands of orange-clad, booze-fueled cycling enthusiasts and young revellers flock to corner seven of Alpe d’Huez every time the Tour de France climbs the iconic mountain. And they create a unique, noisy an»»»

ABUJA/GUSAU, Nigeria: President Donald Trump praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his actions against violence, according to a letter released by Nigeria’s presidency on Wednesday, in contrast to the US leader’s threats late last year over treatment of that country’s Christians.Trump said he »»»

TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Thursday they stopped three oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States and Iran vie for control over the vital waterway.In recent weeks, Iran has hit tankers using a route hugging the Omani coast to traverse the strait, in a »»»

Manila: The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) ordered subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte's financial records from six banks, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), marking one of the biggest developments so far as prosecutors w»»»

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a defining capability of modern economies. Around the world, nations are embracing AI as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and national transformation. The UAE is taking this one step further by embedding AI as a foundational capability across g»»»

Traders work Monday on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York City. The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill restricting lawmaker stock trading, attaching a voter ID provision to it. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- The House o»»»

Ukraine's soldiers and civilians welcomed the appointment of Mykhailo Drapaty as the new army chief on Wednesday, but many said they still wanted former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov restored after his surprise removal sparked the largest war-related protests since Russia's 2022 invasion. Ukrai»»»

Dubai: Global equities, private markets, fixed income and selected digital assets are drawing greater interest from Non-Resident Indians who have traditionally held much of their wealth in property and operating businesses. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Younger gener»»»

The US House of Representatives approved a $95 billion budget framework on Wednesday, with most of the funding earmarked for the Pentagon to fund the war against Iran. The measure was narrowly approved in a 216-214 vote and now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. The plan provides $73»»»

DUBAI: The US military announced early Thursday that it was conducting a 12th night of strikes against Iran as both sides increasingly targeted civilian infrastructure.US Central Command said the attacks were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial v»»»

NEW YORK: The European Union approved Paramount’s $81 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery this week, effectively clearing another regulatory hurdle for a mega merger that could vastly reshape the entertainment and media landscape worldwide. But the greenlight comes with certain conditions. T»»»

WASHINGTON: The House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal Wednesday, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities over objections from Democrats and a few GOP holdouts in a final push before the midterm elections. House Republicans were divided over the»»»

The US House of Representatives narrowly passed an annual defence policy bill on Wednesday that would authorize a record $1.15 trillion in funding for the Pentagon, as the divisive Iran war drags on. Though it traditionally sees significant bipartisan support, the 2027 National Defence Authorizatio»»»

Yemen's Houthi rebels said they carried out missile and drone strikes Wednesday on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea after declaring a maritime embargo on the kingdom amid the US war with Iran. The Houthis said in a statement posted on Telegram that they "carried out a qualitative military opera»»»

France recorded at least 5,700 more deaths than usual during a historic heatwave last month, the public health agency said Wednesday, sharply increasing its estimates of the feared toll from record-shattering temperatures. FRANCE 24's James Vasina reports.»»»

President Donald Trump has approved a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, clearing the way for US companies to help develop the kingdom's civilian nuclear energy program in a move that is expected to trigger debate over nuclear proliferation and security in the Middle»»»

1 of 3 | Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, meets Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second from right, during a courtesy visit inside Malakanang Presidential Palace in Manila. Rubio was in Manila to attend meetings of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations. Photo»»»

Ankara, July 22 (SANA) A delegation from the General Authority for Borders and Customs (GABC), headed by Chairman Qutaiba Badawi, held on Wednesday extensive talks with Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat in Ankara, in the presence of Syria’s charge d’affaires Fadi al-Qassem, to discuss the state of »»»

US Central Command forces began a new round of strikes against Iranian military targets overnight on Thursday (July 23), the military said, as part of an ongoing campaign to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in regional waters. In a post on X, CentCom stated that strikes commen»»»

Damascus, July 22 (SANA) Damascus Chamber of Commerce President Issam al-Gharyouti met on Wednesday with a delegation from the EU mission to Syria, headed by Program Director Tuuli Räty, to discuss enhancing economic cooperation. The meeting, held at the chamber’s headquarters, focused on the impor»»»

Manila: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Iran’s continued attacks on commercial shipping have rendered a recent agreement with Tehran "invalid" -- even as he stressed that Washington remains "open" to future diplomacy if Iran complies with its commitments. Rubio’s remarks, made»»»

Record-breaking flash flooding inundated communities across West Virginia Tuesday as powerful thunderstorms unleashed torrential rain from Tennessee to Ohio, leaving roads submerged, thousands without power and tornado damage across the region. Some of the most serious flooding unfolded in north-ce»»»

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has withdrawn the nomination of Slovenia's former foreign minister Tanja Fajon as the European Union's special representative for the Sahel region in Africa, RTV SLO reported on July 20. Fajon confirmed the withdrawal to the STA agency, saying she regretted that d»»»

Damascus, July 22 (SANA) Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Yaser al-Jundi met on Wednesday with China‘s Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in diplomatic training and capacity building. The meeting addressed pr»»»

Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Wednesday that Fidesz has fallen below 20% support for the first time in 30 years, sharing the findings of a new Závecz Research opinion poll on Facebook. According to the survey cited by the prime minister, the Tisza Party commands 74% support among decided vote»»»

Northern Syria’s Kobane, or Ayn al-Arab, was a flashpoint city during the Kurdish fight against the Islamic State (IS) group nearly a decade ago. Today, it’s at the heart of the Syrian government’s bid to integrate the northern Kurdish majority region and their fighters. FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr had»»»

WASHINGTON: The US and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday forged a new agreement that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman formally signed the nuclear coop»»»

Volodymyr Zelensky has bowed to pressure from the streets. The former head of the Ukrainian armed forces Oleksandr Syrsky has been replaced by the popular Mykhailo Drapaty. Who is he?»»»