Marine Le Pen’s presidential candidacy causes France to reassess
After a recent French court ruling allowed far-right leader Marine Le Pen to run in the presidential election next year, the country’s political landscape has changed. When the polls open on 18 April 2027, the current French President Emmanuel Macron will not be a candidate, having served the two t»»»
Saudi artist Hana Almilli weaves grief and light at Art Basel
DUBAI: Last month, at one of the art world’s most high-profile annual events, Art Basel, a luminous textile work by Saudi artist Hana Almilli traced a new kind of geography — one mapped through grief, alienation and the fragile notion of home and belonging. Almilli, a multimedia artist, textile des»»»
ADNOC Drilling first-half profit rises to $706 million, dividends reach $525 million
Dubai: ADNOC Drilling shareholders are set to receive a second-quarter dividend of $262.5 million, equivalent to approximately 6 fils per share, after the company reported record revenue and profit for the first half of 2026. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The payment»»»
First-grade enrollment: More than 2,000 places remain in Bishkek schools - | 24.KG
In Kyrgyzstan, 126,000 children have been enrolled in first grade. Over the past week, the figure increased by 2,300. According to publicly available data on the 1mektep.edu.gov.kg portal, about 24,200 children have been enrolled in Bishkek. Of these, 12,900 places have been filled in Kyrgyz-langua»»»
Visiting Venice: Does the Eternal City live up to its billing?
VENICE: The misty night sky sprinkled droplets of rain that splashed the mirrored image of hundreds of rushed feet across the pavement, as boats bobbed to greet me on my first trip to Venice. The UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site looked like a moving postcard. Venice was built on water as a strat»»»
Parliament to Debate Legislative Amendments to Collective Investment Activities Act, Election Code
Parliament is expected to debate legislative amendments concerning the operation of collective investment schemes and the Electoral Code. Parliament will hold a second reading of amendments to the Activities of Collective Investment Schemes and Other Undertakings for Collective Investment Act, acco»»»
Trump warns ‘it’s our turn’ to hit Iran after strikes on US bases, gas tanker
A suspected drone has struck a US-owned floating liquefied natural gas facility at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, setting two vessels ablaze and prompting President Donald Trump to threaten retaliation against Iran. British maritime security firm Ambrey assessed that at least one drone had»»»
Restrictions to be introduced on Tamchy–Cholpon-Ata road on July 30 – August 1 - | 24.KG
From July 30 to August 1, the road connecting Tamchy International Airport and Cholpon-Ata city will be periodically closed to traffic. The presidential press secretary Askat Alagozov announced. He had previously warned residents and visitors to Issyk-Kul region about temporary traffic restrictions»»»
US Spent 1,500 Patriot Missiles, 200 THAAD Interceptors During Conflict With Iran - Report
The United States has spent over 1,500 missiles for Patriot air defense systems and 200 interceptors for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense systems, thus facing a significant shortage in these times of missiles, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported»»»
US Strike Hits Residential Building on Iran's Qeshm Island, Two Trapped Under Rubble
A residential building on the Iranian island of Qeshm was struck by a U.S. airstrike on Wednesday, with search and rescue teams working to locate two people trapped beneath the rubble, Iranian state media Press TV reported. The strike occurred as the US military completed a "heavy wave" of strikes »»»
Flying from the UAE today? Here's every airline cancellation, travel warning and flight update you need to know
Dubai: Travellers flying to and from the UAE on Thursday, July 30, are being urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as fresh military action between the United States and Iran continues to disrupt air travel across the Middle East. The latest escalation came after the Uni»»»
Hurricane Genevieve weakens again west of Baja California - UPI.com
There were no watches or warnings associated with Hurricane Genevieve as of Wednesday. Photo courtesy of NOAA July 29 (UPI) -- Hurricane Genevieve weakened back down to Category 2 strength Wednesday as it moved farther west of Baja California, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm was locat»»»
China threatens retaliation over US import ban on robots, power inverters
BEIJING: China will “resolutely retaliate” and safeguard its interests if the United States insists on acting unilaterally over an import ban on new Chinese robots and power inverters, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. The ministry urged the United States to immediately withdraw the m»»»
UAE traffic alert: Heavy congestion hits Dubai and Sharjah roads
Dubai: Motorists across Dubai and Sharjah are facing a slow start to the day, with heavy congestion reported on several major routes this morning, according to Google Maps real-time traffic data. In Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road is seeing traffic build-up near the Financial Centre and Dubai World Trade »»»
Parliament Expected to Debate Legislative Amendments to Collective Investment Activities Act, Election Code
Parliament is expected to debate legislative amendments concerning the operation of collective investment schemes and the Electoral Code. Parliament will hold a second reading of amendments to the Activities of Collective Investment Schemes and Other Undertakings for Collective Investment Act, acco»»»
National Bank suspends licenses of four exchange offices in Bishkek - | 24.KG
The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic has suspended the licenses of several exchange offices in Bishkek for violations of Kyrgyz legislation and the National Bank’s regulatory requirements. The suspensions are in effect from July 30 through August 13, 2026, inclusive. According to the central ba»»»
Hormuz squeeze on ammonia draws foreign bidders to Odesa Port Plant
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»»»
First-ever block shutdown at Paks as Danube runs dangerously low
In recent years, it has happened on several occasions that the output of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant had to be reduced due to summer heat and high water temperatures in the Danube, but a complete block shutdown had never occurred before — the current measure was necessitated by an exceptionally lo»»»
Closure of Bishkek’s Madina market postponed indefinitely - | 24.KG
The closure of Bishkek’s Madina market has been postponed indefinitely. Nomad TV reported, citing Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev. No new closure date has been announced. In addition, the mayor has abolished the conciliation commission established to review appeals from entrepreneurs and prepare »»»
French teenager fined in Singapore after social media hygiene prank goes viral
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»»»
U.S. launches new wave of strikes against Iran as war lull ends - UPI.com
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, that the U.S. military would conduct retaliatory attacks against Iran. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. military announced a new wave of strikes agains»»»
QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker exits Hormuz, first in nearly three weeks
SINGAPORE: A QatarEnergy-controlled liquefied natural gas tanker exited the Strait of Hormuz overnight, the first such vessel visible on ship-tracking data to leave the waterway since July 11, data from analytics firms showed on Thursday. The Al-Areesh tanker, which loaded a cargo at Qatar’s Ras La»»»
Hope dwindles for rescue in southwestern Japan quake as death toll climbs to 23
KUMAMOTO, Japan: Rural communities in southwestern Japan were struggling to get their lives back to normal Thursday, two days after a powerful earthquake set off an explosion at a mall, toppled a factory chimney and flattened homes, killing at least 23 people. Time was running out to find survivors»»»
Kyrgyzstan approves procedure for using national halal mark - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan has approved a temporary procedure for using the national conformity mark for halal products. The corresponding order was signed in accordance with the Law «On the Halal Industry in the Kyrgyz Republic» and documents regulating the activities of the Halal Industry Development Center unde»»»
US-Iran conflict: What UAE residents need to know today (July 30, 2026)
The US-Iran war entered another dangerous phase on Thursday (July 30) as the US Central Command launched a powerful new wave of retaliatory strikes on Iran, while Tehran continued missile attacks against US forces in the region. The latest escalation is significant, not only because of the proximit»»»
Spain eases evacuations as France battles fresh wildfires amid new heatwave
Thousands of evacuees were allowed home in Spain after firefighters gained ground against some of the country's worst blazes in decades, but soaring temperatures and new outbreaks in France underscored the broader wildfire emergency unfolding across southern Europe. Thousands who fled huge wildfire»»»
15-year-old charged with assault, gun offense in Seattle mass shooting - UPI.com
Prosecutors on Wednesday filed charges against a 15-year-old in connection with the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- A King County prosecutor on Wednesday filed assault and weapons charges against a 15-year-old a»»»
Restrictions on use of private cars proposed in Bishkek - | 24.KG
A draft decree by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic «On Measures to Improve the Road Transport System of Bishkek,» prepared by the City Hall, has been submitted for public discussion. According to the municipality, Bishkek was originally designed to accommodate 50,000 vehicles, but more than 400»»»
Tourism sector loses steam despite resilient hotel demand
In June 2026, nearly 1.9 million guests spent 4.3 million tourism nights at tourist (commercial, private and other) accommodation establishments. Tourist arrivals were down by 2.2% and tourism nights down by 2.5% in number compared to a year earlier. In January-June 2026, domestic arrivals at touri»»»
Golden dunes of Khab Saha showcase Saudi Arabia’s desert beauty
RIYADH: Towering golden sand dunes stretching to the horizon, shifting patterns sculpted by the wind and pockets of resilient desert vegetation have turned Khab Saha in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders Region into one of the Kingdom’s emerging ecotourism destinations, according to a report by the Sa»»»
Authorities urge water conservation amid third-level heat alert
As the heat continues to intensify, the national chief public health officer has ordered a third-level heat alert effective from midnight Thursday, while service providers and local authorities across the country are simultaneously calling for water conservation to prevent shortages. According to a»»»
Experts scramble to keep Paks nuclear plant cool as Danube dries up
Water management specialists are on standby to ensure the cooling water supply of the Paks nuclear power plant even amid the Danube's extremely low water levels, the minister responsible for the living environment announced in a Facebook post. László Gajdos wrote that following the declaration of a»»»
US says it completed heavy wave of strikes on IRGC targets in Iran
The U.S. military said it carried out a heavy wave of strikes on targets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after what it described as an attempted ballistic missile attacks on American forces in the Middle East. In a statement issued on Thursday, US Central Command (CENTCOM»»»
Drone hits storage tanker at Egyptian port in major Middle East escalation, security firm says
A drone hit a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, British maritime security firm Ambrey said in an initial assessment on Wednesday, and U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to retaliate against Iran for an overnight attack, as the Middle East conflict appeared to e»»»
July full moon dazzles skies across Saudi Arabia in seasonal celestial display
RIYADH: The July full moon illuminated skies across Saudi Arabia this week, captivating residents, photographers and astronomy enthusiasts from the Northern Borders to the Asir region in a celestial display that blended natural beauty with centuries-old cultural traditions. Known in some parts of t»»»
Pax Silica: Are Filipinos really afraid of progress — or afraid of the future?
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»»»
UAE weather: Rain to persist in parts of eastern and western regions
Dubai: Fair to partly cloudy skies are forecast across the UAE today, with a chance of afternoon convective clouds bringing rainfall to parts of the eastern and western regions, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) said. Light to moderate south-easterly to north-easterly winds of 10-25 km/h are»»»
Zelensky warns of possible major Russian strike overnight
The warning comes as Kyiv pushes its allies for additional Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine says are crucial to countering a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russia would likely carry out another massive attack on t»»»
Taking multiple vitamins? UAE doctors explain risky combinations
The morning routine may look like a picture of health: A multivitamin with breakfast, vitamin D because 'everyone needs it', iron because of tiredness, calcium for stronger bones, zinc for immunity and perhaps a beauty supplement for the hair and nails. Each bottle appears to have a clear purpose, »»»
Meet the 80-year-old designer behind Mercato Mall celebrating 50 years in the UAE: 'This is my country, my home'
Dubai: Annamaria Amarante Damiani's first day in the UAE did not go to plan. She landed on 29 June, straight into the heat, and her suitcases were nowhere to be found, lost somewhere in Beirut. She would eventually get them back three months later. And yet. "I fell in love with this place as soon a»»»
Death toll from Japan quake rises to 18, six more feared dead: authorities
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»»»
U.S. launches new wave of strikes against Iran as war lull ends - UPI.com
President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, that the U.S. military would conduct retaliatory attacks against Iran. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo July 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. military announced a new wave of strikes agains»»»
Attacks reported around Iran's Qeshm island, Abadan city: Iranian media
The US military struck locations around Iran's Qeshm island and Abadan city, Iranian media reported on Thursday citing regional authorities, as American attacks resumed after a lull. Get it: Fast, verified news for FREE ... download the Gulf News app — simply click here"At 04:00 am (0030 GMT) a poi»»»
Man convicted in terrorism trial over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie
A man was convicted Wednesday of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel “The Satanic Verses.” After just a couple of hours of deliberations, a jury found Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him, i»»»
UK announces £8 billion investment in nuclear submarines
Britain announced Wednesday £8.4 billion ($11.2 billion) investment for the next phase of its Dreadnought Class nuclear submarine programme, which the government claims will support 22,000 apprenticeships over the next decade. "A major £8.4bn investment in the UK's nuclear deterrent, delivering job»»»
Why the most important outcomes of education cannot be measured at 18
For many parents, particularly those navigating the increasingly complex landscape of global education, success can feel deceptively easy to define. A strong set of examination results. An offer from a prestigious university. A clear pathway into a respected profession. These milestones matter. The»»»
Russia hits Kyiv, other cities with large-scale ballistic missiles after Zelensky warns of attack - UPI.com
A handout photo made available by the State Emergency Service shows Ukrainian rescuers working Friday at the site of a Russian missile strike in the Kyiv region amid the ongoing Russian invasion. In the early hours Thursday, Russia launched a large attack on Kyiv and cities through Ukraine. Photo b»»»
Kuwaiti, Jordanian Foreign Ministers reiterate condemnation of Iranian attacks
Kuwait: Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, reviewed the latest regional developments during a telephone call, including diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing security and stabi»»»
US bombs Iran after Trump vows to ‘beat the f***ing s**t out of them’
The US has launched a “powerful” bombing raid against Iran after President Donald Trump warned that it was “our turn to hit them,” following Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on American forces in Jordan the previous night. US Central Command said the new strikes began at 8pm Eastern Time on Wednes»»»
US stocks slide as rates unchanged, oil price spikes
Wall Street stocks finished sharply lower Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged despite lofty US inflation as escalations in the Middle East war pushed oil prices skyward. Major US indices ended down more than 1.5 percent after initially greeting the Fed's decision to ke»»»