In the first six months of 2026, coal was among the commodities that generated a significant trade surplus for Kyrgyzstan, with the surplus exceeding $44,725.7 million. Coal and lignite exports were 7.5 times higher than imports. The main export destinations were Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China, a»»»

Former caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov is expected to be formally announced as a presidential candidate within days, according to Atanas Atanasov, deputy speaker of Parliament and a leading figure in Democratic Bulgaria. Speaking to Nova TV, Atanasov said preparations are already underway to»»»

Donald Trump said just before midnight Washington time that he has a deal with Canada to avoid 50% tariffs, and thus the tariffs are on pause for three days. Although that may not be the case a few more seconds from now. Just ask Iran. Whoops, here we go already. Canada has already disputed the exi»»»

The Democratic Republic ‌of Congo has been allocated 70,000 doses of Merck’s Ervebo vaccine for Ebola, the World Health Organization said on Thursday, as the country attempts to contain its biggest ever outbreak of the deadly disease. Here are some details: Last week Congo had requested a release o»»»

GENEVA: A collection of soccer fan groups from around the world launched a petition Thursday calling for Gianni Infantino to resign as FIFA president after he tried to sell future World Cup profits to private investors. The petition with the hashtag InfantinOut also calls for “FIFA to be rebuilt so»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump pledged "economic warfare" against Iran and threatened any country that trades with it, prompting Iran to dismiss the plan on Thursday as a continuation of failed policies. The war between the two countries, started by the U.S. and Israel in February, appears stalemated,»»»

Millions more people may be able to get smaller, lightweight Amazon packages delivered by drones by the end of the year under a plan the company announced Wednesday to expand the airborne shipping to suburban areas in nearly 500 U.S. cities. Customers could receive the drone deliveries in as fast a»»»

IRAN EYES STRIKING US ASSETS IN BULGARIA The topic that Iranian forces had assessed striking US military assets in Bulgaria dominates Thursday’s media. Citing “two regime insiders”, the Financial Times said that “Iranian forces had assessed striking US assets in south-eastern European countries suc»»»

It is often said that no one is a prophet in their own country. For years, investors, business organisations, and economists have warned that Romania has been gradually losing its attractiveness: rules changed overnight, less efficient institutions, rising costs, and infrastructure that continues t»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has released its Annual Report for the year 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of the State of Qatar's monetary, financial, and institutional developments. The report also highlights the key achievements and QCB-led initiatives that strengthened the resil»»»

Dubai: For Amanat Holdings CEO John Ireland, the case for healthcare and education is becoming less about surviving economic cycles and more about capturing structural growth. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & BalancesThe Dubai-listed investment company, which has built its portf»»»

Cris-Tim Family Holding S.A. (BVB: CFH), the market leader in cold cuts and ready-meals in Romania, reports revenues of RON 567.4 million for H1 2026, a 6% year-on-year (YoY) increase. The performance was supported by continued growth across the Company’s core Cold Cuts segment, which advanced by 7»»»

Canada and the United States moved closer Wednesday to finalizing a trade agreement that would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs, with a senior Canadian official calling the emerging terms "a very good deal for Canada" while cautioning that negotiations were not complete. President Donald Trump sai»»»

Dubai: After nearly six months of war, Donald Trump is trying another way to force Iran to bend: Squeeze its economy until Tehran can no longer afford to resist. The US president has announced what he calls the “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY”, threatening not only »»»

BEIRUT: Rising about 600 meters above southern Lebanon, Ali Al-Taher Heights might appear to be little more than another piece of contested high ground. But as Israel and Hezbollah edge closer to another potentially dangerous confrontation, the cluster of hills overlooking Nabatieh has emerged as s»»»

In the first half of 2026, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade deficit in dairy products reached $12,772.7 million, despite a significant increase in exports by domestic producers in June. Total imports were almost 1.8 times higher than exports and amounted to $29,406 million, highlighting the domestic mark»»»

Dubai: UAE students are celebrating their GCSE and International GCSE results, with pupils across Dubai and Abu Dhabi recording strong performances despite disruption caused by the regional conflict. Major UK exam boards, including Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA, cancelled all formal Inte»»»

During a meeting with Michael Reusch, Chief Executive Officer of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov said: “We are working consistently to increase the number of flights and improve air connectivity. Our goal is to capitalize on the growing interest in Bulgaria in o»»»

As the deadline set by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government to bring all weapons under state control approaches, tensions have risen in Iraq. With some factions doubling down on their refusal to surrender their arms, others have begun to back away from their earlier support for the government’s»»»

A Sudanese government official has confirmed that more than 200,000 people have been displaced from the cities of Kurmuk and Qeisan, as well as other areas in the Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan, as a result of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Warnings ha»»»

The US has imposed sanctions on two senior International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, accusing The Hague-based institution of overstepping its authority. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday designated ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, describing the court a»»»

ABU DHABI: Emirati athlete Rakan Alyammahi has won gold in the Youth B Men’s 44 kg division after defeating Ireland’s Roman Verhoeven in the final, leading the UAE’s medal charge on the third day of the IMMAF Youth World Championships at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. His compatriot Mustafa Almaqboul»»»

As the deadline set by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government to bring all weapons under state control approaches, tensions have risen in Iraq. With some factions doubling down on their refusal to surrender their arms, others have begun to back away from their earlier support for the government’s»»»

Doha, Qatar: The new Qatar Stars League season gets underway at the iconic Lusail Stadium today, with Al Wakrah and Qatar SC carrying the honour of launching the 2026-2027 campaign. The season opener kicks off at 5.15pm. Al Wakrah head into the campaign under Chilean coach Jose Luis Sierra, who has»»»

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged on Thursday that it was a "difficult time" in the country's relationship with Israel after its decision not to pursue a criminal investigation into the killing of aid workers. "We have an Australian humanitarian worker who was killed not on the fi»»»

Dubai: Gold prices in Dubai climbed again on Thursday morning, taking 24K to Dh541 per gram and 22K to Dh501, putting buyers face to face with the highest local rates seen since early June. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click hereAt 9 am, 24K gold stood at»»»

Dubai: UAE travellers flying today continue to face an uncertain travel picture, with airlines operating a mix of scheduled services, cancellations and delays as the regional security situation remains fluid. Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia and flydubai are continuing to operate selected route»»»

Twelve new water reservoirs are currently under construction in Kyrgyzstan. Bakyt Torobaev, Special Presidential Representative for Special Assignments, who visited Chanach-Sai reservoir in Ala-Buka district, said. He noted that Chanach-Sai is planned to be expanded. «The current capacity of 2 mill»»»

DEIR EL BALAH: From a small makeshift tent in the central Gaza Strip, a dedicated team works to carefully store and document some of the war-shattered territory’s most precious commodities: local seeds. Shelves of unassuming plastic tubs line the walls of the Al Qarara Seed Bank, each holding indig»»»

LONDON: British Prime Minister Andy Burnham must decide in the coming weeks whether to authorize two North Sea drilling projects, an issue which has divided his own Labour Party. The decision after a consultation period ended Monday pits Labour’s climate ambitions against pressure to boost domestic»»»

The Pervomaisky District Court of Bishkek extended the detention of Kadyrbek Atambayev, Temirlan Sultanbekov and several other defendants in the case concerning alleged preparations for mass unrest. They will remain in pretrial detention for another two months, lawyer Asel Argymbayeva told 24.kg ne»»»

The US-Iran confrontation entered another uncertain day Thursday (Aug. 20), with President Donald Trump threatening what he described as increasingly severe economic pressure on Tehran, Iran maintaining that the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively “closed”, while facing economic and security conse»»»

Meta is on trial for intentionally seeking to addict children to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in pursuit of profit, a lawyer for California said on Tuesday, at the start of a trial that could rehsape some of the most popular apps in the world.  Meta knowingly hooked and exploited child»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s meteorological summer is nearing its end, with autumn beginning on September 1 and ushering in a transitional period of fluctuating weather and a gradual moderation in temperatures, the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) said. Despite the seasonal shift, September has histo»»»

HONG KONG (AP): A verdict is expected Friday in the case of two organisers of an annual Hong Kong vigil to remember the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown who are being tried under a China-imposed national security law that has stifled Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tu»»»

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was launching a major new campaign to target Iran’s economy, threatening “tremendous” punishment on any country that helps or does business with the Islamic republic. The intensified economic pressure campaign comes as the war nears its sixth »»»

Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said Washington has "very draconian sanctions" available against Iran and indicated that further measures could be announced, while asserting that the Strait of Hormuz remained open and the naval blockade had been "extremely effect»»»

MANAMA: The Kingdom of Bahrain welcomed the success of the mediation efforts undertaken by the United Arab Emirates between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, which resulted in a new prisoner exchange involving 206 detainees from both sides. Bahrain described the achievement as a p»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Big time domestic football will return to stadiums in Qatar with the start of the new season and the Doha Bank Stars League 2026-27 on Thursday. This season, Qatar second division league will also have a new-look in QSL 2 Jetour League with twelve teams participating, just»»»

QNA Doha Qatar Charity (QC) has launched the Education Campaign 2026 pursuing the motto “Science as Stewardship”, marking the approaching academic year and back-to-school initiative. The move underscores its commitment to supporting the right to education and enabling children and young people to c»»»

Ramallah: Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa warned Wednesday of the relentless cataclysmic situation in the Gaza Strip and the disruption of relief operations and recovery arising from the throttles put on them by Israel. He also cautioned against shortages of medical supplies, fuel and f»»»

RIYADH: Al-Kholood's historic run to the King Cup final last season remains a surreal achievement for Des Buckingham's side. Against all odds, they fought to avoid relegation in only their second season in the top flight before going on to face Al-Hilal in the final, even taking the lead before fal»»»

DUBAI: Israel’s airstrike on the Abu Al-Duhur military airport in Syria’s Idlib province on Tuesday was not just an attack on Syrian military infrastructure. Analysts believe it was a calculated message to the post-Assad leadership in Damascus and its Turkish allies. The strike, which damaged the r»»»

NEW YORK CITY: The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher on Wednesday rejected any characterization of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the “dismantling” of the UN aid system. Despite enormous damage to aid operations there and in Lebanon, he said, the system “has taken the shocks to it and conti»»»

Hungary has avoided another shutdown at the Paks nuclear power plant despite the Danube approaching a critical low, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Wednesday evening. The government now expects the plant to begin restoring additional capacity from Sunday and potentially return to full oper»»»

CEUTA, Spain – FRANCE 24 spent an evening with unaccompanied minors who are sleeping rough in Ceuta but refusing to return home. Amid the fear, the cold and the long wait for help, these young Moroccan migrants shared their stories.    It’s 2am local time and a heavy s»»»

The Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) Monetary Policy Committee will hold its fifth meeting of the year on Thursday to decide on its key interest rates, a major indicator of the near-term direction of interest rates on the Egyptian pound, amid strong expectations that rates will remain unchanged for a »»»

US President Donald Trump has instructed his top envoys to halt talks with Tehran in a strategic shift aimed at gradually “choking” Iran over time, a move that coincides with heightened risks to commercial shipping and a reported attack in the Strait of Hormuz. A US official told CNN that Trump is »»»

Korra Energi secured new contracts worth EGP 5bn during the first half (H1) of 2026, up from EGP 1.1bn in the same period last year, as the company reported higher gross profit margins and an increase in adjusted net income. The company’s backlog reached approximately EGP 15.7bn by the end of H1 20»»»

The Pacific is warming faster than at any point in history, and central bankers have started writing it into their forecasts. A super El Niño now under way began in June and is expected to run into 2027. Carbon Brief analysis of forecasts from 14 modelling groups finds that 96% of runs predict the »»»