Nikkei 225 ended at a record high after a holiday break, with semiconductor-linked stocks leading gains across Tokyo equities on Thursday.

Pakistan cleared donkey meat and hide exports from Gwadar to China after a Chinese firm warned it would shut operations over delays there.

GCC countries scored 66.9 in the 2026 Economic Freedom Index, beating the global 59.9 average as the UAE, Qatar and Oman led the bloc overall.

CBUAE kept the UAE base rate at 3.65% after the Federal Reserve held rates steady, leaving the overnight liquidity framework unchanged.

South Korea major retailers posted a 5.6% March sales gain, with online channels taking a bigger share of consumer spending in the country.

Syria will receive US$225 million in World Bank grants to rebuild water and health services after years of conflict damage nationwide.