Egypt increased fuel prices Friday in its latest round of subsidy cuts under a reform package agreed with the International Monetary Fund, authorities said.

Asian markets fluctuated Friday as investors steeled themselves for the release of a crucial US jobs report that could have a major bearing on the size of an expected Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Ministers from across Africa began work Thursday ahead of a weekend summit to formally launch a free-trade agreement hailed by the continent's 55-nation bloc as "historic."

Game Cooks, a leading gaming studio of mobile and Virtual Reality (VR) content based in San Francisco and Beirut, has won the “VR and Beyond” challenge organized by Dubai Future Accelerators in partnership with Burj Khalifa and HTC Vive Middle East.

Game Cooks competed with around 115 VR companies from around the world and was shortlisted among 6 finalists before earning the first rank. The event organizers had invited VR developers and companies to build VR content for Burj Khalifa to enhance visitors’ experience. The competition rewards the most captivating and memorable user experience in virtual reality.

The Middle East's largest carrier, Emirates Airline, said Thursday it has decided to resume flights to Sudan from July 8 after a one-month suspension in the face of deadly unrest.

"After closely monitoring the situation in Sudan and conducting an exhaustive review of all operational factors, we have decided to resume our services to Khartoum," Emirates said in a statement. 

Asian markets mostly rose Thursday, tracking a record performance on Wall Street, as investors turned their focus to the upcoming release of US jobs data while hoping for a big Federal Reserve interest rate cut.

Vodafone on Wednesday launched its 5G service in the UK, but without smartphones from controversial Chinese technology giant Huawei.

French police on Wednesday raided the headquarters of Renault while probing a lavish wedding party thrown by ex-CEO Carlos Ghosn at Versailles Palace, the French carmaker and legal sources said.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will sign the landmark African free trade agreement during the upcoming African Union meeting in Niger, his office said. 

Uncertainty over the global economy weighed on Asian markets Wednesday as the tailwind from the China-US trade ceasefire petered out, with oil prices struggling to claw back the previous day's hefty losses and safe-haven gold rallying again.