UAE Central Bank completes Project Aperta to speed up secure cross-border financial data sharing
Dubai: The Central Bank of the UAE has completed Project Aperta, a cross-border open finance initiative designed to make international financial data exchange faster, safer and more efficient for businesses and financial institutions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Th»»»
Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show 2026 draws 96,000 visitors, showcases world’s most expensive gold dress and first UAE gemstone
More than 96,000 visitors attended the 57th Watch and Jewellery Middle East Show in Sharjah, a 6 per cent increase from the previous edition, underscoring the continued strength of the regional luxury jewellery market and the UAE’s growing position as a trading hub for the industry. The five-day ex»»»
Philippines: The Bulacan airport debate — between environmental caution and infrastructure urgency
The construction of the proposed New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulacan — formally linked to the “San Miguel Aerocity” project — has become a focal point of protest. Groups such as Pamalakaya warn of environmental degradation, displacement risks, and long-term ecological damage. NMIA, a»»»
Stocks drop, oil rises as Iran and rate worries
HONG KONG — Fresh worries about the Middle East ceasefire and the prospect of a US interest rate hike hit most stocks and lifted oil prices Thursday, following a rollercoaster week for markets that has sent shivers through trading floors.Investors took a little heart from closely watched data Wedne»»»
Oil plunges, stocks jump on US-Iran peace deal
London: Oil prices dropped towards $80 a barrel and stocks rallied on Monday after Washington and Iran reached a framework deal to end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, sending a wave of relief through global markets. The strait, through which roughly 20 percent of the world's cr»»»
6.3-magnitude quake hits Mindanao, Philippines
Hong Kong: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 jolted Mindanao, Philippines, at 0918 GMT on Monday, the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences said. The epicenter, with a depth of 116.8 km, was initially determined to be at 6.14 degrees north latitude and 126.85 degrees east longitude.»»»
Tentative deal on ending Iran war sends stocks soaring while oil prices fall
World share prices soared Monday after a tentative deal was announced on ending the Iran war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices fell more than $4 a barrel. The future for the S&P 500 was up 1.2% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1%, auguring likely early gains f»»»
‘No such thing as a lonely meal’: Meet the Dubai chef who quit corporate life to bring strangers together over food
Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring. After an evening with Madame Vo, this particular Bram Stoker quote comes to mind. Lisa Vo, the mind behind the popular Dubai supper club, has built her entire concept around a simple idea: There's no such thing as a lonely meal»»»
SpaceX: Why Chinese investors are banned from the biggest IPO in history
Billionaire Elon Musk’s AI and aerospace giant SpaceX has banned investors from Hong Kong and mainland China from buying its shares as it goes public on Friday – a rarely seen restriction that shows just how geopolitically sensitive the world’s tangled financial markets have grown. But Chinese inve»»»
Illicit gold networks fuelling conflict, organised crime across Africa and global south, GI-TOC warns
Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»
Illicit gold networks fuelling conflict, organised crime across Africa and global south, GI-TOC warns
Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»
Illicit gold networks fuelling conflict, organised crime across Africa and global south, GI-TOC warns
Gold is increasingly being weaponised by states, criminal networks and sanctioned regimes as a strategic financial tool, while regulatory systems are failing to keep pace with rapidly evolving illicit supply chains, according to a new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organize»»»
Sukuk market liquidity shows signs of recovery amid ongoing conflict: Fitch Ratings
RIYADH: The liquidity levels of most Fitch-rated sukuk are improving, signaling a gradual stabilization in the Islamic bond market following disruptions caused by the Iran war, according to the credit rating agency. In its latest report, Fitch Ratings warned that sukuk liquidity has not recovered t»»»
Invest Qatar and QNB Group reinforce Qatar-China business ties
Doha, Qatar: Invest Qatar, the country’s Investment Promotion Agency, in collaboration with QNB Group, a leading financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, hosted a high‑level investor dialogue in Beijing as part of The Qatar‑China Synergy Series: Navigating Resilience in a Shifting Globa»»»
With fighting spirit, South Korea’s beauty triumphs over Czech set-piece beasts
GUADALAJARA, Mexico: It was the tale of “Beauty and the Beast” that lit up the Estadio Guadalajara on Thursday, with South Korea’s prettier, stylish football triumphing over the Czech Republic’s rugged, route-one tactics in an adrenaline-fueled World Cup encounter. South Korea were more than worth»»»
China's Ports Dominate Global Efficiency Rankings – World Bank Data
Chinese ports once again topped the World Bank and S&P Global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) for 2025, with seven of the world's ten most efficient trade hubs located in China, according to the annual report. The port of Fuzhou in southeastern Fujian province claimed the top spot globally,»»»
Hong Kong customs seize $20m in fake goods ahead of the World Cup
HONG KONG: Just hours before the World Cup kicked off, Hong Kong authorities announced they seized 230,000 suspected counterfeit items worth an estimated $20 million, including jerseys tied to the tournament. The seizure included about 30,000 jerseys, some so finely made that they’re hard to distin»»»
China Sanctions Philippine Defense Chief for 'Irresponsible Remarks'
China announced on Thursday sanctions against the Philippines' defence minister over "irresponsible remarks", escalating tensions between Beijing and Manila as they grapple with maritime disputes. Gilberto Teodoro and his spouse and child will be banned from entering China's mainland, Hong Kong and»»»
Hong Kong arrests 6 over America-bound World Cup fakes
Hong Kong: Hong Kong officials said Thursday they had arrested six people in a World Cup fake merchandise sting involving almost $20 million of counterfeit goods. Eighty percent of the items seized were intended for export to the Americas, where the tournament kicks off Thursday, authorities said. »»»
China sanctions Philippine defense chief for ‘irresponsible remarks’
BEIJING: China announced on Thursday sanctions against the Philippines’ defense minister over “irresponsible remarks,” escalating tensions between Beijing and Manila as they grapple with maritime disputes. Gilberto Teodoro and his spouse and child will be banned from entering China’s mainland, Hong»»»
Nat'l Assembly begins procedure for potential probe on election ballot shortage - UPI.com
A plenary session of the National Assembly is held in Seoul on Thursday. Photo by Yonhap The National Assembly on Thursday launched formal procedures for a potential parliamentary investigation into ballot shortages reported during last week's local elections, with requests for the probe submitted »»»
Timur Turlov’s Freedom Holding Corp: From a niche broker to a global fintech player
Who is Timur Turlov? Where did his billions come from? And how did he turn a small brokerage firm into a transnational financial ecosystem? Freedom Holding Corp. is a Kazakhstan-born international fintech company listed on the Nasdaq and valued at nearly $9 billion. In recent years, the company - w»»»
US Issues Fresh Iran-Related Sanctions
The administration of US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh round of Iran-related sanctions targeting six individuals and four entities, including some tied to China, according to a notice posted on the US Department of Treasury's website on Wednesday. The US government on Wednesday said it»»»
Cabinet condemns Iranian attacks, approves National Local Content Strategy
Doha The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani at the Amiri Diwan on Wednesday, strongly condemned the Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The Cabinet reaffirmed Qatar’s solidarity with the three c»»»
Solar farms breathing new life into South Korean villages
SEOUL: In South Korea where an aging population, climate change and economic hardship are putting pressure on rural communities, the government is implementing a program that aims to bolster agriculture and speed up the transition to renewable energy. President Lee Jae Myung’s administration aims t»»»
Hong Kong files charges over deadliest fire in decades
Hong Kong: Hong Kong filed manslaughter charges against several people and companies on Wednesday over the world's deadliest residential building fire in decades, which killed 168 people at a public housing estate last year. The massive blaze, which engulfed seven of the eight high-rise apartment b»»»
Cabinet notes Shura Council approval of law on metrology
Doha, Qatar: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani chaired the Cabinet's regular meeting on Wednesday at the Amiri Diwan. Following the meeting, HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohann»»»
North Korea Says Xi’s Visit Produced ‘Far-Reaching Blueprint’ for Ties
The leaders of North Korea and China adopted a "far-reaching blueprint" for bilateral ties during Xi Jinping's recent visit to Pyongyang, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Wednesday. China's president made a rare visit to diplomatically isolated North Korea on Monday after hos»»»
On This Day, June 9: Laverne Cox is first transgender person on cover of Time - UPI.com
On June 9, 2014, actor Laverne Cox became the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Time 1 of 4 | Laverne Cox arrives for the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California on March 5. On June 9, 2014, she became the first transgender person to appear on the c»»»
North Korean, Chinese Leaders Agree to Boost Ties at Pyongyang Summit
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and China's Xi Jinping agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of politics, economy and culture at a summit in Pyongyang that opened a new chapter in ties, the North's official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday. Making his first visit in seven years to China's only »»»
Hong Kong delegation to Uzbekistan promotes "hub-to-hub" cooperation
Hong Kong’s three-day trade mission to Uzbekistan led by the territory’s Chief Executive John Lee on June 6 concluded with 23 signed agreements spanning finance, technology, aviation and investment. The journey to Uzbekistan followed the first leg of the mission in neighbouring Kazakhstan. In all, »»»
Dubai travel alert: Airlines suspend summer flights
Dubai: Passengers flying to and from Dubai are facing schedule changes after several international airlines suspended, cancelled or delayed the resumption of services because of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The disruption af»»»
World Cup star 'really sorry' after missing daughter's birth
Zapopan, Mexico: South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu has some making up to do after missing the birth of his first child because he is preparing for his fourth World Cup. The 35-year-old stopper is hoping to add to his 86 caps when South Korea face the Czech Republic on Thursday's opening day of t»»»
South Korean president orders probe into election agency - UPI.com
Lee Jae-myung called for a parliamentary inquiry and a joint prosecution-police investigation into voting rights violations during local elections. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivers his speech during a ceremony marking the country's 71st Memorial Day to commemorate veterans and independ»»»
North Korea Nuclear Program 'Absolutely Non-negotiable', Says Leader's Sister
North Korea's nuclear weapons program is "absolutely non-negotiable", the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un said in a statement carried by state media on Sunday, ahead of a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Pyongyang has long insisted on its right to a nuclear weapon and ballistic missile »»»
Airlines usually add summer flights — so why are they cutting them now?
Dubai: UAE, Indian and multiple global airlines are entering what analysts are calling “one of the most unpredictable summer travel seasons in recent years”, with the Iran conflict, fuel prices and airspace disruptions forcing carriers to rethink growth plans during what is usually the industry’s b»»»
Taiwan, China Coast Guards in Renewed Standoff at Top of South China Sea
The Taiwanese and Chinese Coast Guards were engaged in another tense standoff near the strategically located Pratas Islands at the top of the South China Sea on Friday, Taiwan said, the second time in a fortnight that this has happened. China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territ»»»
Asian Stocks Take another Hit from AI, Mideast Worries
Asian equities went into reverse Friday on continued worries about the AI trade after disappointing forecasts from chip titan Broadcom, while investors were also keeping a wary eye on stuttering Middle East peace efforts. After leading several markets to record highs this year, technology firms are»»»
Overtaken by Hong Kong in global wealth management, Swiss keep cool
ZURICH — Though Hong Kong has overtaken Switzerland as the number one in cross-border wealth management, rather than entre panic mode, Swiss banks seem unruffled — feeling it bolsters the case against looming tighter banking regulations.Hong Kong is now the world's largest cross-border booking cent»»»
Beijing bans 4 New Zealand lawmakers from entering China because they visited Taiwan
WELLINGTON: Beijing banned four New Zealand lawmakers from traveling to China for a year and demanded they apologize because they visited Taiwan on a parliamentary trip, according to a message from the Chinese embassy conveyed via parliamentary officials and shown to The Associated Press on Thursda»»»
Hong Kong 'coffin homes': Shoebox flat reform leaves low-income residents in limbo
Hong Kong resident Lisa Lau put on a costume drama as she settled on the bed that occupies much of her tiny apartment, trying to take her mind off of a looming eviction. Subdivided flats like Lau's three-square-metre (32-square-foot) home -- made by splitting up an apartment into smaller units -- a»»»
Flood warnings as storm moves towards Tokyo
A severe tropical storm moved towards Tokyo on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of floods after torrential rain battered swathes of the country and prompted calls to evacuate for hundreds of thousands of people. Storm Jangmi -- which was downgraded from a typhoon -- injured 15 people in southern»»»
St. Kitts and Nevis biometric enrolment reaches London, Abu Dhabi and Toronto
The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit has activated biometric enrolment centres in London, Abu Dhabi and Toronto on 1 June, 2026, taking the live network to six cities ahead of the 31 July 2027 compliance deadline for all citizens. The three new locations join St Kitts, Hong Kong and Dubai, whic»»»