Dubai: Burjeel Holdings treated more than 3.7 million patients during the first half of 2026 as higher demand for outpatient services, surgeries and complex medical care supported a 97.4% increase in net profit excluding one-off items. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.N»»»

On 20 July, Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared an immediate maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, formalising the collapse of the UN-sponsored 2022 truce, reactivating the Red Sea pressure front and threatening once again international trade passing through the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. Four days l»»»

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric reports strong sustainability results for the first half of 2026. Six months after launching its new sustainability roadmap, Impact 2030, Schneider Electric’s Impact score reached 3.69/101, is on track toward the Group’s annual 2026 target of 4.20»»»

Iran said Wednesday it is in the "final stage" of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. President Donald Trump has said a deal could be announced this week. That could potentially reopen the critical waterway, ease pressure on the world economy and help bring an end to»»»

BusinessRussian FederationWhy is Russia selling its gold?Arthur SullivanRussia has become one of the world's biggest sellers of gold over the past 12 months. It's an attempt to raise cash in the face of budget issues, but not necessarily a sign of a looming financial crisis. https://p.dw.com/p/5Ht6»»»

There is a peculiar contradiction in the Philippine debate over Pax Silica. A country that has spent decades complaining about poverty, underemployment, brain drain, weak industrialisation, unreliable infrastructure and the export of raw resources suddenly finds itself being offered a place in one »»»

Andrei Gemeneanu, ROPEA president, talked to BR about Romania’s private equity market, which saw investment values quadruple to EUR 433.6 million in 2025. Gemeneanu discusses the drivers behind this surge, the record-breaking exit activity, and the need to unlock domestic pension funds to reduce re»»»

Dubai: Space42 reported record first-half revenue after growth across its satellite services and geospatial intelligence businesses, while preparations continued for the commercial rollout of direct-to-device services on standard mobile phones. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & B»»»

RIYADH: S&P Global Ratings has cut its 2026 forecast for Middle East sustainable bond issuance to $15 billion-$20 billion, citing geopolitical volatility and weaker market conditions. The ratings agency had previously projected issuance of $20 billion-$25 billion for the year. First-half 2026 issua»»»

BEIRUT: Lebanese state media reported Israeli airstrikes and shelling overnight into Thursday morning, after Israel announced its first military fatalities in more than a month as renewed hostilities flared. The strikes — which began Wednesday afternoon and were accompanied by the first evacuation »»»

Bulgaria recorded the sharpest decline in road freight transport in the European Union in 2024, with the sector shrinking by 18.6% compared with the previous year, according to the latest Eurostat data. The drop placed Bulgaria at the bottom of the EU ranking, while overall road freight transport a»»»

The former military airport at Dobroslavtsi, where flight operations ended 25 years ago, is set to become what the Bulgarian government describes as Europe's largest advanced space and defense center. The project, based on a public-private partnership, was officially launched with the signing of a »»»

Dubai: What a week it has been. A SpaceX rocket hit the Moon on Wednesday at 10.34am our time, throwing up an estimated 1,100 tonnes of lunar dust. An Abu Dhabi observatory pointed a telescope at exactly the right spot and saw nothing at all. And then it rained. In August. In a country running near»»»

Business activity in Kazakhstan's services sector accelerated for a fourth straight month in July, according to the latest Freedom Holding Corp Kazakhstan Services PMI survey published by S&P Global. July recorded the strongest pace of expansion in more than 12 months, the survey noted. The hea»»»

The Israeli army launched strikes overnight into Thursday on Burj al-Shemali, Mansouri and Majdalzoun, wounding four people. Artillery shelling also targeted the areas of Mansouri, Majdalzoun and Haddatha, the National News Agency said, while troops detonated houses and buildings in Zawtar al-Sharq»»»

Israel reported on Thursday its first military fatalities in southern Lebanon in more than a month, after carrying out fresh strikes despite ongoing U.S.-backed talks in Rome aimed at ending hostilities. The military identified the two reservists, who were killed in combat on Wednesday, as Major Ha»»»

The UAE on Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of the accession of its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, a milestone President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said heralded the country's journey of progress and laid the foundations »»»

US President Donald Trump demanded answers from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at Camp David after learning that severe munitions shortages could limit US military options against Iran, American media reported, citing people familiar with the exchange. The shortages reportedly involve long-range gui»»»

Political pressure is mounting on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as an end-of-September deadline for US forces to leave Iraq approaches, while disputes over weapons, corruption, and a deepening financial crisis pile fresh strain on his government. Informed sources said al-Zaidi’s recent meetings»»»

Gold prices demonstrated the fastest single-day growth in the past six months, driven by easing tensions in the Middle East, a weakening US dollar, and a number of other factors, former Central Bank of Turkiye analyst Onur Dashdemir told Sputnik. "The combination of positive signals from the Middle»»»

TOKYO/SINGAPORE: Oil prices trended lower on Thursday on the progress in Iran-Oman talks, with investors cautiously waiting for signs of a US-Iran peace deal and progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures fell 33 cents, or 0.42 percent, to $79.12 a barrel by 07:18 a.m. Saudi ti»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir will visit Saudi Arabia on August 6-8, the South Asian nation’s foreign office said on Thursday. “Although taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit will carry significance beyond the»»»

On Aug. 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. 1 of 6 | An unidentified newsman stands amid the rubble of Hiroshima in September 1945. On August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city. UPI File Photo | License Photo Aug. 6 (UPI) -- On this date»»»

The new gas-fired power station in Mintia, the largest of its kind in the EU, developed on a single site, has entered a new phase before its commissioning. Mass Global Energy Rom has been officially registered as an energy producer in its trial phase and may begin supplying energy to the National P»»»

Kyrgyzstan views Russia as a strategic partner, President Sadyr Japarov said in his address to participants of the Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum. The president emphasized that the country is following the right course. «During the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin held last year, long-ter»»»

Russia accounted for 27.1 percent of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade turnover, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said at the Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum in Issyk-Kul region. According to him, mutual trade between the two countries increased by 25.5 percent in the first five months of 2026,»»»

‘Brothers’ Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor Where: Apple TV+ from Sept. 23 Comedy series in which two of Hollywood’s best-loved bros — Harrelson and McConaughey — play fictionalized versions of themselves. When Harrelson’s daughter is jilted at the altar, he takes her »»»

Commenting on an incident involving verbal aggression between Bulgarian and Italian youths outside a hotel in the mountain resort of Bansko, Prime Minister Rumen Radev told reporters, "It is a longstanding tradition of our institutions and our society not to tolerate any manifestations of xenophobi»»»

The coordinated efforts of the governments and businesses of Russia and Kyrgyzstan have made it possible to build a strong economic foundation for cooperation between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, RIA Novosti reports. The head of state sent greetings to the participant»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s banking sector remained resilient in June 2026, with total assets holding steady at QR2.197 trillion, according to QNB’s latest monthly banking sector report. Total assets were unchanged from May but 2.1 percent higher than year-end 2025. The report showed that the sector’s tot»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Academic Bridge Programme (ABP), part of Qatar Foundation’s Pre-University Education, will host Harvard Model Congress Middle East 2027 from January 14 to 16, 2027 at Education City, following the success of the inaugural Qatar edition held in 2026. Early registration is open until»»»

Doha, Qatar: Old Doha Port today announced that Qatar Airways, the Official Travel Partner of Qatar Boat Show 2026, is offering exclusive discounted fares for visitors travelling to Doha to attend the third edition of the event, taking place from November 4-7, 2026. Available across Qatar Airways’ »»»

On 29 July, a drone struck a floating American storage and regasification unit at Damietta Port on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, setting it ablaze. The fire spread to a Greek-owned LNG tanker anchored nearby. The port is central to Cairo’s plan to turn Egypt into an energy hub for the Eastern Medite»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Municipality has invited the public to participate in a beach cleanup campaign at Beach 974 on Friday, August 7, aimed at protecting Qatar’s marine environment and fostering a culture of volunteerism and shared community responsibility. The initiative, announced via the»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Doha held a press briefing yesterday regarding the current developments in Sudan, delivered by the Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to the State of Qatar H E Badreddine Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed. At the beginning of the press conference, His Exc»»»

BERLIN: A verdict is due Thursday for an Afghan man accused of a car-ramming attack in Munich last year which killed a two-year-old girl and her mother and left dozens injured. The man, named only as Farhad N., has been on trial since January, accused of deliberately steering a car into a 1,400-str»»»

Abu Dhabi: International Holding Company reported a 195.6% increase in profit after tax to Dh26.2 billion during the first half of 2026, supported by growth across several operating sectors, investment income and active portfolio management. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bala»»»

The Strait of Hormuz remains at the heart of the current Middle East crisis, with diplomatic efforts to reopen the vital waterway unfolding alongside continued military and maritime tensions. The UAE is situated near the Hormuz Strait, a narrow waterway that sits at the gateway to the Gulf, and any»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Labour warned that recruitment offices that fail to comply with employment contract obligations or commit licensing violations could face severe penalties, including the suspension or revocation of their licences, as part of intensified efforts to regulate the sector an»»»

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a landmark law legalizing cryptocurrency trading, which will be regulated as part of the country’s financial system. The Law on Digital Currencies and Digital Rights, signed and published on Tuesday, formalizes an already booming market. According to bloc»»»

Dubai: Few Indian bureaucrats have seen as many transfers as IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe. Yet, despite being moved around repeatedly, the Maharashtra-cadre officer has built a reputation as one of the country's most uncompromising administrators. The 2005-batch IAS officer has reportedly been transf»»»

Dubai: Aramex reported its highest quarterly revenue on record in the second quarter of 2026, driven by increased freight-forwarding demand and alternative transport routes that kept customer shipments moving amid regional disruptions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.G»»»

US President Donald Trump openly described the US war against Venezuela in the language of plunder. “And we've paid for the war with what we've taken out many, many, many times,” Trump said.In early January, the US launched its illegal aggression against Venezuela, kidnapping President Nicolás Madu»»»

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military chief on Wednesday said the country’s forces would keep operating “proactively” in the Gaza Strip, vowing to “continue to pursue those responsible” for Hamas’s October 7 attack that triggered the war. “In the Gaza Strip, we have struck Hamas, significantly weakened it, »»»

Dubai: Travelling from the UAE this month remains largely smooth, but passengers should continue to expect disruptions on selected routes across the Gulf as airlines respond to the evolving security situation in the Middle East. While the vast majority of flights are operating normally, services to»»»

Iran said an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages, while President Donald Trump suggested a deal could be announced within days, raising hopes of easing a blockade that has disrupted global shipping and fueled months of conflict. Iran said Wednesday it is in the “fin»»»

BANGKOK: Myanmar’s ex-junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok Thursday for his first visit to Thailand as civilian leader, as he seeks a return to the diplomatic fold for his pariah state. As a general, he led a 2021 military coup that ousted democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering a »»»

Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said communication with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is very "difficult at the moment," but his presence is a "great strength" for the country to continue its path. The United States and Israel killed Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamene»»»

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "very difficult" following the leader's reported wounding during the US-Israeli strike that killed his father. Pezeshkian, however, defended Khamenei against rising speculation over his»»»

DUBAI/RIYADH: A proposed deal between Iran and Oman to help end five months of war between Iran and the United States would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, one of the biggest»»»