Cash flow, governance and funding become harder to manage as SMEs expand Small and medium-sized enterprises play an important role in economic growth, employment and innovation. Across the UAE and the wider Middle East, many SMEs have been built by entrepreneurs who identified an opportunity, under»»»

Japan's central bank on Friday raised the benchmark interest rate to 1.25% from 1.0%, a 31-year-high. The Bank of Japan has been trying to normalize monetary policy after decades of keeping interest rates near or below zero to try to encourage more borrowing and spending to counter deflation and pu»»»

In an essay posted on 12 September, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called on the AI industry to “pace the frontier” of artificial intelligence, arguing that it should deliberately slow down how quickly the most advanced AI systems become more capable. Within hours, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, said he wou»»»

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree on Thursday increasing benefits under his flagship welfare program by 15%, weeks before the first round of the presidential elections. The minimum monthly benefit per family of Bolsa Familia, or Family Grant, will rise to 691 reais ($134»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has concluded a meeting with government ministers and political leaders of the Socialist Party after more than two hours of discussions in Tirana. The meeting, which began in the morning, was held at the “Red Villa” and focused on two documents known as “Besa” and “»»»

Sheikh Khaled chairs first council meeting to use agentic AI to analyse proposals Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, has chaired the council’s meeting, where an agentic AI platform was used for the fir»»»

PRAGUE: Prime Minister of the Czech Republic HE Andrej Babis has met with Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Czech Republic HE Nasser bin Ibrahim Al Lenqawi. The meeting discussed relations between the two countries.»»»

Tunis, Sept. 18 (TAP) – Thunderstorms and locally heavy rain are expected Friday afternoon in the northwest and the midland, gradually spreading east, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INM).Rain will affect the southwestern regions...»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Aoun, Salam Review South Lebanon Developments, Paris Talks and Upcoming UN Meetings 18-09-2026 15:12 PM President Joseph Aoun received Prim»»»

An exhibition featuring the winners of the 2025 Andrei Stenin International Photojournalism Contest has opened in Tehran, the Iranian capital, with the support of the Mehr media group. The "House of Photographers" gallery, located within the Howzeh Honari art complex, is hosting this exhibition of »»»

The deadly collapse of a multistory building in Gaza has drawn new attention to the hardships facing Palestinians there nearly a year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas promised to kickstart reconstruction. But as talks faltered, plans for rebuilding stalled. Israel bars entry of almost all»»»

It's been a week since Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed down the Red Sea coast, extending their reach to a key maritime chokepoint and threatening Saudi Arabia's oil exports. The Houthis' biggest land grab in years reignited Yemen's 12-year civil war and pushed up global fuel prices. It al»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe From Archive: Ayatollah Sayyed Mojataba Khamenei Visits Pager Attacks Victims 18-09-2026 15:19 PM Ayatollah Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei visitin»»»

E-commerce and B2B model connects Korean cosmetics to UAE’s diverse market UAE-based Bellavest is developing a business model connecting South Korean cosmetics brands and manufacturers with consumers and businesses in the UAE, with the wider GCC and India forming part of its broader market strategy»»»

Airline says Dubai schedule could change depending on developments in the Middle East Dubai: Air Astana will resume scheduled flights to Dubai from its two main hubs in Kazakhstan in early October, restoring services that have been suspended since July because of regional security concerns. Flights»»»

Victims were suspects’ mother, two sisters and two brothers, whose bodies found in well Dubai: Two brothers have been arrested after five members of their family, including their mother, two sisters and two brothers, were found dead in a deep well in Tehran, with reports citing financial disputes a»»»

The implementation period for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), the support programme created by the European Union (EU) for member states in response to the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic, has come to an end. Romania has so far received around EUR 13 billion of its revised EUR»»»

The US has made major progress in negotiations to establish a military base in Poland, President Donald Trump has announced. His remarks came as Russia warned that it would retaliate if the territory of Poland or the Baltic states were used for a NATO attack against the country. Poland, which borde»»»

The Council of Ministers hosted a press conference dedicated to corruption in Bulgaria. Several key figures from the cabinet spoke at the event on Friday. Prime Minister Rumen Radev reported that as part of a comprehensive anti-corruption drive, high-profile and potentially flawed public procuremen»»»

Democratic Bulgaria Co-chair and MP Ivaylo Mirchev said Friday that the Security Council at the Council of Ministers had been called to prevent a Consultative Council for National Security (CCNS) meeting with the President. He said the threats facing Bulgaria were clear and had already been identif»»»

Networking, expert insights and flexible study options for career-focused professionals For graduates and professionals ready for their next career step, advanced degrees and specialised qualifications can build the skills to progress, switch fields or take on leadership roles. Gulf News LevelUP br»»»

Anthony HowardHow is the US viewing Canada's latest pitch towards Europe? Prime Minister Mark Carney used a speech to the European Parliament to strengthen Canada’s ties with Europe while taking another swipe at Donald Trump. https://p.dw.com/p/5MphDAdvertisementCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney »»»

A severe contraction in foreign direct investment (FDI) and persistent high debt financing costs are exposing the fragility of Romania’s economic growth model, even as sovereign rating agencies maintain the country’s investment-grade floor. By Ovidiu Poșircă Official data from the National Bank of »»»

HUTA, Ukraine - Speaking at a Carpathian Initiative summit in Ukraine, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he believed expanding the relations with countries in the wider Carpathian region would "mean a lot to Serbia." "It is a very important initiative for us, because we were always »»»

Russia has opened accreditation for journalists covering the 3rd Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum, as well as the 8th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit. The Russia–Africa events will bring together government officials, business leaders, and representatives from Af»»»

New York man says he showered and wore a new shirt before being dismissed A New York man’s first day at a new job lasted just 2.5 hours after he was told he was being dismissed over alleged “hygiene issues” — a reason he strongly disputes. Chris Smalls, a Manhattan resident, said he had been unempl»»»

Patients are travelling to Dubai for gene therapies unavailable in home markets Dubai: Dubai is emerging as a medical value tourism destination for patients with rare and complex diseases, with international families travelling to the emirate not simply for healthcare, but because specialised exper»»»

Bulgaria will decide whether to join the Council of Europe Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine for compensation from Russia once the financial and institutional implications of membership are clear, Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova said during question t»»»

Bulgarian Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov will attend the annual conference of the NATO Military Committee, which will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 18 to 20, the Defence Ministry said on Friday. The forum traditionally brings together the chiefs of defence of NATO member sta»»»

Speaking to journalists at the Council of Ministers on Friday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov and Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said that the government has acknowledged a shortage of anti-drone systems and the need for additional funding to purchase them. Measures are also being taken, the»»»

Starting at 8 p.m on Friday, a section of Auezov Street in Bishkek—stretching from Chui Avenue to Sagymbai Manaschi Street—will be closed to traffic. The City Hall announced. The contractor will completely replace the road surface at its own expense as part of warranty obligations. According to pre»»»

Israeli forces on Friday seized control of a position established by the Lebanese Army on the outskirts of the southern town of Deir Mimas following the withdrawal of the Lebanese troops, Al-Jadeed TV said. The Israeli army had earlier hurled six stun grenades at the entrance of Deir Mimas, demandi»»»

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said Thursday that his country remains committed to supporting Lebanese sovereignty and to advancing the success of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut posted the statement on the X platform, after Issa joined a Paris»»»

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has charged former environment minister Borislav Sandov with abuse of office for assigning control powers to a non-governmental conservation group in the Petrohan case, the Prosecutor’s Office said. On February 8, 2022, according to the evidence gathered, he excee»»»

Officer stepped in after vehicle carrying several families broke down An Abu Dhabi Police officer has been honoured after stepping in to help a group of families whose bus broke down while they were travelling to the Ghuwaifat border crossing. First Policeman Ali Abdulhadi Al Hajri was recognised b»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has sent a note of protest to the Japanese side regarding the deployment of US ground‑based Typhon systems on the island of Kyushu, which are designed to launch medium‑ and shorter‑range missiles, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. "On Sep»»»

The number of migrants arriving in Europe by sea has fallen sharply, but the number of people dying or going missing continues to rise, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported. Since the beginning of 2026, around 60,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe by sea, 39 per»»»

Court rejects worker’s denial saying a final criminal judgment had established the assault Abu Dhabi: A domestic worker has been ordered to pay Dh10,000 in compensation to a mother after assaulting her three-year-old child, leaving scratches on his chest and beneath his jaw. The ruling by the Abu D»»»

Manila: The Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday it confiscated 12.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 130 cases of dynamite aboard a vessel sitting at port in Palawan province. The explosive substances were found on Sunday alongside materials used in detonations inside two trucks on a ferry that car»»»

Food SecurityIndiaIndia: Are food safety rules too much to swallow?Murali Krishnan in New DelhiRecent raids at India's luxury hotels and a wider crackdown on its food companies have renewed the debate about food safety standards and their enforcement in the country. https://p.dw.com/p/5MpssConsumer»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it had summoned UK Charge d'Affaires in Moscow Danae Dholakia. “On September 18, UK Charge d'Affaires in Russia Danae Dholakia was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry has lodged»»»

BEIJING (Sputnik) - Right-wing forces in Japan are using artificial intelligence technologies to filter historical archives, seeking to whitewash responsibility for war crimes and distort historical truth, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday. There is a growing trend to den»»»

A bomb attack at a mosque in Pakistan’s restive north-west has killed at least 15 people, with more than 50 reported injured as they gathered for Friday prayers. An explosive-laden car was rammed into the entrance of a mosque at a police headquarters in Kohat, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa »»»

Wizz Air is set to return in October, while several major carriers remain suspended Dubai: When will international airlines return to the UAE? After months of suspensions and restrictions linked to the US-Iran war, carriers are gradually rebuilding their schedules — but the return is staggered, wit»»»

Parliament passed, at first reading, amendments to the Labour Code, submitted by the Council of Ministers, introducing a new mechanism for determining the minimum wage. A total of 119 MPs from Progressive Bulgaria supported the bill, while 45 MPs from GERB-UDF, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms,»»»

Romania’s political parties have begun negotiations over a new government after Siegfried Mureșan’s nomination for prime minister, with fiscal policy, public-sector reform and the country’s economic direction emerging as central points of contention. Mureșan appeared on Friday alongside PNL leader »»»

A key breakthrough came after a girl resisted an alleged assault Dubai: Kerala Police arrested a 33-year-old man accused of stalking and assaulting schoolgirls in Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts, after a weeks-long investigation involving hundreds of CCTV recordings and a distinctive clue provi»»»

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Thursday that France will cut public spending by €54 billion next year to reduce the country's deficit. The announcement comes seven months ahead of the country's presidential election, and the government is wary of a new wave of demonstrations wit»»»

The United States informed the Prime Minister’s Office that it intends to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a $25 billion deal, an Israeli official confirmed to Walla on Friday. ‘Israel’ is expected to seek “compensation” from Washington in the form of weapons systems that the US has so far»»»

Techmart World expands reach after a two-month Swiss Military power bank rollout Dubai: Techmart brings the future of battery technology to the Middle East with solid-state batteries. Solid-state battery technology, widely seen as one of the next advances in energy storage, is beginning to reach ev»»»