Dubai: US-Iran tensions remain high, with the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the standoff. US President Donald Trump has called the waterway 'American territory' and warned Iran against developing a nuclear weapon, while saying Tehran wants a deal. Iran has rejected new US sanctions and warned o»»»

RIYADH: Startups across the Middle East and North Africa secured at least $7.4 million in funding over the last week, across sectors including artificial intelligence, education, and financial technology. The latest announcements also cover a new Saudi growth-stage fund, investments in five Omani s»»»

Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest living person, has celebrated her 117th birthday, becoming the first British person to reach the milestone. Caterham, who lives in a care home in Surrey, marked her birthday on Friday with family and friends. She was recognised as the world’s oldest living person »»»

TUNIS, Tunisia: A summer of extreme heat has left many Tunisians short of water and electricity — and full of anger at the country’s leadership. Protesters rallied in the capital Tunis on Thursday, many calling on President Kais Saied to leave power. Mobilized by a new opposition collective, the de»»»

The money that bought a former Ukrainian energy minister his freedom was itself dirtied by money laundering, anti-corruption detectives say, and the trail runs straight back into the president's office. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosec»»»

The United States has demanded that Cuba open up to private investment, and Cuba has passed sweeping reforms to encourage just that. So Cuba's U.N. ambassador says he wants to know why Washington keeps piling on sanctions that stymie the very economic opening it has sought for decades. Ambassador E»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran Warns Miscalculations Will Draw ‘Devastating’ Response 21-08-2026 14:53 PM Commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Major»»»

On August 18, a federal trial opened in the US, organized by a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general against Meta. Twenty-nine states brought the lawsuit, and were represented by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey at the trial. They claimed that the company’s social media platf»»»

A summer of extreme heat has left many Tunisians short of water and electricity — and full of anger at the country's leadership. Protesters rallied in the capital Tunis on Thursday, many calling on President Kais Saied to leave power. Mobilized by a new opposition collective, the demonstrators plea»»»

DOHA: The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) yesterday reported a comprehensive overview of Qatar’s monetary and institutional developments, highlighting key achievements that strengthened the financial sector’s overall resilience and inclusiveness. In its 2025 Annual Report, the central bank reported that f»»»

In this world, Hungary needs a strong military — not because we want war, but quite the opposite: because we want peace, because we want to live in peace, said Prime Minister Péter Magyar at the opening event of the 20 August state celebration on Thursday in Budapest. Speaking to soldiers at the fl»»»

WASHINGTON: The United States will impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday as he urged Beijing ​to cooperate with Washington. Bessent said he would hold a press conference on Monday to discuss details. “It is a one-two punch. We have »»»

Riyadh: Known to thousands simply as Falafel in Hotpot, Xuling, a Chinese/Arabic content creator, has built a unique platform connecting two of the world’s oldest civilizations — those of China and Saudi Arabia. Through language, culture, and everyday experiences, she shares a fresh perspective on »»»

A senior commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that Tehran would deploy significantly more advanced and destructive weaponry than those used in previous conflicts should a new war break out, signaling a major escalation in the Islamic Republic’s military posture. Bri»»»

International payment platforms Sendwave and Wise Group (Nasdaq: WSE; LSE: WISE) have restricted services for Kenyan users amid heightened scrutiny of the country’s anti-money-laundering regime, Business Daily reported on August 18. Sendwave told a Kenyan customer that it was currently unable to pr»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has released its Annual Report for the year 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of the State of Qatar's monetary, financial, and institutional developments. The report also highlights the key achievements and QCB-led initiatives that strengthened the resil»»»

DOHA: The Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has released its 2025 Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive overview of monetary, financial, and institutional developments in the State of Qatar. The report highlights the bank's key achievements and initiatives that have strengthened the financial sector»»»

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday that the continent could not afford to miss out on the artificial intelligence revolution as the continent's growth model comes under increasing pressure. The United States and China are seen leading the AI race, with their companies prod»»»

Abu Dhabi: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the UAE’s global bank and one of the world’s largest and safest financial institutions, has announced that Payit, its digital financial platform, has launched Send Now Pay Later (SNPL), giving eligible customers greater flexibility and control over how they se»»»

FINANCIAL TIMES: IRAN EYES TARGETING US MILITARY ASSETS IN EUROPE IF TENSIONS ESCALATE Denevnik.bg and 24 Chasa reproduce a Financial Times report, citing people close to the Iranian regime, according to which Iranian officials and military planners have examined potential targets at American milit»»»

Abu Dhabi has plenty happening this week, whether you’re looking for a night of live music, something creative to do with the family, or a quieter afternoon surrounded by art and culture. From concerts on Yas Island to workshops, summer programmes and exhibitions around the city, here are nine thin»»»

Poland’s state development bank BGK and the European Investment Fund have invested EUR 30 mln, about PLN 129 mln, in a venture capital fund managed by Inovo.vc. It is the fourth investment made under their joint Future Tech Poland initiative, which has allocated nearly PLN 580 mln so far. Inovo.vc »»»

Kenyan cryptocurrency startups are considering shifting operations to Mauritius or South Africa after new regulations imposed minimum capital requirements that founders say could price smaller companies out of the country's rapidly growing virtual-asset market. At least five startup founders are co»»»

Deputy Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mostafa Izadi says Iran’s air defense systems shot down more than 200 enemy aircraft, including drones and manned aircraft, during the recent US-Israeli aggression. Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the martyred Leader of t»»»

In the face of recent heatwaves and the big crowds that saturate the historic tourist sites during the day, this summer, Rome is testing a new way to visit the city: by opening tourist sites at night. This initiative includes museums, parks, archeological sites, monuments, villas, and historic resi»»»

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI will lease a massive new data centre in the United States for 20 years, backed by a $105 billion financing commitment from Nvidia, according to a regulatory filing published Monday. The project will be built on the site of a former Cold War-era uranium enrichment plant in Ohio »»»

Cash-strapped depositors, a collapsing currency and lenders shut out of the global financial system – Myanmar's banks are being ground down by more than five years of military rule. The economy shrank 2% in the fiscal year to March and consumer prices rose 24.6% year on year in April, the World Ban»»»

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), chaired by Islam Azzam, has approved two companies to conduct various non-banking financial activities using fintech, following reviews by the committee responsible for examining applications to use fintech in non-banking financial services. The approvals c»»»

Dubai: After spending nearly six months largely out of sight, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is beginning to show what his Iran will look like. And it looks increasingly like a country preparing for a long fight. Khamenei has installed a string of veteran military and security har»»»

Russia's banks are earning more than ever, yet beneath the record profits lie mounting bad debts, a flight to cash and a corporate-loan pile that few in Moscow can measure. The country's largest lender, state-controlled Sberbank, posted a record IFRS net profit of RUB1.01tn ($12.6bn) in 1H26, up 19»»»

Russia's main state development bank has sacked its chief economist over a speech he gave three months ago, in which he said the Russian economy would survive. Andrei Klepach, chief economist at VEB.RF for 12 years, was dismissed on August 16. VEB.RF chairman Igor Shuvalov let him go on an instruct»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC Responds to Trump’s Allegations about Backchannel Talks: We Are the Arm and Voice of the Iranian People 17-08-2026 17:08 PM The Islami»»»

1 of 2 | The Trump administration has paid billions of dollars in an ongoing effort to kill wind energy projects in the United States. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has agreed to pay out about $4 billion to companies to encourage them not »»»

Doha, Qatar: Upcoming online auctions featuring valuable collectibles, vehicles and motorcycles will be available through the Court Mzadat app this week. The first auction, featuring valuable collectibles, will be held on Tuesday, August 18, from 4pm to 7pm. Items listed for auction include from br»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe IRGC General Says; ‘Israel’ Too Weak for War with Iran 17-08-2026 10:56 AM A senior IRGC official said that Israel is not capable of waging»»»

Future Banking Summit 2026 returns on October 7-9 at Qosmo Hotel ...»»»

As the Aug. 17 deadline for the 60-day US-Iran memorandum arrives, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) political deputy, Brig. General Yadollah Javani warned that Iran's military posture could shift from defensive to offensive, telling state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran's future actions could »»»

Authors: Vitruvius and Guests The idea that our homes can communicate professional as well as personal identities may seem as new as the work-from-home revolution. But it was second nature to the ancient Romans, for whom the home was in many ways the center of public and private life. Roman authors»»»

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s chief commander says that the country has brought “the most heavily armed military in the history of the world to its knees” through successful offensive and defensive operations conducted under intense fire. In a message on Saturday thanking the forces »»»

RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia prepares to host Expo 2030, the experience of Osaka 2025 offers lessons on how the Kingdom can turn the six-month event into longer-term economic and business opportunities. Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to attract more than 42 million visits from 197 countries across a site »»»

RIYADH: The latest wave of startup activity across the Middle East and North Africa spanned new funding rounds, regulatory approvals and product launches in construction technology, gaming, financial services, insurance, education and digital healthcare. Companies are directing fresh capital toward»»»

Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov did not set out to run world chess. In late June the founder of Freedom Holding Corp, the Nasdaq-listed financial services group, agreed to stand as deputy to Arkady Dvorkovich, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) president seeking a third term. Then on July 23»»»

Kazakh billionaire Timur Turlov did not set out to run world chess. In late June the founder of Freedom Holding Corp, the Nasdaq-listed financial services group, agreed to stand as deputy to Arkady Dvorkovich, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) president seeking a third term. Then on July 23»»»

Dubai: Al Ansari Financial Services reported a 28.7 per cent drop in first-half net profit to Dh151 million, as geopolitical pressures, weaker activity across some remittance corridors and tougher competition squeezed profitability. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The »»»

It’s a small world, which was made smaller by something that happened in a little town in England two centuries ago. I’ve been back in the UK seeing family and friends and with it came a reminder of the interconnected world we live in. 200 years ago a place in County Durham launched the first steam»»»

Cuba's Raul Castro made a rare public appearance on Thursday at a celebration marking the centenary of his brother Fidel's birth. The 95-year-old former president received a standing ovation at the secure event in Havana as the island grapples with a deepening economic crisis and frequent blackouts»»»

An elderly dancing duo has become a viral sensation in Italy after a tour operator shared one of their street performances online last week, striking a chord with many in Italy, whose population is the oldest in the EU. The pair said they hope their sudden popularity will push their peers off the s»»»

A sweeping overhaul of Germany’s intelligence services proposed by the government could infringe on police powers in violation of constitutional safeguards, opposition politicians have warned. On Wednesday, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt presented a 730-page package comprising three draft law»»»

The Strait of Hormuz remains squarely under the “management and control” of the Islamic Republic, the head of Iran’s Basij Organization declared on Thursday, asserting that US efforts to spark a fresh confrontation in the strategic waterway have once again ended in defeat. Hossein Taeb made the rem»»»

The FBI was already involved in plotting Fidel Castro’s assassination before the Cuban Revolution, and later the CIA picked up where it left off, former state security officer Carlos Serpa Maceira tells Sputnik on the 100th anniversary of the revolutionary icon. Between 1959 and 2000 roughly 640 at»»»