RIYADH: Across the Middle East and North Africa, homegrown fintechs are addressing financial exclusion from two entirely different starting points, and two platforms illustrate that divide well: Valu in Egypt, and Arib in Saudi Arabia. Valu is an Egyptian buy now, pay later and consumer finance pla»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is entering one of the biggest technology infrastructure shifts since the rise of cloud computing, with data centers set to evolve into artificial intelligence factories, a senior NVIDIA executive told Arab News. Marc Domenech, vice president enterprise for Middle East, Turkey,»»»

Houston, Aug 8, (SANA) Oil prices rose at the close of trading on Friday, with Brent crude gaining $1.06, or 1.3%, to settle at $83.55 a barrel. Reuters reported that U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 89 cents, or 1.15%, to settle at $78.18 a barrel. Oil prices have gained more »»»

An 18-year-old Hungarian man is suspected of killing a 29-year-old Austrian man in Lower Austria, with investigators examining the possibility that the attack was motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation. The victim was found dead early on Thursday in a house in Langenzersdorf, north of Vienna.»»»

Dubai: There was a time when hunger dictated Jenifer Segalowitz’s life. One afternoon after returning home from school in the Philippines, she discovered there was nothing left to eat. Hungry and exhausted, she accepted a piece of fried chicken that had already been thrown into the trash after her »»»

Dubai: The Dubai Consumer Protection Department has intensified inspection campaigns across retail outlets, markets and shopping centres as back-to-school promotions get under way, aiming to ensure compliance with promotional regulations, price transparency and consumer rights. Ahmad Ahli, Acting D»»»

Washington: The Strait of Hormuz is, by some accounts, named for a Zoroastrian deity destined to emerge victorious after a 9,000-year standoff with an adversary. Iran's leaders feel their own victory is at hand and won't require the same epic patience. They are betting that military pressure will u»»»

DUBAI: There is something deeply satisfying about watching a beloved, long-running franchise reimagined in a way that feels both fresh and respectful of its legacy. And that is exactly what “Star Wars: Visions Presents — The Ninth Jedi” achieves. Based on a 2021 “Star Wars: Visions” anthology short»»»

DOHA: The Civil Service and Government Development Bureau concluded its participation as a strategic partner in the eighth edition of the 'My Career, My Future' programme, organised by the Qatar Career Development Center from August 2 to 6. The programme was held in the presence of HE Dr Abdulaziz »»»

Duke University School of Law has largely disregarded the US Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action and continued to discriminate against white and Asian applicants, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has alleged. In 2023, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in cases brought by Stude»»»

The Pentagon has revoked the security clearance of former US Air Force chief Frank Kendall, whom it accused of leaking classified information about Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted presidential aircraft. “This action follows his unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One’»»»

Elon Musk has refused to allow Ukraine to use his Starlink satellite internet service to guide drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, The Atlantic reported on Friday, citing two close allies of former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov. According to the publication, Fedorov, a tech-sa»»»

US Cyber Command is scrutinizing an unusually high number of deaths by suicide among personnel over a month-long period this summer, Bloomberg has reported. As many as five people who worked in or closely interacted with the command took their own lives between early June and early July, the outlet»»»

A New Mexico judge has declared Meta a “public nuisance,” comparing the social media giant to a polluting factory. The ruling orders the company to establish an abatement fund and overhaul key features of its platforms over alleged harm to children. Judge Bryan Biedscheid on Thursday ordered the pa»»»

NONTHABURI: A student opened fire at a high school outside Bangkok on Friday, killing at least five people and wounding more than 20, according to authorities, who said he also appeared to have killed his two grandparents at the family home earlier in the morning. The 14-year-old shooter took his o»»»

Darwin, Australia: Bangladesh folded for just 54 Saturday to lose their only warm-up game ahead of a two-Test series against top-ranked Australia by an innings and 38 runs. The tourists were skittled by young quick Campbell Thompson, who claimed a stunning 8-25 off 11 overs as a Cricket Australia X»»»

Canberra: The number of H5N1 bird flu cases in Australia on Saturday surpassed 200 as the southeastern state of Victoria introduced new measures to stop the deadly strain from spreading to poultry. The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said in an update that there had»»»

Spain announced Friday that it would introduce border controls for travellers arriving from Italy in retaliation for Rome imposing similar measures. The rare spat between the EU nations came after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco to Spain's North African territory Ceuta&nb»»»

Russian missile strikes killed three people, including a child, ​in ‌the Kyiv region on Saturday, said local authorities, as an air raid alert was declared in and around the Ukrainian capital. The attack came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Belgrade on a landmark visit»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The West, Kiev and radicals in Georgia are attempting to drag Tbilisi into bloody adventures in the South Caucasus, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday on the anniversary of the outbreak of the 2008 conflict. "These goals are becoming particularly important amid attempt»»»

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian military struck the Fire Point industrial plant in Kiev, which produces components and warheads for FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "The following were struck in Kiev: the Kiev-111 industrial enterprise (Fire Point LLC), which produce»»»

On Aug. 8, 1974, facing expected impeachment over the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign. 1 of 4 | President Richard Nixon resigns from the office of the president August 8, 1974, following his role in the Watergate scandal. Photo courtesy CBS | License Photo»»»

It has been a busy week for headlines across the region and beyond. UAE residents can look forward to an upcoming three-day weekend, while Oman opens its doors wider with a free 14-day visa. In local news, a tragic gas cylinder blast in Dubai drew emergency responses, while travel rules take centre»»»

Dubai: For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), returning to the UAE after a holiday in the Philippines should be as simple as checking in, clearing immigration, and boarding the flight. But for some, one document can make the difference between a smooth departure and multiple trips across the ai»»»

If you are American, then you might be getting damn tired of losing wars. I know I am. And you may be asking yourself, “Why does this keep happening?” It’s an intriguing and disheartening puzzle: Although the United States has been far-and-away the world’s most powerful country for many decades, wi»»»

Mexico City: The United States announced on Friday that it will partially resume inspections of avocado producers in Mexico's Michoacan state, two days after suspending imports of the fruit over security concerns. Michoacan is a hotspot of fighting between crime gangs, which have diversified into e»»»

Hot water supply was temporarily suspended at 12 addresses in the capital today, the municipal enterprise Bishkekteploset reported. The outage is due to the reconnection of heating mains as part of the reconstruction of the heating network on Frunze Street. The water shutoff is scheduled until 9 p.»»»

What is underway at the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs may prove to be more than a simple change of leadership: it could amount to a restructuring that reaches to the institution’s foundations. The institute has been transferred from the Prime Minister’s Office back to the Ministry of»»»

DOHA: The Department of Meteorology has warned of poor horizontal visibility at first and thundery rain in some areas during the afternoon on Saturday. In its daily weather report, the department said inshore areas would be misty to foggy at first, becoming hot during the daytime, with a chance of »»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar National Bank (QNB) said the US economy continues to demonstrate resilience in the face of current domestic and external pressures, despite a moderation in the labour market and increased economic uncertainty. In its weekly commentary, the bank said the moderation in the pace of »»»

The socioeconomic development results for the first six months of 2026 have been summed up in Talas region. The meeting was chaired by Ermat Dzhumaev, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the region. The results of the first half of the year show growth in economic indicators, as well as positive »»»

Abidjan: The Djidji Ayokwe, a sacred "talking drum" which was taken by French colonial troops in 1916 and then to France, arrived back in its home village in Ivory Coast on Friday. The ceremony, on Ivory Coast's national independence day holiday, was the first time today's Ivorians were able to see»»»

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact, the US Navy is enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, and Iran and Oman are nearing a shipping deal for the Strait of Hormuz, all as the Houthis are blamed for an attack on Najran. Meanwhile, most UAE flights are operating as sche»»»

New York: Major US stock indexes closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 reaching a record high as investors responded to weaker-than-expected US jobs data that reduced expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in September. The S&P 500 rose 46.48 points, or 0.60%, to close at 7,756.44»»»

The body of an unidentified man was found on the shore of Kemin-Abad reservoir in Uzgen district of Osh region, the regional police department reported. The district police received information about the discovery on August 7. Police officials and an investigative team were dispatched to the scene,»»»

The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) has issued an orange code for the scorching temperatures in vast parts of the country for Saturday. The code applies to Northern, Southern Bulgaria, and for the Southwest. A yellow code due to the hot weather has been issued for the regions»»»

Minister of Health of Kyrgyzstan Damir Osmonov visited the First Children’s Hospice, where he met with children, their parents, and medical staff. As part of state support, eight children received ventilators for home use, and nine more received a year’s supply of vital medical supplies. During the»»»

Signs of intense degradation of the high-altitude cryosphere have been recorded on the Chelektor moraine-glacier complex on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Ridge, the Hydrometeorological Service reported. Director of the Service, Daurbek Sakyev, along with specialists from the Ministry of Emergenc»»»

The US State Department announced late Friday that President Donald Trump's ​administration plans toprovide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia as the country's new right-wing President Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn into office. De la Espriella, who calls himself »»»

Brussels, Belgium: The EU's tech chief called on Meta and TikTok to "act decisively" to stem disinformation at times of crisis, saying the European Commission held talks with both platforms Friday following last week's Ceuta migrant surge. A wave of social media disinformation is believed to have p»»»

Puerto Morelos, Mexico: A small skiff moves through a stinking carpet of sargassum, dragging what looks like a threshing machine through the brown, floating seaweed choking the normally clear waters of the Mexican Caribbean. A round-the-clock defense is underway against the invasion in Mexico's int»»»

Assam's flood situation remained grim with more than 1.55 lakh people continuing to reel under the impact of the deluge across 13 districts, while the cumulative death toll in this year's floods has risen to 98, officials said. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 1,5»»»

The Trump administration is once again trying to limit who can become an American, with a pair of executive orders issued this week that attempt to place restrictions on birthright citizenship and on foreigners who give birth in the US. A Supreme Court decision in June struck down a previous attemp»»»

Cali, Colombia: Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella vowed to restore order and eradicate "narco-terrorists" in a fiery first speech as leader on Friday. The millionaire flew by helicopter to address soldiers in a military garrison after his inauguration in the southwestern city of Cali. Hi»»»

Washington, DC: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine has spent recent weeks privately advising top US President Donald Trump administration officials that the United States must seek an "off-ramp" from the conflict with Iran. Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that Cain»»»

Costa Rica: A tiny greenish, noctural frog that thrives in coffee plantations has been discovered in the Costa Rica's central Pacific region, where it also faces risks from agrochemicals used in farming. Measuring less than four centimeters and known as the "spring frog," AFP reporters observed the»»»

Toronto, Canada: Reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina advanced to the fourth round of the WTA Toronto Masters on Friday while French Open winner Mirra Andreeva was eliminated by Canada's Leylah Fernandez. World number two Rybakina from Kazakhstan defeated American 28th seed Ann Li 6-2, »»»

Washington, United States: US State Department officials announced late Friday an intention to work with Congress to approve a $1 billion assistance package for Colombia, as the new president there took office. "As a cornerstone of this renewed partnership, the United States, working with Congress,»»»

Manila: The Philippines is entering an unusual phase of its energy transition. It is adding solar and wind power at a pace that could eventually transform the electricity system, while at the same time confronting one of the oldest problems in power generation: What happens when the sun stops shini»»»

Péter Magyar’s intervention in two public media appointments has caused debate over the independence of Hungary’s state broadcaster. The independence of Hungary’s public media has been one of the country’s most sensitive political issues ever since the democratic transition of 1989–90. Following th»»»