A federal ‌judge in San Francisco on Monday signed off on artificial intelligence company Anthropic’s landmark $1.5 billion settlement of a class action ​lawsuit brought by a group of authors who accused it of misusing their books to train its AI chatbot Claude. US District Judge Araceli Martinez-O»»»

1 of 2 | A hearing in a lawsuit seeking to block the merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount is scheduled for Aug. 3. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 20 (UPI) -- Twelve state attorneys general won a court order on Monday to halt Paramount's merger with Warner Bros. for at least 14 da»»»

A US sanctions bill originally promoted by the late Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal has moved close to passage after being stalled in Congress for more than a year. The latest compromise has the support of the White House, Republicans and a significant number of Democrats, Th»»»

Georgetown: The number of bodies recovered after the sinking of the MV Barima in Guyana has risen to 10, the Guyanese government said Monday. In a statement, the government said that by 1235 p.m. Monday, eight bodies had been recovered during the operation, bringing the total number of recovered bo»»»

By Juan Sebastian SerranoBRASÍLIA — Whether buying a chilled coconut at the beach or paying rent, Brazil's free PIX system has become the dominant way of making payments in Latin America's largest economy, with just a smart phone.US President Donald Trump does not like it one bit.The payment system»»»

Share: Israel will begin withdrawing from the first pilot zone in southern Lebanon on July 21, an Israeli official told Axios on Monday, nearly four weeks after the US-mediated framework introduced the mechanism. The US State Department separately claimed that operations have begun in the towns of »»»

Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Governor Hassan Abdalla received Phil Mnisi, Governor of the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Eswatini, at the CBE headquarters during the latter’s official visit to Egypt, where the two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise across»»»

The Council of Ministers on Monday proposed that Parliament authorize the deployment of up to eight US KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft, up to 250 US military personnel and related equipment at Bezmer Air Base between July 24 and October 1 to support US operations in the Middle East, prompting mix»»»

Prime Minister Edi Rama is set to convene an expanded meeting of the ruling Socialist Party’s parliamentary group and the government cabinet on Friday, according to a message sent to Socialist lawmakers. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. local time at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana. »»»

Parliament was thrown into disruption on Monday after opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party (PD) blocked the speaker’s podium, preventing the normal proceedings of a plenary session. The lawmakers refused to allow the scheduled presentation by Ombudsperson Endrit Shabani, arguing that his »»»

The US began its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran only after the World Cup final and trophy presentation had concluded, marking an unusually late start to Washington’s nightly bombing campaign. US Central Command announced that the new attacks had begun at 7 PM Eastern Time, while mo»»»

RIYADH: The Helicopter Co., owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has placed a firm order for eight additional Airbus H145 helicopters, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2028. Announced during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, the move falls under a framework agree»»»

The United States on Monday announced the launch of the “pilot zone” process in south Lebanon. “Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebano»»»

The persistently low water level of the Danube is no longer merely an unusual summer sight. Passenger services and international river cruises are already being disrupted, while the prolonged drought is also raising concerns about the resilience of Budapest’s drinking water system. Beyond the capit»»»

Dubai: UAE residents will gain wider access to Jaywan cards after the country formally started nationwide issuance through banks, licensed financial institutions and exchange houses. The rollout follows the official inauguration of Jaywan, the UAE’s first national card scheme, by Sheikh Mansour bin»»»

MANILA: The top diplomats of the US, China and Russia are due in Manila this week to attend the annual forum of Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers that started on Monday. The current ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is hosted by the Philippines as chair for 2026. It is part of»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air has firmed up an order for six additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, taking its total firm commitment for the long-haul jet to 31 aircraft as it pushes ahead with plans to connect Riyadh to more than 100 destinations by 2030. Sign up for our daily business newslette»»»

The Hungary interest rate could fall again on Tuesday, 21 July, when the Monetary Council of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) holds its next policy meeting. Analysts widely expect a 25-basis-point reduction, which would lower the central bank’s base rate from 6% to 5.75%. The decision could gradua»»»

Hitler doppelganger Stefan Wijkamp has been ordered to appear before a German court on charges of incitement of hatred, Bild has reported. The Dutch national, who has repeatedly traveled to Germany to take part in far-right rallies in recent years, is an avowed admirer of the late Nazi leader. On S»»»

Abu Dhabi: Sanad reported record revenue of Dh4.31 billion in the first half of 2026, up 35% from a year earlier, as airlines increased spending on engine maintenance and sought faster access to parts, testing and repair services. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The Mu»»»

Sanad has reported record revenue of AED4.31 billion for the first half of 2026, up 35% from the same period last year, driven by strong global demand for aircraft engine maintenance services and the expansion of its asset management business. The Abu Dhabi-based aerospace engineering and asset man»»»

During a working visit to Issyk-Kul region, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev inspected the construction of two bridges across Sary-Zhaz River in Ak-Suu district. The Cabinet of Ministers’ press service reported. These are Zainulin and Ak-Unkur bridges. Construct»»»

RIYADH: Saudi lenders Bank Albilad and Arab National Bank reported higher second-quarter profits as stronger financing income and operating revenue boosted earnings, latest bourse filings showed. Bank Albilad posted a 3.4 percent year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit attributable to sh»»»

This file photo shows South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun (C), U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7. File Photo courtesy of South Korea Foreign Ministry The top diplomats of South Korea, th»»»

S.N. Nuclearelectrica S.A. announced that the European Investment Bank’s Board of Directors approved an EUR 800 million loan for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant on 15 July 2026, describing it as landmark financing for Romania and the nuclear energy industry. In line»»»

RIYADH: Disclosures from the 10 largest funds investing in Saudi equities reveal that asset managers entered the second quarter of 2026 with portfolios concentrated in a limited number of companies, led by Al Rajhi Bank and Bahri, while their exposure to Saudi Aramco was comparatively narrower desp»»»

Russian athletes were not allowed to compete in Germany in connection with Russia’s fight against Nazism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Monday. "I would like to remind the German Deaf Sports Association that without our country’s efforts, people with disabilit»»»

All media outlets have covered Spain's 1–0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's FIFA World Cup final. Mediapool.bg reports that France's Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament's top scorer, ending the event with ten goals. Dnevnik.bg carries an article titled "How the World Cup Became a USD 10 Bill»»»

Three days after a major disruption to Kyrgyzstan’s power system on July 17, the Ministry of Energy has yet to provide a detailed explanation of the cause of the blackout. Meanwhile, residents of Bishkek continue to report prolonged and repeated electricity outages. The large-scale outage on Friday»»»

Madrid: Spain's World Cup winners headed home on Monday to a heroes' welcome in Madrid, where a million fans are expected to greet them after a night of raucous celebrations across the country. The triumph has sparked an outpouring of national pride in football-mad Spain, where many younger support»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s banking sector continued to post steady lending growth and resilient deposit levels during May 2026, underscoring the sector’s stability despite a modest decline in total assets, according to the latest monthly banking sector update from QNB Financial Services (QNBFS). The sect»»»

RAMALLAH, West Bank: Picture this: A gas station customer pulls out a wad of bills to pay for a fill-up. The cashier refuses the money, explaining that the station’s bank has stopped accepting notes and coins as deposits because it already is drowning in cash. In most places, cash is king. But in t»»»

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi praised the outcome of his Washington visit amid broad public support but political divisions at home. Iran, meanwhile, officially distanced itself from critical remarks of the visit made by Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to its supreme leader. Velayati had describ»»»

Romanian consumers submitted a record number of requests to negotiate with banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) during the first ...»»»

Dubai: Brent crude climbed above $90 a barrel on Monday, reaching its highest level in more than a month after escalating attacks between the US and Iran raised fresh concerns over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The global b»»»

Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova will host an Annual Conference with the participation of the heads of Bulgaria's foreign missions on Monday, the Foreign Ministry's press office reported. The forum will commence at the InterContinental Sofia Hotel at 9 a.m. President Iliana Iotova and Prime Minis»»»

RAMALLAH, West Bank: Picture this: A gas station customer pulls out a wad of bills to pay for a fill-up. The cashier refuses the money, explaining that the station’s bank has stopped accepting notes and coins as deposits because it already is drowning in cash. In most places, cash is king. But in t»»»

UAE airlines have cancelled flights between the UAE and Kuwait amid ongoing regional tensions and operational challenges. Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia have advised passengers to check the latest flight updates and contact airlines for assistance with affected bookings. Get updated faster»»»

Dubai: The US dollar remains the world’s dominant currency for trade and finance. Yet central banks are steadily buying more gold and reducing the share of dollar assets in their reserve portfolios. Here’s what the latest data shows — and why it matters. The US dollar extended its losses on Wednesd»»»

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he is exploring the legal possibility of arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he travels to the city for the UN General Assembly in September. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 ov»»»

Dubai: A weaker Indian rupee is giving Gulf-based NRIs greater buying power in India, with investors increasingly targeting neighbourhoods linked to new airports, metro lines, business districts and strong rental demand. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.Mumbai and its s»»»

QNA Doha The Qatar News Agency (QNA) Training Centre has concluded its training programmes for the first half of 2026 organised as part of the centre’s annual training plan. A total of 246 trainees from QNA and several government entities took part in the programmes. During the first half of the ye»»»

Ukraine’s parliament has frustrated President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s attempt to install a new defence leadership, exposing strains within his ruling coalition and intensifying a political crisis over the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov. The Verkhovna Rada did not, however, reject Fedorov’s dismissal in »»»

Indian police on Saturday forcibly moved environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital after his health deteriorated during a weeks-long hunger strike in New Delhi. Wangchuk, a prominent activist tied to the viral, opposition Cockroach Janata Party, is seeking education reforms. His family has denoun»»»

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Iran later this week following a trip to the US where he met President Donald Trump, Iraqi state media reported Sunday.Washington and Tehran are Iraq’s main allies, but their enmity has long turned the country into a proxy battlegroun»»»

Share: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington. President Aoun is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Washington on Sunday, praising the country f»»»

Johannesburg, South Africa: Recent radioactive contamination incidents at Africa's only nuclear power plant were minor and posed no public danger, officials said on Sunday, reaffirming South Africa's intention to scale up nuclear power generation. "Airborne radioactive contamination" was detected d»»»

Doha, Qatar: Football mania in the southern Indian state of Kerala has reached new heights, with the state government declaring a school holiday for Monday, July 20, 2026. The move allows students in the state, renowned for its passionate football culture, to stay up and watch the highly-anticipate»»»

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s passion for football reached a new high on Sunday as the state government declared a holiday on Monday for all educational institutions, allowing students to stay up and watch the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina without worrying about attending classes »»»

On Wednesday, French lawmakers approved a bill that will create a legal right to assisted dying for adults with incurable illnesses.  The issue has been championed by President Emmanuel Macron but has been highly contentious politically. Still - opinion polls suggest that a large majority of t»»»