MANAMA, BAHRAIN - The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) have decided to jointly provide training programs aimed at strengthening the global Islamic finance community.The programs cater to professionals from financial institutions, regulatory bodies, supervisory authorities and legal experts within the Islamic...

ABU DHABI, UAE –  Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Monetary Fund Dr Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Al Humaidi said that Arab countries account for about 60 percent of the global Islamic financial industry, which amounted to US$3 trillion by the end of 2021. Al...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The iconic Broadway musical 'The Phantom of the Opera' will be performed in Riyadh from Oct 14 to Dec 5, 2023. The musical will be performed 59 time at The Arena Riyadh. It consists of 100 cast, crew and orchestra members, and more than 230 intricately...

DOHA, QATAR -  The Ministry of Labor (MoL) launched the "Istamer" digital platform, which deals with employing Qatari retirees wishing to work in the private sector. The unveiling of the Istamer platform is a key component of promoting the National Program for Job Localization in the Private Sector. Its purpose...

ABU DHABI, UAE - ADNOC and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) have completed the financial closing of their $2.2 billion (AED8.3 billion) strategic project to provide sustainable water supply for ADNOC's onshore operations. This strategic investment between two Abu Dhabi energy giants entails developing and operating facilities to sustainably...

Evergrande's enormous debt has contributed to the country's deepening property market crisis, raising fears of a global spillover. The property sector, which along with construction accounts for about a quarter of China's gross domestic product, is a key pillar of the country's growth and has experienced a dazzling boom in...

Violence has surged in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since early last year, particularly in the West Bank where eight Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli incursions since Tuesday. "Two Palestinians were killed by live Israeli bullets to the head" during the pre-dawn raid, the ministry said.

Messina Denaro was one of the most ruthless bosses in Cosa Nostra, the real-life Sicilian crime syndicate depicted in the Godfather movies. He was convicted by the courts of involvement in the murder of anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone in 1992 and in deadly bombings in Rome, Florence and Milan in...

Dugway, United States-- A seven-year space voyage came to its climactic end Sunday when a NASA capsule landed in the desert in the US state of Utah, carrying to Earth the largest asteroid samples ever collected. Scientists have high hopes for the sample, saying it will provide a better understanding of...

NEW YORK, US – UAE Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri called upon the global community to utilize the opportunity offered by COP28 in the Emirates to drive climate action by focusing on food systems transformation and promoting nature-based solutions. She made the comments during...

New York, United States -- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a reception at the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations on the third day of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) Saturday. The reception,...

Since 2020, a ceasefire deal brokered by Damascus ally Moscow and rebel-backer Ankara has largely held in the northwest, despite periodic clashes. Since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, more than half a million people have been killed.

A government shutdown would put the finances of hundreds of thousands of workers at federal parks, museums, and other sites at risk, but it could also carry significant political costs for Biden, who is running for re-election. The White House wants any budget bill passed by lawmakers to include $24...

A drone "struck a military post belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, adjacent to the area where a violent riot was taking place", the army said. It added that "shots were fired toward" Israeli soldiers near the border during the strike, without reporting any casualties.

Yinchuan, China--The sixth China-Arab States Expo commenced today in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, marking yet another chapter in the ever-expanding economic and trade nexus between China and its Arab counterparts. Spanning a sprawling 40,000 square meters, the Expo boasts an offline exhibition arena with participation from over...

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories - Four Roman tombs dating back 2,000 years have been discovered in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian archaeologist said on Saturday, bemoaning a lack of resources that has delayed excavations in the besieged territory. "With the discovery of these four tombs, the total number of tombs in this...

The navy, with support from the civil defense, "was able to rescue 27 illegal migrants aboard a rubber boat that was sinking off the Chekka coast"

NEW YORK, US - The United Kingdom will be holding a summit on artificial intelligence (AI) so that nations can come together to “understand it, govern it, harness its potential and contain its risks”, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden told the UN General Assembly. Dowden said the so-named AI Safety...

YEREVAN, ARMENIA  - Chairman of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) Abdullah Mohamed Al Mazrouei and the host country’s Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan have together inaugurated the UAE-Armenia Business Forum here. The forum saw the signing of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs); with three of...

Amman, Jordan-- Jordan and the World Bank have held discussions to enhance cooperation in infrastructure projects and the public-private partnerships. In this connection, Jordanian Minister of Investment Kholoud Al Saqqaf met with World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure Affairs Guangzhe Chen in Amman. During the meeting, Al Saqqaf reviewed a...

Beijing, China - Saudi Arabia is seeking Chinese investment in mining and industrial sectors. The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef met with Chinese investors in Shanghai, where they discussed investment opportunities available in the Kingdom in various sectors The Saudi side highlighted the goals of...

New York, US-- The GCC foreign ministers and the UK foreign minister have exhorted Iraq to uphold international agreements and United Nations resolutions on the demarcation of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders. Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States and the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and...

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also announced the launch of an "Economic Working Group" and "Financial Working Group," saying both will hold "regular and irregular meetings to strengthen communication and exchange on relevant issues."

China had discriminated against some of the Indian athletes "in a targeted and pre-meditated manner", India's foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said in a statement.

Afghanistan will compete in 15 sports in Hangzhou, the country's first Asian Games since the Taliban seized power in 2021. The Games, the biggest in history and boasting more competitors than the Olympics, open on Saturday after a delay of a year because of China's zero-Covid policy, since abandoned.

Microsoft has bet big on AI, notably with a $10-billion envelope dedicated to its partnership with OpenAI, and is now trying to monetize this technology by integrating it into its products. The Redmond, Washington-based group also announced on Thursday that the Bing bot was now able to draw on previous...

New York, US-- Kuwait has exhorted UN member states to back its bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2024-2026. The appeal was made at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly by the country's Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Highlighting Kuwait's...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA -  Saudi cinemas began the screening of the horror and thriller movie Cello, with global participation of stars from the US, England, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The movie is based on the novel released in 2021 by Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment, Advisor Turki Al...

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), which is a member of the Islamic Development Bank, has collaborated with Turk Eximbank to provide a joint loan worth $277 million. This loan includes murabaha facilities, an Islamic finance and investment instrument. This collaboration aims to enhance trade...

"An estimated 43,059 individuals have been displaced by the floods in northeastern Libya," the IOM said, adding that a "lack of water supply is reportedly driving many displaced out of Derna" to other areas.

"Just as we stand together against military aggression, so must we strive together to protect the world from our most existential challenge of all -- that of global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature," said the king, known for campaigning on environmental issues for the past decades.

RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE - A delegation from Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), led by Group CEO Ramy Jallad, successfully wrapped up its roadshow in China’s Guangdong province to explore new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation. The delegation aims to foster deeper ties with local enterprises, prominent trade...

SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) said it is likely to host the first Gulf-Iraq Business Forum on September 26- 27, local media reports said. The theme of the event is “Partnership for a Promising Economic Future”, and is expected to present multiple investment opportunities....

DOHA, QATAR - Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) announced the launch of a single window e-portal, which aims to facilitate and ease procedures for securities offering and listing to companies participating in the financial market. QFMA explained in a statement that submitting the applications was made available on Tuesday via...

Paris, France -- Scientists said on Tuesday they have found the "missing ingredient" for pink diamonds, some of the world's most expensive stones due their rarity and beauty, and the discovery could help find more. More than 90 percent of all the pink diamonds ever found were discovered at the recently...

"Today India has awakened with a new consciousness," Modi said in the central hall of the old parliament building before leading fellow legislators by foot across to the new complex. Modi's Hindu-nationalist government called a special session of parliament to match the relocation, which coincides with the beginning of a...

Turkish military action has principally targeted the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) and its Syrian Kurdish ally, the People's Defence Units (YPG). A Turkish drone strike on Sunday killed a senior PKK official and three fighters in the Sinjar Mountains of northwestern Iraq, Iraqi Kurdish authorities said.

Runners-up in last year’s Champions League, Hilal were fortunate not to lose their Group B opener having gone behind on 52 minutes at King Fahd International Stadium to Toma Tabatadze’s expert finish. Navbahor, the 2022 Uzbekistan Super League runners-up, were competing in the Champions League for the first time. However, Hilal defender Ali Al...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - About 92% of respondents in Saudi Arabia consider ‘critical national infrastructure’ and are willing to pay more for sustainable broadband with roughly a quarter of them prepared to pay over 20% more for eco-friendly connectivity., a Cisco survey in the kingdom has found.  The survey, encompassing...

Manama, Bahrain--Spire Technologies has obtained licenses from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), authorizing it to operate as a fully regulated open banking ancillary service provider in Bahrain. The approval from the CBB will effectively enable Spire Technologies to expand its offerings, delivering expert financial insights and swift digital solutions...

NEW YORK, US- President Joe Biden said the United States would keep piling "costs" on Iran despite a prisoner swap deal that freed five Americans on Monday. Biden confirmed that he was imposing new sanctions on Iran's intelligence ministry and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for their involvement in "wrongful detentions." "Today,...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Abu Dhabi Sports Council discussed business developments and plans for developing the sports sector here, local media reports said. This also includes the continuation of supportive initiatives and programs to enhance the success of the sports system at the local and global levels. Mohammed Thani Al...

AJMAN, UAE – Real estate transactions in August achieved a growth of 61.5 percent compared to the same period in 2022, totalling over US$408 million  while trading volume reached US$181 million, Department of Land and Real Estate Regulation in Ajman said. Director-General of the Department of Land and Real Estate...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that national airlines in the Kingdom have issued compensations totaling US$15 million (SAR58 million) to passengers in the period 2021-2022. These compensations, according to GACA, were given primarily to deal with issues such as delays, loss of luggage,...

Beirut, Lebanon - A Syrian Kurdish armed group attacked an area controlled by pro-Turkish fighters in rebel-held northern Syria on Monday, killing at least 14, a war monitor and a factional leader said. The Kurdish Afrin Liberation Forces took advantage of factional fighting that broke out after midnight on the outskirts...

Meloni, who won the election last year on a vow to stop immigration, said Sunday the defense ministry would also be charged with setting up more repatriation centers "as soon as possible". The government allocated 42.5 million euros ($45.3 million) at the end of 2022 for new repatriation centers, and the...

ABU DHABI, UAE – Director-General of the Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (EO AMLCTF) Hamid AlZaabi said that in H1 2023, there has been a significant improvement across the board on the issue of AML/CFT in the country. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency...

Jerusalem--Israel's restrictions and rising fiscal constraints in the Palestinian territories are severely impacting the economic conditions of Palestinians and hindering their access to timely life-saving healthcare, the World Bank said Monday. In a report titled "Racing Against Time", the World Bank said that overall the Palestinian economy was performing below...

Muscat, Oman--Annual inflation of Oman has shot up 0.82 percent in August as against 2.4 percent in the same month of last year, according to the country’s National Center for Statistics and Information.  But compared with the previous month, Oman’s inflation rate sunk to its lowest level in 28 months...

Dubai, UAE-- Terming climate action as an opportunity to create a more equitable and sustainable world, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE's Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, believes it is a chance to raise living standards, "create new jobs and vibrant new industries, strengthen our bond with nature, and...