The United States on Friday announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting people and companies in China, Hong Kong, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly helping Iran acquire supplies and military equipment for its missile and drone programs.

The AI and Cyber: Empowering Defenders report, developed in collaboration with KPMG, highlights measurable gains in cost reduction, response speed and resilience.

The airline said it now operates to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with more than 1,300 weekly flights, representing about 75% of pre-disruption capacity. Services have resumed progressively across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia and Asia-Pacific.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi's remarks came after Trump's assertion that he was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest offer, delivered through Pakistani mediators. Trump said he preferred a negotiated settlement but made clear military action remained an option.

The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials said President Donald Trump had instructed aides to prepare for a sustained blockade of Iranian ports to increase pressure on Tehran. The move came after Iran warned of "unprecedented military action" if Washington continued seizing Iran-linked vessels.

The decision marks one of the most significant ruptures in the producer group's recent history. Long viewed as one of OPEC's most influential Gulf members after Saudi Arabia, the UAE said the move reflects a reassessment of its long-term energy strategy and production ambitions.

Eight technology domains, including AI, robotics, engineering biology and advanced materials are no longer advancing in isolation.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran is in a “state of collapse” and said Tehran has approached Washington seeking relief from the US blockade on Iranian ports.

The exchange came as regional tensions remained high and Iran intensified diplomatic efforts to secure a broader halt to hostilities, dispatching Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Pakistan and preparing for talks in Moscow.

Dubai, UAE -- A humanoid robot completed a half-marathon in China in a time faster than the human world record, according to state media and industry reports, highlighting rapid advances in robotics. The robot, widely referred to as “Lightning” or “Flash,” finished the 21.1-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26...

According to a new UNDP policy brief, the impact is most severe in countries directly affected by the fighting and those reliant on imported energy. However, poorer nations geographically distant from the conflict are also expected to face significant long-term setbacks.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has launched five new logistics routes designed to enhance supply chain efficiency and integrate various transport modes.These routes link Arabian Gulf ports with the Kingdom’s central and northern regions, extending to the Red Sea and northern neighboring countries. By utilizing a multimodal...

The strikes hit multiple areas, including parts of Beirut, with emergency teams struggling to reach casualties amid heavy congestion. The health ministry urged residents to clear roads to allow ambulances access as rescue operations continued.

Iran has conveyed a fresh proposal to the United States through Pakistani intermediaries, seeking an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring the ongoing war to an end, according to an Axios report.

If successful, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, testing critical systems needed for future missions that aim to land humans on the Moon and eventually establish a sustained presence there.

More than 3,000 rallies were held across all 50 states, with participation estimates ranging from several million to as many as eight million people, reports said.

AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. “Agentic AI” systems can autonomously plan and execute complete fraud campaigns - from reconnaissance to ransom demands.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to strengthen their position in global energy markets, supported by extensive natural resources, advanced infrastructure and sector expertise, according to data released by the GCC Statistical Centre. The data show that the region’s energy strategy is increasingly expanding beyond oil and gas production and...

UNCTAD data shows Brent crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel, while natural gas prices also increased sharply after the disruption. Between Feb 27 and Mar 9, oil prices rose 27% to $91.8 per barrel, while gas prices climbed 74 percent.

Dubai, UAE -- Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to several Gulf destinations as regional tensions continue to affect aviation operations. The airline said flights to and from Oman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain will remain suspended until Thursday while the situation is closely monitored. In a statement...

In a statement following a virtual meeting with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, the ministers said they are considering recommendations discussed during talks and remain ready to coordinate potential action.

Opening statements in the first trial began in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram parent company Meta and Google’s YouTube are facing claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm young users.

Abu Dhabi, UAE — The General Secretariat of the Khalifa Award for Education, one of the institutions of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, announced the launch of the evaluation and judging phase for nominees’ submissions in the 19th cycle for 2026. This phase will be carried out through interviews conducted...

The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward US assets, particularly when positioning had been stretched against it.

Reports suggest some of Trump’s advisers would prefer Israel to initiate any strike, calculating that American public opinion would be more supportive if Washington were seen as backing an ally rather than acting unilaterally.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the negotiations as “very intensive” and said there were “constructive proposals” concerning both nuclear issues and sanctions relief.

Snap’s regional chief Hussein Freijeh outlines growth plans across MENA and APAC in an interview with TRENDS, highlighting startups, creators and mobile-first innovation opportunities.

Negotiations between Tehran and Beijing began at least two years ago but gained momentum after a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June, a Reuters report said.

The renewed diplomacy comes as Washington has deployed two aircraft carriers, additional jets and ships, and reinforced air defenses across the region, heightening fears of potential strikes.

Speaking ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu outlined a plan to establish what he called a “hexagon alliance system” involving India, select Arab and African countries, Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration and several unnamed Asian nations.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, stressed that any talk of control over the occupied Palestinian territories constitutes a flagrant violation of international legitimacy.

Mahmud Qamati, a Hezbollah official, described the strike in the Bekaa Valley as “a new massacre and a new aggression” in remarks broadcast on the group’s Al-Manar television channel.

Indirect talks in Geneva have yielded what officials call “guiding principles” for a possible agreement, but the framework remains skeletal and major gaps still separate US demands from Iran’s red lines.

Speaking in Washington before representatives from nearly 50 countries, Trump said nine member states had committed more than $7 billion toward a relief package for the war-battered Gaza Strip.

Palestinian officials described the Israeli parliament's decision related to West Bank land as a “serious escalation,” while armed groups and political factions condemned what they called an attempt to permanently change the territory’s status.

The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford is being moved from the Caribbean toward the Middle East, a voyage expected to take at least a week. The carrier will join the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group already operating in or near the region.

In interviews with Israeli media, Trump warned of consequences if negotiations fail. “Either we reach a deal or we'll have to do something very tough,” Israel's Channel 12 quoted him as saying.

The models that once governed aid, CSR, employment, and economic engagement are shifting, and the GCC has an opportunity to lead the transition rather than adapt to it.

The Pakistan-Saudi pact was signed just months after Pakistan and India fought an intense four-day conflict in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides in missile, drone and artillery fire

Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes after US President Donald Trump threatened a military strike on Iran over its deadly protest crackdown this month and the lack of a nuclear agreement.

In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump did not mention the protests but said Iran needed to negotiate a deal over its nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at making an atomic bomb.

"Protocols are prepared, files are complete, and committees are in place to oversee the handover, ensuring a complete transfer of governance in the Gaza Strip across all sectors to the technocratic committee," Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP.

The United Arab Emirates is "investing in chaos and supporting secessionists" from Libya to Yemen and the Horn of Africa, Saudi Arabia's Al-Ekhbariya TV charged in a report this week.

A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries -- including Trump allies from Argentina and Hungary -- gathered on stage with Trump to put their names to the founding charter of the body.

Trump's quest to take control of Greenland, which he said was needed for national and international security, dominated his address to the World Economic Forum as he returned for the first time in six years.

Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence group G42 on Tuesday launched what it calls a Digital Embassies framework and an operating model named Greenshield, aimed at allowing governments to deploy artificial intelligence while retaining legal authority and control over data and systems, even when infrastructure is located outside national borders. The initiative...

The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.

Trump aimed his ire at Denmark, a fellow NATO member, as well as several European countries that have deployed troops in recent days to the vast, mineral-rich territory at the gateway to the Arctic with a population of 57,000.

Two diplomatic sources told AFP on Thursday that the security posture at Qatar's Al-Udeid Airbase had been lowered after a number of personnel had been told to leave on Wednesday over the regional tensions.

The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's lack of clarity over whether it will fully withdraw its forces from Gaza.