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Poland scrambles jets after drones breach airspace

Poland activated air defences and scrambled fighter jets after drones from Russia crossed into its airspace during overnight strikes on Ukraine, with the military confirming it used weapons to neutralise targets. The Operational Command said Polish airspace was “repeatedly violated by drone-type objects” and described an ongoing operation to identify and destroy them. Authorities placed ground-based systems and radar on maximum alert while Polish and allied aircraft […]

Youth-driven unrest topples Nepal’s prime minister

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli offered his resignation on Tuesday following widespread demonstrations that saw the federal parliament building, Supreme Court and leaders’ residences torched, underlining the depth of public fury over corruption and the ban on social media. Protests erupted across Nepal amid anger at the shutdown of platforms such as Facebook, X, YouTube and others for failing to register with the government—a move widely perceived as […]

Protesters torch Nepal’s parliament amid spiralling unrest

Protesters breached Nepal’s federal parliament complex in Kathmandu and set parts of the building on fire on Tuesday, escalating a youth-led movement that has convulsed the country and prompted the prime minister’s resignation. Authorities confirmed fatalities and hundreds of injuries over two days of clashes that centred on the New Baneshwar area housing the legislature. The death toll rose to 19 after security forces used live ammunition, […]

Plex Calls for Immediate Password Reset After New Breach

Plex has warned its users about a serious security lapse following unauthorised access to a database containing scrambled passwords and authentication details, urging swift action to protect accounts. A database breach exposed a confined set of user data, including email addresses, usernames, and securely hashed passwords, along with authentication information. Plex assures that no credit card or payment data were compromised, as such information is not stored […]

GCC Exchanges Commit to Unified Investor Relations Standards

The GCC Financial Markets Committee has unveiled the GCC Exchanges Unified Investor Relations Guideline 2025, aimed at elevating transparency and investor confidence across Gulf capital markets. Chaired by the Saudi Exchange, the framework aligns investor-relations practices with global norms while sharpening communication standards and disclosure protocols throughout the region. Member exchanges—including the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group, Dubai Financial Market, Bahrain Bourse, Muscat Stock Exchange, Qatar Stock […]

Ethiopia Unveils Power Giant Amidst Nile Tensions

Ethiopia has officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, now Africa’s largest hydroelectric facility, signalling both a landmark in national development and renewed geopolitical strain along the Nile. The $5 billion project, capable of generating up to 5,150 MW, has launched with two turbines delivering about 750 MW, with full capacity yet to come online. The dam’s reservoir, now named Nigat Lake—meaning “Lake of Dawn”—floods an area […]

UAE Aviation Achieves Unprecedented Passenger and Flight Growth

Passenger traffic at airports across the UAE surpassed one billion between 2015 and 2024, with aircraft movements exceeding 6.4 million during the same interval, driven by strategic planning and expansion across the aviation sector, the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre reported. The country also emerged as the global leader in air transport quality and ranked among the top ten worldwide across five additional air performance indicators, underlining its position as a premier aviation hub.

Data from the Centre reveal that annual passenger numbers climbed from 114.8 million in 2015 to 147.8 million in 2024, marking the underlying foundation for cumulative traffic exceeding one billion passengers. Meanwhile, aircraft movements rose sharply, culminating in more than 800,000 operations in 2024 and taking the ten-year total past 6.4 million flights.

These gains coincide with the UAE’s top global ranking in air transport quality and inclusion among the top ten in five further air-related indicators, as noted in the Centre’s analysis.

The escalation of aviation activity reflects the UAE’s broader aviation transformation. The General Civil Aviation Authority emphasises that the UAE now operates a dense, globally connected network, with twelve certified airports, 100 heliports, and a web of bilateral air agreements linking to over 300 destinations worldwide. In 2024 alone, the UAE recorded over one million air traffic movements and continued to lead globally in international passenger traffic and seat capacity.

Dubai International Airport remained the busiest airport globally for international passengers in 2024, registering more than 92 million passengers and 440,000 aircraft movements, and handling 2.2 million tonnes of cargo.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, renamed in February 2024, handled nearly 29.5 million passengers and recorded 249,747 aircraft movements, reinforcing the dominance of UAE airports in the regional aviation landscape.

These milestones underscore how UAE aviation achieves unprecedented growth, advancing capacity, connectivity and performance standards to global leadership.

The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre attributes these successes to forward-looking directives and investment, positioning the aviation sector as a cornerstone of economic sustainability. The enhancements bolster not only passenger and cargo mobility but also broader economic diversification goals, tourism development, and the UAE’s growing prominence as a global transport hub.

Strong data-driven push aims to boost Kenya tourism spend

Kenya Tourism Board has entered a strategic alliance with Visa that marks a bold new chapter for the nation’s tourism sector. The agreement gives the board access to Visa’s Government Insights Hub—a data analytics platform offering detailed information on travel patterns, spending behaviour, peak seasons and regional preferences. This will support sharper marketing efforts, more efficient payment systems and increased cross-border and domestic travel expenditure. The campaign’s […]

Sanctions Fall Short in Pressuring Putin to Negotiate

The United States and European Union are ramping up economic pressure, yet sceptics say even tougher measures may fail to push Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signalled that imposing secondary tariffs on countries continuing to purchase Russian oil—coupled with coordinated sanctions—could trigger a collapse in Russia’s economy and potentially compel the president to consider diplomacy. Sanctions fall short in forcing Putin […]

GCC Strengthens Position in Global Circular Carbon Economy

Greenlogue/AP Gulf Cooperation Council countries recorded a clear rise in their overall Circular Carbon Economy Index score, posting 41.5 in 2024, up from 37.7 in 2023, according to data issued by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf. The figures show that GCC countries posted gains in global circular carbon economy rankings, as three GCC states ranked at the top […]

Gulf Gold Empires Built by Indian Entrepreneurs Surge in Value

Dubai is witnessing a sharp rise in gold-driven fortunes as long-established Indian entrepreneurs reshape its jewellery sector. Titan Company, known for its Tanishq brand, will acquire 67 per cent of Damas, a leading luxury jewellery retailer with some 146 outlets across the Gulf, for 1.04 billion dirhams, in a deal expected to close by 31 January 2026. This bold expansion markedly strengthens Titan’s foothold under its emerging […]

GCC Banks Post Record-High Quarterly Profits

Net profits for banks listed across the Gulf Cooperation Council surged to an unprecedented $16.6 billion in the second quarter, marking the second straight quarter of gains and a sequential increase of roughly 3.7 %, with year-on-year growth at a robust 9.2 %, according to Kamco Invest. This performance was driven by broadly higher revenues and a lower cost-to-income ratio that more than compensated for a rise in impairments. Lending activity remained resilient, underpinned by strong economic fundamentals and a pipeline of projects in the region.

Banks across the GCC achieved strong growth, with net profits rising 10.3 % year-on-year to $16.6 billion in Q2 2025, according to the latest Kamco Invest analysis. The sequential increase of about 3.7 % was fuelled by a broad-based rise in revenues, while a leaner cost-to-income ratio offset the impact of elevated impairments. Lending growth persisted, reflecting healthy demand and continued economic momentum.

Abu Dhabi led regional outperformers as its banks posted aggregate Q2 earnings of $3.2 billion—a 23.1 % rise compared to the year before. First Abu Dhabi Bank stood out with a 29.4 % surge in quarterly net profits to $1.5 billion, supported by stronger non-interest income and lower impairment charges. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank also delivered solid gains, buoyed by elevated interest and fee income.

Dubai’s banks, by contrast, experienced a contraction: aggregate city-listed earnings fell by 6.4 % to $3.2 billion, weighed down by increased impairments at major lenders such as Emirates NBD. Some resilience came from Commercial Bank of Dubai, which posted a 15.4 % rise, alongside a surge in real-estate and utilities profits—Emaar Properties and DEWA among the top performers.

Among other GCC markets, Q2 net profits for Oman-listed banks were around $1 billion, while those in Qatar also posted gains, contributing to the overall strength in the banking sector.

The headline figure—$16.6 billion in quarterly profit for GCC banks—captures the scale of the region’s banking sector resilience. This strong performance highlights how GCC banks post record-high quarterly profits, powered by sustained credit growth and operational efficiencies even amid higher impairments.
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Co-operative Banks Must Abandon VPN Dependency Now

A wave of ransomware incidents has incapacitated over 300 co-operative banks across India, exposing deep vulnerabilities tied to outdated VPN-based security. These attacks underline the urgent need for a shift towards modern access frameworks such as Zero Trust Network Access. Operational disruptions began when C-Edge Technologies—a key IT provider to numerous co-operative banks—was targeted by ransomware on 31 July 2024. NPCI responded swiftly by isolating C-Edge from […]

Red Sea Cable Cuts Disrupt Internet Access Across Asia and Middle East

Undersea cables in the Red Sea were severed on September 6, 2025, causing significant internet disruptions across parts of Asia and the Middle East. The affected cables include the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 and the India–Middle East–Western Europe, both vital for regional connectivity.

Microsoft reported increased latency for users in the Middle East, while NetBlocks, a digital rights group, confirmed that the outages impacted countries such as India and Pakistan. The disruptions have also affected cloud services, with Microsoft Azure experiencing service degradation due to rerouted traffic.

The cause of the cable cuts remains unclear. While there is concern that the Houthi rebels in Yemen may have targeted the cables as part of their campaign related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the group has denied responsibility for such attacks. In early 2024, the Houthis had threatened to target undersea cables, but no direct evidence has been presented linking them to the current incident.

Europe’s Defence Gaps Expose Growing Reliance on U.S. Support

European leaders face mounting urgency to address critical deficiencies in their defence structures as uncertainty surrounds the reliability of U. S. backing. Many capitals hold onto hope that Donald Trump will honour his pledged security guarantees for Ukraine, even though concrete commitments remain vague. Europe’s Defence Gaps Expose Growing Reliance on U. S. Support captures the mounting tension between Europe’s persistent reliance and its growing intent to […]

OPEC Output Rebounds Strongly in August as Supply Revives

A Reuters-compiled survey reveals that OPEC’s oil output climbed in August following a coordinated decision to raise production, with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia driving the increase. The group lifted August output by approximately 400,000 barrels per day to reach 28.55 million bpd, according to a Bloomberg-based survey cited by Commerzbank. Saudi Arabia accounted for roughly 230,000 bpd of that surge, raising its production to […]

New Window Opens for Zimbabwean Blueberries to Reach China

A protocol on phytosanitary standards agreed upon during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to Beijing has unlocked the possibility of Zimbabwe exporting blueberries to China, the Horticultural Development Council has announced. This agreement offers local growers access to one of the world’s fastest-growing blueberry markets, although actual export volumes will depend on their ability to meet stringent sanitary conditions and manage compliance-related costs. Zimbabwe’s blueberry production is set […]

Aid Drought Fuels Hunger Emergency in Nigeria

A surge in hunger has struck Nigeria, as sharply diminished aid inflows have forced closures of nutrition centres and blocked treatment for countless children at risk of malnutrition. Aid cuts from the United States and other Western donors have triggered an abrupt collapse in food assistance across northeast regions, particularly Borno State, the epicentre of a long-standing insurgency. In northeastern Nigeria, the United Nations’ World Food Programme […]

Chinese-Backed Hackers Almost Certainly Breached Canadian Networks

A Chinese state-sponsored cyber-espionage group known as Salt Typhoon almost surely infiltrated Canadian telecommunications systems during the campaign that exfiltrated data belonging to millions of Americans. The intrusion, part of the broader Chinese-backed hackers almost certainly breached Canadian networks operation, raises alarm over the growing reach and sophistication of cross-border cyber-threats. The FBI and Canada’s Centre for Cyber Security have attributed the breach in Canada to Salt […]

Dubai Retail Unifies Over 40 Destinations Under One Brand

Dubai Holding Asset Management has unveiled Dubai Retail as the new unified brand bringing together more than 40 malls and lifestyle destinations across the emirate. This consolidation stems from the 2024 integration of Nakheel and Meydan into Dubai Holding, aimed at driving scalability, efficiency and long-term competitiveness across its retail operations. The newly branded network spans 10 malls, 15 lifestyle destinations and 18 community-focused retail centres, housing […]

Swiss Initiative Unveils Major Open-Source AI Model

Swiss institutions have launched Apertus, one of Europe’s most extensive fully open language models, offering a transparent alternative to proprietary AI platforms. Available in two configurations—8 billion and 70 billion parameters—it is comparable in scale to Meta’s Llama 3 from 2024, yet distinguishes itself through open design, public availability, and lawful compliance. Swiss Initiative Unveils Major Open-Source AI Model, a fitting restatement of the headline, underscores this […]

Saudi Drone Parcel Trial Signals Smarter Logistics

Saudi authorities have tested drone delivery of postal parcels in Jeddah, a pivotal move in modernising logistics and postal services. The General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Transport General Authority, backed by Dr Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Acting President of TGA, led the operation on Thursday, 4 September 2025. Saudi Drone Parcel Trial Signals Smarter Logistics encapsulates this milestone in eight purposeful words.

The trial, overseen by GACA and TGA, was executed under updated aviation safety regulations aligning with international standards such as those of ICAO and EASA, ensuring rigorous oversight of drone operations. GACA managed aviation-related protocols while TGA handled regulatory and legislative support for the postal sector.

Dr Al-Rumaih described the drone operation as a breakthrough that will “open new horizons” for expanding delivery services and fostering innovative logistics solutions in line with national digital transformation goals. Meanwhile, GACA’s Executive Vice President for Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability, Captain Suleiman Al-Muheimidi, said the trial heralds faster, greener, and more advanced delivery methods.

This initiative forms part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy to boost transport efficiency, shorten delivery times, and integrate technology into everyday life. Authorities emphasised that advanced drone deployment promises safer, quicker, and more sustainable parcel delivery across the country.

McGregor Declares Presidential Bid Amid Ballot Hurdles

Conor McGregor has announced his intention to run for President of Ireland in the upcoming election, marking a dramatic shift from mixed martial arts to the political arena. The election is scheduled for 24 October 2025. The victory is deeply improbable, given Ireland’s strict constitutional requirements for candidacy and growing scepticism from political observers. McGregor’s campaign relies heavily on public support rather than political endorsements. On 4 […]

DuckDuckGo Unveils Privacy-First Access to Cutting-Edge AI

DuckDuckGo has expanded its subscription offering to give users access to some of the most advanced AI models now available—without compromising on its core commitment to privacy. For US $9.99 per month, subscribers gain entry to the newly upgraded Duck. ai platform, unlocking the power of OpenAI’s GPT‑4o and GPT‑5, Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4, and Meta’s Llama Maverick—all integrated into one seamless, privacy‑oriented interface. This enhancement builds on DuckDuckGo’s identity-protecting ecosystem, […]