JERUSALEM — Israel’s government said on Sunday that the diplomatic accreditation of Dutch officials based in the occupied West Bank would be revoked, after the Netherlands began enforcing sanctions on goods from Israeli settlements. The diplomats representing the Netherlands at the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Territories, have seven days to hand over their Israeli-issued diplomatic papers, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X. “After this period, the diplomatic privileges and immunities granted to them by the State of Israel will expire,” he added. Saar said the move was a response to Dutch sanctions…
Author: Editorial Team
SHARJAH, 27th September, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has successfully issued a US$500 million five-year Sukuk amid strong investor demand. The issuance attracted an order book of US$1.3 billion, representing 2.6 times the issue size. The Sukuk was priced at a final yield of 5.85 percent, equivalent to a spread of 105 bps over five-year US Treasuries, marking SIB’s thirteenth Sukuk issuance since it entered the capital markets in 2006, reaffirming its continued presence in international Sukuk markets and its experience in executing successful issuances across different market cycles. Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, said the…
Critical infrastructure organisations across the Middle East face an expanding cyber-physical attack surface as IT, operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) environments become increasingly connected. Greater integration supports digital transformation and smart infrastructure projects, but also exposes legacy systems and operational networks to advanced, AI-enabled threats. Bachir Moussa, Vice President of Sales for EMEA South at Nozomi Networks, discusses the shift from conventional incident response to continuous cyber risk management. He explains why comprehensive visibility is essential, how AI can strengthen anomaly detection and risk prioritisation, and what organisations must do to protect connected operational environments from disruption.…
CHENGDU — Two giant pandas departed southwestern China for their new home at Zoo Atlanta under a 10-year loan agreement between China and the United States, media reports said early Sunday. Ping Ping and Fu Shuang left Chengdu after Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during a three-day summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington that the pandas would arrive in Atlanta in the coming days, according to NBC News. The agreement was first announced in April, although an arrival date had not been specified. Both pandas were born in 2020 and have been housed at the Chengdu Research Base…
TEHRAN — Iran has heard US President Donald Trump’s initial reaction to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days but is still awaiting Washington’s formal position through mediators, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Saturday. Araghchi told the official IRNA news agency that Tehran had presented its conditions for reopening the strategic waterway and advancing negotiations during meetings in New York. He said the conditions were explained to mediators, who subsequently relayed them to the United States. “We have heard the first reaction from the US president, but nothing has yet been conveyed to us by the…
NEW YORK, 27th September, 2026 (WAM) — Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, concluded a series of high-level engagements on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a trusted global partner for trade, investment and economic cooperation. Across the week, Al Zeyoudi participated in ministerial meetings, investor roundtables, and business council engagements focused on expanding trade and investment flows, supporting sustainable development, advancing digital innovation and strengthening economic ties with partners around the world. Commenting on the UAE’s participation, Al Zeyoudi said, “The UAE’s active participation…
KATHMANDU — At least 10 people, including climbers and support staff, are missing after an avalanche struck the 7,126-meter (23,379-foot) Himlung Himal in Nepal’s western Manang district, local media reported Sunday. Ram Krishna Lamichhane, director general of Nepal’s Department of Tourism, confirmed the incident and said authorities were gathering further details as efforts continued to locate and rescue those unaccounted for, the Kathmandu Post reported. The avalanche struck amid persistent rain and snowfall across Nepal’s western mountainous region. Elsewhere in the country, at least one person was killed and two others went missing after a landslide struck a settlement in…
Mario M. Veljovic, General Manager of VAD Technologies, reflects on GISEC Global 2026 and explains why industry specialisation, continuous learning and locally focused technology events will shape cybersecurity progress across the region How would you assess GISEC Global 2026 on day two, and what are your impressions of the new venue? We are delighted to participate at GISEC Global 2026 alongside our partner Nextcloud. This is the first time VAD Technologies has exhibited at the event with one of its partners, making it an important milestone for us. The new venue has created a more focused environment. Day two has…
JERUSALEM — Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called for a military campaign in the occupied West Bank similar to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip. Israel “should do there what we did in Gaza,” Smotrich told Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Smotrich also renewed his call for dismantling the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the occupied West Bank. His remarks come amid tightened Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement across the territory, including checkpoint closures and roadblocks that have isolated communities and restricted access to workplaces, homes and essential services. Violence in the occupied West Bank…
BRUSSELS, 27th September, 2026 (WAM) — The number of fatal accidents at work in the European Union reached 3,367 in 2024, an increase of 1.4 percent, or 45 additional deaths, compared with 2023. By contrast, the number of non-fatal accidents at work fell to around 2.78 million, down 1.5 percent, or 43,742 fewer accidents than in the previous year. Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, said the construction sector recorded the highest number of fatal accidents at work in 2024, with 776 deaths, compared with 802 in 2023. It was followed by transport and storage with 537 deaths…