The American Express Times
Thursday, August 20, 2026
UAE Halts All Trade with Iran Over Missile Attack
The United Arab Emirates has suspended all trade and financial transactions with Iran following an Iranian missile attack targeting its maritime interests. This move significantly disrupts Iran’s economy, as the UAE is a major trade partner, and heightens regional tensions while still keeping the door open for future diplomatic engagement.
★ Featured Stories
Who sets Syria’s military limits?
Israel launched an airstrike on the Abu Al-Duhur airbase in Syria’s Idlib province, damaging the runway amid concerns over Turkish troop deployments there. The attack…
Trust for Gen Z is a bust
A recent survey shows that only 13% of Generation Z individuals trust most people, a significant drop from previous years and much lower than trust…
LA ‘fix’ a hole lot of trouble
A Los Angeles homeowner reported a poorly executed pothole repair after waiting over a year for the county to address the issue on his property.…
Squatter busted in pipe ‘attack’
A 28-year-old homeless man was arrested after allegedly attacking three contractors with a metal pipe inside the shuttered Trinity United Methodist Church in Berkeley. The…
★ All Stories
KSA marks World Photography Day with natural, cultural heritage
Saudi Arabia celebrated World Photography Day by spotlighting local photographers who document the Kingdom’s diverse natural and cultural landscapes. This growing photographic movement not only…
Canadian official condemns Israel’s ‘unlawful invasion’ of Lebanon
Canada condemned Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon as an unlawful invasion while announcing over CAD 71 million in humanitarian aid to support displaced Lebanese…
Beyond the Karman line: Macron brings International Space Summit to Paris
France will host the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10, bringing together global stakeholders to promote cooperation on peaceful and sustainable space exploration.…
The unwritten rules of digital postmortems
After Nora Al-Salem's father passed away, his family was unable to access his smartphone despite knowing an earlier passcode, as he had changed it months…
47 families face ‘imminent’ displacement after West Bank water cutoffs
Israeli forces and settlers have cut off the remaining water supplies to 47 Palestinian families in the Jordan Valley, risking their imminent displacement. This water…
Jerusalem governorate warns dozens of Qalandia homes face demolition
Israeli authorities demolished a two-story home in Qalandia and warned that dozens more residences face potential demolition due to lack of building permits amid ongoing…
Indonesia eyes Middle East partnership to boost global halal ecosystem
Indonesia is working to deepen partnerships with Middle Eastern countries to boost its halal goods production by leveraging the region’s market access and investment potential.…
Makkah pact inspiring a regional grassroots movement
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye recently signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement aimed at fostering regional cooperation on security and development. The pact is sparking…
Saudi benchmark index rises to close trading at 10,925
Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index edged up by 0.13 percent to close at 10,925.69, supported by strong trading volumes and gains in key stocks…
PIF enters its next phase of value creation
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) unveiled a 2026-2030 strategy focused on maximizing value from its $900 billion-plus assets by developing six domestic economic ecosystems…
Weather Turns Brutal with 48°C Heat and Dust Storms in Kuwait
Kuwait is currently facing extreme heat accompanied by strong winds and dust storms driven by the Indian seasonal low pressure system, with temperatures reaching up…
Palestinian group condemns Sydney library’s removal of Gaza ‘genocide’ book
Waverley Library in Sydney removed the book "How to Sell a Genocide" by Adam Johnson from its shelves after a complaint concerning its title, prompting…
Indian hotel fire kills nine, including five Bangladeshi nationals
A fire at the Shikha Inn hotel in Kolkata early Wednesday killed nine people, including five Bangladeshi visitors receiving medical treatment, and injured six others.…
War is becoming more affordable
Insurgent groups in conflicts across regions like Ukraine, Myanmar, and Sudan are increasingly using low-cost commercial drones for reconnaissance and attacks, narrowing the traditional air…
Saudi Arabia raises $2.54bn in August sukuk issuance
Saudi Arabia raised $2.54 billion through a sukuk issuance in August, a nearly 78 percent increase from July, with five tranches maturing between 2031 and…
Iraq moves to diversify crude export routes
Iraq’s Cabinet approved a three-month plan starting September 1 to diversify its crude oil export routes by involving local and international companies and expanding infrastructure.…
Saudi Arabia wins Formula E's 'Best Host Country' award
Saudi Arabia was honored with Formula E’s first-ever "Best Host Country" award for its exceptional organization and support of electric car racing events since 2018.…
New third-party insurance policy for crowded venues
The Insurance Authority and the General Directorate of Civil Defense have launched a mandatory Third-Party Cooperative Insurance Policy to cover liabilities for bodily injury and…
Kuwait Leads GCC Energy Media Shift to Reflect Sector Transformation
Kuwait is leading the GCC in overhauling the regional energy media framework to include renewables, emissions reduction, and broader energy topics beyond oil and gas.…
US Navy Destroyer USS Benfold Loses Power In Pacific for Four Days
The USS Benfold suffered a complete power loss for four days in the Pacific due to an engineering failure, forcing the crew to endure limited…
The Alliance of Sahel States’ ‘gold pipeline’
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally left ECOWAS and are advancing economic sovereignty by building a confederal Alliance of Sahel States centered on controlling…
Saudi banks’ loans rise 7% to $865bn in second quarter
Net loans at Saudi Arabia’s 10 listed banks grew by 7 percent year on year to SR3.25 trillion by mid-2026, while deposits increased by 9…
Russia and Oman Call for Diplomatic Solution to Gulf Crisis
Russia and Oman have jointly called for a swift diplomatic solution to ease tensions in the Gulf region and ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains…
A Beautiful, Humane Lebanese Wedding Reflecting Tolerance and Love
Haitham Al-Muslim and Margarita Al-Maroun held a cross-cultural wedding with Islamic, Christian, and civil ceremonies in Lebanon and Turkey, showcasing a harmonious blend of religious…
Jahra Governor Praises Service Centers for Easing Government Transactions
Jahra Governor Hamad Jassim Al-Habashi met with Brigadier General Saud Al-Tuwaijri and other officials to discuss improving coordination and operations of service centers in Jahra…
Commercial Violations Recorded in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh Inspection Campaign
Officials from the Commercial Control and Consumer Protection Department inspected shops in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and found multiple violations, including missing price tags, lack of sales…
Uncertainty over Strait of Hormuz keeps global oil prices elevated
Oil prices held near three-week highs as uncertainty persists over safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.…
Sudan Seeks Diversification in Fraternal Ties with Kuwait
Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received a handwritten message from Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan emphasizing the importance of strengthening…
Expat Speed Violator Denied Re-Entry Despite Plea to Pay Fine
A Lebanese expatriate was barred from re-entering Kuwait at the Al-Salmi border due to an unpaid speeding violation recorded after he had left the country.…
Kuwait Municipality Issues 248 Safety Warnings to Property Owners in July
Kuwait Municipality's Capital Governorate Safety Department issued 248 safety warnings and completed 30 field inspections in July to enforce compliance with safety standards. These actions…
One Injured in Fire Extinguished in Sabah Al-Salem
A fire erupted on Wednesday in a home in the Sabah Al-Salem area, with emergency teams from Qurain and Mishref stations extinguishing the blaze. One…
General Traffic Department Campaign Yields 26 Arrests of Wanted Individuals
Kuwait’s General Traffic Department arrested 26 individuals in one day for violations of residency, labor laws, and outstanding warrants. The detainees have been transferred to…
ICD deploys second Bahrain facility worth $50m
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) has secured a $50 million Shariah-compliant financing facility with Al Salam Bank to support…
Cisco’s three key principles for operationalizing AI at scale
Cisco highlights that only a third of organizations have formal AI adoption plans and recommends building on trusted data, secure AI platforms, and redesigned workflows…
UK inflation jumps 2.9% on energy costs
Britain’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.9 percent in July, driven largely by a 13 percent hike in household energy prices due to the ongoing…
No stopping Al-Mahanna from living her Women’s Premier League dream
Anan Al-Mahanna, a trailblazer in Saudi women’s football, has advanced her career from founding Al-Taqadom’s women’s team to playing professionally with Eastern Flames in the…
Amina Muaddi fronts new Lancome campaign
Footwear designer Amina Muaddi stars in Lancôme's new campaign for La vie est belle Very Cherry eau de parfum, showcasing her signature shoes alongside the…