Thursday, March 5

    SEOUL: South Korea’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.50% on Thursday, maintaining the Base Rate as policymakers balanced a steady inflation backdrop with improving economic momentum and ongoing financial stability concerns. The Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Board said it would hold the current level while assessing developments in domestic and external…

    HARARE: Zimbabwe has suspended the export of all raw minerals and lithium concentrates with immediate effect, the  Ministry of Mines and Mining Development said, ordering the restriction to be observed “until further notice.” The ministry said the suspension applies to all minerals, including shipments already in transit. Mines and Mining Development Minister Polite Kambamura said…

    NEW DELHI: India joined the Pax Silica initiative on Feb. 20 by signing the Pax Silica Declaration and a bilateral addendum titled the Joint Statement on the India-U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership at an event held on the margins of the AI Impact Summit. The documents were signed by S. Krishnan, secretary at India’s Ministry of…

    NEW DELHI: India’s Union Cabinet has approved a new state-backed venture capital initiative, clearing the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a corpus of ₹10,000 crore (about $1.1 billion) to mobilize venture capital for the country’s startup ecosystem, the government said in a statement issued Feb. 14. The program, launched under the Startup India initiative, sets…

    CryptoWire, ABU DHABI: The Central Bank of the UAE has approved the launch of a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin called DDSC, enabling it to go live on ADI Chain, the companies behind the project said on February 11, 2026. The approval adds another regulated digital payment instrument to the UAE’s expanding financial technology ecosystem, with the sponsors positioning…

    SHARJAH: Air Arabia (PJSC) reported a record AED 1.8 billion net profit before tax for 2025 and said its board has proposed a cash dividend of 30 fils per share, subject to shareholder approval. The Sharjah-headquartered low-cost airline said the results cover the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and marked its strongest annual financial…

    Sports

    DUBAI: Tallon Griekspoor will face former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after both players won their semifinals on Friday at the ATP 500 event. Griekspoor, ranked 25th, reached his first Dubai final by beating fifth seed Andrey Rublev 7-5, 7-6(6). Medvedev, the third seed and world No. 11, advanced with a 6-4, 6-2 win…

    PALLEKELE: Pakistan batter Babar Azam made 25 off 24 balls as England beat Pakistan by two wickets on Feb. 24 in a Super Eight match at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with England captain Harry Brook striking 100 off 50 deliveries to clinch a semi-final place. Pakistan posted 164-9 after choosing to bat, then had England 35-3 before Brook’s innings swung the chase, which…

    DUBAI: Jessica Pegula captured her first Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships crown on Saturday, beating two-time champion Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s singles final to secure an early birthday milestone at a WTA 1000 event. Pegula, ranked No. 5, closed out the match in 73 minutes under the lights at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, lifting the tournament’s silver coffee pot trophy.…

    MENA Newswire, RABAT: Egypt and Nigeria secured places in the quarter-finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday after winning their respective Round of 16 matches, with Egypt defeating Benin 3-1 after extra time and Nigeria recording a 4-0 victory over Mozambique. The results confirmed progression for two of the tournament’s most successful teams as the knockout phase continued across Morocco. Egypt’s match against Benin was decided by goals in…

    Lifestyle

    Fresha, a leading global booking platform for lifestyle services, announced today that it has secured a $31 million investment from JP Morgan to enhance its machine learning and AI-driven robotics capabilities. This financial backing will enable Fresha to innovate further within its technology stack, aiming to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences across its platform.…

    Adidas Originals and Highsnobiety, a prominent platform in fashion, design, and culture, have announced the launch of their limited-edition HIGHArt Campus sneaker. This collaboration represents a fusion of art and style, as Highsnobiety’s HIGHArt, an online showcase of products and stories, inspires the design of these unique sneakers. The HIGHArt Campus sneaker is a masterpiece…

    In a world where we are inundated with options for almost everything, the name Starbucks stands out as the epitome of coffee culture, connecting billions of people across diverse geographies. How did a single coffeehouse chain from Seattle gain the global notoriety it has today? The answer lies in a confluence of elements — ranging…

    On August 23, which would have been Kobe Bryant’s birthday, Nike released a revamped classic: the Kobe 8 Protro Halo. This shoe isn’t just another pair of kicks — it’s a tribute to a basketball legend and his “Black Mamba” identity. The release was made even more poignant as Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, collaborated with Nike Basketball on…

    Fashion is not merely an industry, but a reflection of society’s heartbeat at any given point in history. From the streets of Paris to the runways of Milan, fashion is a universal language spoken with fabrics, patterns, and trends. But with terms like ‘label’, ‘luxury’, and ‘designer’ thrown into the mix, it’s important…

    Sport-Inspired Brand Brings the Seasons to Life with Global Photo Shoot in Santa Barbara, Calif. WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 4, 2023 / U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has launched its iconic, sport-inspired Spring-Summer Collection for 2023. The brand’s global photo shoot took place…

    The world’s most immersive mega-coaster, Mission Ferrari, will debut at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi on 12th January, 2023. As a result of this new addition, the World’s Leading Theme Park will offer even more Ferrari-inspired rides and attractions for adults and children alike. The highly anticipated launch of Mission Ferrari will be available…