International

The Thursday Times brings the globe into focus, delivering clear, comprehensive reporting on pivotal events shaping nations and communities. With The Thursday Times‘ on-the-ground insights and expert analysis, we connect readers to the stories that matter across borders, helping make sense of our fast-changing world.

Andy Burnham becomes UK Prime Minister as Starmer resigns

Andy Burnham has become the United Kingdom's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer after being invited by King Charles III to form a government. The former Manchester mayor, Britain's seventh PM in a decade, promised "a circuit breaker for Britain."
International

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, ending a tightly contested final with a decisive breakthrough.
Football

Qatar Central Bank’s new QAR2.7bn treasury bills spark investor interest

Qatar Central Bank’s issuance of treasury bills valued at QR2.7 billion highlights a strategic approach to liquidity management, attracting massive investor interest and underscoring economic resilience in volatile markets.
Economy

Abu Dhabi is now a top 5 global hotspot for careers in tech

Abu Dhabi’s tech boom is transforming the city into a global software career hotspot, blending strategic government investments with high salaries and advanced infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi

Alpha Dhabi’s strategic investments drive $2.04bn Q3 profit surge

Alpha Dhabi reports a record-breaking 83% profit surge in Q3 2024, driven by industrial and real estate investments; strategic acquisitions since 2022 fuel ongoing growth.
Abu Dhabi

Google invests $15mn to transform AI education in Dubai

Dubai partners with Google on its largest regional AI initiative, set to empower 500,000 individuals with essential AI skills; Ruth Porat underscores Google's mission to drive MENA’s digital transformation.
Business

PIF inks major MoUs with State Street, Brookfield, Mizuho, FII to boost Saudi asset management

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has signed MoUs with the Future Investment Initiative and global financial firms State Street, Brookfield, and Mizuho in order to collaborate on elevating the Kingdom's wealth fund asset management portfolio.
Business

Google slapped with staggering $2.5 decillion Russian fine, dwarfing global GDP

Russia's $2.5 decillion fine against Google exposes a growing digital sovereignty battle, sparking legal and financial tensions that test multinational resilience. Alphabet's stock, surprisingly buoyant, underscores Google's confidence amidst compounding penalties.
International

Dubai plans record-breaking budget with major surplus for infrastructure and services

Dubai has set a record budget with expenditures of 272 billion dirhams and 302 billion in revenue, marking a first-time surplus of 21%. Nearly half of the budget has been allocated to infrastructure projects in critical development areas.
Dubai

Saudi wealth fund backs Brookfield’s $2bn push into Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s PIF partners with Brookfield on a $2 billion fund, sparking fresh investments and innovation across the kingdom, with Brookfield expanding its Riyadh footprint to boost local growth.
Business

Saudi Aramco picks Lahore for its first branded petrol station launch in Pakistan

Saudi oil giant Aramco has launched its first branded petrol station in Pakistan's Lahore, delivering premium fuel and services to Pakistan, and sparking a fresh chapter in the country’s fuel industry, boosting Saudi investment ties.
Business

Islamic Development Bank floats €500mn sukuk in dual Dublin and Dubai listings

The Islamic Development Bank’s €500 million sukuk, priced at mid-swaps +50 bps, finds strong demand and listings on Euronext Dublin and Nasdaq Dubai, advancing its Trust Certificate Issuance Programme.
Economy

Abu Dhabi’s CYVN moves to acquire McLaren Automotive, steer focus to EVs

Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings plans to take over McLaren’s automotive division, bringing fresh capital and expertise to expand McLaren’s electric vehicle technology. This move by CYVN could redefine the luxury carmaker’s future in EVs.
Abu Dhabi

UAE poised to revive AED84bn F-35 deal with US if Trump clinches return

The UAE may look to revive a $23bn F-35 and drone deal with US if Donald Trump wins the 2024 U.S. Presidential race, as negotations with Biden continue to stall. Strategic Gulf relations are already beginning to shift amidst wider security ambitions.
Emirates