Iran Financial News

A helicopter has crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, killing one pilot while another remains missing

A helicopter crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, with two pilots now missing

The 15th Annual Brics Summit on August 22nd will b... moreThe 15th Annual Brics Summit on August 22nd will be marked by Russia's absence due to potential legal actions.

(Reuters) -Microsoft researchers said on Thursday they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence U.S. voters by using artificial intelligence.

Microsoft researchers said on Thursday they found what they believe is a network of fake, Chinese-controlled social media accounts seeking to influence US voters by using artificial intelligence. A Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington said that accusations of China using AI to create fake social media accounts were «full of prejudice and malicious speculation» and that China advocates for the safe use of AI.

By Ahmad Ghaddar

A Greek shipper has pleaded guilty to a charge over it smuggling sanctioned Iranian crude oil and agreed to pay a $2.4 million fine

US federal court filings show Greek shipper pleads guilty to smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil, to pay $2.4 million fine

WASHINGTON—The Pentagon is considering the development of a vast network of AI-powered technology, drones and autonomous systems within the next two years to counter threats from China and other adversaries. Kathleen Hicks, the deputy secretary of defense, will provide new details in a speech later Wednesday about the department’s plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to develop an array of thousands of air-, land- and sea-based artificial-intelligence systems that are intended to be “small, smart, cheap." The U.S.

KYIV, Ukraine—Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday in a visit aimed at signaling Washington’s support amid a slow-going counteroffensive and grumbling among some Republicans about the level of U.S. assistance for the country. Blinken is expected to announce more than $1 billion in additional aid for the country and to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the capital, a senior State Department official said.

The financial services sector is set for substantial growth in the next few years as several factors converge.

Jim O'Neill came up with the term ‘BRIC’ (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in 2001, little did he know that the acronym would become the groundwork for an ambitious alliance of the world’s highest-potential large economies. That potential is, in a way, now spreading, even as more nations dare to dream beyond the West’s hegemony. The BRICS bloc was born in 2009 as a response to the changing global economic landscape, aiming to promote cooperation on common challenges.

Iran significantly slowed the pace at which it is accumulating near-weapons-grade enriched uranium in recent months, the United Nations’ atomic agency reported on Monday, a move that could ease tensions with the U.S. and help open the way to broader negotiations over its nuclear program. According to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report, Iran added 7.5 kilograms—about 16.5 pounds—of 60% enriched uranium in the three months to August, far less than the 51.8 kilograms it added in the previous six months.

Iranian journalists will spend around a month behind bars as part of a three-year partly suspended prison sentence for «conspiracy» and «collusion», local media reported on Sunday. Under the sentence, Negin Bagheri and Elnaz Mohammadi will serve one-fortieth of the term, or less than a month, in prison, their lawyer Amir Raisian told the reformist Ham Mihan daily newspaper, where Mohammadi works. «The remaining period is suspended over five years,» during which time they will be required to take «a professional ethics training» and «prohibited from leaving the country,» the lawyer added. Raisian did not elaborate on whether the verdict can be appealed, and the report did not detail the allegations against the reporters. Mohammadi's sister, Elahe, who also works for Ham Mihan, has since September 2022 been in prison after reporting on the funeral of Mahsa Amini, 22, who died in police custody. The death on September 16, 2022 of Amini, an Iranian Kurd, came after her arrest for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's dress code, triggering months-long nationwide protests. Foreign-based rights groups have reported multiple arrests ahead of the anniversary of Amini's death. Bagheri works for the unaffiliated Haft-e Sobh newspaper. Elnaz Mohammadi was arrested and kept in Evin prison for a week in February.

A week ago, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sat with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Jeddah for a meeting — or more importantly photo opportunity — he intended the world to see.

GDP share of the six new members, being added to the five-member BRICS grouping of emerging economies from January, will be just 11 per cent, with Saudi Arabia's contribution the highest at 4 per cent, an analysis shows. The proposed addition of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the five-member BRICS, or Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, will also see the grouping's share in the global GDP rising to 30 per cent from 26 per cent now and that of the population to 46 per cent, according to an analysis by the SBI Research. The expansion decision, effective January 1, 2024, was announced at the recent BRICS summit held in Johannesburg. Currently China contributes 70 per cent of the BRICS' GDP, which will decline to 62 per cent, while India chips in with 13 per cent now that will inch down to 12 per cent.

Russia, Iran can't attend Nobel Prize event this year; invitation revoked after flak Meanwhile, a defrocked Russian priest who spoke out against Moscow's offensive in Ukraine was jailed for three years on Thursday, following a court found him guilty of spreading 'fake news' about the army. Ioann Kurmoyarov -- ran a YouTube channel called the 'Orthodox Virtual Parish' -- was charged after allegedly posting 'several videos with false information about the use of the Russian army'.

Russia, Belarus and Iran not to attend this year’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies as the Nobel Foundation has withdrawn its invitation following “strong reactions" from the Swedish lawmakers. Earlier today, several Swedish lawmakers said they would boycott this year’s Nobel Prize award ceremonies in Stockholm, after the private foundation that administers the prestigious awards changed its position from a year earlier and invited representatives of the three countries to attend, saying it “promotes opportunities to convey the important messages of the Nobel Prize to everyone." Some of the lawmakers cited Russia's war on Ukraine and the crackdown on human rights in Iran as reasons for their boycott.

Nobel Foundation that administers the prestigious awards, has reversed its invitation policy and invited Russia, Belarus and Iran, as well as the leader of a far-right Swedish party, who had previously been banned. Vidar Helgesen, the executive director of the private foundation said in a statement that there was a global trend in which «dialogue between those with differing views is being reduced.» To counter that, he said, «We are now broadening our invitations to celebrate and understand the Nobel Prize and the importance of free science, free culture and free, peaceful societies.» The foundation said that invitation for the 2023 events was extended to all countries with diplomatic missions in Sweden and Norway and parties «that have parliamentary representation via democratic elections,» adding that «this common approach promotes opportunities to convey the important messages of the Nobel Prize to everyone, and in future this practice will be common to the entire organisation.» Last year, the diplomatic envoys of Russia and Belarus were barred from attending the glittery prize ceremonies and banquets, which always take place on December 10, because of the war in Ukraine, and the ambassador of Iran was also excluded because of «the serious and escalating situation» in the country. All the Nobel Prizes are handed out in Stockholm other than the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo. The foundation also extended the invitation to the Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Akesson who declined it, saying on Facebook that «unfortunately I'm busy that day.» Swedish political party leaders are traditionally invited to the banquet but Akesson, who heads a nationalist party with far-right roots, has been snubbed in the

Israeli sabotage plot aimed at Iran's ballistic missile production. Several agents involved in the alleged plot have been arrested, according to state media reports. The Iranian authorities claim that the plan involved selling faulty components to Iran that would have led to the destruction of the missiles. The alleged Israeli operation comes amidst a history of tension and hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both nations being engaged in a covert battle of sabotage and accusations.

The Taliban say they have signed mining contracts worth billions of dollars in Afghanistan