Washington: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to support Syria in building the foundations of a modern, secure, and digitally-enabled financial sector. The Syria Financial Sector Modernisation Project will support investments that will help make financial transactions safer, faster, and more transparent, while creating conditions for better access to financial services, according to a WB statement.The project will help make payments safer and more efficient, strengthen financial integrity, and lay critical groundwork to enable the financial sector to better serve households and businesses, added the statement.Over its implementation period, the project aims to operationalise foundational financial sector systems, enable at least 15 million electronic retail payments annually, and support at least 500,000 people and businesses-including 150,000 women-in actively using digital payments through project-supported systems.Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Mohamed Safwat Raslan said that the World Bank's approval of the $100 million grant represents an important milestone in developing the country's financial and banking infrastructure, and an essential step toward building a modern financial sector aligned with international standards and best practices.Speaking to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Raslan added that the Central Bank will continue working to build an advanced financial sector that enhances confidence, drives economic growth, and contributes to re-integrating Syria into the global financial system.

UFC star Conor McGregor said his "mindset is unstoppable, ​unbreakable" as he begins his recovery from knee ‌surgery.The 38-year-old ​fighter suffered an ACL and meniscus injury in his right knee during his comeback fight against Max Holloway on July 11.On Friday, the Irishman posted an update on Instagram featuring ⁠a video of himself at the beach with his leg wrapped in a brace."What's up, folks? The Mac is back," he said. "My ‌knee is repaired. Surgery was a success and I'm on the road to recovery."That should tell you ‌all you need to know about my ‌mindset. Straight into surgery, knee repaired and on ‌the road. Let's ‌go."McGregor said he hopes to return to the Octagon by ​next summer to ‌finish a ​UFC contract that reportedly has one ⁠fight remaining.Fighting for the first time since 2021, McGregor appeared to sustain the injury when he ​opened ⁠his fight ⁠against Holloway at UFC 329 in Las Vegas with a flying kick. The referee stopped the fight ⁠after 69 seconds and Holloway won by TKO.It was the third consecutive defeat for the former champion, who last won a fight in 2020 when he defeated Donald Cerrone by TKO ‌at UFC 246."The doubters can keep talking," McGregor wrote on ​his Instagram post. "I didn't run from the pain. I walked straight into it. Now the real work begins. Comeback season starts now. No shortcuts. No ​excuses. Just the ‌will to rise again."