Mawani adds FRS1 shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has added CStar Line's new Far East-Red Sea service (FRS1) to...
Business
Gulf Air orders 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for $4.6 billion
San Francisco, United States -- US aviation giant Boeing on Thursday signed a contract worth billions of dollars to sell...
Business
Arts & Culture
The $10 mn bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction
Paris, France -- The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for 8.58...
- The modern design classic, owned by a Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up to seven million euros, with the final sale price set at 8.58 million.
- The final buyer, who eclipsed eight other rivals, was a "private collector from Japan", the auction house added, without giving further details.
Economy
Demand for crude will continue to expand through 2050, says OPEC
In its latest annual report on the outlook for oil demand, OPEC sees global oil demand rising by 18.6 percent...
- That rising demand will be "driven by expanding economic growth, rising populations, increasing urbanization, and the new energy-intensive industries like AI.
- The IEA said last month that it expects global oil demand begin to decline in 2030, driven by the rise of electric cars and the shift away from crude to produce power.
Business
Cricket’s Indian Premier League value surges to $18.5 bn: report
New Delhi, India -- The Indian Premier League's business value has been estimated at $18.5 billion with reigning champions Royal...
- The world's richest cricket tournament generated an estimated $11 billion a year for the Indian economy in 2020.
- Since it launched in 2008 it has inspired a range of other franchise-based leagues in India in sports as diverse as boxing, badminton, poker and kabaddi.
Geostrategy
Investments rise in data, AI, outpacing physical assets: UN
Geneva, Switzerland - The purchase of physical assets was eclipsed last year by a surge in investment in intangible items...
- Intangible investment across 27 high- and middle-income economies grew about three percent in real terms last year, reaching $7.6 trillion, up from $7.4 trillion a year earlier.
- In 2024, the United States led in absolute levels of intangible asset purchases, investing nearly double what runners-up France, Germany, Japan and Britain pumped into such assets.
Business
Nvidia tops $4 trillion as US stocks shrug off latest tariffs
After Congress gave Trump a big win last week with his fiscal package, the Republican's aggressive trade posture has returned...
- But stocks pushed higher nonetheless, with Nvidia jumping 2.5 percent to top $4 trillion in market capitalization on investor bullishness over Artificial Intelligence (AI) growth.
- Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare said investors are not "overly concerned" about Trump's latest tariff threats.
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘no extensions’ to Aug 1 tariff deadline
While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on goods from almost all trading partners in April, higher rates customized...
- On Monday night, Trump had told reporters at a dinner that the August 1 deadline was "firm, but not 100 percent firm."
- Pressed on whether the letters were his final offer, Trump replied: "I would say final -- but if they call with a different offer, and I like it, then we'll do it."
Geostrategy
Dubai Islamic Bank completes $1bn sovereign financing Pakistan
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) has announced the successful completion of a landmark US$1 billion syndicated term-finance facility...
- The five-year facility is an innovative transaction, partially guaranteed by a Policy-Based Guarantee (PBG) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- DIB acted as the Sole Islamic Global Coordinator and alongside Standard Chartered also served as the Joint Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner.
Business
Algeria’s Sonatrach and Italy’s ENI sign $1.35 billion deal
Algiers, Algeria - Algeria's state-run hydrocarbon company Sonatrach and the Italian energy company Eni on Monday signed a production sharing...
- The 30-year contract covers the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Zemoul El Kbar contract area, in the Berkine Basin, 300 km east of Hassi Messaoud
- The total investments planned for exploration and exploitation in this area are approximately $1.35 billion, including $110 million allocated to research and exploration
Business
Saudi chocolate industry booms with over 3,500 commercial records
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- On the World Chocolate Day, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Commerce announced that the total number of...
- Riyadh leads the Kingdom in chocolate manufacturing, boasting 1,490 commercial records.
- Saudi Arabia is the region’s biggest market for chocolates and, in 2024, the Kingdom imported a whopping 123 million kg of chocolate.
Mawani adds FRS1 shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has added CStar Line's new Far East-Red Sea service (FRS1) to...
Business
Company News
TSMC Q2 profit up 60%
Business
Latest News
Oil prices extend gains after OPEC+ talks fail, equities mixed
Brent broke above $77 for the first time since 2018 Breakdown of talks raises the possibility of $100 a barrel...
ADNOC shifts OMV stake to XRG
Business
Saudi leads MENA in VC funding for H1, surpassing 2024’s full-year total
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia retained the top spot across the Middle East and North Africa region in terms of...
Business
Salini awarded $600m contract for 400 retail units in Diriyah Square
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Diriyah Company has announced the award of a major new $600 million (SAR2.249 billion) contract for...
Business
Most Read
Business
Syria signs $800 mn port deal with DP World to develop Tartus port
Damascus, Syria -- Syria signed a $800 million deal with UAE-based company DP World on Sunday to develop the port...
- DP World operates dozens of marine and inland ports and terminals globally, particularly in Asia, Africa and Europe.
- The Syrian civil war devastated the country's infrastructure, and the new authorities hope to use the lifting of Western sanctions to attract investments and fuel reconstruction.
Arts & Culture
The $10 mn bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction
Paris, France -- The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for 8.58...
- The modern design classic, owned by a Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up to seven million euros, with the final sale price set at 8.58 million.
- The final buyer, who eclipsed eight other rivals, was a "private collector from Japan", the auction house added, without giving further details.