Global operation smashes ‘most harmful cyber crime group’

• LockBit and its affiliates have targeted governments, major companies, schools and hospitals, causing billions of dollars of damage.
• LockBit's website -- selling services that allow people to organize cyber attacks and hold data until a ransom is paid appears -- was taken over.

Iran-EU trade surpasses US$5bn in 2023, says Eurostat

• Trade between Iran and member states of the EU recorded a decrease of 9 percent from January to December 2023.
• During that period, the exchange of products between Iran and the EU member states was valued at US$5 billion.

KEZAD Group, Al Ghurair Group’s APT ink lease pact to set up manufacturing facility

• The 30,000 square meters advanced manufacturing facility for APT in KEZAD will be located adjacent to Emirates Global Aluminum.
• The facility will be one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum in the world and will be operational by early 2025.

Passenger traffic could exceed earlier figures, says Dubai Airports’ CEO

• Dubai International, the world's busiest airport for international passengers for nearly a decade, hit 87 million visits in 2023.
• Dubai Airports' official forecast for 2024 stands at 88.8 million passengers, despite the Israel- Hamas war which began in October.

West Bank situation an obstacle between Israel-Palestine peace, says EU

• Around 490,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, in dozens of settlements that are deemed illegal under international law.
• The settlers live alongside around three million Palestinians in the territory.

‘Hitler did it to Jews’: Lula accuses Israel of ‘genocide’ in Gaza

• They were among the strongest comments yet on the Israel-Hamas conflict from the Brazilian President.
• Brazil currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20.

Roadmap out for environmental education, sustainable development at WEEC2024

Saudi Arabia’s Madinah, KAEC, Al-Ahsa join UNESCO global network of learning cities

• Saudi Arabia now boasts five cities enlisted in the UNESCO GNLC, contributing to the goal of equipping globally competitive citizens.
• Previously, Yanbu Industrial City was designated as a UNESCO Learning City in 2022 and Jubail Industrial City earned the Learning City status in 2020.

Energy transition led Saudi Arabia to halt oil expansion, says official

• Aramco announced on January 30 that the energy ministry had ordered it to maintain production capacity at 12 million barrels per day.
• Officials in the world's biggest crude exporter did not explain the move, leaving analysts to speculate that it reflected lack of confidence

Red Sea issue puts Yemen peace process on hold

• The Iran-backed Houthis have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since March 2015, months after they seized the capital Sanaa.
• Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the fighting and from indirect causes such as disease and malnutrition.