Syrian President’s first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia signals Syria’s shift away from Iran’s influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling...
Geostrategy
WEF’s risks report 2025: Rising geopolitical tensions, environmental threats, disinformation dominate future threats
A survey of over 900 experts reveals state-based armed conflict as the most pressing global risk for 2025, driven by...
Geostrategy
Trump victory reflects Arab-American support, Netanyahu discusses Iran with him amid lingering regional conflict
In a unique campaign twist, Trump captured Muslim voters by pledging diplomacy, promising to end prolonged conflicts and promote stability,...
- His new Muslim supporters are celebrating his victory and confident he will deliver despite Israel, led by his close ally Benjamin Netanyahu
- But during this campaign, Trump touted his status as Israel's strongest friend, saying Biden should let Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu "finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza
Business
Lulu’s IPO raises $1.72bn
The proceeds make it the largest UAE IPO of 2024 to date.
- The Offering achieved aggregate demand of over AED135 billion ($37 billion) from local, regional, and international investors.
- This is a record for a non-Government UAE IPO over the past 10 years, with the IPO oversubscribed by more than 25 times across all tranches (excluding Cornerstone Investors).
Geostrategy
What impact will Donald Trump have on the world economy?
Paris, France -- Donald Trump's return to the White House with his protectionist policies poses threats for the global economy, with...
- During his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump often resorted to punitive tariffs in disputes with trade partners.
- Donald Trump's policies could also rekindle inflation, which cooled following a series of interest-rate hikes that the Federal Reserve began to unwind this year.
Business
Saudi Aramco’s quarterly profit drops 15% on low oil prices
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Energy giant Saudi Aramco reported a 15 percent year-on-year drop in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, citing prices...
- The fall in net income to $27.56bn from $32.58bn in 2023 is the seventh consecutive quarterly drop for Aramco, one of the world's biggest companies by market capitalization.
- Aramco is the chief source of revenue for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to remodel the Gulf kingdom's crude-reliant economy.
Interview
Securing the digital future: AI and global cooperation foster cyber resilience
While AI accelerates the detection and management of threats, cybercriminals also leverage this technology for sophisticated attacks, says WEF's cybersecurity expert Filipe Beato.
- Beato said cyber risks are among an organization’s highest priorities, and the threat keeps increasing, a fact emphasized by WEF since 2020.
- With the increased connectivity and dependencies of critical sectors and services, improving ecosystem cyber resilience requires collaborative action.
Geostrategy
B-52 bombers arrive in Middle East: US military
Washington, United States -- American B-52 bombers have arrived in the Middle East, the US military said Saturday, a day after...
- "B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base's 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility," the military said.
- The United States announced on Friday evening that it was sending the bombers, fighter and tanker aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the Middle East.
Geostrategy
Pro-Palestinian protesters take Israel sculptures from UK university
London, United Kingdom -- A pro-Palestinian group took two sculptures of Israel's first president from a UK university in a protest marking...
- "Today, Palestine Action have marked 107 years since the Balfour Declaration, by taking two sculptures of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann," the protest group said.
- Palestine Action also sprayed the London office of charity Jewish National Fund (JNF) with red paint.
Geostrategy
Saudi, US FM says could move ‘quite quickly’ on some deals with US
Since last year Saudi Arabia has been bargaining hard for a defense pact with the United States as well as...
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month ruled out recognizing Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated that normalization was "off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood".
Business
DAE 9M net profit $310m
The company said this was a 54.9 percent YoY increase in net profit.
- Profit before tax settled at $326.6 million for the same period, compared to $207.5 million last year.
- Total revenue was $1.017 billion for the nine months, a YoY increase of $27.9 million, or 2.8 percent.
Economy
Global economy faces ‘low normal’ growth, widening inequality gap
The organization’s Trade and Development Report 2024 warned that this new “low normal" growth is insufficient to tackle pressing development and...
- While the global South experienced robust annual growth rates of 6.6 percent between 2003 and 2013, that figure has fallen to 4.1 percent over the past decade.
- This has made it harder for nations to expand social services, cover rising energy transition costs and manage mounting public debt.
Syrian President’s first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia signals Syria’s shift away from Iran’s influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Honda shares soar 16%
Business
UAE real GDP grows by 3.6% in first half of 2024, says economy minister
Non-oil sectors' contribution to GDP reaches 75%. Economy minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri says the growth reflects the dynamic...
Economy
Cambridge study warns of perils in AI-driven ‘intention economy’
London, United Kingdom -- Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tools may soon "covertly influence" users' decision making in a new commercial frontier...
Business
20-day-old baby Jumaa al-Batran dies from ‘severe cold’ in Gaza
Marwan al-Hamas, head of field hospitals in Gaza, confirmed the death. He said it brought to five the total number...
Geostrategy
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Business
SHUAA okays MCB tranches
The two tranches will be converted into equity at the earliest opportunity.
- The first tranche, valued at up to AED150 million, will be offered to existing shareholders through a private placement.
- The second tranche, valued at up to AED275.5 million, will be offered to holders of existing bonds issued by a SHUAA-related special-purpose entity under the same conversion terms.
Geostrategy
Israeli raid puts last major Gaza health facility out of service: WHO
The World Health Organization said the operation had put the "last major health facility in north Gaza out of service"....
- The WHO said 60 health workers and 25 patients in critical condition, including some on ventilators, reportedly remained in Kamal Adwan Hospital.
- Patients in less severe condition were forced to evacuate to the destroyed, non-functioning Indonesian Hospital, the UN health agency said.
Business
Move over Mercedes: Chinese cars grab Mexican market share
Mexico City, Mexico -- The growing popularity of Chinese sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks has shaken up Mexico's luxury car...
- Mexicans are increasingly switching from traditionally dominant sedans to Chinese vehicles due to a combination of comfort, technology and price.
- It is no small feat in a country home to factories of foreign brands such as Audi and BMW, and where until a few years ago imported Chinese cars were stigmatized.