The Gulf’s Capital Plumbing
Futuristic, lifestyle-changing entrepreneurial ideas are targeting liquid GCC markets, where hyperscalers and deep-pocketed sovereign and private investors and family offices...
Economy
Jury selection begins in landmark social media addiction trial
Los Angeles, United States -- Jury selection begins Tuesday for a landmark trial that could establish a legal precedent on...
Geostrategy
Assad’s fall reshapes Middle East politics, redefining power dynamics across the region
The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels shocked the world by swiftly seizing Aleppo and Damascus, overshadowing global focus on the...
- Assad had for nearly 14 years held off an uprising that many believed had been exhausted, but his downfall followed a series of battlefield convulsions for other allies of Iran
- Israel has all but decapitated the Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon since September, while the killing of Hamas figureheads has dealt major blows to Assad's key backer Tehran
Geostrategy
UK Prime Minister to talk trade, Middle East during Gulf visit
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking...
- Starmer will first visit the United Arab Emirates and then travel to Saudi Arabia, before stopping off in Cyprus on his way back to London on Tuesday.
- Starmer's trip comes after Britain last week rolled out the diplomatic red carpet for Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who enjoyed a state visit to the UK.
Geostrategy
Trump touts tariffs, mass deportations and NATO skepticism
In his first formal television interview -- and just six weeks before he takes office -- Trump again signaled that...
- He also stressed that his campaign promises of huge tariffs -- including against top US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- would be enacted.
- As to whether Americans would see higher prices as a result of those tariffs, Trump said that "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow."
Geostrategy
Qatar PM sees ‘momentum’ on Gaza talks after US election
Doha, Qatar - Qatar's prime minister said on Saturday that momentum had returned to talks aimed at securing a truce and...
- The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce
- But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed seriousness
Business
Vegetable oil pushes global food prices to seven-month high in Nov
Rome, Italy -- The benchmark for world food commodity prices rose in November to its highest level since April 2023,...
- Global palm oil prices climbed further amid concerns about lower-than-expected output due to excessive rainfall in Southeast Asia.
- The Sugar Price Index decreased 2.4 percent, influenced by harvest activities in India and Thailand and improved sugarcane crop prospects in Brazil following recent rains.
Business
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 startups secure $1.90 billion in funding, says CEO
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Startups within Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, have secured over AED 7 billion in funding,...
- The ecosystem is now hosts over 300 startups from around the world and has forged 150 partnerships to support these companies in attracting investments.
- Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said it has received over 2,500 applications for its programmes.
Business
ADNOC signs deal with PETRONAS
Under the agreement, ADNOC will supply 1m tons of LNG per year.
- The LNG will primarily be sourced from the Ruwais LNG project, which is currently under development in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi.
- Deliveries are expected to start in 2028 upon commencement of its commercial operations.
Business
Bitcoin passes $100,000 mark for first time, outshining wavering stock markets
Donald Trump, who has vowed to make the US the 'bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world' wrote 'Congratulations Bitcoiners...You're...
- The digital asset has now soared more than 50 percent since the election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to make the US the "bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world."
- The historic level was broken after Trump picked crypto proponent Paul Atkins to take over as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the markets regulator.
Economy
OECD warns of protectionism weeks before Trump return
While the organization raised its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.3 percent, it cautioned that "greater trade protectionism, particularly from...
- Trump has threatened blanket tariffs of at least 10% on all imports and since his election has vowed to slap 25% import tariffs against Canada and Mexico, the US trade partners.
- "Increases in trade-restrictive measures could raise costs and prices, deter investment, weaken innovation and ultimately lower growth," the OECD warned in its economic outlook.
Geostrategy
France, Saudi Arabia to co-chair June meet on creating Palestinian state: Macron
The French president said they want to involve both European and non-European allies who are ready to move in this...
- Macron said that France and Saudi Arabia have the "will to move forward" on a deal to sell Rafale fighter jets to the Kingdom.
- Discussions had already been underway for Riyadh to acquire the French-made jets and, though no definitive announcement was expected during Macron's visit.
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
The Gulf’s Capital Plumbing
Futuristic, lifestyle-changing entrepreneurial ideas are targeting liquid GCC markets, where hyperscalers and deep-pocketed sovereign and private investors and family offices...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
US private sector lost 32,000 jobs last month in surprise drop
President Donald Trump has been touting the economy's health, and forecasts had incorrectly predicted the monthly data would show a...
Geostrategy
OpenAI declares ChatGPT ‘code red’ over stiff competition: report
Washington, United States -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a company-wide "code red" as its ChatGPT technology faces stiff...
Business
Amazon unveils new AI chip in battle against Nvidia
San Francisco, United States -- Amazon Web Services launched its in-house-built Trainium3 AI chip on Tuesday, marking a significant push...
Business
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Geostrategy
Pope urges Lebanese to stay in their country despite difficulties
Leo emphasized the need for peace, using the word more than 20 times during the address, without mentioning any specific...
- Urging reconciliation, Leo noted that "there are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal".
- "If we do not work, for example, to heal memories, to bring together those who have suffered wrongs and injustice, it is difficult to journey towards peace," he said.
Arts & Culture
‘Dinosaur tartare’ and holograms: Dubai AI chef sparks awe and ire
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- A Dubai restaurant has opened that prides itself on having the world's "first AI chef",...
- The AI programme -- known as chef Aiman -- is trained on thousands of recipes and decades of culinary research and molecular gastronomy.
- Chef Aiman can also optimise menus and balance flavours, according to the establishment.
Business
Singapore AI teddy back on sale after recall over sex chat scare
Singapore, Singapore -- A plushy, AI-enabled teddy bear recalled after its chatbot was found to engage in sexually explicit conversations...
- Singapore-based FoloToy had suspended its "Kumma" bear after a consumer advocacy group raised concerns about it and other AI toys on the market.
- The Kumma bear "looks sweet and innocent. But what comes out of its mouth is a stark contrast," researchers have said.