MENA’s gaming sector projected to ‘touch $6 billion by 2027
Nikita Matsokin, Executive Director of MGVC (MY.GAMES, shares his thoughts on the MENA region’s creative talent, government support, and rapid...
Interview
AI promise uneven as economists flag debt and market vulnerabilities
In its latest Chief Economists’ Outlook, the WEF said 53 percent of surveyed economists expect global economic conditions to weaken...
Economy
Geostrategy
Iran’s president to visit Iraq on first foreign trip, sign MoU on security
Tehran, Iran -- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will visit neighboring Iraq on Wednesday, state media reported Sunday, in what will be...
- Pezeshkian will head a high-ranking Iranians delegation to Baghdad to meet senior Iraqi officials.
- Since taking office, Pezeshkian has vowed to "prioritize" strengthening ties with the Islamic republic's neighbors.
Business
Market capitalization of 20 UAE listed firms reaches $762 billion
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The market capitalization of the top 20 listed companies in the local stock markets by market...
- The 20 listed companies accounted for 77.6 per cent or AED 2.79 trillion of the total market capitalization of the local equity markets of AED 3.59 trillion.
- Global Holding came out on top with a market capitalization of more than AED 912.29 billion, equivalent to 25.4 percent of the capitalization of local markets.
Economy
Global stock markets wobble as investors weigh US jobs data
Since US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell stated last month that the time for interest rates to begin coming down...
- Another big miss for August would have solidified perceptions that the US economy is slowing more sharply than initially thought.
- Government data showed Friday the world's biggest economy added 142,000 jobs last month, an increase from July's figure which was revised notably lower to 89,000.
Geostrategy
German foreign minister heads to Middle East in Gaza truce push
The talks will focus on "the dramatic situation in the region", and especially to discuss the issue of coordinating humanitarian...
- Pressure has mounted on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal to end the fighting
- Baerbock will set off Wednesday evening for Saudi Arabia where she will hold talks with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud
Geostrategy
Biden, unions pile pressure on Netanyahu for hostage release deal
Jerusalem -- Pressure mounted Monday on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a major strike was held and US President...
- A strike announced by the main trade union seeking a deal to secure the remaining captives' release had brought parts of the country to a standstill.
- Alongside the surging domestic anger, diplomatic pressure has also grown, with the US president on Monday delivering some of his strongest criticism of Netanyahu.
Business
Bahrain to introduce minimum tax for large multinationals
Beginning in January 2025, the measure will place a minimum tax of 15 percent on revenues over 750 million euros ($830...
- A small oil producer and non-OPEC member, Bahrain has sought in recent years to diversify its revenues, which, like its Gulf neighbors, is largely dependent on hydrocarbons.
- The UAE last year began taxing the profits of companies worth more than 375,000 dirhams (roughly 91,500 euros) at 9 percent.
Business
Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: Energyminister
Doha, Qatar -- A large new solar plant planned in Qatar will double the Gulf emirate's previously projected renewable energy capacity...
- The plant will be established in Dukhan area will produce 2,000 megawatts, which is twice more than the capacity of Qatar's production of solar energy of the current projects.
- The energy minister also announced plans to more than double Qatar's urea production making the country the largest producer of the fertilizer in the world by the end of the decade
Geostrategy
Israel set for general strike after Gaza hostages found dead
"I have come to the conclusion that only our intervention can shake those who need to be shaken," Arnon bar...
- Qatar-based Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said the six hostages were "killed by Zionist (Israeli) bombing", an accusation the military denied.
- A senior Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity that "some" of the six had been "approved" for release in a potential hostage-prisoner swap.
Geostrategy
COP29 finance draft: Arab nations ask developed nations to commit $441bn
Paris, France -- The UN has published a draft on climate financing due to be presented at the COP29 in November,...
- The document is the basis for negotiating an accord that is due to be reached at COP29 in Baku under Azerbaijan's presidency.
- The EU said the "collective goal can only be reached if Parties with high GHG-emissions and economic capabilities join the effort."
Geostrategy
West Bank city ‘cut off from the world’ as Israeli assault drags on
Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP that even he does not know exactly what is happening inside the camp,...
- "Neither the civil defense, nor the ambulances, nor the journalists can go and see what is happening there."
- The United Nations said on Wednesday that at least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began.
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MENA’s gaming sector projected to ‘touch $6 billion by 2027
Nikita Matsokin, Executive Director of MGVC (MY.GAMES, shares his thoughts on the MENA region’s creative talent, government support, and rapid...
Interview
Company News
Latest News
PIF acquires stake in Saudi Re
Business
EU tells Israel to reverse move to cut off Palestinian banks
Brussels, Belgium -- The EU on Wednesday urged Israel to undo a move by a far-right minister that threatens to...
Geostrategy
UN says 70% chance that 2025-2029 average global warming will exceed 1.5C threshold
The planet is therefore expected to remain at historic levels of warming after the two hottest years ever recorded in...
Science
Turkey’s 5,000-year-old bread finds new life
Round and flat like a pancake, 12 centimeters (five inches) in diameter, the bread was discovered during excavations at Kulluoba,...
Arts & Culture
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Arts & Culture
Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
- Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now".
- Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for "Once Upon A Time In Gaza".
Science
Microsoft strikes deal with Elon Musk to host Grok AI
Seattle, United States - Microsoft on Monday said its business cloud servers will now host technology from xAI, days after...
- Musk told an event hosted by Microsoft that his company's models "aspire to truth with minimal error," adding that "there's always going to be some mistakes that are made."
- The Grok models from xAI will be available on Microsoft's Azure AI Foundry, a platform that makes hundreds of models available for paying developers to build their own AI models
Geostrategy
Morocco to reopen embassy in Syria after Assad fall
Morocco said Saturday it will reopen its embassy Damascus, closed since 2012, signalling renewed support for Syria after the overthrow...
- The decision was announced in a letter from King Mohammed VI to Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa
- The letter said Morocco backed the Syrian people "in their quest for freedom, security, and stability."