Dubai Media City bets on AI to cement its global creative hub status
Dubai Media City has moved decisively beyond real estate into intellectual and digital value creation to support the next generation...
Interview
Who has been invited to be on Trump’s Gaza boards?
The White House said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
UAE seeks consular services for arrested Telegram boss
"The UAE is closely following the case of its citizen Pavel Durov, founder of Telegram, who was arrested by the...
- He is accused of failing to curb the spread of illegal content on Telegram, which has more than 900 million users. The company has rejected the accusations.
- Durov set up Telegram after leaving Russia a decade ago, and Forbes magazine estimates his current fortune at $15.5 billion.
Geostrategy
Iraq issues arrest warrants against two persons for ‘heist of the century’
Baghdad, Iraq -- An Iraqi criminal court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for a businessman and a former government official wanted...
- The scandal, dubbed the "heist of the century", sparked widespread anger in Iraq, which is ravaged by rampant corruption, unemployment and decaying infrastructure.
- The criminal court issued the warrants for businessman Nour Zuhair and Haitham al-Juburi, a former adviser to then prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi.
Geostrategy
Egypt says will not accept Israeli force on its Gaza border
Cairo, a key mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, "reiterated to all parties...
- "Egypt is managing the mediation" between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas "in accordance with its national security", the source told Al-Qahera News.
- The negotiations, also mediated by Qatar and the United States, have yielded little hope for a ceasefire, though Washington said Friday that some progress had been made.
Business
UAE national carriers fly to 606 destinations as travel demand rebounds
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- UAE national carriers continued to expand their destinations for passengers, supported by the UAE's leading position...
- The carriers reached about 586 destinations at the end of last year 2023. The national carriers' destinations currently include more than 144 Emirates destinations.
- flydubai flies to 125 destinations in 58 countries across Africa, Central Asia, Central and Southeast Europe, the GCC, the Middle East.
Business
Alibaba to upgrade Hong Kong listing amid profit drop
Hong Kong, China -- Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Friday it would upgrade its Hong Kong-listed shares to primary status, opening...
- The decision by shareholders during its annual general meeting Thursday will provide a much-needed boost to the firm, which has underperformed the market in recent years.
- Alibaba has been primarily traded in New York since 2014 and remained dual-listed after its notable return to Hong Kong through a second listing in 2019.
Geostrategy
In rare move, UAE accepts Taliban government ambassador
It became just the second country after China to do so. The UAE said it was committed to "building bridges"...
- The UAE's growing ties with the Taliban government include the management of Afghan airports by an Emirati firm, GAAC, following the withdrawal of US forces and Taliban's return.
- "The world recognizes the challenges faced by Afghanistan over the past few years," an Emirati official said in a statement.
Business
EGA buys 80% stake in Spectro
EGA says the deal boosts its plan to expand recycling space globally.
- The owners and management will hold a 20 per cent stake, as the two companies have signed a share purchase agreement.
- The transaction is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2024, subject to obtaining all regulatory approvals.
Business
Stocks wobble as investors brace for Powell’s rate cut clues
Paris, France -- Stock markets wobbled on Thursday as investors await a highly-anticipated speech by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell,...
- The dollar has been under pressure from expectations of lower rates, but it pared down some losses against other major currencies on Thursday.
- The spotlight will turn to Powell when he addresses an annual gathering of global central bankers, with investors eager to hear for fresh signals about the Fed's plans.
Business
TSMC starts work on first European plant
TSMC is investing $3.9bn in the Dresden project.
- The Dresden facility will be specialized in the production of semiconductors for Germany's flagship automotive industry, currently in the throes of transitioning to EVs.
- Some 10 billion euros has been ploughed into the flagship project in the "Silicon Saxony" region, which has an industrial heritage dating back to the communist era.
Business
Abu Dhabi Airports, Paris Airports to expand air transport infrastructure
Abu Dhabi, UAE-- Abu Dhabi Airports has expanded its existing collaboration with Paris Airports Group (ACG) to focus on collaborating...
- This decision comes after Abu Dhabi Airports completed a comprehensive program of activities aimed at enhancing the contribution of partners among other things.
- The collaboration is aimed at creation of the ground infrastructure needed to provide advanced air transport applications in Abu Dhabi.
Dubai Media City bets on AI to cement its global creative hub status
Dubai Media City has moved decisively beyond real estate into intellectual and digital value creation to support the next generation...
Interview
Company News
PIF acquires stake in Saudi Re
Business
Latest News
ADNOC Gas awards contracts
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."

