Saudi’s Humain secures $1.2 bn to expand AI, digital infrastructure
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Humain artificial intelligence company has secured up to $1.2 billion in financing to expand...
Business
The Middle East has become our living lab for digital reinvention
In the MENA region, we see an extraordinary opportunity to shape a digitally empowered workforce aligned with national transformation agendas,...
Interview
Arts & Culture
World Rally Championship to add Saudi Arabia race to calendar
Paris, France -- World Rally Championship announced Wednesday that it will add races in Saudi Arabia, the Canary Islands and Paraguay...
- Rally Saudi Arabia will end the season on November 27-30 with the event in the Spanish archipelago on April 24-27 and the race in South America on August 28-31.
- It also added the Canary Islands and Paraguay to its calendar next year. Rallys in Croatia, Poland and Latvia are no longer on the circuit.
Business
Day after UAE-Chile CEPA, Dubai Chambers and Pro-Chile sign MoU
Under the MoU, both parties will coordinate events aimed at strengthening ties between exporting companies from Dubai and Chile and...
- The CEPA is projected to increase non-oil bilateral to $750 million by 2030, more than doubling the US$306 million shared in 2023.
- Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said the CEPA is expected to come into effect within the next six months.
Business
BP H1 profits down 79%
Revenue dropped 8 percent to $98 billion in the same period.
- BP said increased volume and lower exploration write-offs were "partly offset by increased depreciation charges and higher costs".
- The group earlier this month flagged to markets that its latest earnings would take a sizeable hit from a cut to oil refining in Germany.
Geostrategy
Gaza official says 300 killed in Khan Yunis as army ends assault
"Since the beginning of the Israeli ground invasion of the eastern part of Khan Yunis province, the civil defence and...
- The Israeli military launched the assault on July 22 to halt rocket fire from the area, which already saw heavy fighting earlier this year.
- Last week, it said troops had retrieved the bodies of five Israelis from the area.
Business
Saudi trains over 1,000 nationals in coastal tourism market
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, has implemented two...
- The training, which focused on customer service experiences and safety principles, was conducted as part of the second edition of the Tourism Trailblazers Program.
- SRSA aims to provide over 210,000 jobs by 2030 and contribute more than SAR 85 billion to the GDP that same year.
Geostrategy
Lufthansa, Air France halt Beirut flights as Israel tensions rise
Beirut, Lebanon -- Air France and the German airline group Lufthansa said Monday they were suspending flights to Beirut after Israel...
- Lufthansa services would be halted up to and including August 5 due to "current developments in the Middle East", a group spokesman told AFP.
- Royal Jordanian also announced the suspension of flights, with at least two of its regular trips to Beirut cancelled.
Business
AI startups swap independence for Big Tech’s deep pockets
Washington, United States -- It's the case of the vanishing startup: some of Silicon Valley's most promising names in the fast-developing...
- Critics believe these deals are acquisitions in all but name and have been especially designed by Microsoft or Amazon to avoid the attention of competition regulators.
- US, European and UK regulators on Tuesday signed a joint statement insisting that they won't let big tech companies run roughshod over the nascent AI industry.
Business
Dubai welcomes record 9.31m international overnight visitors in H1
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai welcomed 9.31 million international overnight visitors from January to June 2024, a 9 percent increase over...
- Dubai was named the No.1 global destination for an unprecedented third successive year in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards in January.
- Occupied room nights increased by 3 percent, with 21.35 million at the end of H1 2024, compared to 20.73 million in H1 2023.
Business
In fuel-guzzling Saudi Arabia, electric cars pique interest
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- For Hamed al-Rafidain, a Saudi human resources worker, an electric vehicle offers welcome savings, especially since his...
- Although the EV market in the world's largest oil exporter remains small compared with the United States and China, it tripled last year to nearly 800 cars.
- Chinese EV giant BYD is expected to dominate the Saudi market. Its global rival Tesla of the United States has no dealerships in the Gulf kingdom.
Business
Saudi ministry, Red Sea Authority to boost coastal tourism
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Red Sea Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, has launched the "Seas...
- The program is offered for the first time on board the European Cruise and is accredited by the British University of Plymouth and Dale Carnegie.
- The program will equip employees at luxury coastal resorts and travel agencies with professional skills essential in the tourism sector.
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Saudi’s Humain secures $1.2 bn to expand AI, digital infrastructure
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Humain artificial intelligence company has secured up to $1.2 billion in financing to expand...
Business
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ADNOC L&S buys stake in Navig8
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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...
Science
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...
Geostrategy
US announces new sanctions against Iran amid talks
The United States announced new sanctions Monday against Iran over its nuclear program, despite ongoing negotiations between the two countries...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Israel security chief accuses PM of demanding personal loyalty
Israel's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to sack, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday of demanding personal...
- Ronen Bar's accusations, in a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, are the latest twist in a legal and political saga pitting him against Netanyahu
- Bar's dismissal, announced by the government last month but frozen by the court, triggered mass protests
Business
US judge rules Google monopolized online ad tech market
Washington, United States -- A US judge on Thursday ruled that Google wielded monopoly power in the online ad technology...
- It is one of two federal suits targeting Google that could ultimately see the company split up and curb its influence -- and part of a wider government push to rein in Big Tech.
- The vast majority of websites use a trio of Google ad software products that together leave no way for publishers to escape Google's advertising technology, the plaintiffs alleged.
Business
China retaliates with 84 percent tariffs on US products
Beijing, China -- China will impose 84 percent tariffs on US imports, up from 34 percent, the finance ministry said...
- US President Donald Trump's latest salvo of tariffs came into effect on dozens of trading partners Wednesday, bringing duties on Chinese products up to 104 percent.
- Beijing has consistently opposed tariff rises and said Wednesday it would take "firm and forceful" steps to protect its interests.