Gaza ceasefire enters phase two despite unresolved issues between Israel and Hamas
The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's...
Geostrategy
Cybersecurity must evolve from blocking threats to safeguarding the innovation process
When businesses increasingly rely on AI to make decisions, a manipulated dataset can cause more harm than a ransomware attack,...
Interview
Business
New mega-refinery helps Kuwait to record capacity: minister
Made up of three component units, the huge Al-Zour refinery is one of the biggest in the Middle East. It was...
- OPEC member Kuwait aims to reach a production capacity of 4 million bpd by 2035.
- Kuwait operates three refineries at home and three abroad -- in Oman, Vietnam and Italy.
Geostrategy
Palestinians flee Rafah as Israeli expands ground assault
Rafah, Palestinian Territories -- Hundreds braved roads in Rafah in south Gaza Tuesday as they fled Israel's expanding ground assault, with...
- UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said that one million civilians had fled Rafah since the ground attack went ahead despite global warnings.
- The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said in a statement that Israeli shelling in and around health facilities in the governorate has left just one still operational.
Business
UAE president on state visit to S Korea, meets top business chiefs
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the first sitting UAE president to make a state visit to Asia's fourth-largest...
- Follow-up announcements to the investment plan, which is expected to cover arms and energy, are expected to be made during the two-day visit which includes a summit with Yoon.
- The Emirati president met leaders of South Korea's largest companies upon his arrival, most notable the chairmen of Samsung Electronics, SK Group and Hyundai Motor Group.
Business
Saudi PIF launches Neo Space Group to boost space industry
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)on Monday launched the Neo Space Group to work on the kingdom's...
- The Neo Space Group or NSG is the "PIF's first investment focused on the space industry", the sovereign wealth fund said in a statement.
- It "aims to develop and enhance commercial space operations in Saudi Arabia, providing innovative satellite and space solutions locally and globally", the PIF said.
Business
UAE tax authority issues corporate tax guide for free-zone persons
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has issued a guide outlining the application of Corporate Tax to...
- It is in line with the Free Zone Corporate Tax regime, which enables Qualifying Free Zone Persons to benefit from a zero percent Corporate Tax rate on Qualifying Income.
- The guide includes many examples to assist Businesses with understanding how the key elements of the Corporate Tax Law apply to Free Zone Persons.
Geostrategy
EU hosts talks to strengthen Palestinian Authority for Gaza
A "strong" Palestinian Authority is needed to bring peace in the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said...
- They also came just before Norway -- which was hosting the Brussels meeting -- was on Tuesday is to recognize the State of Palestine, along with Spain and Ireland.
- Mustafa said Sunday's meeting was "a very important opportunity" for the Palestinian Authority to outline its priorities and plans.
Geostrategy
International Court of Justice orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive
The International Court of Justice also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after...
- "The court finds it deeply troubling that many of these hostages remain in captivity and reiterates its call for their immediate and unconditional release," it said.
- Hamas gave a qualified welcome to the ruling, regretting only that it applied solely to Rafah and not the whole Gaza Strip.
Geostrategy
Medic says Gaza hospital under Israeli siege for fifth day
Soldiers are present in the hospital's courtyard and in nearby houses," said hospital's acting director, Dr Mohammad Saleh, adding that...
- "The hospital was stormed and staff were forced to leave. At the moment I have only 13 staff, 11 patients and two women accompanying wounded children," Saleh said.
- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X that 140 staff, patients and accompanying adults were inside the hospital when troops stormed it.
Economy
One out of three Lebanese poverty-stricken: World Bank
Beirut, Lebanon -- A third of Lebanese people are impoverished with poverty rates tripling in a decade, the World Bank said...
- The poverty rate reached as high as 70 percent in the northern region of Akkar which borders Syria.
- The poor were also "nearly four times as likely to have an adult member restrict their food intake to feed their children," the WB report said.
Business
Amazon to invest $17bn in Spain
The investment will be made in data centers in Aragon region.
- The investment will create around 17,500 indirect jobs in local companies and contribute 21.6 billion euros to Spain's gross domestic product during the period.
- A pioneer of e-commerce, Amazon's AWS also dominates cloud computing with 31 percent of the market at the end of 2023, according to Stocklytics.
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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
Gaza ceasefire enters phase two despite unresolved issues between Israel and Hamas
The most contentious questions remain Hamas's refusal to publicly commit to full disarmament, a non-negotiable demand from Israel, and Israel's...
Geostrategy
Company News
Honda shares soar 16%
Business
Latest News
Non-institutional foreign ownership in Tadawul-listed firms up slightly
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Non-institutional foreign investors increased their stake in Tadawul-listed equities, excluding Saudi Aramco, from 9.70 percent to...
Business
Cyber landscape complexity deepens cyber inequity, gap between organizations: WEF report
The complexity arises from the rapid growth of emerging technologies, prevailing geopolitical uncertainty and the evolution of threats, says WEF's...
Geostrategy
World economic growth to remain at 2.8 percent in 2025: UN report
The World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2025 report shows that despite withstanding a series of mutually reinforcing shocks, global...
Economy
Most Read
Opinion
The $480 billion creator economy revolution
We're likely to see more creators seeking alternatives to traditional gatekeepers, following in the footsteps of artists like Taylor Swift....
- Influencers are becoming increasingly important in shaping consumer behavior: Nearly 72% of young Americans follow digital creators.
- According to Chamath Palihapitiya, influencers are pioneering a non-mechanistic method of demand generation that could surpass traditional advertising.
Business
Qatar’s real estate department records weeklong deals worth $71 million
Doha, Qatar -- Real estate sales contracts worth 251.25 million qatari riyals were registered with the emirate's Real Estate Registration...
- During the Dec 29-Jan 2 period, the total sales contracts for the real estate bulletin for residential units reached QR 10.57 million.
- The properties traded for sale included vacant lands, residential homes, apartment buildings, shops, residential complex, and residential units.
Business
Saudi Industrial Production Index increases by 3.4 percent in Nov 2024
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 3.4 percent in November 2024, compared to Nov...
- This increase is driven by growth in mining and quarrying, manufacturing, water supply, sewerage, and waste management and remediation activities.
- The sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased by 1.2 percent, and the sub-index of manufacturing activity increased by 7.2 percent.