Chaos, Israel-aided gangs and gunfire: Gaza aid fails to reach most needy
Nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip while waiting for aid since May 27, the majority by...
Geostrategy
BRICS call for ‘unconditional’ Gaza ceasefire, condemn air strikes on Iran
The BRICS also called for a "full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and all other parts of...
Geostrategy
Business
Fifth Aramco facility receives WEF Global Lighthouse Network tag
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia -- Aramco's North Ghawar Oil Producing Complex has become the company's fifth facility to be added to...
- Aramco said that only industrial sites that successfully deploy 4IR technologies at scale are admitted to the prestigious network.
- WEF said UAE's EGA, named End-to-End Value Chain Lighthouse, undertook a 4IR transformation to further increase its cost-competitiveness.
Business
PIF acquires stake in Saudi Re
The acquisition was made by way of a capital increase.
- PIF said in a statement that the capital investment aims to enhance Saudi Re’s growth potential by adding to its financial capacity and further strengthening its credit rating.
- In the first nine months of 2024, Saudi Re's total written premiums reached SAR 1.94 billion ($520 million).
Business
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...
- The ownership increased from 9.70 percent to 9.72 percent, equivalent to SAR 334.55 billion, during the week ending January 9.
- GCC investors’ ownership in Saudi equities, excluding Saudi Aramco, declined from 2.27 percent to 2.18 percent of the total market capitalization.
Geostrategy
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...
- The complexity arises from the rapid growth of emerging technologies, prevailing geopolitical uncertainty and the evolution of threats.
- It also arises from regulatory challenges, vulnerabilities in supply chain interdependencies and the growing cyber skills gap, the report said.
Economy
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...
- It said that positive but somewhat slower growth forecasts for China and the United States will be complemented by modest recoveries in the European Union, Japan, and Britain.
- US growth was expected to moderate from 2.8 percent last year to 1.9 percent in 2025 as the labor market softens and consumer spending slows.
Business
ADNOC Gas awards contracts
The $2.1bn contracts are aimed at enhancing LNG supply infrastructure.
- The LPP and compression facilities will be located within ADNOC Gas’ Habshan 5 plant, part of one of the world’s largest integrated gas processing complexes.
- The largest contract, valued at $1.24 billion for the LPP, was awarded to a consortium consisting of Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (ENPPI) and Petrojet.
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.
Business
Saudi Arabia retains first rank in MENA Venture Capital funding in 2024
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia maintained its first rank across MENA in terms of Venture Capital (VC) funding in...
- The Kingdom secured the highest, 40 percent, share of total VC funding in the MENA region in 2024.
- The report also revealed that Saudi Arabia set a new record with 178 VC deals in the same year.
Chaos, Israel-aided gangs and gunfire: Gaza aid fails to reach most needy
Nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip while waiting for aid since May 27, the majority by...
Geostrategy
Company News
Turkey’s 5,000-year-old bread finds new life
Arts & Culture
Latest News
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.