Gulf sovereign funds line up for landmark SpaceX listing
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Kuwait Investment Authority have each submitted orders worth between $1 billion and $5 billion....
Business
Geostrategy
Iran president says ‘rioters’ must not disrupt society
Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of "trying to escalate this unrest with regard to the economic discussion and...
- Protests in Iran initially sparked by anger over the rising cost of living have lasted two weeks, becoming a movement against the theocratic system in place since the 1979.
- State TV has aired images of buildings, including a mosque on fire, with authorities saying members of the security forces have been killed.
Arts & Culture
Novel concept: China’s spellbinding bookstores draw selfie snappers
Tianjin, China -- Towering accordion steps and a fantastical spiral staircase greet visitors to a massive bookstore in northern China's...
- Sales of hard-copy books across the country have failed to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels, data shows, despite authorities' efforts to boost domestic consumption.
- Yet in recent years the number of physical bookshops has "maintained steady growth", the head of a publishing industry group said last January.
Geostrategy
Yemen presidential council says Saudi coalition to lead all southern forces
The announcement comes a few days after Yemeni forces supported by Saudi Arabia recaptured large swathes of territory from the...
- The oil-rich neighbors formed the backbone of the coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who overran the capital Sanaa in 2014 and still control much of the country
- But Riyadh and Abu Dhabi now find themselves backing competing factions within the Presidential Council, which is recognized by the international community.
Business
AI toys look for bright side after troubled start
Las Vegas, United States -- Toy makers at the Consumer Electronics Show were adamant about being careful to ensure that...
- The rapid advancement of generative AI since ChatGPT's arrival has paved the way for a new generation of smart toys.
- Among the four devices tested by PIRG was Curio's Grok, a four-legged stuffed toy inspired by a rocket that has been on the market since 2024.
Research
Some food preservatives linked to higher cancer, diabetes risk
Paris, France -- Eating some common food preservatives is linked to a slightly higher risk of eventually developing cancer and...
- The preservatives included nitrites and nitrates, which are often used to cure ham, bacon and sausages.
- The second study, published in Nature Communications, also found a link between eating some food additives and developing type 2 diabetes.
Geostrategy
Gazans fear renewed displacement after Israeli strikes
Residents say the strikes have targeted neighborhoods east of the so-called Yellow Line -- a demarcation established under the truce...
- Earlier this month, Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the Yellow Line as the "new border line" with Israel.
- For Palestinian officials, the line is seen as a tool for permanent displacement.
Economy
US unemployment rises further, hovering at highest since 2021
A deteriorating jobs market could nudge the central bank to lower rates further to boost the economy, despite some policymakers'...
- The report underscoring a labor market cooldown in the world's biggest economy said the economy lost 105,000 jobs in October.
- Hiring picked up again in November to 64,000, but this was still a slower pace than before.
Geostrategy
First European Union airline flight in 35 years lands in Baghdad
Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq's transport ministry said Tuesday that a flight operated by Greece's Aegean Airlines had been the first...
- European airlines have not operated direct flights to Baghdad International Airport for security reasons since the early 1990s, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
- But, after decades of turmoil, Iraq has recently begun to regain a sense of stability and the government is striving to attract foreign investment to bolster the country's economy.
Economy
Deja vu? Trump accused of economic denial and physical decline
Washington, United States -- An aging president faces poor poll numbers and suspicions about his health but insists that America...
- According to a poll by the University of Chicago for the Associated Press, published Thursday, only 31 percent of Americans are satisfied with Trump's economic policy.
- Like his predecessor, Trump today is trying to steer some of consumers' discontent toward big corporations suspected of inflating prices.
Geostrategy
Hamas says weapons are ‘legitimate right’, open to proposals that preserve it
"Resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed by international law and are linked to the establishment of a...
- "We are open to studying any proposals that preserve this right while guaranteeing the establishment of a Palestinian state."
- The US-sponsored ceasefire, in effect since October 10, remains fragile as Israel and Hamas accuse each other almost daily of violations.
Most Read
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
Gulf sovereign funds line up for landmark SpaceX listing
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Kuwait Investment Authority have each submitted orders worth between $1 billion and $5 billion....
Business
Company News
The Gulf’s Capital Plumbing
Economy
Latest News
MENA must integrate research, enterprise, and leadership development
Over the next five years, knowledge and innovation will redefine the MENA region’s economic landscape, moving it beyond traditional resource...
Interview
Hamas tells AFP ready to transfer Gaza governance to Palestinian committee
"Protocols are prepared, files are complete, and committees are in place to oversee the handover, ensuring a complete transfer of...
Geostrategy
Beyond entertainment: How storytelling is shifting in the digital age
In a world where our screens shape how we think, feel, and connect, entertainment has become more than an escape...
Interview
Most Read
Economy
A matchmaking made in Gulf Heaven
The Gulf combines an interrelated web of business habitats and tech infrastructure to create rapid, policy-driven media and knowledge hubs...
- State-backed hubs across the Gulf are shifting from incubation models toward globally competitive, investable innovation ecosystems.
- RAK’s RAKEZ welcomed over 13,000 new companies in 2024, a 66 percent year-on-year growth.
Interview
Lessons from Davos: From digital health tools to health intelligence
Despite ongoing disagreements over economic and geopolitical shifts, there remains a strong commitment to collaboration, says Andrew Moose, Head of...
- Culture, food options, office design, and management behavior all shape outcomes.
- Research shows that 60–80 percent of productivity gains from well-being initiatives happen at the team level.
Business
Gold tops $5,000 for first time on Trump policy unrest
While turbulence over Trump's ambitions for Greenland and pressure on the Federal Reserve have provided the most recent support for...
- The precious metal's price has risen also owing to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Washington's intervention in Venezuela.
- Gold demand by value jumped 44 percent year-on-year to a record $146 billion in the third quarter of last year, the World Gold Council has said in its latest report.