China’s smaller manufacturers look to catch the automation wave
Yancheng, China -- In a light-filled workshop in eastern China, a robotic arm moved a partially assembled autonomous vehicle as workers...
Geostrategy
Divided US Fed set for contentious interest rate meeting
When the Fed last met in October, Chair Jerome Powell asserted that another rate cut in December was "not a...
Economy
Business
Robot dogs and flying cars: mobile gadget highlights
US firm Alef Aeronautics displayed to the public for the first time the working model of what it says is...
- Chinese firm Tecno Mobile showed off a robotic dog inspired by the German Shepherd which uses AI and powerful sensors to understand voice commands.
- Dutch startup Whispp demonstrated a calling app which uses AI technology to covert impaired speech due to conditions such as throat cancer.
Business
Mashreq closes $88m loan
The one-year syndicated term facility was closed for Agrobank.
- Mashreq acted as sole coordinator, initial mandated lead arranger, bookrunner, and facility agent for the deal.
- Marking a debut transaction for an Uzbekistan state-owned bank in the MENA region, the facility was oversubscribed by 75 percent.
Economy
‘WTO champions global trade stability, prosperity’
"It is contributing to raising living standards, improving employment opportunities and enabling the expansion of trade in goods and services"...
- Comoros and Timor-Leste sign Protocols of Accession, set to join WTO within 30 days.
- Accessions signify global confidence in the WTO and promise their economic growth.
Geostrategy
Investment Facilitation for Development pact finalized at Abu Dhabi WTO meet
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Ministers representing 123 World Trade Organisation (WTO) members have finalized the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD)...
- The ministers also urged the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) to incorporate the IFD Agreement into Annex 4 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.
- Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said the IFD Agreement is the result of more than six years of work, dedication and vision of more than 120 members.
Business
Maaden net profit falls 83%
The company's fourth-quarter net profit declined 12% YoY.
- The net profit decreased due to a decline in sales (by 27% YoY from SAR 40.27bn to 29.27bn) on the back of lower commodity market prices of all products except gold.
- Net profit was also impacted by higher finance cost due to increased borrowing rates and lower share of profit from joint ventures on the back of lower commodity market prices.
Geostrategy
Arab states tell UN court Israeli occupation is ‘affront to justice’
The International Court of Justice entered its last day of week-long hearings after a request from the UN, with an...
- Most speakers during the hearings have demanded that Israel end its occupation, which came after a six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967.
- "If left unchecked, it runs the risk of not only threatening regional, but also global peace and security," Turkey's representative Ahmet Yildiz said.
Business
SABIC AN profit falls 64%
The company had posted a profit of $2.67 billion in 2022.
- The company attributed the profit decline to lower revenue, which fell by 42 percent year-on-year (YoY) due to a 43 percent drop in average selling prices.
- The fourth-quarter net profit slumped 55 percent to SAR 977.91 million from SAR 2.16 billion in the prior-year period.
Business
QGIRCO 2023 loss $439m
Loss attributed to revaluation of investment properties.
- The loss was also due to reclassification of the Group's investments in Algeria from investment in associates to financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.
- The loss per share amounted to QR 1.675 in 2023 versus loss per share of QR 0.608 for the same period in 2022. The Board of Directors proposed not to distribute dividends.
Over 6m worshippers perform prayers at Prophet’s mosque last week
Madinah, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's...
- The statistics showed that 647,790 visited the Prophet Mohammed's tomb, and 298,397 visitors performed prayers at Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa
- More than 160,000 bottles of Zamzam water were provided, and 142,007 Iftar meals were distributed in corridors of the mosque
Geostrategy
Ghobash: WTO meet to make difference in people’s lives
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Session of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (PCWTO) was inaugurated...
- He added that implementing such agreements promotes hope globally that world nations are capable of going beyond geopolitical barriers to make a tangible impact
- The Abu Dhabi Session of the PCWTO saw the attendance of a number of ministers and nearly 300 parliamentarians.
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China’s smaller manufacturers look to catch the automation wave
Yancheng, China -- In a light-filled workshop in eastern China, a robotic arm moved a partially assembled autonomous vehicle as workers...
Geostrategy
Company News
DAE 9M net profit $310m
Business
Latest News
Oil prices higher on China boost, Syria uncertainty
Major stock markets diverged as investors reacted to political crises in South Korea and France, and tracked the perspectives for...
Business
Assad’s fall reshapes Middle East politics, redefining power dynamics across the region
The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels shocked the world by swiftly seizing Aleppo and Damascus, overshadowing global focus on the...
UK Prime Minister to talk trade, Middle East during Gulf visit
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Qatar PM sees ‘momentum’ on Gaza talks after US election
Doha, Qatar - Qatar's prime minister said on Saturday that momentum had returned to talks aimed at securing a truce and...
- The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce
- But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed seriousness
Business
Vegetable oil pushes global food prices to seven-month high in Nov
Rome, Italy -- The benchmark for world food commodity prices rose in November to its highest level since April 2023,...
- Global palm oil prices climbed further amid concerns about lower-than-expected output due to excessive rainfall in Southeast Asia.
- The Sugar Price Index decreased 2.4 percent, influenced by harvest activities in India and Thailand and improved sugarcane crop prospects in Brazil following recent rains.
Business
Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 startups secure $1.90 billion in funding, says CEO
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Startups within Hub71, Abu Dhabi's global tech ecosystem, have secured over AED 7 billion in funding,...
- The ecosystem is now hosts over 300 startups from around the world and has forged 150 partnerships to support these companies in attracting investments.
- Ahmad Ali Alwan, CEO of Hub71, said it has received over 2,500 applications for its programmes.