West Bank eviction film ‘No Other Land’ wins best documentary Oscar
Jerusalem -- No Other Land, a documentary about Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, has won the best documentary award...
Arts & Culture
Syrian President’s first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia signals Syria’s shift away from Iran’s influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling...
Geostrategy
Business
Saudi tourism sector employee number rises by 5.1 percent in second quarter
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The number of employees in tourism-related activities in Saudi Arabia increased by 5.1 percent in the...
- GASTAT's Tourism Establishments Statistics bulletin for the second quarter of 2024 said that of these employees, Saudi nationals accounted for 25.6 percent (245,905 employees.
- Male employees dominated the sector, representing 86.6 percent of the workforce (831,076 employees), with women comprising 13.4 percent (128,099 employees).
Geostrategy
Coal use at record high in 2024, the world’s hottest year: IEA
Paris, France -- World coal use is set to reach an all-time high in 2024, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday,...
- China drives global coal demand to new heights, consuming 4.9B tons in 2024—over 30% more than the rest of the world.
- The IEA's "Coal 2024" report predicts the world will hit peak coal in 2027 after topping 8.77 billion tons this year.
Business
ADNOC Drilling closes JV
It is a JV between ADNOC Drilling, SLB and Patterson UTI.
- ADNOC Drilling holds a 55 percent majority equity stake, SLB, the world's largest oilfield services provider, holds a 30 percent equity stake and Patterson-UTI 15 percent.
- Turnwell announced the acceleration of its initial 144 unconventional wells earlier this year, following the successful operational startup.
Geostrategy
TikTok under fire: Espionage claims, election influence campaigns and controversies
The platform faces accusations of espionage in the United States, while the European Union has launched an investigation into claims...
- The United States in April passed a law obliging TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to sell off the platform by January 19 on the grounds it allowed China to access data on US users.
- Its editing features and powerful algorithm have kept it ahead of the game, attracting an army of creators and influencers as well as creating many of its own.
Business
World’s rarest coffees to be auctioned for first time in Dubai
Dubai, UAE -- Coffee aficionados and industry leaders will converge in Dubai this February at World of Coffee (WOC) Dubai...
- Some of the rarest coffees in the world include Black Ivory from Thailand, which sells for approximately $1,500 per kg.
- The coffee industry has experienced a significant rise in value and demand, with coffee prices reaching a 47-year high.
Business
US stocks mostly rise ahead of expected rate cut, bitcoin hits new record
The Fed is widely expected to cut its key lending rate for a third straight time, reducing it by a...
- Bitcoin hit a new record high at $106,493.43 as it continues to gain support from Donald Trump's backing of cryptocurrencies.
- Investors are turning their attention to Wednesday's US Federal Reserve decision on borrowing costs at its last policy meeting of the year before Trump takes office next month.
Nations step up outreach to Syria’s post-Assad rulers
Governments worldwide are stepping up efforts to engage with Syria's new interim rulers, just over a week after Islamist-led rebels...
- Diplomats have urged an inclusive new administration focused on nation-building and justice
- The interim government insists they will protect the rights of all Syrians, and the rule of law
Geostrategy
Key Libya oil refinery halts operations after clashes: state firm
Tripoli, Libya -- A key oil refinery in western Libya suspended operations after armed clashes erupted early on Sunday, causing fires...
- The Zawiya refinery, built in 1974, is Libya's second largest with a refining capacity of more than 120,000 barrels per day (bpd).
- It is the only refinery supplying the local market with fuel products. Zawiya city is the third largest in Libya's Tripolitania region, after the capital and Misrata.
Business
US Federal Reserve expected to cut rates in last meeting of Biden era
Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce a quarter point cut to its key lending...
- The Fed is also tipped to signal a slower path of cuts going forward amid uncertainty over the impact of President-elect Donald Trump's economic proposals.
- Trump has vowed to tackle the high cost of living, a top concern of voters who sent him back to the White House in November's election.
Cybersecurity in 2024: From talent shortages to resilience against emerging tech risks
In 2024, cybersecurity remained central, addressing skill gaps and the impact of generative AI. A Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework offered...
- Cybersecurity in 2024 focused on talent gaps, emerging tech, and resilience
- Public-private efforts tackled cybercrime and evolving digital threats
West Bank eviction film ‘No Other Land’ wins best documentary Oscar
Jerusalem -- No Other Land, a documentary about Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, has won the best documentary award...
Arts & Culture
Company News
ADNOC L&S buys stake in Navig8
Business
Latest News
PIF completes $7 billion inaugural murabaha credit facility
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Monday announced its first murabaha credit facility for the...
Business
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Business
Saudi PMI falls to 58.4 in Dec as non-oil private sector improves
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The seasonally adjusted Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), formerly S&P Global Saudi Arabia...
- The index has remained above the neutral level (50.0 points) since September 2020.
- Business conditions experienced a marked improvement, propelled by a substantial surge in new orders.
Business
Desert truffles: Saudi Arabia’s buried treasure
The 10-day Qassim Truffle Festival, currently in its fourth year, features 18 booths showcasing truffles, a dedicated auction area and...
- Fertile soil, untouched land, access to fresh water, a suitable climate, and the presence of the Helianthemum plant contribute to growth of desert truffles.
- The Qassim Truffle Festival, currently in its fourth year, is a testament to the region's truffle production.
Geostrategy
Israeli invasion destroys 90% of Gaza livestock, poultry farms
Gaza, Palestinian Territories - The Israeli forces have decimated 90 percent of 2,500 poultry and cattle farms in Gaza during...
- A million turkeys distributed across 150 farms, were culled, in addition to 80 percent of the total domestic poultry population, estimated to be 300,000 birds.
- Israeli forces destroyed 90 percent of the 100 cattle farms, which were breeding 50,000 calves annually, and culled 2,200 cows in 400 farms.