Singapore AI teddy back on sale after recall over sex chat scare
Singapore, Singapore -- A plushy, AI-enabled teddy bear recalled after its chatbot was found to engage in sexually explicit conversations...
Business
GCC countries attract $523.4bn in foreign investment in 2023
Muscat, Oman -- The GCC countries have seen a steady rise in foreign investment, according to data from the Statistical...
Business
Geostrategy
Iran president to travel to Saudi Arabia for Gaza summit
The upcoming summit is being organised by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a 57-member bloc of majority Muslim countries....
- The summit will take place one day after an emergency meeting of Arab League leaders on the war to be held in Riyadh
- Raisi and Mohammed bin Salman held their first phone call on October, both voicing support for the Palestinian cause
Business
Ajman DED reports 11% increase in economic licenses issued in Q3
Ajman, UAE-- The Department of Economic Development in Ajman (Ajman DED) has reported an 11 percent growth in the total...
- According to Ajman DED, there were 1,428 licenses issued with most of the recipients hailing from the UAE, India and Pakistan
- The report noted that licenses of the "Taziz" program for SME development and "Reyada" licenses for practicing home activities grew by 9% each
Economy
Qatar leads by example in money laundering control
"Nations must take action to establish measures for detecting the physical cross-border movement of currency and negotiable instruments to combat...
- MENAFATF Executive Secretary Suliman bin Rashid Al Jabrin lauds Qatar's adherence to global anti-money laundering standards.
- Highlighting the FATF's goals to block terrorists' cross-border funding, Al Jabrin urges strong measures against currency smuggling.
Business
SCC 9M net profit $73m
The company's revenues increased by 9 percent during this period.
- Gross income rose by 17.3 percent to SAR 435.30 million. Operating income increased by 11.8 percent to SAR 278.20 million.
- The surge in profits was primarily driven by higher sales revenue, resulting from increased total sales value and volumes, as well as other revenue streams.
Economy
No-oil trade between UAE, Jordan reached $4.5 bn in 2022
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The non-oil trade volume between the UAE and Jordan has reached AED16.5 billion ($4.5 billion) in...
- The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has contributed to financing numerous development projects in Jordan
- The fund, with an allocation of $10 billion, is geared to propel industrial development in the region and diversify economies
Business
Intrinsic values, futuristic strategies elevate Dubai
Dubai's evolution from a simple fishing village to a premier global tourist hub is credited to its innate advantages, deliberate...
Business
Mashreq’s net profit surges 122%
The Return on Equity also achieved a record high, reaching 32.1%.
- The ROE also achieved a record high, reaching 32.1% during the same period, doubling compared to the performance in the first nine months of 2022
- The bank's non-interest income reached $626 million, marking an 8.1% year-on-year growth in the first three quarters of 2023
Economy
Saudi, Malaysia bilateral trade rose 160% in 2022
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia rose 160% in 2022 compared to 2021, revealed the...
- The two countries decided to strengthen the existing cooperation in the supply of crude oil and its derivatives
- The Saudi side reaffirmed that the Kingdom will continue to be Malaysia's largest partner for crude oil supplies
Business
KSA builds on MENA construction with $44bn contracts
Despite global economic challenges, the region showcased resilience in the first half of 2023, backed by a robust performance in...
- Despite global economic challenges, the region showcased resilience in the first half of 2023, backed by a robust performance in the construction sector
- Future projections indicate growth, with Egypt's construction market expected to expand and Saudi's diversification efforts fueling further development
Economy
‘Qatar prioritizes fiscal control to sustain growth’
"Factors such as robust fiscal discipline supported by strong oil prices, debt reduction efforts by the Ministry of Finance, and...
- Qatar readies for an energy transition, prioritizing savings for intergenerational equity and steering clear of pro-cyclical fiscal policies to ensure financial stability
- Robust fiscal discipline backed by strong oil prices, debt reduction efforts , and improved macroeconomic indicators lead to positive sovereign credit ratings for Qatar
Singapore AI teddy back on sale after recall over sex chat scare
Singapore, Singapore -- A plushy, AI-enabled teddy bear recalled after its chatbot was found to engage in sexually explicit conversations...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Talabat IPO offer price range announced
The subscription will close on 27 Nov for UAE retail investors.
Business
Hamas negotiators ‘not in Doha’ but political office not closed: Qatar
Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, had led months of fruitless negotiations for a truce in the Gaza...
Geostrategy
US envoy in Beirut says ‘real opportunity’ to end Israel-Hezbollah war
US special envoy said he was in Beirut because he saw "real opportunity" to end the Israel-Hezbollah war
Geostrategy

Most Read
Economy
Egypt’s middle class cuts costs as IMF-backed reforms take hold
Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt's economy has been in crisis for years, but as the latest round of International Monetary Fund-backed reforms...
- The world lender has long backed measures in Egypt including a liberal currency exchange market and weaning the public away from subsidies.
- Foreign debt quadrupled since 2015 to register $160.6 billion in the first quarter of 2024. Much of the debt is the result of financing for large-scale projects.
Arts & Culture
Magritte’s ‘Empire of Light’ to fetch nearly $100m at New York auction
New York, United States -- With a Magritte painting estimated to sell for nearly $100 million, drawings by pop artist Keith...
- The seminal 1954 work is one of a series of paintings from the Surrealist master depicting the interplay of shadow and light.
- Its estimated price is $95 million, which would easily shatter the previous record for a Magritte, $79 million in 2022.
Geostrategy
End of a love affair: news media quit X over ‘disinformation’
Paris, France -- News outlets have begun quitting X, formerly Twitter, once a favorite of global media but now accused of...
- Sweden's newspaper of reference, the left-liberal Dagens Nyheter (DN), on Friday became third major media outlet to stop publishing its articles on X.
- "Since Elon Musk took over, the platform has increasingly merged with his and Donald Trump's political ambitions," said editor-in-chief Peter Wolodarski.

