The organization’s Trade and Development Report 2024 warned that this new “low normal" growth is insufficient to tackle pressing development and climate goals or help ease widespread discontent amidst a global cost-of-living crisis that has left many households in vulnerable positions.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Two falcons were sold for a combined total of $81,300 (SAR305,000 ) on the tenth night of the Saudi Falcons Club Auction 2024, held at the club's headquarters in Malham and running through November 15. The auction began with a Shaheen falcon from Al-Shuaibah. Owned by...

Los Angeles, United States - Tom Hanks has praised the "amazing" use of artificial intelligence to de-age him "in real time" on the set of new movie "Here," even as he accepted that the technology is causing huge concern in Hollywood. "Here," out in theaters Friday, stars Hanks and Robin Wright...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE has witnessed a 37% increase in greenfield investments in 2023 to reach US$16 billion, driven mainly by business services and software and IT Services, which created a significant number of jobs and attracted substantial capital, said Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Hawi, Under-Secretary of the...

Araghchi said the "necessary measures" were taken when the attack unfolded, adding that he had been in contact with military officials and that "messages were also exchanged with different parties" whom he did not name. The foreign minister emphasised in his remarks that the Islamic republic has the "right to...

Tokyo, Japan - Oil prices tumbled in early Asian trading Monday with dealers relieved that Israeli strikes carried out Saturday against military targets in Iran had spared the country's oil installations. The price of North Sea Brent for delivery in December fell by 4.05 percent to $72.97, while West Texas Intermediate...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's planned futuristic mega-city known as NEOM announced on Sunday the opening of its "first physical showcase": a luxury Red Sea island featuring restaurants, hotels and yachting berths. The opening of the island, known as Sindalah, comes amid persistent doubts about NEOM's viability and ahead of...

Iran unlikely to escalate situation with Israel, say experts, as UN chief says destruction in Gaza is "shocking". Netanyahu faces opposition to his policies as relatives of Israeli hostages interrupt his speech.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's football body said it was ending the contract of national coach Roberto Mancini after 14 months in the job on Thursday, following a run of poor results. The Saudi Football Federation has reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract of Mancini, 59, who signed...

The head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, will head to Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, the Israeli prime minister's office said, to attend talks with US and Qatari officials. The apparent resumption of the long-stalled truce negotiations come with Israel under pressure to end its wars with Iran-backed...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Frustrated with the dwindling prospect of reaching a ceasefire deal in the year-long Gaza war, some Israeli entrepreneurs have sought a different avenue to release hostages -- offering a financial reward for those who choose to free them. Former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum told AFP Monday he had...

San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Monday said it was enhancing its AI offerings with new autonomous agent capabilities as the tech titan aims to accelerate business adoption of artificial intelligence. AI agents are specialized programs designed to perform routine tasks autonomously, such as sifting through sales leads or handling...

Beijing, China - China's central bank on Monday said it had cut two key interest rates to historic lows, in the latest move by Beijing to boost sluggish spending and kickstart the world's second-largest economy. The cuts come just days after the country posted its slowest quarterly growth in a year...

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral ties and Middle East. Sheikh Mohamed will also attend BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan.

UN experts said recently that Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank are facing "the most dangerous olive season ever".

Paris, France - The world's pledges to halt humankind's destruction of nature will be put to the test when the 16th UN conference on biodiversity opens Monday in Colombia. The COP16, held in the city of Cali through November 1, is the first meeting of the international community since the adoption...

As Israel continues to pound Gaza, Lebanon, and West Bank, Turkey's Erdogan conveys his condolences to Hamas officials over Sinwar's death and in a rare gesture Lebanon's caretaker PM Mikati rebukes Iran.

Hong Kong, China - Gold prices hit a record high above $2,700 on Friday as traders piled into the safe-haven commodity at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, including in the Middle East after Israel said it killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. Bullion hit an all-time high of $2,704.89 in early...

San Francisco, United States - Netflix on Thursday said it added more than five million subscribers in the recently ended quarter but signaled slowing growth. The streaming juggernaut said it ended September with 282.7 million subscribers, reporting a profit of $2.4 billion on revenue that jumped 15 percent compared with the...

Over 500 experts gathered at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2024 in Dubai to address the world’s most pressing issues related to economic inequality, climate emergency and geopolitical tensions.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- More than 65 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding worth SAR 16 billion were signed at the inaugural edition of the Global Logistics Forum 2024 that was held in Riyadh from October 12 to 14. The forum, inaugurated by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser,...

More than 500 experts are expected to attend the meeting. Amid a rapidly shifting global landscape of geopolitical tensions, climate emergency and economic inequality, the meeting will provide a crucial space for collaborative, innovative thinking.

srael's military launched strikes Tuesday on eastern Lebanon, as Hezbollah fought Israeli soldiers after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed no mercy for the militant group saying "We will continue to mercilessly strike Hezbollah in all parts of Lebanon"

Paris, France - For supporters, biodiversity credits could unlock billions in much-needed funding for nature, but critics fear a repeat of scandals that have dogged other financial approaches to protecting the environment. Paying to safeguard tropical rainforests or compensate for habitat destruction is an area of growing interest, and trading credits...

According to the organization's October report, the total world oil demand is anticipated to reach 105.6 mb/d in 4Q-24, to average 104.1 mb/d in 2024, bolstered by strong air travel demand and road mobility, including trucking, as well as healthy industrial, construction and agricultural activities, primarily in non-OECD countries, added...

The plan is part of a series of actions undertaken by Beijing to draw a line under a years-long property sector crisis and chronically low consumption that has plagued the world's second biggest economy.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- A signing ceremony for Riyadh Season 2024 sponsorships was held on Thursday at Via Riyadh. General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Chairman Turki bin Abdulmohsen AlalShikh and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb signed a sponsorship agreement with the Saudi Tourism Authority as an official partner of the season. AlalShikh...

"Israel has perpetrated a concerted policy to destroy Gaza's healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza," the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia and Iran hold discussions on bilateral and regional issues, especially on peace efforts in Lebanon and Gaza. Also, Hezbollah says it agreed for a ceasefire a day before Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli attacks, but the Israeli regime declined.

Washington, United States - A US scientist who won the 2024 Nobel physics prize for his pioneering work on artificial intelligence said Tuesday he found recent advances in the technology "very unnerving" and warned of possible catastrophe if not kept in check. John Hopfield, a professor emeritus at Princeton, joined co-winner...

Tunis, Tunisia - Kais Saied has been re-elected president of Tunisia with 90.69 percent of votes cast, electoral authority ISIE said Monday, although low turnout reflected widespread discontent in the cradle of the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings. Three years after Saied made a sweeping power grab, rights groups fear his re-election...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- US casino operator Wynn has received the first commercial gaming operator's license to be issued in the United Arab Emirates where gambling is currently banned. The license was issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, which was set up last year to allow for commercial...

Gotemba, Japan -- The Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), the Masters Tournament and The R&A has announced that the 16th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be contested at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), 23-26 October 2025. The Championship will return to Dubai and the Middle East...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE Ministry of Investment (MoI) announced today its support and key role in the advancement of the Ras El Hekma project and the participation of Emirati companies in its expansion and growth plan. This project is one of Egypt’s most ambitious coastal city developments. Located...

Ayatollah's rare address in Arabic follows Iran's second-ever direct attack on Israel; rallies held in Jordan and Bahrain in support of Hamas, Hezbollah.

Jerusalem, Undefined - Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a former general who has shaped Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, is a prominent force behind the expansion of the nearly year-long military campaign into Lebanon. The hawkish politician, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party who at times clashed with him...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the seventh edition of the Global Health Forum under the theme "Invest in Health" from October 21 to 23 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham. The event will bring together more than 1,200 international and local companies...

Rome, Italy -- The G7 on Wednesday vowed to work together to reduce tensions in the Middle East and said a diplomatic solution to prevent widening conflict "is still possible". Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni -- whose country holds the G7 presidency this year -- called a telephone meeting of the...

San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Tuesday doubled down on deploying artificial intelligence to consumers, releasing an updated version of its Copilot chatbot that can hold voice conversations and interpret images. "Copilot will be there for you, in your corner, by your side and always strongly aligned with your interests,"...

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi's GDP increased by 4.1 percent during the second quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, according to the preliminary estimates revealed by the Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD). SCAD data said Abu Dhabi's GDP continued to record growth in total...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Riyadh is currently hosting the third Seasonal Dates Exhibition, a major economic, social, and tourist event. Organized by the National Company for Agricultural Services, the exhibition is being held at Al-Rabwa Markets in the Al-Rabwa neighborhood, east of Riyadh, and will continue daily until the end...

Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025. Estimates put total government revenues for 2025 at approximately US$320 billion, which would create a deficit of US$27bn.

Israeli forces have launched limited incursions in Lebanon, the United States said on Monday, while Lebanon's national army, dwarfed by Hezbollah's military power, was "repositioning" troops farther from the border, said a military official.

Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Net investments by foreigners and institutions in UAE equities amounted to AED 18.3 billion ($4.9 billion) as a result of purchases during the first nine months of this year, distributed by AED 15.6 billion in the Abu Dhabi market and AED 2.64 billion in the Dubai...

Nicosia, Cyprus - Israel and Lebanon's Shiite Muslim movement Hezbollah, whose leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli air strike on a Beirut suburb, have been sworn enemies for decades. Here is a history of their long conflict: 1982: Israel invades Lebanon; birth of Hezbollah Hezbollah -- the "Party of...

Doha, Qatar - Qatar has emerged as the leading player in the Middle East tourism sector, boasting an impressive 147% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, as reported by UN Tourism. This growth positions Qatar ahead of its regional competitors, with Saudi...

Israeli fighter jets pounded parts of Lebanon and a drone attacked a Sunni neighborhood in central Beirut killing dozens across Lebanon and injuring more than 500 people. Saudi Arabia expresses "great concern".

The World Food Program says it had launched an emergency operation to provide meals for one million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon, calling on the international community to mobilize US$105 million to fund the operation.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's tourism sector, particularly the leisure and holiday segments, witnessed substantial growth in 2024.In a statement marking World Tourism Day, observed every year on September 27, the ministry said that the Kingdom welcomed 17.5 million international tourists between January and July 2024, a 10 percent...

Widely seen as the most powerful man in Lebanon before his death of Friday, Nasrallah was the face of Hezbollah and Israel's arch-nemesis for more than 30 years.