RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Kingdom’s Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi participated in the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development annual meeting in New York. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The...

AMMAN, JORDAN -The Kingdom’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has emphasized the significance of current and upcoming electrical interconnection initiatives to enhance the system and advance the energy sector. This move will ultimately help position Jordan as a hub for regional energy exchange in all its forms. According to...

The Jazlah plant in Jubail city applies the latest technological advances in a country that first turned to desalination more than a century ago. Projects like Jazlah, the first plant to integrate desalination with solar power on a large scale, are meant to ease the conflict: officials say the panels...

News site G1 said the plane was an 18-passenger EMB-110, a twin-engine turboprop manufactured by Brazilian aircraft-maker Embraer. It was reportedly on its way from the state capital, Manaus, to Barcelos, about a 90-minute flight.

Tehran, Iran-- Iran and Cuba are looking to to set up a joint technology and innovation center to promote cooperation between the two countries’ technological companies. In a meeting held in Havana on Friday, Iran’s Vice-President for Science and Technology Ruhollah Dehqani and Cuba’s Minister of Science, Technology and Environment...

Dubai, UAE--Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has adopted Microsoft Power Platform and its AI-powered tool Copilot to build smart programs and applications to support its operations. The move is part of DEWA’s efforts to utilise the latest global technologies in all areas and benefit from the capabilities of generative...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Kingdom's Ministry of Economy and Planning signed a deal with Alfaisal University to promote economic development and implement awareness programs, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 goals. Under the MoU, the two parties will cooperate to promote economic development, activate academic research, implement awareness programs...

SHARJAH, UAE - The Sharjah Social Security Fund (SSSF) has allowed the possibility of acquiring the service period for insured employees in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. This aligns with the law's objectives and the fund's strategies aimed at enhancing the well-being of employees and providing them with...

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – The total global Jewish population rose to 15.7 million over the last year, while the number of those living in Israel hit 7.2 million, the Jewish Agency said. The agency’s data showed that the global Jewish population grew by some 100,000 over the past year. Israel...

Washington, US--The International Monetary Fund plans to tell China to boost weak domestic consumption, address its troubled real estate sector, and rein in local government debt, problems that are dragging down both Chinese and global growth, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told a media outlet. The Fund will strongly urge...

Washington, United States - Russian Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, on Friday asked the United States to remove sanctions barriers to revive the Black Sea grain initiative.  "Local officials, engaged in myth-making, are once again shifting from a sick head to a healthy one. Russia has repeatedly, primarily at the...

New York, US--The UAE has announced the launch of a new digital response platform that will support disaster-affected countries to quickly and efficiently communicate their humanitarian needs to the international community.The UAE made the announcement during a United Nations Security Council open debate titled “Maintenance of international peace and security:...

Doha, Qatar - The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) revealed the lists of nine works that would be included in the 9th Katara Prize for Arabic Novel. This includes published novels, unpublished novels, young adult unpublished novels and unpublished critical studies, with a total reaching 36 novels and critical studies, Qatar...

DUBAI, UAE - The UAE and China's Hainan Province have signed four major private-sector agreements aimed at boosting the rapidly expanding bilateral trade and investment ties. The signing ceremony took place during the Hainan Promotion Conference in Dubai, and was attended by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of...

London, United Kingdom - Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists he is not worried about the potential for renewed Saudi Arabian interest in Mohamed Salah when the January transfer window opens. Salah was reportedly the subject of a £150 million ($185 million) bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad before the Premier...

HANOI, VIETNAM  - A delegation of 80 Saudi businessmen, representing over 50 companies, and representatives from national specialized bodies and centers visited Zamil Steel Building Vietnam Co. (ZSBVC) here. The visit aims to explore investment opportunities, enhance trade, investment and industrial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. During the visit,...

TEHRAN, IRAN  – The foreign minister of Qatar said the procedures for the transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to Qatari banks will be finalized within the next week. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani made the comments in a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian...

Beijing, China - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Friday unveiled its decision to trim the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for financial institutions by 0.25 percentage points, effective immediately. Notably, institutions already operating with a 5% RRR are exempted from this change. The move marks the second significant RRR...

Copenhagen, Denmark - Danish shipping giant Maersk on Thursday launched the world's first container ship running on bio-methanol, a key step in its effort to lower its huge carbon footprint. Maersk, which sold its oil division to TotalEnergies in 2017, has set out a target to become carbon neutral by 2040....

BEIJING, CHINA – Chairman of China’s National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held talks in Beijing with the speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saqr Ghubash. Zhao said that under the two countries' leaders, China and the UAE have continuously consolidated their...

"We condemn the decision of the Tunisian authorities to refuse entry for the delegation," the delegation, made up of five MEPs, said in a statement. "This conduct is unprecedented since (Tunisia's) democratic revolution in 2011", it said.

Dubai, UAE - Emirates NBD made an investment in Erguvan, a climate and financial technology venture aimed at providing financial institutions and corporations with digital infrastructure, enabling them to manage the impacts and risks of climate change. The investment was made via Deniz Ventures, an investment fund launched by DenizBank...

BEIRUT, LEBANON – The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers has called for diversified business models to facilitate the growing economic ties between Arab countries and China. In an interview ahead of the sixth China-Arab States Expo, which is scheduled to take place from September 21 to 24...

TEHRAN, IRAN - Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi has said that relations between the two countries will be strong in all areas, including trade, economy and investment. Speaking to IRNA in Tehran, the Saudi envoy expressed satisfaction with the start of a new chapter in his...

Dubai, UAE - Online sales of beauty products in the MENA region experienced significant growth, surpassing global trends In the first half of 2023.  According to a press release from Admitad, a partner network, global sales in the beauty and self-care industry increased by more than 15% during this period....

Baghdad, Iraq-- The UAE and Iraq have held discussions to boost economic, investment, educational, cultural, agricultural, food, technological, and energy cooperation. The discussions were held in the tenth session of the UAE-Iraq Joint Committee in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, co-chaired by Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, UAE Minister of State, and...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) intends to deepen the process of dialogue with the international community in order to achieve achieve global security and stability, and resolve all conflicts through peaceful means. This was stated by the GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi while participating in the...

Washington, United States - Consumer inflation in the United States picked up in August for a second straight month, according to government data released Wednesday, putting the heat on policymakers as they work to lower prices. The consumer price index (CPI), a key inflation gauge, jumped 3.7 percent from a year...

Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific consensus on climate change. "I believe we need a similar body for AI –- on the risks and its benefits for humanity. Yes, with scientists, but also tech companies and...

Beijing, China--China on Wednesday denied there was any ban on officials purchasing or using foreign phones, including iPhones, after reports said Beijing was prohibiting civil servants from using Apple handsets. "China has not issued any laws, regulations, and policy documents prohibiting the purchase and use of foreign brand smartphones, including iPhone,"...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- Looking to exchange expertise and explore potential synergies in hydrogen and carbon trading, an industry workshop was organized under the Emirati-German Energy and Climate Partnership. The workshop was organized by the UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate...

Vienna, Austria--The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has confirmed that the UAE's economy grew by 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2023. In its September 2023 report, OPEC said it expects the UAE's economic expansion to continue, noting that key sectors of the country's economy have seen...

Geneva, Switzerland - The World Food Program said Tuesday that shrinking funding was forcing it to drastically slash rations in many operations, warning that 24 million more people risked being pushed to the brink of starvation. The United Nations agency said it had been struggling to meet growing global needs for...

AJMAN, UAE- The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has revealed that in the first half of 2023, at least 3,567 new members joined it.   The growth pace of the industrial sector in Ajman is accelerating as a result of the leadership's interest in the field, the availability...

Oslo Accords were meant to lead to a free Palestine, but years of stalled negotiations and violence have left any peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict a distant dream. Gaza, a narrow coastal enclave, is now home to some 2.3 million people, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Venture Capital (SVC) has made a $5 million investment in a fintech fund managed by VentureSouq (VSQ), primarily targeting early-stage fintech startups. The SVC, established in 2018, is a government investment company and a subsidiary of the SME Bank, one of the development banks affiliated...

New Delhi, India - The Small and Medium Enterprises Bank (SMEB) of Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).  SMEB acting CEO Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Mansour and SIDBI Deputy Managing Director Sudatta Mandal attended the signing ceremony in the Indian capital,...

Tehran, Iran-- Iran and Russia are looking to build a research spacecraft within two years and in this connection top universities from Iran and Russia have signed an agreement. In an interview with Tasnim news agency, the president of the University of Tehran said the academic center has recently signed...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu discussed opportunities for further bilateral collaboration in areas that serve both countries’ sustainable economic growth, including the economic, development, energy, and climate action fields in a meeting in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hope...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The second pilot of a helicopter that crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has been found dead, authorities said Monday, days after he was declared missing. A first pilot was confirmed dead on Friday after the Bell 212 helicopter went down the night before...

New Delhi, India--Brazil's leader withdrew on Monday his personal assurance that Russia President Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he attends next year's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, saying it would be up to the judiciary to decide. Putin missed this year's gathering in the Indian capital New...

Doha, Qatar - Qatar Tourism has appointed Olympic and World champion, Mutaz Barshim, as its newest brand ambassador. Barshim, who recently set a world record as the only high jump athlete to win five World Championship medals, will be the new face of Qatar Tourism’s campaigns up to September 2024....

Tehran, Iran--Iran’s oil exports to China hit an all-time record in August despite continued US pressure on the country, according to data from a major international energy data company. The Sunday report by Fars news agency said Iran’s oil exports to China had reached an average of 1.5 million barrels...

Manama, Bahrain--GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi has emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in ensuring a sustainable and resilient Gulf economy. Al-Budaiwi made these remarks during his speech at the 62nd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Chambers, hosted by Bahrain. The meeting was chaired by...

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Board of Executive Directors (BED) of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved to finance projects worth US$800 million for improving the living conditions of the people in member countries and attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IsDB President Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser said that the projects were...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA:   The supervisor of the Kingdom's first social network Jaco - Saudi entrepreneur Fahd Al-Shidi announced that the team is working to reach five million users soon. He added that Jaco's attraction of over one million users in the coming two months from other networks, including well-known names,...

More bad news for the wind energy sector, which is at the heart of the UK's plan to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2050, arrived this week when the government's auction of permits to build offshore wind farms failed due to a lack of takers. Russia's invasion of...

US president Ronald Reagan's administration opens dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1988 after its exiled leader Yasser Arafat agrees to recognize Israel's right to exist. Three years later, in late 1991, Washington and Moscow co-organize an Israeli-Arab peace conference in Spain.

The army and the RSF have denied any ill-treatment of those they have captured, stating repeatedly that their troops act in accordance with humanitarian standards. On Monday, the army said it had "contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross" to "hand over thirty under-aged members" of the RSF captured...

Sidon, Lebanon--Three fighters and a civilian were killed Saturday in clashes at a south Lebanon Palestinian camp, official media reported, as Prime Minister Najib Mikati rebuked Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas over the spiraling violence. Renewed fighting broke out late Thursday in Ain al-Helweh refugee camp on the outskirts of the coastal...