Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — The World Bank expected the Saudi economy to register strong growth of 7.9 percent in 2027, raising its forecast by about 3 percentage points from its April projection of 4.9 percent growth. Conversely, the bank has lowered its forecast for the Saudi economy in 2026, projecting a 2 percent contraction in real GDP, compared with its April forecast of 3.1 percent growth — a difference of 5.1 percentage points. According to the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Economic update, Saudi Arabia has benefited from the East-West pipeline, which has enabled it to redirect its exports to…
e&, the UAE operator group, has recently reverted to its branding to the original of Etisalat, a name it stated reflects its heritage, strategy and ambitions for the AI era. The company said it was making the name change to mark its 50th anniversary, explaining the original Etisalat name means “connection” which has guided “what we build and the role we play”. It rebranded from Etisalat to e& in February 2022, stating at the time the new identity was designed to reflect its ambitions to push from a traditional telecoms company into a global technology and investment conglomerate. However, the company…
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the Houthi terrorist militia’s continued targeting of civilians and civilian and economic assets in Saudi Arabia, as well as the targeting of Saudi ships in the southern Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that such continued targeting constitutes a flagrant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability. The ministry affirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for all measures taken to safeguard…
Understanding how water, electrolytes and carbohydrates work together can help support hydration before, during and after exercise Published: Wed 7 Oct 2026, 4:14 PM As more people head outdoors to run, play sport or return to the gym, hydration deserves a place in every exercise plan. Dehydration can affect concentration and performance, and in hot conditions it can become dangerous. The key is not to wait until you feel very thirsty. Drink before exercise, take regular drinks while you are active, and continue drinking afterwards. Sweat takes away more than water When you sweat, your body loses water. It also…
TEHRAN — A group of hardline Iranian MPs has filed an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over his talks with US officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last month. The MPs behind the motion, led by Amirhossein Sabeti of the hardline Paydari Front, argue that Araghchi’s meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff on 22 September was conducted without authorisation from Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei or coordination with the Supreme National Security Council. Member of parliament’s presiding board Mohammad Rashidi confirmed on Tuesday that the request had been registered in the parliamentary system but…
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its ambitions around food security, industrial development, and becoming a global halal hub under Vision 2030, food companies are increasingly being recognized as long-term strategic partners in national transformation. Against this backdrop, MBRF Global Foods Company and Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), completed a landmark transaction earlier this year to establish Sadia Halal— one of the largest global multi-protein companies within the halal food sector, and one of the world’s largest halal food businesses. In this interview, Marquinhos Molina, Chairman of Sadia Halal, discusses the strategic…
TEL AVIV — Israelis gathered in a moment of silence on Wednesday to mark three years since the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023, which a UN inquiry confirmed killed 1,200 people and saw 252 taken hostage. In southern Israel, families mourned at road junctions, bomb shelters and the site of the Nova music festival, all places overrun by militants in the deadliest attack against Israel. It is the first anniversary on which all the hostages that survived have returned home, bringing a new phase of mourning. Among those marking the day was Elkana Bohbot, 37, who was abducted from…
New research by Omdia highlights how, a majority of businesses are prioritising edge computing in IoT deployments. The company went on to speculate that the approach now at a tipping point in terms of delivering tangible benefits. Principal analyst for IoT John Canali said enterprises’ focus on edge computing is being fuelled by growing interest in using AI and machine learning in their IoT deployments. He said many are “considering how to adapt their architectures” to enable processing at the edge, as companies seek to improve security, and lower “transmission costs” and latency. Omdia quizzed 570 executives with organisations across…
STRASBOURG — French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan has removed an Israeli flag inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg. She said her action was a direct protest against the ongoing genocide in Gaza, breaches of international law, and institutional “double standards”. The incident occurred on Monday during an unofficial event organized alongside the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The “unofficial event was organized with the diplomatic representation of the State of Israel and the AJC, which has been called out for its promotion of colonization through trips by European deputies to the occupied territories,” Hassan wrote on social media…
The Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group today launched the IsDB Group–Brunei Darussalam Country Engagement Framework 2026–2028, the first strategic country framework between the two sides. The framework opens a new chapter in the longstanding partnership between Brunei Darussalam and the IsDB Group, creating a structured platform to translate shared development priorities into concrete initiatives. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Chairman of the IsDB Group Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser said: “Today, we are not simply launching a strategic document. We are opening a new phase of our partnership. This framework transforms shared priorities into a shared agenda…