Author: Editorial Team
PARIS — French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s political future remained uncertain on Tuesday after an appeals court cleared her to run for office but wearing an ankle tag, potentially hampering a campaign for next year’s presidential elections when her party has its strongest chance yet of winning power. A lower court last year had sentenced Le Pen, 57, to a five-year ban from public office and a two-year sentence over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament, threatening the three-time presidential candidate’s hopes to replace outgoing centrist President Emmanuel Macron. The court said the misappropriated public funds amounted…
RIYADH — The Saudi government has granted Acwa an exclusive mandate to export green hydrogen and its derivatives produced in the Kingdom to international markets. The company has also been assigned to develop renewable electricity export projects serving Europe and the Arab region. The approval gives Acwa the exclusive right to export Saudi-produced green hydrogen, including green ammonia, green methanol and green fuels, as global demand for low-carbon energy accelerates. Under the mandate, Acwa will also develop projects for the production, transmission and export of renewable electricity to European and Arab markets, supporting regional energy security while expanding the Kingdom’s…
<br Source: Riyadh Daily
Ali Siddiqui, CEO, BMC Helix. Dubai — Montagu, a leading mid-market private equity firm, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in BMC Helix in a carve-out transaction from BMC Software (BMC). Funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, will maintain ownership of BMC, the automation company for the AI era, which will also retain a minority stake in Helix. KKR acquired BMC in 2018 through its twelfth Americas Private Equity fund. Helix is a leading agentic AI ServiceOps platform powering mission-critical service and operations management solutions used by thousands of blue-chip organisations worldwide across financial services, healthcare, insurance, retail,…
ISLAMABAD — At least nine police officers have been killed, and several others are missing, after an attack by gunmen in Pakistan’s south-western Balochistan province, police and local officials have said. The attackers opened fire on police guarding the construction site of a multi-billion rupee dam in the Ziarat district, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Quddus Achakzai said. Two senior officers are among those killed, he added. The assailants also abducted eight police officers, but all were later recovered by security forces, said Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan government. Paramilitary, police and counterterrorism personnel had “successfully carried out the joint…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Council of Economic and Development Affairs said government entities improved their performance in achieving Vision 2030 targets during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the final quarter of 2025. The council held a meeting via videoconference on Tuesday, during which it reviewed the Ministry of Economy and Planning’s monthly report on global economic developments, regional trends and their implications for the Saudi economy. The report highlighted the resilience of the Kingdom’s economy and the adaptability of its logistics sector amid global developments. It also pointed to the positive impact of government policies on economic growth,…
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah has successfully developed and implemented the world’s first protocol of its kind, using an algorithm to accurately estimate the expected stem cell yield from each donor. The protocol enabled stem cell collection to be completed in the first session for 100% of male donors and 94.9% of all donors, while eliminating the need for third and fourth collection sessions altogether. The protocol is designed to limit repeat collection sessions and the risks they can pose to donor safety. Figures from the U.S. National Marrow Donor Program show that repeat sessions raise…
Anthropic recently finalised a 20-year lease agreement with data centre developer TeraWulf which is expected to generate $19 billion in contracted revenue over the initial term. TeraWulf is to provide a purpose-built AI infrastructure campus at its Justified Data site in Hawesville, Kentucky, accommodating approximately 401MW of critical IT load. The campus is to be developed in phases, with initial capacity expected to be online in the second half of 2027 and full capability by early 2028. TeraWulf chair and CEO Paul Prager said the company previously told investors it expected to secure a major customer commitment around the end…
BEIRUT — Christian-majority villages along Lebanon’s southern border have rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that they requested annexation by Israel. Israel, reaffirming their commitment to the Lebanese state and dismissing the remarks as “fabricated and completely detached from reality.” Mayors, clergy and community leaders from villages stretching across Lebanon’s border region told the Anadolu news agency they remain committed to their Lebanese identity, describing Netanyahu’s remarks as an attempt to sow division at a time when residents are struggling with continuing Israeli attacks and a worsening humanitarian crisis. The response came after Netanyahu claimed in a televised interview…
Traveling the world doesn’t have to be expensive. Many destinations offer incredible experiences at surprisingly affordable prices, allowing travelers to enjoy stunning landscapes, rich cultures, and unforgettable adventures without stretching their budgets. From the mountains of Nepal to the beaches of Sri Lanka and the historic streets of Vietnam, these countries prove that memorable travel is possible on almost any budget. Here are five of the best budget-friendly destinations to consider for your next trip. 1. Vietnam Vietnam has long been a favorite destination for budget travelers, thanks to its affordable prices, delicious street food, and extensive transport network. Once…