Author: Editorial Team

The commerce sector achieved significant milestones in 2025, as detailed in the Saudi Vision 2030 annual report. The Kingdom secured the 17th position globally in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, a result of over 1,000 economic, procedural, and technological reforms implemented through the Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center in partnership with 65 government entities. These efforts have streamlined the regulatory environment and successfully stimulated broad economic activity. Economic indicators for 2025 exceeded expectations, with the private sector’s contribution to GDP reaching 51%, a 4% increase over the previous year. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) contributed 22.9%, growing at a rate of…

GCG Enterprise Solutions, a Ghobash Group enterprise and a trusted enterprise technology partner in the UAE for more than four decades, has announced the appointment of Simon Howells as its new General Manager. The appointment builds on the company’s 40+ year legacy as a leading Managed Print Services provider while accelerating its expansion into a broader portfolio of Enterprise Information Management, Digital Transformation, and Interactive Smart Solutions across the UAE. Under Howells’ leadership, the company is building on its strong position in the Print Services market, with a sharpened strategic focus on Digital Services, including workflow automation, application modernization, and…

JAKARTA — Rescuers are racing to free people trapped inside a train involved in a fatal collision outside the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Monday. At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in the accident which took place when a stationary passenger train was hit from behind by a long-distance commuter train running on the same track, the train operator said on Tuesday, as rescuers worked to extract survivors still trapped in the wreckage. The collision happened late on Monday in Bekasi, just outside Jakarta. Local media ran footage of passengers on medical trolleys near Bekasi Timur Station, with…

LONDON — Maritime authorities are warning of an increased threat to ships off the coast of Somalia after a cargo ship became the latest vessel to be seized in a suspected act of piracy. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warning late Sunday, the incident occurred about six nautical miles northeast of Garacad. A third-party report said unauthorized individuals had taken control of the cargo vessel and redirected it to Somali territorial waters. The warning followed a separate hijacking advisory issued by the UKMTO on Saturday involving a tanker seized off Somali waters. At least four vessels have…

What began as a temporary favour in a small studio apartment has turned into one of the UAE’s most heartwarming pet stories. Pluto, a rescue dog who was once passed between homes and later left in a boarding facility, has become the first pet in the UAE to win a Mercedes-Benz, after being selected in a campaign run by Shory. But for many animal lovers, the real prize is the life Pluto built after finally finding a family. His owner, Andrea Petrovic, said adopting a dog was never part of the original plan. She and her husband were juggling demanding…

OMODA & JAECOO has announced a major global milestone at the 19th Beijing International Auto Show, with cumulative sales surpassing 1 million units in just three years since its global debut. Marking the brand’s third anniversary, this achievement positions OMODA & JAECOO among the fastest-growing automotive brands worldwide. At Auto Show 2026, the company further underlined its innovation-led approach with the global showcase of the OMODA 4 and OMODA 7, highlighting a strong product pipeline and reinforcing its positioning as a youth-focused, technology-driven brand gaining traction across key markets, including the UAE. Within a short span of operations in the…

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held telephone calls with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdel-Aty. During these calls, they discussed the latest regional developments and joint efforts to establish security and support stability in the region. Source: Riyadh Daily

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has reached approximately 64 gigawatts (GW) in total renewable energy project capacity launched to date, according to figures released by the Ministry of Energy. In addition, the Ministry revealed that 20.6 GW of projects were launched in 2025 alone. In terms of operational capacity, 12.3 GW of renewable energy projects are currently connected to the national electricity grid. Energy storage is also expanding, with 30 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery storage project capacity launched, including 8 GWh already linked to the electrical grid. The figures underscore Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to diversify its energy mix, enhance grid…

MOSCOW — US President Donald Trump plans to meet on Monday with key national security advisors as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed Washington for the failure of talks this month in the Pakistani capital aimed at reaching a deal to end the war that has engulfed the Middle East and strangled the global economy. Iran’s top diplomat made the remarks after landing in Russia where he is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putinas part of a whirlwind diplomatic tour. In a sign that backchannel efforts were ongoing, the Fars news agency said Iran had passed “written messages”…

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Masam Project for clearing mines in Yemen removed 1,273 mines during the fourth week of April across various regions of the country, including 105 anti-tank mines, 3 anti-personnel mines, 1,157 unexploded ordnance items, and 8 improvised explosive devices. This brings the total number of mines removed during April so far to 5,818, and to 557,007 since the launch of the Masam Project, which targets mines planted indiscriminately across Yemeni territories, posing a threat to civilians, including children, women, and the elderly. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues, through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, its efforts…