CAPITALS, 24th October, 2026 (WAM) — Gold prices edged higher on Friday after hitting their lowest level in more than three months, but remained on course for a second consecutive weekly loss. Spot gold rose 0.2 percent to US$4,030.67 per ounce, having touched US$3,986.50 earlier in the session. US gold futures for December delivery, meanwhile, fell 0.3 percent to US$4,046.40 per ounce. Among other precious metals, silver declined 1.3 percent to US$53.81 per ounce, platinum slipped 0.9 percent to US$1,557.03, and palladium shed 0.4 percent to US$1,050.50. Source: Emirates News Agency
Author: Editorial Team
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi said on Friday that no US troops remain in Iraq, including military advisers, and pledged to bring all weapons under state control by June 30, 2027. Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Zaidi said the complete withdrawal of foreign forces had eliminated the justification previously used by armed factions to retain their weapons. He stressed that the government’s decision to restrict weapons to state institutions was final and irreversible. “By June 30, 2027, there will be no weapons outside the framework of the state,” he said. Al-Zaidi revealed that the government…
In an interview with the Decoder podcast published Thursday, Gates, 70, said the transition toward an AI-driven economy would create winners and losers, potentially reshaping labor markets and raising fundamental questions about the role of humans in society. “My big concern is this 20-year transition period, where they’ll have winners and losers and a lot of disruption,” Gates said, warning that societies would have to navigate significant upheaval before potentially entering an era of greater abundance. He emphasized that the 20-year timeframe was an estimate rather than a firm prediction, acknowledging that the transition could unfold more quickly or slowly…
PNY Technologies recently announced its participation in the Dubai AI Festival, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on October 26–27. PNY is hosting the space alongside regional partners Infiniarc and Kerno to run its heaviest enterprise infrastructure live. The display will feature two systems configured for server and workstation environments: PNY NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition, integrated into a server system presented with Kerno. A professional AI workstation powered by NVIDIA RTX PRO GPU, presented with Infiniarc. The showcase provides a practical view of PNY’s professional GPU technology in operation and the raw performance available for…
PARIS — The mayor of the French city of Orleans announced Saturday a two-night curfew for children under 15 as authorities prepare for mass protests against the far-right National Rally party’s congress. Mayor Serge Grouard said the curfew would apply across the municipality from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday nights, according to French broadcaster BFMTV. In a statement, Grouard said the preventive measure was intended to maintain public order, reduce the risk of unrest and ensure public safety during the planned demonstrations. Thousands of protesters are expected to gather in Orleans to oppose the National Rally…
ATHENS, 24th October, 2026 (WAM) — Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar has signed an agreement to acquire and develop one of Greece’s largest solar projects, strengthening the country’s clean energy infrastructure and supporting its ambitions as a European digital hub, while deepening the strategic partnership between the UAE and Greece. The agreement was announced as the two countries mark over 50 years of diplomatic relations and seek to expand cooperation across energy, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology. As AI, cloud computing, and digital industries drive rising electricity demand, access to affordable, reliable energy is becoming increasingly…
Mohamad Jomaa, CEO and Country Manager for GCC and Egypt at Coface. Coface has released its latest global Risk Review, revealing a multi-speed global economy contending with renewed inflationary pressures, elevated commodity prices, and tightening monetary conditions. Against a backdrop where geopolitical developments have shaved an estimated 0.5 percentage points off global growth, moderating worldwide economic activity to 2.5% in 2026 before stabilising at 2.6% in 2027. GCC economies continue to demonstrate resilience through active trade flow rerouting and sustained non-oil momentum. In its quarterly review, Coface carried out four country upgrades and three regional reassessments, alongside 20 sector adjustments…
TAIPEI — More than 146,000 households across Taiwan experienced power outages as Typhoon Champi battered the island with strong winds and heavy rainfall, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured, local media reported Saturday. Electricity had been restored to more than 122,000 households by Friday night, while repair crews resumed operations early Saturday in parts of New Taipei and the northern port city of Keelung, where powerful gusts continued overnight, according to Focus Taiwan. Authorities deployed 15 additional repair teams from five regional offices in central and southern Taiwan to accelerate power restoration in the hardest-hit northern areas.…
WASHINGTON, 24th October, 2026 (WAM) — US President Donald Trump signed an order on Friday to remove 50 percent tariffs on some Canadian agricultural and forestry products in a move that could benefit companies from the northern state. President Trump’s order exempted plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, and packing crates and boxes, as well as fresh and dried seaweed, the White House said. The changes will take effect on 30th October. The US President imposed the 50 percent tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports in August. Source: Emirates News Agency
RIYADH — The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) recorded 996 seizures of prohibited goods at land, sea and air customs ports as part of its ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and protect public security. The seized items included 25 categories of narcotics, including hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Captagon pills and other illegal drugs, in addition to 219 categories of prohibited substances and goods. Customs authorities also thwarted attempts to smuggle 759 categories of tobacco and tobacco products, along with 11 categories involving cash. ZATCA reaffirmed its commitment to tightening customs controls over the Kingdom’s imports and exports to safeguard…