DOHA — Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron with full state honours as he began his two-day state visit to the Gulf nation on Tuesday. After the official welcome ceremony, the two leaders met at Lusail Palace to discuss strengthening strategic ties between France and Qatar, including energy security, defence and regional stability, as well as investments and cooperation in multiple fields. Macron was received at Hamad International Airport by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, after fighter jets escorted…
Author: Editorial Team
SEOUL, 21st October, 2026 (WAM) — The Republic of Korea’s exports more than doubled year-on-year during the first 20 days of October, reaching US$61.6 billion amid record shipments of semiconductors, according to data released Wednesday by the Korea Customs Service. The daily average export value in terms of business days reached US$4.74 billion, the highest for the first 20 days of any month. Imports rose 42.8 percent year-on-year to US$47.1 billion over the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of US$14.5 billion. By sector, exports of chips surged 222.5 percent to US$27.5 billion, accounting for 44.7 percent of total…
The roadshow will explore how AI-powered ServiceOps can help teams across organisations streamline IT operations, free up capacity and scale AI across the business BMC Helix, a leading AI-powered ServiceOps company, will host its annual roadshow for enterprise IT leaders, including customers, partners and technology leaders, at The Museum of the Future in Dubai on 22 October. The company’s senior leadership team will share practical insights into applying AI across enterprise IT services and day-to-day IT operations. The event will also feature customer success stories, hands-on sessions exploring incident management, workflow automation and IT service management, and insights into BMC…
ABU DHABI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has launched the Financial Health Innovation Challenge to identify ready-to-implement solutions that improve the financial health of individuals and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the UAE, with applications open until 30th November 2026. The challenge is organised in collaboration with the Alliance for Innovative Regulation (AIR), the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and the Emirates Institute of Finance. The initiative is aligned with the UAE National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2026–2030 and the UAE National Financial Literacy Strategy 2027–2031, which aim to advance inclusive finance…
KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed proposals for various ceasefire formats with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Oslo, Norway on Tuesday. The meeting was also attended by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, another key envoy, took part in the meeting via video link. Speaking after the meeting, Zelensky said the talks also covered security guarantees for Ukraine and the country’s recovery. The meeting in Oslo came after accusations by Kyiv that Washington was withholding key intelligence, a claim rejected as “scandalous” by US Secretary of…
ABU DHABI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched a new, integrated digital platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) for Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds to tourists, the latest of its kind worldwide. The launch forms part of the FTA’s strategy to expand the adoption of AI technologies, continuously enhance the efficiency of its operational systems and advance its initiatives under the Digital Zero Bureaucracy Programme. These efforts align with the directives and prudent guidance of the UAE’s leadership to achieve global influence in areas of government operations, while also strengthening the country’s competitiveness across…
DUBAI, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — DP World Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DP World, together with Belawan New Container Terminal (BNCT), has marked the groundbreaking of a new AED 3.7 million junior high school in Belawan, Medan, Indonesia, under its Classrooms of Hope initiative. The project, whose investment came from DP World Foundation, aims to expand access to quality education and provide a modern learning environment for the local community. The project is being undertaken in partnership with the City Government of Medan and PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) (Pelindo), which is providing approximately 5,000 square metres of land for…
The CISO50 & Future Security Awards 2026 recognised the organisations and individuals advancing cybersecurity as a foundation for business confidence. Source: Tahawul Tech
NAGOYA, 20th October, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE opened its campaign at the fifth Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with four medals — one silver and three bronze — in athletics and cycling, moving to 20th place in the overall medal standings. Maryam Al Zeyoudi claimed silver in the women’s F40 shot put with a throw of 8.03 metres, while Mohammed Othman secured bronze in the men’s T34 100-metre wheelchair race in 15.13 seconds. Ahmed Al Hosani won bronze in the men’s F33 shot put with a personal best of 9.76 metres, while Abdullah Al Baloushi took bronze in the…
Jamel Chandoul, Regional Senior Vice President, EMEA Travel Sellers, Amadeus. Jamel Chandoul explores how AI assistants, integrated mobility platforms and personalised loyalty rewards can shape seamless travel across the Gulf. Connected mobility is becoming central to the Gulf’s travel ambitions, bringing AI-powered assistants, autonomous transport and integrated booking platforms into sharper focus. Delivering a seamless journey will depend on collaboration across airlines, airports, transport authorities and technology providers, alongside traveller trust, affordability and convenience. Jamel Chandoul, Regional Senior Vice President, EMEA Travel Sellers, Amadeus, discusses how digital platforms can connect different modes of transport, support more sustainable choices and make loyalty…