RIYADH: Amid the rapid shifts in regional maritime transport and the increasing rerouting of shipping away from the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea ports, particularly Jeddah Port, are emerging as key hubs for accommodating container traffic and enhancing the stability of supply chains in the region.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia appointed on Saturday a former high court judge as the country’s new anti-graft czar to replace its outgoing chief who was dogged by allegations of abuse of power and illegal shareholding. The appointment of Abdul Halim Aman comes as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government faces increased scrutiny on promises made to tackle corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.
DUBAI: After five years as Courreges’ artistic director, Nicolas Di Felice is stepping away from the brand as fashion insiders across the world take to social media to celebrate the Belgian designer. French Algerian model Loli Bahia and Jordanian Romanian shoe designer Amina Muaddi were among those paying tribute. Bahia took to Instagram to share a series of photographs from past campaigns with Courreges, one of which was included by Di Felice in his own farewell post.
ADDIS ABABA: The number of migrants who died on the “Eastern Route” from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula doubled to a record high of 922 last year, the UN migration agency said Wednesday. Tens of thousands of migrants from Ethiopia, Somalia and neighboring countries take the route across the Red Sea each year, mostly from Djibouti to Yemen, in search of work as laborers or domestic workers in wealthy Gulf countries.
DHAKA: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh expressed concern on Wednesday as the cash-strapped UN World Food Programme (WFP) prepares to cut aid for large portions of the 1.2 million-strong group. Bangladesh’s vast refugee camps shelter Rohingya who fled persecution in neighboring war-torn Myanmar, with more than 150,000 new arrivals since 2024, according to the WFP. The agency is the sole provider of monthly food assistance for the community. But with global funding stretched thin and more people needing aid, resources are already under pressure.
RIYADH: Egypt is targeting gross domestic product growth of 5.4 percent, inflation stabilization, and a primary surplus of 1.2 trillion Egyptian pounds ($22.7 billion) during the 2026/27 fiscal year, a top official revealed.
OSLO: Norway Chess, the prestigious elite tournament which has been held annually since 2013, is taking a major step forward with the launch of the Total Chess World Championship Tour. And the initiative has a new strategic investor in the form of renowned Manchester City and Norway forward, Erling Haaland. Together with Norwegian business leader Morten Borge, the footballer has established Chess Mates, which will be a significant owner of Norway Chess.
