Source : Euronews with Reuters / 16 Jun 2014

Oil prices have continued to rise on concerns that the Islamist rebel insurgency in Iraq could trigger civil war and eventually hit exports.

Brent crude was over $113 a barrelon Friday, having risen about $4 since the start of the week.

Source : The Moscow Times / 13 Jun 2014

The number of households whose wealth exceeds $1 million in Russia has grown by 18.5 percent in 2013, reaching 213,000 last year, the Boston Consulting Group said in a report.

Source : Middle East Monitor / 11 Jun 2014

A Qatar-based renewable energy company, Qatar Solar Energy (QSE), has announced the launch of the largest facility for the development and manufacture of solar energy panels in the Middle East and North Africa.

Source : Arab News / 07 Jun 2014

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to introduce a unified visa that would allow tourists to visit all six member-countries, which are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.

Source : UN multimedia / 03 Jun 2014

More than 70 per cent of the world's population doesn't have proper social protection, according to a report issued by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on Tuesday.

The ILO defines social protection as covering both social insurance schemes such as social security pension systems and monetary transfers to lower income households.

Source : MiddleEastMonitor / 02 June 2014

A UN sponsored study reveals that Syria's economic losses since 2011 reached around $144 billion at the end of 2013.

Reuters news agency reported that: "The study, conducted by the Damascus based-Syrian Centre for Policy Research and commissioned by the United Nations and International Monetary Fund estimates of a 40 per cent contraction in GDP since the start the conflict in 2011." Losses are estimated at $143.8 billion, almost triple the Syrian GDP in 2010.

Source : Halalfocus / 31 May 2014

The international aviation industry is heading for a halal revolution, as Thai Airways – one of the largest airlines in the world – becomes the first Asia-Pacific carrier to offer halal food to all passengers flying to and from Pakistan.

Source : Saudi Gazette / 30 May 2014

A new joint VAC (Visa Application center) for Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Malta, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland was launched on Tuesday in Jeddah by VFS Global jointly with its local partner al-Etimad Modern Business Solutions Co.

Source : RIA / 24 May 2014

Moscow may sign an intergovernmental agreement with Teheran this year to build eight new reactors for nuclear power plants in Iran, a source close to the negotiations told journalists Thursday.

Two reactors could be

Source : Saudi Gazette / 23 May 2014

Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest growing markets in built asset performance compared to the world’s 30 highest grossing countries, a report issued recently by EC Harris, ARCADIS Company and built asset consultancy firm.

Based on findings of the ARCADIS Global Built Asset Performance Index, Saudi Arabia is set to receive a significant boost by 70 percent over the next decade due to the heavy investment in its built environment.