Taylor Swift backs Harris and Walz, spotlighting reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights; NMDC Energy shares surge after record IPO in UAE.
Taylor Swift recently endorsed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, highlighting their strong stances on reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights through an Instagram post to her 280 million followers. Despite
Donald Trump's dismissive response, Swift's endorsement underscores reproductive rights as a crucial issue for voters.
Meanwhile, NMDC Energy shares skyrocketed by 20% following their record-breaking IPO debut, raising $877 million, the largest IPO of 2024 in the UAE. The company’s stellar performance signaled robust investor confidence and marked a significant achievement for Abu Dhabi’s energy sector.
Shifting gears to financial markets, the Tadawul All Share Index in Saudi Arabia dropped by 1.84%, while the parallel Nomu market saw a 0.64% rise. Amid these fluctuations, SAMA Healthy Water Factory announced its own plans for an IPO on the Nomu market to boost its expansion and align with Vision 2030 goals.
In diplomatic news, the Gulf-Chinese Summit in Riyadh, led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, advanced discussions on free trade and addressed critical issues like the Gaza crisis, with both sides calling for a ceasefire and better adherence to international resolutions. This summit builds on the initiatives from the previous Gulf-Chinese meeting in December 2022.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia and China further solidified their ties during the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Joint Committee session, co-chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Premier Li Qiang. The discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of cooperation areas including trade and technology, concluding with the signing of the session minutes.
Finally, Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences to the Emir of Kuwait following the passing of Sheikh Bader Nasser Al-Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Messages of sympathy were also extended to Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, with funeral prayers held on Wednesday.