OPEC+ brings policy meeting forward to Saturday, sources say
The group, which includes Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Iraq, Kazakhstan and Algeria, is expected to agree to an increase of 411,000 barrels per day for August, sources told Reuters.
(Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Olesya Astakhova Editing by David Goodman )
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Ingram Micro cyber attack leads to concerns over Mena fallout
A ransomware attack on Ingram Micro, one of the world's largest IT distributors, has raised concerns about potential knock-on effects in the Middle East and North Africa region, where the company plays a critical role in supporting regional tech infrastructure. The attack, which began on Thursday, has disrupted the company's global operations, with online ordering systems, internal tools, and customer services affected across several regions. The culprit has been identified as the ransomware group SafePay, which is demanding payment in exchange for the restoration of systems. While Ingram Micro has not confirmed any affect on its Mena operations, the company maintains a significant presence in the region, with offices and distribution hubs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other important markets. Notable regional clients span major industries. In Saudi Arabia, for instance, Ingram Micro delivers solutions for cloud, Cisco networking, Dell Technologies infrastructure and IBM systems to leading enterprises and government bodies. In Egypt and the UAE, the company has distribution agreements with vendors like Cisco, Acronis, Red Hat, SonicWall and Nvidia, serving sectors including finance, health care, telecom and public administration. It supplies a wide range of enterprise software, hardware, cloud solutions and IT services to hundreds of regional resellers, systems integrators and corporate clients. Mena vulnerabilities Mohamed Amine Belarbi, founder and chief executive of said the attack 'underscores a growing and deeply concerning trend: cyber criminals targeting critical nodes in the global IT supply chain'. He added that for the Middle East, where Ingram Micro maintains a strong operational footprint, the fallout could be significant. 'Many regional value-added resellers, system integrators, and cloud service providers rely on Ingram Micro's infrastructure to source, deploy and support core technology solutions.' The Middle East has experienced similar ransomware threats in recent years. In 2023, UAE telecoms operator Etisalat was listed by the LockBit ransomware group, which claimed to have stolen sensitive corporate data. That same year, cyber attacks on Mena organisations surged by 68 per cent, with the Gulf alone recording more than 50 ransomware incidents across various sectors, including finance, health care, real estate and energy, according to Group-IB. In 2022, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai was also targeted in a ransomware attack that encrypted internal data, although patient care remained unaffected. These incidents demonstrate how ransomware continues to exploit weak links in the region's digital infrastructure, particularly through third-party sellers. In a statement addressing the continuing system power cut, Ingram Micro confirmed it had recently identified ransomware on specific internal systems. The company said it acted promptly by taking affected systems offline, securing its IT environment and initiating mitigation measures. The statement said that the company 'launched an investigation with the assistance of leading cyber security experts and notified law enforcement'. Ingram Micro added that it is 'working diligently to restore the affected systems so that it can process and ship orders', and apologised for any disruption caused to its customers, sellers and partners. No specific customer or partner data breaches have been reported so far. However, the continuing disruption highlights the vulnerability of global technology supply chains and their potential to affect businesses far beyond the immediate blast radius. A sustained disruption, according to Mr Belarbi, affects more than logistics. 'It can stall key public and private sector digital transformation projects, delay government IT procurement cycles, and hinder the roll-out of mission-critical systems across sectors like finance, energy and health care,' he said. He added that these are not just operational delays. 'They translate into real cyber security vulnerabilities as organisations stretch resources and scramble for alternatives.' Ingram Micro is often described as the 'backbone' of enterprise IT procurement, and its regional footprint has grown in recent years amid increased demand for digital infrastructure across the Gulf. It partners with major global sellers, including Microsoft, Cisco, Dell Technologies and HP, distributing their products and services to businesses in the Mena region. Ingram Micro has not yet responded to The National's request for comment regarding the status of its Mena operations. Regional readiness The SafePay group, which emerged in 2023, is known for attacking large, high-value corporate victims and using double extortion tactics, and demanding payment not only to decrypt systems but also to prevent the release of stolen data. According to a March report from Cyfirma, SafePay was among the fastest-growing ransomware threats, with its activity surging by 223 per cent, marking it as one of the most rapidly escalating groups in the cyber crime landscape. 'This incident is a wake-up call for Middle Eastern enterprises to rigorously vet the cyber resilience of their upstream vendors and distribution partners,' Mr Belarbi said. 'As the region positions itself as a global tech and innovation hub, supply chain cyber security must become a boardroom issue, not just an IT one.' The scale and duration of the Ingram Micro incident have underscored the risks that ransomware poses to core digital infrastructure, particularly when it is embedded across several geographies. While the Mena region has not reported confirmed power cuts, the full extent of the affect may not be clear until operations are fully restored. Cyber attacks in the region The incident follows a broader pattern of cyber attacks in the region, including a February breach at cryptocurrency exchange Bybit. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in a third-party seller to access user data and personal documents uploaded during the platform's identity verification process. Although Bybit said no customer funds were stolen, the attack highlighted how even regulated, high-profile digital platforms can be compromised through weak links in their extended supply chains. Such cases have renewed calls for stronger seller vetting, endpoint security and regional enforcement around digital supply chain protections.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Top IB results for 2024/2025 reflect Repton Dubai's academic strength
RELATED TOPICS EDUCATION RELATED COMPANIES Univer College Cognita Schools Cognita Limited 100% of students awarded the diploma, scored 26 points and above. Maryam Perjessy achieved 43 points in the IB Diploma, Ben Gosling 41 points and Umar Suleman 40 points. All of these students have secured places at their first choice universities; Maryam Perjessy to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ben Gosling to study Engineering at University College London and Umar Suleman to study PPE at Warwick University. Dubai, UAE: Repton School Dubai is delighted to announce another year of outstanding achievements in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The 2024/2025 cohort has delivered exceptional results, with an impressive average score of 35 points, significantly surpassing the global average of 30 points. A remarkable 100% of Repton Dubai students awarded the diploma achieved over 26 points, while 87% exceeded the global average. These results reflect the school's continued commitment to academic excellence and student success. Many of Repton Dubai's top-performing students exceeded expectations, a couple of examples include Suphia Al Falasi, our highest scoring Emirati student who achieved 39 points, securing her place to study Law at Bristol University. Keira Roberton will likewise go on to study Law at her first choice university, Edinburgh with 37 points. Their successful placements at leading global institutions is a testament to the dedication, resilience, and hard work that defines the Repton community. Repton Dubai is also proud to highlight the achievements of students heading to top universities across the globe to pursue a wide range of disciplines. This year's IB cohort has received offers from prestigious institutions such as University College London, Edinburgh University, Kings College London, the University of San Diego and many more. Top achieving students' scores and their university destinations included: Speaking on the success of the graduating class, Michael Bloy, Principal of Repton Dubai School, said: ' We are immensely proud of our students' achievements in this year's IB examinations. These results reflect not only academic rigour, but also the resilience, creativity, and critical thinking our students embody. I congratulate every graduate and thank our dedicated staff and supportive families who have guided them on this journey." Repton School has long been recognised for its academic heritage and global outlook. In previous years, graduates have secured places at some of the world's most esteemed universities, including the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Stanford University, Columbia University, Boston University, the University of Edinburgh, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Rated Outstanding by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) since 2014, and featured in the prestigious Spear's Top 100 Schools Index 2025 as one of the top 10 in the Middle East, and among the top three schools in Dubai, Repton Dubai remains committed to nurturing well-rounded, globally-minded individuals prepared to thrive in the world's leading universities and beyond. For more information on Repton Dubai, please visit: For more information and media enquiries: Plus 1 Communications / yara@ About Repton School Dubai Repton School Dubai opened its doors in 2007 to offer world-class educational experience for children of all nationalities, from ages 3 to 18 and boarding experience from age 11. It is a sister school of Repton Al Barsha and Repton Abu Dhabi, both in the UAE, as well as a partner school of the reputed Repton School in the United Kingdom, which was founded in 1557 and which continues to boast a stellar reputation in both the academic and sporting fields. Combining the reputation and academic rigour of the UK curriculum, Repton Dubai has been consistently rated as 'Outstanding' by KHDA inspections since 2014 and endeavours to promote excellence in every area of a child's and student's life at school, within and outside the classroom. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the school celebrated a decade of Outstanding rating by the KHDA, and has also attained a significant milestone, ranked among the top 5 schools in Dubai and top 10 schools in the Middle East region in the prestigious Spear's Top 100 Schools Index 2025. Repton School Dubai offers a full range of the GCSE curriculum, in addition to the IB Diploma, IB Career Programme, BTEC and the A Level curriculum with a choice of 45 subjects to help achieve a deep understanding of varied academic fields. The school has two boarding houses and provides boarding accommodation for students, either full term boarding or a more flexible weekly boarding option. Both the junior and senior schools are located on a spectacular campus of 1.3 million sq. ft. in Nad Al Sheba, making it the largest school in the region. About Cognita Launched in 2004, Cognita is an extraordinary community of schools that span 16 countries and share one common purpose: to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. With over 100 schools in Europe and the US, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, Cognita employs over 18,000 teaching and support staff in the care and education of more than 90,000 students. Together, Cognita schools provide a uniquely global education that goes beyond grades, to develop all-round academic excellence – equipping young people with the agency, adaptability and positive attitudes that prepares them to grow, thrive and find their success in a rapidly evolving world. Cognita Middle East has nine schools within its portfolio, including: RGS Guildford Dubai, Repton Dubai, Repton Al Barsha and Repton Abu Dhabi, Horizon English School, Horizon International School, Ranches Primary School and Al Ain English Speaking School in the UAE, and Dasman Bilingual School in Kuwait.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Sharjah Free Zones win four prestigious honours at 6th Financial Excellence Performance Award
Sharjah: The Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority (SAIF Zone) and Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) have received four prestigious accolades at the 6th Financial Excellence Performance Award for 2024–2025, organised by the Sharjah Finance Department (SFD). The awards recognise both free zones for upholding the highest standards in financial and tax management, transparency, compliance, and governance. Hamriyah Free Zone Authority was named the Leading Independent Entity in applying revenue standards, while SAIF Zone received the Leading Independent Entity award for excellence in implementing accounting and tax standards. In the individual categories, Mohammed Al Marzooqi from SAIF Zone was honoured as Outstanding New Financial Employee from Independent Entities, and Dhiju Balakrishnan, Financial Planning and Analysis from HFZA, was awarded Outstanding Tax Analyst for Independent Entities. Sound governance principles His Excellency Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of Hamriyah Free Zone Authority and Sharjah Airport International Free Zone Authority, stated that receiving these awards is a true testament to the ongoing efforts to enhance financial and administrative systems in line with the highest international standards. Al Mazrouei emphasised that the two entities are committed to building an integrated, efficient, and transparent framework in full compliance with financial and tax regulations as well as sound governance principles. This achievement, he noted, was made possible thanks to the continuous support of Sheikh Khaled bin Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, whose close oversight of the two authorities' operations has been instrumental in their success. Al Mazrouei further noted that this honour demonstrates the keenness of both free zones to adopt smart systems and ensure financial and operational sustainability, key pillars in improving the investor experience, thereby supporting the sustainable economic development goals of the Emirate of Sharjah. He extended his gratitude to the Steering Committee and the Sharjah Finance Department for this recognition. His Excellency reaffirmed that HFZA and SAIF Zone will continue striving for excellence by upholding the highest standards of governance and advanced financial management. This is not only to strengthen investor confidence, both locally and internationally, but also to attract high-quality, diversified investments that solidify the free zones' position as leading economic and investment hubs on the regional and global stage. The current edition of the Financial Excellence Performance Award witnessed remarkable participation from over 60 government and independent entities, along with more than 700 financial professionals. Participants competed across various institutional and individual award categories, reflecting the strong culture of financial excellence in the Emirate of Sharjah. The award continues to play a vital role in enhancing the capabilities of both individuals and institutions while contributing to the overall improvement of financial sector performance. For further information, please contact: - Ali Elgendy Misbar Communications ali@ Ahmad Aldwairi Misbar Communications
