Hamad Al-Ameeri
* NIC achieved KD 22.352 million profits at 28.07 fils per share for the first nine months of 2021
* NIC maintained profits and distributable reserves of KD 44.401 million, constituting 55.65% of the capital
* NIC reported an excellent growth in total assets of 30.45%, approximately KD 278.208 million, compared to KD 213.266 million for the same period last year

* Total assets under management amounted to KD 1.129 billion at the end of Q3 2021, compared to KD 1.035 billion for the same period last year
* Other comprehensive income achieved an outstanding hike in Q3 2021, reaching KD 20.935 million, compared to KD 1.130 million for the same period last year
* Despite the unprecedented challenges the region witnessed, total shareholders’ equity amounted to KD 207.441 million while NIC distributed approximately KD 9 million of cash dividends to its shareholders in 2020

TOKYO: Japan’s SoftBank Group yesterday suffered its first quarterly net loss in 18 months as a China tech crackdown and other investment losses hit its Vision Fund portfolio. The telecoms firm-turned-investment giant also announced a share buyback worth one trillion yen ($8.8 billion), reportedly under pressure from shareholders frustrated by its sinking stock price.

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank is launching its new AJYAL Tech program, a comprehensive coding and digital technology learning journey for Kuwaiti youth who have a passion for technology. 

KUWAIT: KIPCO – the Kuwait Projects Company (Holding) – has announced a net profit of KD 16.5 million ($54.7 million) for the first nine months of 2021, an increase of 43 per cent compared to KD 11.5 million ($38.1 million) reported for the same period of 2020, after restatement. 

LISBON: From mental health apps to a helmet that can shock a patient’s brain remotely, startups at this year’s Web Summit are betting on a major shift towards “tele-medicine” as the world emerges from the pandemic.

BEIJING: Handing over a piping hot meal at exactly the time promised, Chinese food delivery driver Zhuang Zhenhua triumphantly tapped his job as complete through the Meituan app-and was immediately fined half of his earnings. 

NEW YORK: Airline reservations to the United States took off immediately after the White House announced the country would reopen to all vaccinated international voyagers starting next week, compelling a welcome-if challenging-industry pivot. 

KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt) reported solid results for the nine months ended 30 September 2021. The bank’s net operating profit stood at EGP 1.2 billion, reflecting a 21 percent increase compared to the same period in 2020. Total assets grew by 27 percent to reach EGP 52.4 billion. Net interest income grew by 14 percent to reach EGP 1.6 billion compared to the same period last year. 

KUWAIT: In line with Al-Ahli Bank of Kuwait’s (ABK) commitment to enhance customer service levels, the Bank signed a cooperation agreement with PACI to approve the ‘Kuwait Mobile ID’ application in electronic ID verification, authentication and digital signatures in banking transactions.