RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s automotive sector localization is fast on track as part of the government’s efforts to achieve its Vision 2030 targets, according to a senior official. At the Saudi-American Business Council seminar, Aftab Ahmed, a senior adviser to the Kingdom’s National Center for Industrial Development in the automotive sector, underscored the rapid transition toward … Read more
WASHINGTON: Economies in the Middle East and North Africa face a “shadow of uncertainty” from ongoing tensions in the region, a senior IMF official said.“We are in a context where the overall outlook is cast into shadows,” Jihad Azour, the International Monetary Fund’s director for the Middle East and Central Asia department, said in an … Read more
Spanish investments in Saudi Arabia exceed $3bn, boosting bilateral relations and vital sectors RIYADH: Spanish investments in Saudi Arabia have surpassed $3 billion in the last 10 years, with bilateral relations contributing to the development of vital sectors, according to a top official. The Kingdom’s Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Majed Al-Hogail, witnessed … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s inflation eased to 1.6 percent in March, down from 1.8 percent the previous month, driven by changes in the food and beverage sector. The latest report from the General Authority for Statistics indicates that the Kingdom’s Consumer Price Index experienced a marginal decrease of 0.1 percent in March compared to February. The … Read more
At Bangladesh’s OIC campus, international students recreate Eid atmosphere of home DHAKA: Hundreds of international students at an Organization of Islamic Cooperation campus in Bangladesh observed Eid Al-Fitr on Thursday, trying to recreate their celebrations at home and share a bit of their respective cultures with friends. A subsidiary of the OIC, the Islamic University … Read more
UNRWA planning chief says ‘squeezed’ organization vital to halting Gaza famine LONDON: The planning director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has said the “squeezed” organization must remain “the backbone of any humanitarian response” to preventing starvation in Gaza. Sam Rose warned that 300,000 people in Gaza are … Read more
Drone attack on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant significantly increases accident risk, IAEA head says KYIV, Ukraine: The head of the UN’s atomic watchdog agency said Sunday a drone attack on one of six nuclear reactors at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant “significantly increase the risk of a major nuclear accident.In a statement on the social … Read more
RIYADH: Climate change, natural disasters and other global challenges have prompted a new regional food security strategy from the Gulf Cooperation Council. Faisal Al-Rawas, chairman of the Federation of the GCC Chambers, said the strategy is focused on developing agricultural, livestock, and fishery projects to achieve added value to the food industries, enabling the countries to achieve food security and … Read more
NEW YORK CITY: Israel must bear the full responsibility for the consequences of its attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and Iran reserves its right to deliver a “decisive response to such reprehensible acts,” Tehran’s deputy permanent representative to the UN told members of the Security Council during a meeting on Tuesday. “Iran has … Read more
JEDDAH: During Ramadan, households across the Kingdom often use all types of decorations to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of the holy month. Jeddah residents looking to purchase Ramadan and Eid decorations can find a wide variety of options at local shops including Al-Hadaya Center, Abyat, Ya Balash, Al-Bashawat, Bravo, … Read more