RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has urged the International Monetary Fund to prioritize its core activities, emphasizing the need to support initiatives such as rebuilding buffers and reviewing debt and lending policies. Speaking during the International Monetary and Financial Committee Plenary session at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF 2024, Saudi Central Bank … Read more
LONDON: Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management are discussing making a joint bid for Paramount Global, according to a person familiar with the matter. The companies have yet to approach Paramount, which is in exclusive deal talks with Skydance Media, an independent studio led by David Ellison, though some investors have urged Paramount to … Read more
UNITED NATIOS, United States: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a “nightmare” for mothers and babies, with doctors reporting small and sickly newborns, stillbirths and women forced to undergo C-sections without adequate anesthesia, a UN official said Friday.“I’m personally leaving Gaza this week terrified for the one million women and girls of Gaza… and most … Read more
LONDON: The US, UK, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and Australia will not lift their suspension of funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees pending the evaluation of two forthcoming reports, UK Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell has said. In contrast, Sweden, Canada, and the European Commission have all decided … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi banks extended loans totaling SR2.62 trillion ($700 billion) in January, marking an 11 percent rise from the same month in 2023, according to official data. Figures released by the Kingdom’s central bank showed an increase in personal loans accounted for 33 percent of this growth, while the remaining 67 percent was attributed to … Read more
NIAMEY, Niger: Junta-led Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have agreed to set up a joint force to tackle security threats across their territories, Niger’s armed forces chief Moussa Salaou Barmou said on Wednesday after a meeting with his counterparts.
RIYADH: Saudi artist Dr. Sami Almarzoogi’s solo exhibition at L’Art Pur Foundation in Riyadh “Is This a Gold Bar?” demonstrates the benefits of never giving up on your passion. Presented in collaboration with Hafez Gallery, the showcase presents Almarzoogi’s diverse body of work, encompassing paintings, drawings and mixed-media pieces, which delve deep into his exploration … Read more
WARSAW: Yulia Navalnaya on Monday vowed to continue her husband Alexei Navalny’s fight after his death in a Russian prison last week, for which she blamed the Kremlin.She spoke as the Kremlin said it had no details about his death, while his mother Lyudmila was denied access to his body for a third day.Navalnaya’s address … Read more
RIYADH: Ten agreements were signed during the International Saudi Coffee Exhibition 2024, which was held in Jazan at Prince Sultan Cultural Center from Feb. 14-15, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The agreements focused on promoting the culture of Saudi coffee production, providing investment opportunities and leveraging empowerment opportunities. The event witnessed the participation … Read more
Haley vows to stay in GOP race as Trump seeks commanding victory in New Hampshire MANCHESTER, N.H.: Nikki Haley, the last major GOP opponent of Donald Trump, insisted she would not drop out if she loses Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary to the former president, who aimed for a commanding victory to make a November rematch … Read more