London: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has revealed that it has held talks with Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been accused of committing ethnic cleansing and other atrocities. The Guardian reported on Monday that a freedom of information request to the FCDO revealed that the UK government had opened diplomatic channels … Read more
Saudi banks’ deposits reach $677bn in February, reflecting economic resilience RIYADH: Saudi banks’ total deposits reached SR2.54 trillion ($677 billion) in February, marking a 10.26 percent increase from the same month last year, the official data showed. Analysis conducted on the data released by the Saudi Central Bank confirmed that growth was primarily fueled by … Read more
Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta elected Glasgow University rector: a victory for Palestine solidarity LONDON: The Palestinian-British surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta has been elected rector of the University of Glasgow, winning an overwhelming 80 percent of the vote following a campaign that resonated deeply with students. In early October, at the start of Israel’s military … Read more
How a ceasefire and unrestricted aid access could yet prevent a famine in north Gaza LONDON: Desperate appeals from UN agencies urging Israel to allow aid into Gaza to alleviate hunger and avert an imminent famine in the north of the embattled Palestinian enclave appear to have fallen on deaf ears. Despite a UN Security … Read more
DUBAI: Is there any hope for the children of Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, restrictions on aid access, and a looming famine in the north of the enclave? According to UN Children’s Fund spokesperson James Elder, who recently toured the length of Gaza, only an immediate ceasefire can turn the humanitarian situation around. Appearing … Read more
RIYADH: Ten out of the 11 airports in Saudi Arabia that received passengers’ complaints in February resolved them on time, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation. In its monthly classification for air transport service providers, GACA highlighted the performance of airlines and related transport hubs based on traveler complaints filed during the second month … Read more
RIYADH: Ten out of the 11 airports in Saudi Arabia that received passengers’ complaints in February resolved them on time, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation. In its monthly classification for air transport service providers, GACA highlighted the performance of airlines and related transport hubs based on traveler complaints filed during the second month … Read more
LONDON: Although Israel has permitted dozens of aid trucks to enter the Gaza Strip in recent days, humanitarian agencies warn that not nearly enough assistance is reaching the embattled enclave. There was a glimmer of hope on Thursday, however, when the first international relief vessel arrived off Gaza’s northern coast. The Spanish-flagged Open Arms left … Read more
YEMEN: The UK Maritime Trade Operations authority on Wednesday reported “irregular activity” in the Red Sea near Yemen, and urged vessels to exercise “caution” when passing through the area. The UKMTO, which is part of the British Royal Navy, stated on its website that a merchant vessel was hailed on maritime VHF radio for about … Read more
SAO PAULO: Brazil called for a “new globalization” to address poverty and climate change as finance ministers from the world’s top economies met Wednesday, but the Ukraine and Gaza wars risked overshadowing the plea. “It is time to redefine globalization,” Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad told his counterparts from the Group of 20 leading economies, … Read more