PARIS: Future Ukrainian fighter pilots likely to fly American F-16 aircraft are receiving their initial training in the south of France with the French Air Force, the French defense minister said on Friday, amid a European training push. The pilots are receiving “general training on the Alpha Jet (a Franco-German military aircraft), which enables Ukrainian … Read more
Saudi Arabia’s point-of-sale transactions grow 11% to reach $14.35bn in January RIYADH: Point-of-sale payments in Saudi Arabia recorded an 11 percent annual increase in January to reach SR53.8 billion ($14.35 billion), the latest data issued by the Saudi Central Bank showed. The surge in POS payments reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to digitalization and investments in … Read more
JEDDAH: Karim Benzema returned to training with Al-Ittihad on Friday night after recovering from a lower-back injury, Arriyadiyah has reported. Injuries have blighted a stop-start season for the Frenchman, but his return during the international break is timely for Marcelo Gallardo as the coach attempts to salvage what has been a disappointing season for the … Read more
The holy month of Ramadan, a time dedicated to fasting, prayer, reflection, and community, is of great significance to Muslims worldwide. For those who are mixed martial arts athletes, it influences their daily routines in a profound manner. To gain insights into how elite fighters balance celebrating their faith and managing their careers, we spoke … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi national football team coach Roberto Mancini on Wednesday named his squad for a training camp ahead of two Asian qualification matches against Tajikistan later this month. The Green Falcons begin training in Riyadh on Sunday in preparation for the third and fourth rounds of the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the … Read more
Eddie Howe refuses to point fingers at Newcastle United players after slump at Chelsea LONDON: Eddie Howe is refusing to point fingers at his Newcastle United players after their latest error-strewn Premier League show at Chelsea. Mistakes from Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff littered another poor away-day show as the Magpies were well-beaten … Read more
World Governments Summit provides ‘exceptional opportunity’ to address today’s challenges: Experts DUBAI: This year’s World Governments Summit will present world leaders and delegates with a unique opportunity to combine efforts and address ongoing challenges amid rising regional tensions, organizers said ahead of the mega-event. The three-day summit, set to kick off in Dubai on Monday, … Read more
Islamabad: Pakistan will be announcing a schedule for training and biometric verification of Hajj pilgrims next week, its religious affairs minister has said. The announcement came after Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Aneeq Ahmed’s recent meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad. Both parties discussed various aspects of … Read more
How Saudi Arabia is using wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and the green transition to preserve its ecosystems RIYADH: Saudi Arabia aims to be at the forefront of environmental protection through initiatives aimed at restoring and maintaining the ecological balance, which promotes harmonious and flourishing ecosystems. Climate action, clean energy, and preserving habitats are just some … Read more
RIYADH: Increased credit to corporate activities propelled a 10 percent annual surge in loans for Saudi banks in 2023, reaching SR2.58 trillion ($690 billion), the latest data showed. According to the Saudi Central Bank’s latest monthly bulletin, credit extended to individuals, constituting 48 percent of bank loans, grew by 7 percent in 2023, while corporates … Read more