MUST-READS

• Will the Gaza War Derail the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor?

  The corridor is envisioned as a maritime and rail trade route connecting India to the Middle East through countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel as well as to various parts of Europe. The project carries significant geopolitical implications: Built on India’s sustained effort to strengthen relations with Arab and European states, the corridor is supported by the United States as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative that will bolster regional integration.

• Saudi Arabia real estate enters ‘golden era’ as Vision 2030 takes off, new report finds

  Construction and real estate are entering a golden era of growth in Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia as the ambitious reforms of Vision 2030 take effect and fundamentally transform the economy. An in-depth report set to be released next month and published by Quality Media Press will examine the housing boom, mega-projects like NEOM, and how the sector is benefiting from billions in government investment.

• Majority in U.S. Now Disapprove of Israeli Action in Gaza

  After narrowly backing Israel’s military action in Gaza in November, Americans now oppose the campaign by a solid margin. Fifty-five percent currently disapprove of Israel’s actions, while 36% approve.

• Protecting Palestinians a moral imperative, Pentagon chief tells Israeli counterpart
  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday it was a moral and strategic imperative to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas and that the humanitarian catastrophe in besieged Gaza was getting worse.
  Austin was speaking during a meeting with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon as relations between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sank to a wartime low.

• Russia struggles to collect oil payments as China, UAE, Turkey raise bank scrutiny
  Russian oil firms face delays of up to several months to be paid for crude and fuel as banks in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) become more wary of U.S. secondary sanctions, eight sources familiar with the matter said.
  Payment delays reduce revenue to the Kremlin and make them erratic, allowing Washington to achieve its dual policy sanction goals - to disrupt money going to the Kremlin to punish it for the war in Ukraine while not interrupting global energy flows.

• US solar factories strike deal to produce ‘Made in USA’ panels
  Two small solar manufacturers on Wednesday said they are joining forces to make panels that will enable their customers, U.S. solar project developers, to collect on a lucrative new federal subsidy for American-made clean energy equipment.
  The agreement between Georgia-based solar cell producer Suniva and Canada's Heliene, which has panel-making operations in Minnesota, is being touted by the Biden administration as evidence that Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) subsidies are succeeding in building a domestic solar manufacturing industry to compete with China.

• The Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based affiliate is emerging as a global menace

  News of the recent horrific attack in Moscow by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria—Khorasan Province (also known as ISIS-K) is putting a spotlight on a group that was already notorious for its brutal methods in Afghanistan and the broader Middle East. The operation in Moscow arrived a few weeks after U.S. officials warned that credible intelligence suggested an attack was brewing in Russia. Still, it appears to be a dramatic escalation of the group’s ability to launch complex attacks well outside its home base in Afghanistan.

• Saudi Arabia denounces Israeli decision to confiscate West Bank land

  Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned an Israel decision to confiscate 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank.

  The Kingdom “strongly condemns the Israeli occupation’s announcement,” emphasizing “that such actions violate international laws and relevant resolutions,” the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited the ministry as saying.

• Saudi HR minister, business leaders discuss labor-market challenges

  Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad Al-Rajhi on Tuesday met business representatives of the private sector in Makkah. During the meeting at the headquarters of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce, Al-Rajhi reviewed the labor-market strategy and achievements between 2019 and 2023 and was told about the main challenges and opportunities in the private sector.

• Al-Khateeb: Saudi Arabia pumps SR375 million annually to support skills of Saudis in tourism sector

  Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that Saudi Arabia pumps SR375 million annually to support enhancing the skills of Saudis in the tourism sector. “This contributed to raising their rates to 40 percent and we are targeting 50 percent. We are also working to facilitate the issuance of licenses instantly instead of the current duration of five days,” he said while addressing the Manafea Forum in Madinah.

• 10 of 59972 results<< 1 … 301 302 303 … 5,998 >>