Author: Steven Sahiounie

RIYADH: In a major push to drive the sustainable growth of real estate projects in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund has announced the launch of a new facilities management company. According to a press statement, the Saudi Facility Management Co., also known as FMTECH, will offer a wide array of services including utilities management, waste management, and housekeeping, as well as security and landscaping services.   The company will aim to improve operational efficiency in the country’s real estate projects which will in turn increase the lifespan of these properties. “It will also provide advisory services leveraging advanced, industry-leading innovation, including a unified digital platform that collects and…

RIYADH: In a bid to affirm its presence in the minds of football fans across the world, Saudi Arabia’s newly launched airline Riyadh Air has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Spanish club Atlético de Madrid. As a part of the agreement, Riyadh Air will be the main sponsor and official airline partner of the club while the logo of the airline will be present on the team kits of the players. “We are delighted to welcome Riyadh Air as our new main sponsor of the club. This partnership signifies a great opportunity to offer better experiences to our fans around the world and I am confident…

RIYADH: Food price rises pushed Egypt’s annual headline inflation to an all-time high of 38.2 percent in July, in line with analysts’ expectations, data from the country’s statistics agency CAPMAS has revealed. This rise is an increase on the then-record headline inflation rate recorded in June 2023 of 36.8 percent, and also reflects a 14.6 percent surge compared to July 2022. The median forecast of 15 analysts polled showed annual urban consumer inflation rising to 36.5 percent in July. The previous high of 32.95 percent was recorded in July 2017. An increase in the prices of cereal, bread, meat and dairy led food and…

RIYADH: Manufacturing activity in Saudi Arabia climbed 10.1 percent in June, compared to the same month last year, the official data showed.    According to the latest report by the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s overall industrial production index increased by 0.5 percent in June from the previous month in 2023, despite a slight fall of 1.6 percent when compared to the same month last year. “The decline in the mining and quarrying activity during June 2023 led to the decrease in the general index, given its high weight in the index,” GASTAT stated. Meanwhile, electricity and…

Poland is moving its army forces to scare Belarus, defense chief Mariusz Blaszczak has said Poland is set to deploy thousands of additional troops to its border with Belarus amid heightened tensions in the region, Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Thursday. Speaking to national public broadcaster Polskie Radio, Blaszczak stated that “we are moving the army closer to the border with Belarus” in order to “scare the aggressor so that he does not dare to attack us.” The minister added that security in the region would be underpinned by 10,000 soldiers, with 4,000 assigned to directly support the Border Guard, and another 6,000…

It is reported that the US has yet again underscored its indifference to the needs of the millions of Syrians Washington’s decision not to extend the lifting of sanctions on aid to Syria following the devastating earthquake in the country must be condemned and indicates the US’ indifference to the needs of the millions of Syrians, according to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry on international humanitarian assistance to Syria. “Washington’s decision not to extend the effect of General License 23 (on lifting the sanctions on aid to Syria following the earthquake – TASS) issued after the February 6…

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed the country’s readiness for cooperation with South Africa in various fields. Speaking at a joint press conference with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Naledi Pandor, held in Pretoria on Thursday, Amirabdollahian said, “Iran is prepared for full cooperation with South Africa in diverse fields, including the scientific sector and technology as well as mutual cooperation in the energy sphere.” Hailing the “important and fruitful negotiations” that delegations from the state-run organizations and private sectors of the two countries have held during the meeting of the Joint Commission of Cooperation for…

The suspect had shown “intent to kill” the US leader and New York prosecutor Alvin Bragg, officials claim US federal agents have fatally shot a Utah man accused of making threats against President Joe Biden and other public figures, the FBI said, just hours before the commander in chief arrived in the state for an official visit. The shooting unfolded early Wednesday morning as FBI agents attempted to serve a search and arrest warrant at the Provo, Utah home of Craig Deleeuw Robertson, who was identified in court documents obtained by several media outlets. The man was wanted on three federal charges,…

Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Hammouda Sabbagh, discussed with Ambassador of Algeria in Damascus, Kamel Bouchama relations between Syria and Algeria, particularly in the parliamentarian domain. During the meeting, Sabbagh stressed the importance of developing the fraternal ties which gather the two countries, exchange expertise and visits among parliamentarian delegations and unify stances at international forums. The Speaker hailed Algeria’s stance in support of Syria and its just causes and Algeria’s efforts to ease the suffering of people who were affected by the earthquake that hit Syria during last February. Ambassador Bouchama, for his part, hoped the Syrian people would…

The former US president was previously indicted on 37 counts related to mishandling files from his presidency Trump, Nauta, and fellow Trump employee Carlos de Oliveira were charged with obstructing the federal government’s efforts to retrieve the documents by conspiring to delete security camera footage from the system monitoring his Palm Beach home after the government issued a subpoena for it. De Oliveira is expected to enter a plea next week once he secures a Florida lawyer. Trump also pleaded not guilty to another violation of the Espionage Act, stemming from him allegedly showing a classified national security document containing…