Author: Steven Sahiounie

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product grew by 1.4 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the previous three months, driven by non-oil activities, official data showed.  

RIYADH: The global environmental, social, and governance sukuk market saw significant growth in the first half of 2024 – rising 41 percent year-on-year to reach $43 billion, according to Fitch.

RIYADH: The first round of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Turkiye concluded with a positive atmosphere.  

Saudi Arabia recorded a budget deficit of SR15.34 billion ($4.09 billion) in the second quarter of 2024, bringing the year’s first-half shortage to 35 percent

RIYADH: Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp. saw an 84 percent year-on-year surge in net profit to SR2.18 billion ($564 million) in the second quarter of 2024, driven by higher margins and new zakat regulations. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s real estate price index edged up by 1.7 percent in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the same period last year, driven by a surge in residential sector costs, official data showed.  

The UN on Wednesday condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. Emphasizing the need for protecting journalists, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news conference: “These and other similar incidents must be fully and transparently investigated and there must be accountability. We, of course, condemn the killing of any and all journalists.” Dujarric also extended condolences over the incident, and reaffirmed UN’s call for “greater and full access for journalists.” Asked how the UN could protect journalists, Dujarric said: “Our ability to protect journalists is through…

Chief of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah met Palestinian Minister of State for Relief Affairs Bassil Nasser on Wednesday in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported. The meeting focused on shared interests in humanitarian and relief efforts, particularly those aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The discussions highlighted developments in these relief initiatives. The Palestinian minister expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia and KSrelief for the support provided to the people of Gaza, saying that the aid underscores the deep fraternal ties…

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have marched through the streets of Istanbul after Haniyeh’s killing. Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran earlier today. Turkey condemned the assassination, saying the attack aimed to spread the Israeli war in Gaza on a regional level. “It has been revealed once again that the government of Netanyahu has no intention of achieving peace,” Turkey’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Although the strike on Haniyeh was widely assumed to have been carried out by Israel, Israel made no claim of responsibility and said it would make no comment on the killing. Source: AlJazeera

Syria warned that Israel’s continued disregard for international laws and its failure to comply with Security Council and General Assembly resolutions threatens regional and international peace and security. “The events over the past few days’ highlight that Israeli war criminals have decided to continue their bloody attacks to plunge the region into a full-scale war, benefiting from unlimited US support at the expense of international peace and security and the lives and blood of innocent people,” said Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, Qusai Al-Dahhak, during a Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East. He blamed Israel…