Author: Steven Sahiounie

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil revenues rose by 9 percent to reach SR111.51 billion ($29.73 billion) in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023, the Ministry of Finance said. In its quarterly budget performance report, the ministry said the Kingdom posted total revenues of SR293.43 billion in the same quarter, while its public spending amounted to SR305.82 billion. According to official data, total revenues increased 4 percent as compared to Q1 of 2023. In the first quarter of the current year, the Kingdom posted a budget deficit of SR12.39 billion with oil revenues reaching SR181.92…

Mohamed’s disappearance adds to the deepening despair in El Hencha, situated just 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa

Kuwait – The decrease in oil prices led to a 10% decline in Kuwait’s trade surplus value in January compared to the same period last year, dropping from 1.2 billion dinars to 1.1 billion dinars, reports Al- Qabas daily.

The Saudi car market has solidified its position as a leading automotive market, making it one of the top 20 car markets globally.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have reportedly been raising concerns over their own reserves held in the West The confiscation of frozen Russian assets could set a dangerous precedent in international law, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia warned the EU at a recent meeting of G20 finance ministers, the Financial Times reported on Friday. The US and its allies have blocked around $300 billion in Russian central bank assets as part of sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. Most of the funds are held in the EU and, while Washington has insisted that international law allows for the appropriation of…

A group of foreign bondholders have taken steps to force Ukraine to begin repaying its debts as soon as next year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. If they succeed, Kiev could hemorrhage $500 million every year on interest payments alone.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says the Israeli regime’s decision to ban Al Jazeera is a bid to avenge the international news network’s coverage of the war in Gaza and its campaign to expose Israel’s crimes in the territory. Hamas issued a statement on Sunday saying that the decision by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet earlier in the day to shut down local activities of Al Jazeera was a flagrant violation of freedom of press. It said Netanyahu’s decision represents a war on those journalists who have been subject to Israel’s systematic terrorism and its efforts to cover up the…

At least three civilians have been killed and five others sustained injuries when Israeli military aircraft carried out an airstrike against a village in southern Lebanon close to the border with the northern flank of the 1948 Israeli-occupied territories. Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television news channel reported that the aerial assault targeted Meiss Ej Jabal village on Sunday. The Meiss Ej Jabal municipality chief, Abdelmoneim Chukair, said the fatalities included a couple and their child, the latest deadly incident in the border region. Back on March 27, at least seven people were killed when Israeli warplanes bombed an emergency center in southern Lebanon. Two…

The Resistance states that its delegation handed its response to the mediator in Egypt and Qatar, after in-depth and serious talks took place. After the end of the negotiations, the Palestinian Resistance Hamas affirmed that the negotiations ended “a short while ago, and the delegation will leave Cairo tonight, to consult with the movement’s leadership in Doha.” It further stated that its delegation handed its response to the mediator in Egypt and Qatar after in-depth and serious talks took place. It noted that it would act “with all positivity, responsibility, and our keenness and determination to reach an agreement that…

Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that member countries value their Islamic roots and aim to strengthen ties with other Islamic nations at all levels. “The GCC countries have always extended their hands for cooperation and to establish fruitful partnerships with all Islamic countries, believing in the importance of this deep connection derived from our culture, religion and prophetic tradition.” He made the comments Saturday during the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Banjul, the capital of Gambia. Delegations from the 57 OIC member states attended the conference, organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation…