Arab News
Established in 1975, the Saudi-based Arab News is the Middle East’s newspaper of record and the biggest English language daily in the Kingdom.
Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to finalize Nile dam deal in weeks. CAIRO/ADDIS ABABA: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan will agree a deal to fill the giant Nile dam in two to three weeks, Ethiopia’s water minister said on Saturday, a day after leaders from the three countries and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chairs the African Union held an online summit.
Pakistan to reopen Kartarpur Corridor on Monday — FM Qureshi. KARACHI: Pakistan’s cricket team will leave for its tour of England on Sunday without 10 players, after they tested positive for coronavirus for a second time, the country’s cricket board said Saturday.
The board chief executive Wasim Khan said the players can rejoin the squad of 18 players if they later test negative. After first testing positive this week, follow-up tests were given to Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Haider Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain and Kashif Bhatti. Pakistan to reopen Kartarpur Corridor on Monday — FM Qureshi. In China’s ‘Little Africa,’ a struggle to get back to business after lockdown. GHUANGZHOU, China: Mohammed has spent several weeks sleeping in his cramped trading booth in one of Guangzhou’s export centers after being kicked out of his apartment and forced into quarantine in April, but the Tanzanian trader says he is content to be in China.
As Africans in the Chinese metropolis were targeted that month in a coronavirus clampdown that sparked a diplomatic backlash, Guangzhou’s Xiaobei neighborhood — known as “Little Africa” — went into lockdown. Like many in the community, including those who were evicted from their dwellings, Mohammed said he is trying to return to normal life now that the lockdown has eased. “It happened, it was bad, but I just want to move on,” said Mohammed, who trades garments and shoes and like most people Reuters interviewed did not want to provide his full name given the sensitivity of the situation. Several African countries complained, and the US consulate advised African-Americans to avoid the city. Pakistani community welcomes Norwegian government award for two heroes of mosque attack. ISLAMABAD: Members of the Pakistani community in Norway said this week they were proud that two members of the community had been awarded the Medal of Noble Deed by the government for helping foil a gun attack on a local mosque last year.
Police in Karachi set feminist wheels in motion for women empowerment. ABOARD OCEAN VIKING: Leaning on the aft deck of the Ocean Viking, the humanitarian ship that picked them up in the Mediterranean on Thursday, a group of Pakistanis look back to watch the Libyan coast receding behind them.
And with it, the nightmare of torture, ill-treatment and kidnappings that they have witnessed or suffered. “For them, we are not human beings,” said Imran, one of 31 Pakistanis in the group of 51 migrants whose wooden boat was rescued on Thursday off the Italian island of Lampedusa, during an operation by the SOS Mediterranee ambulance boat. Indonesia battles dengue outbreak as COVID-19 persists. JAKARTA: Indonesia is battling a second deadly disease, dengue fever, which continues to infect its population way past the average peak recorded earlier this year, after efforts to prevent the outbreak were sidelined by anti-COVID-19 restrictions.
According to the Health Ministry, as of Monday there were 68,000 dengue cases across the nation, resulting in 446 deaths. Deserted tourism hotspots, such as Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara and Buleleng, Denpasar, and Badung in Bali are among the regions recording the most significant number of dengue infections. COVID-19 cases were also on the rise in Bali, which had 1,080 cases as of Monday. “Many hotels that are left empty may have become breeding grounds for mosquito populations,” Siti Nadia Tarmizi, the Health Ministry’s director for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, told Arab News. “They have always been in check with regular mosquito larvae controlling measures but, with workers off duty, the efforts have been largely unchecked.” Trump, Biden urged to show balance in Palestine-Israel policies. JAKARTA: Indonesia is battling a second deadly disease, dengue fever, which continues to infect its population way past the average peak recorded earlier this year, after efforts to prevent the outbreak were sidelined by anti-COVID-19 restrictions.
According to the Health Ministry, as of Monday there were 68,000 dengue cases across the nation, resulting in 446 deaths. Deserted tourism hotspots, such as Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara and Buleleng, Denpasar, and Badung in Bali are among the regions recording the most significant number of dengue infections. COVID-19 cases were also on the rise in Bali, which had 1,080 cases as of Monday. “Many hotels that are left empty may have become breeding grounds for mosquito populations,” Siti Nadia Tarmizi, the Health Ministry’s director for vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, told Arab News. “They have always been in check with regular mosquito larvae controlling measures but, with workers off duty, the efforts have been largely unchecked.” Erdogan continues to muzzle voices critical of his government. ANKARA: Turkey’s legal fraternity is opposing a bill that, if passed, will scuttle the effective functioning of the country’s bar associations — one of its few remaining bastions of free speech.
The presidents of 55 Turkish bar associations have been marching from their respective provinces toward Ankara against the proposed bill. The “March for Defense” began on June 19 and reached the Turkish capital on Sunday night. Soner Karademir, head of the bar association in the northern province of Giresun, walked through heavy rain for three days with his umbrella and judge’s robe alongside colleagues from across the country. Despite the protest remaining peaceful, police in Ankara blocked its movement in the early hours of Monday morning. End of medical referrals in Gaza impacts Palestinian patients. GAZA CITY: Omar Yaghi was not yet eight months old when he died; the first victim of the end of security coordination between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel.
Thousands of patients in the Gaza Strip now fear for their lives, because they cannot travel to receive treatment in hospitals in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Nesreen Al-Shawaf said that her 14-year-old son Saddam, who has leukemia, was not able to receive treatment in the Gaza Strip, and that he needed to travel to the West Bank. Madinah governor praises youth initiatives during pandemic.
JEDDAH: The Kingdom’s food security strategy succeeded in overcoming the global food supply crisis caused by COVID-19, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA).
“Despite the severity of the coronavirus pandemic crisis and its severe impact on the food supply chains in the world, the Kingdom has overcome this crisis through the strength and durability of its food and agricultural security,” said the minister for environment, water and agriculture, Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli. He praised citizens’ awareness for their responsible shopping and trust in the Kingdom, which helped to replenish food supplies. He also credited the efforts and cooperation between the MEWA and the private sector for raising production and marketing efficiency. “It all goes back to Saudi Arabia’s increase in lending volume to Saudi farmers, SR1.9 billion ($506.67 million) in 2019, which has helped the agriculture sector prosper. Madinah governor praises youth initiatives during pandemic.
Arab Coalition intercepts Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh. Attract foreign investment to ‘Make in Pakistan’ and sell to the world. Pakistan’s exports have remained range bound between $20-25 billion during the last decade. In the same period, South Asia’s total exports of goods and services increased by over 50 percent, Thailand’s by 45 percent, and Vietnam by four-fold. Not only is Pakistan’s performance weak compared to its competitors, but the portfolio of goods sold abroad remains concentrated in a few products, shipped out by a narrow band of exporters to a handful of markets. Also, rather than value-added finished products, primary and intermediate goods make up its exports. For example, 70 percent of agricultural products and 40 percent of textiles exports are primary commodities. Exports constitute less than 9 percent of Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP), ranking it on this measure among the bottom 10 of 193 UN member nations.
Pakistan comprises approximately 2.6 percent of the global population, yet its share of global GDP and exports is less than 0.4 percent and 0.11 percent respectively. Pakistan army’s Afghan diplomacy In these times of grim global outlooks, international relations in Central Asia are not the obvious place to start looking for succour; even less so in the wake of recent clashes between Indian and Chinese forces in Ladakh. There are justified concerns these may provide the spark to an already dry regional tinderbox. These fears should be set against and in part mitigated by some encouraging news regarding the thawing of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The voices of these two nations are too often unheard, yet they form the regional fulcrum around which the behemoths of the US, Russia, China and India spin.
It is important to remember that if the fulcrum breaks, everyone falls off. Hungary a land of opportunity for investors. While I do not minimize the hardships endured by many millions all over the planet or the economic devastation wreaked by a virus that respects no borders, I am optimistic that, once the coronavirus plague is tamed, most economies built on stable foundations, including that of my homeland the UAE, will experience spectacular economic rebounds.
People everywhere are anxious for their lives to return to normal and I can only imagine the celebrations once the threat is lifted. This plague will be beaten like all others before it, which is why my eyes are firmly fixed on the future. Amlak IPO is test of Saudis’ post-pandemic investment appetite. The historic initial public offering (IPO) of Saudi Aramco at the end of last year was expected to kick off a wave of IPOs in the Kingdom, as investors got the flotation bug and markets became more liquid and more comfortable with the concept of public offerings. The pandemic crisis has ensured that, so far, there has not exactly been a tsunami of offerings, but nonetheless the Kingdom has been the main arena for IPOs in the region. By far the biggest, raising some $700 million, was the listing by Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services Group on Tadawul. A smaller one, by Sumou Real Estate, raised about $48 million.
Iraqi football legend Radhi dies from COVID-19. NEW YORK: Tiz the Law won an unprecedented Belmont Stakes, claiming victory Saturday at the first race of a rejiggered Triple Crown schedule in front of eerily empty grandstands. The 3-year-old colt from upstate New York charged to the lead turning for home and now can set his sights on the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby and Oct. 3 Preakness. Liverpool look for quick Man City favor after derby deadlock.
Women bear the brunt of virus fallout. Germany climbing out of economic slump: Central bank. Germany climbing out of economic slump: Central bank. Blasts kill 7 people in southern and central Somalia. Post-virus recovery goes up in flames for Tunisian vendors. Saudi Arabia leads cuts as OPEC throttles production in May. Saudi Arabia leads cuts as OPEC throttles production in May. Egyptian hospital offers psychological support as part of coronavirus treatment. Israel’s Netanyahu mulls two-phase West Bank annexation – report. BEIRUT: The US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea met Lebanese Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti on Wednesday, as the country weighed the implications of the US Government’s Caesar Act, targeting people and businesses doing business with the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, for Lebanese companies operating in Syria.
DiplomaticQuarter: UK Embassy in Riyadh announces more London repatriation flights RIYADH: An emergency meeting of the Arab Ministerial Council for Tourism on Wednesday discussed challenges facing the region’s tourism sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts and culture jobs in Saudi Arabia get official status in national first. RABAT: More than 80 jobs in the arts and culture sector are to be given official occupational status in the Kingdom for the first time, a government minister has said. The announcement from Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan coincided with a virtual conference held on Wednesday by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Pakistan supports Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital. Pakistan supports Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital. Pakistan mulls use of dexamethasone to treat critical COVID-19 patients. Work together to overcome global crisis, says Saudi energy minister. Egyptian TikTok girls face criminal trial. UN denies it will halt operations in Lebanon. UN denies it will halt operations in Lebanon. Program to help Saudi health workers manage stress. JP Morgan’s roadmap toward an oil ‘supercycle’ How Middle East’s coronavirus crisis threatens the environment too. Arab coalition vows to take ‘rigorous measures’ against Houthis after latest drone attack. Arab coalition vows to take ‘rigorous measures’ against Houthis after latest drone attack. Work together to overcome global crisis, says Saudi energy minister. Why we travel through Qatar Airways?
Saudi property firm Amlak plans first post-coronavirus Riyadh IPO. Yemen aims to raise oil output 25% within months. Why Lebanon’s electricity crisis is so hard to fix. Tunisia’s PM decides against relying on more external debt, will freeze salaries. UK thanks Saudi Arabia for thousands of medical gowns in fight against COVID-19. Saudi interior minister praises efforts of hospitals in fight against COVID-19. Pakistan condemns attacks on two mosques in Kabul. Pakistan sets up helpline for blood and plasma donations as virus cases surge. Indian-Chinese cooperation key to reducing border tensions. The promising Saudi mining sector.
Pakistan’s ex-cricket captain Shahid Afridi contracts coronavirus. Hertz allowed to sell $1 billion in shares despite bankruptcy. AstraZeneca wins coronavirus vaccine deal to supply Europe. More than 20 dead in Afghan attacks ahead of planned peace talks. Police chief in US city resigns after officer kills black man. Gas fire kills 2 firefighters in India, forces evacuations. Tunisia lawmakers reject motion on French colonial rule. Health official says 15mln Iranians may have had coronavirus. Comic-Con Arabia to continue this year, virtually. 5,200 Madinah residents take part in COVID-19 testing initiative. Between the lines at the OPEC+ ‘Zoom comms’ Rules that light path to harmony in the workplace Dubai Meraas merger ‘will advance growth’ Which Airline to choose for frequent Traveling? Exposed: How Qatar Airways risked lives of flight attendants for coronavirus PR stunt. Saudi women rappers, singers to star in at-home concert on Instagram.
The revolution that sparked Iran’s hostility. Saudi interior ministry announces curfew hours change for Ramadan. Saudi Arabia’s active mass testing contains virus spread. Saudi film project to represent KSA in TFI virtual event. A day for the history books and one shale producers will want to forget. Turkey postpones S-400 missile activation date. Has coronavirus ended the era of American oil dominance? Saudi Arabia monitoring oil markets closely, prepared for additional measures. Trump vows to rescue US oil amid further crude market turmoil. Diplomats call Arab News an ‘indispensable’ resource. How Arab News helped support one Saudi woman’s dreams. The world’s best startups began in a garage… including Arab News.
Arab News’ 1970s ads a quirky trip down memory lane. When Sadat went to Israel. Coronavirus: Why has Italy’s poorer south fared better than the north? Case against deposed Qatari emir’s grandson Sheikh Talal Al-Thani ‘fabricated’ As Arabs, it’s important to tell our stories. 45 years of change, but news is still news. How Arab News, Saudi Arabia’s first English-language newspaper, was born. Saudi health minister calls for global task force to fight virus. Saudi artist draws on Grand Mosque’s closure for painting inspiration. Global oil market undergoing ‘historic shock,’ warns OPEC. Ankara makes offer to Washington to resolve Russian S-400 dispute. Lombardy has highest number of COVID-19 cases in Italy. US coronavirus battle evokes painful Syrian war memories for Arab American doctor. Lebanese government plans to repatriate citizens from the US. Human rights groups urge Israel to release virus-vulnerable Palestinian prisoners.
EU needs to start changing its bureaucratic ways. Saudi education ministry says students of all grades will progress to next year.