Author: News Desk

Saudi Minister of Finance Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan and the Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mubarak, participated in 2nd meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. The meeting was held under the Indonesian presidency, on the sidelines of 2022 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, SPA reported. They discussed key issues related to significant changes in the global economic outlook since the February meeting, including the economic and financial implications of the crisis in Ukraine, the epidemic prevention, preparedness and response mechanism. The minister touched…

His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah opened the second edition of the Emirati Book Fair, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), in cooperation with the Emirates Writers Union. His highness launched his latest historical book, issued by Al Qasimi Publications, titled “The Struggle of the Zend Princes and the Demise of the King”. The Ruler of Sharjah signed the new book and kindly gifted a number of signed copies to senior Emirati officials, intellectuals and writers, WAM reported. In his new historical book, Shaikh Sultan relies on narrating the…

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 96th birthday at her Sandringham estate on Thursday as gun salutes rang out across London and Windsor and military bands played “Happy Birthday”. Britain’s longest serving monarch, who celebrates a historic platinum jubilee this year, was pictured with two white ponies in a photo released for the occasion. Government ministers joined members of the royal family in sending their best wishes to the queen, who has stepped back from most public duties this year over concerns about her health. She has travelled from Windsor Castle, west of London, to spend her birthday at her estate in…

President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the biggest battle of the Ukraine war on Thursday, declaring the port of Mariupol “liberated” after nearly two months of siege, despite hundreds of defenders still holding out inside a giant steel works. In a televised meeting with his defence minister inside the Kremlin, Putin said there was no need for a final confrontation with the last defenders who were boxed in after surviving nearly two months of Russia’s siege. “I consider the proposed storming of the industrial zone unnecessary,” he told Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in a televised meeting at the Kremlin. “I…

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday proposed a “global security initiative” that upholds the principle of “indivisible security”, a concept also endorsed by Russia, although he gave no details of how it would be implemented. During a video speech to the annual Boao Asia Forum, Xi said that the world should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, while paying attention to the “legitimate” security concerns of all. “We should uphold the principle of indivisibility of security, build a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture, and oppose the building of national security on the basis of insecurity in…

Germany is examining what extra maintenance and ammunition its stock of ageing Marder armoured infantry fighting vehicles will need to be rendered fit for deployment by the Ukrainian military, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. On the second day of a tour of the Baltic states, Baerbock addressed the growing chorus of criticism of Germany’s apparent foot-dragging on delivering the weaponry Kyiv says it needs to fend off Russian attack. “There are no taboos for us with regard to armoured vehicles and other weaponry that Ukraine needs,” she said. Berlin’s priority was to ensure Ukraine quickly got older Soviet-designed kit that…

Denmark’s prime minister on Thursday pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine during a trip to Kyiv, where she and her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez were meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a gesture of support. Mette Frederiksen also visited the badly damaged town of Borodyanka, which has been retaken after Russian troops pulled back from the region around Kyiv. “We intend to deliver more weapons to Ukraine because that is what is most needed,” Frederiksen told the Danish channel TV2 as she walked around the town surrounded by armed soldiers. Frederiksen and her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez both arrived in…

European Council President Charles Michel pledged European solidarity with Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Wednesday and said justice must be done for alleged Russian war crimes. Michel, the head of the European Council, which represents the European Union’s 27 member states, visited the town of Borodianka northwest of Kyiv before holding talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the capital. Ukraine suspects that Russian troops carried out atrocities in Borodianka and Bucha, another town near the capital. Moscow denies targeting civilians and has described the allegations as fabricated by Kyiv to justify more sanctions against it. “There are…

Ukraine proposed talks with Moscow over evacuating troops and civilians from Mariupol after a Russian surrender-or-die ultimatum expired on Wednesday, leaving many trapped at a steel plant, the last main stronghold of resistance. A few dozen civilians managed to leave the strategically important southeastern port in a small bus convoy, according to Reuters witnesses, escaping the fiercest battle of the nearly eight-week-long war. A Ukrainian marine commander, Serhiy Volny, said fighters there may not be able to hold out for much longer. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said an estimated 1,000 civilians are also sheltering at the steel works. Ukraine is…

Top officials from Britain, the United States and Canada walked out on Russia’s representatives at a Group of 20 meeting on Wednesday and many members spoke to condemn Moscow’s war in Ukraine, exposing deep divisions in the bloc of major economies. Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who chaired the meeting of G20 finance officials in Washington, acknowledged the body faced unprecedented challenges but called for cooperation to overcome headwinds slowing global growth. “This is an extraordinary situation,” Indrawati told reporters after the daylong meeting. “It’s not business as usual, a very dynamic and challenging one.” The G20 includes Western…