Category: General

Riyadh– The General Authority for Statistics’ (GASTAT) released today on its official website the results of Consumer Price Index and Wholesale Price Index for May 2022.

According to the authority, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.2% in May 2022 compared to May 2021, slightly below April’s inflation rate of 2.3%. The main driver of CPI inflation in May were the higher prices of food and beverages (+4.2%) and transport (+4.0%).

Food and beverage prices increased by 4.2%, mainly due to food prices (4.6%), and in particular meat prices (+3.4%). Food and beverages prices were the main driver of the inflation rate in May 2022.

Transport prices increased by 4.0%, mainly due to the increase in purchase of vehicles prices by 4.7%, which can be attributed to the increase in motor cars prices (+4.7%).

Personal goods and services prices increased by 2.1%, mainly resulting from the increase in prices of wedding hall rental (+17.2%). Education prices increased by 6.2%, mainly resulting from the increase in secondary education fees by 13.8%. Restaurants and hotels prices increased by 4.1%, due to the increase in catering services prices by 3.9%. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels prices increased by 0.5%, as a result of the increase in rents for housing by 0.5%.

On the other hand, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 10.2% compared to the same month in 2021, down from 10.7% in April. The increase resulted mainly from the increase in other transportable goods prices (+12.0%).

Other transportable goods increased by 12.0%, due to the increase of basic chemicals prices by 56.8%, and refined petroleum products prices by 7.7%.

Metal products, machinery and equipment prices increased by 7.7%, due to higher prices of basic metals (10.8%), and general- purpose machinery prices (12.2%).

Agriculture and fishery products prices increased by 17.1%, which resulted mainly from higher prices of agricultural products (19.4%), and live animals and animal products (13.1%).

Food products, beverages, tobacco and textiles prices increased by 8.3%, as a result of the increase in the prices of meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, oils and fats (20.7%).

Ores and minerals prices went up by 8.6%, due to the increase in stones and sand prices (8.6%).

GASTAT is the only official statistical reference for statistical data and information in Saudi Arabia. It executes all the statistical work, in addition to the technical oversight of the statistical sector. It also designs and implements field surveys, conducts statistical studies and researches, analyzes data and information, in addition to the documentation and archiving works of information and statistical data that cover all aspects of life in Saudi Arabia from its multiple sources.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Hajjah, Yemen– The mobile medical clinics of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in Abas District in Hajjah Governorate have offered medical services to 320 beneficiaries between May 25 and 31, 2022.

Medicines were prescribed for 157 beneficiaries, while 53 patients visited the nursing services department, in addition to implementing two garbage disposal activities.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Dakar– The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) participated with the delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 17th Trade Fair of the OIC Member States, held on June 13-19, 2022 in Dakar, Senegal.

SFD participates in the Trade Fair, along with the Ministry of Investment, the General Authority of Foreign Trade, the Saudi Export Development Authority, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Saudi Export-Import Bank, the Saudi Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization, and the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, in addition to the national companies from private sector.

The main goal of the Trade Fair is to introduce the products, industries and services of the OIC member states, to raise the level of trade exchange, to promote the investment opportunities among the member states and to deepen cooperation in various economic fields among the member states.

During its participation, SFD highlighted its development efforts in developing countries for more than 48 years as SFD has supported 84 developing countries around the world since its inception. These efforts contributed to raising the commercial level in the beneficiary countries, and the growth and prosperity of their economic and social conditions. Through its cumulative activity over the past years, SFD has opened up new horizons for the Kingdom’s international partnership through non-oil exports and support for domestic content.

The SFD has a proven track record of contributing to the advancement of the economic sector through development projects and programs that promote sustainable development and support trade exchanges.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (SDAIA), represented by the National Information Center, continues to offer its technological services to pilgrims benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative, which is implemented in Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Morocco, to facilitate travel procedures from the initiative lounge at these countries’ airports in a record time.

SDAIA offers several services under the Makkah Route Initiative, which include: developing a set of high-privacy technological systems in a way that accords with service requirements, such as borders system, Hajj system and passengers registration system, offering technological support through work groups that include engineers and technicians round the clock for SDAIA devices and systems, represented by the national information center in the five countries benefiting from the initiative.

The technical teams of the national information center in these countries seek to ensure technical and technological preparedness for stations of completing the procedures of pilgrims included in the initiative through more than 60 work stations and more than 20 mobile bags that are equipped with biometrics and cameras that operate as mobile work stations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Dammam– Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern region patronized today the graduation ceremony of the first batch of male and female students of the Saudi Culinary Academy (ZADK) at the headquarters of Asharqia Chamber.

On the occasion, he handed over the graduation certificates to the graduates of the Saudi Diploma in Culinary Art.

The graduation certificates are approved by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) and the Swiss Academy and thus, the graduates become qualified to become professional chefs with international standards, in line with achieving the goals of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 in youth empowerment programs in various fields of life.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Brussels– The Saudi-Belgian Parliamentary Friendship Committee at the Shura Council, headed by Dr. Ayman Saleh M. Fadel, the Council’s Member and Chairman of the Committee held a meeting with Chairman of the Domestic Affairs and Public Services and Affairs and Chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee at the Belgian Federal Parliament and Head of the Belgian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Samuel Cogliati and Belgian MP Peter De Roover.

The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Belgian Parliament here today on the sidelines of the Saudi-Belgian Parliamentary Friendship Committee’s current visit to the European Parliament.

During the meeting, Dr. Fadel highlighted the importance of enhancing joint action between the Shura Council and the Belgian Federal Parliament to contribute to enhancing parliamentary relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Belgium to result in stronger ties between them in all fields.

They also discussed several topics of mutual interest between the two countries to realize joint interests and play a role in developing bilateral ties in all fields, mainly parliamentary relations between the Shura Council and Belgian Federal Parliament.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Ministry of Culture is scheduled to organize “International Opera Festival”, which will be held for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Abu Baker Salem Stage in Boulevard Riyadh City between June 18 and 20 with the participation of international opera stars.

The festival will include a special exhibition for opera with classic arts and associated possessions, such as fashion, and opera history with its musical instruments, with having an interactive monitor that allows visitors to know about the opera works, performers and actors around the world, where it will include international opera shows and opera performances from across the world that will be displayed for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to listen to old and rare opera music through specialized areas and places and shed light on the top opera theaters.

The festival will offer educational workshops on several topics, such as: opera singing, theoretical and practical explanation on the mechanisms of making sounds in this art, acquainting the public with orchestra and the history of musical instruments, opera history and a workshop on playing piano.

Those interested in attending the festival can buy tickets through: https://mocevents.ticketmx.com/en/d/1780/international-opera-festival.

Organizing the festival is supported by the Quality of Life Program, which is a program for realizing the Saudi Vision 2030, and is part of the ministry’s keenness to open new cultural windows through hosting international cultural event with various art fields to enrich the cultural scene in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provide qualitative options for the Saudi audience.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Royal Court issued today the following statement:

“A Royal Court Statement”

Upon the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to enhance the bilateral historic relations and strategic partnership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and The United States of America, and reflecting the shared desire to develop the partnership in all fields, President Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States of America will be conducting an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on July 15-16, 2022.

During the visit, President Biden will meet with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister, to discuss areas of bilateral cooperation as well as joint efforts to address regional and global challenges. On the second day of the visit, July 16,2022, the schedule of the visit will include President Biden attending a joint summit, convened by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, His Majesty the King of Jordan, His Excellency the President of Egypt, and His Excellency the Prime Minister of Iraq.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Tokyo, June 14, 2022, SPA– Asian shares fell across the board Tuesday after Wall Street tumbled into a bear market, indicating that major U.S. benchmarks and individual stocks have fallen 20% or more from a recent high for a sustained period of time, the Associated Press reported.

Benchmarks fell in Japan, Australia, South Korea and China. The Japanese yen’s continuing slide against the dollar paused.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 shed 1.8% to 26,496.91. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 4.3% to 6,634.00 after reopening from a holiday on Monday. South Korea’s Kospi lost 1.0% to 2,479.83. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 0.4% to 20,990.98, while the Shanghai Composite edged down 1.2% to 3,217.72.

Adding to worries about the fragile Japanese economy is the sliding yen, recently at 135, the lowest level against the U.S. dollar since 1998. The U.S. dollar rose to 134.62 Japanese yen from 134.46 yen, as the yen’s weakness was mitigated somewhat by Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda’s comments expressing concern about its decline.

The euro cost $1.0426, up from $1.0409.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude fell 22 cents to $120.71 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained 26 cents to $120.93 on Monday.

Brent crude, the international standard, slipped 29 cents to $121.98 a barrel.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Khartoum– King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Sunday concluded the voluntary medical project to combat blindness and causing diseases in Nyala City in Sudan in cooperation with Al-Basar International Foundation.

The voluntary medical team affiliated with KSrelief checked on 4,000 cases and conducted 441 surgeries, in addition to distributing 1,750 eyeglasses.

This campaign is a continuation of projects concerned with combating blindness, which are implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, for limited income families in several brotherly and friendly countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama– King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain ordered a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday, appointing 17 ministers, Bahrain News Agency reported.

The royal order appointed Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure; Jamil Humaidan as Minister of Labor; Zayed Al-Zayani as Industry and Commerce Minister; Wael Al-Mubarak as Minister for Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs; Dr. Mohammed bin Daina as Oil and Environment Minister; Mohammed Al-Kaabi as Transportation and Communications Minister; Ibrahim Al-Hawaj as Minister of Works; Yousef Khalaf as Minister of Legal Affairs; Osamah Al-Osfoor as Minister of Social Development; Yasser Humaidan as Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs; Dr. Jalila Jawad as Minister of Health; Nawaf Al-Maawdah as Minister of Justie, Islamic Affairs and Endowments; Hamad Al-Malki as Minister of Cabinet’s Affairs; Amna Al-Rumaihi as Minister of Housing and Urban Planning; Noor Al-Khulaif as Minister of Sustainable Development; Fatima Al-Sairafi as Minister of Tourism and Dr. Ramzan Al-Nuaimi as Minister of Media Affairs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Saudi-Iraqi joint maneuvers “Arab Brothers” kicked off yesterday between the Saudi and Iraqi land troops, at the Prince Khalid bin Sultan Center for exercises of command centers in the northern region.

The drill was inaugurated in the presence of Commander of the Northern Region Major General Saleh Al-Zahrani and several officers of the Saudi and Iraqi sides.

The nine-day exercise is part of the exercises of the command centers that enable participants to deal with the system of the command and control systems with various kinds and training on applying the procedures of swift intervention to deal with events that the command of the drill planned.

Major General Al-Zahrani stressed that the exercise aims at enhancing cooperation and exchanging military expertise and experiments between the two brotherly countries and is part of the scheduled training plan that the Saudi Armed Forces implement with the forces of brotherly and friendly countries with the aim of increasing the level of mortal preparedness and exchanging successful military expertise and experiments.

Source: Saudi Press Agency