LONDON: The United Kingdom recorded 60,916 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and 830 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus, according to official data.
Monday’s data had shown 58,784 new coronavirus infections and 407 deaths.
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UK reports 60,916 new COVID-19 cases, 830 deaths
UK reports 60,916 new COVID-19 cases, 830 deaths
Ukrainian firm DTEK seeks Saudi partnerships to enhance European energy security
RIYADH: Ukraine is actively seeking financial partnerships with Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy, focusing on cleantech, agriculture, and energy, according to a senior executive.
In an interview with Arab News, Maxim Timchenko, CEO of Ukrainian energy company DTEK, revealed that high-level governmental talks with the Public Investment Fund and other Saudi institutions regarding capital deployment in the country were in progress.
He said: “The main area of what we are discussing with PIF and other institutions is the deployment of capital in Ukraine and participation in cleantech, IT, agriculture, and energy sectors. These are the priorities where we work together so that you can be part of the recovery of Ukraine.”
Timchenko also outlined a recent meeting between DTEK representatives and the CEO of ACWA Power. They discussed potential opportunities for collaboration in Ukraine and other European countries.
“We have operating assets. We have some solar and wind parks in development. We want to be very active in battery storage and flexible capacity investment in the grid, and we disclosed all this, all these plans to ACWA Power and CEO,” Timchenko stated.
He added that they agreed to continue the dialogue at the government level because decisions needed to be made regarding the intensity at which ACWA Power could deploy capital in Ukraine and European projects.
Timchenko noted that discussions on May 17 primarily focused on establishing financial partnerships with Saudi Arabia to support Ukraine’s economic diversification.
“Ukraine has the second-largest deposits of natural gas on the European continent, and of course, your technologies, your resources, and knowledge of your companies will be very helpful to explore all this potential in the gas and oil industry in Ukraine,” the firm’s CEO said.
He added, “For us, it’s important to develop clean technologies and renewables, as we already discussed, but as well as become one of the major suppliers of natural gas to the European continent, and I think this is the area where we can build partnerships that your companies will come to Ukraine.”
Timchenko stressed that Ukraine and the firm are seeking investment opportunities from Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the fight between Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk and British boxer Tyson Fury, held in Riyadh on May 18.
“Today’s a very important event, not only for the boxing world, but for our country and for Saudi Arabia, and we are very thankful to your country for hosting this important event,” he said.
Timchenko added, “That it, the first time in over the last 25 years, we have this unified fight, regional absolute champion and in boxing world today and I think, we’re here together with our team, with Usyk’s team to raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine. Necessity to support us.”
These partnerships could position Ukraine as a major supplier of clean energy to Europe, with Saudi Arabia playing a significant role through its financial resources and strategic alignment.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, has invested over €1.5 billion ($1.63 billion) in renewables, establishing itself as a leader in the sector.
The company’s strategy aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision for green transition and clean technologies.
Tourist couple injured in shooting in India’s Kashmir amid elections
- Condition of Indian couple from Jaipur city is said to be stable, police say
- India is in a marathon election with two Kashmir seats to be contested on May 20, 25
SRINAGAR: A tourist couple was injured in India’s Kashmir after militants fired on them late on Saturday night, police said, ahead of voting scheduled in the volatile region for India’s ongoing election.
The couple from the Indian city of Jaipur was evacuated to the hospital and the area where the attack took place was cordoned off, Kashmir police said on social media. The condition of the injured tourists is said to be stable, they said.
India is in the middle of a marathon election with the remaining two seats in Kashmir going to polls on May 20 and May 25.
Voters turned out in large numbers for polling in the first seat in Srinagar on May 13, reversing the trend of low vote counts in the first polls since Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is skipping elections in Kashmir for the first time since 1996 saying it will support regional parties instead.
Major parties in Kashmir, the National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have focused on restoration of semi-autonomy in their campaigns.
Analysts and opposition parties say the BJP is not contesting elections in Kashmir because it fears the outcome will contradict its narrative of a more peaceful and integrated region since 2019.
In a separate incident, unknown militants shot dead former village headman and BJP party member Ajiaz Ahmad Sheikh in Shopian district on Saturday.
The last major attack on tourists in Kashmir had happened in 2017 when a Hindu pilgrimage bus was targeted, killing eight people.
Sky’s the limit: Saudi Arabia’s Future Aviation Forum 2024 will help fuel Kingdom’s Vision 2030
RIYADH: Aviation leaders and key figures from across the globe will convene in Riyadh for the Future Aviation Forum 2024, a three-day event highlighting the strides in global air travel innovation, coinciding with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to generate $100 billion from the sector by 2030.
The event, centered on the theme “Elevating Global Connectivity,” will unite more than 5,000 experts and leaders in aviation from over 100 countries, including ministers, regulators, and manufacturers, as well as representatives from airlines and airports.
Led by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the event is set to take place from May 20 to 22 and will highlight various projects and incentives aimed at attracting investments into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing aerospace sector.
This includes investment projects across areas such as airports, airlines, and ground services, as well as cargo, and logistics, which will be highlighted on the sidelines of the forum’s Investment Showcase.
The $100 billion in opportunities includes more than $50 billion earmarked for airports, around $40 billion for new aircraft orders, and $10 billion allocated to other projects.
Building on the success of the 2022 edition, which witnessed the signing of over 50 agreements and deals totaling $2.7 billion, this year’s forum will showcase commercial announcements alongside roadmap presentations and specialized panel sessions focusing on general aviation.
Minister for Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser will inaugurate FAF24 and said: “Saudi Arabia is offering unparalleled aviation investment opportunities globally. The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to triple passenger numbers, connect to over 250 destinations, and manage 330 million passengers and 4.5 million tonnes of cargo by 2030.”
The Investment Showcase at the forum will be inaugurated by the Minister of Investment Khaled Al-Falih.
“Saudi Arabia is the world’s new investment hub, targeting $3.3 trillion in investment by 2030. Aviation is a key investment sector and enabler of the Kingdom’s broader economic transformation,” Al-Falih said, according to a press release.
He added: “The aviation investment showcase will provide investors with unparalleled access to participate in the Kingdom’s transformation.”
The showcase will include investor briefings, meetings, and panels on major projects including the massive six-runway King Salman International Airport in Riyadh and public-private partnerships for the Abha, Taif, Hail and Qassim international airports.
It will also feature opportunities in cargo and logistics, advanced air mobility, and business aviation. Aviation suppliers will be briefed on expansion plans for the new airline Riyadh Air, as well as leading regional airlines including Saudia, Flynas, and Flyadeal.
The main sponsors of the forum include Saudia Group, Matarat, King Salman International Airport, and Saudi Air Navigation Services.
Global aviation executives from companies including Boeing, Airbus, Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, and Embraer will also attend the event.
Additionally, GACA is set to unveil a General Aviation roadmap setting how to increase the sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product tenfold to $2 billion by 2030.
The plan covers the business jet segment, including charter, private, and corporate aircraft, and will support Saudi Arabia’s development as a global high-value business and tourist destination.
The new roadmap comes after Saudi Arabia revised its 2030 tourism target upwards from 100 to 150 million visitors in October 2023.
“The General Aviation roadmap will turbocharge the sector within the Kingdom, transforming infrastructure and regulations, simultaneously developing, promoting, and enhancing general aviation services in the market,” said Abdulaziz-Al Duailej, president of GACA.
He added: “GACA looks forward to hosting general aviation investors, operators, and service providers at the Future Aviation Forum in May, where we will launch this ambitious plan to global audiences.”
The roadmap is designed to bolster private aviation by facilitating infrastructure investments and streamlining regulations for aircraft owners, lessors, investors, operators, and service providers.
This initiative comes after GACA’s decision to eliminate ‘empty-leg restrictions’ and simplify economic license requirements for operators and investors in October 2023, aimed at enhancing the general aviation sector.
The event will also cover industry themes including business, talent and the future, collaborations, and ecosystems, as well as sustainability, innovation, and technology.
High-level speakers such as Fadi Al-Buhairan, CEO of Special Integrated Logistics Zone, Gaith Al-Gaith, CEO of FlyDubai, and Mohammed Al-Maghlouth, CEO of Matarat Holding, are set to participate in the forum.
Suliman Al-Mazroua, CEO of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, Bander Al-Mohanna, managing director and CEO of Flynas, and Fahd Cynndy, CEO of Saudia Technic are also due to take part.
Following the opening remarks on the first day, the panel titled “Ministerial Speech: Sky High Tourism – Unlocking Destinations and Cultural Exchange Now and in the Future” will take place, followed by a special conversation with Boeing and a spotlight session on the New Future of Aviation.
The event will then highlight the future of airports and logistics with the plenary sessions “Airports Council International Special Address: Airports of the Future” and “Insight Piece: Navigating Tomorrow – Customer Focus, Digitalization, and AI as Enablers for the Future.”
The first day will also address securing the future of human capital in aviation with the sessions “Cargo and Logistics Town Hall: An Era of Growth, Evolution, and Opportunity” and “Aviation Human Capital Now and for the Future – Meeting Our Industry’s Most Critical Challenge.”
On the second following the key address, a conversation session with Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China will take place followed by a panel exploring what is the “Future of Sustainability in Aviation and Tourism.”
It will then highlight a panel discussion on “Privatization, Investment and Funding – The Evolving Financial and Infrastructure Landscape,” which will then be followed by a conversation with Embraer.
The second day will spotlight the future of civil aviation with the sessions “Global Civil Aviation Spotlight: Tonga and Nepal,” “Civil Aviation Authority Director General Panel: Aviation – Accelerating from Economic Enabler to Sustainability Champion,” and an insight piece on “How Safe Are Our Skies.”
The third day will feature interactive workshops on assistance for aircraft accident victims and their families.
Saudi Arabia’s RSIFF hosts ‘Women in Cinema’ gala in Cannes
- Rosie Huntington Whitley, Richard Gere, Minnie Driver, Alexa Chung, Uma Thurman and Eiza González attended the event, among other international celebrities
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) hosted the “Women in Cinema” Gala in partnership with Vanity Fair Europe in Cannes on Saturday, attracting celebrities from across the world.
The glitzy gala dinner took place after RSIFF presented the “Women in Cinema” panel discussion during the Variety Global Conversations event earlier in the day.
The panel featured Egyptian actress and model Salma Abu Deif, Indian actress Kiara Advani, Thai actress, model and singer Sarocha Chankimha (also known as Freen), Saudi actress Adhwa Fahad, Saudi singer and actress Aseel Omran, and French-Senegalese director Ramata Toulaye-Sy. The talents spoke about their early beginnings, their career breakthroughs and their sources of inspiration during the panel talk.
Those stars and many more attended the evening’s festivities at the iconic Hotel Du Cap.
“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” actress Eiza González, model Ikram Abdi, supermodel Naomi Campbell and actress Dorra Zarrouk were among the star-studded guest list.
Rosie Huntington Whitley, Richard Gere, Minnie Driver, Raya Abirashed, Alexa Chung, Wallis Day, Lucas Bravo and Uma Thurman also attended the event.
“The Red Sea International Film Festival (#RedSeaIFF) and Vanity Fair Europe reunited to host the #WomenInCinema Gala, championing the achievements of rising female talent on both sides of the camera who are reshaping the film industry in Saudi Arabia, Africa, Asia and the Arab world,” the Red Sea Film Foundation posted on Instagram.
Saudi Arabia is playing a key role at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, having supported four projects that are screening at the event.
“Norah,” “The Brink of Dreams,” “To A Land Unknown” and “Animale” will screen as part of the Un Certain Regard, Directors’ Fortnight and Critic’s Week programs at Cannes. The Red Sea Film Foundation supported the projects through the Red Sea Fund and the Red Sea Souk.
RSIFF CEO Mohammed Al-Turki has been spotted on multiple red carpets throughout the event so far and walked the opening night’s red carpet alongside Jomana Al-Rashid, CEO of the Saudi Research and Media Group.
Polling for NA-148 by-election in Pakistan’s Multan underway
- Ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani vacated NA-148 seat after getting elected Senate chairman
- Tough competition expected between SIC’s Taimur Malik and PPP’s Ali Musa Gillani
ISLAMABAD: Polling commenced for Multan’s NA-148 on Sunday, state-run media reported, with thousands expected to cast their ballots in today’s by-election.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani won the NA-148 constituency in Multan in the contentious Feb. 8 national election. However, Gillani had to vacate the seat after he was elected to the post of Senate chairman in April.
A total of 444,231 registered voters in the constituency are expected to exercise their right to cast votes in 275 polling stations and 933 polling booths set up for the polling exercise. Pakistan’s election regulator has set up 485 polling booths for men and 448 for women, state-run Radio Pakistan said.
Voting commenced at 08:00 a.m. and is expected to continue till 5:00 p.m.
“People in good numbers are arriving at the polling stations to cast their votes at the earliest due to hot weather,” Radio Pakistan said.
“Comprehensive security arrangements have been made for free, fair and transparent polls.”
Eight candidates including the Imran Khan-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) leader Taimur Malik and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ali Qasim Gillani are vying for the seat.
The Feb. 8 election was marred by a countrywide shutdown of mobile phone services. The results of the polls, which were declared unfair by Khan and his PTI party, threw up a hung parliament in which no political party emerged with the majority to form its government.
Khan’s PTI, which formed the largest bloc in the National Assembly after winning over 90 seats, said it won a two-thirds majority but was denied victory by Pakistan’s election regulator, accusing it of manipulating votes. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) denied the allegations and so did the caretaker government.
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