RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi has stressed the importance of expanding trade with Thailand. The minister, who is also chairman of the General Authority for Foreign Trade, recently concluded his visit to Thailand where talks included the participation of nine government agencies and 85 private sector entities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. Al-Qasabi said the two nations have been bolstering ties over the past few years with visits, forums, exhibitions and conferences ..read more

“I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas” is a captivating book by New York-based author Alessandra Olanow. Her book was published in 2020 and talks about a self-discovery journey and resilience. Through her beautifully crafted stories and storytelling, she takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and invites them to learn through the unexpected experiences that shape their lives ..read more

Author: W. H. Auden Edited by Alan Jacobs “The Shield of Achilles,” which won the National Book Award in 1956, may well be W. H. Auden’s most important, intricately designed, and unified book of poetry. In addition to its famous title poem, which reimagines Achilles’s shield for the modern age, when war and heroism have changed beyond recognition, the book also includes two sequences—“Bucolics” and “Horae Canonicae”—that Auden believed to be among his most significant work ..read more

NEW DELHI: India’s top court gave temporary bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a graft case on Friday, allowing him to campaign in the ongoing general elections, boosting the opposition alliance of which he is a prominent figure. The Supreme Court said Kejriwal — a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi — would be out on bail until June 1, the last day of the nationwide seven-phase vote, and would have to return to pre-trial detention on June 2 ..read more

JEDDAH: Israeli troops pushed further into Rafah in southern Gaza on Friday as its tanks split the city in two and encircled the eastern half ..read more

WASHINGTON: A long-awaited State Department report on Friday criticized Israel’s use of US weapons in the Gaza war but did not find enough evidence of violations to block shipments. The report said it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel has used weapons in ways inconsistent with international humanitarian law but that the United States could not reach “conclusive findings ..read more

RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Air Force on Friday ended its participation in the “Desert Flag” multinational air exercise at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, the Kingdom’s defense ministry said. The RSAF took part alongside forces from a number of friendly countries. Lt. Col. Adel Abu Malha, commander of the air force group participating in the exercise, said that the drill achieved its objectives — the exchange of military experience, boosting readiness and combat efficiency, and strengthening relations with the participating forces ..read more

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a resolution recognizing that the State of Palestine, currently an observer state, qualifies for full membership of the organization. The 193-member assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution, which also recommended that the Security Council reconsider the matter “favorably” and grant Palestine most of the rights and benefits that come with full membership ..read more

RIYADH: The concept of sustainable living has gained significant traction in recent years as individuals and communities strive to reduce their environmental impact.   In Saudi Arabia, where rapid urbanization and economic growth have led to increased energy consumption and waste, the importance of adopting green living practices cannot be overstated.    ..read more

CAIRO: Digital transformation is on the cusp as regional companies join hands to further boost this technological development across the Middle East and North Africa ..read more