Saudi Naval Forces conclude military exercise with ministries of interior and energy

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations. (SPA)
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Updated 07 January 2023

Saudi Naval Forces conclude military exercise with ministries of interior and energy

Saudi Naval Forces conclude military exercise with ministries of interior and energy
  • The participants also included the Ministry of Interior, represented by Border Guard in the Eastern Region, and the Ministry of Energy

RIYADH: The Royal Saudi Naval Forces have concluded a five-day naval exercise at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail that included internal maneuvers and simulations, the Saudi defense ministry said on Friday.

In addition to the RSNF, represented by the Eastern Fleet, the participants in the exercise also included the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Border Guard in the Eastern Region, and the Ministry of Energy, represented by Saudi Aramco and Aramco Gulf Operations Company

The exercise was designed to help protect maritime lines of communication, improve the ability to confront threats to oil installations, guarantee freedom of maritime navigation, and enhance cooperation and coordination among the participating units.

It included a number of lectures, as well as training in ways to deal with floating mines, defend vital installations and oil fields, and confront unmanned boats and drones.

The director of the exercise, Rear Adm. Khalid Al-Shammari, said the exercise also aimed to increase the readiness of participating units, strengthen joint actions, raise levels of coordination, improve the exchange of information, and enhance joint leadership and communications, to help guarantee the security and safety of vital installations and oil fields, along with freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.


US First Lady Jill Biden steps out in a Reem Acra gown  

US First Lady Jill Biden steps out in a Reem Acra gown  
Updated 7 min 59 sec ago

US First Lady Jill Biden steps out in a Reem Acra gown  

US First Lady Jill Biden steps out in a Reem Acra gown  

DUBAI: US First Lady Jill Biden continued her longstanding relationship with Lebanese fashion designer Reem Acra by wearing a purple ensemble from the designer’s eponymous brand at a meeting with Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco this week.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by REEM ACRA (@reemacra)

“First Lady Dr. Jill Biden radiated elegance and poise as she met with Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasna of Morocco in Marrakech wearing a regal Reem Acra purple dress,” the label posted on Instagram. 

The fashion move comes mere days after Biden showed off another gown by Reem Acra at the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II and Rajwa Al-Hussein, nee Al-Saif, in Amman on Thursday.  

It was the same gown she previously stepped out in for a state dinner at the White House in honor of the South Korean president. 


Oil Updates — crude down as global economic backdrop outweighs Saudi output cut 

Oil Updates — crude down as global economic backdrop outweighs Saudi output cut 
Updated 27 min 3 sec ago

Oil Updates — crude down as global economic backdrop outweighs Saudi output cut 

Oil Updates — crude down as global economic backdrop outweighs Saudi output cut 

RIYADH: Oil prices edged lower early on Tuesday, coming off gains made the previous day as concerns about the global economic backdrop outweighed the supply worries raised when Saudi Arabia announced its biggest output cut in years. 

Brent crude futures slipped 70 cents, or 0.91 percent, to $76.01 a barrel by 10:00 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 74 cents, or 1.03 percent, to $71.41 a barrel. 

Brent gained as much as $2.60 on Monday and US crude as much as $3.30 after Saudi Arabia, the world’s top exporter, said at the weekend its output would drop by 1 million barrels per day to 9 million in July. 

The benchmarks pulled back, though, to more modest gains by the end of the day. 

Saudi Arabia raises July flagship crude price for Asia 

Saudi Arabia has increased the price of its flagship crude Arab Light to Asian buyers in July to a six-month high.  

The official selling price for July-loading Arab Light to Asia was increased by 45 cents a barrel from June to $3 a barrel over Oman/Dubai quotes, according to a statement issued by state oil giant Saudi Aramco. 

Meanwhile, Russian crude oil continued flooding into Asia at steep discounts. In May, China and India brought in an all-time-high volume of Russian crude, according to preliminary assessments from ship trackers. 

Saudi Arabia also raised the July OSPs of other grades to Asia, all by 45 cents from the June levels. For the second straight month, the price for Arab Extra Light is set lower than Arab Light, according to the price document, Reuters reported.  

For other regions, the top oil exporter increased its July Arab Light OSP to northwest Europe by 90 cents to $3 a barrel above ICE Brent. 

(With input from Reuters) 


Raheem Sterling: Manchester City ‘deserve’ Champions League glory

Raheem Sterling: Manchester City ‘deserve’ Champions League glory
Updated 33 min 21 sec ago

Raheem Sterling: Manchester City ‘deserve’ Champions League glory

Raheem Sterling: Manchester City ‘deserve’ Champions League glory
  • Chelsea star says his former club has everything it takes to finally get over the line against Inter Milan on Saturday

Raheem Sterling has backed former club Manchester City to round off their impressive campaign by achieving a historic Treble.

The Etihad outfit face Inter Milan in Saturday’s Champions League final, having already tasted Premier League and FA Cup success.

Sterling spent seven years at City, winning the league four times, and lifting the FA Cup and League Cup.

But the Champions League eluded the England winger and his team, with defeat to Chelsea — his current club — in 2021 the closest they came.

Manchester United are the only other English club to have achieved the Treble, back in 1999, and Sterling told Arab News exclusively: “I hope City do it.

“They’re a club that’s been fighting for the Champions League from my time there for many years and I think they are a club that deserves it.

“The quality that they have, they have been unlucky in previous years.

They’ve got the Premier League (and FA Cup) now and hopefully they can actually get the Champions League and finish it all off.”

The 28-year-old, who scored 131 goals for City — including 24 in the Champions League — before leaving for Chelsea last summer, added: “For me, it’s been the same at this club. First season I was there until now, it’s about consistency.

“For me, they are the best team — they’ve been the best for the last five, six years.

“I knew when I was leaving City, I knew they would be challenging or winning titles. They’re a great club, they’re the example for everyone in the Premier League.”

City have been contenders for European club football’s biggest prize since 2016 when they reached the semifinals under Manuel Pellegrini, but lost 1-0 on aggregate in the semis to Real Madrid.

Heartbreak has since followed for Pep Guardiola’s team, including a 2019 quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur where Sterling had a dramatic injury-time goal disallowed by VAR.

It would have proved the winner, but Spurs instead went through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

In last season’s semifinals, City conceded two goals in the 90th minute as Real Madrid forced extra time and then snatched a 5-4 aggregate success.

“They have had unlucky times in the past, but now they have got the luck and that’s all they needed,” added Sterling of City’s bid for a first European Cup.

“When we lost the final two years ago, it was hard but that’s gone, it’s in the past now. Hopefully they get across the line this time. Now they’ve got the big one to come and I believe they will do it.”


Kuwaitis turnout to cast vote in parliamentary elections

Kuwaitis turnout to cast vote in parliamentary elections
Updated 38 min 49 sec ago

Kuwaitis turnout to cast vote in parliamentary elections

Kuwaitis turnout to cast vote in parliamentary elections

Polling stations opened across Kuwait on Tuesday where the country is electing its third parliament in three years. 

There was a “great turnout” by senior citzens who were casting their vote for the 2023 National Assembly, state news agency KUNA reported. 

Kuna went on to report that Kuwaitis were hoping the election would bring political stability with cooperation between the legislative and executive authorities. 

The general election was called by the Kuwaiti Emir, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah last month.


6-time All-Star former Major League Baseball MVP Miguel Tejada named manager of Karachi Monarchs

6-time All-Star former Major League Baseball MVP Miguel Tejada named manager of Karachi Monarchs
Updated 53 min 47 sec ago

6-time All-Star former Major League Baseball MVP Miguel Tejada named manager of Karachi Monarchs

6-time All-Star former Major League Baseball MVP Miguel Tejada named manager of Karachi Monarchs
  • Tejada will lead Baseball United’s Pakistan franchise in partnership with fellow Dominican baseball legend Adrian Beltre

KARACHI: Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, has announced that former Major League Baseball MVP and All-Star Miguel Tejada will become the first manager of the Karachi Monarchs.

Tejada will team up with fellow Dominican Republic baseball legend, Adrian Beltre, who was named the team’s honorary general manager last week.

The Karachi Monarchs are the first professional baseball franchise in the history of Pakistan and the second announced by Baseball United. The Monarchs will compete in Baseball United’s Dubai Showcase in November alongside the Mumbai Cobras, and two additional franchises that will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Cobras and Monarchs are expected to generate significant fanfare, building on decades of sports rivalries between India and Pakistan. The last cricket match between India and Pakistan was watched by more than 230 million people around the world.

“The leadership we are putting together around our Baseball United stacks up against any professional sports league in the world,” said Kash Shaikh, president, CEO and co-owner of Baseball United. “These are elite baseball minds and exceptional clubhouse leaders. Miguel Tejada fits that mold. He’s not only a former All-Star and one of the greatest Dominican players in history, but he’s someone who’s been through hardship, made mistakes, and recovered from them. When you have experienced the high highs and the low lows, you build a humility and resilience that enables you to succeed. I am looking forward to seeing Miguel in the dugout with Karachi across his chest.”

Tejada played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball and was the 2002 American League Most Valuable Player. He was selected to six All-Star games, winning the All-Star game MVP in 2005. Tejada, a shortstop, also won two Silver Slugger awards and amassed more than 300 career home runs. He played for six franchises, most notably the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland Athletics.

“This opportunity means a lot,” Tejada said. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of good things in my life thanks to baseball, but I really believe this chance to lead the Karachi Monarchs will be one of the best. I truly appreciate Kash, John Miedreich and Eddie Diaz taking a chance on me, and giving me the opportunity to prove myself in this new role. I can’t wait to get on the field and start helping our players.”

Tejada and Beltre will partner with Miedreich, Baseball United executive vice president of baseball operations, and Diaz, vice president of Baseball Operations, to develop Karachi’s roster in advance of November’s Showcase. The league’s first full season will begin in late 2024.