UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid

UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid
People queue to receive humanitarian aid, supplied by the World Food Program, in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Nov. 18, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 04 December 2024
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UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid

UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid
  • Aid distribution in Gaza is complicated by shortages of fuel, war-damaged roads and looting
  • On Monday, Gaza’s interior ministry said it had carried out a major operation targeting looters

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations chief on Tuesday denounced the “systematic” looting of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a day after the territory’s Hamas authorities said 20 people were killed in a security operation targeting such actions.
“Armed looting has become systematic and must end immediately. It is hindering life saving aid operations and further endangering the lives of our staff,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“However, the use of law enforcement operations must be lawful, necessary and proportionate.”
Israel imposed a total siege on Gaza in the early stages of the war last year, and the UN warned on November 9 that famine was looming in some areas due to a lack of aid.
Aid distribution in Gaza is complicated by shortages of fuel, war-damaged roads and looting, as well as fighting in densely populated areas and the repeated displacement of much of the territory’s 2.4 million people.
Several humanitarian officials have told AFP on condition of anonymity that almost half the aid that enters Gaza is looted, especially basic supplies.
On Monday, Gaza’s interior ministry said it had carried out a major operation targeting looters.
“More than 20 members of gangs involved in stealing aid trucks were killed in a security operation carried out by security forces in cooperation with tribal committees,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said the operation was “the beginning of a broad security campaign that has been long planned and will expand to include everyone involved in the theft of aid trucks.”
On Tuesday, the US-based Washington Post newspaper cited a UN memo as saying some of the gangs were receiving “passive if not active benevolence” or “protection” from the Israel Defense Forces.
Dujarric said he was unaware of the memo, but that the allegation was “fairly alarming” if true.
“The idea that the Israeli forces may be allowing looters or not doing enough to prevent it is frankly, fairly alarming, given the responsibilities of Israel as the occupying power to ensure that humanitarian aid is distributed safely,” he said.


Saudi Arabia de-risks investments to attract foreign SMEs: Al-Falih

Saudi Arabia de-risks investments to attract foreign SMEs: Al-Falih
Updated 39 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia de-risks investments to attract foreign SMEs: Al-Falih

Saudi Arabia de-risks investments to attract foreign SMEs: Al-Falih

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is de-risking investments for foreign small and medium-sized enterprises to encourage their entry into the Kingdom, according to a senior official. 

In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the Standard Incentives for the Industrial Sector program, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said the initiative aims to attract international SMEs that have been integral to supply chains in their home countries for decades. 

The announcement follows a joint effort by the ministries of Industry and Mineral Resources and Investment to allocate SR10 billion ($2.66 billion) to activate standardized incentives for the industrial sector. 

This initiative, approved by the Cabinet last month, seeks to empower industrial investments, foster sustainable development, and enhance Saudi Arabia's global industrial competitiveness. 

“De-risking is a key component. Come to Saudi Arabia. We will de-risk the investment for you,” Al-Falih said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment. 

He added: “We will do matchmaking with the Saudi investors, and then they can, hopefully, recreate, and maybe we innovate with them to do something bigger for what they are doing in their home country.” 

The program also aims to build value chains by encouraging international SMEs to collaborate with local Saudi firms, fostering innovation and shared growth. 

“I think the Kingdom has been doing well in attracting large multinationals. However, when we go to Germany, we find out 70 to 80 percent of the German GDP is by SMEs, who may only operate in Germany and Europe. They don’t know the Middle East. They don’t know Saudi Arabia,” Al-Falih explained. 

He continued: “As we build these value chains, we need to help our SMEs in Saudi Arabia by bringing with them some international SMEs that have been doing some of this production and manufacturing, feeding the large OEMs for decades in their own home country.” 

While Saudi Arabia has successfully attracted large-scale investments in multi-billion-dollar projects like the green hydrogen initiative, Lucid, and Ceer, Al-Falih noted that mid-sized companies face unique challenges. These include a lack of credit history, limited local ecosystems, and rising costs of funding and production. 

“By us having this tool available to us, if it’s a new product, differentiated product, that will plug a missing component or a link in a value chain, we can do it quickly, and these companies will be able to bridge that gap and move quickly, so that’s the intention,” he said. 

The initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s collaborative government approach, with policies shaped by the Localization and Balance of Payments Committee chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

The program also leverages Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location — connecting three continents — its open market, and low customs tariffs to attract both international and local investors. 

Speaking at the event, Al-Falih described the incentives as a significant step toward achieving Vision 2030’s goals and the National Investment Strategy, which aim to attract and develop industrial investments while elevating the Kingdom’s industrial competitiveness. 


Saudi Arabia allocates $2.66bn to activate Standard Incentives Program for the industrial sector

Saudi Arabia allocates $2.66bn to activate Standard Incentives Program for the industrial sector
Updated 7 min 26 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia allocates $2.66bn to activate Standard Incentives Program for the industrial sector

Saudi Arabia allocates $2.66bn to activate Standard Incentives Program for the industrial sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia announced the allocation of SR10 billion ($2.66 billion) to activate the Standard Incentives Program for the industrial sector, followed by approval from the Council of Ministers last month. 

The announcement was made during the Standard Incentives for the Industrial Sector event on Jan. 11. 

According to a press statement, this initiative seeks to spur growth in the industrial sector by accelerating investments and achieving sustainable industrial development in the Kingdom to elevate the competitiveness of the Saudi industries globally. 

Developing the industrial sector is crucial for Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom, under its Vision 2030 program, is pursuing an economic diversification journey by reducing its dependence on oil revenues. 

“These incentives were developed within the framework of an integrated governmental effort, characterized by collaboration with various relevant government entities, particularly the pivotal role played by the Localization and Balance of Payments Committee,” said Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef.

He added: “This committee serves as the overarching body for shaping policies, directions, and initiatives that enhance the empowerment of industrial investments and support national talents.” 

The press statement added that the incentives program offers coverage of up to 35 percent of the initial project investment, capped at SR50 million for each qualifying initiative. 

The program is divided evenly across the project lifecycle, granting 50 percent during construction and the remaining 50 percent during production. 

The press statement added that the first phase of this program will target investments in chemical conversion industries, the automotive sector, and machinery and equipment. 

The incentives program will be rolled out to other industry segments in subsequent phases in the latter part of this year. 

“This program is the first of its kind in the region and aims to enable the manufacturing of products that are not currently produced in the Kingdom. It opens new horizons for high-quality investments and allows both local and international investors to benefit from the unique capabilities the Kingdom possesses,” said Alkhorayef. 

He added: “The Standard Incentives Program has been designed to focus on achieving localization and local content targets, as these are fundamental elements for sustainable development.” 

The minister further highlighted that through the program, Saudi Arabia aims to empower industries that enhance the utilization of the Kingdom’s natural resources and increase reliance on local talent, contributing to reducing imports, strengthening the balance of payments, and fostering economic resilience. 

During the event, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Falih,  said that the Standard Incentives Program marks a significant step toward realizing the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and the National Investment Strategy. 

“The program seeks to achieve the Vision 2030 goals in the short and medium term, including increasing non-oil exports to 50 percent of the size of the non-oil economy and localizing critical materials essential to the economy,” said Al-Falih. 

He added: “Today, the industrial sector contributes to an investment that accounts for 40.8 percent of the gross domestic product. The industrial sector accounts for approximately 30 percent of foreign direct investment.” 

Al-Falih further noted that most of the licenses granted by the Ministry of Investment to international companies are in the manufacturing industries sector. 

The investment minister added that 571 international companies have opened their regional headquarters in the Kingdom, most of which are industrial firms. 

“We will provide these companies with enablers and incentives through various programs. Our role is not just to promote ourselves but also to enable various sectors to be competitive and ensure that all key sectors, as everyone has mentioned — starting with the industrial sector— are indeed attractive for investment,” said Al-Falih. 

According to the press statement, Al-Falih said that these incentives, in their current form, are expected to energize the industrial movement in the Kingdom.

The investment minister added that projections indicate that the initiative is expected to generate an estimated SR23 billion annually in GDP from the targeted projects. 

During the event, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said each sector should understand its role in achieving its objectives. 

The energy minister added that the Standard Incentives Program aims to launch economically viable projects, ensuring sustainable development in the Kingdom. 

“Through this program, we also aspire to achieve sustainability by launching economically viable projects, creating quality job opportunities for Saudi men and women, and fostering innovation and creativity in industrial sectors,” said the energy minister. 

He added: “We believe this methodology, centered on empowering industrial projects, will contribute to the gradual expansion of these investments, broadening the industrial base for both investors and the Kingdom as a whole.”

The energy minister further underlined that these initiatives, in the future, will grow into leading companies that enrich the national economy, diversify income sources, steady the balance of payments, and boost non-oil exports. 

Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s minister of economy and planning, said that the program has been developed to grow and deepen the industrial base, which will significantly impact the overall non-oil economy.

“We look forward to seeing non-oil activities increase in number and become more sustainable. Therefore, it is important to design these incentives in a way that does not create additional dependency on them,” said Al-Ibrahim. 

He added: “Instead, they should create dynamism in the private sector, enabling it to mature and reach a stage where it grows, continues to produce, and competes sustainably.” 

According to Al-Ibrahim, the nation wants to create a dynamic private sector that relies on itself and benefits from the incentives program. 

“We measure success through the creation of high-quality jobs, increased productivity, higher non-oil exports, and an overall increase in investment in the Kingdom, leveraging global value chains,” added Al-Ibrahim. 

During the event, the Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, Hamad Al-Sheikh, said that the objective of the standard incentives program is to equip the industrial sector and investors in the Kingdom. 

“The goal is to empower the industrial sector and investors, ensuring clarity regarding application mechanisms, evaluation criteria, and a clear process for prioritization in case multiple investors apply for the same opportunity,” said Al-Sheikh. 

Al-Sheikh added that the program aims to encourage new waves of small and medium-sized factories to produce innovative and economically prioritized products for the national economy.

He concluded that the incentives program promotes technology transfer and is expected to improve the trade balance through local production. 


PIA flight lands in Paris after four-year ban, marking return to Europe

PIA flight lands in Paris after four-year ban, marking return to Europe
Updated 35 sec ago
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PIA flight lands in Paris after four-year ban, marking return to Europe

PIA flight lands in Paris after four-year ban, marking return to Europe
  • PIA’s first flight to Paris in over four years departed from Islamabad on Saturday afternoon 
  • Europe’s aviation safety agency suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in EU in June 2020

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani national airline’s first flight to Paris in over four years landed in the French capital on Saturday, state-run media reported on Sunday, marking the resumption of its operations to Europe. 

The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight departed for Paris from Islamabad on Friday. The airline said on Friday that it was resuming two direct weekly flights to Paris. 

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended PIA’s authorization to operate in the EU in June 2020 over concerns about the ability of Pakistani aviation authorities to ensure compliance with international standards.

EASA, United Kingdom and United States authorities suspended permission for PIA to operate in the region after Pakistan began investigating the validity of pilots’ licenses following a deadly plane crash that killed 97 people. In November 2024, the EASA announced it had lifted the ban. 

“Pakistan International Airlines’ first flight to France has landed at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris after a gap of more than four years,” Radio Pakistan reported. 

The report said that PIA passengers and crew were warmly received in Paris on Saturday by Pakistan Charge d’Affairs Huzefa Khanum along with the Pakistani diaspora.

“The passengers who reached Paris via direct flight from Islamabad expressed pleasure over reduced travel time and quality service experienced by them,” it said. 

PIA, however, remains barred from operating flights to the UK and the United States. The airline flies to multiple cities inside Pakistan, including the mountainous north, as well as to the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

PIA, which employs 7,000 people, has long been accused of being bloated and poorly run — hobbled by unpaid bills, a poor safety record and regulatory issues.

Pakistan’s government has said it is committed to privatizing the debt-ridden airline and has been scrambling to find a buyer. Late last year, a deal fell through after a potential buyer reportedly offered a fraction of the asking price.

The government hopes the opening of European routes, which officials expect will be followed by a similar announcement by the UK later this year, will boost its selling potential.

PIA posted losses of $270 million in 2023, according to local media. Its liabilities were nearly $3 billion, about five times the total worth of its assets.

In the same year, amid a national economic crisis, dozens of domestic flights were canceled when it could not afford fuel for its planes.

PIA came into being in 1955 when the government nationalized a loss-making commercial airline, and enjoyed rapid growth until the 1990s.


Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria
Updated 7 min 35 sec ago
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Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meeting on Syria

RIYADH: An expanded ministerial meeting on Syria is being hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday in the capital Riyadh as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar Assad.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.

Foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq were all in Riyadh ahead of Sunday’s meeting plus envoys from the United Kingdom and the United States. Other top Arab and Western officials are expected to attend.

The meeting, which is expected to focus on Syria post-Assad, comes as the country’s new administration urges a lift of sanctions by the West to help in the country's recovery.


Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols

Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols
Updated 12 January 2025
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Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols

Manila deploys coast guard ship to counter China patrols
  • Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that went against it
  • There have been frequent clashes or tense standoffs between Philippine and Chinese vessels

MANILA: The Philippines said Sunday it had deployed a coast guard ship to challenge Chinese patrol boats attempting to “alter the existing status quo” of the disputed South China Sea.
Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that went against it, and there have been frequent clashes or tense standoffs between Philippine and Chinese vessels.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to the waters.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, a Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, said Chinese patrol ships had this year come as close as 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon.
“Their goal is to normalize such deployments, and if these actions go unnoticed and unchallenged, it will enable them to alter the existing status quo,” he said in a statement.
He later told reporters Manila had deployed a coast guard ship to the area to challenge the “unlawful” Chinese patrols.
He said the deployment aimed to ensure Chinese patrols “are not normalized, and that this bullying behavior does not succeed.”
Tarriela said the Chinese coast guard deployed three vessels from its Guangdong and Hainan bases to Philippine waters between December 30 and January 11.
The South China Sea confrontations have sparked concern they could draw the United States, Manila’s long-time security ally, into armed conflict with China.