QUOTED

“According to the latest report by Source Global Research, the GCC consulting market witnessed 13.2 per cent growth in 2023, surpassing the $5bn mark for the first time. Saudi Arabia, boasting the largest consulting market in the GCC, outpaced the overall market with an 18.2 per cent surge in growth, propelling revenues past $3bn.” GCC consulting market set to cross $6bn this year, shows report [Gulf Business]

TOP STORY

Dr. William Greene, CIO of the Hevolution Foundation, joins The 966 to talk latest investments, strategy for Hevolution

William Greene, MD, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Hevolution Foundation, joins The 966 to talk about Hevolution’s investment strategy and role as an investor in the emerging field of Healthspan Science. As CIO, Dr. Greene oversees all aspects of Hevolution Foundation’s investment strategy, planning, analysis, and execution. [more]

MORE TOP STORYLINES

Commentary: Ten Days in April

Via Laura Rozen in substack.com: “At one point, we knew there were over 100 ballistic missiles in the sky, a very short period of travel time to Israel,” a senior U.S. administration official, speaking not for attribution, told journalists on a call today. “A period of really minutes. And the results of the defenses of course, were unclear, until all was said and done.” “As the results of defenses came in, which is when we knew the preparations and planning had succeeded, there was a bit of a relief,” the official said. “You can imagine those tense moments.”

How should a US-Saudi defence pact look?

Via Bilal Saab in majalla.com: My chief interest here is to explore what is required to make a US-Saudi defence pact most effective and credible for both parties in the eyes of friends and foes. In other words, I am starting off with the assumption that political leaders in Washington and Riyadh have agreed to move forward on this issue. The question I now wish to address is how they can build a mutually beneficial defence structure to support the pact.

Saudi Arabia’s Umluj Beach makes list of top 100 beaches worldwide

in arabnews.com: Saudi Arabia’s Umluj Beach has been ranked among the top 100 beaches in the world in the Golden Beach Awards 2024, alongside the likes of Bora Bora and Copacabana. BeachAtlas, a London-based startup, used an algorithm to shortlist 100 beaches according to six criteria. The locations were then put to a vote by a panel of travel experts and influencers who provided their personal insights to refine and help rank the list.

US Secretary of State to travel to Jordan, Israel after Saudi Arabia visit

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and Jordan on a trip through Wednesday, the State Department announced, after...[via alarabiya.net]

Saudi, US top diplomats discuss Gaza crisis in Riyadh

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed on Monday the importance of reaching an “immediate ceasefire” in the...[By Ghinwa Obeid via alarabiya.net]

Saudi FM: Commitment to two-state solution only way to prevent Gaza war reoccurring

Only a real commitment to a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can prevent the war in Gaza from reoccurring, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal...[By Zaynab Khoji via arabnews.com]

Saudi Arabia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Announce Landmark Push to Eradicate Polio and Lift Millions out of Poverty

Saudi Arabia and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today pledged to work together to help protect 370 million children annually from polio and lift...[via reliefweb.int]

World Economic Forum Convenes Special Meeting in Riyadh on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development

With geopolitical upheavals and complex economic challenges destabilizing a fractured world, the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development...[via weforum.org]

Host Saudi Tells Global Economic Summit The World Has Failed Gaza

Saudi Arabia on Sunday said the international community has failed Gaza and reiterated its call for a Palestinian state at a global economic summit attended...[via barrons.com]

Saudi Finance Minister Warns Geopolitics Is Top Economy Risk

Jadaan also called on leaders to “do everything we can” to de-escalate, echoing comments more broadly made by Saudi government officials around...[By Joumanna Bercetche and Mirette Magdy via bloomberg.com]

Long-term plans of Saudi Vision 2030 support economic flexibility: Al-Jadaan

“Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives are on track at 87%”, the Saudi minister assured, indicating that there is still a bundle of challenges that requires modifying some projects, accelerating...[via eyeofriyadh.com]

Saudi Tadawul shareholders approve 23% dividend for 2023

Saudi Tadawul Group’s shareholders approved the payment of a cash dividend at 23% of capital, or SAR 2.30 a share, for 2023, during the...[via argaam.com]

What are the Saudi Festival Seasons?

The Saudi Seasons, a series of festivals held at different locations in the Kingdom throughout the year, attracts visitors from all over...[By Emilie Davies via linkedin.com]

Host Saudi tells global economic summit the world has failed Gaza

Speaking in Riyadh, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the United States "is the only country capable" of preventing Israel's long-feared invasion of Rafah city in...[By Robbie Corey-Boulet and Haitham El-Tabei via al-monitor.com]

Graham expects Biden will have GOP support if he strikes Israel-Saudi deal

“I’m here on national television telling the Biden administration, if you can land this deal I think you’ll have a lot of Republican...[By Kelly Garrity via politico.com]

Saudi government mandates national dress for civil servants to showcase national identity

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new regulation mandating the national dress for government employees as a sign of pride in the country’s identity. According...[By Khitam Al Amir via gulfnews.com]

Saudi FM leads Gaza committee urging sanctions on Israel

Ministers gathering in Riyadh to discuss the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip stressed the urgent need for imposing sanctions on Israel, the Saudi Press Agency reported...[via arabnews.com]

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM secures $2.7 billion new financing facility

NEOM, a unit of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, secured a new revolving credit facility (RCF) worth...[By Shamsuddin Mohd via reuters.com]

Saudi Arabia may ‘scale back some Vision 2030 projects and speed up others’

Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan on Sunday said the kingdom would adapt to current economic and geopolitical challenges and...[By John Benny and Salim A. Essaid via thenationalnews.com]

Saudi Arabia embraces AI to revolutionize healthcare and industry, says minister at WEF

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Al Swaha, emphasized the transformative shift humanity is undergoing towards artificial intelligence (AI), during a session at...[via saudigazette.com]

Saudi Arabia set on securing lithium for EV ambitions

Saudi Arabia is committed to sourcing lithium from overseas as it looks to produce EV batteries and...[By Pesha Magid via reuters.com]

Biden tells Netanyahu US would not take part in Israeli counter strike against Iran

President Joe Biden has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States would not participate...[By Jeff Mason via reuters.com]

US forces down missiles as Iran attacks Israel

U.S. fighter jets and warships downed dozens of drones and ballistic missiles launched at Israel by Iran and its proxy groups around midnight Sunday morning local...[By Jennifer Hlad via defenseone.com]

Iran declares ‘new equation’ as all eyes on Israel’s next move

However, the prospect of a regional war is very real, and entirely dependent, informed Iranian sources told Amwaj.media, on Israel’s immediate next steps. More broadly,...[via amwaj.media]

Iran says it gave warning before attacking Israel. US says that’s not true

Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials said on Sunday that Iran gave wide notice days before its ...[By Jeff Mason, Ahmed Rasheed and Samia Nakhoul via reuters.com]

Opinion: A stunning victory with the shield creates an opening for Israel

The military confrontation between Israel and Iran will doubtless have more rounds....[By David Ignatius via washingtonpost.com]

Iraq’s prime minister embarks on first visit to DC

Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani is set to meet US President Joe Biden for the first time on Apr. 15. The purpose of Sudani’s...[By Tamer Badawi and Nancy Ezzeddine via amwaj.media]

Why is Sudan still at war a year on?

The army and RSF had been in a fragile partnership after toppling a civilian government in an...[By Aidan Lewis via reuters.com]

Record debt costs mean climate spending could push nations to brink of insolvency

Emerging countries will pay a record $400 billion to service external debt this year, and nearly four...[By Libby George via reuters.com]

World Bank sounds alarm on ‘historical reversal’ of development for poorest nations

Half of the world's 75 poorest countries are experiencing a widening income gap with the wealthiest economies...[By Andrea Shalal via reuters.com]

United Airlines and other carriers canceled flights after Iran’s drone attack on Israel

United Airlines canceled its flights from Newark to Tel Aviv on Saturday and Sunday after Iran launched a drone attack on Israel that...[By Morgan Haefner via qz.com]