Israel military says Gaza air strikes hit militants trying to plant explosives

Israel military says Gaza air strikes hit militants trying to plant explosives
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man walks near rubble of houses destroyed during the Israeli offensive, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, March 13, 2025. (Reuters)
Updated 3 min 13 sec ago
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Israel military says Gaza air strikes hit militants trying to plant explosives

Israel military says Gaza air strikes hit militants trying to plant explosives

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it launched air strikes in central and southern Gaza on Monday targeting militants attempting to plant explosives near Israeli forces stationed in the territory.
According to the military, one strike hit three militants in central Gaza as they were planting explosives, while another targeted several militants in Rafah, in southern Gaza.


KSrelief food parcels aid vulnerable communities

KSrelief food parcels aid vulnerable communities
Updated 8 min 21 sec ago
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KSrelief food parcels aid vulnerable communities

KSrelief food parcels aid vulnerable communities

Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered thousands of food parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

In South Africa, 400 packages were given to families in need as part of the Etaam Ramadan food distribution project.

In Somalia, 1,390 parcels were handed out across multiple governorates, while in Nigeria, 613 parcels were provided in Adamawa state, benefiting 3,678 people.

In Djibouti, 700 parcels helped 4,200 people in Balbala, while 250 were given out in Bangladesh’s Bagerhat district.

In northern Montenegro, 300 packages were given to help 1,500 vulnerable people that included widows and orphans.

In Romania, 530 parcels were distributed in Bucharest and Constanta, with 379 baskets given to Syrian refugees in the Miniyeh district of Lebanon.

Now in its fourth phase, the Etaam project aims to distribute 390,109 food parcels across 27 countries during Ramadan, benefiting 2.3 million people at a cost of over SR67 million ($17.8 million).


Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity
Updated 16 min 15 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity

Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf records 15% annual growth in commercial activity

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf province recorded a 15 percent year-on-year growth in commercial activity in 2024 thanks to successful regional economic initiatives, new data showed.

Released by the Vision Realization Office in Al-Jouf, the study also indicated a significant increase in the growth rate of new commercial registrations in the region, reaching 98 percent, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

This falls in line with promoting development and growth while encouraging private economic activity across all regions of the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

It also aligns with the region’s role as the northern gateway to the Kingdom, connecting it to Jordan and facilitating trade through the Al-Haditha land port. This terminal is the third busiest in the nation, handling $247 million in imports and exports in 2019, according to Invest Saudi.

The study monitored the growth of funded projects across the region, with 478 initiatives, and support for existing undertakings with liquidity estimated at SR22.05 million ($5.88 million).

Small and medium-sized enterprises recorded a 33 percent growth in 2024 compared to 2023, while the share of women-funded projects reached approximately 52 percent, a clear indicator of the empowerment of Saudi females.

The analysis primarily attributed these gains to the efforts and commitment of the region’s governor, Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz.

This comes as he worked on translating the generous directives into reality, serving the interests of citizens. He urged the branches of ministries and relevant agencies to harness all resources to overcome challenges and find appropriate solutions.

The governor also monitored the implementation of projects that serve the Al-Jouf region, its governorates, and centers, both investment- and development-oriented, as well as prevented any failures, achieving their set goals.

In March, Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jouf province offers a fertile investment landscape due to abundant renewable energy and a robust food supply.

At the time, he highlighted that the region offers many investment opportunities and competitive advantages. He also emphasized that Al-Jouf has implemented various initiatives to overcome challenges for potential investors, with coordinated efforts across multiple government sectors.

The official also underlined at the time that the Al-Jouf region is actively fostering innovative investments through unique and pioneering projects. He emphasized that these endeavors will create future employment prospects for both male and female youth in the region and the nation at large.


Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report
Updated 10 min 29 sec ago
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Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report
  • Pakistan’s power generation cost declined by 13% year-on-year and 30% month-on-month during February 2025, says report
  • Financial analysts attribute power generation decline to a lack of industrial activity, increasing shift toward solar energy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s power generation dropped by 15% month-on-month (MoM) in February 2025, a report by a top brokerage firm said on Monday, which analysts attributed to reduced demand due to slow industrial activity and an increasing shift of customers toward solar energy. 

According to a report by brokerage firm Topline Securities, total electricity generation dropped by 3% year-on-year to 81,738 GWh over the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (from July-February). This was down from 84,317 GWh in the corresponding period last year, it said. 

“Pakistan’s power generation decreased by 2% YoY and 15% MoM to 6,945 GWh in Feb 2025,” Topline Securities said. 

The report cited a decline of 13% in power generation cost YoY and 30% MoM in February 2025, adding that in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, power generation cost declined by 3% to Rs8.8 per unit.

Financial analysts attributed the decline in power generation due to reduced demand as a result of lack of industrial activity and an increasing number of people shifting toward solar energy. 

“There is reduced demand due to industrial activity which you can also see in the large scale manufacturing (LSM) numbers,” Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., told Arab News. 

He said another reason for the decline in power generation was the increasing shift of residential consumers toward solar energy. He said commercial consumers had also installed their own captive plants that run on gas and coal. 

“This also shows a shift toward alternative [sources of energy] which decreases the grid’s usage,” he added. 

Samiullah Tariq, the head of research at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Ltd., agreed. 

“Reasons include reduced industrial activity, people leaving the [national] grid due to higher [energy] prices and solar adoption,” Tariq said. 

Pakistan has sought to ease fiscal pressure in recent months by undertaking energy reforms that reduce tariffs and slash capacity payments to independent power producers (IPPs). The federal cabinet approved a plan in January to renegotiate agreements with 14 IPPs in its bid to lower electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt.


Qatar’s inflation drops 1.15% as key costs fall 

Qatar’s inflation drops 1.15% as key costs fall 
Updated 39 min 14 sec ago
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Qatar’s inflation drops 1.15% as key costs fall 

Qatar’s inflation drops 1.15% as key costs fall 

RIYADH: Qatar’s inflation eased by 1.15 percent year on year in January, with the consumer price index settling at 107.45 points, driven by declines in food, housing, and transport costs, official figures showed. 

According to the National Planning Council’s latest report, the monthly CPI also dropped by 2.53 percent, primarily due to a decline in housing, water, electricity, and other fuels — which fell by 2.53 percent from December. 

The slide comes as Qatar is projected to record the lowest inflation in the Gulf Cooperation Council region this year, averaging 1.4 percent — below the GCC’s 1.9 percent and the wider Arab region’s 8.5 percent, according to Kamco Invest.

The International Monetary Fund expects Qatar’s inflation to stabilize around 2 percent over the medium term, supported by LNG expansion, public investment, and a strengthening tourism sector, according to a release in February.

The National Planning Council’s report stated: “Reviewing the main changes in the CPI for the month of January 2025 compared with the previous month, findings show five categories decreased, six categories increased, and stability in one category.”

Food and beverage prices recorded a 2.75 percent monthly drop, while recreation and culture saw the sharpest decline at 14.87 percent. Clothing and footwear prices fell by 1.13 percent, and furniture and household equipment dipped 0.77 percent. The restaurants and hotels sector also saw a slight decrease of 0.55 percent. 

Conversely, several categories recorded price increases including miscellaneous goods and services which rose by 1.93 percent, health by 0.91 percent, and transport by 0.61 percent. 

Housing, water, electricity, and other fuels saw a slight uptick of 0.11 percent, while communication and education prices remained relatively stable, with marginal increases of 0.09 percent and 0.02 percent, respectively. Tobacco prices remained unchanged. 

Year-on-year figures showed notable shifts across key sectors, with the annual CPI declining by 1.15 percent. 

The drop was mainly driven by a 5.44 percent decrease in food and beverage prices, while housing, water, electricity, and other fuels fell by 4.67 percent. 

Recreation and culture recorded a decline of 4.29 percent, followed by restaurants and hotels, which dropped by 1.82 percent. 

Furniture and household equipment fell by 1.73 percent, while transport costs were down by 1.01 percent. 

At the same time, miscellaneous goods and services surged 7.92 percent, communication saw a sharp increase of 18.68 percent, and clothing and footwear rose 1.91 percent. 

Education costs climbed 1.70 percent, while health recorded a slight increase of 0.04 percent. 

The CPI excluding housing, water, electricity, and other fuels stood at 111.76 points in January, reflecting a monthly decline of 3.09 percent and an annual drop of 1.80 percent. 

Despite the minor downward adjustments across multiple sectors, the council emphasized that consumer prices remain stable, with inflation largely contained within expected levels. 


McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener

McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener
Updated 48 min 37 sec ago
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McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener

McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener
  • Among the takeaways ahead of Sunday’s race in Shanghai are that McLaren is the team to beat and that Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have a lot of work to do
  • Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia

Lando Norris heads to the second round of the Formula 1 season in China with a lead over champion Max Verstappen after winning a thrilling race in Australia.
Ahead of Sunday’s race in Shanghai, here are five takeaways from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix:
McLaren is the team to beat
Without the rain and the safety car, the Australian Grand Prix might not have been much of a contest. The two McLarens of Norris and Oscar Piastri quickly built a lead of more than 15 seconds to Verstappen in third early in the race. The McLarens were also three-tenths of a second faster than anyone else in qualifying. So much for preseason predictions that this year could be exceptionally close between multiple teams.
Norris acknowledged McLaren are favorites but warned the team shouldn’t get complacent. “If you start thinking things are good and groovy, that’s when you get caught,” he said. “We will have races where we struggle.”
Hamilton and Ferrari have work to do
Lewis Hamilton briefly led on his Ferrari debut. Unfortunately for the seven-time champion, a strategy blunder meant Ferrari left Hamilton and his new teammate Charles Leclerc on dry tires in increasingly heavy rain. “Missed a big opportunity,” Hamilton told Ferrari over the radio. Hamilton finished 10th, two places behind Leclerc.
Hamilton and Ferrari may need to work on their communication. After more than a decade working with Peter “Bono” Bonnington at Mercedes, Hamilton was frustrated at regular radio updates from his new engineer Riccardo Adami. “Leave me to it, please,” he said repeatedly.
Lawson’s old teammate may be his closest rival
No one expected Liam Lawson, in his 12th career F1 race, to beat his four-time champion teammate Verstappen. However, Lawson also underperformed compared to Yuki Tsunoda, his old teammate, after being picked over Tsunoda for the Red Bull seat. Lawson qualified 18th and made little progress before crashing out. Tsunoda qualified fifth and was competitive, though a team strategy error meant he finished 12th. If Lawson doesn’t improve, Red Bull could face even more scrutiny of its decision to pick him.
Antonelli is the standout rookie
Formula 1’s biggest rookie class in years struggled — with one big exception. The 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli became the second-youngest driver ever to score F1 points, behind only Verstappen, as he finished fourth with a strong drive from 16th.
Of the other drivers starting their first full F1 seasons, Lawson, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Jack Doohan crashed out, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar crashed before the start and Haas’ Oliver Bearman was the last finisher in 14th.
Teamwork helps Williams make its mark
Alex Albon benefited from his new teammate as he finished fifth for Williams’ best result since 2021. Carlos Sainz, Jr. crashed out early but joined the team staff on the pit wall to offer Albon advice over the radio on how best to handle the rapidly changing weather. “We’re a very bonded team,” Albon said.