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SPA RIYADH/ISLAMABAD, April 15 - Saudi Arabia will deposit $3 billion into Pakistan's central bank, Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Wednesday, providing a significant financial boost as the country's economy faces strain from regional tensions linked to the conflict between the United States and Iran. Aurangzeb, who is in Washington for meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, said the support would strengthen Pakistan's financial

SABN RIYADH/WASHINGTON, April 14 - The U.S. Treasury Department has warned financial institutions in China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Oman about the risks of doing business with Iran, and threatened secondary sanctions against banks that continue to support Iranian activities, according to a letter seen by the Associated Press. The letter accused the jurisdictions of allowing Iranian illicit financial activity to pass through their institutions and said Iran had

SPA RIYADH/JEDDAH, April 14 - Saudi Arabia's cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, condemned what it described as Iranian attacks on the kingdom and praised the armed forces for defending the country and protecting its assets, state news agency SPA reported. The cabinet also commended rapid operational and technical efforts that restored production at affected energy facilities, saying the swift recovery demonstrated the resilience of the kingdom's

SPA RIYADH, April 14 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has announced penalties for violating Hajj permit regulations ahead of the 1447 AH pilgrimage season, including fines, deportation and possible confiscation of transport used to carry offenders, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The ministry said anyone caught performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit could face a fine of up to 20,000 riyals ($5,332). The same penalty applies to holders of vi

SPA RIYADH, April 14 - Prince Rakan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, governor of Diriyah, visited Diriyah Company on Tuesday to review its projects and inspect progress at construction sites across the historic Saudi city, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He was received by Saad Al Kroud, head of local real estate investments at the Public Investment Fund and board member and secretary-general of Diriyah Company, along with Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo and other executi

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, takes his seat, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Islamabad, for a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance about Iran. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) RIYADH/ISLAMABAD, April 14 - Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday on recent talks between the United States and Iran and said he would visit Saudi Arabia and Turkey this week to support peace efforts, according to a statement from the pres

Finland President Alexander Stubb, left, attends a joint statement with France’s President Emmanuel Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla; Pool) RIYADH/WASHINGTON, April 14 - Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Iran currently holds the upper hand in its conflict with Israel and the United States because it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a large share of the world's oil supplies passes. Speaking at an

People shop ahead of the holy month of Ramadan at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 22, 2023. REUTERS RIYADH/DUBAI, April 13 - Sales at Europe's biggest luxury brands have fallen sharply in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as the Iran conflict disrupted what had been one of the industry's fastest-growing markets, in the latest setback for the $400 billion global luxury sector. Sales at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai fell 30% to 50% in March from a year earl

China's foreign minister Wang Yi attends a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing on March 8, Iori Sagisawa/Pool/AFP/Getty Images RIYADH, April 14 - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that blockading Iranian ports did not serve the international community's common interests and called for greater efforts to promote peace talks and preserve the ceasefire between the United States and Iran. In a phone call with Pak

SPA RIYADH, April 13 - Saudi Arabia's Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority said it had recorded 55 new wildlife births in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve and King Khalid Royal Reserve by mid-second quarter 2026, in a sign of wildlife recovery and the success of protection and reintroduction efforts. The authority said the births included nine Arabian oryx and 46 sand gazelles, also known as Reem gazelles. Of the total, 40 births were r

RIYADH, April 13 - The Royal Commission for Riyadh City will participate as a strategic partner in the Sports Investment Forum 2026, due to be held in the Saudi capital from April 20 to 22, with broad participation from sports industry leaders, investors and chief executives from around the world. The partnership reflects the commission's role in supporting the sports sector as a promising investment pillar in Riyadh and reinforces the city's growing profile as a regional hub

RIYADH, April 13 - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Monday to discuss what Tehran described as risks stemming from provocative U.S. actions to block Iranian ports, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. In his call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Araghchi said Iran had acted in good faith by accepting a ceasefire with the United States, but accused Washington of undermining negotiat

RIYADH/BERLIN, April 14 - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cease hostilities in Lebanon and open direct peace talks with the Lebanese government, a German government spokesman said on Monday. Merz told Netanyahu in a phone call that Hezbollah should be disarmed and that the conflict should be resolved through political means, spokesman Stefan Kornelius said. The German chancellor also voiced "grave concern" over developments

SABN RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Public Security said arrangements requiring residents wishing to enter Makkah to obtain official permits took effect on Monday, with those lacking entry permits barred from entering the city. The measures apply to residents who do not hold a permit issued by the relevant authority to work in the holy sites, a resident identity document issued in Makkah, or a Hajj permit. Public Security said entry permits for resident

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Culture Minister Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan visited the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday, accompanied by Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon. The museum, located in central Jakarta and supervised by the Indonesian Heritage Agency, is one of the country’s leading cultural institutions and is regarded as an archaeological, historical, anthropological and geographical museum. Established in 18

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has begun accepting electronic applications for Makkah entry permits for resident workers during the 1447 AH Hajj season. The directorate said the permits would be issued through technical integration with the Makkah Entry Permit service via the Absher and Muqeem portals, removing the need for in-person visits to passport offices. The Absher Individuals platform will be used to

WAM RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Bahrain on Monday, where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and regional developments. The meeting focused on cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and ways to strengthen relations in support of shared interests and development priorities. The two leaders also discussed developments in the Middle East and