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Media Minister: 2024 Marks Year of Media Transformation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosary outlined key strategic aspects of the media system for the upcoming year. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosary outlined key strategic aspects of the media system for the upcoming year. (SPA)
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Media Minister: 2024 Marks Year of Media Transformation in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosary outlined key strategic aspects of the media system for the upcoming year. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosary outlined key strategic aspects of the media system for the upcoming year. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosary expressed on Tuesday optimism about the future of Saudi media, anticipating numerous achievements and transformations across all sectors.

He outlined key strategic aspects of the media system for the upcoming year, detailing various projects and programs set to bring these features to fruition, while announcing 2024 as the "Year of Media Transformation."

"Today, we unveil the strategies for the Year of Media Transformation in the Kingdom, based on four pillars: figures, indicators, passion, and work, guided by a wise vision from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and led by Crown Prince," said Al-Dosary at the opening session of the Saudi Media Forum 3 in Riyadh.

The event was attended by over 2,000 media outlets from within and outside the Kingdom.

Al-Dosary said the Saudi media industry has contributed SAR14.5 billion to the GDP in 2023, projecting an increase to SAR16 billion this year. He emphasized the industry's investment in human capital, which generated 56,000 employment opportunities last year, with expectations to reach 67,000 this year.

He presented three implemented strategies serving as a roadmap for the future of media, fortifying the sector, increasing investment attractiveness, and improving the effectiveness of national cadres. These strategies involve collaboration with over 30 government institutions, shaping the comprehensive strategic direction of the Kingdom's media system.

Al-Dosary discussed the Saudi Broadcasting Authority’s (SBA) strategy, aiming to expand the Authority, enhance business competitiveness, nurture media professionals and talents, and produce outstanding content for international digital platforms. He also highlighted the Saudi Press Agency's (SPA) strategy, focusing on improving its global network, offices, and correspondents while aligning media content with public expectations and contemporary developments.

Additionally, the minister spotlighted noteworthy projects, including the "Media Oasis" coinciding with the Kingdom's participation in major summits and events. This initiative engaged over 2,600 journalists from 60 countries, providing insights into more than 30 national projects. Initiatives, like the "Mediazone", have completed their work or are in the process of developing new editions to stay aligned with creative advancements in media arts and expertise.

Al-Dosary emphasized the significance of the Hajj and Umrah seasons, highlighting the recent launch of the "Hajj and Umrah Mediathon" project. This initiative encourages interested parties and media professionals to compete in developing media initiatives and projects promoting innovative and creative media coverage.

He also announced the initiation of the "Hajj Media Hub" project, aiming to establish an integrated media community and environment to assist media professionals in their coverage. Additionally, there will be an interactive media exhibition showcasing services during the Hajj season. The minister disclosed an anticipated outreach to more than 2,000 media professionals and international visitors.

Moreover, Al-Dosary announced the establishment of the Saudi Media Academy that aims to empower, develop, and train individuals in future disciplines. It also aims to form early and innovative strategic partnerships with major technology companies and global media platforms such as Google, Huawei, Alibaba, and others.

Following the minister's remarks, President of the Saudi Media Forum and Chairman of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) Mohammed Al-Harthi delivered a speech highlighting a comprehensive development renaissance witnessed by the Kingdom at all levels and fields. He emphasized that the media serves as a mirror reflecting global changes.

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Business

Iraq in Talks with Gulf States on Pipeline Exports beyond Hormuz

Workers carry out maintenance on a pipeline at a gas separation station in the Zubair oil field near Basra (AP). 
Workers carry out maintenance on a pipeline at a gas separation station in the Zubair oil field near Basra (AP). 
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Iraq in Talks with Gulf States on Pipeline Exports beyond Hormuz

Workers carry out maintenance on a pipeline at a gas separation station in the Zubair oil field near Basra (AP). 
Workers carry out maintenance on a pipeline at a gas separation station in the Zubair oil field near Basra (AP). 

Iraq is in talks with Gulf countries to use their pipeline networks to secure alternative oil export routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, the state oil marketer SOMO said Thursday.

The move is part of an emergency strategy by the oil ministry to tap regional infrastructure and bypass maritime chokepoints, ensuring Iraqi crude continues to reach global markets while offsetting higher transport costs linked to the current crisis.

Ali Nizar al-Shatari, head of the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), said the ministry is prioritizing negotiations to access Gulf pipeline systems extending beyond the Strait of Hormuz and into the Arabian Sea, allowing exports to avoid areas of military tension.

“The goal is to secure stable routes that guarantee efficient flows of Iraqi oil at lower transport costs,” Shatari said, adding that Iraq generated about $2 billion in oil revenues in March, up 28 percent from February.

He said SOMO exported around 18 million barrels of crude from Basra, Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region by using all available outlets, including southern ports that operated until early March and northern routes to Türkiye’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

As part of efforts to diversify export options, Shatari revealed that the first shipments of fuel oil and Basra Medium crude successfully reached Syrian ports.

He noted that Iraq had signed a deal to export 50,000 barrels per day via this route, describing cooperation with Syria as “very significant,” with storage and security provided to ensure safe delivery to the port of Baniyas.

The route has proven effective and could become a permanent option after the crisis, he added.

Shatari further noted that the oil ministry is close to completing repairs on the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline, which suffered extensive damage in previous years.

Technical teams have inspected the most difficult terrain, with about 200 kilometers (125 miles) still to be assessed in the coming days before full pumping of Kirkuk crude resumes.

In a notable logistical move, Iraq has begun pumping Basra crude northwards for export via Ceyhan.

Flows started at 170,000 barrels per day and are expected to stabilize between 200,000 and 250,000 bpd, helping offset disrupted southern exports and supply energy-hungry markets in Europe and the Americas.

Shatari said Iraq has benefited from rising global prices by selling Kirkuk crude — a medium-grade oil — at strong premiums.

He also confirmed the reactivation of an agreement with the Kurdistan region to reuse the pipeline through the region to Ceyhan, helping lift total exports to 18 million barrels in March.

This came despite a drop in production in Kurdistan fields to about 200,000 bpd due to security threats, he added.

 

 

Business

World Food Prices Rose in March as Iran War Lifted Energy Costs, FAO Says

A farmer carries harvested rice at a paddy field in Samahani, Aceh province on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
A farmer carries harvested rice at a paddy field in Samahani, Aceh province on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
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World Food Prices Rose in March as Iran War Lifted Energy Costs, FAO Says

A farmer carries harvested rice at a paddy field in Samahani, Aceh province on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
A farmer carries harvested rice at a paddy field in Samahani, Aceh province on April 2, 2026. (AFP)

The war in the Middle East has pushed food commodity prices higher due to higher energy and fertilizer costs, the UN's food agency said Friday. 

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said its Food Price Index, which measures the monthly changes in international prices of a basket of food commodities, had increased 2.4 percent in March from February. 

It was the second rise in a row, which the agency said was largely due to higher energy prices linked to conflict in the Middle East. 

Within the index, the category of vegetable oil saw the sharpest rise, of 5.1 percent over February, as palm oil prices reached their highest point since the middle of 2022, due to effects from spiking crude oil prices, FAO said. 

However, a "broadly comfortable" supply of cereal has cushioned the damaged from the conflict, FAO said. 

"Price rises since the conflict began have been modest, driven mainly by higher oil prices and cushioned by ample global cereal supplies," said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero in a statement. 

But he warned that if the conflict goes on beyond 40 days and the high prices on fertilizer continue, "farmers will have to choose: farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops". 

"Those choices will hit future yields and shape our food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and all of the next." 

Disruptions to production and supply chain routes had also introduced "additional uncertainty" into the outlook for wheat and maize, FAO found. 

Business

Turkish Inflation Near 2% Monthly in March, Below Forecasts

A full moon rises behind Galata Tower, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP)
A full moon rises behind Galata Tower, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP)
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Turkish Inflation Near 2% Monthly in March, Below Forecasts

A full moon rises behind Galata Tower, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP)
A full moon rises behind Galata Tower, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP)

Turkish consumer price inflation was 1.94% month-on-month in March, while the annual figure fell to 30.87%, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed ‌on Friday.

In ‌a Reuters ‌poll, ⁠monthly inflation was ⁠forecast to be 2.32%, with the annual rate seen at 31.4%, driven by ⁠a rise in ‌fuel prices ‌and weather-related pressures ‌on food inflation.

In ‌February, consumer prices rose 2.96% month-on-month and 31.53% year-on-year, broadly in ‌line with estimates and reinforcing expectations that ⁠the ⁠disinflation process may be stalling.

The data also showed the domestic producer index rose 2.30% month-on-month in March for an annual increase of 28.08%.