flynas Says Direct Flights Between Riyadh, Milan Start Thursday

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
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flynas Says Direct Flights Between Riyadh, Milan Start Thursday

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA)

flynas has announced the launch of direct flights connecting Riyadh with Milan, SPA reported.

Starting Thursday, the airline will operate three weekly direct flights between King Khalid International Airport and Milan Malpensa Airport.



Gold Extends Gains After US, Iran Reach Peace Deal

Gold bars of various values are stored in a safe deposit room in Munich, Germany, January 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Gold bars of various values are stored in a safe deposit room in Munich, Germany, January 28, 2026. (Reuters)
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Gold Extends Gains After US, Iran Reach Peace Deal

Gold bars of various values are stored in a safe deposit room in Munich, Germany, January 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Gold bars of various values are stored in a safe deposit room in Munich, Germany, January 28, 2026. (Reuters)

Gold rose more than 2% on Monday after US and Iran officials said they had reached an initial agreement to end their war, pushing oil prices lower and easing concerns about inflation and higher interest rates.

Spot gold climbed 2.5% to $4,322.87 per ounce by 0312 GMT, hitting its highest level since June 9 and extending gains for a third straight session. US gold futures ‌for August delivery ‌rose 2.5% to $4,344.80.

US and Iranian officials said on ‌Sunday ⁠they had agreed ⁠on a framework to end their war, halt the US blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The pact will be officially signed on Friday in Switzerland, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X.

The US dollar fell to a 10-day low, making greenback-priced bullion cheaper for other currency holders, while oil prices slipped more than 4%.

"Lower ⁠oil prices and a softer dollar, stemming from ‌reduced geopolitical risk and the anticipated reopening ‌of the Strait of Hormuz, are helping to calm inflation expectations," said Tim Waterer, ‌chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"This combination is providing the ‌precious metal with its best tailwind in recent weeks, though sustainability will depend on how durable the peace agreement proves to be."

Gold prices have fallen about 20% since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in late February. The ‌effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a sharp increase in global oil prices, stoking ⁠inflation concerns ⁠and raising expectations of interest rates staying higher for longer.

Bullion loses appeal in a high-interest-rate environment as it is a non-yielding asset.

Markets have scaled back expectations for a US rate hike in December to 48% after the peace deal, down from 69% last week, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Investors now await the Federal Reserve policy decision and remarks, the first under Chair Kevin Warsh, on Wednesday, with rates widely expected to remain unchanged.

"Currency debasement concerns, fiscal risks and ongoing geopolitical fragmentation continue to underpin long-term demand (for gold). A moderation in energy-led inflation could help these themes regain traction," OCBC said in a note.

Spot silver rose 3.6% to $70.39 per ounce, platinum gained 3.3% to $1,773.70 and palladium climbed 3.3% to $1,324.75.


Oil Slips $4 as US, Iran Reach Peace Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, US, February 18, 2025. (Reuters)
A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, US, February 18, 2025. (Reuters)
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Oil Slips $4 as US, Iran Reach Peace Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, US, February 18, 2025. (Reuters)
A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, US, February 18, 2025. (Reuters)

Oil prices slipped to their lowest since March on Monday after US President Donald Trump and Iran's deputy foreign minister said they had reached an initial deal to end the war and to resume traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell $4.08, or 4.7%, to $83.25 a barrel by 0415 GMT and US West Texas Intermediate was at $80.53, down $4.35, or 5.1%. Both contracts fell to their lowest levels since March 10 on Monday after tumbling more than 3% on Friday.

The US and Iran ‌will sign a ‌memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday, said the prime ‌minister ⁠of Pakistan, whose country ⁠has served as a mediator. Trump said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz would be open "toll free" and that a US naval blockade of Iranian ports would also end.

Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said the draft deal called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days under Iranian arrangements.

"The geopolitical risk premium that had been built into crude is now being unwound quite aggressively as traders price in the prospect of restored oil ⁠flows," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

The ‌world has lost millions of barrels of oil ‌and gas supply since the war closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of ‌the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, for more than three months.

Investors ‌are also watching cautiously how quickly Middle Eastern producers can resume oil production and exports following damage from the war and whether more ships will enter the region.

"While these uncertainties suggest upside risks to our forecast for Brent oil futures to reach $80/bbl by the end of the year, it's worth ‌noting that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz just needs to reach 60-70% of pre-war levels to return oil markets ⁠to pre-war oversupply ⁠expectations," Vivek Dhar, a commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a note.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said a more expansive agreement would be negotiated during a 60-day ceasefire period.

E4 nations, which include the UK, France, Germany and Italy, said on Sunday the countries were prepared to lift sanctions on Iran in response to steps on its nuclear program.

"Beyond the immediate price reaction, attention will now shift toward the pace of actual supply normalization and compliance with the agreement," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

"While the conflict may have come to an end and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz may gradually return to normal, the damage already done cannot be reversed overnight. This includes not only any physical damage to oil infrastructure but also the economic strain endured by oil importing economies that have faced elevated energy costs for months."


Riyadh Air Launches First Domestic Service to Jeddah

The launch marks a key step in the carrier's strategy to expand its destination network from the Saudi capital. SPA
The launch marks a key step in the carrier's strategy to expand its destination network from the Saudi capital. SPA
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Riyadh Air Launches First Domestic Service to Jeddah

The launch marks a key step in the carrier's strategy to expand its destination network from the Saudi capital. SPA
The launch marks a key step in the carrier's strategy to expand its destination network from the Saudi capital. SPA

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier, launched on Sunday its first domestic flight from Riyadh to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

The move is part of Riyadh Air's plans to expand its domestic network through daily flights between Riyadh and Jeddah and strengthen connectivity between major destinations across the Kingdom.

The inaugural flight arrived from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Riyadh Air board member Raid Ismail, and several aviation-sector leaders on board.

They were received by Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) Raed Al-Mudaiheem, JEDCO CEO Mazen Johar, and representatives of government and security agencies operating at the airport.

The launch marks a key step in the carrier's strategy to expand its destination network from the Saudi capital. The inaugural flight departed King Khalid International Airport (RUH) at 9:00 a.m. and landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) at 10:50 a.m.

Riyadh Air launched the route with two daily flights. Frequencies will increase to three daily flights from June 18 and four daily flights from July 2.

The route is being launched amid strong demand growth. According to aviation analytics firm OAG, the Riyadh-Jeddah route ranked as the world's fifth-busiest domestic air route in 2025, with 9.8 million seats.

By operating the service, Riyadh Air supports national strategies by providing additional seat capacity that contributes to the growth of the Kingdom's tourism, business, and economic sectors.

Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said the launch of flights to Jeddah marks an important milestone in the airline's journey toward building a broad network connecting Saudi Arabia with the world. He noted that the route serves a large segment of business and leisure travelers and supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to develop the aviation sector and strengthen air connectivity.

JEDCO CEO Mazen Johar said the new service reflects integration among the components of the Kingdom's aviation ecosystem and contributes to expanding travel options and enhancing passenger services. He added that King Abdulaziz International Airport served more than 14.8 million passengers through nearly 84,000 flights during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting continued growth in operational activity.

The new flights support Riyadh Air's goal of reaching more than 100 destinations worldwide. The route also facilitates business travel, tourism, and Hajj and Umrah traffic while reinforcing Riyadh's position as a major international air-connectivity hub.