Saudi Arabia Introduces Largest Set of Projects to Develop Water, Environmental Infrastructure

Saudi Arabia deploys unremitting efforts to develop the water network and raise its operational efficiency. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia deploys unremitting efforts to develop the water network and raise its operational efficiency. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Introduces Largest Set of Projects to Develop Water, Environmental Infrastructure

Saudi Arabia deploys unremitting efforts to develop the water network and raise its operational efficiency. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia deploys unremitting efforts to develop the water network and raise its operational efficiency. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia intends to offer and award more than 1.4 thousand projects with a total value exceeding 108 billion riyals ($28.8 billion), in the water distribution sector, in continuation of plans and programs to develop water and environmental infrastructure.

The National Water Company said on Wednesday that Eng. Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, led a meeting with senior executives to determine the preparations for the implementation of these major national projects.

Eng. Nemer Al-Shebel, CEO at the National Water Company, said that the new projects were an extension of the unlimited support provided by the government, in line with the objectives of the National Water Strategy and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in the environmental, water, economic and development fields.

The projects cover 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom, including 353 projects allocated to the western sector, with a value exceeding 38.96 billion riyals ($10.3 billion), 240 projects in the central sector (Riyadh region), with a value surpassing 14.19 billion riyals ($3.7 billion).

The National Water Company has allocated 215 projects to the northern sector, including, Al-Qassim, Hail, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders, with a value exceeding 12.95 billion riyals ($3.4 billion), and 328 projects for the southern sector, which includes Asir, Jazan, Najran, and Al-Baha regions, with a total value of 15.3 billion riyals ($4 billion).

The company intends to earmark 162 projects worth 7.7 billion riyals ($2 billion) for the northwestern sector, which includes Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah region and Tabuk.

The Eastern Province has been allocated 117 projects, with a value exceeding 16.17 billion riyals ($4.2 billion), in addition to 14 projects supporting various sectors, with a value of more than 2.72 billion riyals ($720 million).



Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company's Christmas sales.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.