Saudi Finance Minister Heads Kingdom's Delegation ‏to IMF-WBG 2024 Spring Meetings ‏

 Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan gestures as he speaks during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan gestures as he speaks during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
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Saudi Finance Minister Heads Kingdom's Delegation ‏to IMF-WBG 2024 Spring Meetings ‏

 Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan gestures as he speaks during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan gestures as he speaks during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2021. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan will lead the Kingdom's delegation at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group 2024 Spring Meetings in Washington from April 15 to 20.

The Saudi delegation will also include Central Bank Governor Ayman Alsayari, Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Almarshad, Assistant Finance Minister Abdulmuhsen Alkhalaf, International Monetary and Financial Committee Deputy Chair Ryadh Alkhareif, Deputy Finance Minister Khalid Bawazier, and experts from the Ministry of Finance, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority.

Al-Jadaan will chair the first meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee since the Kingdom's three-year chairmanship announcement. The committee will discuss global economic developments, growth prospects, and risks, along with global economic policy priorities.

Al-Jadaan and Alsayari will also participate in the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting under the Brazilian Presidency, focusing on global economic issues and enhancing cooperation.

Additionally, Al-Jadaan will attend a meeting of the World Bank Group's Development Committee, discussing strategies for addressing global development challenges.

The spring meetings bring together finance ministers, central bankers, international organizations, private sector executives, civil society representatives, and academics to discuss global concerns, such as the economy, sustainable development, poverty eradication, and other economic and financial topics. ‏



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.