Kensington and Chelsea Council Criticized for Failing to Provide Halal Food During Ramadan, Reflects Broader Systemic Racism and Housing Inequities
Grenfell Tower Inquiry reveals Kensington and Chelsea Council's failure to provide halal food to Muslim survivors, highlighting systemic racism and racial disparities.
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry recently exposed Kensington and Chelsea Council's failure to provide halal food to Muslim survivors during their temporary hotel relocations, despite many observing Ramadan. This deeply troubling oversight is part of a broader narrative of systemic racism and inadequate support for migrant communities, underscoring significant racial disparities in housing safety and essential services.
In a bid to boost tourism and investment, Saudi Arabia has suspended municipal fees for issuing commercial licenses to hotels, hotel apartments, and residential resorts starting September 4, 2024. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and aims to streamline municipal procedures, attracting more investors through platforms like Balady, with workshops provided to ensure compliance.
Turning to Lebanon, the arrest of Riad Salameh, the former governor of the central bank, has sparked intense debate about accountability amid the nation’s financial crisis. While some believe Salameh is being used as a scapegoat for broader financial mismanagement, others see this as a significant step towards holding officials accountable, although skepticism about the judiciary’s effectiveness remains.
On the business front, Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) closed lower, down 0.43 percent at 12,128.14 points, with mixed performances among key stocks. Notably, Saudi Fisheries Co. surged by 9.92 percent, contrasting with a 5 percent drop for Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund, while the Nomu parallel market also saw fluctuations with an 8.16 percent rise for Al Ashghal Al Moysra Co.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has applauded Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for driving transformative economic growth and stability, predicting a 4.4% medium-term growth in the non-oil sector. Despite an overall economic contraction in 2023 due to oil production cuts, non-oil GDP grew by 3.8%, and inflation rates have sharply decreased from 3.4% at the start of the year to 1.6% in May 2024.
Reflecting their commitment to enhancing the tourism sector, Saudi Arabia has also waived municipal fees for hotel licenses under the approval of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative, part of the Ministry of Tourism’s Investment Enablers Program, aims to foster a more competitive and attractive investment environment by reducing operating costs in the hospitality industry.
In a bid to boost tourism and investment, Saudi Arabia has suspended municipal fees for issuing commercial licenses to hotels, hotel apartments, and residential resorts starting September 4, 2024. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and aims to streamline municipal procedures, attracting more investors through platforms like Balady, with workshops provided to ensure compliance.
Turning to Lebanon, the arrest of Riad Salameh, the former governor of the central bank, has sparked intense debate about accountability amid the nation’s financial crisis. While some believe Salameh is being used as a scapegoat for broader financial mismanagement, others see this as a significant step towards holding officials accountable, although skepticism about the judiciary’s effectiveness remains.
On the business front, Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) closed lower, down 0.43 percent at 12,128.14 points, with mixed performances among key stocks. Notably, Saudi Fisheries Co. surged by 9.92 percent, contrasting with a 5 percent drop for Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund, while the Nomu parallel market also saw fluctuations with an 8.16 percent rise for Al Ashghal Al Moysra Co.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has applauded Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for driving transformative economic growth and stability, predicting a 4.4% medium-term growth in the non-oil sector. Despite an overall economic contraction in 2023 due to oil production cuts, non-oil GDP grew by 3.8%, and inflation rates have sharply decreased from 3.4% at the start of the year to 1.6% in May 2024.
Reflecting their commitment to enhancing the tourism sector, Saudi Arabia has also waived municipal fees for hotel licenses under the approval of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This initiative, part of the Ministry of Tourism’s Investment Enablers Program, aims to foster a more competitive and attractive investment environment by reducing operating costs in the hospitality industry.
