WHO Exceeds Polio Vaccination Goals in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Pauses, While Saudi Arabia's Non-Oil Sector Thrives and New Fintech Initiatives Take Flight
WHO surpasses polio vaccination goals in Gaza amid humanitarian pauses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully surpassed its polio vaccination goals in Gaza, immunizing over 161,000 children under 10 in the central area within just two days, exceeding the initial target of 150,000 children. This impressive stride comes amid ongoing humanitarian pauses, shared Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian territories.
In related news, India has intensified its search for three missing coast guard crew members after their helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea during a rescue operation. Four ships and two aircraft have been deployed for the search, which follows findings of the wreckage and recovery of one crew member.
Shifting to economic developments, Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector continues to grow, as indicated by the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 54.8 in August from 54.4 in July. This growth is driven by robust job creation and increased new orders, showcasing the sector's resilience and alignment with the ambitions of Vision 2030.
Moreover, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has granted sandbox permits to fintech startups including XSquare, NeotTek, and MoneyMoon to test new financial technologies. These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, aiming to foster innovation, create tens of thousands of jobs, and significantly boost the economy.
In the aviation sector, Virgin Atlantic will launch daily direct flights between Riyadh and London starting March 30, 2025, under a new agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP). This move aligns with Vision 2030's goal of increasing air travel and tourism and marks Virgin Atlantic as the tenth airline to join ACP this year.
Lastly, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Jordan, continues its humanitarian efforts by airdropping essential food supplies to Palestinians in Gaza through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). This initiative addresses the urgent needs in besieged Gaza and supports Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to the Palestinian people.
In related news, India has intensified its search for three missing coast guard crew members after their helicopter crashed into the Arabian Sea during a rescue operation. Four ships and two aircraft have been deployed for the search, which follows findings of the wreckage and recovery of one crew member.
Shifting to economic developments, Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector continues to grow, as indicated by the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 54.8 in August from 54.4 in July. This growth is driven by robust job creation and increased new orders, showcasing the sector's resilience and alignment with the ambitions of Vision 2030.
Moreover, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has granted sandbox permits to fintech startups including XSquare, NeotTek, and MoneyMoon to test new financial technologies. These initiatives are part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy, aiming to foster innovation, create tens of thousands of jobs, and significantly boost the economy.
In the aviation sector, Virgin Atlantic will launch daily direct flights between Riyadh and London starting March 30, 2025, under a new agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP). This move aligns with Vision 2030's goal of increasing air travel and tourism and marks Virgin Atlantic as the tenth airline to join ACP this year.
Lastly, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Jordan, continues its humanitarian efforts by airdropping essential food supplies to Palestinians in Gaza through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). This initiative addresses the urgent needs in besieged Gaza and supports Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to the Palestinian people.