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HONG KONG: Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented attempt to diversify from an oil economy to something more sustainable seems to be churning along nicely. The female labour participation rate has nearly doubled to 36 per cent from 2016, the year Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman laid out his Vision 2030. Unemployment is at a record low. Last year, the number of domestic and foreign tourists exceeded 100 million for the first time. Headline statistics aside, what’s Saudi Arabia really like? Curious, I did some sightseeing myself in early November, taking advantage of a new route between Hong Kong and Riyadh. The two financial centres have been strengthening economic ties, cross-investing and offering exchange-traded funds on each other’s bourses. Cathay Pacific started a direct flight late last month. Before the trip, my friend and I were fussing over our outfits, worrying that we might get stopped on the street for not dressing conservatively enough. We were also a bit nervous about our road trip – after all, women were forbidden from driving until mid-2018. VISITORS WELCOME What we saw was an open, friendly nation that welcomed visitors. We blended in as well as any foreigners would in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and we didn’t spot the much-feared religious police. In Medina, we accidentally roamed into the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque, not knowing that it was for Muslims only. When a policeman asked us to leave, his tone was apologetic. In just a few years, entertainment options have ballooned in a nation where the median age is only 30. Perhaps because of the desert heat, nightlife there is booming. From Riyadh’s Boulevard City – a sprawling commercial development that includes an amusement park, outdoor cinemas and retail stores – to Jeddah’s Red Sea waterfront, people crowded into the streets, singing, dancing and hanging out in cafes and hookah lounges well into the night. Female drivers are now commonplace. And while most Saudi women are still wearing long, flowing abayas as well as face coverings, fashionistas have tossed off their hijab and are wearing their abaya like a cloak. No one judges or casts disapproving glances. What about men? We took plenty of Uber rides and talked to Saudi drivers. One laughingly quipped that traffic in Riyadh got a lot worse since women began driving. A 69-year-old in Jeddah said he was okay that two of his five adult children were unmarried. One 22-year-old said he was a huge fan of American rapper Eminem, who will perform in Riyadh next month. And people just assumed we were in the Kingdom for business, as if career women were a fact of life. CHANGING LIFESTYLES Anecdotes aside, there’s also statistical evidence that cultural and social reforms are profoundly changing families and how they live and consume. The share of spending on restaurants, hotels, recreation and culture has increased from about 12 per cent in 2017 to nearly 20 per cent this year, according to Capital Economics. Home ownership among Saudi citizens has increased to 64 per cent of households from 47 per cent in 2016, when the government slashed payments for mortgages and taxed land owners who left plots undeveloped. Mortgage lending now accounts for nearly a quarter of banks’ total outstanding credit. As testament to the buzzing economy, rents are growing at a brisk 11 per cent, amid inflows of expatriate workers and large redevelopment plans in Riyadh and Jeddah. As part of Vision 2030, Riyadh aims to lower the country’s unemployment rate and increase small businesses’ contribution to the economy. It’s making progress on both fronts, while a cultural opening is giving young Saudis incentives to work. FALLING SHORT ON SOME METRICS The prince is falling short on some of his metrics, and the nation’s human rights record remains a serious concern. Women who posted online about gender inequality can suffer decades-long jail sentences. The 2022 Personal Status Law requires women to obtain a male guardian’s permission to marry. This perhaps explains why Saudi Arabia is not getting as much foreign capital as Riyadh desires. In 2023, Norway’s largest pension fund KLP blacklisted some of Saudi’s telecom and real estate companies, citing “human rights abuses”. Last year, net foreign direct investment accounted for only 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product, well below Vision 2030’s 5.7 per cent target. In addition, foreigners are still mostly visiting for the pilgrimages of hajj and umrah, even though the country is building ambitious ski slopes in the desert and lavish resorts by the Red Sea that cater to non-religious tourists. The government is aiming for the sector to account for 10 per cent of non-oil GDP. Foreign fund managers have likened Saudi Arabia’s 2016 opening to China’s. I don’t think that’s quite fair, because Saudi is already a developed country in terms of infrastructure. Its roads are well-built and its malls are full of American chain stores – nothing like the 1980s China I knew. But if we look at the speed of cultural changes, the parallel is eerily accurate.BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor," Miller said. Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — dropped 30.6% compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula's predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia reported historic lows in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country's environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024's figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were draped in smoke in August from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the Amazon River fell to desperate lows , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River's main tributaries dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon's fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole." But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don't how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of a voice on nature conservation decisions , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people's role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support," Ebus said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
Column: Brady Corbet’s epic movie ‘The Brutalist’ came close to crashing down more than onceFood truck explosion in central Pa. neighborhood damages surrounding homes
The Annapolis City Council introduced a resolution Monday that would postpone the coming ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
Japanese author Haruki Murakami is back with his latest work of fiction... Fiction The Lion Women Of Tehran by Marjan Kamali is published in paperback by Simon & Schuster The Lion Women Of Tehran is a powerful, moving story about freedom and friendship by Iranian-American novelist Marjan Kamali. At a time when political turmoil builds up in Iran, Ellie and Homa – two best friends from different upbringings – are forced into living very different lives. Kamali takes us on a journey of friendship, showing us the beauty of long-lasting ties of sisterhood, and highlights the importance of freedom for women around the world. It’s an emotional journey and one that helps readers realise the power that women hold, and the impact of their lion voice. Trial By Fire by Danielle Steel is published in hardback by Macmillan Trial By Fire by Danielle Steele is a story about loss, love and the courage it takes to move forward after difficult times. Dahlia de Beaumont, born to a French mother and American father, is owner and CEO of the family perfume business. The traumatising loss of her parents and later her young husband result in her focusing her time and energy into her four children and perfume empire. She brings up her children alone and can’t imagine loving another man as she did her husband. During a trip to San Francisco, wildfires erupt in Napa Valley, and she’s compelled to offer aid. Not only will this risk her life and her future but will also create new opportunities to build relationships and cement that which is important in her life. This expansive novel explores themes of loss, love, resilience, personal growth, and the opportunity for a renewed chance at love. It offers an intimate portrayal of loss and healing, which feels deeply personal. The author’s ability to weave love and family into a story of grief is powerful, highlighting how important connections are during challenging times. The City And Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, translated by Philip Gabriel, is published in hardback by Harvill Secker Wistful, nostalgic, powerful and poignant – there are so many more ways you could describe Haruki Murakami’s latest novel, The City And Its Uncertain Walls. Based on a novella he wrote many years ago, it tells the story of a young man’s journey into an imaginary city to find the true self of his girlfriend who has gone missing. Inside the city, with its mysterious high walls and other notable quirks, he finds a job in a library as a dream reader, working alongside his girlfriend. But she has no memory of their love story or their previous life together. And so begins a quest, and one which takes you the reader along every step of the way, making you question your own journey and how far you would travel for love. The novel is also an ode to libraries and books, the physical realm of which has dissipated in an age of technology. Non-fiction Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher is published in hardback by HarperCollins As autobiographies go, Cher’s is certainly not short on subject matter. So much so that her new release is Cher: The Memoir, Part One, taking the reader up to the early 1980s. Her story is truly remarkable, starting with a family background she describes as like the “opening of a Dickens novel”. The supporting characters read like the stars on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and non-stop anecdotes include teenage dates with Warren Beatty, Phil Spector brandishing a gun and an encounter with a fish-shaped sex toy in Salvador Dali’s studio. Behind the glamour is her relationship with controlling husband Sonny Bono, who she says helped her become a star but treated her like a servant. Her sense of humour is apparent throughout, although some of her wit is lost in the written word. A fascinating read and insight into a true pop icon, part two can’t come quick enough. Children’s book of the week Tales From Muggleswick Wood by Vicky Cowie, illustrated by Charlie Mackesy, is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Children’s Books East Yorkshire-based writer Vicky Cowie presents a stunningly bound gift edition combining five of her previous short stories, framed within a narrative of a grandmother reading to her grandchildren across a wholesome weekend sleepover at her countryside home. Interconnecting tales Muggleswick Wood, Kevin The Kelpie, The Biggest Blooming Beetle, The Secret Of Snittington Hall and Melvin The Mole are presented as bedtime tales, lovingly told to cousins creating a sweet, fantastical world young readers can dive into; vividly imagining the landscape and characters as easily as you might Kenneth Grahame’s Toad Of Toad Hall. With gorgeous illustrations from Charlie Mackesy – who you might recognise from The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse – this timeless collective brings to mind Beatrix Potter and A. A. Milne’s most beloved characters, and is a perfect gift for any young reader (aged four to eight years) this Christmas, to be handed down through generations.
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Investing in the Future! Why Taiwan Semiconductor Could Be Your Best BetBanking Don't miss out on the headlines from Banking. Followed categories will be added to My News. Customers from one of Australia’s biggest banks are being locked out of internet banking. ING Australia confirmed in a post to X that customers had reported issues with the banking app and website on Wednesday morning. “We are aware that some customers are currently experiencing issues accessing the ING app and website,” the post read. “Our teams are investigating this issue and we will provide further updates shortly. “We are extremely sorry to any customers who have been impacted.” Customers first began reporting issues with DownDetector at 7.30am. Customers reported issues with the app and website on Wednesday morning. However, an updated statement just before 10.30am Wednesday said “services are returning to normal”. “Most customers should now be able to access the ING app and online banking and make payments and transfers,” the statement said. “As we complete the restoration, some overseas customers may be experiencing some issues accessing the app and online banking and we will provide updates on our socials. “We sincerely apologise to any customers who have been impacted.” Disgruntled customers took to social media to air their grievances with the major bank. “Looks like I’m not buying anything this morning. Come on guys not good enough,” one person wrote to X. “AGAIN!!! this happened 2-3 weeks ago as well.” another wrote. “No worries guys, just waiting to transfer money so we can get our car back from being serviced this morning, we’ll just walk everywhere instead. Useless,” added another. The inconvenience comes just four weeks after customers were hit with another outage. ING Australia customers reported being unable to access the website or banking app about 9am on Wednesday, October 30. At its peak, more than 2300 people reported issues accessing ING Australia banking services. More Coverage Scammers warning after major bank outage Nathan Schmidt Parents speak after update in Laos deaths Clareese Packer Originally published as Major outage hits ING Australia customers just weeks after last disaster More related stories Business Industry funds ill prepared for ‘peak super’ As the superannuation sector’s value passes the $4 trillion barrier, it is nearing the moment where more cash will come out of the system than go in. Read more Business ‘Do no more harm’: CEOs make their election pitch The notion of an Elon Musk-style regulation buster with authority to drive changes would be welcome relief here. Read more