Day: September 14, 2023

South Korea’s fiscal deficit narrowed on-year in the first seven months of 2023, data showed Thursday, as the government cut pandemic-related expenditures.

The managed fiscal balance, a key gauge of fiscal health calculated on a stricter term, posted a deficit of 67.9 trillion won ($51.1 billion) through July, compared with 86.8 trillion won tallied a year earlier, according to the Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance.

South Korea’s tax revenue came to 217.6 trillion won during the cited period, down 43.4 trillion won on-year due to a lower amount of income and corporate taxes collected, (Yonhap) News Agency reported.

The total revenue came to 353.4 trillion won in the January-July period, down 40.7 trillion won on-year.

Total expenditures came to 391.2 trillion won over the period, down 59.1 trillion won on-year, as the government spent less on pandemic-related projects.

The government’s debt had reached 1,097.8 trillion won as of July, up 14.5 trillion won on-year.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Music Commission, with the participation of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, will perform a musical show next Sunday at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Square in New York City.

Eighty musicians from the National Orchestra and Choir (NOC) and the Saudi Performing Arts Band, accompanied by the American jazz band, Dizzy Gillespie, will perform the concert as part of the “Masterpieces of Saudi Music,” which includes a medley of Saudi folk songs in addition to individual performances. Dizzy Gillespie will present musical pieces in a joint performance with NOC.

The Theater and Performing Arts Commission will also present five shows that reflect the Kingdom’s cultural diversity, including Al-Majrour, and Al-Samari.

The concert at the Metropolitan Opera House is the third destination of the “Masterpieces of Saudi Music” initiative after performances in Paris and the U.S. state of New Mexico with the aim of introducing the world to the Saudi musical genres and performing arts.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

A delegation from Guinea-Conakry visited yesterday the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex in Madinah.

The delegation was briefed by Complex Secretary-General Atef Al-Olayan on the efforts made to serve the Holy Quran, including the processes of printing, translation into multiple languages and distribution to Muslims all around the world.

The delegation then toured the facilities of the complex and production lines and learned about the latest equipment and technologies used to print the Holy Quran, as well as the complex’s most prominent achievements.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Director-General of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing, Shaikh Khalid bin Rashid Al Khalifa, has attended the ceremony of INJAZ Bahrain held annually to honour distinguished volunteers.

The event was held under the patronage of Her Higness Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa al Al Khalifa, INJAZ Bahrain Chairperson.

Shaikh Khalid bin Rashid highlighted the importance of implementing the directives of Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, to enforce the law and provide services and rehabilitation and training programmes to the beneficiaries in a way that contributes to achieving qualitative successes in the verdict enforcement process as well as subsequent follow-up.

He continued that the directorate had coordinated with various authorities for the best interests of the beneficiaries of the open prisons programme to enhance their skills and knowledge. He thanked INJAZ Bahrain for its supportive role in providing rehabilitation programmes for the beneficiaries of alternative sanctions and open prisons.

He stressed the importance of promoting community partnership through cooperation with NGOs.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Al-Ula World Archaeology Summit, organised by the Royal Commission for AlUla at Maraya, kicked off today.

Over 300 government officials, heads of organisations concerned with archaeology and cultural heritage, and dozens of scientists and specialists from the Saudi Arabia and abroad are participating in the three-day event, aimed at realizing the Al-Ula vision goals that are in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

The sessions addressed a number of diverse interactive and knowledge debates in the field of archaeology development and challenges, with the participation of several experts who spoke about four themes related to the “identity, ruinscapes, resilience and accessibility.”

The speakers focused on how archaeology can be developed to contribute to increasing archaeological discoveries.

Source: Bahrain News Agency