STRASBOURG, France: Lawmakers at the European Parliament on Thursday re-elected Ursula von der Leyen to a second 5-year term as president of the European Union’s executive commission, giving her a comfortable majority and heading off a possible leadership vacuum.
Von der Leyen raised both fists in victory as the Parliament President Roberta Metsola read out the result at the legislature.
“5 more years. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me,” she said on the social media platform X.
The re-election ensures leadership continuity for the 27-nation bloc as it wrestles with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change, migration and housing shortages.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was quick to send his congratulations on X, calling von der Leyen’s re-election “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times. Europeans expect us to take Europe forward. Let’s do it!”
A majority in the 720-seat legislature voted for the German Christian Democrat after a speech in which she pledged to be a strong leader for Europe in a time of crisis and polarization.
Von der Leyen gained 401 of the 707 votes cast. There were 284 votes against her candidacy, 15 abstentions and seven void ballots.
The secret ballot came hot on the heels of strong gains by the far right in last month’s election for the European Parliament.
“I will never let the extreme polarization of our societies become accepted. I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life. And I stand here today ready to lead the fight with all the Democratic forces in this house,” von der Leyen said in her final pitch.
If lawmakers had rejected her candidacy, it would leave leaders of the 27-nation bloc scrambling to find a replacement as Europe grapples with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change. Instead, the continent now has an experienced pair of hands at the helm.
In a speech that sought to shore up support from across the political spectrum, von der Leyen pledged to strengthen the EU economy, its police and border agencies, tackle migration and pursue policies tackling climate change while also helping farmers who have staged protests against what they call stifling EU bureaucracy and environmental rules.
She also vowed to tackle housing shortages across Europe and said she would appoint a commissioner for the Mediterranean region due to the multiple challenges it faces.
She also took a swipe at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his recent visit to Russia shortly after his country took over the rotating six-month EU presidency.
“This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” von der Leyen said as she vowed that Europe would remain shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine.
One radical right lawmaker, Diana Iovanovici-Sosoaca of Romania, was escorted out of the parliament’s chamber for heckling a speaker during the debate following von der Leyen’s speech. Iovanovici-Sosoaca briefly wore what appeared to be a muzzle and held up religious icons before being led out of the room.
Over the past five years, von der Leyen has steered the bloc through a series of crises, including Britain’s exit from the EU, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She has also pushed a Green Deal aiming to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050.
Von der Leyen’s election came as newly elected UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was welcoming some 45 heads of government to discuss migration, energy security and the threat from Russia as he seeks to restore relations between the UK and its European neighbors.
EU leaders signed off on the conservative German von der Leyen at a summit meeting late last month. The 65-year-old von der Leyen’s bid was boosted when the European People’s Party, which includes von der Leyen’s Christian Democratic Union, remained the largest group at the EU Parliament after the elections.
The German politician has been praised for her leading role during the coronavirus crisis, when the EU bought vaccines collectively for its citizens. But she also found herself receiving sharp criticism for the opacity of the negotiations with vaccine makers.
The EU general court ruled Wednesday that the commission did not allow the public enough access to information about COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreements it secured with pharmaceutical companies during the pandemic.
Before voting got underway, a majority of lawmakers rejected a motion from a leftist bloc in parliament calling for the election to be delayed until September in light of the court ruling.
Following the elections for EU Parliament, European Union leaders agreed on the officials who will hold the key positions in the world’s biggest trading bloc in the coming years for issues ranging from antitrust investigations to foreign policy. At the side of von der Leyen will be two new faces: Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as the top diplomat of the world’s largest trading bloc.
While Costa’s nomination only needed the leaders’ approval, Kallas will also need to be approved by European lawmakers later this year. The Estonian prime minister is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a fierce critic of Russia within the European Union and NATO.
Ursula von der Leyen re-elected to a second 5-year term as European Commission president
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Ursula von der Leyen re-elected to a second 5-year term as European Commission president
Never take peace for granted, King Charles tells Italy parliament
- “Britain and Italy stand today united in defense of the democratic values we share,” King Charles said
- He became the first ever British monarch to address a joint session of Italy’s parliament
ROME: King Charles III warned Wednesday that peace can never be taken for granted and hailed Italy for standing by Ukraine, as he made a historic address to parliament in Rome.
“Peace is never to be taken, never to be taken for granted,” the 76-year-old monarch said during his third day of a state visit to Italy with his wife, Queen Camilla.
“Britain and Italy stand today united in defense of the democratic values we share.
“Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter.”
He noted the defense ties between Italy and the UK, through NATO and a project to develop a new fighter jet with Japan.
Speaking in English with some Italian, Charles became the first ever British monarch to address a joint session of Italy’s parliament.
The king also addressed an issue close to his heart, the environment.
“Just as we stand together in defense of our values, so too we stand together in defense of our planet,” he said.
“From the droughts in Sicily to the floods in Somerset, both our countries are already seeing the ever more damaging effects of climate change.”
Saudi Arabia records 89% growth in licensed tourism hospitality facilities
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector saw significant growth in 2024, with the number of licensed hospitality facilities increasing by 89 percent to 4,425 across various regions of the Kingdom.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Tourism’s official spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rasasimah described the surge as “remarkable,” adding that it reflects efforts “to support the sector’s growth and enhance its investment attractiveness.”
He added that the expansion comes amid a significant boom in the Kingdom’s tourism sector, driven by an influx of travelers and the ministry’s commitment to fostering a world-class hospitality environment.
The ministry reported in March that the number of licensed hospitality facilities in Makkah reached 1,030 by the end of 2024, marking an 80 percent rise compared to the previous year.
This increase positions the province as the leader in the Kingdom for the highest number of licensed facilities and rooms, underscoring the region’s dedication to enhancing visitor experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This move also reinforces the ministry’s dedication to protecting the rights of visitors and Umrah pilgrims using hospitality services in Makkah as part of its ongoing efforts to improve service quality.
“The ministry’s inspection teams conduct regular monitoring and inspection visits throughout the year to ensure that all facilities comply with licensing requirements, detect violations, and impose fines under the Tourism Law and Regulations of Tourist Accommodation Facilities,” SPA said.
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is growing beyond Makkah. By the end of the third quarter of 2024, the total number of licensed hospitality facilities across the Kingdom surpassed 3,950, a 99 percent increase from the third quarter of 2023. Licensed rooms climbed to 443,000, a 107 percent jump from the 214,000 recorded a year earlier.
According to CoStar, a global real estate data provider, Makkah and Madinah have 17,646 and 20,079 rooms, respectively, in various stages of development in 2025.
This comes as Saudi Arabia recorded 30 million inbound tourists in 2024, up from 27.4 million in 2023, government data revealed. The Kingdom aims to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030, with plans to raise the tourism sector’s gross domestic product contribution from 6 percent to 10 percent.
Saudi Arabia’s aggressive expansion in hospitality and tourism underscores its ambition to position itself as a global travel hub, catering to religious and leisure visitors.
Closing Bell: Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index closes in red at 11,096
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index concluded Wednesday’s trading session at 11,096.65 points, marking a decrease of 206.11 points, or 1.82 percent.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.83 billion ($1.82 billion), as 23 stocks advanced, while 225 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index also declined by 23.02 points, or 1.61 percent, to close at 1,409.46.
The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, reported a decrease as well, declining by 103.58 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 28,369.89 points. This comes as 24 of the listed stocks advanced, while 57 retreated.
The index’s top performer, Raoom Trading Co., saw a 3.56 percent increase in its share price to close at SR168.80.
Other top performers included Al-Rajhi Co. for Cooperative Insurance, which saw a 2.86 percent increase to reach SR129.60, while Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co.’s share price rose by 2.74 percent to SR60.
Almoosa Health Co. also recorded a positive trajectory, with share prices rising 2.49 percent to reach SR140. Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. also witnessed positive gains, with a 1.55 percent increase, reaching SR301.60.
Bank Albilad led losses on the main index, falling 6.39 percent to SR32.25, followed by Sadr Logistics Co., which dropped 6.08 percent to SR2.78. Kingdom Holding Co. also registered a notable fall of 5.87 percent, closing at SR7.86.
Other significant decliners included Sustained Infrastructure Holding Co., down 5.85 percent, and Derayah Financial Co., which lost 5.83 percent.
On the parallel market Nomu, Balady Poultry Co. was the top gainer, with its share price surging by 13.79 percent to SR330.
Other top gainers in the parallel market included Tam Development Co., which jumped 8.55 percent to SR165.00, and Balsm Alofoq Medical Co., which rose 8.19 percent to SR77.90.
Digital Research Co. and Al-Razi Medical Co. were the other top gainers on the parallel market.
Knowledge Net Co. was the biggest decliner on Nomu, with its share price falling 10.98 percent to SR30. Naas Petrol Factory Co. and Mulkia Investment Co. also posted steep losses, dropping 9.09 percent to SR60 and 8.89 percent to SR41, respectively.
Saudi Arabia sees 48% surge in new business registrations in Q1 2025
RIYADH: Business registrations in Saudi Arabia saw a 48 percent year-on-year increase during the first quarter of 2025, with 154,638 commercial records issued, according to official data.
The Ministry of Commerce, which issued the data, explained that a commercial registration certificate legally verifies a business’s official status within the Kingdom. These records are mandatory for all businesses operating in Saudi Arabia, as they are required to open a bank account, hire employees, sign contracts, and carry out other business activities.
The data also revealed that 71 percent of the total commercial records issued were concentrated in three key regions: Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province.
This surge in registrations aligns with recent reforms to Saudi Arabia’s business registration system. Notably, the introduction of the new Commercial Register Law and Trade Names Law has streamlined the process.
One of the key changes is the abolition of subsidiary registers, meaning that a single commercial register now suffices for all businesses. Furthermore, businesses no longer need to specify the city of registration, as a single registration is valid nationwide.
The newly released ministry report stated: “Promising sectors represent key opportunities outlined by Saudi Vision 2030 for both local and foreign businesses. In this newsletter, we highlight critical sectors that directly contribute to the country’s gross domestic product, including technology, tourism, entertainment, research and development, and more.”
The report further emphasized: “These sectors offer businesses significant opportunities to grow and expand partnerships.”
Additionally, the bulletin revealed that 45 percent of the total commercial records issued to institutions are owned by women.
E-commerce
The bulletin also reported a 6 percent year-on-year surge in e-commerce registrations in the first quarter of the year, as a total of 41,322 permits were issued between January and March.
Riyadh took the lead in registrations with 17,092, followed by Makkah at 10,412 and the Eastern Province at 6,534. Madinah followed as it allocated 1,939 permits, and Qassim issued 1,342.
Cloud computing registrations
Saudi Arabia’s cloud computing registrations saw a 33 percent year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2025.
Cloud computing refers to the on-demand availability of system resources, specifically data storage, without direct active management by the user.
The government bulletin reported the issuance of as many as 3,278 cloud computing permits between January and March.
This surge underscores the Kingdom’s aim to make the region a hub for technology by 2030.
It also correlates with the Saudi government’s proactive approach to implementing digital technologies, driving economic diversification, and boosting innovation.
As per the ministry report, Riyadh took the lead in registrations with 2,065, followed by Makkah at 622 and the Eastern Province at 352. Madinah came next as it allocated 73 permits, and Asir issued 38.
Virtual and AR technologies
The analysis also indicated that Saudi Arabia’s virtual and augmented reality technologies witnessed a 39 percent year-on-year rise in the first three months of 2025, as 8,218 permits were issued between January and March.
Riyadh took the lead in registrations with 5,060, followed by Makkah at 1,637 and the Eastern Province at 837. Madinah came next as it allocated 245 permits, and Qassim issued 112.
OIC condemns Israeli decision to close 6 UNRWA schools in Jerusalem
- OIC said Israel’s decision is an illegal attempt to undermine the UN agency’s role in Jerusalem
- Israeli authorities notified 6 UNRWA schools that they will be closed within 30 days
LONDON: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to close six schools of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in Jerusalem.
The OIC condemned Israel’s decision as an illegal attempt to undermine the UN agency’s role in the occupied city, calling it a blatant violation of the UN Charter and Resolution 302 (IV), which established the agency’s mandate in December 1949.
In 2024, Israel passed a law that prohibits the operations of UNRWA in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in the demolition or damage of numerous UNRWA schools and health centers.
On Tuesday, Israeli authorities notified six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem’s neighborhoods of Shuafat, Silwan, Sur Baher, and Wadi Al-Joz that they will be closed within 30 days.
The OIC said the decision would deprive Palestinian refugee children of their fundamental right to education and seek instead to impose the Israeli curriculum on them.
The OIC urged all states to support UNRWA with political, financial, and legal assistance to continue serving millions of Palestinian refugees and protecting their rights, as outlined in UN Resolution 194, the Wafa news agency reported.
