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Marcus Thuram is transforming from an assist man to a leading goal-scorer at Inter

Marcus Thuram is transforming from an assist man to a leading goal-scorer at Inter
It was Thuram’s eighth goal in 10 matches across all competitions and his first in Europe this season to go with his seven in eight Serie A appearances. (AFP)
Updated 24 October 2024
AP
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Marcus Thuram is transforming from an assist man to a leading goal-scorer at Inter

Marcus Thuram is transforming from an assist man to a leading goal-scorer at Inter
  • It was Thuram’s eighth goal in 10 matches across all competitions and his first in Europe this season to go with his seven in eight Serie A appearances
Updated 24 October 2024
AP
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ROME: Last season, Marcus Thuram was Serie A’s top assist man. This season, he’s in the running for the top goalscorer honor.
It’s been quite a transformation for the France international during his second year in the Italian league.
Thuram’s impact in front of the goal has been felt beyond Italy, too.
In the Champions League on Wednesday, he came off the bench to score the late winner in Inter’s 1-0 victory at Young Boys.
It was Thuram’s eighth goal in 10 matches across all competitions and his first in Europe this season to go with his seven in eight Serie A appearances.
In Serie A, only Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui has scored more — with eight.
“Goals are always important, even more so if they help the team to win,” Thuram said.
Only a couple of months into an extremely long club season that will conclude with the Club World Cup in June-July for Inter, Thuram is already more than halfway to his scoring mark of last season — which he finished with 15 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.
Thuram led Serie A with 13 assists last season but has yet to set up a goal this season — partly because strike partner Lautaro Martinez has had a slow start after leading Argentina to the Copa America trophy a couple of months after he and Thuram powered Inter to the Serie A title.
His new goal-scoring form could also be a boost for France, with which Thuram has only two goals in 27 appearances.
Family derby for Marcus, Khephren and Lilian Thuram
Up next, though, it’s “Italy’s derby” where Inter hosts rival Juventus on Sunday in a match that is also a family derby for the Thurams. Younger brother Khephren is in his first season at Juventus, where dad Lilian once starred as a defender.
Both brothers are expected to start at the San Siro.
“My dad will support the Bianconeri,” Marcus said. “Anyhow, it will still be wonderful for us all, and I won’t be angry with him.”
Inter has won five straight games
After a slower-than-expected start to its title defense, Inter has rediscovered its form with five straight wins across all competitions following a derby loss to AC Milan a month ago that served as a wake-up call.
“You don’t get five victories if the team isn’t in good shape,” coach Simone Inzaghi said. “We’re working hard. In the Champions League we have seven points after three matches and we haven’t conceded a goal.”
Juventus, meanwhile, is still struggling to find consistency under new coach Thiago Motta. The Bianconeri lost at Stuttgart 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Balotelli could be close to Serie A return
Struggling Genoa is considering signing Mario Balotelli, who is out of contract since leaving Turkish club Adana Demirsport after last season.
The 34-year-old Balotelli hasn’t played in Serie A for more than four years — since he was with hometown club Brescia in 2019-20. He last played in Italy for Monza in Serie B in 2020-21.

Saudi foreign minister commits to BRICS cooperation at Kazan summit

Saudi foreign minister commits to BRICS cooperation at Kazan summit
Updated 8 min 23 sec ago
Arab News
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Saudi foreign minister commits to BRICS cooperation at Kazan summit

Saudi foreign minister commits to BRICS cooperation at Kazan summit
  • Prince Faisal praised BRICS countries for solidarity with Palestinian cause
  • Reaffirmed Kingdom’s commitment to continued expansion of partnerships with BRICS
  • Saudi Arabia has not officially joined the bloc, but participating as invited nation
Updated 8 min 23 sec ago
Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the BRICS Plus 2024 Summit in Kazan, Russia on Thursday, on behalf of King Salman.

Prince Faisal, who conveyed the greetings of the King and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of other BRICS nations, delivered a speech reflecting Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in global multilateral cooperation.

He expressed the Kingdom’s gratitude for the warm welcome extended to the Saudi delegation and acknowledged the growing ties between Saudi Arabia and BRICS countries.

Saudi Arabia has not officially joined the bloc, but participates in its activities as an invited nation.

“The volume of bilateral trade with the BRICS countries exceeded $196 billion in 2023, representing 37 persent of the Kingdom's total foreign trade,” Prince Faisal said, underscoring the significant economic relationships driving the Kingdom’s engagement with the bloc.

The summit provided an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to emphasize the importance of international cooperation in tackling global challenges, Saudi Press Agency reported.

“At a time when we most need to confront global challenges, we are witnessing an escalation of tensions and growing polarization,” said Prince Faisal.

He reiterated the Kingdom’s call for stronger international institutions to ensure the equitable representation and needs of all countries are addressed.

Turning to developments in the Middle East, Prince Faisal condemned Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, warning that the continued escalation threatened both regional and international security.

He called for an immediate ceasefire in the enclave, the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.

The minister also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s peace efforts, including its recent launch of the International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution initiative, which aims to secure a lasting solution based on the 1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Prince Faisal praised the BRICS countries for their solidarity with the Palestinian cause, acknowledging their support for a solution that respects Palestinian self-determination, SPA added.

In closing his address, Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to continued expansion of partnerships with BRICS and enhancing cooperation in a range of fields.

“The Kingdom will continue to strengthen its partnerships with the BRICS group and expand the horizons of cooperation in all fields, in an effort to achieve development and prosperity at the international level,” he concluded.

The summit also saw the participation of other high-ranking Saudi officials, including Abdulrahman Al-Ahmad, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Russia, and senior advisors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Topics: BRICS Summit 2024 BRICS Saudi Arabia

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Greece wants Turkish crackdown on migrant smugglers

Greece wants Turkish crackdown on migrant smugglers
Updated 14 min 49 sec ago
AFP
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Greece wants Turkish crackdown on migrant smugglers

Greece wants Turkish crackdown on migrant smugglers
  • Greek Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos is expected to discuss the issue with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in November
  • Disasters involving would-be asylum seekers occur regularly off the coast of Greece, one of the main countries through which people seek to enter the EU
Updated 14 min 49 sec ago
AFP

ATHENS: Greece is to ask neighboring Turkiye to crack down harder on gangs trafficking would-be asylum seekers, a senior migration official said on Thursday.
“We are not doing enough about migrant smugglers. We are raising the issue with our European peers and our Turkish neighbors,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
“The cooperation which we intend to intensify with Turkiye will focus on the war against smuggling networks,” the source added.
Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos is expected to discuss the issue with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya in November.
More than 37,000 asylum seekers entered Greece in the first nine months of the year, mainly from Turkiye, according to ministry figures.
Arrivals are predicted to reach 50,000 by the end of the year.
Disasters involving would-be asylum seekers occur regularly off the coast of Greece, one of the main countries through which people fleeing poverty or war in Africa, Asia and the Middle East seek to enter the European Union.
Several people have drowned in migrant boat sinkings in recent days.
Greek government officials have stressed that the country’s camps — which can accommodate some 50,000 asylum seekers while their claims for refuge are processed — are not currently under pressure.
But two key new facilities have faced obstacles.
The EU in 2021 allocated 155 million euros ($167 million) to the Greek government to build new camps on the Aegean islands of Lesbos and Chios.
But work on both projects has been held up by local opposition.
In Chios, the plan may have to be scrapped altogether, the ministry official admitted on Thursday.
Lesbos, meanwhile, has faced an ongoing dispute about widening a road through a pristine forest to the new camp, which is nearly complete.

Topics: Greece Turkiye migrants

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Pakistan army chief witnesses Indus Shield 2024 aerial exercise involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Pakistan army chief witnesses Indus Shield 2024 aerial exercise involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt
Updated 40 min 40 sec ago
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Pakistan army chief witnesses Indus Shield 2024 aerial exercise involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Pakistan army chief witnesses Indus Shield 2024 aerial exercise involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt
  • Air forces from 24 countries are taking part in region’s biggest aerial warfare exercise, says military’s media wing
  • Pakistan’s army chief expresses satisfaction over national air force’s combat readiness, stresses inter-service collaboration
Updated 40 min 40 sec ago
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir on Thursday witnessed the Indus Shield regional aerial warfare exercises in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing said, expressing satisfaction over the national air force’s combat readiness and modernization. 
Indus Shield-2024 is the largest multinational regional exercise in which air forces from 24 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye and others are taking part. The exercise aims to foster interoperability and training through state-of-the-art facilities. 
Pakistan frequently holds exercise drills with its regional allies, including those from the Middle East, to strengthen defense ties and bolster regional security. 
“COAS expressed his satisfaction over the combat readiness of Pakistan Air Force and the progress made through various modernization and up-gradation programs,” the army’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. 

In this handout photograph, taken and released by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on October 24, 2024, Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir watches aerial exercise during the Indus Shield-2024 in Rawalpindi. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

Munir was briefed about the PAF’s modernization efforts to stay abreast with security challenges, the ISPR said, adding that he also witnessed exercise operations with the static display of various technologies.
“COAS also interacted with the aircrew and appreciated the resolve of PAF personnel to safeguard the aerial frontiers of Pakistan,” the ISPR said. “He emphasized the critical role of inter-service collaboration, which he believes is essential for achieving operational success.”

In this handout photograph, taken and released by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on October 24, 2024, Pakistan Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir meets security personnel at the Indus Shield-2024 in Rawalpindi. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

Air Chief Marshal Sidhu briefed Munir about the modernization and indigenization drive being undertaken by the PAF by inducting state-of-the-art weapons.
“While speaking at the occasion, the air chief highlighted that the ongoing exercise Indus Shield-2024 will go a long way in bolstering interoperability among the participating nations and will train their air & ground crews to face contemporary warfare challenges,” the military’s media wing concluded.

Topics: Pakistan Army ISPR

UK reiterates call for Lebanon ceasefire at donor conference, pledges more than $32m in aid

UK reiterates call for Lebanon ceasefire at donor conference, pledges more than $32m in aid
Updated 43 min 52 sec ago
Arab News
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UK reiterates call for Lebanon ceasefire at donor conference, pledges more than $32m in aid

UK reiterates call for Lebanon ceasefire at donor conference, pledges more than $32m in aid
  • UK pledged £15 million ($19.4 million) to support Lebanon’s humanitarian needs, including food, medicine and clean water
  • Additional £10 million to match public donations
Updated 43 min 52 sec ago
Arab News

LONDON: The UK government renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah during the Lebanon Support Conference held in Paris on Thursday.

Minister for the Middle East Hamish Nicholas Falconer delivered the UK’s position as the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon continues to worsen.

“The situation in Lebanon is worsening daily, and civilian casualties are mounting,” Falconer said, highlighting the importance of swift action.

“The risks of further escalation cannot be overstated. We cannot let Lebanon become another Gaza.”

Falconer reaffirmed the UK’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense, citing Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel as the origin of the conflict.

“Let us not forget that this conflict started when Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel, forcing the Israelis to flee their homes,” he added.

The minister also called on Iran to halt its involvement in the region, urging Tehran to “immediately halt those attacks, and stand down its proxies.”

The UK pledged £15 million ($19.4 million) to support Lebanon’s humanitarian needs, including food, medicine and clean water, with an additional £10 million to match public donations made through the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region.

“We are working with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the sole legitimate defender of that state, to support security and stability,” Falconer said. He was accompanied by Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, a senior UK military officer leading efforts to support Lebanon’s defense forces. Smyth added that British forces stand “ready to do more.”

The UK government also called for the protection of aid workers, particularly those working with the UN, and condemned threats to the safety of UN peacekeepers in the region.

“The aid workers striving to alleviate suffering in Lebanon must be able to carry out their duties in safety — including UN workers, who have a vital role to play in resolving armed conflict and mitigating its impact,” Falconer said.

He also reiterated the UK’s stance on a political resolution to the conflict, calling for a solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which aims to secure long-term peace on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.

“A political solution (consistent with 1701) is the only answer — and the only way to secure a stable future for those on both sides of the Blue Line,” he said.

Topics: Battlefield Lebanon UK Lebanon

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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,886

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,886
Updated 55 min ago
REEM WALID 
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,886

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,886
  • Parallel market Nomu gained 438.38 points, or 1.66%, to close at 26,818.29
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 0.45 points, or 0.03%, to close at 1,494.90
Updated 55 min ago
REEM WALID 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Thursday, losing 15.71 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 11,886.06. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.37 billion ($1.16 billion), as 59 of the stocks advanced and 161 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 438.38 points, or 1.66 percent, to close at 26,818.29. This comes as 33 of the listed stocks advanced, while 38 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 0.45 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 1,494.90. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Rasan Information Technology Co., whose share price surged 10 percent to SR68.20. 

Other top gainers were Arabian Mills for Food Products Co. and Al Taiseer Group Talco Industrial Co., whose share prices surged 2.95 percent and 2.38 percent to SR59.30 and SR56.00, respectively. 

The worst performer was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co. for Industry., whose share price dropped by 6.67 percent to SR0.28. 

Other notable underperformers included Umm Al-Qura Cement Co. and Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., with share prices falling 3.78 percent to SR16.30 and 3.31 percent to SR12.86, respectively. 

On the announcements front, Rasan Information Technology Co. released its interim financial results for the period ending Sept. 30. 

According to a statement from Tadawul, the firm recorded a net profit of SR54.93 million in the first nine months of the year, reflecting a 52.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. 

The growth is primarily attributed to a 32.5 percent rise in gross profit year on year, with a profit margin of 60.2 percent compared to 58.7 percent during the same period last year, driven by enhanced operational efficiency and reduced sales costs. 

The increase is linked to a 47.5 percent growth in operating profits compared to the previous year, along with a 40.6 percent rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, achieving a margin of 28.2 percent versus 25.9 percent during the first nine months of 2023. 

Yanbu Cement Co. released its interim condensed consolidated financial results for the period ending Sept. 30. A bourse filing revealed that the firm recorded a net profit of SR129.17 million in the first nine months of the year, reflecting a 26.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. 

The growth is primarily attributed to rising local sales revenues and other income, despite higher administrative, selling, financing, and Zakat expenses. 

In market activity, Yanbu Cement Co. closed the session at SR23.00, down 0.78 percent. 

The Capital Market Authority announced its approval of SAB INVEST’s request to offer units of the “SAB Invest Hang Seng Hong Kong ETF” on the Saudi Stock Exchange as an Exchange Traded Fund. 

Topics: Saudi Arabia Tadawul TASI Closing Bell MSCI Tadawul Index TASI Nomu Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) Tadawul All Share Index (TASI)

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