Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international levels. The front pages of most papers carried the following titles: Minister of Interior endorses new amendments on civil status regulation; Saudi Arabia combats AIDS and enhances society health. Al-Iqtisadiyah (the Economist) newspaper reported in its editorial titled 'a devastating crisis keeps widening', in reference to the food supplies shortage expected to hit the entire world due to a series of problems, including the current Russian-Ukranian war, environmental and climatic crises, economic and health crises, poverty and lack of equality that the crisis is expected to negatively affect millions of people, particularly in countries and regions where domestic capabilities could not afford more. World food invoice has jumped to $1.8 trillion according to FAO, and poised to increase due to first, an increase in food commodities prices and secondly, due to continuing hikes in transport costs worldwide, citing that for instance the transport costs of a 40ft container from China to the United States of America was nearly $2000 before 2019 and now it fetches nearly $25000, an unprecedented fearful increase in this sector since the II world war, the paper said, justifying the current accelerating increase of the world food invoice by more than $51 billion this year compared to last year. Amid the current developments of the Russian Ukranian war, which sees no signs of being cooled down, world governments started to take measures targeting not only expanding the food reserves but also security of transport and supply chains from the impact of direct military operations. However, matters are not so easy particularly during wars or at times of changes on the ground as the required logistics need first a strong infrastructure and, most important, cooperation among the concerned parties, the paper said. To cast light on the aggravation of the prospected crisis based on transport costs increase and supply disruptions simultaneously, world wheat inventories will increase this year slightly not due to an increase of their production costs but because of an increase of their volumes in stores as they are accumilated in Russia, China and Ukraine. For its part, Arriyadh newspaper appropriated its editorial to the 'The West and Appeasement Policy', citing that possessing a nuclear bomb is considered a decades-long dream for the Iranian regime. The paper noted Iran's stubborn pre-resiquite conditions regardless of the sufferings of the Iranian people who recently took to the streets demanding the fall of the Mullas' rule. Despite that the chances of reviving the Iranian nuke agreement have become weak while Iran continues to challenge the US sanctions, regardless of their impact on the Iranian economy including local currency collapse and living costs increases which might send the country to the edge of the abyss, but this could not constitute an important factor to coerce Iran to come back to the negotiating table since it has spent billions of dollars on its nuclear project and will not give up its dream to possess a nuclear bomb even if it was forced to termporarily hold its activities to appease the western countries. On the other hand, and despite the US and EU agreement to eventually prevent Iran from reaching its goal, there appears a contradiction of strategic interest giving rise to the policy of appeasement, the paper said. Despite the fact that Iran's possession of a nuclear weapons doesn't only pose a threat to the west's interests in the region but it also poses a threat to the Middle East and its countries strategic interests, as it would push the whole region to a nuke weapon race overtly or covertly to protect their interests and security from potential external risks and direct threats. Reaching an agreement between the west and Iran seems to be weak due to Iran's confusing positins and impossible conditions. Therefore, most likely the Iranian nuclear reactor will face a western military blow, probaby an Israeli one, particularly that Washington confirmed that there are other options if an agreement turned to be impossible. For its part, Al-Yaum newspaper reported in its editorial titled 'Wold Challenges Show Strength of Saufi Economy' that the economic crises around the world constitute the biggest test for domestic plans and strategies, citing that the recent COVID-19 crisis has formed one of the most critical challenges before the world economies. To this effect, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has proven an ideal example of the strength of its economy and integrity of strategies. The paper quoted reliable international reports showing that the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leading in so many indeces and standards.
