A sharp fall in its net profit, slipping 25 in 2023 compared to the previous year. Aramco attributed the downturn to Lower Crude Oil prices and decreased production. The companys net income dropped from 161 billion in 2022 to 121 billion last year. Despite the challenges posed by declining oil prices, aramco will increase its dividend payments, providing a much needed financial boost to saudi arabia. Lets get more now from our middle east Business Correspondent sameer hashmi. With a big fall off in profit, why is it increasing its dividend . It its dividend . Is a steep fall compared to 2022. It is a steep fall compared to 2022. It is still the second best performance in terms of annual results at 121 billion. Two reasons why they increased the dividend pay out. Number one, Aramco Abbott is the main driver of the Saudi Arabian economy. Saudi owned entities own 19 of it and they rely heavily on that income to really find some these massive projects inside arabia. They tried to keep the
Between former President Trump and special counsel jack smith. A short time ago, the federal judge overseeing trumps election case responded to a court filing from smith theres night. Smith is seek a protective order after trump posted this yesterday evening, saying, quote, if you go after me, im coming after you. Smith is pointing to that message and asking the judge in the case to set limits on trump and his legal team when it comes to publicly discussing sensitive evidence and the judge has given the trump team until 5 00 p. M. This sunday to respond. Just this afternoon, lawyers asked a judge for more time to weigh in on what restrictions should be imposed. Joining us now to discuss, democratic congresswoman Veronica Escobar of texas. Thanks for joining. When you saw these words that trump wrote in that threatening post, what did you think of that . What was your concern there . Well, good afternoon, jim. It was as predicted. I mean, i knew he would not be able to help himself. He
ability to buy high tech microchips and it s now considering an executive order to curb us investment in sensitive areas. jerry eligible to chinese counterpart to any such measures would be hardly targeted. i such measures would be hardly tarueted. , .,, , such measures would be hardly tarueted. , . , , ., targeted. i emphasised that it would be highly targeted. i emphasised that it would be highly targeted - targeted. i emphasised that it would be highly targeted and| would be highly targeted and clearly directed narrowly at a few sectors where we have specific national security concerns. i want to relay them fears that that would do something that would have broad based impacts on the chinese economy, that s not the case, that s not the intention. i think this is an example of what i said about how to address national securities concerns. address national securities concerne address national securities concerns. , ., ., ~ concerns. the senior market anal st concerns. the
and it is now considering an executive order to curb us investment in sensitive areas. but ms yellen told her chinese counterparts that any such measures will be highly targeted. i emphasise that it would be highly targeted and clearly directed narrowly at a few sectors where we have specific national security concerns. i want to allay their fears that we would do something that would have broad based impacts on the chinese economy. that s not the case. that s not the intention. and i think this is an example of what i said about how to address national security concerns. senior market analyst kelvin wong told me that ms yellen did manage to smooth relations on the economic front. if you look at the us treasury secretary yellen, i believe that she is more pragmatic. so, all in all, i would like to state that ms yellen actually had a positive outcome in terms of economic communication between the us and china, but, however, on the general political front, i still reckon that i
designed to restrict china s ability to buy high tech microchips and it is now considering an executive order to curb us investment in sensitive areas. but ms yellen told her chinese counterparts that any such measures will be highly targeted. i that any such measures will be highly targeted. highly targeted. i emphasise that it would highly targeted. i emphasise that it would be highly targeted. i emphasise that it would be highly - that it would be highly targeted and clearly directed narrowly at a few sectors where we have specific national security concerns. i want to allay their fears that we would do something that would have broad based impacts on the chinese economy. that is not the case. that is not the intention. and i think this is an example of what i said about how to address national security concerns. a, how to address national security concerns. a senior market analyst security concerns. a senior market analyst told - security concerns. a senior market