Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, met with Chief of Staff Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Binayan, as well as commanders of land, air and naval forces here on Tuesday.
Prince Salman was briefed on the present situation of the country’s armed forces and future plans to develop them further to strengthen their defense and combat capabilities.
Speaking at the meeting, Gen. Al-Binayan commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, supreme commander of the armed forces, and Prince Salman for their support to the army.
“Our armed forces have witnessed remarkable progress and they are well prepared to defend the Kingdom,” the chief of staff said while praising the Saudi soldiers’ high morale and allegiance to their leadership.
Prince Salman also witnessed a documentary on the development achieved by the various sectors of the armed forces in recent years.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, state minister and head of the crown prince’s court, Mohammed Al-Ayesh, assistant defense minister, and Fahd Al-Eissa, acting director of the defense minister’s office, attended the meeting.
Chief of staff: Saudi armed forces are well prepared
Chief of staff: Saudi armed forces are well prepared
A tapestry of traditions: Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islanders embrace spirit of holy month
- Blend of faith, maritime charm at Ramadan
RIYADH: Steeped in history, the Farasan Islands have long embraced unique Ramadan traditions, welcoming the holy month with a blend of faith and maritime charm.
Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings and plasterwork, while laying smooth pebbles on courtyards to add a maritime-inspired touch.
Amnah Aqili spoke to the Saudi Press Agency about these preparations, recalling the renewal of wooden bed frames, the polishing of utensils, the preparation of spices, and the weaving of doum palm frond carpets.
Aqili noted that with the arrival of Ramadan, the air would be filled with the scent of mastic from clay water jugs and the sweet aroma of coffee from traditional pots. The exchange of Ramadan dishes among neighbors was another cherished tradition in the community.
FASTFACTS
• The exchange of Ramadan dishes among neighbors is a cherished tradition in the Farasan community.
• The community continues to honor the spirit of Ramadan through acts of worship, compassion, and the exchange of gifts, strengthening both spiritual and social bonds.
Abkar Al-Mashrai’i recalled a time over 70 years ago when the islanders would rely on news from Jazan to begin Ramadan.
Nightly recitations of the Qur’an by the glow of lanterns would echo through the alleys, and the muezzin’s melodic call would announce sahoor. Children and young men filled the evenings with traditional games, Al-Mashrai’i added.
The Farasan community continues to honor the spirit of Ramadan through acts of worship, compassion, and the exchange of gifts, strengthening both spiritual and social bonds.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its denunciation of Israel’s move, warning that it constitutes a direct violation of international humanitarian law
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday the Israeli government’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it an act of “blackmail and collective punishment” that violates international law.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its denunciation of Israel’s move, warning that it constitutes a direct violation of international humanitarian law amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“The Kingdom renews its call on the international community to stop these serious Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid,” the statement said.
The condemnation comes as Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza, escalating tensions over a truce that had temporarily halted fighting for the past six weeks.
Hamas has called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene in the standoff.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel had adopted a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming Ramadan and Passover periods. If agreed upon, the truce would pause hostilities until the end of Ramadan around March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday around April 20.
Islamic nations back Riyadh Charter for AI
- The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council, held in Tunisia, with all member states in attendance and the Saudi AI authority participating
RIYADH: Fifty-three member states of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, have unanimously approved the Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World.
The charter was announced during the Global AI Summit, organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.
A milestone in the field, it establishes a shared ethical and strategic framework for AI in the Islamic world, the SPA added.
The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council, held in Tunisia, with all member states in attendance and the Saudi AI authority participating.
The session discussed the Riyadh charter as a comprehensive strategic framework for AI development, aligning with Islamic values, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing international cooperation.
Member states affirmed their commitment to strengthening AI governance and supporting its responsible adoption in the Islamic world.
During the session, the organization’s Center of Foresight and Artificial Intelligence director, Kais Hammami, presented the charter, outlining its key pillars and strategic objectives.
He emphasized its significance in guiding AI development to serve the shared interests of Islamic countries.
Riyadh governor receives ambassador of Djibouti, diplomatic corps heads
- Diplomats offered their congratulations on the holy month of Ramadan
RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Djibouti to the Kingdom Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama, as well as heads of countries accredited to the Kingdom, in Riyadh on Sunday.
Everyone offered their congratulations on behalf of the members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom on the holy month of Ramadan, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah, received the Consul General of Kenya in Jeddah Aden Mahmoud Mohammed, on Sunday. The two discussed topics of common interest.
Saudi FM discusses regional developments in call with Algerian counterpart
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made a phone call to his Algerian counterpart on Sunday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call with Ahmed Attaf, Prince Faisal discussed the latest developments in the region and efforts made with regard to them.
