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
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza
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.
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.
Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families
- This partnership builds on a previous agreement that secured housing for 1,000 families
RIYADH: The National Developmental Housing Foundation, known as Sakan, and the Social Development Bank have partnered to provide 4,000 housing units for eligible families across Saudi Arabia as part of the second phase of the Joud Regions campaign.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, and Deputy Minister of Interior Nasser Al-Dawood.
This partnership builds on a previous agreement that secured housing for 1,000 families. The initiative directly supports Vision 2030’s goal of increasing homeownership rates among citizens, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Sakan Secretary-General Abdulaziz Al-Karidis and Social Development Bank CEO Sultan Al-Humaidi signed the agreement.
Al-Humaidi confirmed that the agreement is part of the bank’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships that provide sustainable financing solutions.
He noted that cooperation with Sakan through the construction completion program will help eligible families complete their housing units.
The program aims to finance 5,000 beneficiaries nominated by Sakan from social security recipients and similar categories, according to SPA.
Al-Humaidi said: “At the Social Development Bank, we are committed to leveraging our capabilities to support the most vulnerable groups and enable them to access suitable housing.
“We believe housing stability is key to enhancing quality of life and achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 targets of increasing homeownership rates among citizens.”
Al-Karidis explained that the agreement is part of efforts to develop sustainable solutions for eligible families and highlighted the bank’s crucial role in supporting housing empowerment for beneficiaries.
He thanked the attending ministers for their continued support of developmental and housing initiatives, emphasizing that this collaboration reflects the integration of concerned entities to achieve Vision 2030 goals of providing suitable housing and enhancing quality of life.
Meanwhile, the Joud Regions campaign headquarters was inaugurated at Misk City in Riyadh on Saturday under the patronage of Al-Hogail.
During the ceremony, the regional governors announced their participation in the initiative, demonstrating strong support for community programs aimed at enhancing housing stability for citizens.
Al-Hogail expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous support of the campaign, which included an SR150 million ($40 million) contribution, and for their ongoing interest in supporting developmental housing programs and community initiatives.
He emphasized that the campaign embodies the spirit of social solidarity and strengthens the partnership between the government and the community in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030.
Al-Karidis also praised the vital role of governmental, nonprofit entities, and individuals in supporting housing initiatives that help ensure housing stability for needy families.
The initiative allows both citizens and residents to contribute to housing support for vulnerable families through the Joud Housing platform and application, furthering national efforts to enhance quality of life and promote sustainable development in the housing sector.
Saudi Arabia launches national food safety campaign
RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, has launched a nationwide regulatory campaign to enhance food safety during Ramadan.
The campaign focuses on verifying the quality of commonly consumed foods and ensuring compliance with health regulations, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
It includes intensified inspections of food warehouses, sales outlets, and distribution centers to check the accuracy of food and nutritional data, assess compliance with transportation and storage requirements, and examine product tracking mechanisms.
These measures aim to keep markets free of unfit products while ensuring adherence to technical regulations and standard specifications, the SPA reported.
Alongside inspections, the campaign features food safety training programs for food establishment employees to enhance compliance with health requirements and ensure the availability of safe, high-quality products.
Special attention is given to Makkah and Madinah, where independent control plans address the high influx of Umrah performers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring food safety and quality, according to the SPA.
The authority remains committed to continuous inspection efforts across all branches and offices to uphold health standards and verify product safety throughout manufacturing, storage, and distribution, reinforcing food security during Ramadan.
Umrah guests tour Qur’an printing complex in Madinah
- Group comprised 250 Umrah performers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Kazakhstan, and other countries
RIYADH: The guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit toured the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an in Madinah, as part of a cultural program organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
The group comprised 250 Umrah performers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia.
During the visit, which coincided with the start of Ramadan, the guests were briefed on the extensive work involved in serving the Holy Qur’an, including printing, publishing, translation and distribution.
Guests learned about the Kingdom’s efforts in preserving the Qur’an, along with the rigorous processes of review and verification to ensure the highest standards of accuracy and quality.
At the end of the visit, the complex presented the guests with copies of the Holy Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The visitors expressed their gratitude to the Kingdom and its leadership for its significant efforts in serving Islam and Muslims worldwide.
They also toured several historical and religious sites in Madinah, including the Quba Mosque, Mount Al-Ramah, and the Uhud Martyrs’ Cemetery.
They likewise visited the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization before heading to Makkah to perform the rituals of Umrah.
