RIYADH: King Salman has called on Muslim nations to unify their ranks to solve problems facing Islamic countries in the current volatile situation in regional and international developments.
The king spoke in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday when he met a group of senior Malaysian scholars including muftis and Islamic workers.
A day before King Salman wraps up his visit to Malaysia and travels to Indonesia, the king was conferred an honorary doctorate by the premier International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) on Tuesday.
The honorary degree and a “Lifetime Outstanding Achievement Award” were presented to him at a special convocation ceremony at the IIUM Cultural Center by Pahang state ruler Sultan Ahmad Shah, head of the university.
“The Muslim world is confronted by many challenges that require patience, compassion and determination. King Salman is not an ordinary person; his duties and obligations to his country and followers of Islam demand composure and great patience by him,” Sultan Ahmad said. “King Salman represents the qualities that our religion urges us to acquire.”
On meeting senior Islamic scholars in Malaysia, King Salman said the major challenge facing the Muslim nation is how to protect countries from extremism. “The king talked about campaigns against Islam, which are trying to undermine its moderation and tolerance,” said a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report on Tuesday.
The king noted the challenges facing the Muslim world require more cooperation and solidarity among Islamic countries. He emphasized the Kingdom’s willingness to “provide everything it can do to serve Islam and communicate with Muslims all over the world.”
In another meeting, King Salman received at his residence in Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Hussein. They reviewed bilateral relations, prospects of cooperation between the two countries and the latest developments in the region including cooperation in the defense sector.
On the sidelines of the visit, the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Investment organized the Saudi-Malaysian Business Forum in the presence of a large group of Saudi and Malaysian businessmen in the Malaysian capital on Tuesday. The meeting was addressed by Ghassan Ahmed Al-Sulaiman, governor of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Al-Sulaiman said that the Kingdom wants to attract investments in accordance with the goals of Vision 2030. The forum was also addressed by Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Mustapa bin Mohamed. He said: “The visit of King Salman to Malaysia gives Saudi-Malaysian relations a strong push forward and enhances economic and trade cooperation.”
He also said the two countries have available business opportunities for investment and cooperation. He also noted the volume of trade exchange between the two countries is witnessing quantitative and qualitative growth. Malaysia, he said, hopes to forge closer ties with Saudi Arabia in trade, investment, tourism, and the halal sector and in developing small and medium enterprises.
King Salman also received at his residence in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur a group of Saudi students on scholarships in Malaysia and Malaysian students who graduated from Saudi universities. The king told them: “I’m glad to see you … at the same time you must know that you are from the land of Muslims’ Qiblah, and you should be good models for those who see you in this country.”
On the sidelines of the royal visit, Ali bin Nasser Al-Ghafis, Saudi minister of labor and social development, met in Kuala Lumpur Rohani Abdul Karim, Malaysian minister of women, family and community development.
They discussed ways of strengthening “social development and the exchange of expertise, as well as topics related to the promotion of women’s role in community development.”
King Salman calls for unity and solidarity to solve problems facing Muslim nations
King Salman calls for unity and solidarity to solve problems facing Muslim nations
Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Israeli settlers for storming courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque
- Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also renewed its denunciation of continued Israeli violations of international law and repeated attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday Israeli settlers for storming the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israel’s security forces.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also renewed its denunciation of continued Israeli violations of international law and repeated attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Kingdom affirmed its categorical rejection of anything that affects the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.It also called on the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their serious and ongoing violations against Islamic holy sites and innocent civilians in Palestine.
Syrian conjoined twins arrive in Saudi Arabia for medical assessment
RIYADH: Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eleen Abdulmoneim Alshibli, along with their family, arrived in Riyadh on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The twins and their parents were invited to the Kingdom upon directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, SPA added.
The twins travelled from Lebanon aboard a medical evacuation aircraft provided by the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
They are scheduled to undergo a comprehensive series of medical evaluations at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh, and these assessments will determine the feasibility of performing a separation surgery.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor-general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief and head of the surgical and multidisciplinary team, thanked the Kingdom’s leadership for the humanitarian initiative.
“This act underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to humanitarian values and its globally recognized medical expertise,” Al-Rabeeah said. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts in providing medical, humanitarian and relief support worldwide.
The Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, established in 1990, has under the management of Al-Rabeeah separated dozens of conjoined twins from countries around the world.
The family of the twins thanked the Saudi leadership, government and citizens for the warm hospitality and support extended to them since their arrival. They also expressed their trust in the capabilities of the Saudi surgical team, renowned for their expertise in handling similarly complex medical cases.
Saudi Arabia expresses condolences to South Korea after passenger plane crash
- All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters
- Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences to the government and people of South Korea and wished the injured a speedy recovery
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has expressed its condolences to the families of those who died after a plane travelling from Thailand to South Korea crashed on arrival on Sunday.
A passenger plane skidded off a runway at a South Korean airport, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames after its front landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board died in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters.
The Jeju Air plane crashed while landing in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul. The Transport Ministry said the plane was a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800 jet that had arrived from Bangkok and that the crash happened at 9:03 a.m.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also expressed its condolences to the government and people of South Korea and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Saudi project clears 3,174 Houthi mines in Yemen
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 3,174 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included three anti-personnel mines, seven anti-tank mines and 3,164 unexploded ordnances, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 476,432 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
Baha festival set to launch with 280 activities
RIYADH: Preparations are complete for the start of the Baha Winter Festival. More than 67 parks and gardens, some 14 sports, and health walkways are ready to welcome visitors and residents, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The festival will boast a diverse lineup of activities and attractions across the Tihama governorates, including Al-Makhwah, Qilwah, Al-Hijrah, and Ghamid Al-Zinad, highlighting the region’s cultural, historic, and natural treasures.
Ali bin Mohammed Al-Sawat, the secretary of the Baha region and chairman of the festival’s executive committee, said the event will offer more than 280 recreational, cultural, sports, and social activities for all age groups and interests.
Al-Sawat spoke of Tihama’s unique climate and environmental diversity, stretching from the Red Sea coast to the peaks of the Sarawat Mountains.
The region’s valleys, green plains, and majestic Shada Mountain provide breathtaking views and a peaceful escape for visitors, he said.
With a variety of restaurants, cafes, and shopping destinations, the area has become a prime attraction for tourists seeking to enjoy the winter season in the Kingdom, the SPA added.
With its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and diverse activities, the Baha Winter Festival promises an unforgettable experience for all attendees.
