RIYADH: The high-profile visit of King Salman to Japan beginning Sunday will reinforce ties with Tokyo while providing opportunities to explore investment opportunities and secure energy security for the Southeast Asian nation.
During the visit, King Salman will meet and hold talks with Japanese emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday.
“It is the greatest honor to receive Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in Japan, the visit is truly monumental as it is the first royal visit in the last 46 years,” said Setsuo Ohmori, charge d’affaires at the Japanese Embassy, here Saturday.
Japanese emperor Akihito will host a lunch banquet in honor of King Salman, while premier Abe will organize a dinner reception.
“The Japanese government sincerely welcomes the visit of King Salman and hopes that this visit of will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries,” said a statement released by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“As for MoUs (memorandum of understanding), some of them are still pending to be completed,” Ohmori said, regarding expected agreements to be signed between the two countries.
Details of the agreements are expected to be announced. The Saudi delegation comprising top officials accompanying the king will handle the signing of the accords on the sidelines of the visit.
Expected discussions include a range of bilateral and regional issues, conflicts in the Middle East, Saudi-Japanese cooperation within the framework of the Vision 2030, and commercial partnership with special reference to the Saudi Aramco IPO. Tokyo has expressed its interest to participate in the Aramco IPO.
King Salman starts Japan leg of Asian tour today
King Salman starts Japan leg of Asian tour today
Djibouti ambassador praises deep ties between African state and Saudi Arabia
- Djibouti Embassy celebrates 48th anniversary of independence
- Ambassador reaffirms Djibouti’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause
RIYADH: The Djibouti Embassy in Riyadh donned patriotic colors as its staff celebrated their national day on Wednesday night, hosting a befitting reception to mark the occasion.
On the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the National Independence of Djibouti, Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia and the dean of the Diplomatic Corps, hosted an official reception at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter.
The event was attended by Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of Riyadh Region, as guest of honor and patron, and Prince Sultan bin Salman, the founder and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club.
The reception was also attended by numerous princes, ambassadors, distinguished business leaders, media professionals, artists, and members of the Saudi and Djibouti community.
Addressing the gathering the ambassador highlighted Djibouti’s remarkable achievements over the past five decades, particularly in terms of security, stability, and sustainable development.
He also emphasized the deep and sincere fraternal relations that unite the leaderships and people of the two nations.
Furthermore, the ambassador reaffirmed Djibouti’s firm and unwavering position in support of the Palestinian cause, advocating for the restoration of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia also strongly supports the two-state solution as the path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN.
The ambassador also reiterated Djibouti’s commitment to a calm, constructive, and principled diplomacy, actively working to promote peace in the region and around the world, rejecting wars and advocating for dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and sustainable development.
Forecast of higher temperatures, rainfall in July and August in Saudi
- 1 C rise in central, northern and eastern regions
- Above-normal rain in south, west regions forecast
JEDDAH: Higher temperatures are expected in July and August in the central, northern and eastern parts of Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Meteorology has announced.
In a seasonal forecast carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday, the meteorology authority expects a rise of 1 degree Celsius in parts of Riyadh, Qassim and Hail, as well as the eastern and Northern Borders regions.
It is expected to peak in August with a rise of 1.2 degrees Celsius in Jouf, Tabuk, Qassim, Hail and the eastern regions.
The NCM has also forecast higher-than-normal rainfall in Najran, Jazan, Al-Baha, Asir, parts of Makkah and Madinah, southern Riyadh and the eastern regions, particularly in July and August.
The rest of the Kingdom is expected to have normal rainfall.
The Summer 2025 forecast, covering the months of June to August, is based on climatic conditions from 1991 to 2020, the SPA stated.
According to the report, the highest temperature was recorded in Jeddah in June 2010 at 52 degrees Celsius, while Al-Ahsa recorded 51.3 in July 2024.
Dammam and Al-Qaisumah in the eastern part of the Kingdom recorded August highs of 51 in 1998 and 2021.
For rainfall, the southwestern region of Jazan recorded the highest daily amount in August 2024 at 113 millimeters. It also held the record for July at 67.6 in 1995.
For the month of June, Sharurah, in the southern province of Najran, recorded the highest daily amount in June 1996 at 53.8.
Governor of Qassim praises heritage center for preserving region’s culture and history
- Prince Faisal bin Mishaal highlights the ways in which the Cultural Heritage Center helps boost national pride in the Kingdom’s historical and cultural identity
- He tours exhibits that showcase the region’s various historical eras and feature a wide range of treasures, including prehistoric and pre-Islamic artifacts
RIYADH: The governor of Qassim, Prince Faisal bin Mishaal, praised a cultural center on Wednesday for the work it is doing to preserve and showcase the region’s rich history and heritage.
During a tour of the Cultural Heritage Center in Qassim he saw displays devoted to various historical eras and learned about the methods used to preserve the region’s historical and cultural assets, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The prince highlighted the important role the facility plays in shining a light on the region’s cultural heritage, and showcasing key historical artifacts dating back as far as ancient times from sites closely linked to the history and evolution of the Saudi state.
The center, which is part of the regional branch of the Saudi Heritage Commission, has displays that showcase the different historical eras of the region and feature a wide range of exhibits, including prehistoric artifacts and pre-Islamic treasures.
One exhibition is dedicated to Islamic-era Qassim, others to historic pilgrimage routes, architectural heritage sites, and the region’s intangible cultural heritage. There is also an interactive room for children, and a handicrafts section.
Prince Faisal praised the work of the Heritage Commission and highlighted the ways in which its efforts contribute to national pride in the Kingdom’s heritage and its historical identity.
He was accompanied during his visit by Ibrahim Al-Mushaikih, director of the commission’s regional branch, and other officials.
Al-Mushaikih said the governor’s visit represented a significant step in the development of the facility. He invited people from all parts of Saudi society to pay a visit and see for themselves the comprehensive information it offers about Qassim’s archaeological and heritage sites through enjoyable experiences and interactive displays.
Saudi UN envoy demands global action to protect children in conflict zones, condemns Gaza violence
- Abdulaziz Alwasil denounces Israeli military operations in Gaza as ‘flagrant violation of international humanitarian law’
- He emphasizes Kingdom’s commitment to application of international legal instruments, including Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols
NEW YORK CITY: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, called on Wednesday for urgent international action to protect children in conflict zones, warning that failure to do so would undermine efforts to build more stable and prosperous societies.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss the effects of armed conflicts on youngsters, Alwasil emphasized the importance of protecting children, describing it as a legal obligation and moral responsibility, particularly in nations affected by prolonged violence.
During the session, UN officials detailed an unprecedented surge in the number of grave violations against children during armed conflicts worldwide.
The meeting followed the publication of a devastating annual report by the UN secretary-general’s special representative for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba. It documented 41,370 grave violations against children during 2024, a 25 percent increase compared with the previous year, and the highest number since the UN’s Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism was established in 2005.
The verified abuses of children spanned 25 countries and included killings, maiming, recruitment, abductions, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of access to humanitarian assistance.
“This year marked a devastating new record,” Gamba told council members. “Behind these numbers are the shattered stories, dreams and futures of over 22,000 children.”
She cited a sharp increase in “compounded violations,” in which children were abducted, recruited and sexually abused, often simultaneously, in the context of deteriorating humanitarian crises.
Israel was responsible for the highest number of violations by a single country against children in 2024, the report stated.
Alwasil said: “As we approach the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1612, which established mechanisms for monitoring violations against children in armed conflict, the international community must focus on two priorities: We must break the cycle of violence and create an environment that rejects extremism and fosters resilience.”
The envoy expressed appreciation for Gamba’s work, and emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to the application of international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols. He stressed the shared responsibility of all parties for the protection of children and for efforts to address the root causes of armed violence.
Turning to the crisis in Gaza in particular, Alwasil sharply rebuked Israeli authorities over their military operations in the territory.
“What is happening in Gaza now is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and humanitarian values,” he said.
“Civilians live under constant bombardment and a suffocating blockade, facing systematic aggression by Israeli armed forces. This has led to the deaths of 55,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.”
The war has deprived more than 1 million children in Gaza of basic necessities, including food and medicine, Alwasil said. He called for immediate international action to end the conflict, protect vulnerable populations and hold accountable those responsible for violations.
“The Kingdom affirms that the protection of children in areas of armed conflict is a legal duty that cannot be shirked, and a moral responsibility that cannot be ignored,” he concluded.
“Saudi Arabia supports all UN efforts aimed at protecting civilians, and enhancing international cooperation to respond to the suffering of children affected by war, wherever they may be.”
Replacement of the kiswa that covers Holy Kaaba at Grand Mosque in Makkah begins
- A team of 154 skilled Saudi craftsmen will remove the old kiswa, detach its gilded elements, and install its replacement
- The cover is made up of 47 black-silk panels embroidered with 68 Quranic verses using 24-karat gold-plated silver threads, and weighs 1,415 kg
RIYADH: The annual ceremony to replace the kiswa, the embroidered, black-and-gold silk cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, began on Wednesday evening. It is a tradition that dates back more than a century.
The carefully coordinated process began with the removal of a section of the cloth measuring 6.35 meters by 3.33 meters that covered the Kaaba door.
The new kiswa is on its way to the Grand Mosque, accompanied by a comprehensive system of logistical and operational support, the Saudi Press Agency reported. A team of 154 skilled Saudi craftsmen will remove the old kiswa, detach its gilded elements, and install its replacement.
The cover is made up of 47 black-silk panels, intricately embroidered with 68 Quranic verses using 24-karat gold-plated silver threads. It weighs approximately 1,415 kilograms.
A total of 825 kilograms of silk, 410 kilograms of raw cotton, 120 kilograms of gold-plated silver thread and 60 kilograms of pure silver were used in the creation of the new kiswa. In addition, 54 gilded pieces were produced using eight specialized weaving machines at the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa.
