RIYADH: King Saud University (KSU) and the Health Ministry have agreed to exchange experiences in the fields of training, research and development, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Deputy Health Minister Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Dhuaili and KSU Rector Dr. Badran bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect at KSU Medical City. The MoU aims to enhance cooperation between the two sides in training pharmacy college students in public and privately owned pharmacies, and to facilitate their research projects.
The deal also aims to promote the profession of pharmacy and provide treatment services by trainee students in community pharmacies.
The dean of the KSU pharmacy faculty, Dr. Ous bin Ibrahim Al-Shamsan, said the MoU aims to furnish the Saudi labor market with highly experienced national cadres to implement Vision 2030.
The KSU has previously signed other cooperation deals with local, regional and global institutions and organizations.
In January, the KSU signed an MoU with Qatar University to promote research cooperation, build national human capital and strengthen research networks in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
King Saud University, Health Ministry sign MoU on cooperation
King Saud University, Health Ministry sign MoU on cooperation

Kingdom’s Masam project clears 1,058 bombs from Yemen

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project for Landmine Clearance, or Masam, removed 1,058 explosive devices from several parts of Yemen during the first week of March.
The project of the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief cleared 1,034 unexploded ordnances and 24 anti-tank mines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Since its launch, the Masam project has removed 484,401 explosive devices across the country.
Thousands benefit from KSrelief food aid

- The aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Etaam Ramadan food distribution project
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief recently distributed more than 1,900 food aid parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
In Mauritania’s Tiaret district of Nouakchott, 3,390 people benefitted from 565 food parcels.
Also, 751 packages were handed out in the Karaan district of Somalia’s Banadir governorate, benefiting 4,506 people.
In addition, 590 parcels were distributed in the Romania cities of Bucharest and Constanta, benefiting 2,950 people.
The aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Etaam Ramadan food distribution project.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israel’s Gaza electricity cut

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s move to cut electricity to the Gaza Strip in what the Kingdom described as a practice of “collective punishment” against Palestinians in Gaza.
The Kingdom stressed its categorical rejection of Israeli violations of international humanitarian law, a foreign ministry statement said.
It reiterated its call on the international community to take urgent measures to restore electricity and the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip immediately without conditions or restrictions.
The Kingdom “renewed its call to activate international accountability mechanisms for these serious violations,” the statement concluded.
Israel cut off the electricity supply to Gaza, officials said Sunday, affecting a desalination plant producing drinking water for part of the arid territory.
It also suspended last week supplies of goods to the territory of more than 2 million Palestinians, an echo of the siege it imposed in the earliest days of the war.
Saudi Arabia welcomes Syrian agreement in northeast

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed an agreement between the interim Syrian government and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that controls the country’s northeast.
The Kingdom praised the measures taken by the Syrian leadership to safeguard domestic peace in Syria and efforts made to complete the path of building state institutions, a Saudi foreign ministry statement said on Monday.
The deal includes a ceasefire and the merging of the main US-backed force there into the Syrian army.
The deal was signed by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The deal to be implemented by the end of the year would bring all border crossings with Iraq and Turkiye, airports and oil fields in the northeast under the central government’s control. Prisons where about 9,000 suspected members of the Daesh group are also expected to come under government control.
— With input from AP
Saudi crown prince, US Secretary of State discuss regional developments

- Rubio in Kingdom ahead of crucial talks with Ukraine aimed at ending conflict with Russia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday evening.
Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier on Monday ahead of crucial talks with Ukraine aimed at ending three years of conflict with Russia.
They reviewed relations between the two countries and opportunities to enhance and develop them in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They also discussed the latest regional and international developments, exchanged views on them, as well as efforts made toward achieving security and stability, SPA added.
The reception was attended by Mike Waltz, US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor.
On the Saudi side, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense and Saudi ambassador to Washington, Princess Reema bint Bandar, were also in attendance.
The top US diplomat is in Jeddah ahead of the talks with Ukrainian officials expected on Tuesday, leading a delegation that also includes Waltz.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also arrived in the Kingdom on Monday.