LONDON: Abdullah Al-Rabiah, adviser to the royal court and general supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief), led the center’s delegation at the recently held International Exhibition and Conference for Disaster Response, Emergency, Aid and Development in London.
In his speech, Al-Rabiah highlighted the importance of intervening to mitigate humanitarian challenges many face around the world due to ongoing conflicts and disasters.
“This requires us to work hard to unify efforts and ensure continuous coordination, as well as examine more effective humanitarian initiatives and activities to increase the impact of humanitarian work to become more widespread and sustainable, he said.
Al-Rabiah said a lack of resources, poor coordination between donors and organizations, bureaucracy and increased administrative and logistical pressures were among the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in the implementation of programs.
The King Salman Center is honored to be among the participants in the conference, alongside the UN, UK’s Department for International Development, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and others, said Al-Rabiah.
He said the center has played an active role in international humanitarian action, having reached 199 projects in 37 countries with 103 partners and $975 million in aid.
The center is also keen on building sustainable partnerships with UN organizations, USAID, the UK, as well as key international, regional and local partners, he added.
Al-Rabiah said the center carries out its aid efforts and projects without any discrimination based on religion, race, color or gender, adding that the conference comes at a time when the world is seeking radical changes in humanitarian action and response strategies.
Al-Rabiah said he hopes the conference will lead to fruitful recommendations that will boost the impact of humanitarian action.
The center also participated in the exhibition accompanying the conference, with a pavilion displaying its relief work in 37 countries, particularly Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen.
The two-day conference was attended by government, UN and international organization representatives in the field of humanitarian assistance and development, including the UK’s Principal Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel, and UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien, among others.
KSRelief participates in humanitarian aid conference
KSRelief participates in humanitarian aid conference

First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

- Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims
Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.
Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.
An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.
Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

- The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production
RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.
Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”
Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.
Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.
Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.
Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.
To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.
In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

- Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
- Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza
LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.
The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.
They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.
The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.
During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”
Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.
The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.
Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.
They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.
Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a declaration of principles between the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it appreciated the diplomatic efforts made by the two sides and looked forward to their commitment to the declaration, which would enhance security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a declaration at the US State Department on Friday. They agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2, respecting each other’s sovereignty and refraining from supporting armed groups after fighting resumed in the DRC’s mineral-rich east in October.