CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart on Sunday discussed cooperation in fighting terrorism amid efforts to resolve differences between their two countries on the Syrian and Yemeni conflicts and other regional flashpoints.
In a brief news conference following the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said they wanted to strengthen bilateral ties, expand their counterterrorism efforts under the auspices of a new Saudi anti-terrorism center and work with US President Donald Trump, who recently attended a summit in Riyadh.
“The US represented by President Donald Trump has affirmed its commitment to this, and President Trump’s attendance at this historic summit was a very strong indication of the desire of the US to work with Arab and Islamic countries,” Al-Jubeir said.
Saudi, Egyptian foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties
Saudi, Egyptian foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties
Jeju Air crash black boxes stopped recording before flight crashed
- Transport ministry statement: ‘Both the CVR and FDR data were not recorded during the four minutes leading up to the aircraft’s collision with the localizer’
“The analysis revealed that both the CVR and FDR data were not recorded during the four minutes leading up to the aircraft’s collision with the localizer,” the transport ministry said in a statement, referring to the two recording devices.
KSrelief provides food and shelter assistance in three Syrian cities
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia provided food, shelter and winter kits to the Syrian people through its aid agency, KSrelief, as part of several humanitarian missions across Syria.
The agency on Wednesday distributed bags of flour, winter kits and personal care kits to 132 families in the city of Al-Rastan in Homs, benefitting 626 individuals.
KSrelief also distributed food parcels and health kits to 1,455 families in the Afrin and Azaz regions in Aleppo, benefiting 8,730 individuals.
KSrelief on Thursday distributed 1,224 bags of flour, food baskets, personal care bags and shelter kits to 306 families in the city of Douma.
The efforts are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.
Israel strikes Yemen Houthis, warns it will ‘hunt’ leaders
- Israeli military said fighter jets struck military targets belonging to Houthi regime
- It said it also struck military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeida and Ras Issa
JERUSALEM: Israel struck Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, including a power station and coastal ports, in response to missile and drone launches, and warned it would hunt down the group’s leaders.
“A short while ago... fighter jets struck military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime on the western coast and inland Yemen,” the Israeli military said in a statement.
It said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for Houthi missile and drone launches into Israel.
The statement said the targets included “military infrastructure sites in the Hizaz power station, which serves as a central source of energy” for the Houthis.
It said it also struck military infrastructure in the ports of Hodeida and Ras Issa.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement after the strikes, said the Houthis were being punished for their repeated attacks on his country.
“As we promised, the Houthis are paying, and they will continue to pay, a heavy price for their aggression against us,” he said.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would “hunt down the leaders of the Houthi terror organization.”
“The Hodeida port is paralyzed, and the Ras Issa port is on fire — there will be no immunity for anyone,” he said in a video statement.
The Houthis, who control Sanaa, have fired missiles and drones toward Israel since war broke out in Gaza in October 2023.
They describe the attacks as acts of solidarity with Gazans.
The Iran-backed rebels have also targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, prompting retaliatory strikes by the United States and, on occasion, Britain.
Israel has also struck Houthi targets in Yemen, including in the capital.
Since the Gaza war began, the Houthis have launched about 40 surface-to-surface missiles toward Israel, most of which were intercepted, the Israeli army says.
The military has also reported the launch of about 320 drones, with more than 100 intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
KSrelief’s global humanitarian efforts continue
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) humanitarian efforts continue for distressed families and individuals in need of support from basic food supplies to medical intervention.
In Sudan’s Gedaref State, Saudi Arabia’s aid agency handed out 1,117 boxes of dates to benefit 10,114 individuals displaced by the continuing conflict in the country.
In Mali’s city of Segou, KSrelief distributed 1,000 food parcels benefiting 5,600 individuals from the most vulnerable groups including internally displaced persons, widows, and people with special needs. The initiative is part of agency’s food-security support project in the country and the wider global community.
In Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, KSrelief turned over 276 shelter bags and 276 tents as part of the shelter project for returnees from Pakistan and those affected by the 2024 floods.
The ongoing initiative aims to distribute 4,882 various shelter materials such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other basic shelter supplies in several cities in Afghanistan.
In Somalia, the national blood bank in Mogadishu – operated by KSrelief – managed to help 222 individuals in December.
In Jordan, another batch of Syrian refugees graduated from a KSrelief-run training and educational course being run at the Zaatari Refugee Camp. A total of 343 students received training on sewing, embroidery, handicrafts, culinary arts and painting. Remedial lessons were also given to elementary school students in subjects such as mathematics, Arabic and English, as well as a literacy course and Qur’anic studies.
Pakistan Cricket Board inducts Inzamam-ul-Haq, Saeed Anwar and others in its Hall of Fame
- Inzamam was a member of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team, while Misbah was part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 winning squad
- Mushtaq captained the team to first-ever Test win in Australia in 1977, while Anwar scored 194 against India to break Viv Richards’ record
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has inducted former cricket greats Inzamam-ul-Haq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Mohammad and Saeed Anwar in its Hall of Fame, who join the likes of Abdul Qadir, AH Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Zaheer Abbas in the illustrious group.
Inzamam played international cricket from 1991 to 2007 and was a member of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team, while Misbah, who represented Pakistan from 2001 to 2017, was part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 winning squad and guided the team to the No.1 spot in the ICC Test Team Rankings in 2016.
Mushtaq played for Pakistan from 1959 to 1979 and captained the team to its first-ever Test win in Australia in 1977, featured in inaugural ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 1975 in England before coaching the Pakistan side to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 1999 final – also in England. Saeed Anwar represented Pakistan from 1989 to 2003, amassing a total of 31 centuries and 68 half-centuries, including three centuries and three half-centuries across the 1996, 1999 and 2003 World Cups.
The four icons of the game were inducted following a voting process, which was participated in by Akram, Zaheer, former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, former Pakistani women cricketers Bismah Maroof and Nain Abidi, and journalists Majid Bhatti, Mohi Shah, Mohammad Yaqoob, Nauman Niaz, Sawera Pasha and Zahid Maqsood.
“On behalf of the Pakistan Cricket Board, I extend heartfelt congratulations to these four cricketing legends on their well-deserved inductions into the PCB Hall of Fame,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement.
“This honor represents a tribute to their outstanding contributions to Pakistan cricket and to the global game.”
The four stalwarts will be formally inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame during the course of the year when they will be presented with commemorative caps and specially-designed plaques, according to the PCB.
Inzamam said he was “deeply honored” to be inducted into the PCB Hall of Fame.
“My journey as a professional cricketer, representing Pakistan on the world stage for nearly 16 years,” he said in comments shared by the PCB.
“I owe immense gratitude to my fellow cricketers, dedicated support staff and my family, without whom this journey would not have been possible. Representing Pakistan during an era with such high-caliber players was a privilege and their influence played a vital role in my growth and development as a batter.”
In his statement, Misbah said that representing Pakistan was an “absolute privilege” and this recognition by the Pakistan Cricket Board served as the “perfect crowning achievement” of his journey.
“Being acknowledged by your parent organization, alongside the appreciation of cricketing experts and fellow players is both gratifying and fulfilling,” he said.
“It is a testament to the dedication, relentless effort and sacrifices that went into meeting the highest standards of international cricket and translating those preparations into memorable performances.”
Mushtaq said that to be honored and recognized 45 years after playing his last match for Pakistan was “truly humbling” for him.
“Being part of the Pakistan cricket team during its formative years was both exciting and rewarding,” he said. “I feel privileged to have played alongside and against some of the most outstanding cricketers and thorough gentlemen, who played hard while always upholding the true spirit of the game.”
Anwar, who struck three successive ODI centuries in Sharjah and scored 194 against India in Chennai to break Viv Richards’ long-standing record for the highest individual score in ODIs, said he was “deeply grateful” to the panel for inducting him into the PCB Hall of Fame.
“My journey had its challenges, but it was a privilege to face them head-on. Each match I played for Pakistan holds a special place in my heart, though missing out on the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992 remains a regret,” he said.
“This journey, filled with triumphs and lessons, wouldn’t have been complete without the overwhelming support of our fans and the camaraderie of my teammates.”
