UN envoy, Yemen president hold talks in Riyadh

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, center, holds talks with UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, first left, in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Updated 11 August 2017
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UN envoy, Yemen president hold talks in Riyadh

RIYADH: Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi held talks on Wednesday in Riyadh with UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
They discussed the latest developments in Yemen and prospects for achieving lasting peace in the war-torn country.
During the talks, Hadi praised UN efforts to help the Yemeni people. He also stressed the keenness of his internationally recognized government to achieve peace in accordance with the Gulf initiative, national dialogue and UN Security Council resolution 2216.
The resolution demands that all parties unconditionally cease fire, and that the Houthis withdraw from all areas seized during the conflict, and relinquish arms seized from military and security institutions.
Hadi accused the Houthis and forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh of rejecting calls for peace.
This, he said, requires the international community to exert more pressure on them.
The envoy expressed appreciation for Hadi’s efforts to achieve peace and reduce the suffering of the Yemeni people.
The meeting was attended by Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi, Yemeni deputy premier and foreign minister. He said Hadi urged the international community to state an explicit position on the responsibility of the Houthis and Saleh loyalists in thwarting peace initiatives.
Al-Mekhlafi said the rebels do not care about the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Cheikh Ahmed also met Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) secretary-general.
They discussed the latest political, security and humanitarian developments in Yemen.
Al-Zayani stressed the support of the GCC countries for the envoy’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. The secretary-general stressed the need for the international community and humanitarian organizations to help eradicate the cholera epidemic in Yemen.
Prior to Riyadh, Cheikh Ahmed was in Oman and Jordan. The next and final leg of his regional tour will be Sanaa, where he is due to meet Houthi and pro-Saleh representatives.
The envoy is reportedly expected to unveil a plan for the strategic Yemeni port of Al-Hodeidah. It will entail a Houthi withdrawal from the port, which will then be ceded to a neutral third party in exchange for the Saudi-led coalition halting military activities along Yemen’s western coast.


UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

Updated 11 January 2025
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UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

  • Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.

New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.

He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.


Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

  • The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen attempting to storm the palace

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attack on the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad, which left 19 people dead, including a soldier guarding the complex, and injured others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Chad’s security and stability, while rejecting any actions that threaten the country’s peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its statement, the Ministry extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the government and people of Chad. The Kingdom also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the assault.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen reportedly linked to Boko Haram attempting to storm the presidential palace, prompting a fierce battle.

The Chadian government confirmed that 18 attackers from a 24-member commando unit were killed in the fighting, alongside one security personnel. Tanks were deployed to secure the area.


GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Updated 11 January 2025
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GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

  • Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi recently received New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles Kingston at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties, the General Secretariat wrote in a report.

During the meeting, they also discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, notably the progress of negotiations for the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and updates on the joint action plan between the two sides. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues.​

 

 


Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority issued a warning about Country Butcher Boy beef pepperoni, manufactured in the UAE.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the 250-gram packages with an expiration date of March 1, 2025, are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium posing serious health risks, confirmed by lab tests.

The authority advised the public to avoid consuming the product and dispose of any units they may have.

Steps have been taken to remove the contaminated product from the market, and regulatory action is being pursued against the importing company, the SPA reported.

Violations of food laws can result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to SR10 million ($2.6 million), or both.

The authority reiterated its commitment to food safety and will continue taking action against violators. Consumers can report food safety concerns to the authority’s call center at 19999.


Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

Updated 11 January 2025
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Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

RIYADH: The Royal Thai Embassy recently took part in a volunteer initiative at Aba Samri National Park in the Murat governorate of Riyadh region, in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

Part of the National Greening Season, the activity aims to enhance vegetation, curb land degradation, and plant native and adaptive species, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The embassy’s involvement promotes vegetation restoration and aligns with the center’s call for broader environmental engagement from all sectors. The scheme improves air quality, reduces dust storms and restores ecosystems, the SPA added.

The National Greening Season, a core element of the broader program, fosters public-private partnerships, volunteerism, and awareness about afforestation and combating desertification.

The center leads efforts to protect and restore vegetation sites across Saudi Arabia, addressing challenges such as wildfires, illegal logging and unregulated grazing to safeguard natural ecosystems.