RIYADH: The Arab coalition working to restore legitimacy in Yemen has released a statement in response to the UN’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict, released Friday.
The coalition acknowledged that the UN report had added it to a list of bodies and states that had taken measures to improve the protection of children. The report also praised the coalition’s cooperation with the UN, according to the coalition’s statement.
The coalition expressed appreciation toward UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed his wish to continue cooperating with the coalition in order to promote child protection. However, the coalition denied and condemned other claims made in the report.
The coalition stated that the release of such claims impacts the credibility of the UN report and condemned the misinformation that was delivered to the UN, which the coalition says deflects attention away from the crimes committed by the Houthis and those loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition stressed its wish to abide by international laws and standards to protect civilians and keep them safe by ensuring precaution and vigilance.
The coalition ascertained that the unfortunate consequences of this conflict are a result of the actions of Houthis and Saleh loyalists and their apparent decision to use children as human shields and militants, which is a flagrant violation of international laws. The coalition requested that the UN report be corrected and it also called upon the UN to continue its cooperation in order to promote the safety and protection of children. The coalition also invited the UN to hold the Houthis and Saleh loyalists accountable for crimes against children in Yemen.
According to the coalition, if it had not been for the Iranian intervention in Yemen and the coup instigated by Houthis and Saleh loyalists, threats to neighboring countries and Hezbollah and Iran-backed missiles launched at Saudi Arabia, the conflict in Yemen would not have begun. The coalition stressed its willingness to keep helping the Yemeni people by maintaining stability in the region.
Arab coalition condemns UN report on Children and Armed Conflict
Arab coalition condemns UN report on Children and Armed Conflict
Saudi Social Entrepreneurship Summit launched
- Prince Saud bin Faisal praised the significant support provided by leaders of the social entrepreneurship sector
- Prince Saud bin Faisal emphasized that the forum served as a national platform, bringing together leaders of government, and the private and non-profit sectors
MADINAH: The Saudi Social Entrepreneurship Summit, along with an accompanying exhibition, has been launched by empowerment development company Namaa Al-Munawara.
It is being held under the patronage of Madinah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal, on behalf of Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan.
Prince Saud bin Faisal praised the significant support provided by leaders of the social entrepreneurship sector, which helps reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading model in sustainable development, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
He emphasized that the forum served as a national platform, bringing together leaders of government, and the private and non-profit sectors. The aim is to enhance partnerships and build an integrated system that supports social entrepreneurship.
Prince Saud also commended the efforts of Namaa Al-Munawara and all parties involved in organizing the summit, saying the initiatives presented during the event would empower entrepreneurs and highlight success stories.
Saudi-Thai Coordination Council holds inaugural meeting in Bangkok
- Cooperation between nations has been growing in several areas
- Talks co-chaired by Saudi, Thai foreign ministers
RIYADH: The first meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council was held in Bangkok on Thursday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two nations after diplomatic ties were restored in 2022.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa co-chaired the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The council aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including politics, security and defense, energy, economy, investment, education, culture, tourism and other areas of common interest.
The co-chairs reviewed relations, emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of related meetings, which have resulted in more than 70 joint initiatives.
Ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand stalled in the 1980s but were renewed following a visit by the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to Riyadh at the invitation of the crown prince.
Numerous diplomatic, trade agreements and official visits have followed and the two governments have signed a series of cooperation deals.
Cultural outreach programs include Arabic language training in Thai universities by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, which launched the Arabic Language Month in Thailand in November.
Riyadh also hosted a Thailand International Mega Fair in November, aiming to boost trade between the two countries.
Following Thursday’s meeting, the two sides signed a program for joint cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs.
The program was signed by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Saud Al-Sati and Phubadi La-or-ngern, ambassador and dean of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute.
The next meeting of the council will be held in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh hospital performs world’s first robotic-assisted artificial heart pump implantation
- Surgery was performed on a 35-year-old man who had been hospitalized for 120 days due to advanced heart failure
- Dr. Feras Khaliel: The patient was amazed at the minimal scarring, reflecting the advanced capabilities of robotic technology
RIYADH: The world’s first robotic-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump has been carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh.
The surgery was performed on a 35-year-old man who had been hospitalized for 120 days due to advanced heart failure, leading to deterioration of kidney and lung functions.
The ground-breaking procedure to implant the HeartMate 3, developed by Abbott, marks a significant advancement in medical technology and patient care.
It was led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of cardiac surgery and director of the hospital’s Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program.
The patient spent just four days in the intensive care unit, a stark contrast to the 26-day average for similar procedures performed using traditional methods. Recovery time is also expected to be significantly reduced, with discharge anticipated within 10 days instead of the usual 63.
Dr. Bjorn Zoega, deputy CEO of KFSHRC, said: “This milestone demonstrates our ability to balance bold innovation with strict safety measures, delivering cutting-edge medical solutions that redefine the possibilities in healthcare.”
He added it solidified the Kingdom’s position as a global leader in medical innovation.
Khaliel emphasized the precision and safety of robotic-assisted surgery, adding the patient experienced no infections or bleeding during or after the operation.
“The patient was amazed at the minimal scarring, reflecting the advanced capabilities of robotic technology,” he said.
Keith Boettiger, vice president of Abbott’s heart failure division, said: “We are honored to have partnered with KFSHRC in Saudi Arabia on this transformative initiative, with underscores the pivotal role of health technology in improving lives and enhancing health outcomes.”
This success builds on KFSHRC’s legacy of global achievements, including the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and robotic liver transplantation.
Hajj Lab empowers global group of trainees
- Scheme, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, provided a platform for knowledge sharing, training and collaboration, to enhance the services offered to pilgrims during the Hajj season
- Over the three days, the lab hosted a series of workshops designed to foster learning and development across various facets of the Hajj ecosystem
JEDDAH: An intensive three-day Hajj training event in Saudi Arabia has boosted the skills of more than 2,000 trainees from around the world in all aspects of the pilgrimage.
The Hajj Lab, part of the Hajj and Umrah Conference and Exhibition 2025, finished on Jan. 16.
It was organized by the Licensing and Training Center for Workers in the Service Sector of Hajj and Umrah, which falls under the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The scheme, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, provided a platform for knowledge sharing, training and collaboration, to enhance the services offered to pilgrims during the Hajj season.
Over the three days, the lab hosted a series of workshops designed to foster learning and development across various facets of the Hajj ecosystem.
With more than 60 trainers and 45 workshop sessions, the Hajj Lab brought together more than 2,000 global trainees committed to enhancing their skills and knowledge of the Hajj sector.
The workshops, tailored to meet the specific needs of the Hajj, covered new technologies, regulations and services related to transportation, healthcare, security and digital transformation.
General supervisor of the Licensing and Training Center, Abdul Bari Al-Salami, highlighted the comprehensive approach to the workshops.
“Twenty workshops each day, divided into five sessions, were held across four halls, each capable of hosting around 40 trainees,” he said.
“Trainers from both government sectors and companies providing Hajj services shared their expertise to ensure that attendees were well-informed about the latest regulations, technologies and strategies. This is part of our effort to improve services we are implementing for the upcoming Hajj and Umrah season.”
The workshop topics were chosen after extensive discussions with specialists from various sectors involved in the Hajj.
Ayad Fadl, director of the Licensing and Training Center, said: “The theme this year is all about the Hajj season and, particularly, what’s new for the next season. These workshops are a yearly opportunity for us to introduce innovations and improvements.”
The Hajj Lab also serves as a platform to assess the impact of new initiatives and gather feedback from attendees.
“We aim to observe the impact of each workshop,” Fadl added.
“Some sessions focus on specific knowledge areas, while others address broader industry challenges. After each session, we evaluate the effectiveness and decide on how to expand the training throughout the year.”
The Licensing and Training Center’s training content accreditation officer, Ahdab Badr, said: “One of the workshops discussed new regulations at Nusuk for Hajj pilgrims, which is an update for the upcoming season. We use the Hajj Lab to increase awareness and gauge the audience’s response about it. If successful, Nusuk aims to implement these changes on their official platforms.”
With a goal of training more than 150,000 workers this year, the Licensing and Training Center continues to focus on developing soft skills among those who work with pilgrims, based on extensive studies conducted in recent years. “We aim to create a more efficient workforce, which is crucial for enhancing the overall Hajj experience,” said Badr.
Sela Company served as a partner in hosting the lab. Sara Sheikh, Sela’s expo operations manager, highlighted the company’s role in the creation of the workshop programs: “Our collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah aims to ensure the quality and variety of the workshops, particularly in the nine specialized areas of focus, including crowd management, project management, medical and health services, digital transformation, business intelligence and marketing.”
One of the standout sessions, titled “Digital Transformation and its Effect on Enhancing Services Offered to Pilgrims,” was led by Eng. Ameenah Naytah, chief digital transformation officer and e-portal director at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Naytah discussed the importance of digital transformation in enhancing services provided to pilgrims. “We began by introducing the concept of digital transformation, then discussed the tools and technologies that are available to enhance sustainability,” she said.
“The Hajj Lab was an essential platform for the ministry to interact with the audience, understand their level of knowledge about digital transformation, and gather feedback that will guide future developments.”
Another session, titled “Data Quality: From Basics to Best Practices in the Hajj System,” was conducted by Omar Bassam Bani Kenana, a data management consultant.
“In our workshop, we worked closely with the audience to explain how we improve data quality across all departments and systems in the ministry. We aim to raise awareness about the importance of data quality and provide insights into how attendees can apply best practices in their own systems,” he said.
Mohammed, a consultant at Nusuk, said: “I am truly grateful for the opportunity to attend the Hajj Lab workshops. The sessions provided invaluable insights into the latest developments in Hajj services.
“The practical knowledge was eye-opening and I now feel better equipped to apply these new strategies in my work, enhancing the experience for pilgrims.
“This event not only expanded my understanding, but also inspired me to be part of the continued innovation in the Hajj ecosystem. I’m looking forward to implementing these lessons and seeing the positive impact on the Hajj season.”
Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 3,000 food parcels in Pakistan
- Monday’s aid delivery benefitted 20,444 people from the most vulnerable groups in flood-affected areas
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 3,007 food parcels in Pakistan’s Matiari and Thatta districts of Sindh province and the Tank and Torghar districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Monday’s aid delivery benefitted 20,444 people from the most vulnerable groups in flood-affected areas, as a part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.
The project aims to provide 147,500 food parcels, each weighing 95 kg and containing essential food for one month.
KSrelief will continue to provide aid to vulnerable people in Pakistan, the SPA reported.
