JEDDAH: Saudi Comic Con 2018 ended with the visit of Gustaf Skarsgard of “Vikings,” which thrilled his passionate fans.
Skarsgard, who plays Floki in the show, was taken aback but delighted at seeing a crowd of hundreds of screaming fans. “I was so surprised and grateful that I have so many fans here in Saudi Arabia, and I am very happy to experience the love,” he told Arab News.
When we asked him about his favorite thing about Jeddah, he gave an unusual answer: “My favorite part has been the food, I have tried the fool, shakshooka and hummus. It was raheeb.
“My fondest memory of ‘Vikings’ was when I went to Iceland. You carry friends with you and I have met friends for life on that show,” he said. “You guys are the best fans in the world.”
In his panel interview, he demonstrated how he practiced the way Floki talks and his body language. He demonstrated Floki’s infamous laugh, which the audience could not get enough of. They kept chanting “Once more, once more.” He interacted with the audience by recording a video to show his friend, the show's creator Michael Hirst, making the audience scream “Thank you, Michael!”
Geekiness was in the air. The booth owners were setting up offers and sales in honor of the last day. Cosplayers were doing an excellent job with their costumes. Some of the most talented made armor out of everyday objects such as cartons and spray paint. A Comic Con discussion panel was held about people’s growing interest in manga and comics.
Later in the evening, Muhammad Rubat and Rakan Bo Khalid made the audience nostalgic and emotional by singing the OSTs of the shows that the youth had grown up watching. The entire crowd sang along constantly.
Ali Musallim, a 27-year-old Saudi, is looking forward to opening a store in Jeddah of exclusive Manga that is hard to get at the moment. “We are way more complicated and diverse than the world thinks we are,” he said. “There is a weird stereotype around Saudis that they are not interested, but I have observed in Comic Con that people are interested and excited over the store. We don’t give ourselves enough credit.”
Waad Khimi, one of the attendees, said: “I hope next year there will be another Comic Con because I am already sad that this one is over.”
Floki ends Saudi Comic Con with a bang
Floki ends Saudi Comic Con with a bang
KSrelief provides shelter, winter clothing in Lebanon, Somalia
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed shelter and winter clothing to displaced people in Lebanon and Somalia, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Orphans and those with special needs in Lebanon’s Akkar Governorate received vouchers to purchase winter clothes from approved stores.
The beneficiaries also included Syrian refugees and vulnerable members of the host community.
In Somalia, 920 shelter kits, 80 tents and 1,000 clothing kits benefited 6,0000 displaced people in several camps in the Banaadir region as part of a project aiming to provide 7,600 shelter and clothing kits and 215 tents in the area.
Both initiatives are part of the ongoing humanitarian assistance provided by KSrelief to countries and people in need around the world.
Saudi foreign minister meets with US Secretary of State at Brazil G20
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, developments in the Middle East, and the efforts being made in these regards.
The meeting was attended by the Director-General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Aldawood.
Saudi Arabia FM calls for peace, addresses global challenges at G20 Summit opening
- Prince Faisal bin Farhan leads Kingdom’s delegation on behalf of crown prince
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the first session of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Monday.
Prince Faisal, who is leading the delegation on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke at the summit’s opening session which was called “Social Inclusion and Combating Hunger and Poverty.”
Prince Faisal highlighted pressing global challenges, noting that increasing tensions, military conflicts, and humanitarian crises were significant obstacles to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, adding: “Development and prosperity cannot be achieved on the ruins of death and destruction.”
Moving on to the ongoing crises in the Middle East, Prince Faisal pointed to Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, describing them as sources of severe human suffering and catalysts which were pushing the region toward broader conflict.
He said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon has caused unprecedented levels of human suffering; is pushing the region to the brink of a wider war … and is undermining the credibility of international law and institutions.”
Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peace, stating the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance; the release of hostages; and a serious commitment to lasting peace based on the two-state solution according to the 1967 borders, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The minister also addressed the situation in Sudan, expressing concern over the severe human toll due to the conflict, and obstacles preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.
In addition to political challenges, Prince Faisal commended Brazil’s initiative in launching the International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s development and humanitarian objectives. He announced the Kingdom’s participation in the alliance, which resonates with its long-standing global efforts.
He said: “The Kingdom is pleased to be part of this alliance that is in line with its development goals and its global role in this regard, which is expressed by the programs of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (and) the Saudi Fund for Development, in addition to its global contributions to the programs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support developing countries.”
The Kingdom’s delegation included Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Deputy Minister of Finance (Saudi Sherpa for the G20) Abdul Mohsen bin Saad Al-Khalaf, and Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam.
The G20 Summit in Brazil serves as a platform for the world’s leading economies to address global challenges and promote collective solutions aimed at fostering sustainable development and social equity.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prince Faisal met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During their meeting they discussed US-Saudi relations, as well as regional developments and the efforts made in this regard.
Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana
- The two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Governor of the US state of Indiana Eric Holcomb in Riyadh on Monday.
During the meeting, the two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Ayyaf and Chief of Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili were among the Saudi officials present.
Commander-in-Chief of the Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen. Roger Lyles and head of the US Military Training Mission in the Kingdom Col. Dirk Smith were among the US officials present.
Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology
- Partnership forms part of vision to create ‘integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth’
RIYADH: Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, which is also known as Misk City, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the tech giant Samsung Electronics to cooperate in the sectors of smart city technology, sustainability, and youth empowerment.
Misk City’s CEO David Henry signed the memorandum with the President of Samsung Electronics Saudi Arabia Hendrick Lee, on the sidelines of the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh, which finishes on Tuesday.
Henry said that the partnership with Samsung “represents an important step in line with Misk City’s strategic vision of creating an integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He stressed the importance of working with Samsung “to create a vibrant and innovative environment that presents a unique model for smart cities.”
Lee said that Samsung’s “cooperation with Misk City represents our unified commitment to leading innovation and sustainability with the aim of developing transformative solutions that enhance urban life and empower future generations in the field of technology, which benefits our communities.”
The two parties will also collaborate on developing training programs specifically designed to hone the skills of Saudi’s youth to help enhance smart city experiences. These programs will later be hosted and delivered in Misk City, the SPA added.
Samsung Electronics is also considering setting up a showroom in Misk City to showcase its latest artificial intelligence-powered smart technologies, providing visitors with a firsthand experience of smart homes and understanding of future innovations.
