Sarah A. Assiri is a first secretary who works with the Yemen Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations Support Center (YCHO), established in 2018. She works with a team to coordinate and help UN NGOs and INGOs working in Yemen to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Assiri joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009, motivated by an admiration of the late Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, and worked in his office for almost seven years. She was also inspired by Dr. Thurayya Obeid, who was the executive director of the UN Population Fund and is now a Shoura Council member. She also help organizing conferences of Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, in which she sees an immediate opportunity to learn from the minister.
Assiri said that working closely with Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber, who is the executive director of YCHO, and the supervisor of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, has been an opportunity to expand her understanding of diplomacy.
Assiri received her first international training in (2012) in Berlin in the Federal Foreign Office. She attended international meetings and conferences and attended several high-level meetings in Saudi Arabia and the UN.
She had an opportunity to speak about Yemen and Saudi efforts to support the humanitarian situation there, as well as discuss the YCHO plan, during the ECOSOC annual meetings of the UN in 2018.
Assiri is a published writer. Her first book, Contemplations, was about her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s before her death. She is currently writing her first novel addressing topics of day to day life and human relations.
She is also a blogger with an interest in art and silent films, especially the work of Charlie Chaplin. She is a graduate of King Saud University with a master’s degree in English literature. She is a fan of W.B. Yeats, Joyce, Shakespeare and Arabic poetry.
TheFace: Sarah A. Assiri, first secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TheFace: Sarah A. Assiri, first secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Assiri joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2009, motivated by an admiration of the late Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal
Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
- Exhibition is homage to renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai
The much-anticipated “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition will be held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in JAX Diriyah from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8.
Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, the exhibition, ratified by the Kingdom’s Museums Commission, will showcase the works of the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.
It will highlight the history and evolution of manga, and provide a perspective on how Hokusai’s classical illustrations have influenced modern visual arts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Hokusai published his first collection of art in 1814, featuring sketches of “daily life, landscapes and whimsical creatures,” according to a post on X by the museum.
The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art aims to foster cultural exchange between local and international creators.
Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
- Warning of high waves along the Kingdom’s coastlines
RIYADH: Rain of varying intensities will fall over most parts of Saudi Arabia from Jan. 10 to 12, the National Center for Meteorology stated on Thursday.
In a weather bulletin, the NCM warned of downpours accompanied by winds of up to 60 kph, and the possibility of torrential rain and hail. High waves are expected along the nation’s coastlines.
The regions of Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, and Hail will have rainy conditions on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, rain is expected in the Tabuk and Madinah regions; on Saturday and Sunday in the Eastern Province, Asir and Jazan; and on Saturday in Qassim.
For the Riyadh and Al-Baha regions, rain is expected from Friday to Sunday.
The NCM urged the public to stay updated on the weather conditions in the Kingdom by checking the daily reports on its website, the Anwaa application, or its social media accounts.
Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.
One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.
Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.
The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.
She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.
She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.
The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.
The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.
KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
- Collaboration with scientists from Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, has conducted an unprecedented, in-depth study on microbiomes — microorganisms that live symbiotically with humans or other organisms — in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, originating from glaciers atop the Earth’s highest mountains, harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms.
The research team collected and analyzed samples from 170 glacier-fed streams over five years across regions including New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Russian Caucasus, the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, the European Alps, the Scandinavian Alps, Greenland, Alaska, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, and the Ecuadorian and Chilean Andes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The findings, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, represent the first global reference for microbiomes in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, which are among the most extreme natural freshwater ecosystems in the world, are located at mountain summits and are characterized by near-freezing temperatures and low nutrient levels.
They also serve as the origin for many of the world’s largest rivers, functioning as vital water reservoirs for the planet.
KAUST researcher Dr. Ramona Marasco emphasized that glacier-fed streams were highly vulnerable to climate change.
She spoke of the importance of establishing a baseline for their microbiomes to better understand the rate of ecological change, while highlighting KAUST’s extensive genetic sequencing efforts, which have significantly contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of these endangered microbiomes.
The researchers successfully developed the first global atlas of microorganisms in glacier-fed streams.
Their work revealed that these streams harbor a unique microbiome distinct from other cryospheric systems, such as glaciers, frozen soils, and ice-covered lakes.
About half of the bacterial species in these streams are endemic to specific mountain ranges. The scientists attribute this phenomenon to the geographical isolation of mountain ranges, similar to islands, and to the powerful natural selection exerted by the harsh conditions in glacier-fed streams.
