Saudi landmines project clears 1,371 Houthi devices

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A team from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center distributes food baskets in Yemen’s Saada governorate on Monday. (SPA)
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MASAM aims to dismantle mines in Yemen to protect civilians and ensure that urgent humanitarian supplies are delivered safely. (SPA)
Updated 26 February 2019
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Saudi landmines project clears 1,371 Houthi devices

  • KSRelief serves 4,112 Syrian refugees in Zaatari camp

JEDDAH: The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (MASAM) in Yemen extracted 14 anti-personnel mines, 625 anti-vehicle mines, 67 explosive devices and 665 unexploded ordnance — totaling 1,371 mines — during three weeks of February.
A total of 44,743 mines have been extracted since the beginning of the project. An estimated 1 million mines have been planted by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen over the past three years claiming hundreds of civilian lives.
MASAM aims to dismantle mines in Yemen to protect civilians and ensure that urgent humanitarian supplies are delivered safely. Houthis are developing anti-vehicle mines and turning them into antipersonnel explosives to intimidate and terrorize civilians.
The vast number of landmines continues to pose a threat to the lives of Yemeni people.
Aid programs
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) have organized an event to showcase aid provisions for Yemeni civilians, provided by the Kingdom.
It will be hosted by KSRelief chief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, with officials from other regional states such as the UAE, as well as the UN, the World Food Programme and various charities also in attendance.
On Monday, KSRelief announced it had distributed 1,700 cartons of dates in the Yemeni port city of Mukalla, providing food for over 10,000 people.

Serving Syrian refugees
KSRelief provided services through its clinics in Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp to 4,112 Syrians during the third week of February.
According to medical records, KSRelief’s general clinics received the highest number of patients (1,260), followed by children’s clinics (1,254). Women’s clinics received 400 patients.
Also, 189 Syrian refugees received treatment at the ear and nose clinic, 265 at the internal medicine clinic, and 218 at the dental clinic.
The surgical clinic treated 281 patients, the vaccine clinic 122, the communicable disease control project 59, and the nutrition and health care clinic 64.
KSRelief’s clinics provide patients in Zaatari refugee camp with free medicine and treatment, as well as follow-ups for patients suffering from chronic diseases.
These clinics are one of the health programs offered by KSRelief to Syrian refugees in Jordan.


Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition

Updated 11 sec ago
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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

Updated 10 January 2025
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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

Updated 10 January 2025
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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

Updated 10 January 2025
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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

Updated 10 January 2025
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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.