LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs State Minister Adel Al-Jubier said the European Union is right in blaming Iran for attacking Aramco’s facilities, stressing that Tehran does not respect the sovereignty of states nor international law.
In remarks made on Monday at a London-based think tank, Al-Jubeir stressed that Saudi Arabia is “convinced through evidence it has (collected) that Iran is involved in the Aramco attacks.”
The Arab coalition fighting to restore the internationally-recognized government in Yemen said an attack on Saudi Arabia on Sept. 14, which triggered the biggest jump in oil prices in almost 30 years, was carried out with Iranian weapons. However, Tehran denies responsibility and the Iranian-backed Houthi militia claimed it was behind the attack.
Following the attack, Britain, Germany and France backed the United States and blamed Iran for the attack on the Kingdom’s oil facilities, urging Tehran to agree to new talks with world powers on its nuclear and missile programs and regional security issues.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also thanked the European nations for their statement blaming Iran, saying, “This will strengthen diplomacy and the cause of peace.”
Al-Jubeir said Iranian arms are being extended to a number of Arab states.
He said the attack on Aramco facilities reflect Tehran’s hostile intentions in the region, adding: “we are convinced that the missiles that had hit the Saudi oil facilities were Iranian.”
Regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, the Saudi minister said that it has “flaws” as it “does not include Iran’s ballistic missile activity and its hostile interventions in regional affairs.”
“We frequently said we do not want a war, but we remain arms folded in the face of such attacks,” Al-Jubeir said.
EU countries right to blame Iran for Saudi Aramco attacks: Al-Jubeir
EU countries right to blame Iran for Saudi Aramco attacks: Al-Jubeir
- The Kingdom is convinced Iran was behind the Sept. 14 attack from evidence collected
- Al-Jubeir says attack on Aramco facilities reflect Tehran’s hostile intentions in the region
Saudi Shoura Council speaker holds talks with Pakistani National Assembly counterpart
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh held official talks with Pakistani National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in Islamabad. The talks were part of Al-Sheikh’s current official visit to Pakistan.
During the meeting, both parties went over fraternal relations and ways to strengthen the bonds between the two countries and their fraternal peoples.
They also discussed ways to boost bilateral parliamentary relations and enhance mutual cooperation between the Saudi Shoura Council and Pakistan’s National Assembly in a way that contributes to increasing parliamentary cooperation toward broader perspectives, and serving common interests.
They also touched on a number of topics and issues of common interest in all areas.
King Abdulaziz University launches Saudi Arabia’s first PET/MRI Alzheimer’s diagnostic service
- Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease plays a critical role in improving patients’ quality of life
JEDDAH: King Abdulaziz University unveiled on Thursday the first diagnostic service for Alzheimer’s disease using integrated positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, collectively known as PET/MRI.
The service is offered through KAU’s Molecular Imaging Center (I-One), operating under the umbrella of Wadi Jeddah, the university’s investment arm.
The center, the only facility in Saudi Arabia’s Western and Southern regions equipped with a cyclotron for radiopharmaceutical production, spearheads the initiative.
A PET/MRI scan works by creating a three-dimensional image of the body using a PET scan and an MRI scan.
The KAU’s Alzheimer’s diagnostic service utilizes Amyloid PET/MRI imaging, developed in collaboration with Oryx Isotopes.
Early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease plays a critical role in improving a patient’s quality of life and slowing the progression of the condition.
UAE publishers take part in Jeddah Book Fair
- Emirati writers sign books, speak with readers
- Fair continues at the Jeddah Superdome until Dec. 21
JEDDAH: Over 20 Emirati publishing houses are taking part in the Jeddah Book Fair 2024, which features almost 1,000 publishers from 22 countries.
The Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission is hosting the fair in the Jeddah Superdome until Dec. 21.
UAE publishers have made a significant presence at the fair, with publications in literature, science, children’s stories, and comics, the WAM reported.
Emirati publishers said that the Jeddah Book Fair is one of the most important events in the Arab cultural calendar, praised for its high public turnout and the diversity of publications available in fiction and self-development genres, according to WAM.
The fair includes lectures, seminars, and workshops by nearly 170 speakers, writers, and experts from Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Emirati writers signed their books and communicated directly with readers at the fair, WAM added.
The fair has also dedicated a special area for children featuring educational and interactive writing and animation industry activities.
More than 450 pavilions and a cultural program with more than 100 events have been organized as part of the fair.
It is the third book fair organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission in 2024 after the Riyadh International Book Fair and Madinah Book Fair.
Madinah culinary arts club hosts Cooking Challenge 2 as part of winter events
- Event celebrated the distinctive culinary heritage of Madinah while enhancing the skills of local chefs
- Two contestants were selected to compete in preparing Madinah’s traditional kabli dish, which was judged by a panel of experts
MADINAH: The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Club in Madinah on Wednesday hosted Cooking Challenge 2 as part of its winter activities in the region.
The event celebrated the distinctive culinary heritage of Madinah while enhancing the skills of local chefs, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
From a pool of 350 club members, two contestants were selected to compete in preparing Madinah’s traditional kabli dish, which was judged by a panel of experts.
The evaluation criteria included taste, adherence to food health and safety protocols, professional safety standards, creativity and innovation, quality standards, and mastery of cooking techniques.
The challenge featured Chef Alaa Al-Ahmadi and Chef Asmaa Al-Attas with the latter emerging as the winner.
Chef Enayat Khan, head of the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Club in Madinah, explained that the club’s mission is to unite chefs in Madinah under one platform to exchange knowledge and expertise.
A key focus is preserving traditional Madinah dishes as well as Saudi cuisine as a whole.
Khan highlighted the club’s diverse pool of national talent, encompassing professionals and passionate amateurs, and expressed the club’s ambition to display Madinah’s culinary excellence on the global stage.
Chef Abdul Wahab Al-Dawi, director of public relations and marketing at the Culinary Arts Club, emphasized the richness and diversity of Saudi cuisine, shaped by the Kingdom’s geography and the integration of animal, marine, and agricultural products.
He noted that Saudi cuisine has made a notable impact at international exhibitions, reflecting its growing global recognition.
He said the club continues to host culinary events aimed at enhancing the skills of aspiring chefs, nurturing culinary talent, and discovering new creators in the Madinah region.
Saudi initiative launches pioneering care center for people with disabilities
- Integrated residential care facility is expected to serve over 280 beneficiaries annually
- Project designed to serve as model for development of similar facilities
RIYADH: A Saudi social care project worth SR83 million ($22.1 million) is set to transform support services for people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia’s Qassim Region after a trilateral agreement was signed on Thursday.
The Sakhaa Program, the Abdulaziz Al-Ohali Charitable Foundation, and the Onaizah Association for Development and Human Services, known as Taheel, have joined forces to establish an integrated residential care facility which is expected to serve over 280 beneficiaries annually, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative aligns with the program’s efforts to support the community through creating sustainable development opportunities and enabling benefactors to actively participate in achieving social and economic development in the Kingdom.
Deputy Secretary-General Nasser bin Mohammed Asiri signed on behalf of the Sakhaa Program, alongside Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Ohali, chairman of the Al-Ohali Foundation’s board of trustees, and Musaad bin Yahya Al-Saleem, vice chairman of Taheel Association.
The memorandum of understanding outlines an ambitious project to establish a center that will provide a comprehensive and supportive environment to meet the needs of people with disabilities, according to the SPA.
The facility will offer integrated services, including full residential care supported by specialized rehabilitation programs, comprehensive healthcare covering both therapeutic and preventive aspects, as well as recreational and educational activities to enhance residents’ social and psychological well-being, ensuring their independence and enabling active community participation.
The project’s funding model combines government support, community contributions, and nominal fees to ensure sustainable, high-quality care delivery. Infrastructure development, equipment, and operational costs are included in the total investment.
The project is designed to serve as a model for developing similar centers in the future, the SPA added.
