Saudi Arabia hosts Yemen talks with Sweden’s foreign minister, President Hadi

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Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde meets Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir. (SPA)
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Updated 01 June 2021
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Saudi Arabia hosts Yemen talks with Sweden’s foreign minister, President Hadi

  • Ann Linde held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan

RIYADH: Yemen’s president has told the Swedish foreign minister that the Houthi militia failed to uphold any elements of an agreement reached in Stockholm in 2019.
Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi met Ann Linde and Sweden’s envoy to Yemen Peter Semneby in the Saudi capital, Riyadh on Monday.
Linde also held talks with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir.
Sweden hosted key peace talks in its capital more than two years, which were expected to pave the way toward a political solution to the conflict.

However, many aspects of the agreement were not implemented by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which in recent months has ramped up its fighting in Marib province.
During Monday’s meeting, Hadi praised Sweden for its support for Yemen and its sponsorship of the Stockholm talks.
Hadi also thanked Sweden for taking a leading relief and humanitarian role.
The president briefed the Swedish delegation on the latest developments in Yemen and the human suffering brought by the Houthis including the recruitment of child fighters, the continued siege of cities, the offensive in Marib, and targeting camps for those displaced by the conflict.
“These militias and those behind them do not believe in coexistence and peace,” he said.

“The Houthis did not implement any of the provisions of the Stockholm Agreement, and have taken advantage of the truce to destabilize international navigation through booby-trapped boats, and other abuses and violations.”
The president said any attempts ha has made to make peace or offer concessions have been rejected by the Houthis.
Linde praised the efforts made by the president to overcome the repercussions of the war and the crisis facing Yemen, and said she looked forward to seeing peace prevail in cooperation with the international community.
Sweden, she said, would continue to providing support to Yemen, particularly in the humanitarian situation and holding donor conferences.
The meeting was also attended by Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak.
Linde visited the Saudi Center for Public Opinion Polls, and was briefed on the data collection processes, the scientific procedures carried out by the center in collecting its data and the methodology for its refinement and analysis.
Meanwhile, the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, urged rival Yemeni forces Monday to “bridge the gap” to reach a cease-fire, praising a diplomatic push for peace in the devastated country.
“Throughout the process we have suggested several ways to bridge the gap between the parties,” Griffiths told reporters, speaking after meeting Houthi officials in the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

“There’s an extraordinary amount of diplomatic consensus... there is a real diplomatic energy now, which hasn’t always been the case,” Griffiths said.
“All of our proposals have also guaranteed the reopening of this airport where we are speaking today, Sanaa airport,” said Griffiths,
(With AFP)


Saudi-led initiative restores Yemen’s iconic Seiyun Palace

Updated 7 sec ago
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Saudi-led initiative restores Yemen’s iconic Seiyun Palace

  • Kingdom’s program, UNESCO collaborate to preserve heritage, boost cultural tourism in Hadramout

RIYADH: After years of deterioration that threatened its survival as a historical and cultural symbol, Seiyun Palace in Hadramout, eastern Yemen, is regaining its original form through restoration led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen. 

Seiyun Palace was once featured on Yemen’s national currency due to its importance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Originally built as a fortified stronghold to protect Seiyun, the palace later became the residence of the sultans of the Kathiri state, who ruled Wadi Hadramout. 

Despite its significance, the palace suffered damage over time, reaching a critical point in 2022 when a large part of its outer wall collapsed, raising concerns about its future. This led to calls for restoration, according to the SPA. 

At the Yemeni government’s request, the Saudi development program launched a project to restore the palace. 

Funded by the program and implemented by UNESCO, the effort involved Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Yemen’s General Organization of Antiquities and Museums, with support from Yemen’s Social Fund for Development.

Restoration included repairing the outer wall and mudbrick structures. Attention was given to restoring wooden ceilings, carved doors, and windows that showcase Yemeni craftsmanship. 

The project also preserved the palace’s architectural features, including traditional decorations and wall inscriptions. Local engineers and technicians were trained in restoration techniques for ongoing maintenance. 

This project supports development in Hadramout and the preservation of Yemen’s heritage. The palace can now receive visitors and host events, enhancing its role as a cultural and tourism site, the SPA reported.

The Seiyun Palace restoration is one of 264 projects by the Saudi development program across Yemen, covering education, health, transportation, energy, water, agriculture, fisheries, and institutional capacity building.


Saudi students honored for international success

Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, director of the Saudi Data and AI Authority’s National Data Management Office. (SPA)
Updated 33 min 45 sec ago
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Saudi students honored for international success

  • Meanwhile, the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program was recently launched at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

RIYADH: Students from Tuwaiq Academy enjoyed outstanding success at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition in Malaysia, where they won 12 gold medals and 16 special awards.

Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, director of the Saudi Data and AI Authority’s National Data Management Office, said the students’ performance reflected their creativity and global competitiveness.

He praised them for positively representing the Kingdom, adding the achievement stemmed from ongoing investment in human capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A ceremony honoring the students included a visual presentation on their participation and an exhibition highlighting their projects. Two winners also gave talks about their journeys, challenges and lessons learned.

Meanwhile, the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program was recently launched at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, bringing together more than 90 gifted students from across Saudi Arabia.

Organized by King Abdulaziz City through Academy 32, in partnership with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, the program aims to introduce students to the basics of scientific research and promote innovation.

It connects participants with research centers and experts, offers practical training and encourages contributions to local scientific content.

Academy 32 CEO Amani Al-Shawi said the program helped develop young talent and prepare them for competition, citing recent successes by Saudi students including at the International Science and Engineering Fair and in Malaysia.


Saudi Arabia, China sign deal to boost cultural collaboration

Program in Diriyah will enhance cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China.
Updated 12 min 50 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia, China sign deal to boost cultural collaboration

  • The program, aligned with the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, focuses on joint cultural initiatives
  • Both sides will carry out research projects to improve quality of cultural studies and collaborate on identifying and compiling cultural materials from national archives

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture and the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center have signed an executive program in Diriyah to enhance cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China.

The program, aligned with the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, focuses on joint cultural initiatives, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It was signed by Deputy Minister for Research and Cultural Heritage Affairs Maha Abdullah Alsenan and Cheng Wei, vice president of Beijing International Studies University and member of the joint committee of the China-Arab research center.

Both sides will carry out joint research projects to improve the quality of cultural studies and collaborate on identifying and compiling cultural materials from national archives.

The ministry will also work with the Chinese to organize joint conferences and facilitate visits and exchanges between cultural researchers to discuss shared cultural topics.

The agreement supports research exchange activities, enabling Saudi researchers to visit Chinese universities and research centers and vice versa. It also provides access to cultural experts, supports fellowship programs and offers consultative assistance.

This initiative aligns with the ministry’s efforts to promote international cultural exchange, a goal of the National Culture Strategy under Vision 2030.


Ancient ruins in Al-Ardiyat tell timeless tales

Al-Ardiyat is home to many archeological sites dating from earlier periods, including the pre-Islamic Arab eras and Stone Age.
Updated 30 June 2025
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Ancient ruins in Al-Ardiyat tell timeless tales

  • Al-Ruzqi pointed out that Al-Ardiyat is a testament to history, with numerous inscriptions adorning its mountains

JEDDAH: Al-Ardiyat, a governorate in the Makkah region, is home to many archeological sites dating from earlier periods, including the pre-Islamic Arab eras and the Stone Age.

These include ibex carvings and inscriptions continuing into later centuries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdullah Al-Ruzqi, a researcher of archaeology and history in the governorate, said the inscriptions in Al-Ardiyat fall into three categories: ibex drawings; Nabataean and Thamudic writings; and funerary inscriptions from the first Hijri century, such as the tombstone of Maryam bint Qays.

He also noted several other known and unknown inscriptions and etchings, calling for attention to and protection of these sites.

Al-Ruzqi pointed out that Al-Ardiyat is a testament to history, with numerous inscriptions adorning its mountains, the SPA reported.

He added that the governorate is known for the Thumaidah mine, a 50-meter-long tunnel in rocky mountains containing antimony kohl and lead deposits.

This mine is in a mountainous area stretching from Abyan to Mount Tharban along the western slopes reaching Qanuna Valley, and the eastern slopes extending to Yabah Valley.


Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse

A general view shows the Ariab company gold mine in the Sudanese desert, 800 kilometers northeast of the capital Khartoum. (AFP)
Updated 30 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse

  • The collapse of the gold mine in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan killed 11 miners and wounded seven others

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia offered its condolences to Sudan on Sunday after a gold mine partially collapsed in the country, killing 11 miners and wounded seven others.

The mine is in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan.

The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom stands with Sudan during this tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery.