Anti-terrorism center signs deal to boost cooperation on counterterrorism
Updated 28 December 2023
SPA
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority have signed an agreement to foster cooperation between the IMCTC and various Arab, Islamic and international organizations.
The deal was signed by Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, secretary-general of the IMCTC, and Jalal bin Mohammed Al-Owaisi, president of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.
Al-Moghedi said the agreement aimed to ease the exchange of expertise and knowledge in international humanitarian law.
It will also foster research and academic cooperation, enabling the development of skills in areas of mutual interest.
Al-Moghedi highlighted the crucial role of the Permanent Committee of International Humanitarian Law, particularly in addressing issues related to international armed conflicts and the impact of terrorism on nations.
Saudi Arabia developing concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide ultrafast
KAUST, Partanna Global sign 12-month research pact to ensure the product’s absorption qualities are improved
Rick Fox, CEO of Partanna Global, said the technology could transform buildings from environmental liabilities into assets that actively treat the natural environment
Updated 41 min 48 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will be working with Partanna Global, a materials science company, to further develop concrete that not only avoids carbon emissions during production but also continues to absorb it over time.
The planned 12-month collaborative effort integrates Partanna’s proprietary concrete formula with KAUST’s Direct Air Capture technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
At the heart of this innovation is a binder composed of natural and recycled materials readily available in Saudi Arabia, including brine solution.
Unlike traditional concrete-production methods, this mixture is processed at room temperature, eliminating the need for energy-intensive clinker production or industrial heating.
The result is a concrete that not only avoids carbon emissions during production but also continues to absorb it over time.
Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi, a chemistry professor at KAUST, said: “We are not just creating sustainable building materials; we are pioneering a proactive approach to climate-change mitigation.
“Integrating the carbon-negative binder with current concrete manufacturing processes represents a quantum leap in sustainable construction practices.”
Rick Fox, CEO of Partanna Global, said the technology could transform buildings from environmental liabilities into assets that actively treat the natural environment.
“Our collaboration with KAUST maximizes the potential of the carbon-negative concrete formula, proving that we can fundamentally change how the world constructs its infrastructure.”
Turkish man arrested after threatening Saudi tourists with a knife in Istanbul restaurant
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Turkiye confirmed the arrest and thanked local authorities for their quick response
Updated 42 min 19 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Turkish police have arrested a man suspected of insulting and threatening a group of Saudi tourists in Istanbul with a knife.
Istanbul’s police department said they arrested a 43-year-old man seen in a viral video wielding a knife and threatening the Saudi visitors while yelling anti-Arab remarks.
The man was under the influence of alcohol when the attack took place at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, police said.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Turkiye confirmed the arrest and thanked local authorities for their quick response.
Saudi Cabinet reiterates efforts to end Israeli aggression against Palestinians
Updated 03 July 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday reiterated the Kingdom’s tireless efforts alongside its partners at the political and humanitarian levels to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
For nearly nine months, Israel has been carrying out a devastating ground an air incursion inside the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements bordering the enclave.
The Kingdom and allies have been pushing for a ceasefire to end the conflict and bring relief to the more than 2 million people living in the Palestinian territory.
Separately, ministers welcomed the discovery of seven oil and gas deposits in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province and Empty Quarter.
On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Saudi Aramco had discovered “two unconventional oil fields, a reservoir of light Arabian oil, two natural gas fields, and two natural gas reservoirs,” SPA reported.
During the meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, ministers said awarding contracts for the second phase of the Jafurah gas field development and the third stage of the expansion of the master gas system falls within continuing development and economic diversification effort, and strengthens the Kingdom’s leadership position in global energy markets.
Saudi Aramco on Sunday granted 16 agreements for phase two development at Jafurah, worth a combined total of around $12.4 billion.
An additional 15 one-time complete contracts, worth around $8.8 billion, have been awarded to commence phase three expansion of the master gas system, which delivers natural gas to customers across Saudi Arabia.
The cabinet highlighted the launch of a geographical survey project for renewable energy in the Kingdom, which is considered the first of its kind in the world, and reflects the commitment to achieving national targets in the production of renewable energy.
This contributes to reaching the optimal energy mix for generating electricity, supporting the Kingdom’s trend towards exporting electrical energy, and producing clean hydrogen.
Diriyah Company brings Saudi heritage to Harrods in London with $63bn development showcase
Exhibition spotlights 350 luxury residences that are part of the project
Immersive experience aims to attract the attention of the 450,000 people expected to visit Harrods this month
Updated 02 July 2024
Tamara Turki
LONDON: Diriyah Company is bringing a taste of Saudi culture and heritage to upmarket London department store Harrods this month, in the form of an exclusive pop-up exhibition highlighting the $63 billion mega-development project underway in Diriyah, the historic birthplace of the Kingdom.
The immersive experience, which opened on Monday and continues until July 26, aims to attract the attention of the 450,000 people expected to visit Harrods this month. The centerpiece of the event is a display featuring the master plan for the ambitious urban development project, which when complete will be six-and-a-half times the size of Monaco. It will feature hotels, four metro stations, and extensive retail and commercial office spaces.
The centerpiece of the event is a display featuring the master plan for the ambitious urban development project. (Supplied)
Diriyah Company has worked with the Harrods team to transform the space into an exhibition that tells the story of Saudi heritage and architecture, incorporating elements of the traditional Najdi architectural style in a warm color palette of yellows, oranges and browns. A highlight of the event is a showcase of 350 residences developed by luxury brands Ritz Carlton, Baccarat and Corinthia.
“These are the best of the best to collaborate with,” Diriyah Company’s chief marketing officer, Kiran Jay Haslam, told Arab News, adding that each brand brings something unique to the project.
The Baccarat residences will be notable for their sophisticated fusion of modern luxury and classic French elegance, incorporating opulent materials and Baccarat crystal accents, he said, while Corinthia will offer a more family-focused, homely feel, and the Ritz Carlton units will put an emphasis on the high levels of services available to residents. Representatives of Diriyah Company are on hand to explain the differences between the brands and highlight their unique selling points, he added, to help visitors understand what each has to offer.
In 2021, Saudi authorities issued a directive allowing non-Saudis who are legal residents of the country to buy single properties in the Kingdom, subject to approval by licensing authorities.
“In addition to that, the conversations that we know are taking place right now to open up real estate to foreign investment are really exciting for us,” Haslam said. “We’re looking very closely into when that will come to play.
“I think a lot of the projects in the kingdom will take on a new lease of life because of the ability for global interaction in these budgets. And … I think we’re really going to start to attract some significant talent to the kingdom.”
Six units are available for purchase at the Corinthia development and eight at the Baccarat. Haslam said sales at the Ritz Carlton development have moved more quickly than the company anticipated, and only 16 of the 106 residences are still available.
Visitors passing by Harrods take a look at Diriyah masterplan on display at the pop-up. (Supplied)
The pop-up event at Harrods follows Diriyah Company’s immersive exhibition at Outernet, an entertainment, arts and culture district in London. The showcases are part of a broader Saudi strategy to promote Diriyah on the global stage, with upcoming events planned in Los Angeles, New York, Sydney and Paris.
Haslam said the exhibition at Harrods has already received a positive response from early visitors, particularly those for whom the celebration of Arab culture hit close to home.
“We’re a very emotional project,” he said. “We’re a project that’s delivering some kind of unique quality in essence and pride of the Kingdom. And so it’s really great to be here and to have this interaction.”
