RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met international officials at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On the sidelines of the forum, Prince Faisal met International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. They discussed humanitarian crises with a focus on Gaza.
Prince Faisal later met with Deemah Al-Yahya, secretary-general of the Digital Cooperation Organization, and they focused on issues relating to digital transformation, technology employment, and capacity building in the fields of information technology and innovation.
The minister also held separate meetings with his Austrian, Iraqi, Ethopian and Nigerian counterparts, Alexander Schallenberg, Fuad Hussein, Demeke Mekonnen and Yusuf Tuggar, reviewing ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
Saudi Arabia’s UN Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, Saudi Ambassador to Switzerland Adel Mirdad and Adviser to the Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Yahya attended were present at some of Thursday's meetings.
Saudi FM meets international officials in Davos
https://arab.news/g6faw
Saudi FM meets international officials in Davos
- Meetings discussed bilateral relations, humanitarian crises
Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 732 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included eight anti-personnel mines, 51 anti-tank mines, 672 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 478,954 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
Saudi leadership offers condolences after death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman each sent a cable of condolences to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The King and the crown prince expressed their deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the Kuwaiti leadership and the family of the deceased.
The crown prince sent a cable of condolences to the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah died at the age of 14 years old.
Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Djibouti
- They discussed bilateral relations and various topics of common interest
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, the dean of the diplomatic corps and ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and various topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Oman’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al-Said in Riyadh on Sunday.
The meeting was held to mark the conclusion of Al-Said’s tenure as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Palestinian president honors Saudi ambassador with Star of Al-Quds medal in Ramallah
- Mahmoud Abbas praises Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi’s efforts to strengthen relations between Palestine and Saudi Arabia
LONDON: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Nayef bin Bandar Al-Sudairi, the Saudi ambassador to Palestine, in Ramallah on Sunday.
Abbas honored Al-Sudairi with the Star of Al-Quds medal during his visit to the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority.
Al-Sudairi became the first non-resident Saudi ambassador to Palestine and consul-general of Jerusalem since 1948 when he was appointed in August 2023.
Last September, he visited Ramallah for the first time to present his credentials to the Palestinian president.
Abbas extended his greetings to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, emphasizing the Kingdom’s support for the Palestinian people and their cause, the Palestine News and Information Agency reported.
He also praised Al-Sudairi’s efforts to strengthen the friendly relations between Palestine and Saudi Arabia, the agency reported.
More than 84,000 visitors attend Hira Winter events in Makkah
RIYADH: The Hira Winter events, organized by the Hira Cultural District and which recently concluded in Makkah, attracted more than 84,000 visitors.
Highlights included the Revelation Exhibition, which used cutting-edge technology to simulate the story of Prophet Muhammad’s revelation, blending tradition and innovation.
The exhibition featured a pavilion detailing the Cave of Hira and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the Mother of Believers, along with a depiction of the first revelation.
Rare historical artifacts, such as a photographed copy of the Qur’an manuscript of Uthman bin Affan and ancient stone inscriptions of Qur’anic verses, gave visitors a unique experience that combined the past and present.
Poetic performances inspired by Arab heritage underscored poetry’s role as the Arabs' diwan (repository of culture) and a tool for documenting events and emotions.
Poetic jousts highlighted live interaction and pride in the Arabic language and literature, enriching the cultural experience.
The Caravan Experience revived the cultural heritage of camel caravans, underlining their role in ancient Arab trade and society.
Visitors were taken back to ancient trade routes where camels played a key role in transporting goods and facilitating travel.
The Challenge Zone attracted adventure enthusiasts with various games blending entertainment and competition.
The Winter Theater delighted visitors with interactive performances, including contests and games inspired by winter traditions.
The district also featured a Crafts and Heritage Industries Market, where visitors explored local products, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed traditional and contemporary food and beverages, creating a holistic experience of entertainment, culture and shopping.
The Hira Cultural District is an area of approximately 67,000 sq. meters near Jabal Hira, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks. It is a tourist and educational destination, bridging the past and present, and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance quality of life and visitor experiences.
