Day: August 18, 2022

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HRH Crown Prince Condoles President of Algeria on Wildfire Victims

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister has sent a cable of utmost condolences and sympathies to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria on the victims of the wildfire raging in the forests of a number of provinces, resulted in the killing and injuring of a number of people.

In his cable, HRH Crown Prince expressed profound sorrow and sincere sympathy to the Algerian President and families of the deceased, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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President of Uzbekistan Performs Umrah

Makkah– The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev performed Umrah today.

Upon arrival at the Grand Mosque, the President of Uzbekistan was received by a number of officials from the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, as well as from the Special Force for the Security of the Grand Mosque.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Saudi Arabia Witnesses Launch of Strategic Partnership with Google for Startups to Support and Empower 100 Technology Startups

Riyadh– It was announced in Riyadh yesterday evening, the launch of a strategic partnership with (Google for Startups) to support and empower more than 100 emerging technology companies around the world annually, in cooperation with (The Garage Disrupt), which is the leading technology destination in the Kingdom since this partnership will ensure that The Garage and its startups join a network of the best startup accelerators programs in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

The partnership with (Google for Startups), which was announced during the fourth edition of Al Garage event that was held in Riyadh Wednesday, with the attendance of more than 300 people interested in the entrepreneurship sector, aims to implement 4 business accelerators annually to enable 100 digital and technology startups and attract them to open their headquarters in the Kingdom.

This comes in accordance with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to develop the digital economy, and this partnership also comes to enhance the role of “The Garage”, which it started in developing and empowering entrepreneurs and emerging companies in the technical and digital sectors since its launch at the (LEAP2022) conference last February.

On the occasion, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Sawaha stressed that this partnership with Google for Startups is an additional confirmation of the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for technology and innovation, as it is the largest technology market in the region with a volume exceeding $40 billion, and a pivotal center for attracting talent and digital innovation. The partnership between The Garage and (Google for Startups) is part of the Kingdom’s efforts to empower male and female entrepreneurs to continue regional leadership through innovative digital solutions and applications.

The “Garage” project is the fruit of cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones.

The Garage project works as a business model that combines business incubators and accelerators with everything that technology companies need for success and growth, as it includes three main elements: (The Garage Disrupt), which is a monthly event that brings emerging technology companies together with investors and in the presence of government and private sectors, and (Garage Plus), which is considered a global business accelerator, and the “Garage” headquarters, which provides male and female entrepreneurs with all the tools necessary for the success of their projects.

The partnership between “Garage” and (Google for Startups) focuses on the Garage’s business accelerator program known as (Garage Plus) as the Garage team aspires, through this partnership to build an accelerator program that competes with global accelerators, which is provided by (Google for Startups) by providing the Garage team with a huge base of science, knowledge and best practices that it has reached through its previous programs and cooperation with the best business accelerators programs around the world.

For his part, the President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Dr. Mounir El-Desouki, expressed his happiness with this partnership, and said: “Since we announced the Garage project, we have been striving to provide the best for the community of entrepreneurs, and our partnership with (Google for Startups) represents the best step to achieve this, as it guarantees our startups the access to world-leading trainers and mentors in their fields, in addition to enhancing their development through Google’s support services, and we look forward to the outcome of this partnership and the graduation of the first batch of this partnership.”

For his part, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, Faisal Al-Khamisi, said that this partnership is an extension of the vision we set when establishing the Garage, and the role it plays in supporting entrepreneurs in the digital and technical sectors to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision of making Riyadh the regional technical hub for the Middle East.

The regional officer for developer relations in the Middle East and North Africa at Google, Salim Obeid expressed his happiness to cooperate with the Garage to contribute to supporting local startups in the Kingdom and enabling them to develop at the local and regional levels, adding that we aspire through the Google for Startups program to encourage startup communities around the world to benefit from each other’s expertise and share knowledge and resources for growth.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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16 Dead, 36 Missing in Flash Flood in Western China

Beijing– At least 16 people have died and 36 others are missing after a sudden rainstorm in western China triggered a landslide that diverted a river and caused flash flooding in populated areas, the Associated Press quoted the Chinese state media as said Thursday.

Rescuers have found two more people reported missing earlier and were searching for the others, state broadcaster CCTV said in an online report. The Wednesday night disaster affected more than 6,000 people in six villages in Qinghai province, CCTV said.

China is facing both heavy rains and flooding in some parts of the country this summer and extreme heat and drought in other regions. State media has described the heat and drought as the worst since record-keeping started 60 years ago.

Emergency authorities described the flash flooding in Qinghai’s Datong county as a mountain torrent.” Such torrents generally result from heavy squalls in mountainous areas. Water running down the mountain can turn gullies or streams into raging rivers, catching people by surprise.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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KSrelief Signs Agreement to Operate Specialized Hospital for Ophthalmology in Marib

Riyadh– King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed an agreement to operate the Specialized Hospital for Ophthalmology in Marib Governorate, Yemen, for one year, in cooperation with Al-Basar International Foundation.

This comes within the relief and humanitarian projects and programs implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the KSrelief in many needy and affected countries around the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Wildfires Kill at Least 26 in Eastern Algeria

Algiers, Algeria– Wildfires raging in the forests of eastern Algeria have killed 26 people, the Associated Press quoted a provisional report by the north African country’s interior minister.

Most victims were reported in the wilaya, or region, of El Tarf, near the northern Algerian-Tunisian border, where 24 people have been found dead, including eight of them on a public bus surprised by the flames as it was driving in a mountainous region.

Interior Minister Kamel Beldjoud also said on public television late Wednesday that two people died in the region of Setif, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Algiers.

He noted that on Wednesday only, 39 fires have started in 14 regions, including 16 in El Tarf and that 3,200 hectares (over 12 square miles) of forests and brush have been ravaged by blazes since the beginning of August.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Saudi and Uzbek Companies Sign 14 Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding

Jeddah– Saudi and Uzbek companies signed 14 agreements and memoranda of understanding in Jeddah covering a number of investment fields.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev.

The signed agreements and memoranda of understanding aim to explore investment opportunities, advance the partnership between the Saudi and Uzbek private sectors, encourage and enhance mutual investments in a number of target sectors, expand the strategic partnership, develop investment relations between the two countries, exchange data on available investment opportunities, and link quality investment opportunities.

They also cover a range of investment sectors, including air transport services, livestock, agriculture, sports, education, science, media, energy and technology.

The agreements and memoranda of understanding come as part of the framework of strengthening efforts aimed at integration and cooperation between the two countries, promoting investments and increasing joint projects between Saudi and Uzbek companies.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Asian Stocks Fall

Beijing– Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower Thursday after the Federal Reserve said U.S. inflation is too high, suggesting support for more aggressive interest rate hikes, the Associated Press reported.

Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney declined. Oil prices edged higher.

The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5% to 3,274.83 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo sank 0.9% to 28,963.16. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong shed 0.7% to 19,776.99.

The Kospi in Seoul gave up 0.4% to 2,506.26 and Sydney’s S&P-ASX 200 retreated 0.3% to 7,105.10.

India’s Sensex opened down 0.2 at 60,161.37. New Zealand and Bangkok declined while Singapore and Jakarta advanced.

In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude rose 3 cents to $88.14 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It jumped $1.58 to $88.11 on Wednesday. Brent crude, the price basis for international trading, gained 1 cent to $93.66 per barrel in London. It surged $1.31 the previous session to $93.65.

The dollar rose to 135.10 yen from Wednesday’s 135.05 yen. The euro rose to $1.0172 from $1.0169.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Saudi Stock Exchange Main Index Ends Trading Lower at 12621.73 Points

Riyadh– Saudi Stock Exchange’s main index ended trading lower here today, losing 25.01 points to close at 12621.73 points.

The total value of the trading reported was SAR 7.3 billion, while the toll of shares traded was 186 million, divided into over 390,000 deals.

The Saudi Parallel Market Index (NOMU) ended the day gaining 41.30 points, to close at 21574.47 points, with a valuation of more than SAR 68 million and an overall tally of more than 1.7 million stocks traded and divided into as many as 4492 deals.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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HRH Crown Prince Receives President of Uzbekistan

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister received at the Royal Court in

Al-Salam palace here today the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, currently on a visit to the Kingdom.

An official reception ceremony was held for His Excellency President of Uzbekistan.

Then, HRH the Crown Prince and His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a session of official talks, during which they reviewed aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries and opportunities for cooperation in various fields, in addition to reviewing a number of issues of common interest.

The talks were attended by the Minister of State, Cabinet’s Member and National Security Adviser, Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of State, Cabinet’s Member for Shura Council Affairs and acting Minister of Energy, Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed; Minister of Commerce and acting Minister of Media, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi; and Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb; Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdurrahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli; Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih (the accompanying minister); Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi; Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef; Governor of the Public Investment Fund Yasser bin Othman Al-Rumayyan and Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan Yousef Al-Otaibi.

From the Uzbek side, the talks were attended by a number of senior officials.

After that, HRH Crown Prince and His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan witnessed the exchange of a number of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries, as follows:

First: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of Islamic affairs between the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, and the Adviser to the President of the Republic in issues of cooperation with public and religious organizations, Muzaffar Kamilov.

Second: An agreement for cooperation in the field of energy between the Minister of State, Cabinet’s Member for Shura Council Affairs and acting Minister of Energy, Dr. Essam bin Saad bin Saeed and the First Deputy Minister of Energy, Azim Ahmed Khodjayev.

Third: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation and exchange of news between the news agencies of the two countries between the acting Minister of Media and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, and the acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Furkat Sidikov,.

Fourth: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of tourism between the Minister of Tourism, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, and the acting Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Furkat Sidikov,.

Fifth: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of veterinary and livestock development between the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdurrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Jamshid Khodjaev.

Sixth: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of agriculture between the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and the Director General of the Strategic Development Agency, Lazis Kadratov.

Seventh: A memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the health field between the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, and the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Norov.

Eighth: A memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in the field of sports between the Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and His Excellency the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Norov.

Ninth: An agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters between the Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Jamshid Khodjaev.

Tenth: A memorandum of understanding in the field of human rights between the Minister of Investment, Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, and the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Norov.

Eleventh: A cooperation agreement for the employment of labor between the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Jamshid Khodjaev.

Twelfth: A memorandum of cooperation in the field of education and science between the Minister of Education, Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, and the Director-General of the Agency for Strategic Development, Laziz Qudarov.

Thirteenth: The existing memorandum of understanding in the field of air transport services between the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Norov.

Fourteenth: A memorandum of understanding for scientific and technical cooperation between the President of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Dr. Munir bin Mohammed Al-Desouki, and the Minister of the Ministry of Innovative Development, Ibrahim Abdulrahmanov.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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HRH Crown Prince Congratulates King of Jordan on Engagement of Jordanian Crown Prince Al Hussein

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister made a phone call this evening to His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

During the telephone conversation, HRH Crown Prince congratulated the Jordanian Monarch on the engagement of Jordan’s Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

HRH Crown Prince asked Allah Almighty to grant them success and a happy life.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Jordanian Crown Prince on Engagement

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister has made a phone call to HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

During the telephone conversation, HRH Crown Prince congratulated the Jordanian Crown Prince on his engagement.

HRH Crown Prince also asked Allah Almighty to grant the Jordan’s Crown Prince success and a happy life.

Source: Saudi Press Agency