Saudi Arabia hosts high-level Preparatory Meetings for 2022 ITU Elections

International delegates are meeting in Riyadh from August 28-31 to discuss the future of global digital communications ahead of ITU’s 2022 Plenipotentiary Conference in Bucharest Romania during 26 September-14 October.

Hosted by Saudi Arabia’s digital regulator, the Communications & Information Technology Commission (CITC), the Preparatory Meeting will help the ITU craft the next four years of its global agenda ahead of the 2022 elections.

“Riyadh is the ideal venue to bring together ICT and digital leaders from around the world to align on the next generation of sustainable ICT policies,” said CITC Governor, Mohammed Altamimi.

Saudi Arabia is hosting two ITU preparatory meetings: Arab states and inter-regional. The first, a gathering of the league of Arab states (LAS) members of the ITU, will allow the region to better coordinate its digital policies and sustainable development goals.

The inter-regional meeting, chaired by Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, will allow representatives from the ITU’s six regions to identify common digital policies for the next four years. Saudi Arabia is positioned to act as a convenor and mediator between the Arab world and the ITU’s 193 members to forge the best global digital policies.

Given its historic commitment to the Union, Saudi Arabia is also submitting its candidacy to stay on the ITU Council from 2023-26. Joining in 1949, it has served on the Council since 1964. Saudi is now ranked 1st in MENA and 6th among G20 by the ITU for regulatory excellence; and 2nd in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) by ITU and also in the digital competitiveness among G20 economies by WEF. Powering this digital economy women represent 30% of the digital workforce (surpassing G20 and EU average).

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Attorney General meets Tajikistan’s Public Prosecutor

Attorney General, Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib, received at his office in Jeddah today Public Prosecutor of Republic of Tajikistan, Yusuf Rahmon, and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two justice agencies and ways to enhance them at all levels of common interest.

The Tajik Public Prosecutor watched a visual presentation on the formation and competencies of the Public Prosecution, its criminal judicial functions, and advanced prosecution digital governance that the Public Prosecution adopts in handling its judicial procedures.

A memorandum of joint cooperation was also signed, aiming at combating terrorism and its financing, money laundering, cross-border crimes, and exchanging experiences on regulations and laws in both countries in the areas that fall within the competence of the two sides.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Provided by KSrelief, 134 trucks cross border to Yemen

Provided by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), 134 relief trucks crossed Al-Wadiah border land port during the period from July 23 to August 24, 2022 AD, carrying 34,275 food baskets, 15,600 cartons of dates, 1,320 shelter bags, and 1,080 tents, on their way to the governorates of Aden, Hajjah, Al-Dhalea, Hadramout, Saada, Shabwa, Al-Hodeidah, Marib, Taiz, Abyan, Lahj, Al-Jawf and Al-Mahra.

This aid comes within the humanitarian and relief projects being provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Center, for the brotherly Yemeni people.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Islamic Affairs receives Bahraini Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh received today Bahraini Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Nawaf bin Mohammed Al-Maawda currently on a two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Tomorrow, the two ministers will hold an official session to discuss aspects of joint cooperation between the two ministries in various fields related to Islamic affairs and activating the memorandum of joint cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Saudi Universities Alumni Forum in Thailand highlights Saudi role in serving Thai Muslims

Saudi Universities Alumni Forum in Thailand hailed the pioneering role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leadership in serving Islam and humanity, stressing that Thailand is one of the first countries to benefit from the scholarship system in Saudi universities with more than 900 graduates, representing a large segment of the various provinces and states of Thailand.

This came during the second Forum activities, organized by the Saudi Universities Alumni Association today at the Pattani University in southern Thailand, under the patronage and support of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, represented by the Office of the Islamic Advisor at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Bangkok, with the participation of more than 200 members of the Association and the attendance of the Embassy’s Islamic acting advisor Majid bin Mohammad Al-Dhayan, the President of the Association, the President of Pattani University, Dr. Ismail Lutfi, the Secretary-General of the Southern Border States Administration Center, General Somkiat Ponprayoon, and several officials from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

Al-Dhayan delivered a speech at the opening of the forum in which he praised the Kingdom’s leadership’s support for the scholarship program for students from different countries, including Thailand, which is witnessing a high turnout of students to study in Saudi universities, adding that more than 900 students are currently studying in Thai universities. He underlined the forum’s axes and contributions to deepening cooperation to serve the Thai community and spread values that preserve national cohesion and promote human values that consolidate coexistence, preserve homelands and protect it from extremism.

President of Pattani University, also President of the Association, delivered a speech praising the Saudi role in serving the Thai Muslims in general and the tireless pursuit of what contributes to their unity and interdependence, and what ensures their security, stability, and prosperity, noting that the Association seeks through this forum to return the favor that Saudi Arabia has provided to the Thai people through the scholarship program.

Dr. Ismail Lutfi thanked the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for its continuous support for the forums and events held by the Association to consolidate its role in spreading the values of tolerance, peace, and true Islamic teachings in Thai society.

General Somkiat Ponprayoon thanked in his speech the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and HRH the Crown Prince for caring for the Muslims of Thailand and for developing relations between the two friendly countries, stressing that the Kingdom and its historical positions with Thailand are appreciated and respected by the Thai people.

The forum also included speeches and workshops that focused on the role of Saudi university graduates in confronting extremism, spreading moderation, and rejecting fanatism.

The forum aims to highlight the role and efforts of Saudi Arabia in all fields, including supporting graduates of Saudi universities and the world communities, in addition to gathering graduates of Saudi universities in Thailand, meeting them, inviting them, and encouraging them to sign up in the Saudi Universities Alumni Association in Thailand.

The Association also aims through organizing the forum to present its activities to the graduates, answer their inquiries, and interact with their suggestions to activate its future activities in the best possible way to enhance the principle of cooperation between the graduates.

The forum organizes four annual events for the members of the Saudi Universities Alumni Association in Thailand in four central regions to facilitate the attendance of graduates and the participation of the largest number of them.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

OIC Follows the Security Developments in Libya and Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Differences

The Secretariat General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) affirmed that “it is following up, with great concern, the security developments in Tripoli, which led to many deaths and injuries”.

In a statement issued today, the OIC urged all Libyan parties to stop violence, protect civilians and avoid escalation, calling for calm and dialogue to resolve differences at this delicate stage in Libya.

The Secretariat General stressed the OIC’s keenness on the security, stability and safety of Libya and its people.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Japanese and Korean ambassadors visit Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition

Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom, Fumio Iwai, and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom, Park Yoon-young , visited today Saudi International Falcons and Hunting Exhibition being organized by Saudi Falcons Club at its headquarters in Mulham, north of Riyadh.

The two Ambassadors toured the exhibition including more than 25 pavilions, and were briefed on the club’s efforts in gathering everything related to the heritage of falconry, trips and hunting in one place, with the aim of preserving the Saudi cultural heritage and raising awareness, environmental sustainability, identity and hobby.

The two ambassadors were also briefed on the area designated for falcon production farms, where the international auction of falcon production farms will be held in conjunction with the exhibition, with the participation of more than 40 leading farms from more than 17 countries, and will continue until September 3.

They were introduced to the arms pavilion, which includes 7 Saudi companies representing more than 55 international brands, as well as Shaleel Digital Museum, the Falconer Pavilion, the pavilions of road trip tools and modified cars, the local market, and many interesting events, in addition to exhibition competitions in photography, wild cooking and plastic arts.

Source: Saudi Press Agency