Day: September 8, 2022

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WHO EMRO | COVID-19 situation updates for week 35 (28 August-3 September 2022)

The coronavirus disease COVID-19 continues to spread at the regional and global levels. As of 3 September 2022, the global cumulative incidence reached 601 941 993 reported cases and 6 490 373 associated deaths at a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 1.08%. Meanwhile, the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have reported a total of 23 002 504 cases, representing about 3.84% of the global count, with 347 728 associated deaths (CFR 1.51%). Most countries in the Region are in the community transmission phase.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, the country that has reported the highest number of total cases in the Region is Islamic Republic of Iran (7 531 924; 32.74% of the Region’s total), followed by Iraq (2 458 509; 10.70%) and Jordan (1 738 867; 7.56%). Islamic Republic of Iran also reported the highest number of total COVID-19 associated deaths (143 947; CFR 1.91%) followed by Pakistan (30 591; CFR 1.95%) and Tunisia (29 283; CFR 2.55%). The highest CFRs were reported by Yemen (18.07%) followed by Sudan (7.84%) and Syria (5.54%), while the lowest CFRs were reported by United Arab Emirates (0.23%), Bahrain (0.23) and Qatar (0.16%) respectively.

During epidemiological week 35, the Region reported a decrease in cases by 33% when compared to the previous week (32 509 cases compared to 48 484 cases). A decrease by 27% was also observed for associated deaths (340 deaths in the current week compared to 467 deaths in the previous week).

The weekly number of cases has decreased in almost all countries except in four out of 22 countries in the Region compared to the previous week. This week the number of COVID-19 associated deaths also decreased in most of the countries except in four out of 22 countries of the Region as compared to the previous week.*

In terms of testing, a total of 424 815 560 laboratory tests were conducted since the start of the outbreak across the Region including 2 235 450 tests in week 35, which shows a 12% increase as compared to the previous week when 1 998 646 tests were conducted. The highest number of PCR tests were reported from United Arab Emirates (184 968 668), followed by Islamic Republic of Iran (53 835 881) and Saudi Arabia (44 134 279). The average positivity rate for the Region is 5.41%. WHO recommends a positivity rate of around 3% to 12% as a general benchmark indicating adequate testing, which was achieved in most countries of the Region.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 vaccination continues across the Region. The total number of doses administered so far in the 22 countries is 820 355 520. Pakistan has administered the highest number of doses at 307 354 160 followed by Islamic Republic of Iran at 19 165 091 and Egypt at 97 808 869. On the other hand, Bahrain (3 467 957), Yemen (898 257) and Djibouti (246 459) administrated the lowest number of COVID-19 doses in the Region.**

Supporting countries in the Region

The regional incident management support team continues to coordinate the response and provide technical support to countries and partners in the Region in the areas of coordination and partnership, surveillance, laboratory capacity, clinical management, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, points of entry according to the International Health Regulations (2005), research, health systems, and essential health services among others.

Source: World Health Organization

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Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission in Collaboration with Fashion Commission Launch Innovative Residency Program for Local and Internation-al Visual Artists and Fashion Designers

Riyadh — The Saudi Visual Arts Commission in collaboration with the Saudi Fashion Commission are pleased to announce the launch of the Intermix Residency Program, with the support of the Quality of Life Program, which will take place from September to November 2022, for the first cycle of the program at Ad Diriyah Biennale Foundation spaces in JAX District located in the his-torical city of Diriyah on the outskirts of the capital, Riyadh.

The program will provide a platform for local, regional, and international fashion designers, visual artists, and creatives to come together to engage in discussions, exchange creative ideas, and take part in unique immersive experiences. Participants will get a chance to explore and work around a range of themes including innovation, transformation, and sustainability during their 3-month residency that will finish with open studios.

Intermix Residency Program will offer four main tracks: skill development workshops, the-matic and educational training sessions, guest speaker events, and cultural experiences. The workshops will focus on skills such as dyeing, weaving techniques, while the educational sessions will provide in-depth information about textile innovation, as well as environmental, so-cietal, and global challenges in the visual arts and fashion design industries by experts in the field. Leading visual artists and fashion designers will be invited as guest speakers, providing mentorship and real-life solutions to some of the challenges in the industry. In addition, visits to cultural sites, exhibitions and events will be organized for the guest artists and designers every other week.

Artists and designers from Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and Europe, were selected for the first round of the program: Chakir Hani, Claire Dartigues, Elham Dawsari, Hana AlMilli, Helena Bajaj Larsen, Huda Beydoun, Jana Ghalayini, Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd, Mashail Faqeeh, Noor Ebrahim, Sara Abdu, Shaima Saleh and Qwan.

An open call for applications will be announced for the second round of the program and a committee of visual arts and fashion experts will evaluate the applications and make the final selection. Members of the committee include: Dina Amin, CEO of the Visual Arts Commission; Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, Dania AlSaleh, Visual Artist; Emily Marant, Functional Art Editor At French Cliché; Jean Pierre Blanc, Founder of the Annual International Festival of Fashion & Photography in Hyères; Jordan Nassar, Visual Artist; and Tara Aldughaither, Internal Resident Curator.

Developed by the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Commission in collaboration with the Fashion Commission, the program will be carried out by ATHR Gallery, a leading contemporary art gallery based in Jeddah. The program offers two fully funded series, each covering a period of three months.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Deputy FM Recieves Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar

Riyadh, Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khiraiji recieved at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The deputy foreign minister welcomed Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in his second country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as His Excellency is coming to take part in the 53th Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as the joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue between the GCC and countries of Central Asia .

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Deputy FM Recieves Foreign Minister of Kuwait

Riyadh, Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khiraiji recieved at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohamed Al-Sabah, the Foreign Minister, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs of the State of Kuwait.

The deputy foreign minister welcomed Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohamed Al-Sabah in his second country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as His Excellency is coming to take part in the 53th Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as the joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue between the GCC and countries of Central Asia .

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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UAE President Receives Speaker of Shura Council

Riyadh– Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), received Speaker of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, in the presence of President of the UAE Federal National Council Saqr Ghobash and the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UAE, Turki Al-Dakheel.

At the outset of the reception, the President of the UAE welcomed Dr. Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh who conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and their wishes of steady progress and prosperity for the UAE and its people.

For his part, the UAE President sent his greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, and his wishes of steady progress and prosperity for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the brotherly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The meeting was attended by the delegation accompanying the Speaker of the Shura Council.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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OIC Secretary-General Receives Credentials of Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the OIC

Jeddah — Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha, received here today Mohammed Saud Al-Mutairi, who presented to the Secretary-General his credentials as Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the OIC.

During this meeting, the Secretary-General commended the leading role that Kuwait plays within the framework of the OIC, and its constructive contributions to promoting joint Islamic action.

For his part, the Permanent Representative of Kuwait stressed the great importance his country attaches to supporting the work of the OIC, so that it can best achieve its goals and implement its programs and activities. He paid special tribute to the active role undertaken by the Secretary-General and his tireless efforts to serve the interests of the Muslim Ummah.

The meeting was an opportunity for the two sides to address issues of mutual interest and to discuss ways of strengthening relations between the OIC and the State of Kuwait.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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GCC Secretary General Meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan

Riyadh — Secretary General of the General Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf met here today with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov, on the sidelines of the joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Central Asian Countries.

During the meeting, several topics were discussed, most notably the importance of working to expand the horizons of cooperation relations between the GCC member states and the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to serve common interests.

Both sides also stressed on the need to strengthen fields in various vital sectors as well as to seize and develop the available opportunities.

Moreover, they reviewed the latest regional and international developments.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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CEO of Saudi Fund for Development Receives Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

Riyadh — CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad received here today Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinos Abroad Olivia Rouamba, in the presence of a number of officials from the two sides.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest related to development projects financed by the SFD in the Republic of Burkina Faso, and the challenges in the projects being implemented as well as developing plans for sustainable solutions.

The Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs valued the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts, through the SFD, in providing development support through the development projects and programs of the Republic of Burkina Faso.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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GCC Secretary General Meets with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan

Riyadh — Secretary General of the General Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf met here today with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi, on the sidelines of the joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Central Asian Countries.

During the meeting, they discussed opportunities to increase cooperation relations between the GCC member states and the Republic of Kazakhstan in all fields.

Furthermore, the GCC Secretary General stressed the importance of the role of the economic field in the joint action plan, as it helps provide an attractive environment for trade and investment as well as enhances private sector relations between the two regions.

Moreover, Dr. Al-Hajraf pointed out that the presence of many historical cultural ties between the two regions will encourage strategic dialogue with the Central Asian countries and will establish cultural communication and dialogue between their peoples.

The latest regional and international developments were also reviewed by both officials during the meeting.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Visits Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge

Riyadh — Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdulaziz Ahmed has visited the Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge (CRIK) in Riyadh.

The Ambassador praised the CRIK’s cooperation with Indonesian scientific, research centers and universities, as well as the meeting held recently between the CRIK and State University of Malang, which resulted in the activation of the cooperation agreement that supports Saudi-Indonesian relations.

He also proposed to implement joint projects to translate books dealing with culture and literature of Indonesia, and to translate and publish a number of documentaries on the Indonesian culture.

President of the CRIK Yahya bin Junaid welcomed the valuable proposals that enhance the CRIK’s role in knowledge communication with friendly countries, including the Republic of Indonesia, which has strong historical relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

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Deputy FM Recieves Foreign Minister of Bahrain

Riyadh, Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khiraiji recieved at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani.

The deputy foreign minister welcomed the foreign minister of Bahrain in his second country the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as His Excellency is coming to take part in the 53th Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as well as the joint ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue between the GCC and countries of Central Asia .

Source: Saudi Press Agency