Category: General

Jeddah– His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime, has sent a cable of congratulation to President Stevo Pendarovski of the Republic of North Macedonia on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

In his cable, HRH the Crown Prince expressed his best felicitations and wished the President constant good health and happiness and the government and people of the Republic of North Macedonia steady progress and prosperity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha has called for addressing the challenges faced by youth in OIC Member States, especially with regard to high unemployment, the spread of extremism, displacement, asylum and illegal immigration. To that end, he called for developing joint policies, strategies, and action plans to meet the needs of youth, offer them opportunities and enhance their role in development to advance the socio-economic conditions, as well as to build and promote peace and dialogue and combat extremism and terrorism.

This was part of the Secretary General’s speech before the 5th Session of the Islamic Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (ICYMS) of the OIC Member States, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on 7-9 September 2022 under the theme “Development of Youth and Sports for a Solidarity-based Ummah”. Speakers at the opening session also included Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Minister of Sport in Saudi Arabia and Chair of the current ICYSM session, Minister of Youth and Sports in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chair of the 4th ICYSM Session Farid Gayibov and President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Dr. Mohammad bin Suleiman Al-Jasser.

The Secretary General pointed out that Global studies indicate that the OIC geography accommodates about a quarter of the world’s youth, and it is expected that the OIC countries will have more than a third of the world’s youth by 2050, according to the United Nations world population prospects. These facts and statistics can provide opportunities for the Muslim world if the potentials of youth are appropriately harnessed, and when youth are involved in setting and implementing policies and programs on youth and sports development.

The OIC Secretary General called for concrete actions and initiatives through launching development programs for youth in all Member States, and that the OIC Member States and relevant institutions play an active role in these programs and initiatives.

The Secretary General expressed great thanks and appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the OIC host country, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince, for the generous hosting of this session after Saudi Arabia had kindly hosted the first and second ICYSM sessions.

He highly commended the great attention and care paid by the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to issues related to youth and sports in the OIC Member States in particular, and for the generous care and continuous support for the OIC and its various activities and programs, in order to strengthen Islamic solidarity, and to advance the role entrusted to the OIC.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Committee of Undersecretaries of the Justice Ministries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held its twenty-fourth meeting today in Riyadh.

The meeting dealt with issues pertaining to the justice sector among the GCC states.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – through hosting the 2nd Global AI Summit under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) – seeks to realize its aspirations in global entrepreneurship through an economy based on data and AI and stress the importance of international cooperation for the use of AI to the good of humanity and its role in realizing the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

The summit will be held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence for the Good of Humanity” at the headquarters of the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh between September 13 and 15, 2022, and is considered an opportunity for stakeholders and experts in this field to benefit from the participation of more than 200 speakers from 70 countries, representing policymakers in AI, heads of global technological companies in the world, and senior officials from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including ministers, to check on what is addressed in 100 work sessions of information on AI, multiple uses and its impact on the life of humans, in the presence of more than 3,000 people.

The summit is scheduled to go over all aspects related to AI technologies in terms of the current conditions, challenges and aspirations towards utilizing AI technologies in our daily lives to serve humanity. The summit will also include various presentations shedding light on the latest relevant research and technologies, exchanging expertise with international and local experts, and exploring investment opportunities related to AI technologies.

The summit will be discussing eight pillars, including: First, Smart Cities: How can we embrace AI to turn cities into accessible, personalized and human-centered ecosystems of digital citizens? Second, Capacity Building: How can we reshape the future of human potential and social capital, from adaptive to multi-inclusive life-long education that fits everyone?

Third, HealthCare: How can we advance patients’ ecosystems, identity and data, from drug research and development to future medical facilities, services and profiles? Fourth, Transportation: From autonomous vehicles to seamless and traffic efficient loops and logistics that connect future communities and individuals with seamless access to everything.

Fifth, Energy: How can we embrace AI behind solar panels and energy efficiency technologies, fight climate change and build the bridges between energy capitals? Sixth, Culture: From Arabic AI to global role models and AI equity movement, how can we embrace convergence of culture and AI, social science and technology?

Seventh, Environment: How can we leverage the convergence of AI and data science to analyze the planet, fight climate change, and build a better sustainable future? And eighth, Economic Mobility: From finances to economic and social institutions, how can we make our world more connected, decentralized and accessible for everyone?

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is distinguished by enjoying an enriching environmental diversity according to global standards, and invested in all means to preserve and develop it, including the utilization of AI to build cognitive cities that serve humanity in light of a modern life as we can see in NEOM.

In this regard, NEOM is one of the main projects of the Saudi Vision 2030 that invests in AI to utilize it for serving humanity and building cognitive smart cities, where NEOM seeks to offer a unique global model that realizes sustainability and ideal living in harmony with the nature in reliance on advanced digital technologies.

It is worth mentioning that the first edition of the summit, which was held virtually two years ago under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, has received a remarkable global presence and attention, where views of the summit on social media networks exceeded five million.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo– The Arab Parliament condemned the terrorist attack by al-Qaeda on a security post in the Ahwar district of Abyan governorate, southern Yemen, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of members of the Security Belt Forces.

In a statement, the Arab Parliament affirmed that these cowardly criminal terrorist acts will not affect the Yemenis’ will to restore security and stability on their territories as well as to confront and defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, expressing its full solidarity with Yemen.

The Arab Parliament called on the international community to intensify efforts and take urgent action to put an end to these organizations and actively confront them in order to combat terrorism and extremism.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute held a press conference, attended by the Foundation’s CEO Richard Attias, its leaders, and several representatives of its strategic partners. During the presser, Attias reviewed the FII’s prominent achievements in the previous period, noting that the FII is non-profit and carries out several initiatives to make a positive impact on humanity and that it is a platform to support the economy and help youth, stressing that the priority before the pandemic is different from the priority after it.

The CEO highlighted FII’s 6th edition, which will be held from 25-27 October 2022, entitled “Investing in Humanity: Enabling a New Global Order”, as well as the conference that FII will have in New York on September 22, 2022, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly entitled “Priority”.

He stated that among the priorities of the initiative are artificial intelligence, health care, education, and providing solutions that help sustainability, stressing that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 focuses on supporting people through quality of life, sports, education, and Green Riyadh.

During the conference, Attias touched on the keynote speakers who will participate in the conference, stressing that many important and influential figures will participate during the sessions, addressing the most critical topics that will be discussed, including space, inflation, energy, and the cryptocurrency economy.

Chief Operating Officer Rakan Tarabzoni reiterated that the FII had undertaken several initiatives, including a methodology for emerging markets and a global indicator of infectious diseases.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has started providing reservations and sales for “Match Day Shuttle” flights between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar during the World Cup 2022 .

The same-day shuttle service aims to encourage tourism in the Kingdom, as the sports fans will be able to arrive in Doha through the Kingdom’s airports in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, in addition to attracting a number of fans in Qatar to visit the Kingdom.

This step came within an agreement signed between “SAUDIA” and the Qatari Airlines to provide an easy and convenient travel experience to attend the World Cup for the Saudi fans as well as all soccer fans.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jakarta– The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) launched the second and third volunteer program yesterday at the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences of Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Indonesia, in conjunction with the signing of a memorandum of joint cooperation between the KSrelief and the university, in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and SABIC, during the period from 5 to 11 September 2022.

During the project, 310 beneficiaries and 200 young men and women with low incomes have been trained on craft and professional skills in the fields of sewing and embroidery, mobile phone maintenance, electricity, first aid, rescue, traffic accident injuries, crisis, and disaster management.

This falls within the framework of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s keenness, represented by the KSrelief, to find appropriate training programs to enable young people to find income-generating sources, improve their standard of living, and enhance development efforts in countries in need.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Doha– Chief of General Staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili arrived here today on an official visit to Qatar.

This visit comes in response to an invitation from the Lt. Gen. Pilot Salim Bin Hamad Al-Nabit, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces.

Upon his arrival, Lieutenant-General Al-Ruwaili was received by his Qatari counterpart.

Then, Lieutenant-General Al-Ruwaili held a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces. During the meeting, they exchanged viewpoints and discussed a number of military issues of common interest between the two brotherly countries.

Meanwhile, the Chief of General Staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited today a headquarters of the Qatar Emiri Air Forces; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) located at Al Udeid Air Base and Al Zaeem Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Attiya Air Academy.

For his part, Chief of General Staff of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili affirmed the importance of the military relations between the two brotherly countries and the joint defense cooperation, expressing his happiness and sincere thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome.

The meetings and visits were attended by a number of senior officers of the two sides.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, September 8, 2022, SPA — With a new harmony between historical and aesthetic changes, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for Developing Historical Mosque restores the models of Al-Bahah and Najran regions through reviving their old architectures and maintaining their historical heritage.

In Al-Bahah, the project targeted Al-Safa Mosque in the center of Baljurashi Governorate, which is among the oldest schools of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and was built in the first Hijri century some 1350 years ago.

Some say that the first who built Al-Safa Mosque was Sufian bin Auf Al-Ghamdi, a companion of Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, where the mosque played a prominent social role for its being a place for the meetings of the village residents and solving their disputes between Al-Maghrib and Al-Isha prayers.

The area of the mosque before and after renovation will remain the same at 78 square meters and its capacity will be the same at 31 worshippers.

In Najran, Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque in the western area of Najran, will witness rehabilitation and renovation for its being one of the oldest mosques that was built in 1386 Hijri during the reign of Prince Khalid bin Ahmad Al-Sudairi.

The mosque is located near the historical emirate palace in Najran to the north of King Abdulaziz Road. The mosque was first built with mud, while its mutawada (ablution) areas were built on the southern heritage pattern. The area of the mosque will remain the same at 1,436 square meters and its capacity will stand unchanged at 1,000 worshippers.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s project to develop historical mosques aims to rehabilitate and restore 130 historical mosques in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to highlight their civilizational and cultural dimensions by preserving their original urban characteristics.

A total of 30 mosques will be included in the second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for Developing Historical Mosques that covers all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where these mosques will be developed according to modern mechanisms that guarantee the quality of good material and architectural designs after conducting an accurate assessment of the history, characteristics and features of every mosque.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman starting September 8 to urge the parties to intensify UN-led negotiations in the coming three weeks, to act with urgency and flexibility, and to take the necessary steps to extend and expand the UN-mediated truce. A truce expansion increases tangible benefits to all Yemenis, making indispensable progress on paying civil servant salaries, expanding flight destinations, and opening roads. It would also pave the way for a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive, durable Yemeni-led resolution that addresses the calls of the Yemeni people for justice and accountability.

The United States is concerned by recent Houthi actions which undermine the truce and threaten the lifesaving benefits it has brought the Yemeni people. We call on the Houthis to refrain from such actions and continue implementing the terms of the truce as they publicly committed to on August 1.

For any questions, please contact Vanessa Vidal at NEA-Press@state.gov and follow us on Twitter @StateDept_NEA.

Source: US State Department

Riyadh– The Saudi-Cuban Parliamentary Friendship Committee in the Shura Council, headed by Shura Council member and Chairman of the Committee Dr. Ibrahim bin Mahmoud Al-Nahhas, held a meeting, via video conference, with its counterpart in the Cuban Parliament.

The meeting, in which the members of the Shura Council and members of the Committee participated, reviewed many topics related to the importance of increasing work and communication between the Shura Council and the Cuban Parliament, and the need to hold periodic meetings between them, as well as ways to strengthen parliamentary relations, which lead to deeper and stronger bilateral relations between the two countries.

The participants also tackled a number of topics of common interest to contribute to achieving common interests and strengthening bilateral action in various fields, especially parliamentary cooperation between the Shura Council and the Cuban Parliament, stressing the need for effective cooperation between them.

The Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Faisal Al-Harbi, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Vladimir Andres Gonzalez Quesada, took part in this meeting.

Source: Saudi Press Agency