أعلن مبعوث الأمم المتحدة الخاص إلى سوريا، غير بيدرسن، أنه بحث التسوية السورية مع وزير الخارجية السعودي الأمير فيصل بن فرحان آل سعود....

Author: Fri, 2020-11-27 00:48 RIYADH: Restoration work has got underway to repair a collapsed section of wall at the historic Sahoud Palace in Al-Ahsa. An inspection of the site to assess the extent of the damage was carried out by a specialized technical team, sent by the Saudi Heritage Authority, prior to reconstruction work commencing. Sahoud Palace, which dates back to the seventh century, is among a host of Saudi heritage sites being placed under the supervision of the authority. Surrounded by a high wall with seven conical watchtowers, the palace houses a well, mosque, stables, basement, a number of rooms, and an open square and was named in reference to a large cannon once positioned there. The authority was established to preserve, protect, and promote the Kingdom’s cultural heritage. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaSahoud PalaceAl-Ahsa Jasir Al-Herbish, CEO of the Saudi Heritage CommissionSaudi Arabia elected to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee

Author: Fri, 2020-11-27 00:50 ADEN: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) launched a fog-spraying campaign in displacement camps in Yemen’s Aden governorate. The three-day campaign is part of an emergency response project to combat dengue fever. It aims to eliminate mosquitoes and raise awareness about the importance of personal hygiene in order to limit the spread of epidemics and diseases among displaced people. In Mukalla KSrelief is continuing its medical campaign for open heart surgeries for children, as part of the “Saudi Pulse” program to provide free treatment and operations for heart conditions in Hadramout.The medical team has performed 11 successful operations. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) KSrelief launches training programs for YemenisKSrelief launches medical campaign in Mukalla

Author: Fri, 2020-11-27 00:52 RIYADH: Eleven Yemeni political parties condemned the aggressive actions of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia on populated areas in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the parties said that these acts emphasized that the Houthis were a terrorist militia that continuously showed how far it was from achieving peace. They stressed the importance of joint efforts and working with the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy and confront the militia, and to save the Yemeni people from practices that led to the destruction of their lives. The statement called on the international community to assume its responsibilities regarding the violations that Yemenis are exposed to by the Houthi militia, which are considered war crimes. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia Houthis give green light for UN team to access decaying oil tankerSaudi Cabinet denounces Houthi attack on Jeddah petroleum facility

Fri, 2020-11-27 00:55 JEDDAH: From sand to ice, new driving experiences await Saudi adventure buffs in the icy tundras and thick forests of Finland’s Lapland region. Many Saudis and Gulf residents have had an uncanny love for the desert sands spanning generations, often venturing out to the seclusion of the deserts to unwind and enjoy the calm and quiet. There are fertile lands for motor adventures, and one collaboration between a Saudi and a Finn will have Saudis desert drifters venturing out to the northernmost region of Finland, where temperatures can easily drop to -40 degrees — the frozen subarctic wilderness of Lapland, which offers a unique thrill on the ice. Janne Honkanen, founder of Octola Lodge and Private Wilderness, and Saudi rally driver Rakan Al-Rashed, spoke to Arab News about this unique collaboration, where adventurers can experience the ultimate thrill of ice driving offered by Al-Rashed and enjoy a proper Finnish winter exclusive to Octola. The two met at one of Al-Rashed’s arctic rally races a few years ago, and their friendship grew stronger over the years during Al-Rashed’s frequent visits to Lapland, where Honkanen was just beginning to build the lodge resort on the empty land in early 2017. “It was a huge piece of land in the wilderness and we began to think that a day will come when we’ll collaborate and do something together,” said Honkanen. “I thought it was crazy for Rakan to do what he’s doing, racing on the ice and snow, and it hit me that we could offer that in the lodge for guests to experience, and what better way than with the help of a rally racer in person.” Some of Honkanen’s frequented guests at Octola were Arabs and adventure seekers that would dare head to one of the coldest places on Earth to experience some of the unique features of the land. Visitors can enjoy the majestic northern lights, the relaxed activity of reindeer herding, or join Al-Rashed in the thrill of riding in a car fit for speed over the ice and snow. This might not seem like an average Arctic experience, said Al-Rashed, who began his career in 2011 racing on the ice. He said Lapland provides one of the best driving experiences anyone could wish for. “The driving experience is unparalleled. You have such vast lands and frozen lakes that can allow you to really test your skills and driving abilities safely and without any trouble.” He also believes there is little difference between the sandy and icy terrain. “It’s simply a matter of adapting,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in racing and cars and my start was on the ice. Taking the discipline of the desert, I began training in Finland during summers and winters in various conditions, and I learned how to apply it on the snow and ice,” he told Arab News. “That’s what makes the environment quite unique.” With more reindeer than people in Lapland, it is an adventure seeker’s playground. From custom-built snowmobiles to private ice tracks and more than 70 different experiences, the ice racing experience is one that is catered to everyone’s taste. There are over 300 hectares of private wilderness and different driving routes and tracks, as well as the chance to provide guests with custom tracks built to their specifications to add to the unique experience. Al-Rashed’s rally experience serves as an integral part of the ice driving experience at Octola, as he introduces guests to the theory behind driving on ice, takes them through the stages based on his own experience and has them test trial their skills in the safety of a car under his supervision, or, if they feel brave enough, on their own.   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia Racing in the streets: Jeddah to host first Saudi F1 Grand PrixSaudi Arabia’s Diriyah to host two rounds of Formula E racing in February

Author: Fri, 2020-11-27 01:15 JEDDAH: The two-day Step Saudi 2020 event featured two prominent Saudi figures in the field of investment on the second day. Hashim Al-Awadi, CEO of Tech Invest, and Salman Jaffery, chief investment officer at Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures, both shared their expertise, with the latter saying it is more beneficial for corporations to start a venture capital (VC) arm than invest from their current mergers and acquisitions arm (M&A). Managing partner at Class 5 Global, Zach Finkelstein, who moderated the session on the second day of the event, said the San Francisco-based venture fund invested in a number of companies in the Middle East. “The Middle East is particularly interesting to us, and in the past, our partners have invested in such regional companies as Careem. We’re excited to explore the development of the corporate VC space and how it can impact places like Saudi Arabia,” he added. When asked why a corporation should start a VC arm instead of investing from an M&A team, and why have a separate corporate Venture Capital arm in the first place, Jaffery answered that “it brings faster results.” “I think the easiest answer to that is just speed and agility,” he said. “Getting that response quickly to the market. VC deals can take weeks or months whereas an M&A transaction can take up to a year or longer, and also similarly, if you’re trying to then come out of it, it’s harder to come out of a joint venture agreement or an M&A as opposed to a VC.” Al-Awadi explained his opinion a traditional VC perspective, and said: “We like the fact that corporations can invest from both their M&A arms and their VC arms if they have them.” He highlighted that VC arms can invest in a greater variety of companies. “You have the intelligence, you know the market and if you’re looking at specific technology where we don’t have a lot of expertise we trust that you (other venture capitalists) know the market and you can evaluate that technology better to see if it has the capability and potential for growth or not. “Eventually, you do have an M&A arm that will provide an exit for us, for an incentive for this company to work hard to grasp the intention after having been invested in by the VC arm of this big corporate to maybe look into making a partial agreement or complete acquisition, which really adds an incentive for the company to grow and attracts other investors and also attracts talent to join the company and help it grow even more.” He said both the VC and M&A arm are important for company growth. “We tend to look at corporate investors through both arms as complementary to what we do when we have both of them around.” The Kingdom has obtained a high reputation among investors internationally through the years, especially after the economic and social reforms of Saudi Vision 2030. Step Saudi is home to the Kingdom’s best entrepreneurs, investors, creatives and digital enthusiasts. The last edition of Step Saudi featured four content tracks, more than 100 startups and over 1,500 attendees. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency confirms its global importance: Saudi investment ministerSaudi investment minister stresses importance of public-private partnership for sustainable growth

بعث مفتي سلطنة عُمان الشيخ أحمد بن حمد الخليلي، رسالة شديدة اللهجة للمسؤولين في السعودية وخاصة المؤسسات الدينية ....

لماذا تحاول السعودية لعب دور الضحية في اليمن؟

أوضح مصدر عسكري في غرفة عمليات اعادة الانتشار بالحديدة أن اجمالي خروقات العدوان لاتفاق وقف إطلاق النار بلغ بـ378 خرقا خلال 24ساعة تنوع ما بين ضرب طير...

Author: Thu, 2020-11-26 15:15 DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has discussed in a phone call with Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the cooperation between both countries. During the call, the Crown Prince congratulated Suga on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Japan, state news agency SPA reported. For his part, the Japanese Prime Minister praised the success of the G20 summit and the Kingdom's leadership of the group's performance. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: crown princeSaudi Arabia Saudi government departments win top awardsSaudi deputy defense chief receives Yemeni president

Thu, 2020-11-26 17:18 RIYADH: The Saudi health ministry recorded 15 new deaths and 322 new COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom on Thursday.  The new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom to 356,389 cases, including 5,334 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 699 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable, he said. As many as 428 cases have recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 345,215.  The 15 new deaths put the total death toll at 5,840. On the other hand, 51,831 new laboratory tests were conducted, in the last 24-hour, across Saudi Arabia. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia Saudi Aramco’s $8 bln bond issue attracts 150 investors, says officialQiddiya awards $533m contracts for giga-project to Saudi firms

​​​​​​​أصيب مواطن بجروح ، اليوم الخميس، في قصف صاروخي ومدفعي سعودي على مديرية رازح في محافظة صعدة....

بيروت (العالم) 2020.11.26 – قال الباحث السياسي حسان عليان إن السعودية حبيسة أوهام نفوس المقربين من الدائرة السياسية الضيقة أو المستشارين الذين يحيطون...

توقع خبراء «إسرائيليون» بفتح تل أبيب مكتب تمثيل دبلوماسي لها في السعودية قريبا، في ظل عدم التوصل إلى اتفاق تطبيع رسمي للعلاقات بين الجانبين....

باريس (العالم) 2020.11.26 – أكد الكاتب السياسي ماجد نعمة أن الدول الخليجية واهمة بمراهنتها على مزاعم إسرائيلية بحمايتها، مشددا على أن العربية السعودي...

ليس هناك رد أبلغ من رد السيد محمد عبد السلام على محاولات السعودية التحشيد عالميا ضد حركة انصار الله اليمنية ولعب دور الضحية حين قال: العويل السعودي ه...

عمان (العالم) 2020.11.26 – قال الخبير بالصراع العربي الصهيوني عليان عليان إن زيارة نتنياهو إلى السعودية جائت لإقناع محمد بن سلمان بضرورة الانتقال من ...

Author: Thu, 2020-11-26 02:25 RIYADH: A cultural concert was organized in Beijing to mark three decades of Saudi-China diplomatic relationship. Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chen Weiqing told Arab News: “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Saudi diplomatic relations. The pandemic makes us keep social distance, but it never cut loose the bond of our hearts, we stand together and move forward.” “We recorded a concert performed by top-level China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing to commemorate the historical moment of our two countries, and scheduled to release it on TV and online right after the G20 Summit,” said the ambassador. “And we chose a maestro of Saudi music, Aghla Balad, to play in the concert,” he added. Sharing a video clip from the musical concert the Chinese ambassador tweeted: “The Arabs say: ‘Give back with gratitude.’ I am sharing with you a video of a beautiful moment at the concert that will be shown on CCTV Arabia and we dedicate it to the rich Kingdom and its generous people.” He said: “Saudi Arabia took over the G20 presidency under very special circumstances, but it never undermined the inspiration and ambition of the Saudi leadership, government and people to bring about a summit of full success. The Kingdom won the respect and appreciation of the world. China appreciates the great efforts, shares the same values, and takes the same position in global governance with Saudi Arabia.” “Once again, we take this opportunity to congratulate the Saudi government and people for a successful G20 Summit,” he added. 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Saudi-China diplomatic relations as the two governments established official diplomatic relations on July 21, 1990. Saudi-China relations have strengthened over the years. During the coronavirus disease pandemic, ties were further strengthened with the two countries offering each other assistance and staunch support. Following instructions from King Salman, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) actively provided China with medical supplies, which played a positive role in helping China effectively control the pandemic.   In April this year, China and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement worth $265.29 million to fight the pandemic, providing 9 million nucleic acid tests for Saudi Arabia and setting up laboratories in six major areas in the Kingdom. China also sent a team of medical experts to the Kingdom to help fight the virus. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: DiplomaticQuarter DiplomaticQuarter: New Zealand envoy lauds efforts of Etidal against extremismDiplomaticQuarter: Denmark celebrates partnership with Saudi Council of Engineers

Thu, 2020-11-26 02:31 JEDDAH: Self-assessment is one of the growing trends among young Saudis from analyzing one’s art, body language, to handwriting, among other things. As much as handwriting plays an important part in the academic life of a person, it can also tell of one’s personality traits, habits, and medical conditions through a science called graphology. Graphology is the analysis of the patterns found in the handwriting to identify the psychological state of the person. Arab News caught up with graphologist Saman Aslam, a Pakistani expat residing in Riyadh, who said that graphology is growing among youngsters. She set up an Instagram page for clients who wish to have their handwriting read for free. Speaking of the science itself, she said that graphology has been the most challenging thing that she has done in her life. “I’ve done various jobs but being a graphologist is the most challenging yet and an amazing one.” She defined a person’s handwriting as “brain-writing” as it is the brain that guides the hands and creates patterns. “Handwriting is our mirror; it projects our conscious, preconscious, and subconscious mind. It shows a person’s physical health as well.” According to Aslam, appearances can be deceptive but handwriting never lies, revealing how the writer thinks, feels, and behaves. “It does so directly and immediately, without them even being present. It shows the motivation that lies behind actions and outlines the writer’s propensity to behave in ways that may not be expected.” She also cleared up a common misconception related to this particular field, which is often confused with fortune telling or spiritual studies: Graphology cannot predict the future. Aslam’s interest in graphology stems from her experience in learning Arabic writing, where a team of Arabic graphologists told her some of her personality traits that awoke her interest for the field. She later studied English handwriting. HIGHLIGHTS • According to Aslam, appearances can be deceptive but handwriting never lies, revealing how the writer thinks, feels, and behaves. • She defined a person’s handwriting as ‘brain-writing’ as it is the brain that guides the hands and creates patterns. • She also cleared up a common misconception related to this particular field, which is often confused with fortune telling or spiritual studies: Graphology cannot predict the future. Graphology has not only allowed Aslam to help those around her, but also helped her improve her own personality and relationships. “Every day I learn and implement new techniques. From understanding my siblings to my students’ personalities, knowing what my seniors are expecting from me to helping my friends in finding suitable life partners, and advising people regarding their careers and health checkups,” she told Arab News. She has also become a good observer and is able to spot those who cannot express what they are going through, and now she can get along with difficult personalities. Graphology doesn’t stop at analysis, she added — there is a way that people can improve and reform their negative traits to positive ones, through a process called “graphotherapy.” The therapy is based on changing the personality of the person by changing their handwriting. A graphotherapist designs a customized therapy and suggests new handwriting patterns to reprogram the negative habits. It can supposedly help alleviate medical ailments, relationships, careers, self-development, mental stress, and traumas, as well as suicidal thoughts. “With graphotherapy, you can overcome your weaknesses and transform them into your strengths,” she said. Graphology, Aslam noted, not only works with finding out mental health issues, but physical ones as well. This branch of graphology is called graphopathology and it studies the alterations produced in graphisms due to psychological or physical disturbances whether they are latent or evident, permanent, or temporary. “Apparently, many health issues are registered in our brain six months prior to showing the symptoms,” she said. “Health issues such as tumors, hormonal imbalances, gynecological issues, joint pain, dehydration, and a lot more.” In her career as a graphologist, Aslam has had numerous experiences, but some stood out more than others. “One such experience was curing my patient’s backache. The other incident was when my patient had her husband’s handwriting analysis done, and he turned out to be suffering from a dual personality disorder. One of his characters was celestial and the other was hostile.” Aslam wants to raise awareness through workshops, conducting short courses, and launch an online academy that incorporates graphology and graphotherapy. She also encouraged aspiring graphologists to work hard on their career. “Graphology comes with great responsibility; make sure you do it sincerely because your words are going to engrave someone’s soul. Be gracious! You are probably going to invest your entire life in this study; do it with dedication and veracity.” Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: GraphologyYoung Saudis Young Saudis help restore and preserve ancient stone castles in JazanAI training program for young Saudis

Author: Thu, 2020-11-26 02:47 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received Yemen’s President  Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi on Wednesday. Prince Khalid said they discussed the situation in Yemen. The minister also reaffirmed the commitment of the leadership of the Kingdom to the stability of Yemen. In a tweet, early on Thursday, the minister said to the president that the Saudi leadership wanted security and progress for the Yemeni people. He assured the president that implementing of the Riyadh Agreement will move forward to promote peace and stability,  prioritizing the interest of Yemeni people. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia

Author: Thu, 2020-11-26 02:58 RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center on Wednesday launched a training program for women in the Marib governorate of Yemen. Under the program, 60 women will receive training to become pastry chefs. The trainees are the sole breadwinners of their families. The program will enable them to provide for their families. In cooperation with the center, the United Nations Development Program also launched a nine-month training program in various Yemeni to governorates to enable 900 Yemenis to acquire skills in different fields to help them gain employment. The targeted fields include commercial and agricultural businesses, food processing, hand-made textiles production, car mechanics, and mobile phone repair. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: KSRelief

Author: Thu, 2020-11-26 03:01 ABU DHABISaudi Arabia bagged six top prizes in Arab governmental excellence at a competition organized by the Arab Organization for Administrative Development. The organization is an affiliate of the Cairo-based Arab League and the contest was jointly organized by the UAE. Six Saudi government departments ranked top among the competing Arab institutions. The Saudi winners included the Commerce Ministry, which won the best Arab Ministry prize, the Saudi Arabian Food and Drug Authority was selected as the best Arab governmental authority and Furigat was bagged the prize for the best governmental developmental service National Water Co. CEO Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Muwakili won the best general manager award. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia

جدد عضو المجلس السياسي الأعلى اليمني محمد علي الحوثي، التأكيد أنه كلما استمرت السعودية في الحرب على الشعب اليمني واستهداف المنشآت الحيوية، سيستمر الا...

Wed, 2020-11-25 20:38 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and the UN Special Envoy to Syria held talks on Wednesday on political efforts to end the conflict. Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Geir Pedersen met at the ministry’s headquarters In Riyadh where they discussed the crisis. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaSyria Putin thanks Saudi King Salman over Russia OPEC+ roleTent and garden: Displaced Syria teen recreates lost family home

Author: Zaynab KhojjiID: 1606308617582686200Wed, 2020-11-25 16:13 LONDON: Saudi Arabia announced 14 deaths from COVID-19 and 326 new infections on Wednesday. Of the new cases, 61 were recorded in Riyadh, 27 in Makkah, 26 in Madinah, 17 in Jeddah, 16 in Yanbu, 10 in Dammam and 9 in Buraidah. The total number of recoveries in the Kingdom increased to 344,787 after 476 more patients recovered from the virus. A total of 5,825 people have succumbed to the virus in the Kingdom so far. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: CoronavirusSaudi Arabia Saudi aerial photographer reveals secrets of AlUla Old Town to global audienceSaudi housing ministry program’s digital platforms handle 31k requests daily

Author: Wed, 2020-11-25 16:06 DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Aramco has announced a long-term partnership with global education challenge F1 in Schools, which will be held in Melbourne next year. The global science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition challenges students to design and manufacture a miniature car. Originally set to happen in September this year, The F1 in School World Finals will instead take place from March 12 to 19, coinciding with the F1 Australian Grand Prix. The partnership, according to an Aramco official, reflects the company’s belief in investing in young people who are into STEM. “This partnership is another example of Aramco’s engagement to developing young people for STEM careers. From building technology-based classrooms to conducting STEM summer camps, we’re focused on accelerating human potential through the next generation of young talent – equipping them with the tools they need to turn their ideas into reality,” Aramco Vice President of Corporate Affairs Nabil Nuaim said. Founder and Chairman of F1 in Schools Andre Denford lauded Aramco’s decision to sponsor the event, participated in by “future F1 engineers.” “Introducing our students to a leader in the fuel and energy sector, with ambitions that fit well with our Challenge, will offer huge learning and career opportunities. We look forward to introducing Aramco to our F1 in Schools global community at our World Finals in Melbourne,” he said. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: AramcoF1 in SchoolsFormula OneF1 World energy supply must be sustainable, says Aramco officerSaudi Arabia to host Formula 1 race in 2021

Wed, 2020-11-25 18:03 LONDON: The Arab coalition destroyed an explosive laden boat and foiled a Houthi terrorist attack in the southern Red Sea on Wednesday. A commercial vessel suffered minor damage from shrapnel as the terror attack was foiled, the coalition said. Hostile actions carried out by the Houthi militia threaten shipping lines and global trade, the coalition added.  Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaHouthisRed Sea Bahrain: Qatar coastguard stops two Bahraini vessels returning from maritime exerciseSaudi aerial photographer reveals secrets of AlUla Old Town to global audience

Wed, 2020-11-25 18:02 RIYADH: Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked Saudi Arabia's King Salman for the «active and joint cooperation» in OPEC+. Putin said Russia and Saudi Arabia are actively cooperating in the alliance of the world's largest oil exporters to ensure the stability of global energy markets, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.   Putin’s remarks were made during a ceremony to receive the credentials of foreign ambassadors. Putin also said that Russia's relations with the Kingdom are developing increasingly due to the agreements that came after his visit to Riyadh in October 2019. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaRussiaOPEC+ OPEC oil output rises more on Libya restart, says surveyDemand issues ‘to overshadow OPEC+ supply next year’

Author: Wed, 2020-11-25 02:26 JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is recording a steady decline in the number of coronavirus cases and recoveries outpacing infections. On Tuesday, the Kingdom recorded 252 new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), marking the fifth consecutive day of daily cases lower than 300. According to the Saudi Health Ministry, the total number of confirmed cases in the Kingdom since the beginning of the outbreak has risen to 355,741. The ministry said 495 more people have recovered from COVID-19 raising the number of recoveries to 344,311. All cities in the Kingdom reported less than 50 new cases with Riyadh registering 33, Madinah 19, and Makkah 18.  The remaining cases were reported from different parts of the Kingdom. According to the ministry, there were 5,619 actives cases, of which 743 were critical. The death toll due to virus-related complications has risen to 5,811 with 15 new fatalities on Tuesday. In the last 24 hours, 55,276 polymerase chain reaction tests were conducted across the Kingdom. The Kingdom will be among the first countries in the world to obtain a vaccine for COVID-19. Saudi Arabia is set to release a schedule of vaccine arrivals to the country in the coming weeks. The Health Ministry will offer free vaccines to citizens and expats who have not yet contracted the virus. Saudi Arabia will obtain a large amount of vaccines through COVAX, which is a global initiative working with vaccine manufacturers to provide countries around the world with equitable access to safe and effective vaccines once they are licensed and approved. While the second track is direct contracting with the big companies to cover the gap that cannot be covered through COVAX. The ministry urged anyone displaying possible symptoms of coronavirus disease to visit one of its Tetamman (Rest Assured) clinics to be tested for the virus. There are about 235 of these clinics across the country, and appointments for tests can be booked through the Sehaty app. The ministry has also set up health centers, called Takkad (Make Sure), to cater to people who show no or only mild symptoms of the disease, but think they might have come into contact with someone who was infected. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia to make coronavirus vaccine free for citizens and residentsDistance learning is here to stay, Saudi education minister says

Author: Wed, 2020-11-25 02:37 RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Tuesday launched a medical campaign to treat congenital heart defects in children in Mukalla in Yemen. It is part of the “Saudi Pulse” program to provide free treatment for heart ailments in the war-torn country. During the six-day campaign, 20 open-heart surgeries will be performed on children from low-income families under the supervision of Dr. Zuhair Al-Hillis, president of the Pediatric Heart Surgery Association. Meanwhile, KSrelief’s mobile clinics continued to provide basic health services to displaced Yemenis at Waalan camp in Hajjah governorate. The center also provides urgent treatment for wounded and injured Yemenis in their country, and those for whom treatment is not possible in Yemen are transferred to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaYemenKing Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) KSRelief chief meets Afghan envoy in RiyadhSaudi Arabia will be among the first to receive COVID-19 vaccine, says KSrelief chief

Author: Wed, 2020-11-25 02:41 RIYADH: Various digital platforms of the Ministry of Housing’s Sakani program handled around 31,000 requests daily during the last week, said a ministry report. The Sakani app recorded more than 174,000 visits via smart devices. People visited the app to avail different services the app has to offer such as immediate reservation of residential units and plots, payment options from financing agencies, real estate consulting services, engineering designs, and issuance of building permits, etc. The program’s call center 199090 received more than 28,000 calls. The program is continuing to serve families wishing to own property through Sakani’s mobile application and website. It also displays the beneficiaries’ national ID numbers on https://sakani-names.housing.sa/, and the electronic platform, which provides detailed information regarding the various housing options. The total number of families that benefited from the program in different regions of the Kingdom since the start of the year reached 285,762, including 96,633 families that have already moved into their homes. The program also announced that since the beginning of 2020, 61,552 under-construction residential units have been reserved. Contracts have been issued for 74,014 residential loans throughout Saudi Arabia.   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Sakani ProgramSaudi Arabia

Wed, 2020-11-25 02:53 JEDDAH: The Saudi Art Council brought together a wide range of local artists after the months-long lockdown for the 6th Shara Art Fair, which was recently launched in Jeddah at the council’s headquarters. With the global pandemic closing art galleries and canceling live events, artists took a hit like many other workers. The Shara Art Fair, however, allowed artists from all across the country to exhibit their talents in seven art galleries. The participating galleries included Athr Gallery, Hafez Gallery, 6th Sense Art, Noor Gallery, Tasami Creative Lab, BHAC, and Visual Stations. Heba Abed, a visual artist and painter, said that her life during the pandemic was a combination of “watching TV, eating, and painting.” Inspired by her surroundings, Abed’s artwork was a collection of one hundred paintings that exhibit the emotions she felt during the hundred days of quarantine. “Some of the paintings express the feelings I had while in quarantine, while others are inspired by fairy tales because there was a lot of time for our minds to wander while we were stuck at home,” she told Arab News.  Heba Abed She added: “I would sometimes paint more than one painting a day during the lockdown. While we were all bored, I decided to practice the thing I loved most. I found inspiration in my life, in society and in everything that happened around me.” Artist Elham Dawsari, on the other hand, used the 1990s as inspiration for her artwork, “Nefa,” which means a spacious place with few to no walls. The installation, featuring clay women set over acrylic boxes with mirrors inside, is meant to symbolize the women’s untold stories. “The idea behind the piece was to represent the lives of the women in the 90s,” she said. Cutouts hang from the ceiling of the gallery around the art, which according to Dawsari, symbolize the urban landscaping at the time and the style of the houses. HIGHLIGHTS • The Shara Art Fair allowed artists from all across the country to exhibit their talents in seven art galleries. • The participating galleries included Athr Gallery, Hafez Gallery, 6th Sense Art, Noor Gallery, Tasami Creative Lab, BHAC, and Visual Stations. “They also show how those designs imposed themselves on our lives,” she said. “They show certain aspects of society and how we behaved and how our bodies looked because of the limited space we had to walk around in; they were fuller but also more muscular because of all the hard work the women used to do.” The clay figures of the women are based on Dawsari’s memory and the collective memory of her family. Another piece featured large wooden dolls perched on a table. As time passed, the artist painted more dolls. The founder of Dar Malak, Malak Masallati, was the designer and director of the project and expressed the hope that her wooden dolls would become the next “Saudi Wooden Dolls.” “I wanted to create wooden dolls that represent our country and its culture and that could become an icon. I called the project ‘Nasana’,” she told Arab News. Dar Malak worked with designers and artisans to translate the idea of Masallati into actual objects. Masallati worked with a wood factory that handled the woodturning and scaling for her. “I did my research on the proportions of the human body, using examples of different bodies to create the variety you see here,” she added. Main category: Saudi ArabiaArt & CultureTags: Shara Art FairSaudi Art CouncilSaudi artists Shara Art Fair celebrates Saudi artistsSaudi artists beautify Riyadh with Arabic calligraphy

Author: Wed, 2020-11-25 03:33 MAKKAH: A Saudi aerial photographer’s passion for history has won him global acclaim for images revealing the secrets of AlUla Old Town. Ali Al-Suhaimi’s eye-in-the-sky portrayal of the famous Islamic city has helped to provide a fresh insight into the past lives of the inhabitants of the now deserted settlement. AlUla Old Town, located in the north of the Kingdom about 20 km from the archaeological site of Mada’in Salih, is seven centuries old and filled with mosques and markets that reflect its beauty and heritage. Rich in history, the region was an ancient trade station linking the north and south of the peninsula and one of the main stopping-off points for pilgrims traveling between Syria and Makkah. Al-Suhaimi told Arab News that his inspiration to photograph the area from the air came from his deep-rooted desire to find out more about the country’s ancient civilizations. “The idea from the onset revolved around simulating the history of AlUla region, which has become one of the most important heritage attractions on a local and international level. “The location includes stone landmarks and high mountains which set a breathtaking rocky harmony depicted by the drones of aerial photographers. “It was the place of people who set the link with us on architectural and human levels.  The region is one of the great forgotten treasures of antiquity. (Social media) They built a town which bears witness to the magnificence and cultural depth and momentum of its human legacy,” he said. Studies of AlUla’s castles have proved that the site was once a thriving community, Al-Suhaimi added. “Photographing these places in all their detail only adds to my enthusiasm for transmitting images to a world craving for the secrets of these places of old times to be unveiled.” The high-flying lensman has snapped all of AlUla Old Town’s castles and villages, as well as the castle of Musa bin Nusayr, and the Aja and Salma mountains which rise to 1,000 meters. By using drones, Al-Suhaimi has been able to get close-up pictures of the houses and buildings that occupy the site. “There are monolithic houses that reflect the depth of relationships that linked those people who fused with each other as if they were one family.” HIGHLIGHT AlUla Old Town, located in the north of the Kingdom about 20 km from the archaeological site of Mada’in Salih, is seven centuries old and filled with mosques and markets that reflect its beauty and heritage. He pointed out that although the houses seemed to be randomly clustered together, they were actually “architectural enigmas” which had been cleverly designed to ensure a smooth flow of air in and around them. Aerial photographs of the town had also raised questions about how its people had been able to move around from building to building in such a close-knit environment. Al-Suhaimi said he had gained all the necessary licenses to operate drones in the area. “We were keen on taking pictures and transmitting them to the whole world, as internationally it is one of the most outstanding Islamic cities. Its mud houses are living witnesses that resisted time.” He added that he had been astonished by the positive global feedback from his photographs of the region. One notable feature of AlUla Old Town is the Tantora sundial. The shadow that it cast was used to mark the beginning of the winter planting season. “They set stones atop one another so that the shadow would be projected on the tip of the stone once per year, which is evidence of the astronomy legacy of the people of the region,” said Al-Suhaimi. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: AlUlaSaudi heritageSaudi antiquitiesMada’in Salih Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula hosts Ecotrail running race for first timeHow Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula went from being underdeveloped...to having negative unemployment

اعتبرت صحيفة لوموند الفرنسية، أن الحديث عن لقاءات مباشرة بين ولي العهد السعودي «محمد بن سلمان» ورئيس وزراء الاحتلال الإسرائيلي «بنيامين نتنياهو» ليس ...

كشفت حقوقية سعودية، جانبا من تفاصيل جلسة محاكمة قتلة الكاتب السعودي «جمال خاشقجي»، في إسطنبول....