أكد الملك السعودي سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود خلال مباحثاته مع الرئيس الروسي فلاديمير بوتين، على توطيد العلاقات المشتركة مع روسيا،وقال: "نتطلع لتوطيد...

أكد رئيس المجلس السياسي الاعلى في اليمن مهدي المشاط حق الشعب اليمني في الدفاع عن النفس ومواصلة المقاومة حتى التحرير الشامل، وحذر من مغبة الاستمرار في...

وصل الرئيس الروسي فلاديمير بوتين إلى السعودية، بزيارة رسمية يلتقي خلالها الملك السعودي سلمان بن عبد العزيز، وولي عهده محمد بن سلمان....

Mon, 2019-10-14 12:33 DUBAI: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Riyadh on Monday in his first visit since 2007, and is scheduled to have a meeting with Saudi King Salman as well as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Riyadh Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar personally welcomed the Russian leader. Putin’s “long-awaited” visit will include discussions on “further cooperation to stabilize prices on the world carbohydrate market” as well as the situation in Syria, the Gulf and Yemen. The Russian leader, in an interview with Arab broadcasters and aired on Sunday ahead of his arrival, described the “very good relations” with the Saudi leadership. “We consider Saudi Arabia a friendly nation. I have very good relations with both the King and the Crown Prince,” Putin said, and noted the improved bilateral relations between both countries. Putin in the interview likewise condemned the Sept. 14 attacks on Aramco facilities, and said “such actions do not bring any positive results to anybody, including perpetrators,” as they do not have a strong effect on the market. “We condemn any such actions, end of story. This is the official position … regardless of who stood behind the incident,” the Russian president commented. A forum attended by Saudi Arabian and Russian business leaders and government officials earlier Monday resulted in the signing of several agreements between companies of both countries. Watch the live coverage of Putin’s arrival: (Developing) Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaVladimir PutinRussiaPutin in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia and Russia strengthen bilateral ties with trade and investment in focusFrom the Cold War to the long thaw, Saudi’s ambassador to Russia explains what prompted relations to warm

Sun, 2019-10-13 23:14 MOSCOW: Alexander Novak, Russia’s energy minister since 2012, has overseen the country’s oil and gas industry at a time of great geopolitical and economic change. On the occasion of the visit of President Vladimir Putin to Saudi Arabia, Novak tells Frank Kane why the Saudi-Russia relationship is about more than just oil — and how the “black swans” will continue to affect the global oil price. Q: Russia and Saudi Arabia have become much closer in all spheres of activity in recent years. Why is this? Novak: The expansion of interaction with our Saudi partners along the entire chain of cooperation for us, in essence, is the creation of a new alliance in order to maintain our competitiveness in world markets and to develop the national and world energy in general. This, in my opinion, is a completely legitimate response towards the current challenges of globalization, which are dictated by the prevailing geopolitical terrain. Of course, Russian-Saudi cooperation in the past has gone far beyond the frame of energy cooperation intended to stabilize the oil market. We have taken a pathway towards a consistent increase in the pace of Russian-Saudi trade and economic partnership. We are engaged in an active dialogue in all sectors of trade and economic cooperation, including agriculture, industry, investment and energy sectors. As you may know, on June 10 the 6th meeting of the Russian-Saudi Intergovernmental Commission was held in Moscow, as a result of which we noted a significant increase in our cooperation and outlined its new directions and priorities. From January to June 2019, Russian-Saudi trade turnover increased 28 percent compared to the same period in 2018, reaching $637.7 million. Q: In energy, what are the common areas of interest? Novak: Investment cooperation is one of the key growth points for our economic relations. About $2 billion worth of investments have already been made in joint projects in Russia. In this case, we see energy as one of the most promising areas of collaboration. We have many points of intersection; a number of Russian companies wish to work with Saudi counterparts on the supply and maintenance of oil and gas equipment. We are conducting preparatory work to develop new breakthrough technologies that will allow us to adapt oil to the current climate and environmental agenda. In addition, bilateral and international cooperation is important to stabilizing the oil market under the OPEC+ Agreement. Thanks to our regular meetings, policy coordination between OPEC members and other parties of the Vienna deal is proving successful. It is important that the practice of such confidential contacts gives appropriate signals to all participants in the oil market, who must be convinced that our commitment to maintaining balance remains unwavering, and we continue to keep abreast of, and monitor, fluctuations in the oil market, preventing its imbalance. The development of cooperation in the field of raw energy is a good basis for cooperation in other areas. Opinion This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field) Q: Saudi Arabia and Russia have been the leaders of the Opec + alliance that seeks to regulate oil output. Are their interests identical in this project? Novak: Any union is built on mutual understanding and mutual trust. The OPEC + format is not an exception. The results achieved are key to the long and painstaking work of its participants, including the cohesion of interests and the search for compromises. Judge for yourself: At the last OPEC/non-OPEC ministerial meeting, we managed not only to extend the agreements in the framework of the Declaration on Cooperation, but also to switch to a new format of cooperation by signing the Charter for Cooperation of Oil-producing Countries. This document will serve not only to improve understanding and trust among OPEC and non-OPEC countries. It will also become a basis for joint work on the development of new technologies to adapt oil to the modern climate and environmental agenda, requirements for ensuring global energy security and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Q: What do you think is a fair price for oil in the global market these days? Novak: Despite isolated cases of force majeure in the oil market this year, the situation is stable and is under the control of the countries participating in the market. At the same time, we understand that due to the ongoing pressure on the market of “black swans,” such as trade wars, commodity prices may change in one direction or another. Q: Not so long ago, Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities were brutally attacked. How do you think this affected the country’s oil sector? What needs to be done in order to stop such attacks in the future? Novak: Situations such as an attack on facilities in Saudi Arabia lead us to the need to constantly conduct safety assessments at fuel and energy facilities around the world, especially in the Middle East. Such attacks on large oil suppliers pose risks to global energy security. What happened clearly showed how quickly the situation on the market can change; at that moment, 5-6 percent of world production left the market and prices jumped by 20 per cent, which is a record increase for at least 30 years. At the same time, the market recovered in just a week. I believe, provided that high security at the fuel and energy complex is ensured, and our actions are taken to stabilize the market situation within OPEC +, we will be able to further control the situation and quickly bring it back to normal. Q: Do you see the basis for the development of gas cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Russia? What can the two countries learn from one another? Novak: The interest in cooperation with Saudi companies is shown by many Russian oil and gas companies, such as Gazprom and Sibur. We believe that when finding mutually interesting projects, our cooperation can develop along the entire value chain and can bring very tangible benefits for both sides. For example, the energy strategy of Russia provides for a several-fold increase in the production of liquefied natural gas — as part of this strategy, our companies are implementing a number of projects that have great prospects in terms of the participation of foreign investors. In addition, we strive for scientific cooperation — currently the possibility of creating a joint Russian-Saudi institute in the field of energy cooperation is being explored. Q: What agreements can be expected from Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kingdom? Novak: As part of the work of the Joint Intergovernmental Russian-Saudi Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, we have prepared a solid list of documents including in the energy field, agriculture, trade and other areas. In total, there are more than 30 documents. A high-level Russian-Saudi strategic cooperation program has been prepared based on the national development priorities of our states. At the corporate level, I think our countries have already done a lot of work. At the moment within the framework of cooperation between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, investments have already been made in more than 30 projects from various sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, infrastructure, and technology worth over $2.5 billion. Within the framework of the visit, we expect the signing of a number of agreements and memorandums for an additional $ 1 billion, a significant part of them is in the energy sector. I hope that the new agreements will become the basis for the subsequent strengthening of bilateral cooperation. In the course of painstaking work with the Saudi side, we managed to lay a solid foundation for further progressive development of relations. I am sure that with our partner, the Minister of Energy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, we will make every effort to further develop Russian-Saudi cooperation.   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Editor’s ChoiceAlexander NovakRussia-Saudi ties Russia’s Putin lauds good relations with Saudi Arabia, condemns Aramco attacksWhy Saudi-Russian relations are stronger than before

Mon, 2019-10-14 00:52 MOSCOW: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting has become the world’s most innovative sport, mainly due to the growth of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), an American MMA promotion company that brought fighters from various disciplines — from jiu-jitsu to kickboxing — to battle it out in a cage. One such fighter is Khabib “the Eagle” Nurmagomedov, who has taken the MMA world by storm. A ferocious wrestler hailing from the Dagestan region, Khabib holds a professional record of 28 wins with no losses. He was crowned the UFC Lightweight Champion after defeating Al Iaquinta in New York in April 2018. His latest win to defend his title was against Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9, 2019. Arab News spoke to Khabib in Moscow about the future of the sport in the Arab world, which he sees as promising but still needs time to grow. BIO • Age: 31 • Height: 5’10” • Weight: 155lbs • Wins: 28 • Losses: 0 • Reach: 70” “The sport is very famous in the region. Arabs love competing with each other and if you look at history, Arabs are warriors with very good spirits. They just need a little bit of time,” he said. “Like Russia and Dagestan, it was different 10 years ago and now the sport has completely changed. I know it is difficult to make new stars, champions and athletes. I think in the next decade, a lot of Arabs are going to be top fighters.” After being crowned champion, he was given the opportunity to defend his title against Conor McGregor, one of the most famous names in the sport. The match was dubbed the biggest fight in MMA history, drawing in 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, the highest of any UFC fight. UFCRECORD • 28-0 undefeated • 8 wins by knockout • 10 wins by submission Khabib defeated McGregor in a rear-naked chokehold in the fourth round of their acrimonious fight last October, placing him on the world stage. His ability to take down, control and keep his opponents on the floor — overwhelming them with damaging strikes — make him stand out from the other grapplers in MMA. Discipline, commitment and years of rigorous training in the mountains of his native Dagestan have helped him become the exceptional fighter and dominant force he is today. In his latest fight in UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, Khabib defended his belt by beating former interim American Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier. “I came to Abu Dhabi almost three weeks before the fight as I was worried about the jet lag and needed to get accustomed to the climate. “It was an amazing experience for me as many people from my native Dagestan, the (former) USSR countries and my friends came to watch the match live. “I want my next fight to be in Russia. I last fought here almost 10 years ago, in 2011, and I really want to go again. This is my goal for the match.” Next month, Saudi Arabia’s amateur MMA outfit heads to Dagestan to train with Khabib’s team. “Over 15 people will come to my camp and train with my father and my team for a couple of weeks,” he said. The sport is very famous in the region. Arabs love competing with each other. Khabib Nurmagomedov Even though “the Eagle” is flying high in the UFC, he is keeping his feet on the ground and not getting carried away by his success. “I am focused on this now and at the moment I see it as ‘I’m almost there.’ I think that a few more years of fighting will be my limit. I do not want to fight all my life. A lot of young, hungry guys are coming and I know to be undefeated and undisputed is impossible. One day, you are going to lose and one day you need to stop, you just have to know when. “I am going to compete in the coming years. I am 31-years-old, which is not too old for the sport, but I will reach my limit by the age of 33 or 34,” he said. “Right now, I have a couple more years to compete with the toughest challengers in the world.  Whatever opponent they give me, I am going to fight and improve my legacy and self. I want to face the best fighters in the world.” Khabib hopes his next fight will be in Russia, but the question fans want the answer to is who will be his opponent? It has been rumored that Tony Ferguson, who currently holds a record of 12 wins without defeat, will be next in line to face him. Main category: Saudi ArabiaSportTags: Khabib NurmagomedovdagestanRussiaPutin in Saudi Arabia RT documentary shows Saudi Arabia as it’s never been seen beforeEasing visa regulations makes Russia big attraction for SaudisWhy Saudi-Russian relations are stronger than beforeExclusive: Russia, Saudi Arabia ‘cooperation can bring tangible benefits for both sides’

Mon, 2019-10-14 01:11 RIYADH: A major transformation is underway in Saudi Arabia’s economic and cultural relationship with Russia, said top experts and diplomats. According to Saudi Ambassador to Russia Dr. Rayed Krimly, there is a growing interest by the Russian business community to explore Saudi markets and open new avenues for trade and investment. “Bilateral trade rose by 86 percent in 2017, and further increased by 49 percent in 2018,” he said. Krimly said that both Saudi Aramco and SABIC are considering investing in Russian gas and energy projects. He added that there will be a large Russian delegation at this year’s Future Investment Initiative. “Cooperation in the fields of investment, trade and energy is expanding all the time,” he said. Saudi Arabia is involved with several Russian investment projects. In housing and urban development, the Kingdom has invested in the construction of a technopark on the former “Tushino” aerodrome territory. Another Saudi investment project is a waste-to-energy program to provide electricity for 1 million people, implemented jointly with Hitachi and the Rostec State Corp. The project aims to reduce waste dumping in the Moscow region by 30 percent. The Kingdom has also partnered with China, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE to develop transport infrastructure in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The northern bypass for Kutuzovsky Avenue, a major radial road in Russia’s capital, will reduce time spent in traffic by 6.9 million vehicle hours annually while the length of congested road sections will be cut by 72.2km. Speaking on the sidelines of the Russia Energy Week summit in Moscow, Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), told Arab News that there would be new business deals in oil, agriculture, tourism and petrochemicals. HIGHLIGHTS • Bilateral trade rose by 86 percent in 2017, and further increased by 49 percent in 2018. • Saudi Arabia is involved with several Russian investment projects including construction of a technopark and a waste-to-energy program to provide electricity for 1 million people. • The Kingdom recently increased the number of Russian pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah by 5,000. • The Saudi Ministry of Culture is also developing several programs of cooperation with Russia.  “We are going to be signing more than 10 new investment agreements between Russia and Saudi Arabia,” he said. “One example is a joint investment with Saudi Aramco in Novomet, in order to supply pumps to Saudi Aramco, which will be investing with RDIF in this company,” he added. Ties have been strengthened by the large Muslim communities in Russia. According to the Saudi Embassy in Moscow, there are more than 20 million Russian Muslims, making up about 14 percent of the country’s total population. Zarina Doguzova, head of Russia’s Federal Agency for Tourism, said the Kingdom recently increased the number of Russian pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah by 5,000, bringing the total visiting for pilgrimage to 25,000. The Saudi Ministry of Culture is developing several programs of cooperation with Russia. Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Farhan Al-Saud has visited Russia twice, first in November last year, where he posted a selfie with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his Twitter account during the 7th St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum. The forum, which ran between Nov. 15 and 17, was held under the theme “Culture as a Strategic Potential of the Country,” was attended by visitors from 101 countries. The second visit was in May, where he met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Prime Minister for Sports, Tourism and Culture Olga Golodets. They discussed ways in which Saudi-Russian cultural relations can be enhanced. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Putin in Saudi ArabiaRussia Khabib ‘the Eagle’ sees immense Arab talent RT documentary shows Saudi Arabia as it’s never been seen beforeWhy Saudi-Russian relations are stronger than beforeExclusive: Russia, Saudi Arabia ‘cooperation can bring tangible benefits for both sides’

Mon, 2019-10-14 01:33 MOSCOW: Walking the cobblestone streets around Moscow’s Red Square, tourists from far and wide enjoy the crisp, cool fall air, surrounded by architectural wonders dating back hundreds of years. Similar to Saudi Arabia, which has begun promoting tourism for the first time, Russia has opened its doors wider to the world by easing visit restrictions, increasing the flow of tourists. Zarina Doguzova, head of the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation, explains to Arab News the dynamics behind it all. “Russia is now very focused on easing visa restrictions and formalities. At the moment, an electronic visa is used for tourists coming to the regions of the Far East, as well as to the Kaliningrad region. And just a very short while ago, an electronic visa regime went live in the territory of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region,” said Doguzova. Doguzova stressed to Arab News the importance of working with Saudi Arabia to increase mutual openness and to develop a successful travel industry in both countries. “Saudi Arabia is on the list of countries whose tourists can visit Russian regions using an electronic visa. We are always happy to see tourists from your country visiting us. Moreover, from Jan. 1, 2021, an electronic visa will work throughout Russia, and we consider it a real breakthrough for global tourism. The same can be said about Saudi Arabia — the things you are doing are a new step in the development of global tourism,” she added. Doguzova went on to explain that a significant easing of visa restrictions increases incoming tourism by an average of 10-15 percent for a country. “Tourism is at the intersection of the economy and the country’s image, and that is why its value is even higher. Therefore, we are now developing the concept of Russia’s systematic promotion in international markets in terms of tourism potential.” Russia is one of the 49 countries on the list recently announced by Saudi Arabia whose citizens will be able to apply for tourist visas to the Kingdom for the first time. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), announced on Sept. 27, 2019, at an event held in the Kingdom’s capital that international investors agreed to invest SR115 billion ($30 billion) in the tourism sector. Al-Khateeb and Doguzova met at the 23rd session of the General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization held in St. Petersburg in September, the first high-level event hosted by Russia for the UN in the field of tourism. FASTFACT 14,000 Saudis attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup using FanID, an identification document required by the Russian authorities that provided visa-free entry to Russia for foreigners that purchased tickets to the match. At 6.6 million sq. miles, Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of landmass and an exotic destination for many. The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia gave it a serious incentive to develop tourism, with 14,000 Saudis arriving under the FanID visa that was launched before the start of the games. The e-visa system allowed fans to enter Russia visa-free once they had purchased their match tickets. The number of tourists has soared since then, placing Russia on the global travel map. Russia saw a 10 percent increase in international tourists, with 4.2 million tourists overall in 2018, the state-run Vesti news website reported, citing the Federal Security Service (FSB) border guards. Doguzova said there are many points of interest for both Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation to maintain a mutual tourist flow. With President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Saudi Arabia, Doguzova hopes that both countries will sign the first framework agreement on tourism. “For the first time, the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism has drafted such a document and agreed on it with the interested parties. This agreement will create a legal basis for further cooperation in tourism and will contribute to the development of tourism between our countries,” she said. Doguzova noted that Russia has previously raised the issue of a possible visa-free regime between both countries and will continue to discuss the issue. “We are excited about Saudi Arabia’s efforts to promote tourism. A trend to lift visa restrictions is underway in the world because people want to cross the borders at will in order to travel. Visa liberalization is now taking place all over the world, and both Saudi Arabia and Russia are making significant progress in this field.” “We want millions of tourists from all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, to discover our country,” she added. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTravelTags: Putin in Saudi ArabiaRussia Saudi Arabia, Russia set to develop broad tiesKhabib ‘the Eagle’ sees immense Arab talent Exclusive: Russia, Saudi Arabia ‘cooperation can bring tangible benefits for both sides’RT documentary shows Saudi Arabia as it’s never been seen before

Mon, 2019-10-14 02:53 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia took another step toward establishing its place on the global entertainment map with a major industry event in Riyadh on Sunday. The Joy Forum19 brought together entertainment promoters and pioneers from around the world, along with global stars such as Indian actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan; Hong Kong martial artist, actor, film director Jackie Chan and Belgian actor and martial artist Jean-Claude Van Damme. The event was organized by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which signed several important agreements on the day, including a financing guarantee program for small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants are ushered in on the first day of the Joy Forum19 event in Riyadh. (Social media photo) “Our message is for both, locally and internationally. Me and my generation suffered a lot, we had lots of time on our hands,” GEA chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said at the event. “Today you are witnessing things we have never had in Saudi Arabia. We have 300,000 visitors to our events, and our sales have hit 80 percent. “Saudi Arabia has never seen anything like Riyadh Season, we have over 400 sponsors, which is unprecedented.” Al-Sheikh announced that the authority had named a stadium after singer Mohammed Abdo, the “Artist of Arabs,” and another after Abu Baker Salim, the father of Khaleeji music.  READ MORE: Three MoUs signed at opening day of Joy Forum19 in Riyadh Drunken master The actors expressed what it meant to be movie stars and how wide-reaching their influence could be. Jackie Chan recalled that when he was a new actor, he often acted like a drunken fighter until he realized that he has a responsibility towards younger fans.  Jackie Chan: no longer a «drunken master». (AN photo by Basheer Saleh) “All over the world I keep drinking and fighting (in films).  I realized that I made drunken master cool — so I stopped,” he said. One of Chan's most popular movies was the 1978 action comedy martial arts film «Drunken Master». “When you’re 20 you don’t have this inner thought — anything that makes the audience laugh you do, but later on especially (when I went) to Africa so many years ago — they started doing the drunken style — the children look up to me. So, I realized we have a responsibility to the children so all those years I corrected those actions: no dirty comedy words or action,” he said. He attributed his awareness in being responsible for the content he produces to the fans. “I’m really thankful to the fans in making me a good actor.” Chan spoke about his experience in acting martial arts in both the United States and Asia. “I realized we have two different markets one for America another for Asia. They are totally two different things.” The safety measures the US takes for stunts is very impeccable making sure of the wellbeing of the actor comes first. However, in Asia it’s a different story, “In Asia when I want to do a stunt, I roll, jump (and then go to the) hospital, he said laughingly. “It’s so difficult sometimes in the USA so many rules- Jackie Chan movies: NO RULES!” he said and received applause from the audience.   Good start Jean Claude Van Damme gave a shout out and a big thank you to all his “brother and sisters from Saudi Arabia,” He said he got a royal treatment fit for “Kings and Queens”. He went on to reveal that his hotel room at the Ritz Carlton Riyadh was so big he could easily “roller-skate” in it. Jean Claude Van Damme: «Let's do a movie together». (AN photo by Basheer Saleh) “I’m honored to be invited here. I know it’s your first time to do this event, but I know it will have a very bright future and I hope next year you will invite more people,” he said. He said he may not be a “good talker” but expressed his joy at being in Saudi Arabia saying. “I’m happy to be here and I hope to have more connection later with the audience.” Van Damme remarked how that in every country in the world you have treasure actors and movies with different cultures, “In the Middle East I don’t know what the taste will be, but I know they love American, Asian and Indian movies. They have a broad taste. (Saudi Arabia) should do a movie with all of us together!”   Crossing barriers Sharukh Khan emphasized the importance of every country telling their story through movies; “As long as we are telling the story in whatever language it doesn’t matter. Cinema crosses all barriers.”   Shahrukh Khan: «I'd audition for a Saudi movie». (Social media photo) With the opening of Saudi Arabia to the world and Cinemas, he said, “I can’t wait to talk about the Saudi films...It will bring Saudis closer to the world and the world closer to Saudi.” “The stories that you tell should talk about goodness and people should be engaged with the content and it should bring them together. People want to laugh and sadly have to cry, to be entertained and to feel.” Sharukh noted that Saudi Arabia has started to make movies and he’s watched the King Faisal movie, «Born a King».  “You’ll always find gems in all movie industries and I think there’s are gems in Saudi and as a matter of fact one of the things I’d like to do is audition for a Saudi movie … Please give me an opportunity!” he said, eliciting a thunderous applause from the audience. Red carpet Abdulaziz AlMuzaini, co-founder and CEO of the Saudi Arabian Myrkott Animation Studio; gave a heartfelt thanks full of gratitude to King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying: “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have dreamed of this moment or this panel.” Some of the celebrities invited to the event walk the red carpet. (AN photo by Basheer Saleh) Lebanese actor Wahid Jalal, who was the voice of Long John Silver in Treasure Island, came onstage for the opening of the event. “Children love heroes and they try to imitate them,” he said.  He also delighted the crowd by performing Silver’s famous laugh. Some of the celebrities who walked down the red carpet were American actor Jason Momoa, star of Aquaman; Amr Adeeb, Balqis Fathi, Yusra, Boosy Shalabi, Lojien and Aseel Omran, Mohammed Hamaki, Nawal AlZoghbi, Talal Salama, Ahlam Al-Shamsi, Hussain AlJismi, Suad Abdulla, Ibrahem Alharbi, Tariq Alali and Abdulnaser Darweesh. The gala dinner hosted 500 guests and was a private event, but the red carpet captured the essence of where Saudi is moving to culturally. Main category: Saudi ArabiaLifestyleArt & CultureTags: Joy Forum19Saudi ArabiaShah Rukh KhanJackie ChanJean-Claude Van DammeGeneral Entertainment Authority (GEA) Saudi Arabia opens new logistics zone in JeddahThree MoUs signed at opening day of Joy Forum19 in Riyadh

علق وزير الدولة للشؤون الخارجية السعودي، عادل الجبير على تخلي الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية عن القوات الكردية في سوريا....

انتشرت قوات الاحتلال الخاصة بكثافة في ساحات الأقصى صباح اليوم الاثنين، وخلال تجول وفدا اداريا من المنتخب السعودي بالأقصى....

قال تقرير لوكالة بلومبيرغ إن طرح جزء من أسهم أرامكو «عملاق النفط السعودي» سيشكل اختبارا لثقة السعوديين في ولي العهد محمد بن سلمان....

وجهت الإعلامية اللبنانية غادة عويس رسالة مفاجئة إلى الملك السعودي سلمان بن عبد العزيز وابنه ولي العهد محمد بن سلمان....

مشكلة ايران مع جيرانها في الخليج الفارسي ليست في سياسة ايران «التوسعية» و «تصدير ثورتها» و«التدخل في شؤون هذه الدول » و.. والى اخر قائمة الاكاذيب وال...

انهال كتاب ومغردون سعوديون، بالشتائم على الحكومة الصومالية، لموقفها من الاعتداء العسكري التركي في شمال سوريا والذي تسميه تركيا عملية «نبع السلام»....

تداولت مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي وثائق تشير إلى فرض سلسلة من القيود على عدد من الأمراء ورجال الأعمال في السعودية، وهو ما يفيد بإقرار السلطات بالمملكة ت...

طهران (العالم) 2019.10.13 – أكد الرئيس الإيراني حسن روحاني على ضرورة اعتماد الحلول السياسية لحل المشاكل العالقة في المنطقة، وخلال مؤتمر صحافي مشترك م...

تتواصل التصريحات وردود الافعال حيال استهداف ناقلة النفط الايرانية في البحر الاحمر بصواريخ، قبالة سواحل جدة السعودية صباح الجمعة، وتراوحت بين توعد من ...

Sun, 2019-10-13 11:45 RIYADH: Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia and condemned the recent attacks on state-owned Aramco oil facilities. Putin said such attacks only strengthened cooperation between oil producers inside and outside OPEC, an alliance known as OPEC+, and that Russia would work with its partners to reduce attempts to destabilize markets. As President Donald Trump reinstated US sanctions, increasing pressure on Iran’s economy, there have been a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia and in Gulf waters that Washington and close allies have blamed on Iran, which denies responsibility. Putin told Arab broadcasters in an interview aired on Sunday ahead of his visit to the Kingdom in more than a decade, that he has “very good relations” with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Russian president is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Monday and then heads to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. Putin said that there has been a 38 percent growth in economic cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia. Russia’s Direct Investment Fund and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund have created a base of $10 billion, with $2 billion in investments, he added. Russian petrochemicals company Sibur Holding is looking to build a petrochemical complex worth more than $1 billion in investments, Putin also said.Syrian Conflict On Syria, where Russia and Iran have been key allies of President Bashar Assad in an 8-1/2-year civil war, the Russian president said they would not have been able to reach a positive outcome without Saudi cooperation. “I would like to emphasize the positive role Saudi Arabia has played in resolving the Syrian crisis … without Saudi Arabia’s contribution toward a Syrian settlement, it would have been impossible to achieve a positive trend,” he said, thanking King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman for their “constructive approach.” He said Moscow supports the Assad regime in Syria, not because they have no blame in the situation but to prevent terrorist organizations from infiltrating the war-torn country. “We are working with Turkey and Iran to resolve the Syrian conflict, but without Saudi it would not be possible to come to a good solution,” he said. A congress convened by Russia last year tasked the United Nations envoy for Syria with forming a committee to draft a new constitution, after many rounds of talks to end the war failed. UN officials say forming a constitutional committee is key to political reforms and new elections meant to unify Syria and end a war which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced about half of the pre-war 22 million population. Turkey launched an assault last week against Kurdish forces in border areas of northern Syria, saying it seeks to set up a “safe zone” to resettle Syrian refugees but raising international alarm over the possibility of Daesh militants escaping from prisons.Iran Deal Asked if Moscow supported new a return to negotiations with Iran to limit its missile program as Trump has called for enforcing the nuclear deal first, Putin said the two issues should be dealt with separately. “Most likely it (the missiles) can and should be discussed ... The missile program is one thing and the nuclear program is another thing,” he said. “Of course, this is necessary, but there is no need to merge one with the other...”OPEC+ The Russian president said OPEC+ was an initiative introduced by the crown prince to increase their cooperation in oil sector, and that he was the one who suggested to expand military collaboration between the two countries. Saudi Arabia was not just a regional energy player but also a global one, and “we care about our cooperation,” Putin said. The Russian leader added that anything that threatens energy trade stability must be stopped, and “we should work together” to stop it.Aramco Attacks Putin also condemned the Sept. 14 attacks on Aramco facilities, noting “such actions do not bring any positive results to anybody, including perpetrators,” as they do not have a strong effect on the market. “We condemn any such actions, end of story. This is the official position … regardless of who stood behind the incident,” said Putin. He insisted Russia’s intelligence community does not know who perpetrated the Aramco attacks, but he also said that his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, has denied Tehran’s complicity in the attacks. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Riyadh and Washington blamed Tehran. However, Putin said: “It is wrong to determine who is guilty before it is known reliably and clearly who is behind this act,” Putin said, adding that he had agreed to help investigate the attack. “If someone may have wanted to deal a blow to the oil market, they failed. There were indeed some fluctuations in prices, but I do not think it was anything too serious, even though the initial response was quite strong. “We need to respond to any attempt to destabilize the market. Russia will certainly continue working with Saudi Arabia and other partners and friends in the Arab world to counter any attempts to wreak havoc in the market,” he said in an interview with Al Arabiya. Putin believes Russia can play a positive role in resolving regional disagreements, because of Moscow’s positive relations with the Arab world, Iranians, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaVladimir PutinMohammed bin SalmanSaudi Aramco Attacksiran nucelar dealSyrian conflictOPEC+ Putin to discuss oil, Iran crisis during Saudi visit‘Very exciting’ project to be unveiled during Putin visit to Saudi Arabia

Sun, 2019-10-13 09:15 DUBAI: Saudi Arabia is joining the 2019 FIRST Global DXB Challenge robotics event that Dubai will be hosting on October 24 to 27, the first time it will be held outside the Americas. The global event brings together more than 1,500 youth – who share a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) – from over 191 countries as they compete using robotics and artificial intelligence to address this year’s challenge involving the world’s most critical environmental issues such as wastage of water and energy, sustainability and pollution. Team Saudi Arabia will be represented by five students: Sulafa Al-Shehri, Fadil Younes, Ghala Al-Shamekh, Abdulaziz Al-Nutaifi and Jana Al-Zayer; and will be mentored by Dr. Kamal Chenaoua, a faculty member in the Department of Computer Engineering at King Fahd University with ‏Maysoon Homidan, a Computer Engineer graduate from Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University managing the team, information from the First Global website shows. Organized by the Dubai Future Foundation under the theme ‘Ocean Opportunities’, the FIRST Global Challenge focuses on developing robots to clean up the millions of tons of pollutants in the oceans produced mainly by factories, mismanaged sewage systems and marine activities, which adversely affect marine life and the environment. Watch the First Global video that profiles the team from Saudi Arabia:   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: First Global Challenge 2019 32 Saudi companies participating in Dubai’s GITEX tech weekSaudi Interior Ministry tech chief briefed on latest smart services for pilgrims at GITEX

Sun, 2019-10-13 09:37 RIYADH: Three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed during the opening session of the Joy Forum19 event at Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh on Sunday, which had a huge crowd of entertainment pioneers from around the world in attendance. The event, organized by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), is part of a push to put Saudi Arabia on the global map as an entertainment industry leader. The first agreement was signed by GEA Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh and Abdullah Al-Sawaha, the Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology; while the second pact was between GEA and King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. The third agreement was a financing guarantee program for small-and-medium enterprises. Turki Al-Sheikh, during the opening event said: “Our message is for both, locally and internationally. Me and my generation suffered a lot, we had lots of time on our hands.” “Today you are witnessing things we have never had in Saudi,” he said, “we have 300,000 visitors to our events and our sales have hit 80%.” Al-Sheikh added that: “Saudi Arabia has never seen anything like Riyadh Season we have over 400 sponsors and this is unprecedented.” The GEA head also beamed with pride regarding the results of the Saudi National Day festivities: “I am very pleased with the results of the Saudi National Day.” Al-Sheikh also said they have named a stadium after singer Mohammed Abdo, also known as the The Artist of Arabs, and also another after singer Abu Baker Salim, who is acknowledged as the father of Khaleeji music.  “We also bought 42 rides from Winter Wonderland,” Al-Sheikh said. Actor Jihad Atrash, who did the voice over for Grendizer, said during the opening discussions: “When we started our work in Lebanon a longtime ago in it was a time that Lebanon was at war, grendizer had a noble story to tell.” “This animation was a call to be proud of Lebanon and their work and subbing the program for the Arab World. First of all the idea of what you are seeing now in entertainment, we are tools by our leader implementing his plan.” Lebanese actor and TV dubber Wahid Jalal, who was the voice of John Silver of Treasure Island, also joined onstage during the opening event and and had this to say: “Children love heroes and they try to imitate them, in the past years we used to do voice overs for these movies animations.” He also regaled the crowd by doing another impersonation of Silver’s famous laughter.   #JoyForum19: John Silver’s famous laughter by Jihad Atrash has the @JoyForumKSA crowd going wild pic.twitter.com/tlM9GAiP3A — Arab News (@arabnews) October 13, 2019   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi Arabia GEA to launch Joy Forum19 in bid to make Saudi Arabia entertainment industry leader

Sun, 2019-10-13 11:45 DUBAI: Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and has condemned the recent attacks on the facilities of state-owned Aramco. In an interview with Al Arabiya, broadcast on Sunday ahead of his visit to the Kingdom, Putin said that he has “very good relations” with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Putin said that there has been a 38 percent growth in economic cooperation between the Kingdom and Russia. The Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have created a base of $10 billion, with $2 billion in investments, he added. Sibur Holding is looking to build a petrochemical complex worth more than $1 billion in investments, Putin said. Syria conflict Regarding the Syrian conflict, which started in 2011, Putin said they would not have been able to reach a positive outcome without Saudi cooperation. “We are working with Turkey and Iran to resolve the Syrian conflict, but without Saudi it would not be possible to come to a good solution,” he said. OPEC+ The Russian president said OPEC+ was the Crown Prince’s initiative to increase their cooperation in that field, and that he was the one who suggested o expand military collaboration between the two countries. Saudi Arabia is not just a regional but also an international player in the sphere of energy, and we care about our cooperation, he added. Putin added that anything that threatens energy trade stability must be stopped, and “we should work together” to stop it. Aramco attacks The interview discussed the attacks on Aramco facilities on Sept. 14, where Putin said Russia condemns any deeds of that sort. “Such actions do not bring any positive results to anybody, including perpetrators,” as they do not have a strong effect on the market, he said. However, Putin believes that it is essential that Saudi Arabia finds the evidence leading to the attackers. Russia will help with the investigations, he added. (developing)   Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaVladimir Putin Putin to discuss oil, Iran crisis during Saudi visit‘Very exciting’ project to be unveiled during Putin visit to Saudi Arabia

عادت قضية الناقلات الى الواجهة من جديد، ناقلة نفط تابعة لشركة ناقلات النفط الوطنية الايرانية تعرضت لهجوم قبالة ميناء جدة السعودي.. فما القصة؟ هناك تح...

قلَّد الرئيس الأمريكي دونالد ترامب أمام حشد من أنصاره، لهجة وطريقة كلام أحد الملوك العرب خلال مكالمة هاتفية سابقة، كان يبدي فيها الملك تعليقه على قرا...

نفى وزير الدولة للشؤون الخارجية السعودي، عادل الجبير، أن تكون المملكة وراء استهداف ناقلة نفط تابعة لشركة ناقلات النفط الوطنية الايرانية والتي تعرضت ل...

زعم مصدر مسؤول في وزارة الدفاع السعودية، امس السبت، بأن "التعزيزات العسكرية الأمريكية هدفها صون الأمن الإقليمي ومواجهة أي محاولات تهدد الاستقرار في ا...

يُكمل وليّ العهد السعودي محمد بن سلمان مُسلسل الإطباق على كلّ صوت يُخالفه. كلّ مفاصل السلطة بيده أو يد أبيه الملك، لا فرق. عَزَل من عَزَل، وسَجَنَ من...

سيصل المنتخب السعودي لكرة القدم هذا اليوم الى الاراضي العربية المحتلة لملاقات المنتخب الفلسطيني، زيارة لم يرحب بها الفلسطينيون واعتبروها نوعا من التط...

نشر موقع أمريكي، تقريرا تناول «عزلة» ولي العهد السعودي محمد بن سلمان، بسبب ملف اليمن واغتيال الصحفي جمال خاشقجي. ...

العالم - السعودية

Sun, 2019-10-13 07:30 Dubai: Saudi Arabia will welcome additional US troops and weapons, state news agency SPA reported on Saturday. The decision was made by King Salman and the Crown Prince, a source added. It signifies the cooperation between the Kingdom and the US to protect regional peace and deter any effort to disturb the stability of the region. The move also reinforces the historic relationship and strategic alliance between the two states. The Pentagon earlier approved the deployment of 3,000 additional troops and military hardware to the Kingdom, boosting the country’s defenses in the aftermath of attacks on its oil installations. US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has authorized the deployment of two more Patriot missile batteries, one THAAD ballistic missile interception system, two fighter squadrons and one air expeditionary wing, the Pentagon said in a statement. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi ArabiaUSMilitary cooperation Stricken Iran tanker snubs Saudi offer of helpSaudi Arabia affirms support to promote respect for international humanitarian law

Sat, 2019-10-12 23:57 RIYADH: “You know two years ago, no one would have ever expected us to bring in international touring artists into Saudi. It’s a new story, and we are spending a lot of time explaining what is happening (in Saudi Arabia) and talking about Saudi,” James Craven, president of Live Nation, told Arab News. “So, I’m trying to get some of these guys to come and see for themselves.” “I want the people in the industry to come and see the changes, come and see what’s happening and meet the people.” As for Craven, he has seen the true potential of Vision 2030 and the changes which have taken place in the Kingdom, “I’m hoping to encourage the guys we work with in the music industry from the US and London to come and see because I think they will be staggered at the scale and the operation behind the Riyadh Season.” “It’s something that I’m really keen to let more people see, to get them excited and engaged in what’s happening in Saudi; to me that’s really important.” “There is nothing more hospitable than the Saudi people. That’s a reality. We have a big team of people working now and they are from all over the world, including 10 Saudi interns.” he said The interns were part of a summer program that witnessed first-hand the festivals, music and large public events in the UK. These interns are now engaged in working with Live Nation for the Riyadh Season. Riyadh Season kicked off with the BTS concert, the largest BTS concert in the region with an audience of about 40,000. “Getting BTS is a huge win, because they are the most in demand.” Craven recalls when they first announced the concert, he was in Spain and it started trending in Spain about the Riyadh show. “I went on to look at that tweet and I saw 3k retweets in literally 3 minutes into the announcement and it just kept on going and going.” I’m hoping to encourage the guys we work with in the music industry from the US and London to come and see because I think they will be staggered at the scale and the operation behind the Riyadh Season. James Craven, President of Live Nation Still on the hush and not yet announced, more international concerts are coming to Riyadh, “There are going to be some great shows coming in work, but nothing can be bigger that the BTS!” However, he remarked that “absolutely fantastic shows” are to come for Riyadh Season, which will appeal to “different ages and demographics.” An announcement of the next Western show can be expected in the coming couple of weeks, he said. In other countries around the world the sales cycle for concerts would run 3 months before a show to see it sold out, while in Saudi Arabia in a matter of days shows will be sold out. He said that is “unusual and not typically how it works” around the world. However, this has proven true in Saudi, whether for last year’s Formula E or Jeddah Season. “There is no doubt that in Saudi, you can actually put it out on sale three days before a show and have it sold out.” “It (Saudi) seems to change weekly at the moment. I’ve been coming in and out of Saudi for almost nine years. To see what’s happening now is extraordinary. Just to see the joy that all the changes are bringing too, particularly to the young people, is phenomenal, whether that be music or theater or cinema or even just women driving, these changes are profound and you can see how it impacts on people’s daily lives. “We play a small part by bringing some content and music and it makes people smile, that’s a good thing. It’s an exciting time.” Riyadh Season has been announced as the biggest season Saudi Arabia has had yet, outstripping the Jeddah and Sharqiyah Seasons. With the opening of tourism visas and the huge range of activities, Riyadh Season expects to attract 5 million visitors. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: James Cravenpresident of Live NationRiyadh seasonBTSCulture and Entertainment Riyadh hums as Korean BTS deliver electric performanceK-pop boy wonders BTS primed to energise Riyadh stadium with all-action performance

Sun, 2019-10-13 00:12 VIENNA: Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Austria, held the inauguration ceremony for tourist visas to Saudi Arabia in Vienna, the Austrian capital. The event was attended by representatives of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, the Slovenian Tourist Board, members of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce, travel agencies representatives and Austrian journalists. “I am honored to share this historic moment with you. The Kingdom has recently opened its doors to tourists from 49 countries including Austria for a chance to witness its tourism, cultural and heritage richness,” he said. Prince Abdullah encouraged the attendees to discover the Kingdom, its cultural heritage, diverse and breathtaking nature and generous people. He did so by showcasing the Saudi sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List such as Mada’in Saleh, At-Turaif District in Ad-Diriyah, Historic Jeddah and Hail’s Rock Art, in addition to the unique characteristics that make Saudi Arabia a global tourist destination. He also spoke of the tourism activities and events, and of the Kingdom’s keenness to diversify its economy, exchange business, investment and trade opportunities and to support the tourism and heritage sector in line with the ambitious 2030 Vision. Attendees received a detailed briefing on how to get a tourist visa in 10 minutes. The e-tourism visa service is a new initiative from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage which allows citizens of 49 states to obtain visas through the platform visa.visitsaudi.com, or at the visa desk upon arrival in the Kingdom. The commission said that any tourist can obtain a visa through self-service devices, smartphones, or visa offices at entry inlets. The tourist can stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum 90 days during a given year. Almost 24,000 foreign visitors entered Saudi Arabia in the 10 days after instant tourist visas were introduced at airports in the Kingdom, according to the Foreign Ministry. China topped the visitor numbers with 7,391 arrivals, followed by the UK and US. Canada, Malaysia and Russia also had a significant number of visitors to the Kingdom. Significantly, the new visa system also allows ease of access for Muslims to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season without the need for a sponsor, as is the case with work permit visas. The newly launched visa system was introduced in a bid to create 1 million jobs in the Kingdom, as well as targeting 100 million tourists by 2030 as part of Saudi Vision 2030. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Austria Saudi interior ministry showcases e-visa kiosk at Dubai’s GITEXSaudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority continues to receive tourists through e-visa

Sun, 2019-10-13 00:20 RIYADH: Twenty young entrepreneurs have joined an elite Saudi enterprise program aimed at boosting their business startups. The innovators selected from throughout the Kingdom and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will take part in the three-month Misk 500 Accelerator Program. The training project, organized by the Initiatives Center of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Foundation (Misk) represented by Misk Innovation, was launched on Sept. 10, in Riyadh. Hundreds of entrepreneurs applied to participate in the special training scheme designed to develop their ideas and help make their companies business success stories. The selection process took place last July and the latest group will become the second wave of trainees after 19 startups joined the accelerator last May. It includes a program supervised by one of the largest global corporations supporting entrepreneurship and startups through training sessions and workshops in fields including communications, sales, client meetings, data analysis, recruitment, financing, and products and system building. Each successful applicant for the program will receive SR187,000 ($50,000). During the training period, the program supports creative ideas to help improve job opportunities and give promising young talent the chance to integrate into local and global business networks. Misk Innovation works to improve professional and skills training for youth, empowering them to acquire the necessary competences for the future and obtain top-quality international training in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. The ultimate aim is to help them launch business ventures that contribute to the development of their societies, countries and the world. Misk 500 supports startups in cooperation with Silicon Valley’s best business accelerator, 500 Startups. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Misk 500 MENA Accelerator Program Saudi Arabia’s Misk Academy Vfair helps alumni find jobsMisk offers Saudi students chance to enroll in top global universities

Sun, 2019-10-13 00:52 RIYADH: More than 1,000 media professionals from around the world are expected to attend a Saudi conference aimed at tackling some of the major challenges facing the industry. The Saudi Media Forum (SMF), organized by the independent Saudi Journalists Association (SJA), will take place in Riyadh from Dec. 2 to 3 under the title “Media Industry: Opportunities and Challenges.” It will include panels, workshops, and meetings bringing together intellectual, cultural, and media leaders to discuss the sector and exchange ideas. The forum’s theme aims to highlight the media as an interconnected industry and system, and focus on innovative, international experiences that have helped organizations adapt to the huge changes taking place in the sector across all media platforms. SMF president, Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, said: “We believe that the media industry as a whole is facing major changes and challenges today. Having a strong media presence within this environment is important for any country, as it is essential and an effective means of soft power that can influence real change at home and abroad. “The more media is considered effective and influential, the greater the effectiveness of the community it represents.” Topics to come under the forum’s spotlight will include the war on fake news, the changing face of journalism, and how to keep print media alive in a digital age. “The forum will act as a key platform for local media professionals to get exposure to media expertise and competencies from many countries. It will also give foreign media an opportunity to learn about Saudi Arabia’s true fiber, particularly in regard to the social and economic changes transforming the Kingdom today,” added Al-Harthi. The inaugural SMF will also provide the launch pad for the Saudi Media Awards, which the SJA hopes will encourage competition, innovation and creativity in the industry. Categories will include print, digital, and audiovisual production. “We still have a long way to go. However, initiatives such as the Saudi Media Forum and the Saudi Media Awards are a step in the right direction toward the development of the media industry in Saudi Arabia and across the region. “Through combined efforts and real-world knowledge exchange, we will continue to enhance Arab media as a whole, build a unique platform in which the changing paradigms of media are tackled, eventually affecting overall quality and freedom of press,” said Al-Harthi. Main category: Saudi ArabiaMediaTags: Saudi Media Forum (SMF)Saudi Journalists Association (SJA)Saudi Media Awards Shepard Smith leaves Fox News ChannelUkraine’s Zelensky ‘breaks record’ for world’s longest press conference