Saudi crown prince affirms support for Mauritania during official visit

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott on Sunday in his tour of the Arab world. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott on Sunday in his tour of the Arab world. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman landed in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott on Sunday in his tour of the Arab world. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, in Nouakchott. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, in Nouakchott. (SPA)
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Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed to enhance cooperation between both countries. (SPA)
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Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed to enhance cooperation between both countries. (SPA)
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Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed to enhance cooperation between both countries. (SPA)
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Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz hosts farewell reception as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departs Nouakchott. (SPA)
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Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz hosts farewell reception as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departs Nouakchott. (SPA)
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Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz hosts farewell reception as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departs Nouakchott. (SPA)
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Mauritania's president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz hosts farewell reception as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departs Nouakchott. (SPA)
Updated 02 December 2018
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Saudi crown prince affirms support for Mauritania during official visit

NOUAKCHOTT: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a meeting on Sunday with the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, during an official visit to the country.
The crown prince expressed his pleasure to visit the Mauritanian Republic and conveyed greetings from King Salman.
The crown prince landed in Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott on Sunday as part of his tour of the Arab world.
He expressed his “great satisfaction at the depth of the fraternal relations between the two brotherly peoples and reiterated their commitment to work hard to develop and strengthen them in order to achieve common bilateral interests.”
The two sides affirmed their firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab peace initiative and relevant international resolutions.
On Yemen, the two sides affirmed their support for efforts to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2216, the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism and the outcomes of the comprehensive Yemeni national dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Mauritanian president conveyed his greetings and appreciation to King Salman and renewed his country’s condemnation of any threat and attack on the Kingdom’s security. He also paid tribute to Saudi Arabia’s efforts preserving the region’s security and stability and its international maritime navigation.
The two sides also discussed the situation in Syria and Libya. 
Both countries affirmed their support for the efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and their keenness to preserve the unity and integrity of the Syrian and Libyan territories. They pledged to strengthen all that would guarantee both countries’ security and renewed adherence to stand firm against all policies aimed at undermining security and stability and stirring up religious and sectarian strife.

The plenary session was held in the presence of both countries’ delegations, where they reviewed bilateral relations, opportunities for cooperation, and regional developments.
Then, Saudi Minister of Information, Dr. Awad Al-Awad, announced a new initiative to establish the King Salman Hospital, a 300-bed hospital in Nouakchott, under the directivces of the Saudi leadership..
The hospital includes emergency departments, ambulances, outpatient clinics, surgeries, oncology center, cardiology center, dialysis department, obstetrics and gynecology department, pediatric department, laparoscopy department, laboratory section, intensive care department, diagnostic radiology department, central pharmacy, central sterilization and hypnosis suites.
King Salman also issued a directive to renovate King Faisal Mosque.
During the meeting the crown prince oversaw the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation between both countries.
The first agreement concerned the avoidance of double taxation, the second was a MoU for cooperation in the field of water and sanitation, while the third MoU was related to wildlife protection.

The agreements were signed by the Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, on behalf of the Saudi side, and the Minister of Economy and Finance Al-Mukhtar Ajay, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Eslam Ould Sidi El-Mokhtar and Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Amdi Kamra, on behalf of the Mauritanian side, respectively.
“The visit comes within the framework of the brotherly ties between the two countries and the historical ties between their two brotherly peoples, which was reflected their joint determination to deepen and strengthen cooperation in all fields,” said a joint statement issued by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir and his Mauritanian counterpart, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
On behlaf of King Salman, the crown prince extended an invitation to Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to visit the Kingdom. The republic accepted the invite and the date of the visit will be announced soon.
The crown prince’s visit to the north African country comes after he headed Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the G20 Summit in Argentina.
Mohammed bin Salman’s tour has included stops in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia before the summit in Buenos Aires. 


KAUST program inspires young scientific talent

Updated 7 sec ago
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KAUST program inspires young scientific talent

  • Space 2102 program hosted 150 outstanding students, aged from 13 to 15, from various regions, in a five-day event
  • Program included lectures, software training, and enrichment activities to guide and develop the students’ learning journey

RIYADH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology is creating new opportunities for young people in Saudi Arabia by supporting research and innovation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and space.

These efforts are part of the Space 2102 program, organized in partnership with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission and the Saudi Space Agency.

The program hosted 150 outstanding students, aged from 13 to 15, from various regions, in a five-day event, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

A team of international experts and KAUST faculty provided the students with training and education.

The Space 2102 program included lectures, software training, and enrichment activities to guide and develop the students’ learning journey.

Dr. Najah Ashry, vice president of the strategic national advancement division at KUAST, highlighted the success of the Space 2102 program, which aims to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of talented young Saudis in fields such as science, technology, and space.

KAUST’s early-onset enrichment activities help to engage the best young minds in the program, which improves the likelihood of science-based future leaders and entrepreneurs emerging and of a new era of leadership, research, and exploration in the Kingdom, the SPA reported.

The Space 2102 program concluded with a CubeSat challenge, where teams used technology to design and test their own missions. The focus was on using science and technology to address the conservation and rehabilitation of coral reefs in the Red Sea.


King Salman academy to host Arabic education forum in Seoul

Updated 06 May 2024
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King Salman academy to host Arabic education forum in Seoul

  • Scholars, teachers, linguistic experts will attend May 9 and 10
  • Discussions on curricula, teaching methods and Arab culture

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language is partnering with the Korean Association of Arabic Language and Literature and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to host an international conference in Seoul, South Korea.

The conference, titled “Challenges and Prospects of Teaching Arabic Language and Literature,” is set for May 9 and 10, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Participants will discuss key issues involving Arabic-language education globally and explore new approaches in response to evolving trends and needs.

The event will involve scholars, researchers and language experts; and will help promote Arab culture, the SPA reported.

The conference will focus six key areas related to teaching Arabic as a second language in Korea: modern methodologies, teaching materials, evaluation techniques, instructional strategies, and the current state of Arabic-language learning in Korea.

By bringing together experts and academics from Saudi Arabia, Korea and other regions, the conference is designed to assist Arabic-language teachers and non-native speakers.

The King Salman academy is also set to launch its upcoming international conference on computational linguistics.


Red Wave-7 naval drill kicks off in Saudi Arabia

Updated 06 May 2024
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Red Wave-7 naval drill kicks off in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: The Red Wave-7 naval exercise has started at King Faisal Naval Base, home of the Western Fleet.

As well as the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, taking part are countries including Jordan, Egypt, Djibouti, and Yemen, along with the Royal Saudi Land Forces, the Royal Saudi Air Force, and units of the Saudi Border Guard.

The commander of the Western Fleet, Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, said the drill aimed to enhance maritime security for countries bordering the Red Sea and protect territorial waters, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The drill includes a number of scenarios featuring exercises that offer significant training opportunities. There will be strategic lectures and simulated combat exercises designed to reflect potential real-world situations.

It will promote joint and combined operations, such as surface and air warfare, electronic warfare, and countering speedboat attacks. The forces will also conduct maritime security exercises, including protecting shipping lines and combating smuggling, terrorism, piracy and illegal immigration.

Al-Juaid said naval ships, helicopters, fast response boats, naval infantry, maritime special security forces and various types of combat aircraft would all be deployed over the duration of the drill.


Hareed Festival: A window into the heart of the Farasan Islands

Updated 06 May 2024
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Hareed Festival: A window into the heart of the Farasan Islands

  • Annual event highlights tourism potential

Riyadh: The Farasan Islands, a string of coral islands nestled 40 km off the coast of Jazan in the Red Sea, have been abuzz with activity recently as they hosted the 20th Hareed Festival.

This vibrant annual event celebrates the arrival of parrotfish, also called hareed, in the islands’ shallow waters, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The islanders have cherished this event for generations, transforming it into a social gathering that goes well beyond the arrival of the fish.

Visitors to the festival got a glimpse of the islands’ rich cultural heritage as it showcased the area’s unique customs, traditions, folk games, and handicrafts. It also focused its spotlight on Farasan’s remarkable tourism potential and historic sites.

Al-Dana provides one of the highlights. It is a captivating form of vocal art that is one of Farasan’s oldest folk traditions. It forms a poignant expression of longing, a result of the hardships endured by sailors on extended pearl-diving expeditions. The challenges faced by these brave men fueled the art form, which is deeply rooted in Farasan’s cultural identity.

The annual festival also gives an opportunity for Farasan residents to display their traditional handicrafts. Visitors can watch the making of fishing traps and nets, the intricate weaving of palm fronds, the creation of bags and rugs, and hat knitting.

A designated area at the hareed fishing site catered to families and children. Visitors could experience the thrill of catching parrotfish using a traditional method that involved setting up barriers to prevent the fish from escaping. This competition, a centuries-old tradition, allowed families to connect with the region’s fishing heritage.

Farasan’s most renowned tourist attractions highlighted the islands’ potential for tourism.

Al-Qassar village, which is located only 5 km from Farasan Grand Island, is a popular tourist site. This heritage village, which is built of stone and palm leaves, is home to the archipelago’s largest palm oasis.

Al-Qassar has served as a summer retreat for Farasan residents. People travel by camel to spend a three-month break in the village during the season of Al-Asef, the northwestern summer wind that comes after the hareed fishing season.

Famous for its abundance of fresh groundwater, Al-Qassar village comprises around 400 houses. These unique dwellings, with stone walls and roofs made of palm tree planks, leaves, doum palm, or anisotes trisulcus branches, topped with algae and mud, are made by traditional building techniques designed to withstand the elements.

The Hareed Festival is a window into the heart and soul of the inhabitants of the Farasan Islands; a celebration of culture, tradition, and the islands’ natural beauty.


Saudi Border Guard arrest 4 attempting to smuggle qat

Updated 06 May 2024
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Saudi Border Guard arrest 4 attempting to smuggle qat

JAZAN: The Kingdom’s Border Guard in Al-Ardah, Jazan, recently arrested four Yemeni nationals attempting to smuggle 80 kg of qat into the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Mostly chewed by users, Qat is a mild stimulant and illegal across most of the Arab world.

The government has urged citizens and residents to report any information they have regarding drug smuggling or sales to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control. Reports can be made by calling 911 for Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 for other regions. Alternatively, information can be emailed to [email protected]. All reports are treated confidentially.