RIYADH: The third Saudi Media Forum, which takes place from Feb. 19-21 in Riyadh, will put the focus on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the perceived bias of the Western media.
A dedicated session called “Gaza in the Media: Between Misrepresentation and Bias” will analyze allegations of the Western media’s partiality toward Israel and the inaccuracies in its portrayal of the Gaza conflict.
The session will aim to uncover the dimensions of the Western media in its coverage of the Gaza war, with the participation of journalists, media professionals, and senior officials.
Former Kuwaiti Minister of Information Saad bin Tefla Al-Ajmi; Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat Ghassan Charbel; and Assistant Secretary-General and Supervisor of the Media and Communication Sector at the Arab League Ahmed Khattabi are some of the participants in the dialogue.
The session will explore several key aspects, including how the media handles events in Gaza amid Western misrepresentation and bias.
It will delve into the Arab media’s utilization of events in Gaza to reiterate the Palestinian cause to the international political and media stage.
It will also examine how the events in Gaza pose a genuine test for the media, showcasing examples of Arab journalists’ experiences with the Palestinian issue.
The forum, which is a collaboration between the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the Saudi Journalists Association, expects more than 2,000 participants from around the globe.
It will also host the “Future of Media Exhibition,” the largest such exhibition in the Middle East, with over 200 local and international companies participating.
Sessions will cover various media domains, including sports, the economy, entertainment, and tourism, and their relationship with the applications of intelligence and media practices.
Global sports journalism will take center stage at the forum with Gianni Merlo, president of the International Sports Press Association, and Jose Felix Diaz, editor-in-chief of Marca newspaper, among participants at the sessions.
The parties will discuss the Kingdom’s experiences in “Saudi Sports: Grand Transformations from Local to Global.” They will explore the relationship between sports and media, the soft power it yields, and the role of sports media coverage in shaping national identity and international perceptions.
An awards ceremony to celebrate media innovation and creativity will conclude the forum.
Bringing together the region’s top media and entertainment professionals, the forum — which boasts over 30 sessions — aims to establish communication bridges with various specialized media institutions.
Its goal is to elevate the quality of media and entertainment production, keeping pace with ever-evolving technological advances.
Additionally, the forum seeks to enhance the Saudi media industry and strengthen the Kingdom’s position globally in the rapidly evolving media landscape.
Gaza tragedy, Western media bias top agenda at Saudi Media Forum next week
https://arab.news/wg3eu
Gaza tragedy, Western media bias top agenda at Saudi Media Forum next week
- ‘Gaza in the Media: Between Misrepresentation and Bias’ will analyze allegations of the Western media’s partiality toward Israel
- The forum expects more than 2,000 participants from around the globe
Saudi foreign minister praises China’s support for Gaza ceasefire efforts
- Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave
BEIJING: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday praised China’s support for efforts to end the war on Gaza and push for the two-state solution.
In his address at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an uninterrupted flow of aid into the enclave.
He called for deeper cooperation to establish a reliable and irreversible path to the two-state solution, noting that constant dialogue is crucial for achieving regional peace.
He rejected foreign interference in the Middle East and called for efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
China hosted a summit on Thursday focusing on the Israel-Hamas war in which Chinese President Xi Jinping promised more humanitarian aid in Gaza and called for an international peace conference.
The summit, attended by heads of state from Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain and Tunisia among others, was set to address China’s expanding trade ties and security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war.
KSrelief extends training, water, health projects in Yemen
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief is extending its training, food and health projects for vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In Taiz and the Hadramout governorate, the agency launched a life-skills program for orphans and women, which including sewing, managing businesses, and maintaining mobile phones.
In Aden, KSrelief concluded a training program on community cohesion in cooperation with the UN Development Programme, covering peace committees, conflict resolution and mediation.
In addition, the aid agency distributed 634 food parcels to 4,438 individuals in Aden.
In Hodeidah, 2,600 personal hygiene bags were delivered to displaced people in the Al-Jisha and Bani Jaber camps.
KSrelief also signed a deal with a civil society organization in Taiz to dig a well in the area that would benefit 3,150 individuals.
In Socotra governorate, KSrelief signed a pact with a civil society organization to construct a tank that would supply clean water to villages.
Saudi Railways announces increased seating capacity of Haramain High-Speed Train for Hajj season
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia Railways on Wednesday announced the readiness of the Haramain High-Speed Railway to receive pilgrims for this year’s Hajj season and said it has increased the number of available seats by about 100,000.
SAR revealed its operational plan for the season at its five stations linking Makkah to Madinah, bringing the total number of seats to 1.6 million, up from more than a 1.3 million seating capacity last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The 453-kilometer railway passes through the main Jeddah station in the Sulaymaniyah district, King Abdulaziz Airport station in Jeddah, and King Abdullah Economic City.
“This expansion also considers the addition of more than 430 new trips to last year’s trips, raising the number of trips scheduled in the operational plan for this year to more than 3,800” from May 9 to June 25, while the numbers of trips on peak days will be 126, SPA said.
The Haramain High-Speed Railway train ranks among the 10 fastest electric trains globally. It reaches 300 km per hour, and operates a fleet of 35 trains, with a capacity of 417 seats per train. It functions based on an environment-friendly system and zero carbon emissions, and plays an important role in preserving roads’ infrastructure by reducing road traffic.
Islamic Ministry unites volunteers to serve pilgrims
- The initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote a culture of volunteering within communities
MAKKAH: Almost 5,000 people are set to volunteer for programs launched by the Makkah arm of the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The branch has launched 247 opportunities via its volunteering platform to coincide with the start of the Hajj season. These include distributing more than 235,000 water bottles at 3,850 mosques, providing umbrellas to pilgrims for protection against the sun, distributing booklets and providing meals.
The initiative is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote a culture of volunteering within communities.
Earlier, the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque launched its operational plan for Hajj, promoting voluntary and humanitarian work.
It recognizes the Two Holy Mosques as attractive environments for such efforts, based on religious and Saudi values that highlight the importance of generosity and hospitality.
Al-Jubeir meets US, Costa Rica officials in Riyadh
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and climate envoy Adel Al-Jubeir met Robert Karem, national security adviser to US Senator Mitch McConnell, on Wednesday in Riyadh.
In a separate meeting, Al-Jubeir met Costa Rica’s non-resident ambassador to the Kingdom, Francisco Chacon Hernandez.
The talks in both meetings centered on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
