RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman sent a message of condolences and sympathy to Brazilain President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, following the floods that swept the state of Rio Grande do Sul that killed and injured several people and left a number missing, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
“We learned of the news of the floods that swept through the state of Rio Grande do Sul, south of the Federal Republic of Brazil, and the resulting deaths, injuries, and missing persons,” the king said.
He added: “We share Your Excellency’s pain of this tragedy, and we send to you, to the families of the deceased, and to your friendly people, our warmest condolences and sincere sympathy, wishing that the missing will return safely and the injured a speedy recovery.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also sent a similar cable to the Brazilian president.
Heavy rains and flooding in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since last week also have left 128 people missing, authorities said. More than 230,000 have been displaced, and much of the region has been isolated by the floodwaters.
(With AP)
Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Brazilian president over flood victims
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Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Brazilian president over flood victims
Jeddah waterfront renovated by PIF-owned ROSHN
- The area, opened in 2017 and renamed ROSHN Waterfront in 2022, contains a range of amenities, attractions and entertainment activities
- The new waterfront will be revealed to the public in early June
JEDDAH: Jeddah’s popular waterfront promenade has been renovated by Saudi developer and owner ROSHN.
The area, opened in 2017 and renamed ROSHN Waterfront in 2022, contains a range of amenities, attractions and entertainment activities.
More than 55 million people visit the site each year.
ROSHN, which is wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, said the renovation will enhance community participation, empower creative people and improve the public landscape.
The facade walkway will feature a community painting by Saudi artists that celebrates the features of the Red Sea city of Jeddah and the distinctive elements that represent the work of ROSHN.
The walkway is 3,200 meters long and five meters wide, covering a total area of 16,000 sq. meters.
More than 200 volunteers from Jeddah are working on implementing the new design of the walkway, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The new waterfront will be revealed to the public in early June.
Over recent months, ROSHN has hosted a competition to encourage Saudi artists to submit designs for walking, running and bicycle paths on the walkway.
Ghada Al-Rumayan, executive director of marketing and communications at ROSHN, said: “The waterfront has become one of the most famous tourist places in Jeddah, and we are keen to ensure that our efforts in improving the quality of life for everyone are in line with our commitment to supporting Saudi art and artists.”
The renovation will highlight the spirit of the city of Jeddah and present a “stunning artistic painting that embodies the beauty of Saudi art,” she added.
Saudi education ministry, SDAIA sign SR440m deal to establish educational endowment portfolio
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority to establish an educational endowment portfolio.
SDAIA was represented by the national platform for charitable work, Ihsan.
The portfolio, which will support both general and university-level education, saw contributions on the first day reach SR440 million ($117.3 million), the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The MoU was signed by CEO of the Ihsan platform Ibrahim Al-Husseini and Director-General of the General Department of Social Responsibility and Voluntary Work Mishari Al-Juwairah.
Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and Vice President of SDAIA Sami Muqeem were also present at the signing.
The deal aims to enhance cooperation between the ministry and Ihsan to activate a group of joint educational programs and initiatives, build a promising generation whose educational needs are met, and enable different segments of society and donors to contribute to supporting education programs and initiatives, including developing educational organizations related to data science and artificial intelligence.
Following the signing of the MoU, seven Saudi universities contributed to the portfolio with a total of SR320 million, with SR50 million each from Umm Al-Qura University, Jeddah University, Islamic University of Madinah, Dar Al-Hekma University, Hail University, and University of Tabuk, while Taif University donated SR20 million.
Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Khudair contributed SR70 million toward developing educational organizations and supporting capacity-building and academic programs directed at the non-profit sector.
The King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Education to support the sustainability of university educational endowments to the amount of SR50 million as a contribution to the portfolio.
The proceeds were returned to the university endowments, bringing the total contributions to the portfolio through Ihsan to SR440 million.
Since its launch, the Ihsan platform’s donations have reached more than SR7 billion, benefiting over 4.8 million beneficiaries in various charitable and development fields, including over 1.6 million beneficiaries in the educational field.
New Korean consul general hosts annual cultural festival in Jeddah
- Volunteers welcomed visitors with samples of Korean pear, Ginseng tea, and dried persimmons
- Visitors also had a chance to try traditional clothes, like the multi-layered hanbok for women, and take pictures at the photoshoot area
JEDDAH: Newly appointed Consul General of South Korea Woo Hong-Koo and the Korean International School in Jeddah recently held their annual cultural festival at the school, drawing the participation of over 500 visitors.
The festival introduced locals to Korean heritage and culture through crafts, food, music, talent shows, games, and traditional clothing.
Volunteers welcomed visitors with samples of Korean pear, Ginseng tea, and dried persimmons.
“This is my first time trying the dried persimmons,” said Heba Al-Zubairy, 32. “I love dried fruits, and this one is joining the fruits I like. It’s really sweet and melts in your mouth. I really like it.”
Visitors also had a chance to try traditional clothes, like the multi-layered hanbok for women, and take pictures at the photoshoot area.
At the handicraft section, festivalgoers made paper fans and wind chimes, while the culinary section introduced locals to Korean favorites like bibimbap — a dish of steamed rice with vegetables, mushrooms, meat, and fried egg — and kimbap, steamed rice wrapped in a sheet of dried seaweed with vegetables or meat and topped with sesame seeds.
“I made both dishes because I wanted to try the flavors of Korean cuisine,” said Fatema Elbathy, 28. “I didn’t know making healthy and delicious food was this simple.”
Taghreed Al-Sulaimani, 23, said: “I only made kimbap because it’s easy to make and it’s my comfort food, you can say.”
Attendees also had the chance to play Korean instruments like the janggu (a double-faced drum), jing (a gong hung on a frame), kkwaenggwari (a hand-held gong), and buk (a single-faced drum) — the main four instruments used in traditional cultural celebrations in Korea.
The new consul general in his speech thanked the people, saying: “On behalf of the Korean residents of Jeddah, I welcome you all here at the Korean Cultural Festival. I am delighted to gather with all of you here at the Korean International School, where we had the opportunity to serve Korean food and products. I hope it comes to your liking.
“They say, ‘You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed,’” he continued. “Maybe I could count the number of people attending this festival, but I can’t count the amount of love each of you holds in your heart for Saudi Arabia and Korea.
“I hope the festival could help in deepening your love and interest for Korean culture, so you can become the bridge that connects the two countries.”
The talent show featured a number of participants who performed Korean pop songs, and the night concluded with three winners who received prizes and lucky draws for 30 people, who received gifts representing Korean culture.
Road cooling initiative expanded to area around Arafat’s Namirah Mosque
- 25,000 square meters around Namirah mosque are being covered in a cool pavement material that absorbs less solar radiation than regular materials
RIYADH: An asphalt surface cooling initiative has been expanded to the area surrounding the Namirah Mosque in Arafat, the Roads General Authority said on Thursday.
25,000 square meters around the mosque, the second largest in the Makkah region after the Grand Mosque, are being covered in a cool pavement material that absorbs less solar radiation than regular materials.
During the day, roads absorb heat that can reach up to 70°C. Roads then release this heat at night, causing a phenomenon known as the “Urban heat island effect” which leads to increased energy consumption and air pollution.
“Cool pavements,” made from locally produced materials capable of absorbing less solar radiation by reflecting it, are being used to lower surface temperatures, the authority said.
Using the “cool pavements” material around the Namirah Mosque, where many pilgrims will pray the Dhuhr and Asr prayers on the second day of Hajj and its pinnacle, will reduce the temperature around them while they walk, the authority said.
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal speaks with Iranian acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani
- Kani has been the acting foreign minister since last week, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday.
During the call, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Kani discussed relations between the two countries, ways to enhance them, and regional and international developments, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Kani has been the acting foreign minister since last week, following the death of his predecessor Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in a helicopter crash, which also killed President Ebrahim Raisi.
