QASSIM: Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal praised the Global Center for Combating Extremism Ideology “Etidal,” which is a step forward in the fight against extremism.
In a press statement, the prince said King Salman is working to consolidate the basis of peace, the culture of moderation, and the spirit of harmony among countries, and to reject extremism and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Prince Faisal said the Kingdom is a major contributor to the fight through regional and international forums that tackle combating terrorism and criminalizing terrorist actions.
The Kingdom is also adopting laws and regulations that pertain to fighting and criminalizing terrorism, and modernizes and develops its security apparatuses.
Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia is proving to the world its seriousness in fighting terror through the successful security operations of the Interior Ministry under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif.
At the same time, the Interior Ministry is protecting society from the dangers of this “plague in the midst of our Muslim society.”
He also praised the launching of the Islamic Military Alliance, which aims to fight terrorism in all its forms, under the leadership of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Prince Faisal said the importance Etidal lies in the fact that, for the first time, world countries adopt a united stand and are seriously determined to combat the dangers of extremism, which threatens all societies.
“It is our duty to fight and protect people from the dangers of terrorism and extremism,” he said. He added that the Kingdom has adopted a preventive strategy whereby terrorism is addressed based on plans to fight extremism holistically.
He added that institutions must be modernized, and security strategies and the abilities of the security personnel must be raised, as these guarantee that subversions and terrorist strikes are stopped before they happen, thus protecting the nation’s citizens.
However, to be successful in eradicating the problem, it has to be treated at its origin, and that involves systematized economic and educational plans, involvement in the “battle” to rectify misunderstandings and building an civil society that is balanced and values human life.
Prince Faisal said: “God willing, Al-Qassim witnessed the launch of the campaign ‘Together against terrorism’ that fights terrorism intellectually at different levels. We need to fight it in the mosque, particularly during the Friday sermons, at schools and universities.”
Qassim governor: A new step in fight against terrorism taken through Etidal
Qassim governor: A new step in fight against terrorism taken through Etidal
Spanish PM meets Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza in Madrid
- Officials discuss efforts to stop Israeli aggression in Gaza Strip, Rafah
- Saudi FM thanks Spain for decision to recognize State of Palestine
RIYADH: Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday held talks in Madrid with the members of the Joint Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Gaza, headed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting, to discuss developments in the besieged Gaza Strip, was attended by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Palestine, Jordan and Turkiye and the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The committee members hailed Spain’s move to recognize the State of Palestine and vowed to keep pushing to secure Palestinians’ rights and promote peace in the region and the world at a time of extremism, violence and violations of international law, the report said.
More than 140 countries now recognize a Palestinian state, after Spain, Norway and Ireland made the diplomatic move on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed efforts to stop Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the city of Rafah, the importance of an immediate ceasefire and the introduction of sustainable humanitarian aid.
It also called for an end to illegitimate Israeli actions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in order to achieve a comprehensive peace, protect Palestinian rights and ensure regional security.
The meeting reviewed the committee’s efforts to support Palestinian statehood and take the necessary steps to implement the two-state solution in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and other international proposals.
The committee stressed the importance of the international community taking urgent steps to recognize Palestine to preserve the rights of its people and achieve security in the region.
Prince Faisal thanked Spain and said its move gave “hope in a very dark time.”
“We are here to say thank you to Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia for taking the right decision at the right time, for being on the right side of history, for being on the right side of justice with all the dark we are seeing as a result of the continuing human catastrophe in Gaza,” he said.
“This is the right moment to give a beacon of hope to the two-state solution, to peace, to coexistence and for that we thank you and we hope that others will follow suit because the only way forward is the path to peace and the path to peace goes through a two-state solution, through a state of Palestine that lives in peace and harmony with all its neighbors including Israel.”
First group of pilgrims from UAE arrives for Hajj
- General Directorate of Passports said it is harnessing all its capabilities to facilitate entry procedures for pilgrims
RIYADH: The first group of pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom from the UAE for this year’s Hajj was received at Al-Batha Passport Office on Wednesday.
The General Directorate of Passports said it is harnessing all its capabilities to facilitate entry procedures for pilgrims by supporting all entry points with the latest technical devices operated by qualified staff.
A total of 532,958 pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj as of Sunday, the directorate has reported.
Riyadh Travel Fair spotlights diverse tourism offerings
- Egypt, Georgia, Turkiye and more attract Saudi tourists
- The fair serves as a platform for tourism products, services and investments, attracting leading global companies in the field
RIYADH: Top tourism companies showcased their destinations to the Saudi market at the Riyadh Travel Fair, which ended on Wednesday.
Held from May 27-29 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the event drew top travel and tourism firms from Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider world.
The fair serves as a platform for tourism products, services and investments, attracting leading global companies in the field.
This year, Riyadh welcomed 250 exhibitors from 23 countries, including 13 tourism boards. New exhibitors included Georgia, South Korea, Egypt, Russia, and the cities of Almaty, Sarajevo and St. Petersburg.
Rusudan Kokoladze, a senior specialist from Georgia’s tourism promotion office, told Arab News: “This is the first time we are participating in the fair, and what we are looking for is to expand our relations with Saudi Arabia and increase the number of Saudi tourists to Georgia, one of the target countries for Saudis who want to see the picturesque beauty and coastline of the Black Sea.
“There is a direct flight to Batumi, so it’s really easy, accessible and safe to travel. It has UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks and attractive greenery, which makes it a popular tourist destination,” she added.
Elene Gogelia, chief coordinator of the brand development department at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, told Arab News: “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had 10,000 visitors per year from Saudi Arabia. Of course, the response from year to year has been very positive with an increase in the number of tourists.
“After the pandemic, this is the first year (2024) when in the first quarter alone we have hosted 6,000 Saudi travelers. This is an increase of 28 percent compared to the same time last year.”
She added that Saudi travelers are interested in the Black Sea coast resorts as well as winter ski resorts.
Mohamed El-Sherbeiny, general manager of the International Tourism Office at the Egyptian Tourism Authority, told Arab News: “We are excited to be here; Saudi Arabia is the third biggest market for Egypt. Last year, we received almost 1 million tourists from the Kingdom. We aim to continue the growth rate this year as well, reaching 20 percent more than last year.
“We believe we could achieve it because there is great interest from Saudi travelers to explore more of the northern coast in Egypt during the summer, as it is a wonderful place to relax.”
He said that Riyadh is now a hub for tourists, and “to showcase Egypt at the RTF is interesting.”
Faruk Caluk, senior adviser for tourism development at Visit Sarajevo, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia is a very important market for Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a lot of Saudi visitors come to our country. Earlier, we had visa issues, but now it’s solved and open for Saudi citizens, so we expect more visitors this year, and the RTF is a good opportunity.”
The Turkiye tourism and travel groups hosted a large delegation of hospitality partners at the fair. Additionally, the lead actors from popular Turkish series “Kurulus Osman” made an appearance — Orhan (Emre Bey), Cerkutay (Cagri Sensoy), and Holofira (Ecem Sena Bayir), as well as Gunkut Alp (Hakan Serim) from “Dirilis: Ertugrul.” The stars interacted with fans, sharing details about their work.
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation also took part in the fair. With 17 participants representing nine companies, Visit Maldives showcased the country as a premier travel destination to the Saudi market.
Saudi royal reserve abuzz over beekeeping program
- Program provides theoretical and practical training on the best methods for beekeeping and honey production
- As well as boosting economic development and promoting local products, it empowers young people by developing their skills
RIYADH: A “Bee Basics” training program by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority is offering qualifications and opportunities that will ultimately strengthen the local economy.
The program provides both theoretical and practical training on the best methods for beekeeping and honey production, reported Saudi Press Agency.
As well as boosting economic development and promoting local products, it empowers young people by developing their skills, introducing them to the latest beekeeping technologies and providing qualifications.
The training program is helping the authority achieve its strategic goals for community development, as well as building industrial leadership.
Once completed, trainees can obtain licenses from the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Water, allowing them to practice beekeeping and honey production on the royal reserve in accordance with environmental standards.
They are provided with items such as local beehives, beekeeping jackets and wax scrapers. The authority also provides technical support and consultations for a full year, as well as marketing services.
The royal reserve is well known for the quality of its honey varieties, such as sidr, talh, sayyal and shafallah honey. The authority provides places for beekeepers to set up hives in accordance with regulations that guarantee the preservation and sustainability of natural resources.
Since 2020, around 10,584 beneficiaries have shared honey industry funding of SR140 million ($37.3 million) from the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, also known as Saudi Reef.
Honey production in the Kingdom reached 3,120 tonnes in 2023, a 41 percent increase on 2021. The aim is to increase this to 7,500 tonnes by 2026.
Getty Images co-founder opens ‘Library Talks’ initiative in Riyadh
RIYADH: Mark Getty, the chairman and co-founder of Getty Images, was the guest speaker at the first of a series of “Library Talks” hosted by the King Fahd National Library in Riyadh.
The initiative aims to provide a monthly platform for thought leaders, experts and influencers from around the world to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In his presentation, titled “A Journey Through the Horizons of Technology,” Getty shared his insights on setting up and developing one of the world’s best-known visual media companies.
He spoke of the obstacles and challenges he has faced and emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of producers, authors and content creators.
Prince Faisal bin Salman, chairman of the library’s board, welcomed Getty to the Kingdom.
