Saudi Cabinet welcomes successful effort to remove oil from FSO Safer
Updated 16 August 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi ministers on Tuesday welcomed the completion of the UN’s work to remove oil from a stricken tanker in the Red Sea.
The UN announced on Friday that it had successfully removed more than a million barrels from the FSO Safer, averting what could have been a massive environmental disaster.
Saudi Arabia, which has been one of the leading voices in calling for action on the tanker, said it appreciated the work of the UN and the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.
During the weekley meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the Cabinet reiterated interest in strengthening economic and investment ties with various countries in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030 and the unprecedented opportunities it entails in different areas.
It also commended the agreements signed between the Kingdom and various countries in Latin America in this regard.
The ministers backed the Kingdom’s emphasis, during the second G20 Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting held in India, on the success of the Riyadh Initiative for Enhancing International Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Cooperation.
They also commended the joining of over 161 anti-corruption agencies representing 90 countries to the initiative’s Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network).
The Cabinet praised the outcomes of the international Islamic conference hosted by the Kingdom within the framework of its keenness to serve Islam and Muslims, and its active role in consolidating solidarity and cooperation between Islamic countries in combating extremist ideas and promoting values of tolerance and coexistence.
Locally, the Cabinet approved the establishment of an agency named the Insurance Authority and an institute under the name the National Institute for Health Research.
Governor of the Saudi Central Bank said the that new Insurance Authority will work to develop the insurance sector by providing the appropriate environment to create strong insurance entities capable of competition and growth.
It will also support the stability of the insurance sector in particular, and the national economy in general, and ensure that the interests of beneficiaries and policyholders are not affected, the governor said.
The Minister of Health said that the National Institute for Health Research will contribute to attracting health investments, supporting scientists and researchers and enhancing health security.
Saudi rooftop event Fowg takes Riyadh nightlife to new heights
Music fans dance the night away at rooftop event featuring Italian DJ Lehar
Saudi music events company helps build loyal community
Updated 23 min 23 sec ago
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: At the weekend in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, a rooftop event featuring dancing and music with Italian DJ Lehar at the forefront attracted a packed house.
A handful of years ago, a scene like this was only a distant possibility in Saudi Arabia, but today MDLBeast and local creatives have left no stone unturned to make it a reality.
“It’s something beautiful when you have this impact … It was a dream, and now we see it on the rooftops,” Ayman Al-Zurayer told Arab News. He is the founder of the local music events company Desert Sound Entertainment, which brought the festivities to life.
Italian DJ Lehar headlined at Fowg during his third visit to Saudi Arabia. (Instagram/leharmusic)
Lehar, the well-known Italian DJ and producer who grew up in Venice and has performed at events like Tomorrowland, debuted some new tracks as well as ones from his labels. Having performed in Jeddah and Riyadh during his third visit to Saudi Arabia, Lehar said that even Europeans can learn from the booming music scene in the Kingdom.
“In just three years, I have to tell you I see things changing, especially the electronic music scene. It’s become one of the top capitals in the Middle East,” Lehar told Arab News. “The crowd understands everything; they can’t wait to dance. It’s a fantastic crowd.”
For the past few months, MDLBeast, the region’s music and entertainment platform, has made Thursdays a staple for weekly nights out at a unique location overlooking skyscrapers and eye-catching architecture through its first small venue activation Fowg, the Arabic word for “up” or “above.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Fowg music venue by MDLBeast is a unique location overlooking skyscrapers.
• For event updates check the Instagram @desertsound.co and @mdlbeast.
Rayan Al-Rasheed, senior artist booking and operations manager at MDLBeast, told Arab News: “We’re really trying to show that there’s a nightlife here in Riyadh … it’s been amazing. We collaborated with a lot of local brands to make this happen. We really wanted to integrate rather than compete with small businesses that are already on the ground and have communities.
“Desert Sound’s reputation (precedes them) — the amount of activations, the quality, the standard that they deliver. It just made sense to have them as the closing of this edition of Fowg.”
While MDLBeast has been pushing the envelope in the region to host international names, such as headlining its flagship annual music festival Soundstorm, this event sheds light on the locals, Al-Rasheed said.
Rayan Al-Rasheed, MDLBeast senior artist booking and operations manager
Desert Sound champions the same goal through smaller venues that host various artists within the EDM (electronic dance music) genre.
Unlucky partygoers were turned away at the gate of the sold-out show due to the enormous turnout, despite the event only being announced five days previously.
But it was not by accident that the house filled up. The majority of participants are ardent fans of Desert Sound, which distinguished itself by refusing to limit itself to a single-sound brand.
We really wanted to integrate rather than compete with small businesses that are already on the ground and have communities.
Rayan Al-Rasheed, MDLBeast senior artist booking and operations manager
Al-Zurayer added: “Since day one we’ve been trying to provide different experiences for people to trust the brand itself. No matter what we bring, where we go they will follow, and come because they know they’re going to have fun.”
Inaugural event Mars Escape headlined Dutch artist Satori and transported around 1,000 attendees to another dimension made distinct by live art, festival makeup and fire performances within a valley in Riyadh.
Reema Al-Saud, the brand’s co-founder, told Arab News: “We started small (with) whatever we could handle in order to make people safe, so we could control and see the community and make girls and guys feel safe. You can’t do that with a big number so we started there and slowly evolved until we reached 2,500 — and it’s not going to stop there.”
Al-Zurayer added: “Music is education. It connects people from different languages, different cultures, and here in Saudi Arabia developing our culture in this way … that’s such an amazing way to use music.”
Desert Sound’s next event will take place on Dec. 5 in yet another distinct location. The company champions bringing new names, whether local or international, to the stage through the platform it has created.
Al-Saud said: “We want to orchestrate every preference … Every day someone new comes up but they don’t get the chance because they’re not famous enough, or whatever. But when you give them the opportunity, they exceed in every way.”
Artist and DJ Joj was looking for a medium a year ago to focus on and she eventually found her calling to music. At Desert Sound’s milestone Fowg event, she opened up the night.
“I was going through a tough time and I needed this thing (music) to keep me going ... Tonight, I loved that there were a lot of women on the dance floor who gave me the push to go further,” she told Arab News.
Her set preceded musicians ANT. and Misha Saied, who played back to back before handing gears over to Lehar.
Desert Sound brings the underground scene to the public. It built its brand by hosting acclaimed international names, who are also part of the change to leverage the local scene.
Al-Zurayer said: “This is one of the keys to unlocking internationals to seeing Saudi Arabia as a country that has love and peace. We’ve been a secret country for many years, but now is the time to show them this love. Come and discover us.”
While Fowg has just concluded its gleaming nightlife series, Al-Rasheed said that other experiences will soon surface, including one to be held in the abandoned Irqah Hospital.
To keep up with updates and upcoming events, check the Instagram @desertsound.co.
Saudi Arabia’s Mawhiba, MoC commission launch youth creative writing scheme
The commission, operating under the ministry, plays a pivotal role in identifying and fostering talent, aligning its efforts with Saudi Vision 2030
Updated 57 min 19 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: A new initiative to develop the creative writing skills of young Saudi students has been launched by the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture, represented by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission.
The “Generation of Literature” initiative is targeting exceptionally talented middle school students, underscoring the significance of nurturing and harnessing their innate talents, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
With a focus on broadening knowledge of genres including science fiction, detective stories, children’s tales, short stories and essays, the initiative has enlisted more 150 students from regions across the Kingdom.
FASTFACTS
• The ‘Generation of Literature’ initiative has enlisted more 150 students from regions across the Kingdom.
• The nine-week program will be conducted both in person in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and virtually.
• It will focus on broadening knowledge of genres including science fiction.
The nine-week program will be conducted both in person in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and virtually, ensuring equal opportunities for students across Saudi Arabia.
The commission, operating under the ministry, plays a pivotal role in identifying and fostering talent, aligning its efforts with Saudi Vision 2030.
By empowering gifted students in the realm of creative writing, the authority aspires to create an inspiring environment that nurtures talent and creativity, and encourages literary expression among students.
Mawhiba delivers multiple enrichment programs for promising students, providing them with advanced scientific knowledge and experiences that both challenge and refine their abilities.
Mawhiba’s programs also promote efficiency and readiness, helping students take part in scientific and practical experiences rooted in international methodologies.
Students are prepared for programs sponsored by Mawhiba, both within and outside the Kingdom.
The “Generation of Literature” initiative is carefully tailored to align with the literary fields and genres suitable for the targeted age group.
Units are also able to aid men at Khawarezmi Middle School in Al-Jarda, and women in the Al-Jarda Compound for Girls in the Qilwah governorate for one day
Updated 7 sec ago
SPA
RIYADH: Mobile units help to provide services in 22 locations across the Kingdom, as part of the We Come to You initiative organized by the Saudi Ministerial Agency of Civil Affairs.
It also forms part of the We Exist scheme that serves governorates, centers and towns that are distant from civil affairs offices.
Mobile units help provide civil registration services such as issuing and renewing national identity cards or replacing damaged IDs.
These units are one of the most prominent means of providing service, helping to save both time and effort.
Help for men is available for two days at Al-Mald Middle School in Al-Baha and at Ali bin Abi Taleb Middle School in the Al-Hajrah governorate for one day.
Women can be helped at the Khadija School for Qur’an Memorization and the Zainab Bint Massaab Secondary Girls School in the Bani Hassan governorate, and at Hajrah Secondary Girls School.
Units are also able to aid men at Khawarezmi Middle School in Al-Jarda, and women in the Al-Jarda Compound for Girls in the Qilwah governorate for one day.
Fifth annual forum for ‘Families of Persons with Disabilities’ is underway in Dammam
Updated 53 min 29 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
DAMMAM: To coincide with International Day of Disability, Dammam launched the fifth annual forum for “Families of Persons with Disabilities” on Saturday with the slogan “economic growth.”
Under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Nayef, emir of the Eastern Province, who was on hand to personally lend his unwavering support to the hosting association “Liajlehu,” the event, that kicked off on Dec. 2, will conclude on Dec. 4.
With 50 speakers on stage — experts and specialists from around the Kingdom and the region — and seven academic talks, as well as numerous opportunities for dialogue and knowledge exchange, the forum serves as a support for families to empower their loved ones with disabilities.
HIGHLIGHT
This year, the emphasis was on using the latest developments in creativity, innovation and technological advancements to help elevate the economic growth for these families and for the entirety of the community.
This year, the emphasis was on using the latest developments in creativity, innovation and technological advancements to help elevate the economic growth for these families and for the entirety of the community.
Up the vast flights of stairs leading up to the Eastern Province municipal building’s hall — or through a wheelchair accessible path to the side — booths were set up to guide visitors to the various ways in which they may solicit more information to offer support and services to aid families who include a disabled person in their household.
The forum included practical ways for families to uplift their loved ones with disabilities and to offer a greater quality of life for them.
Speakers included Lamya Abdulaziz AlOmair, the head of AI and bioinformation at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, who spoke about how we should not let “fear of failure” stop us from experimenting with AI and using available tools such as ChatGPT to help communicate complex medical advancements.
She reminded the audience that some disabilities are physical and some are invisible and we should be mindful of each when considering the best method to support families.
Day one focused on the economic growth potential for those with disabilities with experts presenting their findings and recommendations.
Day two focused on investments and included a workshop on how art could be used as a healing tool and as a profession for those with disabilities. In the exhibition space outside the auditorium, artists with disabilities created art live and happily chatted with spectators as they passed by.
Day three will focus on talks to help families secure a more economically-stable future for their families.
In an attempt to make the forum inclusive, it is free to attend and a live sign language interpreter is on stage to immediately translate spoken words.
The live stream also includes closed captioning and the building is wheelchair accessible.
Prince Faisal and Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of sustained coordination between the two countries
Updated 03 December 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi foreign minister and Qatari Prime Minister and foreign affairs minister co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council in Doha on Sunday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani commended the cooperation and coordination demonstrated by the subcommittees and the working groups of the council's general secretariat in both countries.
Working groups of the council's general secretariat presented their progress on preparatory work and the outcomes achieved recently by the subcommittees and their respective working groups.
The outcomes encompassed targets, initiatives and memoranda of understanding that are to be signed during the forthcoming meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council, SPA added.
Prince Faisal and Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of sustained coordination to fulfill the aspirations of the leaderships and to advance the interests of the peoples of the two countries.
The Saudi ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan and director-general of the Foreign Minister's Office Abdulrahman Al-Dawood also attended the meeting.
