Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York

Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York
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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meeting with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on the sidelines of UNGA78 in New York. (SPA)
Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York
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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on the sidelines of UNGA78 in New York. (SPA)
Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York
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Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meeting with Dato’ Irwan bin Bahin Yusuf, second minister of foreign affairs of Brunei Darussalam on the sidelines of UNGA78 in New York. (SPA)
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Updated 23 September 2023
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Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York

Saudi foreign minister holds talks with French and Polish counterparts in New York
  • During the meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, they discussed ways in which relations between their countries might be enhanced
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan also held a meeting with Brunei’s second minister of foreign affairs

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, met his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday.

They reviewed the relationship between their countries and ways in which it might be enhanced and developed in a number of fields, along with the latest international developments of mutual interest, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministers also talked about opportunities for economic cooperation under the Saudi Vision 2030 development and diversification agenda, and the importance of supporting efforts to achieve common interests such as sustainable development, prosperity, and well-being, officials added.

In a separate meeting, Prince Faisal and Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rao, discussed bilateral ties and opportunities for economic cooperation under Vision 2030.

The prince then held talks with Brunei’s second minister of foreign affairs, Dato Erywan Yusof, during which they discussed ways to strengthen and develop relations and cooperation in various fields.

Also present at the meetings were Faisal Al-Ibrahim, the Kingdom’s minister of economy and planning, Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, and Abdulrahman Al-Daoud, director general of the Foreign Minister’s Office.


14th Gulf Theater Festival to showcase top plays, creators

14th Gulf Theater Festival to showcase top plays, creators
Updated 5 sec ago
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14th Gulf Theater Festival to showcase top plays, creators

14th Gulf Theater Festival to showcase top plays, creators

Riyadh: The Theater and Performing Arts Commission has announced that the 14th Gulf Theater Festival in Riyadh from Sept. 10 to 17 will showcase some of the region’s top shows and creators. 

At a press conference, the commission’s representatives said the event is aimed at fostering artistic collaborations and the exchange of expertise in the GCC. 

The event was attended by Sultan Al-Bazai, CEO of the commission, Khalid Al-Baz, general manager of the festival, and other officials.

The festival will feature six plays, as well as programs and workshops on topics including management and generating creative ideas. 

Notable plays include “The Sea” from Saudi Arabia, “I See You” from the UAE, and “On the Other Side” from Bahrain.

The Kingdom is hosting the festival, under the direction of Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, for the first time.

The commission’s mission is to host international festivals to enrich and promote Saudi Arabia and Gulf theater.


Initiative launched to enhance tourism education, training

Initiative launched to enhance tourism education, training
Updated 9 min 59 sec ago
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Initiative launched to enhance tourism education, training

Initiative launched to enhance tourism education, training
  • 102 programs to be assessed, boosting national and international standards

RIYADH: Saudi Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud has launched a comprehensive accreditation initiative to enhance education and training standards in the tourism sector.

The initiative will focus on improving educational programs and aligning them with labor market needs, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

Princess Haifa described the launch as a key step toward advancing the ministry’s goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

She said that 102 national tourism education and training programs would be assessed in 2024 by UN Tourism, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, and the Technical and Vocational Training Corp.

The goal is to help tourism institutions gain both international and local accreditations and professional certificates.

Princess Haifa outlined several targets: 31 programs will achieve national and international accreditation in 2024; 200 trainers and staff will receive professional certificates to teach and manage tourism programs; 37 Ministry of Tourism employees will earn professional management certificates; and 27 programs will gain accreditations in 2025.

She said that the ministry was working with local and international partners to meet the initiative’s goals, boosting the tourism labor market’s competitiveness, enhancing the Kingdom’s global tourism status, and providing job opportunities.

The ministry also introduced the Tourism National Occupational Skills Standards under the “Ahluha” initiative in June. This aims to establish professional standards to improve tourism education and training and address industry supply and demand gaps.


Saudi crown prince sends letter to Tonga PM

Saudi crown prince sends letter to Tonga PM
Updated 3 min 1 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince sends letter to Tonga PM

Saudi crown prince sends letter to Tonga PM

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sent a letter to Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, also known as Hu’akavameiliku, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The message was delivered by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Cabinet and Climate Affairs Envoy Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir at a reception.

Al-Jubeir conveyed the greetings and best wishes of King Salman and the crown prince to the country’s government and people.

During the reception, the officials discussed efforts to boost relations, including ways to tackle climate change.


3 arrested in Saudi drug busts

3 arrested in Saudi drug busts
Updated 52 min 51 sec ago
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3 arrested in Saudi drug busts

3 arrested in Saudi drug busts

RIYADH: Three people were arrested in Saudi Arabia and charged with drug trafficking, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

An Eritrean man was arrested in Jeddah in possession of hashish and was referred to the appropriate authorities, the SPA said.

Two Saudi citizens were arrested in the Eastern Province for promoting shabu, or methamphetamine.

Legal procedures were taken against them, the SPA added.


Registration opens for Ibdaa Scientific Olympiad 2025

Registration opens for Ibdaa Scientific Olympiad 2025
Updated 28 August 2024
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Registration opens for Ibdaa Scientific Olympiad 2025

Registration opens for Ibdaa Scientific Olympiad 2025

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as Mawhiba, has begun registration for next year’s National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa.

Intermediate and secondary-stage Saudi students can register for Ibdaa 2025 until Sept. 30, provided they have a scientific project in one of 22 national priority areas.

The Olympiad involves six stages: Student registration and training, project submission to the Mawhiba website, electronic project evaluation, local exhibitions and workshops, the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair, and selecting students to compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2025 in the US.

Mawhiba Secretary-General Amal Al-Hazaa has praised the partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Education for its role in fostering Saudi talents and enhancing students’ capabilities.

In Ibdaa 2024, Mawhiba selected 180 projects from 210,000 submissions, including projects in energy, materials science, chemistry, environmental engineering, biomedicine, health sciences, and plant sciences.

In the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024, 35 Saudi students competed against 1,700 participants from 70 countries in Los Angeles.