Millstone attracts visitors during Dar Festival at Al-Mousa Heritage Village
Khalid Azeb Al-Zahrani: “The millstone is fundamental in old houses, and it is found in every house in the region’s villages for flour and grain milling"
Updated 13 July 2024
SPA
AL-BAHA: A traditional tool used to crush grains attracted visitors during the second Dar Festival at Al-Mousa Heritage Village in Al-Baha.
A millstone is a household item that families in the region once used to crush grains, doing the work of present-day flour milling machines.
Khalid Azeb Al-Zahrani, supervisor of Al-Mousa Heritage Village, said: “The millstone is fundamental in old houses, and it is found in every house in the region’s villages for flour and grain milling.
“It consists of two circular stones, placed on top of each other in an almost identical manner, while the upper part is slightly larger than the lower one. In the middle (between the stones), there is a small hole for entering the grains, which includes in its middle a pillar that maintains balance when rotating. At one end of the upper stone is a wooden pillar to hold and rotate during the process of grinding the grains.”
Saudi crown prince congratulates Algerian president on re-election
Updated 3 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Algeria’s incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his re-election during a phone call on Wednesday.
The crown prince wished Tebbounne success and the president thanked Prince Mohammed for his kind wishes.
Algeria’s electoral authority ANIE announced on Sunday that Tebboune had been re-elected with almost 95 percent of the vote.
More than 5.3 million people voted for Tebboune, accounting for “94.65 percent of the vote,” ANIE head Mohamed Charfi said.
Saudi leaders offer condolences after passing of Kuwait’s Sheikh Bader Nasser Al-Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Sheikh Bader died aged 70 and funeral prayers were held for him on Wednesday afternoon
Updated 11 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince offered their condolences to the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Tuesday after the passing of Sheikh Bader Nasser Al-Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
In separate cables of condolences, King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prayed that God have mercy on the deceased.
Prince Mohammed also sent a cable of condolences to his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah.
Sheikh Bader died aged 70 and funeral prayers were held for him on Wednesday afternoon.
Minister Mansour Al-Mushaiti urged GCC countries to ratify the Middle East Green Initiative charter and set national targets for tree planting and land rehabilitation
Al-Mushaiti said that GCC meetings had advanced environmental efforts and sustainable development in the region
Updated 11 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has emphasized the need for regional and international cooperation to tackle environmental challenges, particularly in rehabilitating degraded lands and boosting resilience to drought.
Deputy Minister of Environment Mansour Al-Mushaiti highlighted these points at the 26th GCC meeting on environmental affairs in Qatar, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Mushaiti urged GCC countries to ratify the Middle East Green Initiative charter and set national targets for tree planting and land rehabilitation.
He also called for increased support from GCC national development funds for vegetation projects.
Al-Mushaiti said that GCC meetings had advanced environmental efforts and sustainable development in the region.
He stressed the importance of addressing environmental protection, climate change, and balancing development with resource preservation.
Al-Mushaiti expressed the hope that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 in December would significantly impact global efforts to combat land degradation and drought.
He called for active participation from all GCC countries, international and regional organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chinese PM Li Qiang chaired a meeting of the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Committee on Wednesday
Updated 11 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang in the Kingdom on Wednesday.
A welcoming ceremony was held in the premier’s honor and the two leaders held an official session of talks shortly afterwards.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang hold talks on Wednesday. (SPA)
Later, the two leaders chaired a meeting of the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Committee. Aspects of joint cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China were reviewed, especially areas of political and security coordination. Opportunities in the fields of trade, energy, investment, culture, and technology were also discussed.
The crown prince and Li also discussed developments in the region and the latest international developments.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Chinese PM Li Qiang chair a meeting of the High-Level Saudi-Chinese Committee on Wednesday. (SPA)
Li left Riyadh on Wednesday evening and is due to visit the UAE this week.
Riyadh forum to discuss best practices in corporate social responsibility
Experts from around world to share strategies for sustainable business models, community empowerment
Updated 11 September 2024
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: Riyadh will host the Global CSR Forum on Oct. 28-29, promoting social responsibility and sustainability worldwide.
The forum aims to share global experiences, encourage discussions, and identify solutions to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the social responsibility sector.
The two-day event will feature more than 100 speakers and experts from across the world. It seeks to deepen understanding of corporate social responsibility and empower sectors to excel locally and internationally.
Mubarak Al-Bogami, director general of the social responsibility department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, said: “The forum is poised to deliver a powerful impact both locally and globally.”
He said: “On the home front, it promises to enhance corporate social responsibility efforts, while on the global stage, it will serve as a vibrant hub for showcasing and sharing best practices in CSR.”
Al-Boqami added: “The core message is clear: The Global CSR Forum is a catalyst for change. It is a space where companies from around the world can connect, share insights, and collaborate to advance social responsibility on a global scale. This collaborative approach not only benefits the environment and communities but also empowers businesses to thrive and achieve their goals.”
Mubarak Al-Bogami, director general of the social responsibility department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The forum’s diverse program will highlight key CSR themes, including the public sector’s role in supporting CSR initiatives, responsible business models, capacity building, and using technology to enhance social and environmental impact. It will also cover principles, standards, best practices for CSR compliance, and share experiences from various sectors.
Al-Boqami said that the forum would contribute to the knowledge economy in social responsibility by sharing the latest advancements and improving best practices.
“It aims to embed a culture of social responsibility across global sectors, share successful experiences, build strategic partnerships, and support individuals in developing specific social responsibility skills.”
He added that the forum would facilitate the exchange of global best practices for Saudi companies.
“Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in global indicators, securing leading positions in many areas. The 2024 Competitiveness Report from the IMD World Competitiveness Center highlights this progress, particularly in social responsibility, where the Kingdom now ranks 16th globally,” Al-Boqami said.
Saudi Arabia has launched several initiatives to promote social responsibility, including designating March 23 as Social Responsibility Day, which has gained international recognition for its impact on global efforts.
Al-Boqami said that the forum presented a valuable opportunity to align these efforts by fostering communication and sharing successes and best practices.
He added that with participation from experts across all sectors, the forum would support precise knowledge transfer and the refinement of experiences.
