https://arab.news/6y66u
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call on Thursday from his newly-appointed Dutch counterpart David van Weel.
Prince Faisal congratulated Van Weel on his appointment and wished him success in his duties.
During the call, Saudi-Dutch relations and regional and international developments were reviewed. Issues of common interest were also discussed.
MADINAH: A new seasonal dates marketplace has opened in Madinah’s Central Dates Market, offering 54 complimentary vendor stalls designed to boost entrepreneurship among young Saudis and support local families in business, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
According to SPA, this initiative reflects the organizing authorities’ commitment to enhancing participation from various community sectors and providing an enabling environment for developing small and medium-sized enterprises.
The two-month initiative operates daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., targeting job market entry for Saudi youth through accessible commercial opportunities. The program allows emerging entrepreneurs and startup founders to tap into the foot traffic at the popular seasonal dates market while engaging directly with consumers.
According to Ayman bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, regional director general of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture: “The 900-square-meter tent represents part of a broader seasonal markets framework. The system seeks to streamline dates commerce while maintaining transaction efficiency through comprehensive electronic documentation — a move designed to ensure transparency and protect the interests of farmers, brokers and buyers alike.â€
According to SPA, the free retail spaces enable youth and family-run businesses to participate in the seasonal economy, Al-Sayed said. Participants can showcase varied product lines, potentially increasing household incomes while strengthening their role in the local economy.
For visitors, the market offers access to authentic regional products known for their quality and diversity, creating an enhanced shopping experience that supports domestic production.
RIYADH: A project funded by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief is helping to provide vital sanitation and water facilities to thousands of families living in displacement camps across Somalia.
Abdullah Al-Muhaidli, secretary-general of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization, said the project was vital in tackling an urgent humanitarian need.
The initiative exemplified the vital role KSrelief played in supporting both Arab and international humanitarian efforts and partnering with other agencies, he said.
The lack of proper sanitation facilities and clean water poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of people living in displacement camps.
ARCO, represented on the ground by the Somali Red Crescent Society, is providing oversight of the project, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
SRCS President Yusuf Hassan said the scheme involved the construction of 750 sanitation facilities in Mogadishu, Baidoa, Kismayo, Galkayo and Bosaso.
He said the project represented a “leap†in efforts to improve environmental sanitation and curb the spread of diseases linked to inadequate water services, particularly in camps hosting thousands of families affected by conflict and drought.
He thanked KSrelief for its continued support for humanitarian projects in the Arab and Islamic world and for its efforts to serve displaced people.
RIYADH: The Saudi Fund for Development will give the Syrian Arab Republic 1.65 million barrels of crude oil, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi Fund for Development and the Syrian Ministry of Energy.
The grant will contribute to enhancing the operation of Syrian refineries and achieving operational and financial sustainability, support economic development and address economic challenges in Syria.
This will foster the growth of vital sectors and support national and international efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, SPA said.
The grant, issued on the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to contribute to improving the living conditions of the Syrian people.
RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Future Investment Initiative Institute announced on Thursday that its FII PRIORITY Asia Summit will take place in Tokyo from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the Tokyo summit will highlight partnerships and investment opportunities between Asia and the world, with a special focus on the GCC.
“We are honored to bring the FII PRIORITY Summit to Tokyo. Japan’s respected standing in the global economy, coupled with its commitment to innovation and sustainable development, makes it the ideal host,†Richard Attias, acting CEO and chairman of the executive committee at the FII Institute, stated.
“Together, we will highlight how collaboration with Asia can generate solutions that strengthen resilience and prosperity worldwide,†he added.
The presenting partner for the Tokyo summit is Japanese financial institution Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Group.
The SPA added that the full program will be released in the new few weeks.
The FII Institute was founded by º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Public Investment Fund and hosts the FII PRIORITY series to spotlight global leaders.
RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s aid agency KSrelief has distributed more than 1,000 food parcels to those most in need in Lebanon and Sudan.
A total of 456 packages of food aid were distributed among 2,280 people in Lebanon recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a further 580 food aid parcels were sent to displaced families returning to Bahri in Sudan’s Khartoum State, benefiting 3,917 individuals.
The aid is an extension of º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of those in need worldwide.
