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TEHRAN: Saudi officials arrived in Iran to discuss procedures for reopening Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad, the Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to end their diplomatic rift and reopen their diplomatic missions in March, after China brokered a deal to restore relations between the two countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping helped broker the deal, which saw a restoration of ties after Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran in 2016.
The visit on Saturday was part of “implementing the tripartite agreement” reached on March 10 between the two countries, the Saudi foreign ministry added, cited by Saudi Press Agency.
“The two sides emphasised the importance of following up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement and its activation in a way that expands mutual trust and the fields of cooperation and helps create security, stability and prosperity in the region,” a joint statement said.
When Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met in Beijing on Thursday they vowed to bring security and stability to the turbulent Gulf region.
RIYADH: The global multilateral Digital Cooperation Organization, which aims to enable digital prosperity by accelerating the growth of the digital economy, launched Diplomatic Connect, a platform to foster digital diplomacy for its member states and international partner organizations, in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday.
The DCO said it hosted ambassadors from its members and representatives of its partners at the inaugural DCO Diplomatic Connect platform to discuss diplomacy in the digital age, foster the exchange of ideas and encourage international cooperation on building the international digital economy.
Diplomatic Connect was opened by DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya, who emphasized the importance of multilateral, multi-stakeholder cooperation to achieve the mission of the DCO of supporting member states as they build prosperous and connected digital economies that will accelerate growth and development.
Commenting on the launch of the new platform, AlYahya said: “As we continue to navigate the challenges of the digital age, we recognize the critical need to bridge the gap between the digital world and diplomacy. That is why we are launching DCO Diplomatic Connect, a platform that provides a space for open and constructive dialogues among nations. Through this initiative, we aim to facilitate the sharing of best practices, knowledge, and experience to promote cooperation in the digital economy.
“By bringing together respected ambassadors from the DCO member states and international organization partners, we can work collaboratively to build a future where everyone can benefit from the opportunities presented by the digital age,” AlYahya added. “The DCO’s efforts in bridging the gap between digital and diplomacy through initiatives like DCO Diplomatic Connect reflect our commitment to fostering inclusive and cooperative approaches towards sustainable digital innovation.”
The focus of the evening was a discussion on digital diplomacy, led by Prof. Corneliu Bjola, an associate professor of diplomatic studies at the University of Oxford and the head of the Oxford Digital Diplomacy Research Group.
The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities of digital diplomacy and how it can be leveraged to advance digital cooperation and prosperity for all.
“Digital diplomacy is not a static phenomenon, but rather a dynamic and disruptive process, influenced by the changing nature of power and technology in the global context,” said Bjola. “Digital technologies have enabled new modes of diplomatic communication, collaboration, and representation, introduced new actors and stakeholders in the diplomatic arena and they have generated new agendas and issues for diplomatic engagement.”
The challenge facing ministries of foreign affairs and international organizations is how to effectively leverage these opportunities to foster robust digital cooperation within bilateral and multilateral contexts, with the ultimate aim of establishing a resilient and inclusive international digital order, added the professor.
The DCO, founded in November 2020, aims to enable digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy, bringing together the ministries of communications and IT of 13 nations — Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, The Gambia, Ghana, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Oman, Nigeria, Rwanda, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia — that collectively represent nearly $2 trillion in GDP and a combined market of nearly 600 million people, more than 70 percent of whom are under the age of 35.
JEDDAH: As Ramadan is a month-long celebration, many temporary businesses spring up during this time, which can be a good opportunity for people who want to try their luck at taking advantage of the momentum in the fasting month.
Experts believe that during the month of Ramadan, there is economic growth, not only for individuals but also for the whole country, due to high consumption in all sectors.
Ramadan is considered a lucrative opportunity by many who engage in selling products, particularly food items.
Trucks and stalls are a common sight all over Jeddah during the fasting month, offering a wide variety of food and drinks, the most popular of which include balila (boiled chickpeas), fried liver, fried potatoes, kunafa, fruit juices, sobia and coffee.
These stalls have become a prominent Ramadan feature, providing seasonal employment to entrepreneurs who take advantage of the night-long crowded streets and make extra money due to the high demand at this time of the year.
Twenty-year-old Abdullah Al-Majrashi, who specializes in making balila during the holy month, told Arab News that Ramadan is an opportunity for him and his brother not only to earn some extra cash but also to gain experience.
“It’s a great time to start up a business,” he said.
“What encouraged me to take up the initiative was the success of my friends who participated in last year’s Ramadan festival in Balad.”
His preparation for the stall lasts from the afternoon prayer until Maghrib every day. His average daily income from this business exceeds 500 riyals ($130), increasing during weekends due to the density of visitors.
Every day, stall owners at the busy Hamad Al-Jasser street in the Rawdah district of Jeddah enjoy business selling a wide range of goodies, from sambosa, sobia and desserts to traditional drinks.
Nineteen-year-old Badr Hawsawy, who sells the special Ramadan drink sobia on the side of the street, sets up his small business as early as noon and continues to trade until about 6 p.m.
He said: “Sobia is the favorite drink at iftar and we are, as a family, specialized in making it. This is the best time for me to make extra money.”
As we approached Hamadan Al-Rabghi, who owns one of the most famous stalls selling chopped liver, traditionally run by men in Balad, we could see a long queue of visitors waiting for their turn to get a taste of his fare.
Al-Rabghi, who took time off and was substituted by his son, told Arab News: “I have been selling fried liver in Balad for the last 20 years, and I think Ramadan is the month of blessing because we really make good business.”
He said it is a temporary job that generates money: “For many people like me, setting up a stall at these places is a means of earning extra income before the festive season.”
The 49-year-old said that business this year is much better than the last two years. He noted that there are more stalls in Balad now compared to before.
As our ride rolled to a stop in Balad, we noticed Ramadan stalls clustered close to each other and traders shouting loudly to attract customers.
RIYADH: A new online platform dedicated to gathering data and providing vital information on seismic hazards has been launched in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Geological Survey’s risk base platform will be the first scientific digital service of its kind in the country, generating statistics about ground vibrations and pinpointing vulnerable areas in a bid to support research analysts.
The initiative also aims to educate the public about natural occurrences such as earthquakes and provide advice and technical solutions on the potential risks.
Since its recent launch, the SGS has focused on specialized earth science matters, specifically in relation to the Kingdom, such as basic geologic mapping and general applied geoscientific studies.
The survey team has focused on mineral and groundwater explorations and the development of mineral resources, including the provisions of investment opportunities in mining.
SGS experts have also been feeding relevant scientific information and guidance to the Saudi government and other stakeholders gained using state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies.
Topographic and geological base maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery have become fundamental tools in geological surveys and mapping, helping to support mineral resource prospecting and applied geological activities.
SGS officials have stated that their objective will be achieved “by the continuous updating of geologic maps and their respective geoscience database entries, based on the results of ongoing geological surveys that cover all of the quadrangles of the Kingdom.”
ANTANANARIVO: A team from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, also known as KSrelief, met recently with Maj. Gen. Elack Olivier Andriakaja, director-general of the National Office of Risk and Disaster Management of Madagascar, along with other senior officials, to discuss the latest situation regarding humanitarian and relief affairs in the African country.
The Saudi team announced that Riyadh will provide $2 million worth of food aid to Madagascar.
Andriakaja expressed his gratitude to the Saudi leadership for providing aid to the needy. He also said the Kingdom was the first to initiate the provision of food aid to those affected by cyclones in his country.
Elsewhere, the center inaugurated the second Saudi volunteer life program in the border city of Reyhanlı in Turkiye to help those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye.
Since the start of the campaign, the center’s medical team has examined 121 cases of general surgery and orthopedics and performed six successful surgeries.
Separately, the center distributed 12 tons of food baskets in various cities in Bangladesh, benefiting 3,000 individuals from 500 families, it was reported on Tuesday.
MADINAH: Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman met with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, who earlier visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, on Thursday.
During the meeting, they engaged in cordial talks and discussed the friendly relations that bind the Kingdom and Brunei.
Earlier, the sultan and his accompanying delegation visited the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Madinah.
Upon his arrival at the museum, the sultan was received by Dr. Nasser Al-Zahrani, secretary of the museum.
The sultan was briefed on the various sections of the museum and shown a number of interactive presentations on the life of Prophet Muhammad, including the Hijrah, or migration, from Makkah to Madinah.