Saudi foreign ministry welcomes ICJ ruling on Gaza

Update The UN’s top court ICJ in The Hague, which issued an interim ruling in a case brought by South Africa against Israel last year, stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza. (Reuters)
The UN’s top court ICJ in The Hague, which issued an interim ruling in a case brought by South Africa against Israel last year, stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in Gaza. (Reuters)
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Updated 27 January 2024
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Saudi foreign ministry welcomes ICJ ruling on Gaza

Saudi foreign ministry welcomes ICJ ruling on Gaza
  • UN’s top court issued interim ruling in case brought by South Africa against Israel

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s welcoming of a preliminary decision issued by the International Court of Justice on Friday, which aimed to stop any practices and statements aimed at genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The UN’s top court, which issued an interim ruling in a case brought by South Africa against Israel last year, stopped short of ordering a ceasefire in the enclave, but demanded that Israel attempted to limit deaths and damage caused by its military offensive there.

The foreign ministry expressed the Kingdom’s categorical rejection of the practices of the Israeli occupation and violations of the UN Convention on Genocide.

The ministry also praised the efforts of South Africa and stressed the importance of the international community taking further measures to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, providing protection for the Palestinian people, and holding the Israeli occupation forces accountable for any violations of international law.

Elsewhere in the Arab world, Qatar’s foreign ministry “welcomed the provisional measures” ordered by the ICJ, calling them a “victory for humanity... and international justice.”

Kuwait welcomed an “important step” in the conflict, emphasising the “imperative” for Israel to “respect this decision as well as the principles of international law, humanitarian law and UN resolutions,” according to a foreign ministry press release.

The UAE also welcomed the ICJ’s preliminary rulings and reaffirmed the importance of providing protection for civilians, and ensuring the entry and delivery of humanitarian and relief aid urgently, sustainably and without impediment.

Through a foreign affairs ministry statement, the UAE also reiterated the importance of achieving the two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state.


Platform inspires children to learn about Saudi cultural heritage

Platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms. (MoC)
Platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms. (MoC)
Updated 5 sec ago
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Platform inspires children to learn about Saudi cultural heritage

Platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms. (MoC)
  • Initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader children’s program aimed at nurturing national pride by providing gateway for children to explore their cultural heritage

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has launched the Child’s Culture digital platform to spark children’s interest in Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.

The platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Young explorers can delve into various sections, such as Cultural Monuments, which showcases iconic heritage sites; Cultural Luminaries, which introduces influential Saudi figures; and Cultural Recommendations, which features weekly updates on cultural experiences.

The Puzzle Game section challenges players to assemble fragments of paintings from different regions to reveal a complete masterpiece.

Catering to auditory learners, the platform offers the “Podcast Tawela,” with content tailored to capture the imagination of young audiences.

The platform also offers a variety of training activities to nurture children’s cultural talents. These include Be Creative with Your Handwriting with Arabic Poetry, which provides handwriting lessons for young Arabic learners; Let’s Discover Culture Together, a coloring book that introduces children to cultural concepts through art; and The Little Writer, which guides children in writing and composition.

The initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader children’s program aimed at nurturing national pride by providing an accessible and engaging gateway for children to explore their cultural heritage.

Through innovative and interactive content, the platform fosters knowledge, skills development, and a deep appreciation of Saudi culture and identity.

The platform is accessible at moc.gov.sa/en/Modules/Pages/Child-Culture.


Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia face legal action for social media violations

Saudi Ministry of Health
Saudi Ministry of Health
Updated 8 min 55 sec ago
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Healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia face legal action for social media violations

Saudi Ministry of Health
  • Ministry found video clips violating healthcare regulations and professional ethics, SPA reported Sunday
  • In response, the ministry initiated legal proceedings with the relevant authorities, referring cases for regulatory action

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health has taken action against several healthcare practitioners who posted inappropriate content on social media.

The ministry found video clips violating healthcare regulations and professional ethics, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

Violations included posting indecent content, using improper language, breaching workplace policies, mistreating patients and sharing an inappropriate video featuring a hospitalized patient.

The offending practitioners were identified in Riyadh, Jazan and Tabuk, the SPA reported.

In response, the ministry initiated legal proceedings with the relevant authorities, referring cases for regulatory action.

The enforcement supports the ministry’s role in upholding professional standards, healthcare quality and patient rights.

“This action stems from our commitment to ensuring compliance with professional standards in healthcare practice,” the ministry said.

It emphasized that healthcare professionals must comply with regulations to serve public and individual interests while respecting dignity and safety.

The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties’ Code of Medical Ethics prohibits patient filming except for approved purposes, with violations risking license revocation. Practitioners are also barred from self-promotion except in authorized cases.

Under the Cybercrime Law, violators face severe penalties, including up to five years in prison and fines of up to SR3 million ($799,000) for producing content that breaches public values.


Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars

Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars
Updated 58 min 41 sec ago
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Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars

Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on Gaza, Lebanon wars

RIYADH: Arab and Muslim leaders will convene in Saudi Arabia for a summit scheduled for Monday that will focus on Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.  

“The escalating violence in the Palestinian and Lebanese territories, including the brutal Israeli aggression, has compelled Arab and Islamic leaders to take urgent action,” read a statement on SPA.

The summit builds on the Arab-Islamic summit to be held in Riyadh will address the dangerous and unprecedented developments in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories.

“This requires solidarity among Arab and Islamic nations to confront these challenges and mitigate their consequences,” SPA added.

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, Palestine, and any other interested countries, along with the secretaries-general of the Arab League and OIC, to initiate immediate international action that seeks to halt the war on Gaza and pressure for a serious political process to achieve lasting, comprehensive peace based on internationally recognized principles.

The Saudi state channel Al-Ekhbariya news channel broadcast footage on Sunday of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati landing in Riyadh.


Saudi woman practices AlUla’s ancient shannah tradition

Saudi woman practices AlUla’s ancient shannah tradition
Updated 10 November 2024
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Saudi woman practices AlUla’s ancient shannah tradition

Saudi woman practices AlUla’s ancient shannah tradition
  • Method for storing dates is kept alive

Riyadh: In the heart of the palm oases in AlUla, Hailah Al-Enezi stands out for her dedication to preserving the traditional craft of shannah, an ancient method for storing dates.

Boasting over 25 years of experience, Al-Enezi has skillfully kept this heritage craft alive, reflecting the rich history of the people of AlUla, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The process of creating shannah relies on techniques that Al-Enezi learned in her childhood.

It involves the preparation and traditional treatment of natural leather to produce durable and aesthetically pleasing containers in various shapes and sizes.

While shannah is primarily used for storing dates, it has also become a symbol of heritage and a connection between generations.

This traditional craft attracts tourists and heritage enthusiasts who often purchase these handmade pieces as gifts and souvenirs when visiting AlUla.

Al-Enezi not only crafts unique bags that preserve the quality of dates, but her work also contributes to enhancing the region's cultural identity.

Her products have become a symbol of heritage that appeals to visitors seeking authentic handmade items from AlUla.

In addition, Al-Enezi goes beyond her craft by passing on her knowledge to the next generation, training young women in the traditional art, the SPA added.

Her efforts help ensure both the continuity and the revitalization of the craft.


Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language

Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language
Updated 10 November 2024
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Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language

Allam Challenge honors AI innovators advancing Arabic language
  • Participants developed AI models for poetry, sentence parsing, and interactive language teaching

RIYADH: President of the Saudi Data and AI Authority Abdullah Al-Ghamdi recently honored the winning teams of the largest event dedicated to advancing the Arabic language, the Allam Challenge, held in Riyadh from Nov. 7-9.

The competition, organized in collaboration with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, with technical support from IBM and the National Technology Development Program, attracted 600 participants from 17 countries.

The event celebrated the achievements of talented individuals dedicated to advancing Arabic language technologies through AI, with a prize pool of SR1 million ($266,000), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The competition aimed to develop AI models capable of writing and understanding Arabic poetry, parsing sentences accurately, and teaching the Arabic language in an engaging manner.

The deputy director of the National Information Center, Mishari Almishari, emphasized the significance of developing technologies to preserve the Arabic language, especially in an era of rapid technological advancements.

The first team secured a prize of SR500,000, the second won SR300,000, and the third won SR200,000. Additionally, five teams from the National Technology Development Program were recognized for their outstanding projects, receiving a total prize of SR750,000.

More than 50 mentors and 40 judges — experts in AI and the Arabic language — oversaw the challenge, providing support to participating teams and evaluating projects based on criteria to ensure the sustainability of the proposed solutions.

By supporting such initiatives, the authority reinforces its commitment to harnessing AI to empower the Arabic language and foster innovation in the field.