Ukraine peace process will need compromise, says Saudi foreign minister

Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd poses with Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during the Summit on Peace in Ukraine. (Reuters)
Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd poses with Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud of Saudi Arabia and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during the Summit on Peace in Ukraine. (Reuters)
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Updated 15 June 2024
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Ukraine peace process will need compromise, says Saudi foreign minister

Ukraine peace process will need compromise, says Saudi foreign minister
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks after arrival in Switzerland

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Saturday that any credible peace talks on the conflict in Ukraine would need Russia’s participation and that it would involve “difficult compromise.”

Prince Faisal was speaking at a conference in Switzerland aimed at engineering peace between Russia and Ukraine, and he added that Saudi Arabia was committed to helping to bring an end to the conflict.

He said: “We believe it is important that the international community encourage any step toward serious negotiations, which will require difficult compromise as part of a road map that leads to peace.”

He reiterated his country’s support for all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis and ending the conflict, stressing that the Kingdom “supports reducing the escalation in Ukraine and seeking negotiated political solutions.”

The Saudi minister arrived at the Lake Lucerne location to head the Kingdom’s delegation at the Ukraine Peace Summit earlier on Saturday. He was set to discuss with the leaders and representatives of the participating countries ways to “achieve peace and intensify efforts to reach a solution that leads to ending the crisis and sparing civilians human suffering,” the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said

He was also scheduled to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, where more than 100 representatives from countries and organizations have gathered.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Jeddah earlier this week on an official visit and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who affirmed the Kingdom’s support for all international endeavors and efforts aimed at resolving the crisis, and discussed ways to mitigate the humanitarian impact in the region.


New tech challenge to drive logistics innovation

New tech challenge to drive logistics innovation
Updated 6 sec ago
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New tech challenge to drive logistics innovation

New tech challenge to drive logistics innovation
  • Participants can access more than 20 training programs and mentoring sessions

Riyadh: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s Center of Digital Entrepreneurship has launched the LogisTech Challenge to foster innovation in logistics.

The aim of the challenge is to support new tech solutions that boost efficiency and productivity, thereby driving digital economy growth.

In partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, the Transport General Authority, and Infinite pl, the challenge is open to logistics and tech enthusiasts, experts and industry leaders. Registration closes on Dec. 5.

Participants will go through stages of acceptance, business model development, final selection, and a training bootcamp, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

On Jan. 21, the competition concludes with participants presenting their ideas to judges. Winning projects with practical sector solutions will be celebrated at a final ceremony.

The challenge targets three areas: fleet improvement and sustainability; alternative delivery and commerce solutions; and data-driven logistics intelligence.

Participants can access more than 20 training programs and mentoring sessions, equipping more than 250 individuals with skills to refine ideas and develop prototypes.

The ministry invites those interested to register at code.mcit.gov.sa/en/bootcamp/LogisTech-Challenge. 


Saudi project clears 895 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 895 Houthi mines in Yemen
Updated 4 min 54 sec ago
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Saudi project clears 895 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 895 Houthi mines in Yemen
  • The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada

Riyadh: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 895 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included two anti-personnel mines, 26 anti-tank mines, 865 unexploded ordnances and two explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 468,962 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


Arab-Islamic leaders arrive ahead of Riyadh summit on Gaza, Lebanon

Arab-Islamic leaders arrive ahead of Riyadh summit on Gaza, Lebanon
Updated 8 min 42 sec ago
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Arab-Islamic leaders arrive ahead of Riyadh summit on Gaza, Lebanon

Arab-Islamic leaders arrive ahead of Riyadh summit on Gaza, Lebanon
  • Arab and Muslim leaders will discuss continued Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories and Lebanon at a summit on Monday

RIYADH: Arab-Islamic leaders have arrived in Riyadh ahead of a Saudi Arabia-sponsored follow-up summit focusing on Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, president of Uzbekistan; Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council President; Bashar Assad, president of Syria; Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, prime minister of Iraq; Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain; and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, president of Egypt, arrived in Riyadh on Monday to join the extra-ordinary summit.

King Abdullah II of Jordan, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatar ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Kuwait Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Iran First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi also arrived on Monday in Riyadh. Bakary Yaou Sangare, Niger’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, also arrived for the event.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Sunday, so did Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, the Foreign Minister of Guinea Morissanda Kouyate, the President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Uganda’s Third Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama.

The President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani arrived in the Kingdom’s capital on Sunday after performing Umrah and praying in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah on Saturday.


KSrelief continues to deliver food aid to Palestinians

KSrelief continues to deliver food aid to Palestinians
Updated 11 November 2024
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KSrelief continues to deliver food aid to Palestinians

KSrelief continues to deliver food aid to Palestinians

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to provide essential food supplies to families in northern Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing war on the Palestinian people.

This campaign was initiated by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

KSrelief provides humanitarian assistance to communities throughout the Occupied Territories.


KSrelief distributes 195 winter kits in Yemen’s Hadhramaut

KSrelief distributes 195 winter kits in Yemen’s Hadhramaut
Updated 11 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes 195 winter kits in Yemen’s Hadhramaut

KSrelief distributes 195 winter kits in Yemen’s Hadhramaut

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered 195 winter kits for vulnerable people in Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

This initiative is a part of an ongoing emergency shelter project in Yemen. The kits benefited 1,170 people from 195 families.

KSrelief provides food, medical and other aid to needy communities across the globe.