Saudi Arabia committed to attaining highest standards in protection of human rights, says HRC chief

The president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday that the Kingdom remained committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights. (SPA)
The president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday that the Kingdom remained committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights. (SPA)
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Updated 04 July 2024
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Saudi Arabia committed to attaining highest standards in protection of human rights, says HRC chief

Saudi Arabia committed to attaining highest standards in protection of human rights, says HRC chief
  • Al-Tuwaijri 's remarks came at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva

RIYADH: The president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday that the Kingdom remained committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Hala bint Mazyed Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the commitment was based on the country’s deeply rooted principles and values and its leadership’s prioritization of human welfare above all else.

Al-Tuwaijri 's remarks came at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva during Saudi Arabia's participation in a session to adopt the results of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism.

Leading the Kingdom's delegation at the session, Al-Tuwaijri highlighted the government's extensive cooperation with the review mechanism, which is a crucial tool for the Human Rights Council to enhance human rights globally.

She stressed that principles such as equality, dialogue, cooperation, neutrality, objectivity, and transparency should form the foundation for any collaborative efforts between states in the realm of human rights.

She also noted that Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of over 80 percent of the recommendations from the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review demonstrated its genuine dedication to human rights.

Al-Tuwaijri outlined the significant reforms and advancements in human rights in the Kingdom, emphasizing that more than 150 legislative, institutional, judicial, and procedural reforms have been accomplished since the adoption of Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi Arabia to host summit on Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories, Lebanon in November

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia to host summit on Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories, Lebanon in November

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
  • Summit is a follow up to the joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh last year on the same date

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is to hold a joint Arab-Islamic summit on November 11 to discuss the continued Israeli aggression on the Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

The summit is a follow up to the joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh last year on the same date, and was announced on the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

The Kingdom reaffirms its condemnation and denunciation of Israeli crimes and attacks committed against the Palestinian people, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

It also condemns Israeli attempts to undermine the  sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, SPA said. 


Deal inked to elevate fashion sustainability in Kingdom

Deal inked to elevate fashion sustainability in Kingdom
Updated 30 October 2024
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Deal inked to elevate fashion sustainability in Kingdom

Deal inked to elevate fashion sustainability in Kingdom
  • Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant Kering to create awards, sustainability roadmap for brands
  • Leveraging Kering’s industry expertise, the two parties will focus on customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection

RIYADH: In a significant move to advance sustainable practices in the global industry, the Saudi Fashion Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French-based luxury conglomerate Kering. 

The signing ceremony in Riyadh was attended by Saudi Fashion Commission CEO Burak Cakmak and Kering’s Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer Marie-Claire Daveu. 

The pact marks the beginning of a strategic alliance aimed at exploring collaborative efforts in several key areas of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The two organizations will seek to establish the Kering Generation Awards that will recognize and celebrate leading sustainable fashion businesses. They will set the award criteria, participant-selection processes, and recipient development.

Additionally, the collaboration features a Regional Sustainability Index, providing fashion enterprises with a roadmap to enhance sustainable practices.

The initiative includes publishing joint reports on achievements, conducting awareness sessions, and aligning with key events in Saudi Arabia’s annual fashion calendar. 

Leveraging Kering’s industry expertise, the two parties will focus on customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection. The aim is to identify pioneering approaches to sustainable materials that can serve as industry standards.

This partnership underscores the Saudi Fashion Commission’s commitment to advancing sustainability across the industry’s value chain, the SPA reported. 

Cakmak said: “We are delighted to partner with Kering, whose commitment to sustainability aligns with our mission to foster a forward-thinking, eco-conscious fashion ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Together, we aim to set new standards for sustainability and innovation in the region.”

Daveu said: “This MoU with the Saudi Fashion Commission presents a remarkable opportunity for us to support the growth of sustainable fashion practices in the Kingdom. We look forward to collaborating on initiatives that will contribute to a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.”

The agreement is effective immediately for an initial term of one year, with an option for renewal by mutual agreement.


Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia

Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia
Updated 30 October 2024
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Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia

Turkish ambassador notes country’s ‘historic ties’ with Saudi Arabia
  • Emrullah Isler speaks during event to mark 101st anniversary of Turkiye’s founding
  • Nations ‘share similar perspectives on many regional and international issues,’ he says

RIYADH: Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have a “historical depth,” Turkiye’s ambassador to the Kingdom said at an event at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh held to mark the 101st anniversary of the founding of the republic.

Envoy Emrullah Isler said: “Turkiye was one of the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hejaz, establishing its diplomatic mission by 1926. These ties were later crowned by the Treaty of Friendship in 1929.”

When Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkiye’s founding father, was among the first to congratulate King Abdulaziz.

“The reception of Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz by Ataturk that year and Prince Faisal’s later visit to Ankara as king in 1966 were signs of strong relations that would continue for many years,” Isler said.

Those first and future visits — King Abdullah visited Turkiye in 2006 and King Salman visited in both 2015 and 2016 — were an “expression of this friendship,” the ambassador said.

Also, the recent visits to Saudi Arabia by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Turkiye in 2022, “confirm strong political will at the highest level to develop our relations and give tangible momentum to the pace of our joint cooperation,” he said.

“The fact that Saudi Arabia and Turkiye share similar perspectives on many regional and international issues undoubtedly allows us to make significant contributions to ensuring regional peace, security and stability,” Isler said.

“In this context, I would like to highlight that the role of both countries in achieving regional peace and prosperity based on common sensitivities is becoming more and more important day by day.”

On future cooperation between the two countries, the ambassador said he was confident it would expand in the defense and construction sectors.

He also said Turkiye was a prime tourist destination for visitors from the Kingdom.

“We are pleased to host our dear Saudi sisters and brothers, along with tourists from around the world,” he said.

“Moreover, the progress of the Turkish economy, which continues to rise within the global economic hierarchy, will naturally reflect in the relations between our two countries, both of which are G20 members.”


Saudi FM demands immediate ceasefire in Palestine

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution
Updated 12 min 6 sec ago
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Saudi FM demands immediate ceasefire in Palestine

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chairs the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution
  • Prince Faisal called on the international community to provide safe humanitarian corridors to provide relief to Gaza

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan demanded an immediate ceasefire in Palestine on Wednesday.

Speaking at the High-Level Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Two-State Solution in Riyadh, Prince Faisal called on the international community to provide safe humanitarian corridors to provide relief to Gaza.

The minister said nearly 90 “states and international organizations” were taking part in the two-day meeting in Riyadh.


“A genocide is happening with the goal of evicting the Palestinian people from their land, which Saudi Arabia rejects,” he said, describing the humanitarian situation as “catastrophic” and denouncing the “complete blockade” of northern Gaza.

He said the situation in Gaza is tragic due to the Israeli blockade, and that international condemnations are no longer enough in the face of the suffering of the Palestinian people.

The foreign minister said that the Kingdom affirms its support for the Palestinian Authority and it is time for the international community to work collectively to achieve peace in the region.


Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour

Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour
Updated 30 October 2024
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Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour

Saudi beekeepers explore innovations on Italian study tour
  • Delegation gains advanced apiculture techniques to enhance local industry

RIYADH: A delegation of Saudi beekeepers recently completed a study tour in Italy, part of the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Reef Saudi, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The program aims to modernize the Kingdom’s apiculture industry by introducing practitioners to world-leading techniques in bee cultivation and queen bee production, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

This visit is part of Reef Saudi’s new international training initiative designed to enhance farmers’ capabilities and expose them to modern agricultural methods through targeted overseas study tours.

Participants included model beekeepers managing demonstration apiaries and representatives from cooperative societies, selected for their potential to share knowledge throughout Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping community.

“This initiative seeks to elevate Saudi beekeeping standards by exposing participants to cutting-edge global practices and queen bee production techniques, supporting Vision 2030’s agricultural goals,” Reef Saudi officials said.

They emphasized the importance of implementing these Italian innovations in Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping sector while strengthening bilateral knowledge exchange.

During their time in Rome, the delegation gained insights into advanced research at the Animal Health Institute, focusing on rare bee strains and environmental optimization for productivity.

At Bologna’s CREA research center, participants explored innovative honey production techniques and pest-control strategies.

The study tour included hands-on sessions with Italian beekeepers and visits to state-of-the-art packaging facilities. A highlight was the tour of LEGA factory, a global leader in beekeeping equipment, exporting to 65 countries.

With a century-long legacy in apiculture, Italy is a world leader in beekeeping and queen bee cultivation, the SPA reported. The country’s crown jewel is the Apis mellifera ligustica, a native bee strain preserved through conservation programs, selective breeding, and protected sanctuaries.

Italy’s beekeeping excellence is further enhanced by its sophisticated regulatory infrastructure, which includes breeder support systems and stringent quality-control measures. A key factor for Saudi-Italian cooperation is the climatic similarity, as some Italian regions experience summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, mirroring conditions in Saudi Arabia.