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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met with the French president’s advisor for the Middle East and North Africa region, Anne-Claire Legendre, this week.
Discussions focused on the strong relations between their two nations and explored ways in which these could be further enhanced, reported Saudi Press Agency.
They also reviewed regional issues, with a particular focus on Gaza and Lebanon and ongoing efforts to address the issues there.
RIYADH: The Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific opened in Riyadh on Tuesday, under the patronage of Mohammed Al-Jadaan, minister of finance and chairman of the General Organization for Social Insurance.
Organized every three years by the International Social Security Association, the forum addresses future challenges and opportunities in social security.
It aims to strengthen strategic partnerships and facilitate the exchange of experiences in various sectors.
Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom is a leading model in developing a robust social insurance system, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.
“In recent years, we have launched innovative initiatives and services to enhance social protection and ensure financial and living stability for the community,” he said.
He also highlighted the merger of the Public Pension Agency and the General Organization for Social Insurance to unify systems, streamline policies, and strengthen financial sustainability.
The total assets of the organization, after merging with the PPA, exceed SR1.2 trillion ($319 billion), Al-Jadaan added.
He also pointed to the Citizen Account Program, which supports Saudi families against the economic effects of reforms, with total aid exceeding SR222 billion since its launch.
“Collaboration among government institutions has led to the launch of several digital platforms, enhancing citizen services. This effort positioned the Kingdom fourth globally in the E-Government Development Index, first regionally, and second among G20 nations,” he said.
Al-Jadaan said that Riyadh has become a global hub for gatherings and a leading platform for international cooperation, where key issues are addressed and solutions proposed for today’s challenges.
Mohammed Azman, president of the ISSA, said: “Today we gather in Riyadh, a city steeped in history yet looking boldly to the future. This forum is not just another meeting; it is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, inclusion, and resilience in insurance protection.”
Abdulaziz Alboug, governor of GOSI, said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Saudi Arabia supported more than 480,000 employees with $2.5 billion through the SANED program. Additionally, 12 million workers benefit from the Occupational Hazards Branch.
The organization invested in digital infrastructure, completing 130 million electronic operations this year and securing second place in the Digital Experience Maturity Index. The organization prioritizes innovative insurance solutions for citizens, residents, and visitors, he added.
Amr Kurdi, assistant governor for financial sustainability and risk management at GOSI, said that social insurance implements strategies to address challenges and risks in insurance systems. It follows a systematic approach to managing investment funds, with a specialized team ensuring optimal returns to support financial sustainability.
Marwan Al-Ghamdi, assistant governor for strategy and transformation at GOSI, highlighted the opportunity to expand insurance coverage, particularly with the growing number of young workers. He emphasized the continuous evolution of insurance systems to enhance pension efficiency and provide optimal protection for participants and their families, aligning with labor market changes.
Abdulmohsen Al-Khalaf, vice minister of finance, said that social insurance is a vital component of the social protection system, offering financial support to private sector and government employees covered by labor laws, ensuring their insurance protection after service completion.
Ahmed Al-Omran, assistant governor for IT at GOSI, said that artificial intelligence is transforming work processes, recently surpassing doctors in diagnostic accuracy tests. However, AI also contributes to job losses, which the SANED program addresses by supporting the unemployed.
He also said that Saudi Arabia’s centralized database enhances personalized services and helps entrepreneurs provide tailored solutions to clients.
RIYADH: Riyadh’s new metro system will offer time-efficient transportation to all segments of society, the CEO of the Saudi Quality of Life Program has said.
The working hours of the Riyadh Metro begin daily from 6 a.m. until midnight, with multiple trips operating around the clock on each of the six metro lines.
The headway between each train at a station does not exceed “a few minutes,” said Salem Al-Omair, manager of the Yellow Line.
“There are several ways to purchase tickets, including ticket vending machines available at the stations, where passengers can choose the appropriate package and obtain a Darb card. Tickets can also be purchased at the information desks located within the stations,” Al-Omair told Arab News.
The capacity of the trains is similar, ranging between 240 and 260 passengers per trip. Riyadh Metro, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, is a crucial step toward reducing traffic congestion in Riyadh, he said.
Quality of Life Program CEO Khalid Al-Baker told Arab News that the Riyadh Metro is a significant step toward enhancing quality of life in the Kingdom’s capital. It diversifies public transportation options and promotes a culture of using mass transit, thereby reducing excessive reliance on private vehicles.
The project also helps ease road congestion and provides a fast, time-efficient transportation solution at prices accessible to various segments of society, he added.
The metro will enhance Riyadh’s appeal and drive urban development in areas surrounding stations. Additionally, it will facilitate access to the capital’s major destinations through comfortable and efficient transportation options, Al-Baker said.
The project, which was inaugurated by King Salman, is providing job opportunities, and is expected to play a larger role in the future in enhancing the appeal of Riyadh and supporting the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 goals, he added.
The first three lines of the Riyadh Metro opened on Dec. 1, forming part of the largest urban railway network in the Middle East.
The first phase of the Riyadh Metro starts with three lines: The Blue Line, connecting Olaya Street to Al Batʼha; the Yellow Line, running along King Khalid International Airport Road; and the Purple Line, covering Abdul Rahman bin Awf Road and Al-Shaikh Hassan Bin Hussain Street.
The Red Line, covering King Abdullah Road, and the Green Line, spanning King Abdulaziz Road, are both scheduled to open on Dec. 15, while the Orange Line, which covers Madinah Road, begins operations on Jan. 5.
The total length of Riyadh Metro’s six lines covers 176 km, including 85 stations, with four primary stations.
The Orange Line is the longest in the Riyadh Metro project, extending about 41 km. It is followed by the Blue Line, the backbone of the whole project as it connects with all other lines over a length of 38 km.
The Green Line along King Abdulaziz Road is about 13 km long, while the Red Line on King Abdullah Road stretches almost 25 km. As for the Purple and Yellow lines, they are about 28 and 29 km long, respectively.
The Riyadh Metro was launched 12 years after the project was announced in April 2012, when the Saudi Cabinet approved the implementation of the public transport project and formed a high-level committee to oversee it.
The contracts for the Riyadh Metro project were awarded in 2013 to three global consortiums, with a total value of about $22.5 billion.
The project features several sustainable characteristics that promote eco-friendly transportation options. The metro system employs energy-efficient trains and stations, as well as technologies like regenerative braking to reduce energy consumption.
Additionally, some stations will be equipped with thousands of solar panels, and each metro station will rely on electricity sourced from renewable energy along the six lines.
The official spokesman for the coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, refuted on Tuesday claims regarding the handover of the body of a Houthi leader's brother.
In a press statement, Al-Maliki emphasized that the coalition treats the issue of prisoners, detainees, and the recovery of fighters' bodies as a strictly humanitarian matter. He urged all parties to refrain from politicizing such issues.
Al-Maliki described the Houthi leader's allegations, which were circulated by Houthi-affiliated websites, as inaccurate and lacking credibility. He clarified that the process of recovering and handing over bodies occurred in June 2023. During this operation, the coalition recovered the remains of nine Saudi soldiers and 20 Yemeni army personnel, while returning the bodies of 57 Houthi fighters killed along the border.
He further stated that such misleading claims may have been made for internal reasons related to the Houthis. Al-Maliki also noted that the name mentioned in the Houthi statement was not included in negotiations to recover bodies and suggested it is possible the individual in question was killed in regional conflicts unrelated to the coalition.
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for the Care of People with Disabilities on Tuesday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities — helping them achieve their aspirations, improving their quality of life, removing barriers to their potential and ensuring their full integration into society.
The World Health Organization, along with global partners, marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
To observe this day, the Saudi authority launched a campaign raising awareness about invisible disabilities, such as psychological challenges, sensory difficulties, mild motor impairments and other often overlooked conditions.
The campaign aims to increase societal awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with invisible disabilities, promote a more inclusive society, and highlight the importance of fostering an environment that empowers these individuals to navigate their daily lives with equal opportunities.
Such campaigns are vital in strengthening the role of disabled persons, improving services, raising awareness of their rights and supporting their path to success, the authority said.
This year’s theme, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” highlights their vital role in creating an inclusive world and stresses their involvement in decisions affecting their lives.
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 618 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included one anti-personnel mine, 23 anti-tank mines and 594 unexploded ordnances, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 471,034 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.
