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Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi was visited by UK Ambassador to the Kingdom Neil Crompton in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The ambassador visited to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.
Al-Rassi praised the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries.
JEDDAH: The National Museum in Riyadh will launch its third interactive summer camp, themed “Made in the Museum,” for children aged 10 to 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative is part of the “Year of Handicrafts,” celebrating Ƶ’s cultural heritage and its role in shaping national identity and intergenerational bonds.
The camp has two sessions: July 21-31 and Aug. 4-14, running daily from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both inside the museum and outdoors.
Designed as an educational and immersive experience, the camp invites participants to explore and revive traditional Saudi crafts, the SPA added.
Children will engage in hands-on activities in four core tracks: clay crafts, textiles, woodworking, and supportive crafts, blending play, learning, and exploration.
This year’s camp strengthens the museum’s role as a community hub, providing children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and design skills while inspiring their imagination and showing the cultural and economic importance of handicrafts.
The camp encourages children to make and show their projects at the end of each session, helping them feel confident and encouraging new ideas and creativity.
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition.
Diagnosed in infancy with congenital plasminogen deficiency, the patient required ongoing treatment to manage fibrous deposits affecting her tissues and organs, according to a press release.
Over the two decades, a multidisciplinary team including hematology, transplant specialists, nursing, nutrition and IT supported her care, the report said.
The patient’s father said: “She suffered from birth and couldn’t nurse. We had no clear answers until we found hope through the care provided by the Saudi government. After 22 years of struggle, we witness our daughter’s recovery.”
The treatment involved regular plasminogen infusions and eyedrops to reduce the disease’s effect on her vision, with annual costs exceeding SR6 million ($1.6 million), fully covered by the government.
Dr. Hazzaa Al-Zahrani, director of the adult hematology and stem-cell transplant division at the center and supervising physician, said that managing the case required a precise and long-term approach to prevent complications and ensure stability.
He said that the decision to proceed with a liver transplant came after careful consideration as an extraordinary therapeutic option for this exceptionally rare case.
The procedure’s success marked a turning point in her medical journey and was a beacon of hope for patients with similar conditions worldwide, Al-Zahrani added.
RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Guarantee Program, known as Kafalah, in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber, will hold interactive sessions on July 15 to mark World Youth Skills Day.
The initiative aims to raise awareness and develop entrepreneurial skills among youth, entrepreneurs and SMEs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The sessions will cover key topics to boost youth contributions to national economic development, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.
Focus areas include access to finance, building administrative and financial capabilities, enhancing SME sustainability, and turning ideas into viable projects.
These sessions highlight the collaboration between entities supporting the SME sector in the Kingdom, the SPA added.
The Kafalah program and Riyadh Chamber aim to foster youth growth and strengthen their role in the national economy.
Kafalah supports micro, small and medium enterprises by providing financial guarantees, improving their access to financing and reducing lending risks for banks.
DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture was swept into a winter wonderland this week as Disney’s “Frozen” came to life in a dazzling film-in-concert experience.
The two-day live event at Ithra, which concluded with two performances on July 9, featured a full orchestra performing the film’s score live on stage while the original movie plays on a screen with dialogue and vocals intact.
The music was played live on stage, resulting in an immersive, multi-sensory experience for audiences of all ages.
A sea of tulle could be seen as young girls in Queen Elsa-inspired ice-blue gowns filled the theater, with long lines forming at a nearby “Frozen”-themed space offering optional printed keepsakes for those who patiently waited.
Arab News spoke with audience member Norah Al-Otaibi and her 5-year-old daughter, Mai, during the 20-minute intermission.
“It’s my third time watching it — the first two times was at home. This is nice but I like watching it at home more because you can turn it on or off whenever you want,” said Mai.
“Here, you have to wait until the song you want comes on. But I like the music and singing part here more, it’s better than the regular screening.”
Mai, who turns 6 soon, attended the concert screening as an early birthday present.
Al-Otaibi, a fan of the film herself, added: “Ithra gave it a nice vibe. It’s definitely not just a regular viewing experience, they elevated it.”
Returning to the podium was Erik Ochsner, considered one of the leading conductors in the film-with-live-orchestra format. He led “The Lion King” in concert at Ithra a few days prior and shared his enthusiasm ahead of the performance.
“Perhaps we’re going to build a snowman together and you must be ready to let it go,” Ochsner told the crowd, hinting at the ever-popular songs “Let It Go” and “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”
“I’m thrilled to be able to share the stage tonight with the wonderful musicians from the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra … you are so fortunate to have such a beautiful center here, Ithra,” he added.
Ochsner conducted the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan.
At Ithra’s “Frozen” concert, the audience sang along to the catchy, now classic songs, from the film.
Released in 2013, “Frozen” was inspired by the 1844 original novel-styled fairytale narrative “The Snow Queen,” written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Arendelle, while a fictional Kingdom, is inspired by the real Norwegian town of Arendal.
It tells a heartwarming story of a newly-crowned young Nordic queen, Elsa, with secret ice-making powers who accidentally freezes everything in her path as her fearless sister, Anna, sets out to save her — and the whole kingdom.
OSAKA: The Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo 2025 is showcasing contemporary Ƶ artworks tailored for a Japanese audience, which is aimed at promoting cultural ties between the two countries.
The artworks are on show within two cultural studios that are also used to host workshops and exhibitions.
Since opening in April, the studios have hosted more than 115 events, including exhibitions and live performances, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The events in the cultural spaces feature Ƶ artists who showcase the Kingdom’s heritage.
Ƶ’s pavilion at Expo 2025 is the second-largest after Japan. It has registered more than 1 million visits.
Expo 2025 Osaka began in April and will conclude in October.
