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Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
Chaired by King Salman, the cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. (SPA)
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Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge

Saudi cabinet backs Palestinian statehood, welcomes France’s recognition pledge
  • The cabinet voiced support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Ƶ and France

The Saudi cabinet reaffirmed on Tuesday the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, voicing support for a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, co-chaired by Ƶ and France.

The cabinet expressed hope the forum would accelerate international recognition of a Palestinian state and pave the way for implementing the two-state solution. It also welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent pledge to recognize Palestine, urging other countries to take similar steps in support of Palestinian rights and regional stability.

Chaired by King Salman, the cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli Knesset’s call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley. It stressed that such actions violate international law and undermine efforts to achieve peace.

The cabinet also reviewed recent diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening ties with regional and international partners. It praised the outcomes of the Saudi delegation’s visit to Syria, conducted under the directive of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which led to the signing of 47 investment agreements worth nearly 24 billion riyals and the formation of a joint business council to boost cooperation between the two nations' private sectors.

Minister of Media Salman Al-Dosari, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. He noted that Ƶ has recorded the fastest progress among G20 countries in sustainable development over the past decade, underscoring its leadership in international initiatives that promote prosperity and progress.


Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
Updated 36 sec ago

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market

Saudi Game Champions program empowers national talent for global market
  • Program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent
  • Initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism

RIYADH: The Center of Digital Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has concluded the Saudi Game Champions program, a nine-month initiative to support the growth of the nation’s development studios.

The program included multiple stages: a Game Jam, incubation and acceleration phases, and closing ceremony celebrating local achievements and talent.

The initiative is aimed at helping participants enter the market with high standards of quality and professionalism.

It offered over 180 hours of specialized workshops and more than 1,500 hours of mentorship, involving 25 Ƶ game studios.

At the closing ceremony, Hussain Al-Safwan of LIMELESS Studio won the Bold Change Award, while Fahad Al-Jumaan of Hero Galaxy Studio received the Most Inspirational Award.

Mostafa Fares earned the Most Creative Award, and his colleague Ali Aseeri received the People’s Choice Award, both representing SYMMETRIC STUDIO.

The initiative is a part of the center’s broader efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s role in the global gaming industry.


Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
Updated 29 July 2025

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros

Coalition hosts anti-terror finance training in Comoros
  • The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday

The Ƶ-backed Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition has launched a five-day training course in Moroni, Comoros, focused on combating terrorism financing and money laundering. 

The course aims to equip participants with information on national and international legal frameworks related to these issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It focuses on skills to analyze financial data and detect suspicious activities, raise public awareness of related risks, and develop effective prevention and coordination mechanisms among regulatory, security, and financial authorities.

Participants include representatives from regulatory and judicial bodies, the Ministry of Interior, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, non-financial businesses, and non-profit organizations.

The course reflects the coalition’s commitment to enhance international cooperation and develop national civil and military competencies to combat these crimes.

It also aims to create a professional training environment that fosters integrated and effective systems to combat financial threats linked to terrorism.
 


Conjoined Jamaican twins arrive in Riyadh for evaluation

Conjoined Jamaican twins arrive in Riyadh for evaluation
Updated 29 July 2025

Conjoined Jamaican twins arrive in Riyadh for evaluation

Conjoined Jamaican twins arrive in Riyadh for evaluation

RIYADH: Conjoined Jamaican twins Azaria and Azura arrived in Riyadh on Monday with their parents to undergo evaluation for their potential medical separation.

The evaluation took place following a directive by the Kingdom’s leadership, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The twins were taken to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, renowned for its advanced pediatric facility and specialization in conjoined twins.

Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and head of the surgical team for the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, highlighted his team’s extensive experience in separating twins.

Rabeeah is also adviser to the Royal Court.

His team earlier this week separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour procedure.

The 17-month-old twins, born in February last year at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri Hospital in a triplet birth, were conjoined at the chest and abdomen.

Their brother, Sanad, was born separately.

The twins were medically evacuated to Riyadh in December 2024 to receive specialized care in preparation for the surgery.


The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud’s blueprint for Saudi sport

The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud’s blueprint for Saudi sport
Updated 29 July 2025

The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud’s blueprint for Saudi sport

The vision architect: Princess Nouf Al-Saud’s blueprint for Saudi sport

When Princess Nouf Al-Saud started her role as general manager of marketing at Ƶ’s Ministry of Sport in 2018, she confronted a world unfamiliar with the Kingdom’s pulse.

“When I first began this journey,” she said, “I realized that many people around the world had never truly experienced our culture, our energy or our vision.”

Six years and more than 135 global events later — from the electrifying debut of Formula 1 to the pioneering E1 Electric Boat Race — Al-Saud now orchestrates a marketing portfolio that has drawn more than 3 million attendees and broadcast Ƶ’s evolution to more than 160 countries.

Her greatest triumph? Rewriting the narrative. Al-Saud told Arab News: “We’ve evolved from being seen simply as a destination that hosts events, to being recognized as a forward‑thinking leader in sports.”

Where skepticism once lingered, Al-Saud now projects certainty: “Today, the most important message is that Ƶ is not only open to the world, but actively shaping the global sports narrative.”

This conviction permeates every campaign — whether amplifying community participation at Extreme E or embedding cultural storytelling into the WTA Finals.

The most profound transformations, however, unfold in Saudi stands. “A decade ago, it was rare to see parents, daughters and sons attending events side by side,” Al-Saud said.

Now, stadiums brim with multi-generational energy. Al-Saud said: “Girls are proudly wearing team jerseys, parents are cheering with their children and young fans are recognizing themselves in the athletes they watch.”

She calls this phenomenon “a ripple effect where sport becomes a shared cultural language” — a testament to Vision 2030’s societal impact.

Challenging global perceptions remains intrinsic to her work. “We viewed every global event as a fresh opportunity to open a new window,” she said, countering stereotypes with experiential proof — be it through world-class venues or volunteers’ warmth.

Her creative arsenal relies on authentic storytelling: “We flip the script by designing campaigns that don’t just market a match or a race, they tell stories.”

These narratives, showcasing international fans’ pilgrimages or homegrown talent, serve a higher purpose: “Our role goes far beyond ticket sales; it is about inspiring the next generation of athletes.”

As chair of the Women’s Sports Committee, Al-Saud wields platforms like the WTA Finals as catalysts. “It’s never been enough to simply host a women’s tournament,” she added.

Her strategy is inclusion at every level: “We use these platforms to show that Saudi women are athletes, leaders, strategists and innovators.”

From mentorship programs to leadership panels, the objective is unequivocal: “Redefining roles not just on the court, but in boardrooms, production teams and strategy tables.”

Amid the scale of progress, human moments anchor her. She vividly recounts the Italian Super Cup: “Watching them, dressed in their club colors, walking through our fan zones with their children, laughing, taking photos, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride.”

In that instant, the mission crystallized: “It wasn’t just about the game. It was about Ƶ becoming a magnet for people who love sport, wherever they come from.” For Al-Saud, those smiles are more than rewards — they are proof that sport can build bridges no statistic can measure.


Two-state solution ‘only path to justice’ in Palestine, says Saudi envoy to US

Two-state solution ‘only path to justice’ in Palestine, says Saudi envoy to US
Updated 29 July 2025

Two-state solution ‘only path to justice’ in Palestine, says Saudi envoy to US

Two-state solution ‘only path to justice’ in Palestine, says Saudi envoy to US
  • Arab Peace Initiative is key, says Princess Reema bint Bandar
  • Call comes amid UN conference led by Kingdom and France

RIYADH: Ƶ’s ambassador to the US said on Tuesday that the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel crisis remains the “only path to justice, security, and stability,” as the Kingdom and France lead a major UN conference on the situation.

Princess Reema bint Bandar wrote on X: “The suffering in Gaza, the despair in the West Bank, and the insecurity in Israel demand a new reality.”

She said the Kingdom has long backed a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.

“This is not merely a diplomatic position; it is a moral, strategic, and practical necessity grounded in justice and the pursuit of a shared future,” she wrote.

Ƶ and France led a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution at the UN on Monday.

Princess Reema stated: “The two-state solution is essential because it addresses the root causes of the conflict: the denial of Palestinian self-determination and the insecurity that fuels extremism on both sides.”

“The Kingdom of Ƶ has championed a peaceful resolution for decades, known as the Arab Peace Initiative, based on the conviction that peace in the region is inseparable from justice for Palestinians.”

Israel has been conducting a devastating military assault on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023.

This came after Hamas attacked settlements near the Gaza border, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and around 250 hostages being taken back to the enclave by the group.

The Israeli regime has subsequently killed over 60,000 people, and displaced millions, with Tel Aviv facing charges of war crimes and genocide.

Israel blocked aid to Gaza for 11 weeks earlier this year and has been killing hungry civilians looking for food at aid centers run by an Israeli-backed foundation.

UN vehicles began reentering the territory over the weekend and aid drops have also restarted, after an international outcry over Israel’s deliberate starvation of the civilian population in Gaza.

“The humanitarian toll is staggering: 1.9 million Palestinians are displaced, and famine looms as aid trickles in. A two-state solution is the only framework that can end the bloodshed, rebuild Gaza, and create a sustainable future,” Princess Reema wrote.

“The war in Gaza and the broader conflicts in the region underscore the urgency of this moment.”