https://arab.news/ggbcp
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Somali counterpart Ahmed Moalim Fiqi in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the ministers reviewed Saudi-Somali relations and discussed ways to enhance them in various fields.
Regional and international developments and topics of common interest were also discussed.
MAKKAH/RIYADH: Relatives and friends have shared touching memories of a 20-year-old Saudi student who was killed in the UK last Friday. Those who knew Mohammed Al-Qasim described him as a kind young man who valued his family and was committed to his studies.
A student at the University of Jeddah, after graduating from Al-Bushra High School, he had traveled to the UK to study English and broaden his horizons and had ambitions to pursue a career in industrial engineering. He died after he was stabbed during a late-night incident in the English city of Cambridge.
鈥淗is passing was a devastating shock to everyone,鈥 his uncle, Abdulrahman Al-Qasim, told Arab News.
鈥淢ohammed was deeply loved and left a lasting impression on all who knew him, especially as the only son to his parents, born after four daughters.
鈥淗e also leaves behind a younger brother who is still in middle school.鈥
He said that the news of Mohammed鈥檚 death had struck the family, from Jeddah, deeply but they were finding strength in their faith, adding: 鈥淲e had hoped he would return to us but nothing can change the will of Allah.鈥
Several family members had traveled to the UK earlier in the summer to study English, Abdulrahman said. What happened to Mohammed 鈥渋s alarming,鈥 he added, and suggested that it meant Britain could no longer be considered a safe destination for Saudi students.
鈥淲e extend our sincere gratitude to the officials at the Saudi Embassy for their ongoing support and efforts to expedite the repatriation process,鈥 he said.
Mohammed鈥檚 cousin Walid Al-Qasim said the loss was 鈥渄eeply painful鈥 and extended beyond the immediate family to touch the hearts of many Saudi families.
鈥淢ohammed was deeply loved by his classmates and friends in the UK,鈥 he said. 鈥淓veryone spoke highly of his character and respectful conduct.鈥
He condemned the incident that took his cousin鈥檚 life as 鈥渁 horrific crime that cannot be justified under any circumstances.鈥
Ibrahim Ali Al-Qasoumi, 22, was a close friend of Mohammed. They met in 2017 through the latter鈥檚 cousin, and took regular fishing and camping trips together.
鈥淗e was like a brother to me,鈥 Al-Qasoumi told Arab News. 鈥淗e was kind, gentle and had a big heart. You feel happy and safe when you鈥檙e around him. He never said things about anyone and he never hurt anyone.鈥
The news of Mohammed鈥檚 death had come as a 鈥渂ig shock,鈥 he added. 鈥淔riends like him are very rare. I鈥檓 very sad because he was killed for no reason 鈥 I hope no one has to feel this pain.
This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)
鈥淚 feel horrible. I couldn鈥檛 eat, I couldn鈥檛 sleep, I couldn鈥檛 laugh. I was completely broken.鈥
The incident has raised broader questions about the safety of young Saudis who travel and study abroad, and Al-Qasoumi said it has changed the way he feels about such activities.
鈥淚 love traveling and learning about new cultures,鈥 he said. 鈥淢ohammed also loved these things. We went to Turkey, Istanbul, in June 2024. We always talked about it.
鈥淚 was planning to go to London this December to celebrate New Year鈥檚 Eve but after what happened I became very scared. I kept thinking, what if this happened to me too?鈥
Al-Qasoumi said he will remember his friend as someone who loved his family, particularly his sister, and his country, was generous and 鈥渁lways tried to help others and make people happy.鈥
He recalled a time, just weeks before his death, when Mohammed had helped a 16-year-old boy lost on the streets of Cambridge.
鈥淗e paid for the boy鈥檚 taxi and helped him home, and he didn鈥檛 even know him,鈥 Al-Qasoumi said. 鈥淓veryone loved Mohammed. No one hated him.
鈥淚 have many videos and pictures of him and in all of them we are laughing and happy, making jokes and enjoying time.
鈥淚 hope we don鈥檛 lose more young people like him. They are the future. Today it was Mohammed but who is next? I wish we never hear this kind of sad news again. I hope the killing stops in the world.鈥
Al-Qasim was on a 10-week placement at the EF International Language Campus in Cambridge when he was killed.
In a statement to Arab News, EF International Language Campuses Cambridge said: 鈥淢ohammed was a bright and kind young man who quickly became a valued part of our community. He was known for his positivity, curiosity, and warmth toward everyone around him.
鈥淒uring this difficult time, our focus remains on supporting Mohammed鈥檚 family, our students and staff in any way we can. Our heartfelt condolences are with his loved ones. May he rest in peace.鈥
Funeral prayers for Mohammed were expected to take place at Makkah鈥檚 Grand Mosque on Friday, and he will be laid to rest at Al-Shuhada Cemetery.
Local police arrested two men from Cambridge on Sunday in connection with Mohammed鈥檚 death: a 21-year-old man on suspicion of murder, and a 50-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender.
RIYADH: The Arabic Language Innovation Accelerator, organized by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic, has helped to empower startups and entrepreneurs, the organizers said at the conclusion on Wednesday.
The accelerator provided support for technical innovation and to help transform creative ideas into projects capable of growth and expansion, said Abdullah Al-Wushmi, secretary-general of the academy.
鈥淭he accelerator represents one of the distinguished initiatives of the academy that reflects its vision of building an integrated system of technological projects that support the Arabic language.鈥
鈥淭he academy has been keen on establishing collaborative partnerships with various entities that support innovation and technology, to enhance the effectiveness of the program and provide a comprehensive developmental environment,鈥 he added.
The accelerator project is an extension of the academy鈥檚 initiatives in educational, and to expand digital Arabic content.
Saad Al-Qahtani, director of the educational programs sector at the academy, said: 鈥淭hrough this project, we have witnessed numerous pioneering initiatives that harness, adapt, and invest in technology to serve the Arabic language 鈥 its sciences, arts, and methods of teaching and learning.鈥
Al-Qahtani stressed that the development of Arabic was critical for innovation.
The closing ceremony included a detailed presentation of the participating projects, with several entrepreneurs honored in the presence of a number of investors and experts.
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla is implementing a project to produce agricultural fertilizer from organic materials, primarily palm waste.
The RCU environmental initiative aims to enhance soil fertility, improve agricultural productivity, and reduce the environmental harm caused by waste burning.
To date, over 50,000 cubic meters of organic waste have been recycled into high-quality fertilizer. This has been distributed to more than 1,300 farmers, and expanded to reach over 3,000 beneficiaries, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The project has also played a key role in rehabilitating more than 3,000 hectares of degraded farmland as part of a broader strategy to upgrade agricultural infrastructure across AlUla.
The organic fertilizer produced contains 52 percent organic matter, which significantly enhances soil fertility and improves water retention capacity.
The project has led to substantial environmental and economic benefits, including a reduction in chemical fertilizer use by up to 30 percent, decreased water consumption, and the sequestration of approximately 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne of fertilizer produced.
This is equivalent to cutting emissions from more than 6,300 vehicles each year.
As a part of its community outreach and capacity-building efforts, the RCU has implemented training programs that have benefited more than 240 farmers and students.
These programs include workshops to share best practices for using organic fertilizers.
By turning agricultural waste into a valuable economic resource, the project strengthens food security, enhances soil health, and promotes long-term sustainability in the agricultural sector, the SPA reported.
DUBAI: 黑料社区 and Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Riyadh on Wednesday to strengthen cooperation in combating drug trafficking and smuggling.
The MoU outlines joint efforts to tackle the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and chemical precursors, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Iraqi News Agency reported that the agreement includes 17 key articles covering a wide range of cooperative measures such as intelligence-sharing, technical training, early warning systems, and the development of joint prevention and surveillance strategies. It also emphasized enhanced coordination at border crossings, where both countries face mounting challenges linked to cross-border smuggling.
The agreement was signed by Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Naif and Iraqi Minister of Health and Chair of the Supreme Commission for Drug Control, Saleh Mahdi Al-Hasnawi.
The signing ceremony, attended by Iraq鈥檚 Ambassador to 黑料社区 Safia Al-Suhail, comes amid increasing regional concern over the rise in drug-related crimes and their impact on public health and national security.
Iraq鈥檚 Ministry of Health said the agreement reflects "deepened bilateral ties and institutional integration" between the two countries in addressing one of the region鈥檚 most urgent transnational threats.
JEDDAH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a new feature enabling full access to the Nusuk app without consuming internet data, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The initiative, launched in cooperation with telecom providers stc, Mobily, and Zain, aims to ease the journey of pilgrims and enhance their digital experience during Hajj and Umrah.
This step allows owners of local SIM cards to use the Nusuk app and all its services without requiring an active data plan or internet connection, explained ministry spokesperson Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi.
Pilgrims can use services for permits, booking Haramain High-Speed Train tickets, navigating maps, using the artificial intelligence feature, and submitting reports and inquiries.
Nusuk platform CEO Ahmed Al-Maiman said the new feature is expected to improve crowd management, provide instant access to essential information and services, reduce the number of lost individuals, and speed up verification of permits upon entry.
