Month: July 2024

Jeddah, The Red Sea International Film Festival is still welcoming submissions for its fourth edition, with a deadline of August 22.

The festival extends an invitation to filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia, and Africa to submit their films for the Red Sea: Competition and the Red Sea: Shorts Competition sections, along with the New Saudi/New Cinema section, which aims to showcase the talents and cinematic creativity of Saudi filmmakers.

Films participating in the event will vie for the prestigious Yusr Awards, including the Red Sea Golden Yusr Award for Best Film in Competition, which offers a cash prize of $100,000. Other accolades include Best Direction, the Jury Prize, and Best Short Film.

The forthcoming edition of the festival is scheduled to run from December 5 to 14 in Al Balad, Jeddah. It will provide diverse opportunities for emerging directors and filmmakers to present their work.

Consequently, the festival remains a focal point for film enthusiasts, creators, and industry expert
s worldwide, featuring prominent film screenings.

Moreover, the festival delves into rediscovering timeless masterpieces and restored works through experimental, audio-visual narratives that defy norms and blend reality with fantasy.

For registration in the fourth edition, the festival offers the following link on its website: https://fms.redseafilmfest.com/website/login.php?lang=ar.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo, The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit cautioned that Israel’s reckless actions in the region could have dire consequences.

In a statement issued today, Aboul Gheit said Israel is “practising a reckless policy without foreseeing the dire consequences that could affect the region as a result of its actions.” He condemned the recent Israeli “assassinations” as breaches of international law, demonstrating a disregard for the regulations that govern state relations.

Aboul Gheit urged the international community to step up pressure on Israel in order to avert additional escalation and the possibility of a wider regional conflict.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo, The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit cautioned that Israel’s reckless actions in the region could have dire consequences.

In a statement issued today, Aboul Gheit said Israel is “practising a reckless policy without foreseeing the dire consequences that could affect the region as a result of its actions.” He condemned the recent Israeli “assassinations” as breaches of international law, demonstrating a disregard for the regulations that govern state relations.

Aboul Gheit urged the international community to step up pressure on Israel in order to avert additional escalation and the possibility of a wider regional conflict.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Health Sector Transformation Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, has significantly improved the quality and efficiency of healthcare services across the Kingdom within the past year. Key achievements include launching 20 integrated health clusters nationwide and providing comprehensive care from primary clinics to specialized hospitals, each serving over 2 million residents.

The program has also driven the expansion of the electronic pharmaceutical tracking system managed by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), which now has 11,057 participating entities, a 13% increase. This enhancement improves the oversight and safety of the drug supply.

Widespread adoption of the national digital vaccination registry is another major milestone, with 4,778 facilities registering 123 million vaccinations, including 100% electronic documentation of newborn immunizations.

Emergency preparedness has been significantly improved. Cardiac catheterization centers and diabetes centers are now equipped to handle
crises, with 80% and 89% readiness, respectively. Additionally, there has been a 96% increase in the availability of primary care appointments.

Another significant accomplishment is the substantial expansion of the national unified electronic services platform, Nphies, for Health and Insurance Exchange Services. This platform was initiated by the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), developed by the National Health Information Center (NHIC), and spearheaded by the Sehati Company. Currently, it connects more than 14 million patients to over 2,000 healthcare providers, 480 hospitals, 2,300 clinics, 8,700 pharmacies, and 130 labs.

The integrated initiatives of the Health Sector Transformation Program are delivering results and advancing the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 healthcare goals within just one year.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The highway linking Saudi Arabia and Sultanate of Oman stands as a remarkable engineering feat in the heart of the Empty Quarter desert (Rub Al-Khali), serving as a vital artery that strengthens cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman across various fields. This crucial roadway stretches 564 kilometers, from the Batha Haradh intersection to the Empty Quarter border crossing. Its construction required over 1.3 million work hours and the use of 750 specialized pieces of heavy equipment to overcome the harsh desert environment.

The project was executed in two phases. The first phase involved the construction of a 319-kilometer road reaching the Shaybah oil field, while the second phase extended from Shaybah to the Empty Quarter border crossing with Oman, covering a distance of 246 kilometers. The highway’s design prioritized the highest traffic safety standards, incorporating 30 kilometers of night lighting, road markings spanning 12 million square meters, and reflective markers and warning signs. Add
itionally, rest stops for trucks and cars were provided on both sides of the road to ensure the safety and security of all users.

This strategic project will significantly enhance trade and tourism between Saudi Arabia and Oman, facilitating the movement of pilgrims and visitors to the holy sites. It also plays a pivotal role in achieving the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Damascus, Syria has condemned the blatant Israeli aggression that targeted a residential building in the southern suburb of Lebanese capital, Beirut, expressing its support and solidarity with brotherly Lebanese people in the face of this brutal attack.

Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement that Syria denounces the Israeli occupation arrogance in finding pretexts for its policy of escalation and expansion of aggression in the region, as it targeted yesterday afternoon a residential building in the southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut with three missiles fired by a drone, leaving innocent civilian casualties.

The Ministry added that the Syrian Arab Republic condemns this blatant attack on Lebanon’s sovereignty and this clear violation of international law, which comes two days after the heinous crime in the town of Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan.

The Foreign Ministry concluded its statement by reiterating solidarity with Lebanon in the face of the brutal Israeli aggressio
n it faces.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Reyhanli, The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Sunday launched a volunteer medical project for fitting prosthetic limbs and providing physical therapy in the city of Reyhanli in the Republic of Trkiye.

The project, running from July 27 to August 4, is implemented by 12 volunteers from various medical specialties as part of the Saudi Life Volunteer Program aimed at assisting victims of earthquakes in Syria and Trkiye.

The KSrelief volunteer medical team has provided 235 therapeutic sessions, fitted 12 prosthetic limbs, and applied 28 custom orthotic braces.

The assistance is part of the medical volunteer projects offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist needy and affected countries and communities around the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Reyhanli, The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Sunday launched a volunteer medical project for fitting prosthetic limbs and providing physical therapy in the city of Reyhanli in the Republic of Trkiye.

The project, running from July 27 to August 4, is implemented by 12 volunteers from various medical specialties as part of the Saudi Life Volunteer Program aimed at assisting victims of earthquakes in Syria and Trkiye.

The KSrelief volunteer medical team has provided 235 therapeutic sessions, fitted 12 prosthetic limbs, and applied 28 custom orthotic braces.

The assistance is part of the medical volunteer projects offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist needy and affected countries and communities around the world.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

New York, The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session today in the wake of the assassination of the head of the political bureau of the Palestinian resistance movement ‘Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran.

First Deputy Permanent Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky wrote on his Telegram channel, according to the RT website, that ‘at the request of Iran and with the support of China, Algeria and Russia, our presidency has decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council.’.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Tehran, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met in Tehran with the delegation of the Arabic Republic of Syria headed by Prime Minister Eng. Hossein Arnous.

The two sides condemned the Israeli aggression against Iranian sovereignty, which resulted in the assassination of the martyrdom of the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Ismail Haniyeh. in clear violation of international laws.

Eng. Arnous and Ghalibaf also condemned the crimes committed by ‘Israel’ in both the occupied Syrian Golan and southern Lebanon and the massacres of genocide, murder and displacement against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In another context, the two sides stressed the strength and depth of the deep-rooted relations between the two countries, which were established by the founding leader Hafez al-Assad and Imam Khomeini, and continued and developed during the era of President Bashar al-Assad and Imam Khamenei within the framewor
k of the joint quest to boost them in all fields to face common challenges and achieve the interest of the Syrian and Iranian peoples.

Eng. Arnous also congratulated the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran and through him to the Iranian people on the completion of the presidential elections on time, which confirms the democratic approach taken by Iran and the preservation of sovereignty and national decision.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency