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RIYADH: The 51st Saudi relief plane carrying medical and shelter supplies for Gazans arrived in Egypt’s El-Arish International Airport on Sunday.
The aid will later be transported to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The plane was operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in coordination with the Ministry of Defense.
The assistance is part of Saudi Arabia’s continuous support for the Palestinian people in times of crisis.
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre successfully reconstructed the lower limb of an 8-year-old child after removing a malignant bone tumor, avoiding amputation and restoring normal walking ability.
The innovative approach was a significant advance in pediatric orthopedic oncology in the Middle East, offering hope to children facing similar conditions, according to a report.
Given the child’s continuing skeletal growth, the medical team used advanced techniques to ensure proper bone development and limb stability post-surgery.
By combining sports medicine and ligament surgery methods, the reconstruction preserved limb functionality, allowing natural growth and gradual mobility recovery without the need for prosthetics.
The success was made possible through collaboration between oncology, orthopedic, and rehabilitation specialists, using cutting-edge 3D imaging and precise surgical planning.
This achievement offers a new alternative to amputation in pediatric bone cancer treatment and highlights the hospital’s commitment to medical innovation and specialized care. The hospital plans to expand this technique in collaboration with international medical centers.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission is working on strengthening partnerships with Japan in fashion and textile.
The commission hosted “A Journey into Japanese Textile Mastery” in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization, bringing together leading textile manufacturers, designers and industry experts from both countries.
Held at Future Creative Residence in Riyadh, the event focused on high-quality materials, sustainability and innovation.
It featured a panel discussion with insights from industry experts, including Ammar Bogari, general manager of the Fashion Commission; Asma Al-Othaimeen, co-founder of Chaldene Loungewear; and Japanese representatives from FAO International and Itochu Corp.
Discussions centered on the potential for Japanese textiles to influence Saudi brands, particularly in craftsmanship, sustainable production and luxury materials.
“Our goal at the Fashion Commission is to not only develop Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry but to establish it as a major player in the global market,” Bogari told Arab News.
The event also showcased an exhibition space featuring renowned Japanese textile companies, including Curlelabo, Maker’s Shirt Kamakura, Shindo, Uni Textile, and Parfait Textile.
Attendees explored the latest fabric technologies, materials and high-quality textiles designed to support both emerging and established Saudi designers.
Al-Othaimeen emphasized the importance of integrating Japanese precision and attention to detail into local sustainable fashion.
“The Japanese are known for their quality and their dedication to paying attention to details, and these are important for a sustainable brand. Merging our values together will help us work better,” she said.
Vivian Huang, co-founder of Parfait Textile, highlighted the advantage of Japanese craftsmanship and its appeal to small and growing brands.
“Japanese fabric has high quality, and they do some by hand, so it’s different … we can deliver small orders, so we can support small brands that just started and want to get big,” Huang said.
One of the key displays at the event focused on the history of Japan’s fabric trade relations with Saudi Arabia, illustrating how Japanese textile exports have evolved over the decades, with synthetic textiles being a major export today, particularly for traditional Saudi attire.
The event concluded with a networking session, allowing Saudi designers and business owners to explore potential collaborations with Japanese manufacturers, strengthening the growing relationship between the two countries in the fashion sector.
Riyadh: Akram Karimi, Tajikistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, praised the Kingdom’s relief and humanitarian efforts through the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, which supports those in need in the Central Asian country.
The envoy met with KSrelief Assistant Supervisor General for Planning and Development Aqeel Al-Ghamdi in Riyadh to discuss relief and humanitarian matters, as well as ways to enhance humanitarian efforts in Tajikistan.
Karimi told Arab News that during his meeting with Al-Ghamdi, he discussed cooperation between Tajikistan and KSrelief and conveyed his government’s gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its support in implementing humanitarian and social programs.
He highlighted KSrelief as one of the leading institutions operating in Tajikistan in the fields of relief, humanitarian, and social activities, noting that the agency has undertaken more than 25 projects in the country, with funding exceeding $16 million.
Of future cooperation, Karimi said they explored ways to strengthen collaboration, particularly in priority sectors such as healthcare.
He added: “We reached an agreement on the visit of a team of Saudi doctors to Tajikistan after the holy month of Ramadan to hold a medical campaign to perform voluntary surgeries for children with heart failure.”
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Libraries Commission is showcasing several rare manuscripts outlining the nation’s heritage at the ongoing Saudi Cultural Week in Doha.
The event, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture in collaboration with its Qatari counterpart, began on Tuesday and will end on Feb. 21.
Being held at Darb Al-Saai, it aims to highlight Saudi Arabia’s culture and promote international exchange as a part of Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The event also has programs and projects aimed at developing the library sector and enhancing access to knowledge.
This participation aligns with the commission’s efforts to elevate Saudi Arabia’s culture globally, strengthen ties with Qatar, and engage Gulf and international audiences, the SPA report added.
The Kingdom’s Year of Handicrafts 2025 initiative is being showcased for the first time at the event, with a dedicated corner offering information about the project.
Ten skilled Saudi Arabia artisans are displaying traditional arts and handicrafts, including Al-Hasawi Bisht weaving and tailoring (a traditional men’s outer cloak), Al-Sadu weaving (a traditional textile), and iqal crafting (a traditional headband).
There are several interactive screens illustrating various handicrafts and their unique characteristics.
The event also features live culinary demonstrations by five top Saudi Arabia chefs, where visitors can sample authentic dishes from the Kingdom.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s bold leadership and rapid transformation under Vision 2030 should serve as a model for other nations, former UK prime minister Boris Johnson said today at the Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh.
Comparing the Kingdom’s accelerated economic and infrastructure development to the UK’s sluggish progress, Johnson highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ability to execute large-scale projects efficiently, crediting its decisive leadership for the shift.
“I visited NEOM eight years ago, and there was absolutely nothing there. Now, Saudi Arabia has built world-class resorts, with 12,000 hotel rooms under development,” he said. “Meanwhile, in the UK, we still struggle to complete one railway.”
Johnson praised Vision 2030 as the foundation of Saudi Arabia’s progress, highlighting its role in economic diversification, infrastructure expansion and social reforms. “Fifty percent of the Saudi economy is now non-oil,” he said, citing the Kingdom’s shift toward tourism, technology and renewable energy as key indicators of success.
Women’s empowerment also featured prominently in his remarks. Johnson highlighted that Saudi women’s participation in the technology workforce now surpasses that of Silicon Valley and Europe. “Look at the speed of change,” he said. “We in the UK need to learn from this.”
Beyond economic reforms, Johnson acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s rising diplomatic and geopolitical influence. He referenced its role in global discussions and peace initiatives, calling the Kingdom a key player in shaping the region’s future.
On the crisis in Gaza, Johnson called for strong leadership and reconciliation, urging the need for leaders with the courage to push for peace. “Saudi Arabia is playing a historic role in bringing long-term peace and prosperity to the region,” he said.
Johnson contrasted Saudi Arabia’s ability to execute large-scale projects quickly with the bureaucratic delays plaguing infrastructure development in the UK. “You’ve spent $68 billion on these projects, and we still can’t complete one railway,” he said, referencing the UK’s stalled High Speed 2 rail project.
“Saudi Arabia is a country where things are happening with incredible speed and decisiveness. Frankly, we need to learn that in the UK,” he added.
Shifting focus to media and public perception, Johnson criticized the role of social media algorithms in shaping biased narratives. He said that platforms like YouTube and Twitter often reinforce pre-existing beliefs rather than providing balanced perspectives. “We need to ensure the media presents balanced facts, rather than reinforcing pre-existing biases,” he added.
Reflecting on his own career, Johnson discussed his transition from journalism to politics, and said that he wanted to shift from critiquing policy to actively shaping it. “As a journalist, you throw rocks. As a politician, you build,” he added.
Johnson also pointed to the difficulty of leadership in a social media-driven world, where political figures face instant scrutiny and polarized opinions.
Concluding the session, Johnson praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s leadership, quoting Winston Churchill: “Courage is the most important virtue, and this country is fortunate to have a leader with courage.”
The Saudi Media Forum 2025, held in Riyadh from Feb. 19-21, brings together global media figures, policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of media, governance and international relations.
