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RIYADH: Kuwait has named Noura Soliman and Khalifa Abdullah as its new finance and trade ministers respectively as part of a cabinet reshuffle, Kuwait News Agency said on Sunday.
NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an end to the external flow of weapons into Sudan, which is “enabling the continuation of tremendous civilian destruction and bloodshed.”
He also called for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and for unrestricted access to aid in areas of need.
“Let’s (be) clear about basic principles,” said Guterres. “Civilians, including humanitarian workers, must be protected.
“Rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access must be facilitated in all areas of need.
“The external support and flow of weapons must end. This flow is enabling the continuation of tremendous civilian destruction and bloodshed.”
Guterres was speaking in Addis Ababa at a high-level meeting on Sudan, where he emphasized that the country’s crisis, which has displaced millions and caused widespread suffering, requires an unprecedented response.
Next week the UN, along with national and international partners, will launch two major humanitarian plans to assist those affected by the conflict: the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, and the 2025 Sudan Refugee Response Plan.
They collectively aim to raise $6 billion to support an estimated 21 million people in Sudan and up to 5 million refugees in neighboring countries.
Guterres called for urgent international action to alleviate the deepening humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged country.
“Now the international community must show the same level of support to the Sudanese people in their moment of despair as the Sudanese people once showed to their neighbors in distress. “Your pledges today, in this room, will be the expression of that support,” he told donors.
Having served as the UN high commissioner for refugees, Guterres shared his personal experiences of working in Sudan, where he witnessed the hospitality of Sudanese people toward internally displaced populations as well as refugees from countries such as Eritrea, Chad, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
He also praised the efforts of countries hosting Sudanese refugees, noting that 3.3 million Sudanese have sought refuge in these nations despite their own challenges.
War has been raging for 19 months between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
A report by the Sudan Research Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine puts the number of deaths in Khartoum state alone at 61,000.
Of these, 26,000 were directly caused by violence, while the leading cause of death across Sudan was preventable disease and starvation.
The death toll is even higher in other parts of the country, particularly in Darfur, where reports of atrocities and ethnic cleansing have been widespread.
Aid workers have warned that the conflict in Sudan has resulted in the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with thousands more at risk of famine.
The UN and other aid organizations have cited 20,000 confirmed deaths, but due to the ongoing fighting and disorder there has been no consistent tracking of casualties.
Last May, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello said some estimates suggested as many as 150,000 people may have been killed.
Guterres warned that Sudan’s crisis continues to be “of staggering scale and brutality” and is worsening by the day, with violence spilling over into neighboring regions and humanitarian access remaining a major obstacle.
The Sudanese people “are crying out for an immediate ceasefire” and protection from further harm, he said.
Guterres assured attendees that the UN special envoy for Sudan is actively engaged with the warring parties to implement measures that could help achieve these objectives, including through the full execution of the Jeddah Declaration, which was signed by the US, Saudi Arabia, and representatives of both warring sides on May 20, 2023.
It was intended to facilitate a week-long ceasefire and the distribution of humanitarian aid in Sudan, but a day after it came into effect, clashes erupted again.
With Ramadan fast approaching, Guterres appealed to the international community to take decisive action, invoking the holy month’s spirit of peace, compassion and solidarity.
He urged leaders to provide generous support to the humanitarian response, advocate for respect of international law, and push for an immediate cessation of hostilities to help bring peace to Sudan.
“We must do more — and do more now — to help the people of Sudan out of this nightmare,” he said.
RIYADH: A special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the landmark meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt has opened in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The historic encounter, which took place on Feb. 14, 1945 aboard the USS Quincy in the Bitter Lakes of the Suez Canal, laid the foundation for the long-standing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the King Abdulaziz Foundation, in collaboration with the US Embassy in Riyadh.
The event, hosted at the stone building of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh, will be open to visitors until Feb. 17.
It features a collection of rare documents and archival photographs that detail the meeting’s significance — not merely as a diplomatic exchange but as a turning point in international relations.
The event marked the beginning of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations, leading to the establishment of embassies, diplomatic representation and a bilateral relationship grounded in shared interests.
Over the past eight decades, Saudi-US relations have expanded across various sectors, including politics, economics, culture and technology. This enduring partnership has played a crucial role in regional and global stability.
Through this exhibition, the King Abdulaziz Foundation aims to educate new generations about the impact of the meeting.
Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with an immersive display that explores the diplomatic, political and cultural dimensions of the meeting and how the alliance forged that day continues to shape global affairs and remains a cornerstone of strategic cooperation between the two nations.
ABU DHABI: Last summer at the Paris Olympics, Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam attacked one monster wave after another at Tahiti’s iconic Teahupo’o, going toe-to-toe with Brazilian Joao Chianca in one of the most memorable heats of the Games.
The duo traded perfect 8-to-10-foot barrels throughout the heat, with Boukhiam scoring a stunning 9.70 on one of his waves. But the Moroccan’s total, which combines the highest-scoring two waves per surfer, ended up being just 0.3 points short of Chianca’s tally and he missed out on a spot in the quarter-finals and a chance to fight for an Olympic medal.
“It was pretty much the conditions that I love, that I dream of. Perfect heats, at perfect Teahupo’o, big waves, barrels. And I was against Joao Chianca. He’s one of the best barrel riders in the world. And he’s a good friend. And I knew he charged a lot,” Boukhiam told Arab News on the sidelines of the ongoing Surf Abu Dhabi Pro at Hudayriyat Island in the UAE capital.
“We knew that both of us were going to go for it and bring the best out of each other. And we did. It was an amazing, amazing, amazing heat. And I was really bummed.
“I think it’s the toughest loss of my career. Even though I put on a show and it was amazing, but I still didn’t come home with a medal. So, at the end of the day, I was really sad. But I’m proud of my performance.”
It may have felt like he left Tahiti empty-handed, but Boukhiam walked away from his second appearance at the Olympics with scores of new fans, from the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
The Paris Games gave surfing a wider platform compared to when the sport made its Olympics debut in Tokyo three years earlier.
Opting to stage the competition in Tahiti, the Paris Olympics showcased surfing at its best, with massive barrels and elite-level ripping on full display.
“When you see those big, perfect barrels, even if you don’t understand nothing about surfing, you’re going to be like, wow! You know? It gets you. It captivates you,” Boukhiam said.
“So, I really feel like these Olympics were way bigger for surfing than the other one. And we really showed what surfing is all about. I wish I had the medal. But it is what it is. It was a nice one.”
Last year was a big one for Boukhiam, not just because of his second appearance at the Olympics. The Agadir native spent 10 years battling on the Qualifying Series before he finally clinched a spot for the 2023 Championship Tour, or CT, of the World Surf League, or WSL, only to get injured and break his ankle in training just before the start of the new season.
He got his chance a year later when he was handed the replacement slot for 2024 and a couple of withdrawals made way for the first Arab surfer to compete on the WSL’s CT, the highest-level of competition in the world of professional surfing.
Boukhiam finished his rookie campaign ranked 12th in the world and he has loftier targets for his sophomore season, which began at Pipeline in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago before landing on Abu Dhabi shores this weekend for the first CT event to be staged in the Middle East.
“My first year, I had a lot of fun,” Boukhiam said. “And I was super proud of a few moments in the year where my back was against the wall and I managed to step it up and turn the situation around and come out with big results and just boost of confidence, coming back from my injury and everything.
“So, I was pretty happy and proud of myself after a nice year.”
An interference call in the round of 32 saw Boukhiam finish 17th at Pipeline last week and he admits it was a tough pill to swallow given he had high hopes for the opening event of the 2025 season.
“It really felt like I let an opportunity go by to have a really, really good result. So it hurt a lot,” he said.
Boukhiam quickly put the disappointment behind him on landing in the UAE for a historic inaugural Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, and is excited to compete in front of Moroccan and Arab fans.
“Honestly, it’s super cool. And I’m sure I’m going to see some Moroccan flags the day of my heat. I know a lot of friends and a lot of Moroccans that live here in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi as well. So, I hope they’ll come around and check it out and support,” he said.
“Hopefully it’s going to motivate the kids from here in the Middle East. Maybe a champion is going to come from here soon. And you guys have good waves close by. You know, Sri Lanka and everything. So, yeah, it’s a perfect start for the region. Having the best surfers on the planet in your home. I’m super happy.”
Winning his first CT event is high up on Boukhiam’s bucket list for 2025, and he’s also hoping to finish the year in the top five.
“I know I can do it. It’s really hard, but I know I can do it. So, I’m going to go for it,” said Boukhiam, whose best CT finish so far was clinching third at the Tahiti Pro last year after defeating surfing great Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals.
At 31, Boukhiam believes his best days are still ahead of him. He feels he’s finally coming into his own competing against the world’s best and isn’t putting any limits on his ambitions.
Could a third Olympics appearance be in the cards for him at LA 2028?
“If my body lets me, for sure, I’m thinking about it,” he said.
“I feel fresh, honestly. I feel the strongest I’ve ever been. My surfing is there. I feel like I’m almost still improving a little bit, which is not usual. At 31, normally you start going down. But I feel like I’m getting better and stronger. So, Alhamdulillah, yeah. Why not? Why not?
“I’m going year by year and event by event. I just want to do good in the CT. And if I’m ready for the Olympics, I’ll be ready, inshallah.”
Boukhiam was born in Agadir to a Moroccan father and Dutch mother. He lost his father at the age of 11 and later moved with his mother and brother to Biarritz, France — the epicenter of European surfing.
After a strong junior career and a decade toiling on the Qualifying Series, Boukhiam, who is back based in Agadir, is finally where he belongs, competing against the best surfers on the planet.
Asked what his advice would be for Arab surfers looking to follow in his footsteps, Boukhiam said: “I know it’s cliche, but keep going, because that’s exactly what I did. I had a good junior career, and then I had ups and downs for more than eight, nine, 10 years on the Challengers and all that stuff, and then finally qualified at 29,” he said.
“So I kept pushing with a lot of injuries, a lot of stuff. I know it’s cliche, but keep pushing, believe, and keep improving.
“Forget about what everyone is doing. Do you, and do the best of you, and try to be the best of you every day, and keep going, and try to do the maximum so you have no regrets. I think that’s the mindset you need to have.”
RIYADH: The second Saudi Arabian Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers — Hamza — will be held on Sunday.
It will be administered by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, in collaboration with a number of Saudi universities in-person.
The inaugural Hamza test in September was intended as a step toward creating a standardized Arabic proficiency test.
Building on this, the second event is set to broaden its reach both locally and internationally, offering in-person and remote testing in collaboration with the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, or Qiyas.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, spoke about how the Hamza test serves as a benchmark assessment accredited by the academy.
“The test evaluates four key language skills — listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and speaking — over 155 minutes, comprising 75 questions. Designed to meet the highest international standards, it aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,” Al-Washmi said.
The test fulfilled the requirements of certain employers that mandate language proficiency assessments for job applicants, he said.
Through the “Hamza” test, KSGAAL aims to strengthen the academic prominence of the Arabic language regionally and globally.
By offering a precise and reliable assessment of linguistic competence, the test enables educational institutions to effectively evaluate Arabic learners and non-native Arabic instructors, ensuring accurate placement and skill development.
The test has now been administered in person to more than 2,000 candidates across Saudi Arabia and multiple other countries, encompassing more than 60 nationalities.
As part of its commitment to advancing the Arabic language, KSGAAL continues to refine and expand the test, leveraging educational and technological resources to enhance accessibility for non-native speakers both within the Kingdom and beyond.
Mansoor Almalki, director of Linguistic Testing at KSGAAL, told Arab News that collaborating with 19 Saudi universities to administer the Hamza test marked a significant step in expanding its adoption and solidifying its status as a trusted benchmark for Arabic language proficiency in academic institutions.
“This partnership ensures the test meets the evolving needs of educational institutions while reinforcing its role as a standardized assessment tool for non-native Arabic speakers,” he said.
“The integration between higher education institutions and KSGAAL, as the primary authority for Arabic language learning, teaching and assessment in the Kingdom, plays a crucial role in developing Arabic language curricula based on rigorous scientific standards.”
Almalki said that partnering with universities expanded the research database on Arabic as a second language assessment, paving the way for more effective educational strategies.
On international expansion, he revealed a strategic plan to strengthen partnerships with global universities and educational institutions, particularly in countries witnessing a growing interest in learning Arabic.
These efforts aimed to enhance the test’s international recognition and ensure its broader adoption worldwide.
“The standardized assessment model plays a crucial role in advancing research on Arabic language education. Test results provide analytical data that drive the development of more effective teaching methods,” Almalki said.
He said that the diverse nationalities of test-takers served as a strong indicator of the global success of Hamza as an international test.
“Such diversity underscores the trust that learners and academic institutions place in KSGAAL, as well as the test’s reliability as a precise standardized measure of linguistic competence,” Almalki said.
MUNICH: Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has extended his contract with the club through June 2030.
The Bavarian powerhouse said Friday that the 21-year-old Musiala, who joined the club as a youth from English side Chelsea in 2019, signed a new deal extending the one he had for another season.
“People go to the stadium for players like Jamal Musiala. He’s a truly exceptional player,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer said.
“Sometimes you feel like the rules of gravity don’t apply to him. Credit to our sporting management and the board. Today is a very good day for FC Bayern.”
Musiala’s extension follows recently announced new deals for teammates Alphonso Davies and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich and forward Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller still have contracts expiring at the end of this season.
Musiala fired Bayern to the 2023 Bundesliga title with the winning goal at Cologne in the last round while Borussia Dortmund were held to a draw by Mainz.
He has seven goals in 38 appearances for Germany.
