OIC, WHO enhance cooperation in health sector – Arab News

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JEDDAH: The assistant secretary-general for humanitarian, cultural, and social affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Tarig Ali Bakhiet, recently met the director general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in Geneva.
Bakhiet, who is also the special envoy of the OIC secretary-general to Afghanistan, and Ghebreyesus discussed resource and support mobilization to strengthen the health sector in Afghanistan, and the Sahel region, including through enhancing access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The two sides agreed to develop a new memorandum of understanding and a plan of action to reinforce their bilateral cooperation in health and technical assistance, provision of medical supplies, training and capacity building to the benefit of the OIC member states.
The OIC envoy also met Antonio Vitorino, director general of the International Organization for Migration in Geneva. The meeting highlighted the critical importance of migration for the OIC and explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two sides, including through an enhanced framework of engagement.
The two parties emphasized the need to scale-up joint action to implement emergency assistance, address the root causes of migration, and operationalize durable solutions that span across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus.
Earlier, Bakhiet held a meeting with Robert Mardini, director general of the International Committee of the Red Cross. They discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two parties, considering the cooperation agreement and work plan signed between the two sides.
The two parties stressed the need to intensify joint efforts to confront humanitarian crises in conflict areas and help those affected overcome their various effects and repercussions.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of continuing to hold seminars and workshops in the humanitarian field and international humanitarian law.
RIYADH: A naval exercise hosted by the Royal Saudi Navy started on Sunday with participation from the Western Fleet’s Special Maritime Security Group and the Jordanian Special Operation Forces.
The exercise, called Abdullah 8, aims to improve and develop the capability of the participating units to respond quickly to counter terrorist activities, exchange expertise in combating terrorism, and handle unexploded weapons.
It also aims to raise efficiency and combat readiness and unify operational concepts in the preparation, planning, and implementation stages.
Commander of the Western Fleet Rear Admiral Yahya bin Mohammed Asiri confirmed that the exercise is an extension of joint exercises between the two countries, adding that the drill includes two exercises that are being launched simultaneously in Saudi Arabia and Jordan and other military activities.
Asiri said that the week-long exercise at the Western Fleet aims to strengthen and consolidate relations between the two countries in mixed military training, and contribute to developing and raising the combat readiness of units from the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and Jordanian Special Operation Forces.He added that the units will carry out various drills and military hypotheses using live ammunition.
RIYADH: The Kiswa of the Kaaba will be replaced on Saturday to coincide with the beginning of the new Islamic year, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has announced. 
166 technicians and craftsmen will take part in the annual custom under the supervision of the head of the presidency Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais.
Al-Sudais highlighted the great care that the Saudi leadership takes to maintain the Kaaba.

Around 200 craftsmen and administrators work at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa in different sections including departments that deal with dyeing and automatic weaving, manual weaving, printing, sewing and assembly, and the belt and gold section of the Kaaba.
The sewing department houses the longest sewing machine in the world that has a length of 16 meters and operates with a computer system.
The Kiswa is made with about 670 kilograms of raw silk which is dyed black at the complex, 120 kilograms of gold wire and 100 kilograms of silver wire.
RIYADH: An official at the Saudi Ministry of Media has denied the authenticity of the alleged draft of penal measures recently circulated on social media platforms. 
The statement said based on official information, the previously announced draft remains under preparation and is currently undergoing legislative review.
The ministry source also stressed on the need to ensure the accuracy of information being circulated to avoid the spread of rumors and incorrect information through unofficial accounts, as quoted by the Saudi Press Agency on Monday. 
The statement also called on everyone to cooperate in advancing a healthy judicial and legal culture.
RIYADH: Umrah pilgrims will be able to book their slots and issue permits online starting from July 30, reported Saudi News Agency (SPA), citing the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Through a color-coded system on the “Eatmarna” app, pilgrims will be able to book their slot based on the capacity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, said SPA.
Under the Kingdom’s health guidelines, pilgrims will have their permits cancelled if they test positive for COVID-19 or are proven to be a patient’s close contact on the “Tawakkalna” app.
Pilgrims performing Umrah will have to wear masks inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, leave the site by the end of their permit, and refrain from carrying unauthorized luggage inside the mosque, reported SPA.
And the “Eatmarna” app will enable pilgrims to issue Hajj permits in easy steps, the ministry said.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan are set to enhance mutual trade and investment in several sectors, according to a joint statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
This cooperation includes petrochemicals, renewable energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, transport and logistics. Other agreements cover information technology, digital transformation, financial services and space, SPA reported.
The statement follows the visit of Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Tokayev on Sunday praised Saudi Arabia for successfully organizing the Hajj and Umrah seasons despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SPA reported.
The two countries signed several agreements and memoranda of cooperation in sports, media, medicine and finance. The also agreed to enhance cooperation in higher education, research and innovation.
To boost trade and tourism, the countries agreed to allow direct mutual flights and create multiple additional shipping lines. Saudi Arabia praised Kazakhstan for exempting Saudi citizens from its visa requirements.
On climate change, they agreed to abide by the principles of the Framework Convention on Climate and the Paris Agreement, and to focus on reducing emissions.
There was mutual support for the Kingdom’s Green Saudi Arabia and Green Middle East initiatives, as well as Kazakhstan’s Green Bridge Partnership Program.
On energy, there was praise for the efforts of the OPEC+ nations to stabilize the global oil market. They stated that all participating countries should adhere to the OPEC+ agreements that would assist producers and consumers, and support world economic growth.
On defense, security and political levels, discussions were held on ways to ensure the safety and sovereignty of the two nations.
With regard to the crisis in Yemen, the two sides supported international and regional efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution for that country, based on the Gulf initiative, the Yemeni National Dialogue, and the UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015.
At the end of the visit, Tokayev invited King Salman to participate in the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held on Sept. 14 and 15 this year, as well as the sixth Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, which will be held on Oct. 12 and 13 in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan.
King Salman thanked Tokayev for these two invitations.

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