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Who's Who in the Saudi G20

Who's Who in the Saudi G20
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Who's Who in the Saudi G20

Who's Who in the Saudi G20

The G20 Leaders’ Summit kicked off Saturday, bringing together leaders from the world’s leading economies to address global pressing issues.

The G20 Saudi Presidency has demonstrated determined and effective leadership in not only gathering the world leaders but also taking collective action that benefits the world.

The Saudi Presidency is led by His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the Head of State, with the agenda and direction of the presidency held under his direction, supported by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Dr. Fahad Toonsi is the Secretary-General for the G20 Saudi Secretariat, tasked with the responsibility of overseeing and supporting the implementation of the G20 Presidency work this year.

The Sherpa Track is led by Dr. Fahad Al-Mubarak, who has been the G20 Saudi Sherpa since 2018. Under this track, ministers of the Kingdom chaired ministerial meetings related to socio-economic issues. The ministers include His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman Al Saud, who chaired the Energy Ministerial Meeting, Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah for Health, Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, and Eng. Khaled AlFalih, who led the Trade & Investment Ministers Meeting. The Environment, Agriculture, and Water Ministers Meetings were chaired by Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, while Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha chaired the Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting. Dr. Hamad Alshaikh chaired the education ministerial meeting and Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi chaired the one on labor and employment. Ahmad Al-Khatib chaired the meeting for Tourism Ministers, and Mazin Al-Kahmous led the discussions on the first-ever Anti-Corruption Ministerial Meeting under the G20. Her Highness Princess Haifa AlMogrin chaired the Development Working Group.

The Finance Track is led by Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, and Dr. Ahmed Alkholifey, the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. With their leadership, the working groups for the finance track focused on economic response to global pandemic including debt relief for developing nations, infrastructure, financial inclusion, economic growth, international financial architecture, and the global economy.

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Arab World

Israeli Military Says Detained Suspected ISIS Militant in Syria

FILE PHOTO: Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre along the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, November 24, 2025. REUTERS/Shir Torem/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre along the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, November 24, 2025. REUTERS/Shir Torem/File Photo
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Israeli Military Says Detained Suspected ISIS Militant in Syria

FILE PHOTO: Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre along the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, November 24, 2025. REUTERS/Shir Torem/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre along the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, November 24, 2025. REUTERS/Shir Torem/File Photo

The Israeli military said on Saturday its forces had arrested a suspected ISIS militant in Syria earlier this week and taken him back to Israel.

In a statement, the military said that on Wednesday "soldiers completed an operation in the area of Rafid in southern Syria to apprehend a suspected terrorist affiliated with ISIS.”

"The suspect was transferred for further processing in Israeli territory," the statement said.

World

Pope Leo Summons World's Cardinals for Key Assembly to Help him Govern the Church

A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, 20 December 2025. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT
A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, 20 December 2025. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT
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Pope Leo Summons World's Cardinals for Key Assembly to Help him Govern the Church

A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, 20 December 2025. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT
A handout picture provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV presiding over the Jubilee Audience in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, 20 December 2025. EPA/VATICAN MEDIA HANDOUT

Pope Leo XIV has summoned the world’s cardinals for two days of meetings to help him govern the church, the Vatican said Saturday, in the clearest sign yet that the new year will signal the unofficial start of his pontificate.

The consistory, as such gatherings are called, will be held Jan. 7-8, immediately following the Jan. 6 conclusion of the 2025 Holy Year, a once-every-quarter century celebration of Christianity.

Leo’s first few months as pope have been dominated by fulfilling the weekly Holy Year obligations of meeting with pilgrimage groups and celebrating special Jubilee audiences and Masses. Additionally, much of his time has been spent wrapping up the outstanding matters of Pope Francis' pontificate.

As a result, the January consistory in many ways will mark the first time that Leo can look ahead to his own agenda following his May 8 election as the first American pope. It is significant that he has summoned all the world’s cardinals to Rome, The Associated Press reported.

Francis had largely eschewed the consistory tradition as a means of governance. He had instead relied on a small group of eight or nine hand-picked cardinal advisers to help him govern and make key decisions.

The Vatican said Saturday that Leo’s first consistory “will be oriented toward fostering common discernment and offering support and advice to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and grave responsibility in the government of the universal Church.”

Other types of consistories include the formal installation of new cardinals. But no new cardinals will be made at this meeting, which is purely consultative.

Varieties

UK's Prince William and Son George Volunteer at Homelessness Charity

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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UK's Prince William and Son George Volunteer at Homelessness Charity

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace, central London, following the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 5, 2025. Jordan Pettitt/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Britain's Prince William took his oldest son, Prince George, to a homelessness charity in London where the pair helped make Christmas lunch for people in need, Kensington Palace said on Saturday.

The visit was particularly poignant for William, heir to the throne, because his late mother Princess Diana had taken him to the same charity when he was 11 years old, an experience which inspired him to set up a ⁠program aimed at ending homelessness.

During the trip to the charity's center, named The Passage, George signed the visitor's book on the same page previously signed by Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when William ⁠was 15 years old, Reuters reported.

Wearing aprons, George, 12, and his father worked in the kitchen, placing food in baking trays, while they talked and laughed with the center’s catering staff, before heading out to lay long tables with napkins and Christmas crackers.

"It was important to The Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend ⁠time volunteering alongside the team," a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said.

"They both greatly enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users as well as learning more about the charity’s work."

As well as working to try to stop people becoming homeless, William also champions environmental causes and campaigns for more openness about mental health issues.

William, his wife Kate and their three children are expected to spend Christmas at King Charles' Sandringham estate in eastern England.