Saudi Program Boosts Agriculture in Yemen’s Al-Mahrah

A project supported by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen in Al-Mahrah Governorate. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A project supported by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen in Al-Mahrah Governorate. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Program Boosts Agriculture in Yemen’s Al-Mahrah

A project supported by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen in Al-Mahrah Governorate. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A project supported by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen in Al-Mahrah Governorate. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has established a foothold for small Yemeni farmers in the markets of Al-Mahrah Governorate, by providing them with different agricultural inputs and new varieties of seeds.

SDRPY projects boost community participation in the agricultural sector, through building Yemeni capacities and supporting the integration of farmers into all phases of projects.

According to the organizers, the program has contributed to marketing agricultural products and transporting them to local markets, within a comprehensive training program that improved the capabilities of male and female workers in the sector.

The Saudi program was initially launched to support wheat cultivation in Al-Masila district, in the 2018-2019 season, and targeted more than 100 farmers.

After the region was struck by Cyclone Luban, the program developed new mechanisms to improve agricultural plans in cooperation with the Agriculture and Irrigation Office and the farmers in the area.

In addition, during the agricultural season of 2021, the program provided support to 77 farmers, such as fertilizers and agricultural assistance to stimulate the cultivation of maize and wheat, as the deficit in wheat production in Yemen reached 92 percent.

The SDRPY projects to support small farmers in Al-Mahrah Governorate also provided all mechanisms that contribute to accelerating the harvest process, in addition to agricultural inputs such as grains, seeds, fertilizers and packing bags.

Cadres working in various vital sectors in Yemen continue to benefit from the training and rehabilitation workshops provided by the SDRPY, thus, helping the development of Yemenis in government and private institutions. It has so far provided over 200 projects in various governorates.



Turkish Parliament Ratifies Makkah Defense Pact

General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
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Turkish Parliament Ratifies Makkah Defense Pact

General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)
General view of the Turkish Parliament. (Reuters – File Photo)

Türkiye's parliament ratified a regional defense pact involving Saudi Arabia and Pakistan overnight, state media reported.

The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement in August, committing them to come to one another's aid if any member is attacked.

Lawmakers approved the measure by 279 votes to 119, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

During parliamentary debates, ruling AKP lawmaker Ziya Altunyaldiz said the agreement was not directed against any third country and was intended to prevent conflicts rather than escalate them, Anadolu reported.


Coalition Destroys Drone in Makkah, 2 Ballistic Missiles Fired at Najran

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Coalition Destroys Drone in Makkah, 2 Ballistic Missiles Fired at Najran

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki announced on Friday the interception and downing of a drone over the Makkah Region. 

Saudi defenses had earlier destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the terrorist Houthi militia at Saudi Arabia's Najran, he added. 

Debris fell as a result of the interception, and an assessment of the damage is currently underway. 


Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Seek to Strengthen Security Cooperation

(L) Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and (R) his Turkish counterpart, Mustafa Ciftci. (SPA)
(L) Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and (R) his Turkish counterpart, Mustafa Ciftci. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Seek to Strengthen Security Cooperation

(L) Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and (R) his Turkish counterpart, Mustafa Ciftci. (SPA)
(L) Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif and (R) his Turkish counterpart, Mustafa Ciftci. (SPA)

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met his Turkish counterpart, Mustafa Ciftci, in Ankara on Thursday for talks focused on strengthening security cooperation between the two countries.

Prince Abdulaziz said the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman emphasized the importance of further developing bilateral security cooperation, building on the close ties between the two countries.

Prince Abdulaziz said the two countries' longstanding historical and fraternal ties had set an example of cooperation and coordination across various fields.

He said the Makkah Defense Agreement, signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan, reflects the strength of Riyadh-Ankara relations and their converging strategic interests and priorities amid the current geopolitical landscape. The agreement marks an important step that demonstrates the two countries' leaderships' commitment to addressing regional and international crises, he added.

The talks focused on strengthening security cooperation and coordination, including efforts to combat extremist groups and cross-border crimes such as drug smuggling and trafficking, amid regional and global challenges.

Both sides stressed the importance of further strengthening security cooperation in areas of mutual interest, developing partnership frameworks and coordinating efforts on security issues in line with the aspirations of their countries' leaderships.