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Expo 2030 Riyadh Receives BIE Flag, Signifying Start of Next World Expo Preparations

Expo 2030 Riyadh officially received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag during the closing ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka. (SPA)
Expo 2030 Riyadh officially received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag during the closing ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka. (SPA)
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Expo 2030 Riyadh Receives BIE Flag, Signifying Start of Next World Expo Preparations

Expo 2030 Riyadh officially received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag during the closing ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka. (SPA)
Expo 2030 Riyadh officially received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag during the closing ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka. (SPA)

Expo 2030 Riyadh officially received the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag during the closing ceremony of Expo 2025 Osaka, which concluded after six months of global exhibitions, dialogue and cultural exchange.

The handover of the BIE flag, received by Minster of State and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan, marked the formal transfer of host city responsibilities to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the start of the journey toward the next World Expo, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

Under the theme “Foresight for Tomorrow,” Expo 2030 Riyadh will serve as a global platform for innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development, already key to the transformation agenda of Saudi Vision 2030.

Senior representatives from Saudi Arabia attended the ceremony, including Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, underscoring national commitment and city-level preparedness.

Eng. Al-Sultan said: “At the conclusion of Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan, the handover of the flag from Japan to Riyadh marks an important milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward hosting the world at Expo 2030 Riyadh. It also represents the official start of the countdown to organizing an unprecedented edition of the world’s most prominent exhibition."

He stated that this event embodies a new phase in the Kingdom’s journey toward the future, thanks to the unwavering support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

“The combined efforts of all state institutions, along with the warm enthusiasm of citizens and residents across the Kingdom, especially in Riyadh, will help deliver an exceptional experience that reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence and leadership in hosting global events and embodies its vision of building a more innovative and cooperative future for the world,” he added.

CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company Eng. Talal AlMarri said: “This milestone moves us firmly into delivery mode. Expo 2030 Riyadh will set new global benchmarks in sustainability, creativity, and inclusivity. It will be more than a gathering of nations; it will be a living legacy and a platform for action for the Kingdom and the world.”

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company hosted the “From Osaka to Riyadh” cultural showcase on October 10 at the Expo Arena Matsuri, drawing over 15,000 attendees and demonstrating strong event capabilities in the lead-up to 2030.

Throughout Expo Osaka, the Expo 2030 Riyadh Company engaged with participating nations through a series of workshops and bilateral meetings, focusing on understanding each country’s priorities and objectives for the next Expo. The Saudi Pavilion concluded Expo 2025 Osaka with historic visitor engagement, welcoming a record-breaking over three million attendees.

Running from October 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, Expo 2030 Riyadh is set to welcome over 42 million visitors, with participation from 197 countries and 29 organizations. Spanning more than six million square meters across five zones, the event will explore forward-looking solutions for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Following the six-month event, the site will evolve into a permanent Global Village, leaving a lasting legacy for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the world.

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Gulf

Kuwait Arrests Hezbollah Cell Plotting Attacks on Key Facilities

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Arrests Hezbollah Cell Plotting Attacks on Key Facilities

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday evening that state security forces had thwarted a terrorist cell linked to Hezbollah that was planning to target vital installations in the country.

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the ministry’s official spokesperson, said in a statement that the cell consisted of 10 Kuwaiti nationals. The suspects had reportedly received training in camps affiliated with Hezbollah, including instruction in operating drones.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the State Security Service had “successfully foiled a terrorist plot targeting vital facilities in the country” following extensive surveillance and security investigations.

Authorities said the 10 suspects, described as members of a terrorist group affiliated with the banned organization Hezbollah, had engaged in prior planning and coordination with external actors.

They allegedly sought to establish intelligence contacts to supply coordinates of targeted sites, posing a direct threat to national security.

Members of the cell had undergone training abroad in Hezbollah-run camps, including weapons handling and drone operation, as part of preparations for sabotage attacks aimed at undermining state sovereignty, destabilizing the country, and spreading fear among the public.

The suspects have provided detailed confessions, said the ministry.

It stressed that it would act “with the utmost firmness” against anyone found to be involved in undermining national security or cooperating with such groups, warning that it would not hesitate to take decisive action against any threats.

Safeguarding Kuwait’s security remains a top priority, it said, emphasizing that authorities will continue efforts to track down those behind such plots and pursue the harshest legal measures without leniency or exception.

On Monday, the ministry announced the arrest of another terrorist group affiliated with Hezbollah that had been attempting to destabilize the country and recruit individuals to join the group. Authorities said 14 Kuwaiti suspects and two Lebanese nationals were detained.

Officials seized weapons, ammunition, encrypted communication devices, drones, and narcotics from the suspects.

Gulf

Saudi Defenses Destroy Ballistic Missiles, Drones Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
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Saudi Defenses Destroy Ballistic Missiles, Drones Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki said on Thursday that the Kingdom’s defenses intercepted and downed 12 drones and a ballistic missile fired at the Eastern Region.

Late on Wednesday, defenses thwarted two drone attacks against a gas facility in the Eastern Region. No damage was reported.

Al-Malki said defenses also shot down four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. Debris from one of the missiles fell near a refinery south of the capital.

Defenses also intercepted and destroyed six drones in the Eastern Region and one in the al-Kharj Governorate.

Gulf

Riyadh Consultative Meeting: Regional Countries Will Not Stand Idly by against Threats

The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Riyadh Consultative Meeting: Regional Countries Will Not Stand Idly by against Threats

The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign ministers of Gulf, Arab and regional countries condemned on Thursday Iran’s flagrant violation of principles of good neighborliness and of the sovereignty of nations, saying it will have grave repercussions against it and the security of the Middle East.

“Iran's attacks will cost it highly and impact relations with the countries and peoples of the region that will not stand idly by as they are threatened,” they warned in a statement after holding a consultative meeting in Riyadh.

The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Pakistan and Azerbaijan to discuss the Iranian escalation and efforts to bolster coordination to protect regional stability.

In a statement, the gatherers strongly condemned Iran’s rocket and drone attacks on the Gulf, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and its targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, water desalination plants, airports and diplomatic districts.

“The attacks cannot be justified under any excuse,” they stressed, saying they were a violation of sovereignty of nations and international law.

They held Iran “fully responsible for the losses”, saying the countries reserve the right to defend themselves.

Moreover, they warned Iran of the danger of supporting militias, urging it to “seriously reconsider is miscalculations and immediately and unconditionally cease its attacks and commit to United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

They urged Iran “to respect international and humanitarian laws and the principles of good neighborliness as a first step towards ending the escalation and achieving security and stability in the region”. They called for diplomacy to resolve crises.

“The future of relations with Iran depends on the respect of the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs and refraining from attacking their sovereignty and territories in any way, shape or form,” they demanded.

It must also refrain from using its military capabilities to threaten regional countries, they added. It must stop supporting, financing and arming its militias in Arab countries.

Iran must also refrain from threatening or impeding marine navigation in the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Straits.

The FMs also expressed their support for Lebanon’s security, stability and territorial integrity. Lebanon must have sovereignty across its territories.

They stressed their backing of the Lebanese government’s decision to impose state monopoly over weapons, while condemning the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its expansionist ambitions in the region.

The FMs said they will continue to hold intense consultations to follow up on the developments to come up with joint positions and take the necessary measures to protect their security, stability and sovereignty and stop the heinous Iranian attacks against their countries.