Former Saudi Ambassador honored by PH for boosting ties, aid for Filipinos
H.E. Ambassador Raymond R. Balatbat awarded the Order of Sikatuna (Rank of Datu, Silver Distinction) to H.E. Mohammad bin Abdullah Qahtani in a ceremony at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh.
'This conferment recognizes former Ambassador Qahtani's outstanding service in deepening PH–KSA ties through high-level dialogues and landmark agreements in maritime safety, education, trade and investment, energy, and sports as well as his pivotal role in supporting peace and development in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro transition,' the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia said in a statement.
They also recognized his prompt efforts in organizing Saudi humanitarian aid during natural disasters, as well as his support for the King Salman Center's program to separate conjoined twins.
The award was given on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a form of diplomatic recognition for individuals who have significantly helped improve the Philippines' relationship with other countries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
7 hours ago
- Filipino Times
Philippines welcomes Lithuanian support in West Philippine Sea dispute
The Philippine government welcomes the support expressed by Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene for the country's position in the West Philippine Sea. At a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Marcos administration appreciates the recognition of its efforts to uphold the country's sovereign rights in the contested waters. 'Nakikita po ang ginagawang trabaho ng Pangulo, kung paano ba ipagtanggol ng Pangulo at ng administrasyong kasalukuyan ang karapatan ng mga mangingisda natin at iba pa nating mga kababayan patungkol po dito sa West Philippine Sea,' she added. In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Sakaliene said the Philippines had demonstrated to the international community that China was 'gaslighting' Filipinos in the ongoing maritime dispute. She also commended the Philippines' transparency efforts in the West Philippine Sea, describing them as a 'gold standard' for responding to aggression. Sakaliene's statement adds to growing international expressions of support for the Philippines amid heightened tensions with China in the region.
Middle East Eye
20 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemns Gaza 'atrocities', expresses support for two-state solution
Malaysia on Friday expressed its "support" for France's efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian "two-state" solution, AFP reported. "We condemn the continued bombing and atrocities inflicted on civilians, women, and children. It is a shame that the international community is unable to put an end to them," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during his visit to France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. "I am of course interested in your initiative" to "try to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza", Ibrahim told Macron. Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to co-chair an international conference with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations in New York City on 17 June to revive a two-state solution, which he postponed. "The momentum we have initiated in preparation for the international conference for the implementation of the two-state solution, in conjunction with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, must continue as quickly as possible," Macron said on Friday. Macron met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday to discuss a new date. A new date is expected to be announced next week.
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Trump says he expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on 'final' peace proposal
US President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a "final proposal" for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. The president also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalization of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term. Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war. He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: "We'll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours." A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new US-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel's war in Gaza. Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations. A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a US takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the UN and Palestinians as a proposal of "ethnic cleansing." ABRAHAM ACCORDS Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about US media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House. "It's one of the things we talked about," Trump said. "I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords," he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes. Axios reported that after the meeting with Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces. Trump's meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reuters
