Saudi permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, held a virtual reception to mark the celebration of Eid Al-Adha.
Attendees included UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, President of the UN General Assembly’s 74th session Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov, Chef de Cabinet to the UN secretary-general Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and a number of permanent representatives of different UN member countries.
The delegates congratulated Saudi Arabia on its success in organizing Hajj despite the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and expressed their admiration for the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Exchanging Eid wishes with Al-Mouallimi, the attendees thanked the Kingdom’s delegation for bringing together ambassadors and senior UN officials from different religions and cultures on the occasion of Eid which was celebrated by Muslims around the world.
Al-Mouallimi thanked the envoys, UN officials, and state representatives for joining the virtual reception which he hoped would contribute toward further strengthening communication and solidarity between nations.
He pointed out that Eid Al-Adha marked the culmination of the Hajj season, bringing together millions of Muslims from all over the world in expressing their feelings of unity, solidarity, and humanity.
Saudi UN envoy hosts virtual international reception to mark Eid
https://arab.news/285f7
Saudi UN envoy hosts virtual international reception to mark Eid
Murdered Saudi student lawsuit against Airbnb now in federal court
- Airbnb age policy led to Alwaleed Algheraibi’s death, lawyer tells Arab News
- Convicted killer Nicole Marie Rodgers was 19 at time of Algheraibi’s murder
CHICAGO: A lawsuit filed in the Philadelphia courts against Airbnb Inc. by the parents of murdered Saudi Arabia student Alwaleed Algheraibi, 25, has been moved to the US federal courts, the family’s attorney confirmed on Thursday.
The case was recently removed at the request of Airbnb from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas (Pennsylvania State Court) to Federal Court in Philadelphia, also known as the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Attorney Steve Harvey explained that the defendant has a right to be in federal court based on the citizenship of the parties – Algheraibi was a Saudi citizen, while his killer, Nicole Marie Rodgers, is African American.
The state lawsuit was filed on May 16, 2025, in the Philadelphia local courts by the victim’s father and mother, Abdullah and Eiman Algheraibi, who live in Riyadh. Airbnb is based in San Francisco, California.
The lawsuit alleges that a decision by Airbnb in October 2020 to change its policies to allow individuals younger than 21 to rent properties, created the circumstances in which the murder took place.
Rodgers was only 19 years of age when she rented the property, even though the property owner complained to Airbnb at the time that she did not want to rent to someone under the age of 21.
Had the policy not changed, Harvey argues in the lawsuit, Algheraibi would still be alive because the property owner would not have rented it to Rodgers.
“The parents of Alwaleed Algheraibi are suing Airbnb because they believe Airbnb should be held responsible for sending an Airbnb customer, 19-year-old Nicole Rodgers, to the house in Philadelphia where she brutally murdered their son for no apparent reason,” Harvey told Arab News.
“If it had not been for the Airbnb policy of forcing its hosts to accept guests under the age of 21, Alwaleed would be alive today. It was unreasonable for Airbnb to force the host to accept Rodgers.
“Airbnb knew or should have known that forcing hosts to accept guests as young as 18 could lead to problems, even serious problems like crime, violent crime, and even murder, not in every case or even in most cases but in some cases. This policy led to the death of an innocent young man.”
According to the lawsuit, the property owner previously had one of her properties damaged by an 18-year-old Airbnb guest. In response, the owner told Airbnb that she did not want to host anyone under age 21, Harvey said.
“She was told that based on the discrimination policy of the platform that if she were to ask guests their age or choose not to host them based on age then they could flag her (the owner) for discrimination and remove her from the platform,” the lawsuit states.
The property in question, a house, is located at 347 W. Hansberry Street in Philadelphia. Guests could stay in one of several individual rooms in the home and share common areas such as a bathroom.
Algheraibi “was not staying in the property through Airbnb, but instead was staying through an arrangement with the property manager, Gardith Edouard, a longtime Airbnb ‘host,’” the lawsuit states.
The killer, Rodgers, was staying in the property through an Airbnb booking on the third floor, while Algheraibi’s room was on the first floor.
Harvey said Algheraibi was in the US to get a degree in computer engineering from Chestnut Hill College, and was finishing his studies when he was murdered by Rodgers.
“Alwaleed was engaged to be married, and was looking forward to returning home to be with his fiance and his family. His family was expecting Alwaleed to come home in the coming months, but instead never saw him alive again.
“They suffer deep, even indescribable, anguish at the loss of their son in such a brutal, senseless, and avoidable, killing,” Harvey said.
“The evidence suggests that the killer lured Alwaleed to her third floor of the house on the pretense that she needed his help moving something out of her room. It’s a tragic irony that this young man died because he had the kindness to lend a hand to a stranger.”
Rodgers was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison for the murder.
Airbnb did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Airbnb is one of the world’s largest property renters, with more than 8 million active listings worldwide, according to its website.
Makkah doctors save Egyptian pilgrim from losing eyesight
- Woman suffered from retinal detachment, cataracts
- After surgery she continued her preparations for Hajj
MAKKAH: Quick and precise intervention by a medical team at the Eye Health Center of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the sight of an Egyptian pilgrim who experienced sudden vision loss, Saudi Arabia’s health authorities announced on Thursday.
A series of examinations revealed that the patient was suffering from retinal detachment and cataracts that could have led to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly, said a Makkah Health Cluster statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
After surgery, the patient was discharged on the same day and was able to continue with her Hajj preparations.
“She is now receiving close medical follow-up to ensure retinal stability and gradual improvement in her vision,” the statement said.
Every year Saudi Arabia deploys around 50,000 healthcare and other professionals to work 24 hours daily during Hajj.
Last year, the Ministry of Health said more than 142,000 pilgrims benefited from various healthcare services provided by health centers and hospitals.
Of this number, 4,082 were admissions to hospitals and medical centers, including 24 open-heart surgeries, 249 cardiac catheterizations, and 1,006 dialysis sessions.
Saudi crown prince, Canadian prime minister discuss bilateral relations
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared a call on Thursday and discussed bilateral relations.
They discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries, and opportunities to develop and enhance it in all fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The pair also reviewed the situation in the Middle East, agreeing on the need for sustainable peace in the region.
Carney was victorious in a May election after taken over as prime minister in March following the resignation of his predecessor Justin Trudeau.
The crown prince and Carney discussed energy security and deepening trade between Riyadh and Ottawa, according to a readout from the Canadian premier’s office.
Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact, it read.
Umm Al-Qura University: Training students to work with millions of Hajj pilgrims
- Makkah-based institute plays significant role in developing Hajj experience under Saudi Vision 2030
- One of the institute’s most important contributions is its seasonal field studies, says official
MAKKAH: As part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve the experience of Hajj, a specialized institute at Makkah’s Umm Al-Qura University is training thousands of professionals to work with the millions of pilgrims expected to travel to the two holy cities.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research plays a significant role in national development efforts under Vision 2030.
Director Khalid Al-Ghamdi spoke to Arab News about how the institute is working to improve the experience of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.
“The institute remains a key driver in enhancing the pilgrimage experience through applied research and strategic capacity building,” Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.
“As an advanced scientific arm, it plays a vital role in improving the efficiency and safety of services at the Grand Mosque and the holy sites.”
HIGHLIGHTS
The institute also trains thousands of field personnel annually to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, in roles including security and healthcare staff, drivers and volunteers.
Training is delivered through immersive rehearsals that closely mirror real-world conditions in the field.
The institute is a globally unique research center dedicated to serving a gathering of unparalleled scale and significance.
One of the institute’s most important contributions is its seasonal field studies, Al-Ghamdi said.
Carried out annually during the Hajj and Umrah seasons, these studies document and analyze real-time challenges in key areas such as crowd movement, transport flow, environmental hazards, emergency response and overall efficiency.
He added that the outcomes of these studies serve as a vital technical reference for authorities, offering data-driven recommendations that support more effective planning for future seasons — a crucial function as crowds throng at holy sites in high temperatures.
The institute also trains thousands of field personnel annually to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, in roles including security and healthcare staff, drivers and volunteers.
Training is delivered through immersive rehearsals that closely mirror real-world conditions in the field.
The institute also operates in close coordination with various government entities, including the Ministry of Interior, Civil Defense and the Transport Authority, to align its training with official guidelines.
Al-Ghamdi also discussed the institute’s advisory role in shaping regulatory and operational frameworks for Hajj and Umrah services.
The advisory role includes evaluation studies and environmental impact assessments, which inform strategic decisions on infrastructure development and service quality enhancement.
The institute is a globally unique research center dedicated to serving a gathering of unparalleled scale and significance.
Its research priorities are uniquely tailored, setting it apart from its international counterparts through a specialized focus on the Hajj, the holy sites, the two holy cities and related areas including urban planning, environmental sustainability and humanitarian services.
Additionally, Umm Al-Qura University offers academic programs in medicine and administration, specifically designed to prepare students for managing the unique operational demands of the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
King Salman receives letter from Russian President Putin on Saudi-Russian ties
- Message was delivered to Deputy Foreign Minister Walid bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during his meeting in Riyadh with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kozlov
RIYADH: King Salman received a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday regarding relations between Saudi Arabia and Russia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The message was delivered to Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji during his meeting in Riyadh with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kozlov.
The two officials reviewed Saudi-Russian relations and discussed regional and international developments, as well as ongoing diplomatic efforts on key issues, SPA added.
