JAZAN: The Fayfa Mountains in Jazan region are a stunning natural wonder, boasting lush greenery, abundant rainfall, and dramatic cloud formations. Its iconic agricultural terraces, a cherished heritage passed down through generations, have cemented Fayfa's status as a top tourist destination. This summer, visitors across Jazan and beyond are flocking to this enchanting escape. 

MAKKAH: Over 800 elderly men and women, including a 105-year-old woman, participated in the literacy campaign held this summer by the Saudi Ministry of Education, represented by the General Administration of Education, in Jazan.  Around 233 male and 599 female students enrolled in 28 educational centers across the region in Samtah, Ahad al-Masarihah, Al-Harth and Al-Aridhah governorates.   Several educational, cultural, social and health activities and events were held in partnership with government agencies and the nonprofit sector. 

RIYADH: As the world’s leading online platform for competitive gaming, FACEIT is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to ensure a safe environment for its global — and growing — 25 million user community. The FACEIT platform uses Minerva, a specialized AI technology that can understand in-game actions and other non-text chat behaviors, identifying trends that suggest poor sportsmanship beyond explicit statements.

ABHA: The deputy emir of Asir, Prince Khalid bin Sattam, said that it is important to harness all local capabilities to ensure that tourists and other visitors to the region are able to fully enjoy all the attractions and services it has to offer.

JEDDAH: Fish farming is vital for the Kingdom’s food security needs, according to Riyadh Al-Fageeh, general director of the National Center of Fisheries. Al-Fageeh said there are significant investment opportunities in the industry, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to boost agriculture, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. He said the center was formed four decades ago in Jeddah, and subsequently developed partnerships with a number of international organizations.

JEDDAH: The Saudi minister of Islamic affairs, dawah and guidance, Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, signed an agreement with Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Jeddah on Thursday, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the nations in efforts to promote the understanding of Islam and its message of tolerance, and raising cultural awareness among Muslims.

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Season 2024 has emerged as a significant platform for youth employment and skill development, attracting young talents and providing them with opportunities to showcase their creativity and gain valuable work experience.

TAIF: The juniper tree, revered as the “Lady of Trees” and a symbol of lush forests and towering mountains in Saudi Arabia, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of terrestrial ecosystems.
 Serving as a refuge for wildlife, these ancient trees have stood the test of time, creating vital habitats across the provinces of Taif, Al-Baha and Asir, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

TAIF:  The juniper tree, revered as the “Lady of Trees” and a symbol of lush forests and towering mountains in Saudi Arabia, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Serving as a refuge for wildlife, these ancient trees have stood the test of time, creating vital habitats across the provinces of Taif, Al-Baha, and Asir.

RIYADH: In partnership with the Saudi Entertainment Academy, the Embassy of South Korea in Saudi Arabia is set to hold the final preliminary round of its first-ever participation in the K-pop World Festival in JAX district on Saturday.  In the first preliminary round, held at the academy’s hall earlier this week, 30 teams from all over the Kingdom, including Jeddah, participated.  Out of these, only 10 made it to the final preliminary round, which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 in JAX.

RIYADH: A campaign to raise awareness about rangers’ contributions to protecting the environment, wildlife and historical monuments has been launched by the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority. The start of the initiative, July 31, was also World Ranger Day. The reserve’s rangers protect, monitor and control the area with daily patrols and monitoring, as well as working to prevent illegal activities such as grazing, poaching and tree felling. They also help scientific research teams and those carrying out academic studies.

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi met with South Korea’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo on Wednesday as part of his official visit to the country. During the meeting, they discussed opportunities for cooperation and “the exchange of qualitative experiences in the priority sectors of the two friendly countries,” the Saudi minister wrote on X.

Tarik Al-Saad is the chief internal audit officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation, where he oversees the foundation’s internal audit strategy and operations.  He has been instrumental in establishing the internal audit function, developing and refining internal audit charters, policies and risk-based plans. He has also created financial, operational, project and engineering audit departments, and implemented technology tools to enhance internal operations. 

RIYADH: The Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission has launched a training program for aerospace engineering students, in collaboration with Boeing. The month-long program aims to provide participants with valuable hands-on experience with space technologies and give them the chance to develop their skills in aerospace engineering and sciences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: NEOM, the sustainable development project in northwest Saudi Arabia, has announced that 50,000 people benefited from its social responsibility programs over the past year. In its annual Social Responsibility Report, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, it states that 26 projects were awarded to Tabuk companies. In addition, 583 people from NEOM and Tabuk found employment. A notable finding is the social return on investment from the NEOM “Seven Senses Program,” which exceeded SR40 million ($10.6 million), the SPA reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for praising the Health Sector Transformation Program during Tuesday's Cabinet session. Al-Jalajel highlighted the program’s advancements in top-tier health services in line with leadership directives, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

DHAHRAN: The second Islamic Art Conference will be hosted at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture between Nov. 25-30, in partnership with the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture. The event, which is titled “In Praise of the Artisan: A Reassessment of Contemporary Islamic Arts & Crafts Practice,” explores Islamic works. Visitors can expect lectures, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, and demonstrations.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has provided healthcare services for people in Guinea and Turkiye over the past few weeks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. In Conakry, Guinea, the Noor Saudi Arabia program, aimed at helping those with visual challenges, provided services between July 15 and 23. Medical staffers completed 6,500 examinations, distributed 1,100 spectacles, and carried out 450 operations.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has sent a letter to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian concerning relations between the two nations. The message was delivered by Minister of State Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz who was in Tehran on Tuesday to hold talks with top Iran officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Prince Mansour conveyed best wishes to the Iranian people from the monarch and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Dr. Saud Al-Sati met with Ambassador of Syria to the Kingdom Ayman Soussan in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in various fields, the Foreign Ministry reported on X. Meanwhile, acting CEO of the Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission Ibrahim Al-Sanousi met with Pakistani Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmad Farooq, and they discussed avenues of cooperation in museum innovation, the Pakistani Embassy reported on X.  

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority has said that 25,737 beehives spread across 256 sites in the reserve are participating in this year’s honey production season. The season, which opened at the beginning of July, will close at the end of April 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s compelling work is marked by vibrant colors and surrealist portrayals of South Asian and Arab cultures, with a focus on tackling challenges facing women and girls in society. Anwar, 24, was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia when she was 8 years old. She spent her formative years in the capital, attending Manarat Riyadh International School. She left the Kingdom at 18 to attend university in Canada and has since returned.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification are increasing their efforts to protect the Kingdom’s mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are one of the planet’s most stunning and remarkable natural ecosystems, yet the trees occupy only 0.5 percent of the global coastal areas. Pollution from construction and manufacturing, shrimp farming and urban expansion have led to their destruction and a decline in their numbers, Saudi Press Agency has reported.

RIYADH: The Saudi Cabinet on Tuesday praised the submission of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup, Saudi Press Agency reported. In a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Cabinet said the hosting of the World Cup would show the Kingdom’s determination to present an exceptional version of the major sporting event. The bid was submitted to FIFA officials in Paris on Monday by a delegation headed by the Saudi minister of sports, Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, and President of the Saudi Football Federation Yasser Al-Misehal.

RIYADH: Deputy Saudi Foreign Minister Affairs Saud Al-Sati received in Riyadh Algerian Ambassador Sharif Walid.  They reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and topics of common interest, the Saudi foreign ministry said.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has reaffirmed its dedication to combating human trafficking and bolstering compliance with labor market regulations on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The day is observed annually on July 30 by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness about this crime, highlight the victims’ suffering, and advocate for their rights and protection. This year’s theme is “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking.”

RIYADH: The Ministry of Health is preparing for the seventh Global Health Exhibition under the theme “Invest in Health,” organized by Tahaluf company and supported by the Health Sector Transformation Program. The exhibition will take place at the Riyadh Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham from Oct. 21 to 23, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: More than 100 volunteers joined a mangrove planting event held to mark the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The session was hosted by Saudi developer Red Sea Global and was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, and students from the Red Sea Global English for Tourism program. An RSG spokesman said mangrove trees were powerful tools for carbon removal as they were able to absorb five to ten times more of the element than other plants.

DUBAI: The Kingdom’s envoy in Ireland honored several Saudi Arabia women on Monday for their “remarkable achievements” in various fields. At the meeting with the achievers, Abdulsalam bin Abdullah Al-Mushaiti, the acting charge d’affaires, said this was a result of the Kingdom’s empowerment of females. The event was attended by Dr. Abdulaziz bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, the acting head of the cultural attache’s office in Dublin, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned on Monday the ongoing Israeli colonial practices, particularly the confiscation of thousands of acres of Palestinian land. The Jeddah-based organization said the latests of these practices was ceasing archeological sites in Sebastia village in the West Bank. The OIC said that these practices fall within Israel’s discriminative policy against hundreds of archaeological, historical, scientific and religious sites in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.

Samar Nassar is the managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services.

RIYADH: Star Saudi Arabia food blogger Emad Ramen recently attended Geekcon in Kuwait as a guest alongside other culinary celebrities, where he was able to talk to fellow chefs about his increasingly popular fusion of Middle Eastern and Asian dishes. “It feels so good to be invited to such an event, especially since my mother is Kuwaiti and we went there for the first time,” said Emad, who prefers to go by social media name “Emad Ramen.” Prior to the event he noted that he was looking forward to learning “about Kuwaiti cuisine and meet chefs from there.”

RIYADH: Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad on Monday signed a development loan agreement worth over $14 million with Kosovo’s Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers Hekuran Murati in Kosovo. The loan will be used to finance the Pristina-Mitrovica Highway Project, its official account reported on X. The scheme will enhance infrastructure, rehabilitate essential road services and improve road safety standards for 27,000 vehicles daily. It will also create job opportunities and support social development, the statement said.    

RIYADH: The fish market in Haql governorate in Tabuk region is experiencing a surge in business, with locals and tourists flocking to purchase a wide variety of fresh seafood. The summer season has seen a particular uptick in demand, with grouper and coral grouper emerging as the most popular catches, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The market offers a diverse selection of seafood, such as shrimp, lobster and other favorites.

RIYADH: The mobile medical clinics of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief continue to provide treatment services in the Abs district of Hajjah governorate in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. According to the clinics’ weekly report, 167 patients visited the epidemic diseases clinic, emergency cases clinic, internal medicine clinic, reproductive health clinic, and awareness and education clinic.