MAKKAH:  A new Kiswa was installed early Sunday at the holy Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of the Islamic new year (1 Muharram, 1446h) by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Carrying out the task of installing the elaborately designed black cloth cover was a team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa of the Kaaba composed of 159 skilled craftsmen under supervision of engineers and technicians specially trained for the complicated process.

RIYADH: A farmer in Baha has found a way to cultivate the elusive cardamom, the ingredient that gives Saudi coffee, or gahwa, its signature flavor and aroma. Driven by his love and passion for cardamom-flavored coffee, Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a farmer in Bani Hassan, northwest Baha, tried agricultural experiments that led to him growing more than 350 cardamom plants.

LONDON: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League recently met with British Islamic leaders in London. During the meeting, Al-Issa highlighted important methods for combating hate speech, particularly Islamophobia, the MWL reported on X. He also reviewed various Islamic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of “reflecting the teachings of Islam, which promote tolerance and coexistence.”    

RIYADH: Saudi newlyweds Abdulaziz Khashogji and Amirah Al-Bassam tied the knot in style as the first-ever couple to have their “zaffa,” or wedding entrance, on Jeddah’s F1 circuit. “Both of us have unconventional ideas when it comes to our lifestyles,” the 32-year-old groom told Arab News. “The shoot and the location were both iconic and really special; we’re both so grateful we made our night as special as our relationship,” 26-year-old bride added.

Hasan Al-Jawad is the head of partnership at MIS Pay in Riyadh, a position he has held since March. MIS Pay is the first licensed ‘buy now, pay later’ system in Saudi Arabia. It is owned by Al-Moammer Information Systems, a publicly listed company. Al-Jawad manages its partnership and business development team. His responsibilities include strategic planning, relationship management, setting targets and key performance indicators to drive growth, specifically focusing on trending businesses.

TAIF: The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, on Friday launched the 13th edition of the Gulf Poetry Forum 2024 in Taif. The event featured extensive participation from poets, critics, specialists and enthusiasts from GCC countries. Mansour Al-Harthi, director general of the Academy of Arabic Poetry, discussed the forum’s role in fostering communication among poets, authors, critics, thinkers and intellectuals from GCC countries.

RIYADH: Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as Iran’s president, state news agency SPA reported. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.

RIYADH: A number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs have recently been granted the Saudi citizenship. The royal order aims to grant Saudi citizenship to people whose distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise serve the nation in various fields. Here is a list of the Saudi citizenship recipients as published by the financial news portal, Argaam. Islam Zween, CEO of Argaam

RIYADH: In joint field campaigns across the Kingdom from June 27 to July 3, 16,565 people were arrested for violating residency and labor laws. That number included 9,969 violators of residency laws, 4,676 violators of border-security regulations, and 1,920 violators of labor laws. A total of 1,244 individuals were caught attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, of whom 37 percent were Yemeni, 60 percent were Ethiopian, and 3 percent were of other nationalities. Additionally, 63 individuals were caught attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally.

RIYADH: Saudi scouts taking part in the Third International Muslim Scouts Jamboree in the US have stood out in science, technology, engineering and mathematics proficiency, a Saudi Press Agency report said on Friday. A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association is attending the week-long summer camp being held at Camp Strake in Houston, Texas, which runs from June 30-July 6. The jamboree is organized by the National Islamic Committee on Scouting under the supervision of the Boy Scouts of America.

ABU ARISH: Jazan province is home to a number of historic castles spanning ages and representing significant civilizational and tourist landmarks in the region. The sites showcase identity, values and traditions, which are reflected in architectural details dating back centuries. They contain rocks, columns, pottery, writings, inscriptions and special decorations, serving as regional tourist attractions for heritage enthusiasts.

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief launched a volunteer program to distribute food parcels to earthquake-hit areas in Syria and Turkiye, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The program initially aims to secure food baskets for 2,000 people in the Turkish cities of Reyhanli and Gaziantep. KSrelief chief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah inaugurated the program on Friday. It is part of KSrelief’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of Syrian and Turkish people affected by the 2023 earthquakes, a statement said.

RIYADH: Saudi Border Guards thwarted the smuggling of 340 kilograms of Qat in the Jazan region, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Land patrols in Al-Ardah sector confiscated the items and regulatory procedures were promptly carried out. The seized items were transferred to the relevant authorities. Saudi authorities urged citizens and residents to report any information pertaining to drug smuggling or related activities. Reports can be made by contacting emergency numbers (911) in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions or (999) in other regions of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as Iran’s president, state news agency SPA reported. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.

RIYADH: Saudi scouts taking part in the 3rd International Muslim Scouts Jamboree in the US have stood out when it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report said on Friday. A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association (SASA) are among the participants in the week-long summer camp being held at Camp Strake in Houston, Texas, which opened on June 30 and will end on July 6. The jamboree is organized by the National Islamic Committee on Scouting under the supervision of Boy Scouts of America.

ABU ARISH: Jazan province is home to numerous historic castles that constitute a long historical legacy spanning ages and a significant civilizational and tourist landmark in the region. They represent the society’s identity, values and traditions, which are reflected in the buildings’ details and architecture dating back centuries. They contain rocks, columns, pottery, writings, inscriptions and special decoration patterns, turning them into tourist attractions for charming nature lovers and human heritage enthusiasts.

RIYADH: Coffee production in southwest Saudi Arabia had a boost on Thursday when the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, “Weqa,” and relevant authorities participated in a workshop to increase the number of trees in the Jazan region. Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Khuraiji, head of the plant health sector at Weqa, explained that the center is working on preventive and remedial measures to ensure the health and sustainability of plants and animals and to enhance the participation of the private sector.

RIYADH: The resin art pavilion at the “Hail House,” themed “Your Home Away from Home,” now in its third year, has become a major attraction at the Aja Park during its 30-day run. The Saudi Press Agency reported that visitors of all ages, drawn to this distinctive art form, have flocked to the pavilion amid the festival’s traditional and artistic atmosphere.

DHAHRAN: Across the smooth road overlooking Aramco Camp’s rows of cookie-cutter clapboard houses with manicured lawns, is a serene time capsule where heritage and nostalgia collide. Situated on 12th street and Ibis Avenue, in what was known as Houses 1220 and 1222 — among the first to be built within the Dhahran camp in 1938 — the renovated historic homes now house the Community Heritage Gallery. It feels like you are being welcomed into someone’s home.

RIYADH: With a goal of sourcing at least 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in diversifying its energy mix toward renewable sources to meet its pledge to cut carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. To promote public understanding of renewable energy technologies and to advance the goals of Vision 2030, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy launched the Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Riyadh in 2017.

BEIJING: Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib met the head of China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Chen Wenqing, in Beijing on Thursday. Al-Mujib was accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Public Prosecution. The two sides discussed ways of cooperating in the legal field, including the exchange of information and expertise, contributing to the development of legal systems and the modernization of judicial procedures in both countries.

RIYADH: The head of Saudi aid agency KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has held talks on the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Palestinian Minister of Health Dr. Majid Awni Abu Ramadan. The meeting happened during Al-Rabeeah’s visit to Jordan to sign a number of humanitarian project deals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. Abu Ramadan expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom’s support, through KSrelief, in aiding the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli assault.

ALKHOBAR: The “Hedayh” Association for Dawah, Guidance and Community Awareness implemented several educational and outreach programs in Alkhobar last June, benefiting 15,098 people. Adeeb Al-Zamil, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said the beneficiaries included 12,458 people from community programs, the Saudi Press Agency reported. These encompassed mobile dawah initiatives, outreach tours, Friday sermon translations, public lectures, community outreach programs, electronic dawah, informational brochures, educational lessons, and video and audio clips.

AL-BAHA: A range of agricultural products are on offer at the second Fruit Festival in Al-Baha, Baljurashi governorate. The three-day event is organized by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with other government entities, agriculture associations and the Culinary Arts Commission. Among the products on display at the 20 stalls are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods.

MADRID: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has urged European nations to impose sanctions on Israeli officials violating international human rights laws as he warned that Israel’s war on Gaza was affecting the entire Middle East, including southern Lebanon. “The situation in the Gaza Strip does not only affect the Palestinian issue but the entire region and contributes to further escalations, which is currently happening in southern Lebanon,” he said on Thursday.

RIYADH: Saudi citizenship has been granted to a number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and people who have unique capabilities, expertise, and specializations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The granting of citizenship was issued as part of a royal order granting Saudi citizenship to people with distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise for the benefit of the nation in various fields.

AMMAN: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed an agreement to implement a project to support 1,000 Syrian orphans and their host communities in Jordan. The project, valued at almost SR4.9 million ($1.3 million), was signed by the agency’s general supervisor, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, and the secretary-general of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization, Dr. Hussein Al-Shebli.

TASHKENT: A delegation from the Saudi-Uzbek Parliamentary Friendship Committee in the Shoura Council, headed by council member and committee chairman, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Jarbaa, met the head of the Uzbek Senate, Tanzila Narbaeva, in Tashkent. Narbaeva welcomed the delegation, who are on an official visit to Uzbekistan, and stressed the keen interest of both countries’ leaders to build strong relations.

RIYADH: To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of dermatological care, experts at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have created a groundbreaking new diagnostic system, SkinGPT-4, which leverages the power of artificial intelligence. Leading the research, Xin Gao, a professor of computer science, co-chair of the Center of Excellence on Smart Health, and chair of Bioinformatics Platform at KAUST, says SkinGPT-4’s goal is to detect, diagnose, and identify suitable treatments for skin diseases.

RIYADH: The president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday that the Kingdom remained committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights, Saudi Press Agency reported. Hala bint Mazyed Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the commitment was based on the country’s deeply rooted principles and values and its leadership’s prioritization of human welfare above all else.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in Madrid on Thursday. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, discussed the importance of delivering adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal and Kaag also discussed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire to stop the worsening humanitarian situation in the territory.

RIYADH: In recognition of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, the French Embassy and Alliance Francaise in Saudi Arabia recently hosted a special performance fusing symphonic music and sport. Held at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, the show, titled “Rhapsodie Sportive” was the idea of Zahia Ziouani and featured the Divertimento Orchestra, which she set up in 1998. The French Algerian conductor said she wanted to show that classical music was still relevant.

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) launched four new publications on Thursday. According to a statement, the four publications are part of The Arabic Language in the World series, and include the books: “The Arabic Language in Chad,” “The Arabic Language in Thailand,” “The Arabic language in Kyrgyzstan: A Critical Analytical Descriptive Study” and “The Arabic Language in the Comoros.” The publications aim to build bridges of communication with Arabic-speaking peoples around the world.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares in Madrid on Thursday. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, discussed Saudi-Spanish relations and ways to enhance them in various fields. The foreign ministers also discussed regional and international developments including the situation in the Gaza Strip and efforts made in this regard.

AL-AHSA: Al-Ahsa has joined 118 other cities worldwide for the 16th annual conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Held from July 1-5 in Braga, Portugal, the event was attended by Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture. During the conference, Al-Ahsa, which became a member of the network in 2015, showcased its experience in preserving handicrafts and folk arts.