RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has opened bidding for its “Coffee City” in Baha’s Qalwah governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The aim is to enhance local production by planting 300,000 coffee trees over an area of 5 million square meters. Businesses seeking to invest should submit their bids through the Furas platform by Sept. 9.

RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Saudi minister of state and chairman of the board of directors of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, inaugurated the main building of the authority in Riyadh, the state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday. During his tour of the building, he was briefed on its designs and offices, “which were compatible with environmental considerations and took into account energy efficiency,” SPA said.

RIYADH: As part of an official visit to Turkiye, Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Wednesday met in Istanbul with the president of the nation’s Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Gorgun, and the heads of leading Turkish companies. They reviewed opportunities for cooperation in the military and defense sectors, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: The supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, on Tuesday visited the cities of Reyhanli and Kirikhan in Turkiye’s Hatay Province to inspect the work of volunteers taking part in the agency’s programs to help people affected by the earthquakes that hit parts of Turkiye and Syria in February last year.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife Development has launched a comprehensive survey plan to collect basic data on the crown-of-thorns starfish groups in the Red Sea, to be used in managing the outbreak of the organism in a timely manner, and thus protecting the health of coral reefs and biodiversity. The action plan is the culmination of a workshop held by the NCWD in late 2022, during which the threat of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Red Sea environment was discussed, a Saudi Press Agency report says.

RIYADH: At least 40 entities from the public and private sectors in the Kingdom have signed up with the newly organized Saudi Alliance for Agricultural and Food Technologies, with the aim of coming up with solutions to increase efficiency and abundance in agricultural and food products, and achieve safe and sustainable supply chains.  Deputy Minister Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) led the launch on July 3, 2024 in Riyadh, according to a report of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

MADINAH: Madinah’s municipality has launched an initiative to have volunteers plant over 300 trees in the central area near the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Here It Was Planted” plan has been welcomed by residents and visitors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Officials from the municipality said the Bougainvillea plant was chosen because it suits the region’s climate and environmental conditions. Known for its heat tolerance, the Bougainvillea will also contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the area, officials said.

JEDDAH: Saudi heavy metal band Wasted Land will perform at what metalheads describe as “one of the most prestigious (music) festivals on the planet.” Wacken Open Air, the annual hard rock and heavy metal festival which attracts nearly 100,000 headbangers to the eponymous town in Schleswig-Holstein, will be held from the first weekend in August with bands from all over the world.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a visit from US Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat who represents the state of New Jersey. During their meeting in Jeddah, the crown prince and the senator, and the latter’s accompanying delegation, reviewed relations and cooperation between their countries, and other issues of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Madrid on Wednesday ahead of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, which will take place on Thursday and Friday. He will discuss with the members of the council the latest regional and international developments, sources said, in particular the situation in the Gaza Strip. The prince is taking part in the meeting of the pan-European think tank at the invitation of the council. Other topics for discussion will include the results of last month’s European elections.

RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, received on Wednesday a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Saudi Press Agency said. The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and Sudan. Separately, Prince Faisal congratulated Badr Abdel Aaty, Egypt’s newly appointed foreign minister, on assuming his new post.

JEDDAH: China’s heritage and fine arts are being showcased at City Walk, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The “China Town” exhibition includes markets selling traditional crafts, and has displays of the Asian nation’s unique architecture. Visitors can also enjoy various games including mini-bumper car and rollercoaster rides. The “China Town” exhibition is a part of Jeddah Season 2024.

RIYADH: A resurgence in almond cultivation is taking root along the scenic route between Taif and Baha, signifying the revival of a practice deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of this part of Saudi Arabia. Fahd Al-Zahrani, director of the local branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that that almond trees are once again a common sight across the landscape. “Almond cultivation has spread to several areas including Baha, Baljurashi, Al-Mandaq, Bani Hassan, and Al-Qura,” he said.

HELSINKI: In an interview with Arab News, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen discussed Saudi-Finnish ties, the recognition of the Palestinian state, and the results of the 2024 World Happiness Report which ranked the Nordic country in the top spot for the seventh year in a row. “I think we have had intensifying ties in the trade side for some years now, and we have especially taken notice of the Vision 2030 plans of Saudi Arabia,” Valtonen told Arab News.

RIYADH: Joint efforts between the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, also known as Etidal, and Telegram in combating extremist content led to the removal of 18 million items of extremist content and the closure of 660 extremist channels during the second quarter of 2024. A press release said that the joint teams continued to monitor and combat the propaganda activity of extremist content for three terrorist organizations: Daesh, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Al-Qaeda.

LONDON: Diriyah Company is bringing a taste of Saudi culture and heritage to upmarket London department store Harrods this month, in the form of an exclusive pop-up exhibition highlighting the $63 billion mega-development project underway in Diriyah, the historic birthplace of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday reiterated the Kingdom’s tireless efforts alongside its partners at the political and humanitarian levels to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported. For nearly nine months, Israel has been carrying out a devastating ground an air incursion inside the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements bordering the enclave.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Turkiye and ways to enhance them. They also discussed regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them. Prince Khalid is on an official visit to Turkiye and arrived in the country earlier on Tuesday.

RIYADH: Temperatures in Saudi Arabia are expected to rise to 50 degrees Celsius in late July and early August. Riyadh and cities in the Eastern Province were on the meteorological department’s high alert over the searing heat forecast for the month, with the maximum temperature soaring to 44 C in Riyadh and 47 C in Dammam on Tuesday.

RIYADH: Criminal cases in the Kingdom will be heard by a three-judge panel at criminal courts after the head of the Supreme Judicial Council approved the decision, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The decision will be implemented gradually in collaboration with the relevant departments of the council and the Ministry of Justice. Walid Al-Samaani, the head of the council, has issued a series of decisions aimed at promoting judicial safeguards and enhancing the quality of judgments.

RIYADH: The fourth E3 Customer Experience Conference will launch in Riyadh on Tuesday, July 9, to discuss the latest trends and technologies to improve customer experiences, enhance innovation, and facilitate exchanging experiences among specialists. Organized by the National Customer Experience Academy, or NCXA, the two-day conference will be attended by approximately 750 participants from more than 30 countries.

RIYADH: The UN has declared Nov. 24 will be World Conjoined Twins Day following a request from Saudi Arabia, reported the Saudi Press Agency. From this year the day will be observed annually after an initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia in collaboration with Bahrain, Morocco, Qatar and Yemen. The day aims to raise awareness of conjoined twins and celebrate achievements in the field of conjoined-twin separation surgery.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived on Tuesday in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations, enhance joint cooperation between the two brotherly countries, and discuss issues of common interest, SPA said. Upon his arrival at Esenboga International Airport in Ankara, His Highness was received by the Chairman of the Turkish Defense Industries Authority, Professor Khaluk Gurgun, and a number of senior officials.

RIYADH: Burkinabe conjoined twins Khadijah and Hawaa arrived in the Saudi capital for a possible separation surgery at King Abdullah Specialized Children’s Hospital. Accompanied by their mother, the girls were airlifted from Burkina Faso to the Kingdom by the defense ministry’s medevac, following the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

RIYADH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation held an international symposium on Jerusalem and the Gaza war at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah on Monday. Organized in conjunction with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the symposium was titled: “Jerusalem and the Gaza War: Palestinian Identity and Existence Under Threat of Erasure.”

RIYADH: Air carrier Flynas has launched Saudi Arabia’s first program to train airline cabin crew in sign language. According to a recent report by Saudi Press Agency, the program is being implemented in collaboration with the Saudi Association for Hearing Impairment, and is part of Flynas’ efforts to adopt sustainable initiatives that positively impact society.

JEDDAH: Warner Bros. Discovery’s new indoor entertainment destination in Jeddah is showcasing six concept zones inspired by some of cinema’s most iconic stories. The venue includes “Batman,” “Tom and Jerry” and “Harry Potter” zones, alongside areas for shoppers. Enthusiasts will be able to delve into Batman’s storied history and evolution with comic book displays, as well as interactive virtual and augmented reality games.

RIYADH: Balqees, a trailblazing Saudi female driving enthusiast, is channeling the power of social media to empower women to get their license to drive — and do it well. “I began driving and developing a fascination for it as a teenager, seeing it as a way to make life easier and, honestly, an adventure,” she told Arab News. Her love and enthusiasm for driving only grew stronger after she left the Kingdom to pursue her studies. Upon her return in 2010, Balqees became a vocal advocate for women’s empowerment on the road.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered their condolences on Monday to Kuwait’s emir after the passing of Sheikha Suhaira Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.  The king and crown prince sent cables of condolences to Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah while the Kingdom’s crown prince sent a separate cable to Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah. Sheikha Suhaira died aged 79 and was the widow of Sheikh Fahad Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Kuwait News Agency reported. 

JEDDAH: The 23rd regular session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation began on June 30 and will continue until July 4 in Jeddah. All OIC member and observer states are attending, including their national human rights institutions, experts from international and regional organizations, and senior officials of the OIC General Secretariat.

RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh chaired a second round of political consultations between the two countries on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Hasan Mahmud discussed strengthening bilateral and political relations and intensifying bilateral and multilateral coordination on issues of common concern. Prince Faisal also held a luncheon in honor of his Bangladeshi counterpart and his accompanying delegation.

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has launched Arabic Language Month in India, reported Saudi Press Agency. The program will run in New Delhi and Kerala until July 26. It features activities aimed at developing the country’s Arabic language education curricula, improving teachers’ performance, building a positive image and promoting the language. Additionally, it will highlight Saudi Arabia’s efforts in this field in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 realization programs.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry held a seminar here on Sunday titled “The Role of Women in Diplomatic Work,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. The event at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies was held to mark last week’s UN International Day of Women in Diplomacy. Among those who attended were Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, female ambassadors to the Kingdom, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps. The participants discussed the achievements and challenges facing women in the sector.

RIYADH: Dr. Hana Omar, the director of the Department of Partnerships and International Relations at Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief, met here on Sunday with Markus Werne, the director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen. During the meeting, the officials assessed aid projects in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Werne praised the Kingdom for its role in assisting vulnerable people in the Arab nation and around the world.

 RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has cleared 755 mines across Yemen, reported Saudi Press Agency. The Masam Project, dedicated to clearing land mines in the country, dismantled 755 devices during the fourth week of June. This included 707 unexploded ordnances, 47 anti-tank mines, and one explosive device. Since the beginning of the project, a total of 449,068 explosives have been cleared. Through KSrelief, the Kingdom has committed to ridding Yemeni lands of all explosives.