DAMMAM: An initiative by the Eastern Province municipality has been launched to improve traffic flow on the Gulf Road in Saihat, Qatif. The road is a crucial artery, linking several key commercial and high-traffic areas. The project will alleviate congestion at the intersection with Pearl Street by alleviating congestion with new turning lanes and roundabouts. It will be implemented in several phases and there will be partial road closures while the work is ongoing.

NAJRAN: Najran Camel Racecourse organized its second Mafarid race on Sunday, part of the Saudi Camel Racing Federation’s competitions for the 2024 season. There were rounds for the male and female Mafarid category, covering a distance of 1.5 km and featuring the participation of 641 camels. In the first round, the female camel Al-Hathra, owned by Hussein Al-Salem, achieved first place. In the second, male Muwaffaq, owned by Manea Al-Munjim, took first.

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief launched its new strategic plan in Riyadh on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The plan, unveiled by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor general of KSrelief, outlines how it will become a leader in global relief and humanitarian efforts, emphasizing the provision of aid in alignment with the Kingdom’s values of excellence and high quality.

RIYADH: Several private farms in Baha have been renovated and revamped by their owners to reflect agricultural tradition and cultural identity, helping to attract tourists to the area. Among these, Al-Mandaq Governorate’s farms and rural cottages stand out, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency. These farms, which are located throughout the region, have a variety of trees and tastefully structured rustic houses that draw in the visitors. The owner of one farm, Othman Hassan Al-Zahrani, explained that the idea to restore his farm originated in 2022.

RIYADH: As a child, Nasser Al-Sadhan would spend hours watching documentaries on countries such as New Zealand and India, fascinated by the diverse landscapes and cultures depicted on the screen. As an adult, Al-Sadhan has been able to turn his childhood fantasies into reality by visiting these countries. Each step he takes in these unfamiliar territories brings back memories of the wonder and amazement he felt as a child.

JEDDAH: Perennial plants, with their remarkable ability to endure harsh conditions such as droughts, climatic variations, and human activities, play a crucial role in our ecosystem, providing sustenance for people and animals, and contributing to the overall well-being of the environment. Recognizing the importance of these invaluable assets, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has embarked on a program to relocate and care for perennial trees in the Madinah region.

TIRANA: Speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Asheikh on Sunday arrived in Tirana, Albania, where he will be heading a delegation during his official visit. Upon his arrival at Tirana International Airport, Al-Asheikh was received by the Chairman of the Albanian-Saudi Friendship Committee Klevis Goji; Saudi Ambassador to Albania Faisal Hefzi; Albanian Ambassador to the Kingdom Samir Bala; and a number of senior officials from the Kingdom and Albanian parliament, the Saudi Press Agency reported.  

RIYADH: The eighth meeting of the Saudi-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council in the United States kicked off on Sunday in Washington DC. The Saudi delegation was led by the General Authority of Foreign Trade (GAFT), and it included 20 government entities. The council's goal is to monitor trade and investment relations in order to identify opportunities for expansion, work on removing trade and investment barriers, improve a promising trade and investment environment, and foster economic development between the two countries.

RIYADH: The Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority participated in a high-level open discussion session held by the UN Security Council titled “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace.” Senior officials and permanent representatives of member states of the UN, as well as the secretary-general of the organisation, Antonio Guterres, participated in the session.

RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority, MAWANI, signed on Sunday a SR30million ($8 million) contract with the Global Environmental Management Services Ltd., or Reviva, to establish a complex for recycling marine and industrial waste at Jeddah Islamic Port. The president of MAWANI, Omar bin Talal Hariri, and the CEO of of the Saudi Investment Recycling Co., Ziad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha, signed the contract in the presence of a number of other officials.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to host the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad, with participation from more than 340 students and 400 university professors and chemistry teachers from 90 countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The prestigious event, which will run from July 21-30 at King Saud University, is organized by the Ministry of Education, and King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, and boasts exclusive sponsorship from the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.

LONDON: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, organized a scientific seminar on cultural and economic relations between Saudi Arabia and China from June 19-23 in Beijing, Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel has announced the successful execution of health management efforts during Hajj 2024.

RIYADH: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) philanthropist works in Lebanon and Sudan continues with its latest provision of medical support and basic food requirements for needy individuals. In the Miniyeh region of northern Lebanon, the Souboul Al-Salam Social Association ambulance service being funded by KSRelief completed 56 emergency missions, which involved the transport of patients to and from hospitals as well as the provision of first responder services to individuals involved in traffic incidents.

RIYADH: Border Guard land patrols have foiled an attempt to smuggle 135 kilograms of qat in Al-Dayer sector of Jazan Region.  Also in Jazan region, border police thwarted an attempt to illegally transport 160 kilograms of qat in Al-Ardah.  Legal procedures were followed, and the seized items were handed over to the concerned authority. Meanwhile, two Pakistani residents attempting to sell 4.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in Jeddah. The individuals were referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action.

PARIS: Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense Talal bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi headed the fifth meeting of the Saudi-French Defense Cooperation Committee along with Emmanuel Chiva, the French delegate general for armaments, on Friday in Paris. During the meeting, they discussed defense cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance and develop it, along with defense research and development in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the ministry reported early on Saturday.

RIYADH: Inspection raids were carried out through joint field security campaigns to arrest violators of residency, labor and border security laws across the Kingdom. The raid campaign, from June 13-19, led to the arrest of 10,917 violators, including 6,969 arrests related to residency law, 2,967 related to border security, and 981 related to labor law.

MAKKAH: The Muslim World League has welcomed Armenia’s formal recognition of the State of Palestine. Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the MWL, said Armenia’s decision reflects a “significant shift in international awareness” regarding the Palestinian cause. He emphasized that such resolutions highlight growing global recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and statehood.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has taken center stage as guest of honor at the Beijing International Book Fair, with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Award for Cultural Cooperation between the Kingdom and China a highlight of the event. The award, launched in March by the Saudi Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Farhan, aims to foster cultural cooperation and exchange between the two nations. It is divided into two categories: the cultural elite and the youth, and covers various cultural and creative fields.

JEDDAH: June 21 was the International Day of Yoga. This year’s edition, the 10th, was held under the theme “Yoga for Self and Society,” emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

MAKKAH: Dr. Saleh bin Zain Al-Abidin Al-Shaibi, the senior caretaker of the Kaaba, died in Makkah on Friday evening. Funeral prayers were held after Fajr on Saturday at the Grand Mosque. Al-Shaibi, who held a doctorate in Islamic studies, was a university professor and an author of several works on creed and history. He was the 77th key holder of the Kaaba since the conquest of Makkah.

RIYADH: Every year, nearly 300 bird species use Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region as a migration path. The area’s diverse landscapes and balanced ecosystem create a natural sanctuary for these avian visitors. Nasser Al-Majlad, president of the Aman Environmental Society in the Northern Borders region, highlighted the crucial ecological and cultural role played by migratory birds.

DHAHRAN: Sondos Jaan embarked on the journey to the highest peak in the Arab world on June 20. It is the latest episode in Jaan’s love for mountain adventures, but to understand the fascination it is important to take a look back at her childhood. She told Arab News: “I am from Madinah. I was born in a city where I could see a mountain from my bedroom window, and as I walked the streets I would see mountains.”

TAIF: Maysan governorate, located in western Saudi Arabia's Sarawat mountain range, showcases stunning archaeological scenes of some of the most important and impressive environmental engineering formations. These include approximately 1,200 beehives that were a major source of daily sustenance for the early inhabitants of the place.

RIYADH: Saudi artist Mohammed Abubshait has created a haven for other artists in Riyadh. His gallery, Living in Wonderland, is a treasure trove of imaginative artistic expression. “Art has always been in my blood, and I believe it is in everyone’s blood. I used to mess around with my clothes, accessories, goods, cars, and whatever else. I don’t like the way things are,” Abubshait told Arab News.

RIYADH: In regions with limited rainfall, desalination is a practical means of sourcing plentiful water for farming and human consumption. However, the process of turning seawater into freshwater is notoriously energy intensive. Indeed, desalination is a significant contributor to carbon emissions in the water-scarce Arabian Peninsula. That is why Saudi Arabia has been investing in green energy sources to power its desalination plants.

LONDON: The need for a safe and reliable cyberspace that can help enable growth and prosperity is more urgent than ever, Saudi Arabia said as it urged all nations to prioritize efforts to strengthen cybersecurity.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the global defense and security exhibition Eurosatory 2024 in Paris on Friday, where officials sought to boost partnerships with France, the state news agency SPA reported. The Saudi pavilion participating in the exhibition, which started on Monday, saw wide interaction and a large presence to view the latest achievements, products and developments of the military industries sector in the Kingdom, SPA reported.

TAIF: Maysan governorate, located in western Saudi Arabia's Sarawat mountain range, showcase stunning archaeological scenes of some of the most important and impressive environmental engineering formations. These include approximately 1,200 beehives that were a major source of daily sustenance for the early inhabitants of the place.

MADINAH: Pilgrims hosted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit visited the International Fairs and Museums of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization in Madinah. The exhibition showcases Islamic monuments and cultural landmarks using modern technologies. This visit was part of the cultural programs organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the guests of the program during their stay in the holy city.

RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has prepared the technical infrastructure to ease entry procedures for Umrah visitors following the announcement that Umrah visas will be issued after Hajj. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing Umrah visas, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The new Umrah season will coincide with the start of the new Islamic year on Muharram 1, and the move aims to streamline the arrival of pilgrims and ensure a smooth and worry-free experience.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has confirmed its commitment to promoting international cooperation and the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space, highlighting its achievements, capabilities and efforts in the sector at a UN meeting in Austria. The Kingdom, represented by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission and the Saudi Space Agency, is participating in the 67th session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which is being held in Vienna from June 19 to 28.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed a decision by Armenia’s government to recognize the state of Palestine, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement. It stressed that this “decision is an important step that supports the path of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

RIYADH: Automated decision-making allows businesses to make faster, more accurate and more consistent decisions by analyzing large datasets without the risk of human error. That is why, as Saudi Arabia expands its digital economy, such tools are becoming more widely used in the Kingdom. One firm that is leading the charge in this area is the Saudi startup Braincell, which helps businesses streamline processes and enhance decision-making through automation and artificial intelligence integration.

JEDDAH: Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha has reiterated the OIC’s support and solidarity with world refugees. He called for prioritizing the humanitarian needs of vulnerable people forced to flee their homes due to wars, conflicts and natural disasters. In a statement released on Thursday to mark World Refugee Day, observed annually on June 20, Taha expressed deep gratitude and admiration toward OIC member states for their efforts in providing refuge to displaced people.