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.

RIYADH: The Saudi Space Agency inaugurated its new Concurrent Design Facility on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to the agency’s website, the facility is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies. By streamlining the design process, the facility is expected to reduce feasibility study times by up to 75 percent and system design costs by as much as 50 percent.

JEDDAH: Designers from across the Kingdom are being invited to take part in the Reviving Saudi Heritage competition organized by the Saudi Fashion Commission. Under the theme “Saudi Architecture Through the Ages,” entrants will be tasked with creating unique and sustainable designs that celebrate the nation’s culture, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The pieces must also incorporate Swarovski crystals, a kind of simulated diamond, and experts from the company will hold workshops and one-on-one sessions with the designers.

RIYADH: Saudi authorities recently made several drug-related arrests and confiscations in operations throughout the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Border Guard land patrols in Al-Dayer governorate, Jazan region, arrested seven Ethiopian and Yemeni citizens trying to smuggle 115 kg of qat. Land patrols in Jazan’s Al-Ardah governorate also thwarted the smuggling of 140 kg of qat.

RIYADH: General Supervisor of Saudi aid agency KSrelief Abdullah Al-Rabeeah met with Syrian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohamed Sousan on Sunday to discuss humanitarian affairs.  Sousan commended the humanitarian and relief efforts provided by Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, to refugees and affected people worldwide.

RIYADH: King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language recently concluded the Arabic Language Month in New Delhi and Kerala, India. The month-long July event featured scientific programs and events in collaboration with educational entities to develop Arabic language curricula, improve teacher performance, and enhance the language’s value in the country.

CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Abdulaziz Al-Matar received Lt. Gen. Imad Al-Din Mustafa Adawi, Sudan’s representative to the league, in Cairo on Sunday. Friendly talks took place and topics of common interest were discussed, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, also in Cairo on Sunday, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Egypt Saleh Al-Husseini met Egyptian Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan El-Khatib.

RIYADH: The farms of Qatif Oasis are playing a crucial role in supplying fruit and vegetable markets throughout Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. From Al-Khafji in the north to Al-Ahsa in the south, they provide a wide variety of seasonal produce including vegetables, fruits and fresh dates. Spanning some 800 sq. km from Safwa to Dammam, Qatif governorate is home to over 3,700 farms of which 2,454 are actively producing a variety of crops, reported Saudi Press Agency.

RIYADH: Saudi content creator and podcaster Rateel Alshehri hopes to empower youth to bring about the changes they want to see through her series, Rateel Alpha Talk. Alshehri, who is only 13 years old, has connected with thousands of people through her storytelling on Youtube, Tiktok and Instagram, with videos providing relatable content and glimpses of her daily life.

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,390 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week. The total included five anti-personnel mines, 47 anti-tank mines, 1,337 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report. The project has now cleared 4,230 mines in Yemen since the beginning of July. Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 453,298 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

RIYADH: The Camel Caravan, a captivating component of the Summer of Hira activities held in Makkah until Aug. 10, drew significant crowds and strong interaction among residents and visitors. This immersive experience aimed to celebrate the enduring importance and value of Saudi heritage by spotlighting the pivotal role camels played in Arab history, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

RIYADH: A new artificial intelligence model introduced by the Center of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will help doctors make radiology diagnoses quickly and accurately.

RIYADH: The very best and hottest types of peppers can be found at the fourth Shaqra Pepper Festival, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 6. As well as various varieties being on display, farmers from the area will be on hand to talk to and educate members of the public about their crops. Shaqra produces around 78 percent of Saudi Arabia’s peppers and the festival will include experts offering guidance to entrepreneurs and farmers on the best practices for both high-quality crop production and processing methods.

RIYADH: The Center of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have introduced the MiniGPT-Med model. This large multi-modal language model is designed to help doctors quickly and accurately diagnose medical radiology using artificial intelligence techniques.

RIYADH: Here's a chance for pepper lovers to find the best and the hottest types of the favorite food.  The 4th Fourth Shaqra Pepper Festival, which runs from July 28 until August 6, 2024, is showcasing various varieties of the crop, with farmers from Shaqra on hand to help enlighten the public of the hottest farm produce of the governorate. Shaqra, a part of Riyadh province, accounts for about 78% of Saudi Arabia's pepper production, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

RIYADH: The Embassy of Indonesia in Riyadh hosted “The Magic of Angklung” concert on Friday at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter. The event featured a mesmerizing performance by the Muhibah Angklung team from Bandung, Indonesia, attracting more than 600 spectators from various countries including Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.

JEDDAH: In the Kingdom’s culinary art scene, food styling, though a key ingredient, remains a niche career. However, one culinary artist is quickly making a name for herself by plating with style. Rawan Shouman’s interest in food styling — the process of staging food to look as attractive and appealing as possible for photography or video — began during her university days, shortly before the global pandemic, when she decided to help out a photographer friend. “With a passion for cooking and photography, styling seemed like a natural fit,” she told Arab News.

Amer Abu Obeid has been the president of cargo ground handling at SAL Saudi Logistics Services since March this year. He manages and leads commercial and operational activities across all of Saudi Arabia’s 18 airports.   As the head of operations, Abu Obeid oversees the daily requirements to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in cargo handling at the airports.

RIYADH: Under the patronage of King Salman, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs will host the ninth conference of ministers of awqaf and Islamic affairs on Aug. 3. In addition to ministers of awqaf and Islamic affairs, the conference will also be attended by muftis and heads of Islamic councils and associations from more than 60 countries. The three-day conference will address the role of the ministries in promoting Islamic principles and consolidating the values of moderation.

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,103 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. According to an official report, a total of 12,997 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 5,657 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,449 for labor-related issues. The report showed that among the 1,785 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 56 percent were Ethiopian, 43 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.

RIYADH: King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity on Friday marked students’ completion of competition tests at the 56th International Chemistry Olympiad in Riyadh, in the presence of Secretary-General of Mawhiba Dr. Amal Al-Hazzaa, and several of the foundation’s officials. The event, which brought together students and their supervisors, featured many popular activities which represented the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Jeddah: Jeddah’s South Asian community came together for a vibrant cultural celebration at the Equestrian Club on Friday, as part of Jeddah Season 2024. The event featured a diverse mix of music, dance, and cultural programs, and attracted an audience which included prominent Saudis, media personnel, and cultural figures. The concert showcased the talents of popular Indian artists, including rapper Dabzee, singers Nikhita Gandhi and Salman Ali, actor Gauahar Khan, and the Sangeet Dance Crew. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has outlined the latest developments and challenges facing the world in combating land degradation at a global summit in Rome. A Saudi delegation led by the CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, Khaled Alabdulkader, took part in the scientific event organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef recently met Eduardo Bartolomeo, the CEO of Vale Mining Company, in Brazil. The parties discussed the promising investment opportunities provided by the Saudi mining sector to Brazilian companies, and the expansion plans of Brazil’s investors in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. Bartolomeo praised the development and economic progress of the Kingdom in all fields and noted the efforts and initiatives involved in developing the Saudi mining sector.