Makkah: The washing ceremony of the Holy Kaaba was carried out on Sunday by Deputy Gov. of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz on behalf of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Upon his arrival at the Grand Mosque, he was received by Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Two Holy Mosques, along with Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of religious affairs at the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque.

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed hygiene kits to displaced and needy families in Sudan and Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The aid group gave out 620 kits to the needy in Sudan’s Sinar State, benefiting 3,100 people. The agency also handed out 435 shelter kits to 2,175 people in River Nile State, Sudan. 

Noel Gomes was appointed CEO of ASCES, Al-Halloul, Al-Badila (Alternative Solutions Company for Environmental Services) in July 2024. He is an entrepreneur and executive with a career in the financial sector spanning more than 25 years. The Saudi private company focuses on global management of waste and disposal solutions.

RIYADH: In joint field campaigns across the Kingdom from July 11 to July 17, 19,817 people were arrested for violating residency, labor and border security laws. This number included 12,436 violators of residency laws, 4,881 violators of border-security regulations and 2,500 violators of labor laws. A total of 1,389 individuals were caught attempting to enter the Kingdom, of whom 45 percent were Yemeni, 53 percent were Ethiopian and 2 percent were of other nationalities. Additionally, 48 individuals were caught attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally.

RIYADH: The third Beit Hail heritage festival, themed “Your Home Away From Home,” has attracted more than 68,000 visitors since its opening at Aja Park earlier this month, Saudi Press Agency reported. The 30-day event has drawn visitors of all ages from the region and beyond, offering a showcase of local culture and traditions.

RIYADH: The famous heritage palaces in the Asir region have become tourist destinations, offering a rich blend of history and culture. The Saudi Press Agency reported that these sites also boost economic activity by creating job opportunities during the summer season. The heritage palaces in Asir boost economic activity by creating job opportunities during the summer season. (SPA)

TAIF: A strawberry farm in the rugged mountains of Al-Hada in Taif has emerged as a popular spot for visitors looking to escape the summer heat and appreciate the beauty of nature away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Arab News recently visited the Al-Hada strawberry farm to see how it captures the essence of the region’s natural beauty and vibrant culture.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has launched an award for fiction writing, with winners sharing total prizemoney of $690,000 and successful works to be adapted into film. Unveiling the Golden Pen Award for Novels on Saturday, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said that the competition will benefit Arab novelists and the regional film industry. The competition will be open to original works in Arabic, and all nationalities and ages will be eligible.

RIYADH: Employment of Saudi citizens in the engineering sector is set to increase under plans announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. In a joint initiative with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the ministry will implement a 25 percent localization quota for engineering professions, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The new policy comes into effect on July 21 will affect private sector companies employing five or more workers in engineering roles.

RIYADH: Saudi aid group, KSrelief, has distributed 25,000 bags of bread in Akkar Governorate and Miniyeh District in Lebanon. The distribution comes as part of KSrelief’s Al-Amal Charitable Bakery project to support Syrian and Palestinian refugee families, and the host community living in northern Lebanon, benefiting 125,000 individuals.

NEW DELHI: India plays a significant role in promoting the Arabic language in the wake of growing commercial exchanges with Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s top linguistic institution has said, as it conducted a series of programs for Indian scholars and learners. Students and lecturers from the Indian universities and colleges that teach Arabic courses are taking part in training sessions, workshops and competitions as part of the Arabic Language Month organized by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed a ruling by UN’s top court that Israel’s settlement policy on Palestinian territory breaks international law. The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement that the Kingdom welcomed the advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice and called for practical steps to reach a just solution to the Palestinian cause. The World Court issued the judgment, which is non-binding, on Friday.

PARIS: Mawhiba, an endowment organization that aims to nurture talented Saudi students in the scientific field, has signed a partnership agreement with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to foster science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education across Arab countries.

MANAMA: Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh met with his Bahraini counterpart Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh in Manama. The meeting was part of an official visit by the Saudi speaker to Bahrain, and was held in the presence of the Bahraini Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam.

RIYADH: For many, summer in Saudi Arabia is a time to relax on the couch, turn up the air conditioning, and watch other people play sports on TV, with those who dare to challenge this approach often ending up with heatstroke. Yet, running clubs in the Kingdom are busier than ever, and show no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

JAZAN: The General Administration of Education in Jazan organized the closing ceremony for the 2024 Mawhiba Academic Enrichment Program and the accompanying exhibition in partnership with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity. The program, which lasted for three weeks, targeted 273 female and male students. The closing ceremony included an exhibition showcasing 49 student projects from 12 different science units, including invention, programming, medicine, robotics, data science, and artificial intelligence.

The Eastern Province has conducted 420 building inspections in Alkhobar Governorate to ensure compliance with regulations. The initiative aims to improve services for citizens and enhance the governorate’s economic and tourism status. Authorities reported that the governorate made significant progress in municipal services during June, thanks to its commitment to quality standards. Achievements included issuing 35 occupancy certificates, 301 building permits and seven licenses for vital projects such as hospitals, hotels and schools, among others.

QINGDAO, China: As one of the world’s largest economies and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, China is seen as having a particular responsibility among nations to help address climate change and promote sustainable development. As such, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization invited Asian countries to participate in a two-day Green Development Forum in Shandong earlier this month to discuss solutions for a greener future.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Border Guard has thwarted several attempts by criminals to smuggle drugs into the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday. Officers in the Al-Raboah and Al-Farsha areas of Asir seized 125,500 and 11,893 narcotic pills, respectively. In Asir’s Dhahran Al-Janub area, three Ethiopian nationals were arrested for attempting to smuggle 27 kg of hashish into the country.

RIYADH: Staff at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University recently had the chance to take part in a series of training programs to help them develop their own training and development skills, and prepare more effective training resources. A six-day “Training of Trainers” program, provided by the university’s Deanship of Quality and Development, included topics such as theories of learning and their effects on training; the needs of the trainer; development of the communication model and communication skills; and the design of training materials.

JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in the Makkah region revealed its volunteer statistics for the second quarter of 2024, with the number of volunteer hours reaching 79,128. It said the volunteer opportunities ranged from providing first-aid services to worshippers in the courtyards of the Holy Mosque in Makkah to national occasions, international days, events, humanitarian aid, and sports events. Additionally, several first-aid courses were held to train male and female volunteers.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to provide healthcare for vulnerable people in Sudan and Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The project in Port Sudan for urology surgery, from July 13 to 20, involves 11 volunteers with training in various specialities. The team members have already completed six surgeries. A similar project is currently being implemented for orthopedic surgery in the Seiyun district of Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, with seven operations already completed.

There’s a new way to stay fit in Alkhobar this summer with the recent opening of Curva Pilates earlier this month. The women-only studio is situated on the second floor of an indiscreet building, marked with the letter A on the outside. It is an ideal place to spend an hour using the reformer Pilates machine, either in a solo session or with a group class. There is limited parking directly outside of the studio space.

RIYADH: Mindful of their carbon footprint, a growing number of people are opting to power their homes and businesses with solar photovoltaic systems rather than traditional energy sources. One Saudi startup is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to help increase uptake. Solar PV systems are a type of renewable energy technology that converts sunlight into electricity, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel-generated electricity. 

RIYADH: Ali Al-Sawat, the mayor of Al-Baha region, announced the upcoming launch of the “Al-Baha Theatrical Nights” program, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Organized by the Al-Baha Municipality in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts and the private sector, the event will be held from July 21 to 27.

RIYADH: The National Center for Environmental Compliance revealed today that the proportion of gases emitted in the Kingdom that deplete the ozone layer has decreased to 1 percent. The results were part of a study conducted on the Kingdom’s refrigeration and air-conditioning facilities to check the extent of their environmental compliance. A field survey checked more than 1,200 facilities to evaluate their general condition and respective corrective plans were activated.

ABHA: A record 60 million tourists to Saudi Arabia during the first half of 2024 spent a total of SR143 billion ($38.1 billion), Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb has announced. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the minister highlighted the significant advances made by both the Kingdom and its tourism industry which have resulted in such a notable achievement.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned and rejected in the strongest terms on Thursday a visit made by Israel’s far-right national security minister to Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader, said he had gone up to the Jerusalem hilltop compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray for the return of Israeli hostages on Thursday. The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also condemned an Israeli parliament vote to oppose a Palestinian state.

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, on Wednesday called on the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution that would compel Israel to end its war on Gaza. Alwasil said Tel Aviv must comply with the Security Council’s own resolutions, which call for an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of aid into Gaza.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to provide healthcare for vulnerable people in Sudan and Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Wednesday evening. The project in Port Sudan for urology surgery, from July 13 to 20, involves 11 volunteers with training in various specialties. The team members have already completed six surgeries. A similar project is currently being implemented for orthopedic surgery in the Seiyun district of Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, with seven operations already completed.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Saudi Press Agency said early Thursday. The pair discussed ways of enhancing bilateral relations in all fields. The call also reviewed issues of mutual interest.

JEDDAH: A Saudi Arabia publishing house focused on works for children is utilizing passion and innovation to turn the page toward a “golden age of creativity” in the Kingdom. Dar Waraqa is an award-winning company that creates aesthetically-pleasing books and products that reflect Saudi Arabia’s rich culture and heritage.

RIYADH: The “Book Plateau,” in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Baha region, is drawing visitors from far and wide. Nestled in Baljurashi, the inscribed rock epitomizes the rich cultural tapestry of the area. Located at the confluence of two streams at the foot of Wadi Khara, this archaeological wonder has been likened to the pages of an open book and earned its name from the old inscriptions adorning its surface, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a call on Wednesday from French President Emmanuel Macron, the Saudi Press Agency said. The call discussed the situation in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, in addition to efforts aimed at achieving security and stability. The pair also reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as the latest regional and international developments.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel’s targeting the UNRWA-run Al-Razi School in Nuseirat camp in Gaza, and Al-Attar area in Khan Yunis, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said. The statement described the attacks as “a series of repeated violations by the Israeli war machine against defenseless civilians.” Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 Palestinians in southern and central Gaza overnight and into Tuesday, including one that struck an Israeli-declared “safe zone” crowded with thousands of displaced people.