RIYADH: Over a hundred teachers will be dispatched to Saudi educational institutions abroad, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The Education Ministry issued the decision that would see 136 educators take up places in 19 countries in the upcoming academic year. Mohammad Al-Ghamdi, the deputy minister, said the annual program seeks to provide educational opportunities for the children of delegates, workers, and residents abroad.

RIYADH: The secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council has emphasized the importance of completing a free trade agreement between the UK and the bloc by the end of the year. Jasem Al-Budaiwi made the remarks after meeting Jonathan Reynolds, the UK’s newly appointed trade and business secretary, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The top Gulf official indicated that he sensed a strong interest from Kier Starmer’s new Labour government to complete negotiations for a trade pact.

RIYADH: A “Summer Forum” is underway in Riyadh to prepare Saudi high school students selected to compete in the 17th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Wednesday. The olympiad will take place from August 17 to 27, 2024, in the city of Vassouras in Brazil. This year will be the first time for Saudi Arabia to compete in the IOAA, a yearly competition that started in 2007.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority planted more than 1.2 million trees and shrubs during the first half of 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Tuesday. It forms part of the authority’s plan to resettle indigenous wild plants in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed and King Khalid royal reserves. The plants include the Sidr, Talh, Arfaj and Arta species, which were selected to suit the environment of the two reserves.

RIYADH: The Sports Boulevard Project in Riyadh has approved the designs for “Sport Tower” - a high rise building that has courts for different indoor sports. Headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the project's directors have announced that they approved the designs for Sports Tower, the Saudi Press Agency said. The Sports Boulevard is one of Riyadh’s four ambitious projects, launched by Saudi King Salman in March 2019. The project is a key component of the Saudi Vision 2030. 

RIYADH: Mayor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf attended the Egyptian embassy ceremony for Egypt’s national day on Tuesday. At the ceremony at the Palace of Culture, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz was received by the Egyptian ambassador to the Kingdom, Ahmed Farouk Tawfiq, and several officials, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s authorities in Tabuk and Jeddah have arrested two people for selling hashish and other drugs, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Tuesday. In Tabuk, a citizen was arrested for selling hashish and amphetamine. In Jeddah, a man from Yemen was arrested for attempting to sell hashish and narcotic tablets. The government has urged the public to report any illegal activities by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: In two separate operations, officers from the Kingdom’s Border Guard in Jazan have thwarted attempts to smuggle a total of 320 kg of qat into the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. One of the operations included the arrest of three Ethiopian nationals for allegedly attempting to smuggle 80 kg of qat. The three suspects also face charges of violating border security regulations. In Al-Ardah, a sector in Jazan, land patrols thwarted the smuggling of 240 kilograms of qat.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday said that Kingdom reiterated the importance of exerting all efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, during its participation in the meetings of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Saudi Arabia underscored the necessity of working to achieve just and lasting peace, and enable the Palestinian people to obtain their legitimate rights to establish an independent, internationally recognized state.

JEDDAH: Visitors have the chance to immerse in the ethereal artworks of Claude Monet as the “Imagine Monet” exhibition, created by renowned artists Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron, debuts in Jeddah. Part of the 2024 Jeddah Season 2024 until July 28, the exhibition is powered by large scale displays of the paintings of one of the foremost figures of the impressionist school of art.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his new British counterpart David Lammy on Tuesday. During the phone call, Prince Faisal congratulated Lammy on his new role after the Labour Party’s landslide election win last week. The two ministers discussed strengthening Saudi-British relations and joint cooperation between the two countries. They also discussed developments in the Gaza Strip, the situation in Lebanon, and the importance of reducing the intensity of escalation in the region.

RIYADH: Outstanding Saudi law graduates will be receive intensive practical training from a team of specialist advisers as part of a second Future Adviser Program announced on Tuesday by the Center of Legal Studies and Research. The 12-month program aims to qualify young legal talents, and develop their skills in legal and regulatory consultation, as well as legislative drafting.

RIYADH: Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the general supervisor of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, met Michael Ratney, the US ambassador to the Kingdom, on Tuesday at the agency’s headquarters in Riyadh. The parties discussed issues related to humanitarian and relief developments in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Anatolii Petrenko on the same day, the parties focusing on bilateral relations.    

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called on Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and “a renewed commitment to dialogue and negotiation guided by the principles of justice, equality, and mutual respect.” Addressing the Gulf Research Meeting 2024 virtually, Prince Faisal said: “The ongoing violence and bloodshed in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for a durable solution that upholds the rights and dignity of all parties involved.”

RIYADH: Over one million people visited the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah during the last Islamic year, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. 1,019,494 visitors of multiple nationalities, including Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and tourists visited the complex between July 19, 2023 and July 6, 2024. Visitors learned about the various stages of printing the holy Qur’an at the complex which produces 20 million copies annually.

RIYADH: A new cooperative insurance initiative to prevent losses from plant pests and animal diseases was launched by Saudi Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, the Saudi Press agency reported. The initiative is part of the National Transformation Program and will be implemented by the Weqaa Center and other authorities to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

RIYADH: Officials from Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief and the EU held talks here on Monday to discuss cooperation on relief efforts in the region. Hana Omar, KSrelief’s director of partnerships and international relations, met with a delegation from the EU’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, or DG ECHO, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Created in 1992, DG ECHO focuses on people affected by conflict, civil unrest, food insecurity and economic decline.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control has arrested four people in separate cases for suspected illegal drug-related activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. In the Qassim region, three people — two foreigners and one citizen — were apprehended for allegedly smuggling 5,429 narcotic pills. In Dammam, a foreign national was arrested for allegedly attempting to sell 7 kg of methamphetamine, commonly known as shabu.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to support vulnerable people in Sudan, Yemen and Jordan, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Monday. In Sudan’s Gezira state, KSrelief distributed 1,500 food parcels for 10,384 individuals, in the second phase of the agency’s food security project in the country. KSrelief also distributed 900 personal care kits to Sudanese families in the capital Khartoum. The initiative benefited 5,175 people as a part of a project to provide urgent shelter aid to Sudan this year.

RIYADH: The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has completed the first phase of its “Professional Verification” project, which is to determine the qualifications and experience of the country’s highly-skilled expatriate workers. This initiative spans 128 countries and is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a unified electronic platform, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Saudi Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser, accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to Romania Mohammed Abdul Ghani Khayat, visited Bucharest International Airport on Monday. During the visit, the minister was briefed on the airport’s extensive services, including passenger management, cargo operations and air carriers. Al-Jasser also held discussions with officials from the Romanian national air carrier, TAROM, regarding the airline’s operational capacity and fleet size.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s consulate in Houston has urged Saudis to follow all instructions issued by local authorities regarding Storm Beryl, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The consulate asked Saudis to exercise caution and use its emergency contact number if required. Beryl hit Texas on Monday, killing several people and zapping power to nearly 3 million homes and businesses as it headed east.

MADINAH: To ensure compliance with food-safety standards, authorities in Madinah conducted 21,507 inspections of commercial establishments in June. This intensive campaign aimed to ensure strict adherence to hygiene regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. Parallel to the inspection drive, the city has also trained 2,000 people as a part of its world-class health education program.

CAIRO: The Arab Administrative Development Organization successfully ran 180 training programs and awarded diplomas during the first half of this year. The programs featured 780 trainees from ministries and organizations in several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Yemen, Oman and Egypt, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: The Culinary Arts Commission is organizing an open meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday with the title “Supporting Small Producers.” The event, the Saudi Press Agency reported, will gather producers in the culinary arts sector to discuss production-related topics, ways to enhance efficiency and the impact on individuals and society. This initiative reflects the commission’s drive to engage stakeholders in all fields linked to the sector.

RIYADH: The Saudi Real Estate General Authority on Sunday concluded the first edition of the Real Estate Media Forum at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The forum, attended by the authority’s CEO, Abdullah bin Saud Al-Hammad and prominent media figures and real estate experts, discussed the importance of the media in increasing real estate awareness in all segments of society, enhancing the role of the real estate sector and achieving its aspirations.

RIYADH: The Saudi deputy foreign minister on Monday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for a ceasefire in Sudan as laid out in last year’s Jeddah Declaration, Saudi Press Agency reported. Waleed Al-Khuraiji met with the chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, in Port Sudan on Monday.  During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji reiterated Saudi Arabia’s welcome and support for all UN and international efforts aimed at reaching a peace in Sudan and for humanitarian efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief said on Sunday it provided support for displaced families in Chad, Sudan and Yemen over the past few days. In separate announcements reported by the Saudi Press Agency, the agency said it distributed 2,032 food baskets and 1,175 shelter kits for 19,668 people in the three countries. In Chad, 1,400 food baskets were handed out in N’Djamena for 8,400 individuals, as a part of KSrelief’s food security project in the nation.

RIYADH: Three citizens have been arrested for violating the country’s environmental laws, with two held for illegal hunting of wildlife and one for arson, the Special Forces for Environmental Security announced on Sunday. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the SPES said its field patrols arrested Ahmed Suleiman Maqbool Al-Sharari and Zahir Dhaif Allah Muslim Al-Sharari for hunting without licenses inside the King Salman Royal Natural Reserve. They were caught in possession of a firearm, live ammunition and a rabbit, according to the SPES.

RIYADH: The Federation of Saudi Chambers has announced it will resume its business council with Canada following a five-year hiatus, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Duleim has been appointed chairman of the Saudi-Canadian Business Council, with Abdullah bin Salem Al-Yami and Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Ahmed serving as his deputies. Al-Duleim said the council would rekindle economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

RIYADH: Saudi Border Guards have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 79,700 narcotic tablets in the southern Jazan region. Land patrols in Al-Dair sector in the region intercepted the drugs and transferred them to the appropriate authorities, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi authorities urge members of the public to report any information connected to drug smuggling or related activities.

The General Administration of the Mujahideen and Border Guard patrols successfully thwarted multiple smuggling attempts in Jazan and the Asir Region, seizing a total of 1,222 kg of qat. Patrols in Jazan thwarted the smuggling of 507 kg of qat, and the confiscated items were transferred to the appropriate authorities after initial regulatory procedures. Security regiments in the Asir Region also intercepted 240 kg of qat in the Al-Farsha Governorate.

DHAHRAN: Dhahran was the big winner in the Saudi segment of the F1 in Schools National Championships powered by Aramco, with teams claiming first and fourth places in the competition held at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, at the weekend. The 2024 national champion title went to Dhahran’s Shaheen, second place to Al-Ahsa’s Venture, third to Riyadh’s Clad, and fourth — an additional award added for the first time — to Dhahran’s Oryx.

AL-BAHA: The second Fruit Festival concluded on Saturday in Baljurashi, Al-Baha region, with the participation of several government entities, associations, and the Culinary Arts Commission. Fahd Al-Zahrani, director of the local branch of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that more than 20 exhibitors and productive families participated in the festival, showcasing various unique products and goods based on the region’s abundance of fruit crops.

MAKKAH: The Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Two Holy Mosques launched the 2024 Umrah season plan, one of the largest of its kind in the presidency’s history. The aim is to enrich the experience of Umrah pilgrims and visitors and create a devotional atmosphere through hundreds of religious enrichment initiatives and programs during the Umrah season, as well as attract thousands of volunteers to the Two Holy Mosques.