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.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Sunday said it carried out relief efforts targetting the neediest and displaced families in Chad, Sudan and Yemen over the past days. In separate announcements reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), KSrelief said it distributed a total of  2,032 baskets of food and 1,175 shelter kits benefitting 19,668 people in five areas of the three countries.

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have arrested three citizens for violating the Kingdom's environmental laws, including two for illegal hunting of wildlife and one accused of arson, the Special Forces for Environmental Security (SPES) announced on Sunday. In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the SPES said its field patrols arrested Ahmed Suleiman Maqbool Al-Sharari and Zahir Dhaif Allah Muslim Al-Sharari for hunting without a license inside the King Salman Royal Natural Reserve (KSRNR). 

RIYADH: The head of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam said there is still a long way to go despite the project having cleared more than 450,000 landmines and explosive remnants of war in Yemen. “There is still a long way to go to reach a mine-free Yemen”, the project’s managing director, Ousama Al-Gosaibi, said in a statement. Since at least 2015, Houthi militias have planted landmines — conventional and improvised — in “quantities and sophistication that far exceeds reasonable limits,” Al-Gosaibi said

RIYADH: The Saudi culture and education ministries recently honored pre-university general education students who were winners of the second edition of the Cultural Skills Competition held in Riyadh. The winners received prizes worth a total of SR9 million ($2.4 million) while the organizers of the competition signed three agreements to support distinguished talents.

JEDDAH: Google recently awarded five seed grants to faculty members at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to support research in artificial intelligence in Saudi Arabia.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail ended an official visit to Turkiye to enhance cooperation in real estate development, road infrastructure, waste management and recycling, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The visit was also an initiative to create new alliances between Saudi and Turkish contractors, according to the SPA.

MAKKAH: A new kiswa was installed on Sunday at the Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of the Islamic new year (1 Muharram, 1446h) by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Installation of the elaborately designed black cloth cover was completed by a team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa of the Kaaba, composed of 159 skilled craftsmen under supervision of engineers and technicians specially trained for the complicated process.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Jordan airdropped 30 tonnes of ready-to-eat food for besieged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the Saudi aid agency KSrelief said on Sunday. In a statement carried by the SPA, the agency said the airdrop was carried out with the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization and the Jordanian Hashemite Armed Forces. The food supplies dropped by air are suitable for immediate consumption without the need for heating, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, KSrelief director general, said in the statement.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has been actively involved in various humanitarian projects across Lebanon and Indonesia. In Lebanon, KSrelief continued implementing the Al-Amal Charitable Bakery project, in its fourth stage, in the Akkar Governorate and Miniyeh District. During the past week, the project distributed 150,000 bags of bread to needy families, benefiting 125,000 individuals, including Syrians, Palestinians, and the local host community in northern Lebanon. 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail concluded an official visit to Turkiye to enhance cooperation in the areas of real estate development, road infrastructure, waste management and recycling, and to create new alliances between Saudi and Turkish contractors, the state news agency SPA reported on Saturday.

MAKKAH:  A new Kiswa was installed early Sunday at the holy Kaaba in Makkah on the first day of the Islamic new year (1 Muharram, 1446h) by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Carrying out the task of installing the elaborately designed black cloth cover was a team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa of the Kaaba composed of 159 skilled craftsmen under supervision of engineers and technicians specially trained for the complicated process.

RIYADH: A farmer in Baha has found a way to cultivate the elusive cardamom, the ingredient that gives Saudi coffee, or gahwa, its signature flavor and aroma. Driven by his love and passion for cardamom-flavored coffee, Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a farmer in Bani Hassan, northwest Baha, tried agricultural experiments that led to him growing more than 350 cardamom plants.

LONDON: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League recently met with British Islamic leaders in London. During the meeting, Al-Issa highlighted important methods for combating hate speech, particularly Islamophobia, the MWL reported on X. He also reviewed various Islamic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of “reflecting the teachings of Islam, which promote tolerance and coexistence.”    

RIYADH: Saudi newlyweds Abdulaziz Khashogji and Amirah Al-Bassam tied the knot in style as the first-ever couple to have their “zaffa,” or wedding entrance, on Jeddah’s F1 circuit. “Both of us have unconventional ideas when it comes to our lifestyles,” the 32-year-old groom told Arab News. “The shoot and the location were both iconic and really special; we’re both so grateful we made our night as special as our relationship,” 26-year-old bride added.

Hasan Al-Jawad is the head of partnership at MIS Pay in Riyadh, a position he has held since March. MIS Pay is the first licensed ‘buy now, pay later’ system in Saudi Arabia. It is owned by Al-Moammer Information Systems, a publicly listed company. Al-Jawad manages its partnership and business development team. His responsibilities include strategic planning, relationship management, setting targets and key performance indicators to drive growth, specifically focusing on trending businesses.

TAIF: The Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, on Friday launched the 13th edition of the Gulf Poetry Forum 2024 in Taif. The event featured extensive participation from poets, critics, specialists and enthusiasts from GCC countries. Mansour Al-Harthi, director general of the Academy of Arabic Poetry, discussed the forum’s role in fostering communication among poets, authors, critics, thinkers and intellectuals from GCC countries.

RIYADH: Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as Iran’s president, state news agency SPA reported. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.

RIYADH: A number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs have recently been granted the Saudi citizenship. The royal order aims to grant Saudi citizenship to people whose distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise serve the nation in various fields. Here is a list of the Saudi citizenship recipients as published by the financial news portal, Argaam. Islam Zween, CEO of Argaam

RIYADH: In joint field campaigns across the Kingdom from June 27 to July 3, 16,565 people were arrested for violating residency and labor laws. That number included 9,969 violators of residency laws, 4,676 violators of border-security regulations, and 1,920 violators of labor laws. A total of 1,244 individuals were caught attempting to enter the Kingdom illegally, of whom 37 percent were Yemeni, 60 percent were Ethiopian, and 3 percent were of other nationalities. Additionally, 63 individuals were caught attempting to exit the Kingdom illegally.

RIYADH: Saudi scouts taking part in the Third International Muslim Scouts Jamboree in the US have stood out in science, technology, engineering and mathematics proficiency, a Saudi Press Agency report said on Friday. A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association is attending the week-long summer camp being held at Camp Strake in Houston, Texas, which runs from June 30-July 6. The jamboree is organized by the National Islamic Committee on Scouting under the supervision of the Boy Scouts of America.

ABU ARISH: Jazan province is home to a number of historic castles spanning ages and representing significant civilizational and tourist landmarks in the region. The sites showcase identity, values and traditions, which are reflected in architectural details dating back centuries. They contain rocks, columns, pottery, writings, inscriptions and special decorations, serving as regional tourist attractions for heritage enthusiasts.

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief launched a volunteer program to distribute food parcels to earthquake-hit areas in Syria and Turkiye, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The program initially aims to secure food baskets for 2,000 people in the Turkish cities of Reyhanli and Gaziantep. KSrelief chief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah inaugurated the program on Friday. It is part of KSrelief’s efforts to alleviate the suffering of Syrian and Turkish people affected by the 2023 earthquakes, a statement said.

RIYADH: Saudi Border Guards thwarted the smuggling of 340 kilograms of Qat in the Jazan region, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Land patrols in Al-Ardah sector confiscated the items and regulatory procedures were promptly carried out. The seized items were transferred to the relevant authorities. Saudi authorities urged citizens and residents to report any information pertaining to drug smuggling or related activities. Reports can be made by contacting emergency numbers (911) in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions or (999) in other regions of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as Iran’s president, state news agency SPA reported. Reformist candidate Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s runoff presidential election Saturday, besting hard-liner Saeed Jalili by promising to reach out to the West and ease enforcement on the country’s mandatory headscarf law after years of sanctions and protests squeezing the Islamic Republic.

RIYADH: Saudi scouts taking part in the 3rd International Muslim Scouts Jamboree in the US have stood out when it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report said on Friday. A delegation from the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association (SASA) are among the participants in the week-long summer camp being held at Camp Strake in Houston, Texas, which opened on June 30 and will end on July 6. The jamboree is organized by the National Islamic Committee on Scouting under the supervision of Boy Scouts of America.

ABU ARISH: Jazan province is home to numerous historic castles that constitute a long historical legacy spanning ages and a significant civilizational and tourist landmark in the region. They represent the society’s identity, values and traditions, which are reflected in the buildings’ details and architecture dating back centuries. They contain rocks, columns, pottery, writings, inscriptions and special decoration patterns, turning them into tourist attractions for charming nature lovers and human heritage enthusiasts.

RIYADH: Coffee production in southwest Saudi Arabia had a boost on Thursday when the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, “Weqa,” and relevant authorities participated in a workshop to increase the number of trees in the Jazan region. Dr. Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Khuraiji, head of the plant health sector at Weqa, explained that the center is working on preventive and remedial measures to ensure the health and sustainability of plants and animals and to enhance the participation of the private sector.

RIYADH: The resin art pavilion at the “Hail House,” themed “Your Home Away from Home,” now in its third year, has become a major attraction at the Aja Park during its 30-day run. The Saudi Press Agency reported that visitors of all ages, drawn to this distinctive art form, have flocked to the pavilion amid the festival’s traditional and artistic atmosphere.

DHAHRAN: Across the smooth road overlooking Aramco Camp’s rows of cookie-cutter clapboard houses with manicured lawns, is a serene time capsule where heritage and nostalgia collide. Situated on 12th street and Ibis Avenue, in what was known as Houses 1220 and 1222 — among the first to be built within the Dhahran camp in 1938 — the renovated historic homes now house the Community Heritage Gallery. It feels like you are being welcomed into someone’s home.

RIYADH: With a goal of sourcing at least 50 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in diversifying its energy mix toward renewable sources to meet its pledge to cut carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. To promote public understanding of renewable energy technologies and to advance the goals of Vision 2030, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy launched the Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Riyadh in 2017.