BEIJING: Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujib met the head of China’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Chen Wenqing, in Beijing on Thursday. Al-Mujib was accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Public Prosecution. The two sides discussed ways of cooperating in the legal field, including the exchange of information and expertise, contributing to the development of legal systems and the modernization of judicial procedures in both countries.

RIYADH: The head of Saudi aid agency KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has held talks on the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Palestinian Minister of Health Dr. Majid Awni Abu Ramadan. The meeting happened during Al-Rabeeah’s visit to Jordan to sign a number of humanitarian project deals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. Abu Ramadan expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom’s support, through KSrelief, in aiding the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli assault.

ALKHOBAR: The “Hedayh” Association for Dawah, Guidance and Community Awareness implemented several educational and outreach programs in Alkhobar last June, benefiting 15,098 people. Adeeb Al-Zamil, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said the beneficiaries included 12,458 people from community programs, the Saudi Press Agency reported. These encompassed mobile dawah initiatives, outreach tours, Friday sermon translations, public lectures, community outreach programs, electronic dawah, informational brochures, educational lessons, and video and audio clips.

AL-BAHA: A range of agricultural products are on offer at the second Fruit Festival in Al-Baha, Baljurashi governorate. The three-day event is organized by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with other government entities, agriculture associations and the Culinary Arts Commission. Among the products on display at the 20 stalls are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods.

MADRID: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has urged European nations to impose sanctions on Israeli officials violating international human rights laws as he warned that Israel’s war on Gaza was affecting the entire Middle East, including southern Lebanon. “The situation in the Gaza Strip does not only affect the Palestinian issue but the entire region and contributes to further escalations, which is currently happening in southern Lebanon,” he said on Thursday.

RIYADH: Saudi citizenship has been granted to a number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and people who have unique capabilities, expertise, and specializations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The granting of citizenship was issued as part of a royal order granting Saudi citizenship to people with distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise for the benefit of the nation in various fields.

AMMAN: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed an agreement to implement a project to support 1,000 Syrian orphans and their host communities in Jordan. The project, valued at almost SR4.9 million ($1.3 million), was signed by the agency’s general supervisor, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, and the secretary-general of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization, Dr. Hussein Al-Shebli.

TASHKENT: A delegation from the Saudi-Uzbek Parliamentary Friendship Committee in the Shoura Council, headed by council member and committee chairman, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Jarbaa, met the head of the Uzbek Senate, Tanzila Narbaeva, in Tashkent. Narbaeva welcomed the delegation, who are on an official visit to Uzbekistan, and stressed the keen interest of both countries’ leaders to build strong relations.

RIYADH: To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of dermatological care, experts at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have created a groundbreaking new diagnostic system, SkinGPT-4, which leverages the power of artificial intelligence. Leading the research, Xin Gao, a professor of computer science, co-chair of the Center of Excellence on Smart Health, and chair of Bioinformatics Platform at KAUST, says SkinGPT-4’s goal is to detect, diagnose, and identify suitable treatments for skin diseases.

RIYADH: The president of the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) said on Thursday that the Kingdom remained committed to attaining the highest international standards in protecting and promoting human rights, Saudi Press Agency reported. Hala bint Mazyed Al-Tuwaijri emphasized that the commitment was based on the country’s deeply rooted principles and values and its leadership’s prioritization of human welfare above all else.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in Madrid on Thursday. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, discussed the importance of delivering adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal and Kaag also discussed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire to stop the worsening humanitarian situation in the territory.

RIYADH: In recognition of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, the French Embassy and Alliance Francaise in Saudi Arabia recently hosted a special performance fusing symphonic music and sport. Held at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, the show, titled “Rhapsodie Sportive” was the idea of Zahia Ziouani and featured the Divertimento Orchestra, which she set up in 1998. The French Algerian conductor said she wanted to show that classical music was still relevant.

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL) launched four new publications on Thursday. According to a statement, the four publications are part of The Arabic Language in the World series, and include the books: “The Arabic Language in Chad,” “The Arabic Language in Thailand,” “The Arabic language in Kyrgyzstan: A Critical Analytical Descriptive Study” and “The Arabic Language in the Comoros.” The publications aim to build bridges of communication with Arabic-speaking peoples around the world.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares in Madrid on Thursday. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, discussed Saudi-Spanish relations and ways to enhance them in various fields. The foreign ministers also discussed regional and international developments including the situation in the Gaza Strip and efforts made in this regard.

AL-AHSA: Al-Ahsa has joined 118 other cities worldwide for the 16th annual conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Held from July 1-5 in Braga, Portugal, the event was attended by Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO’s assistant director-general for culture. During the conference, Al-Ahsa, which became a member of the network in 2015, showcased its experience in preserving handicrafts and folk arts.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has opened bidding for its “Coffee City” in Baha’s Qalwah governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. The aim is to enhance local production by planting 300,000 coffee trees over an area of 5 million square meters. Businesses seeking to invest should submit their bids through the Furas platform by Sept. 9.

RIYADH: Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Saudi minister of state and chairman of the board of directors of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, inaugurated the main building of the authority in Riyadh, the state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday. During his tour of the building, he was briefed on its designs and offices, “which were compatible with environmental considerations and took into account energy efficiency,” SPA said.

RIYADH: As part of an official visit to Turkiye, Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Wednesday met in Istanbul with the president of the nation’s Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Gorgun, and the heads of leading Turkish companies. They reviewed opportunities for cooperation in the military and defense sectors, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: The supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, on Tuesday visited the cities of Reyhanli and Kirikhan in Turkiye’s Hatay Province to inspect the work of volunteers taking part in the agency’s programs to help people affected by the earthquakes that hit parts of Turkiye and Syria in February last year.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife Development has launched a comprehensive survey plan to collect basic data on the crown-of-thorns starfish groups in the Red Sea, to be used in managing the outbreak of the organism in a timely manner, and thus protecting the health of coral reefs and biodiversity. The action plan is the culmination of a workshop held by the NCWD in late 2022, during which the threat of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Red Sea environment was discussed, a Saudi Press Agency report says.

RIYADH: At least 40 entities from the public and private sectors in the Kingdom have signed up with the newly organized Saudi Alliance for Agricultural and Food Technologies, with the aim of coming up with solutions to increase efficiency and abundance in agricultural and food products, and achieve safe and sustainable supply chains.  Deputy Minister Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) led the launch on July 3, 2024 in Riyadh, according to a report of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

MADINAH: Madinah’s municipality has launched an initiative to have volunteers plant over 300 trees in the central area near the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Here It Was Planted” plan has been welcomed by residents and visitors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Officials from the municipality said the Bougainvillea plant was chosen because it suits the region’s climate and environmental conditions. Known for its heat tolerance, the Bougainvillea will also contribute to the aesthetic appeal of the area, officials said.

JEDDAH: Saudi heavy metal band Wasted Land will perform at what metalheads describe as “one of the most prestigious (music) festivals on the planet.” Wacken Open Air, the annual hard rock and heavy metal festival which attracts nearly 100,000 headbangers to the eponymous town in Schleswig-Holstein, will be held from the first weekend in August with bands from all over the world.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a visit from US Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat who represents the state of New Jersey. During their meeting in Jeddah, the crown prince and the senator, and the latter’s accompanying delegation, reviewed relations and cooperation between their countries, and other issues of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Madrid on Wednesday ahead of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations, which will take place on Thursday and Friday. He will discuss with the members of the council the latest regional and international developments, sources said, in particular the situation in the Gaza Strip. The prince is taking part in the meeting of the pan-European think tank at the invitation of the council. Other topics for discussion will include the results of last month’s European elections.

RIYADH: Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, received on Wednesday a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Saudi Press Agency said. The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and Sudan. Separately, Prince Faisal congratulated Badr Abdel Aaty, Egypt’s newly appointed foreign minister, on assuming his new post.

JEDDAH: China’s heritage and fine arts are being showcased at City Walk, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The “China Town” exhibition includes markets selling traditional crafts, and has displays of the Asian nation’s unique architecture. Visitors can also enjoy various games including mini-bumper car and rollercoaster rides. The “China Town” exhibition is a part of Jeddah Season 2024.

RIYADH: A resurgence in almond cultivation is taking root along the scenic route between Taif and Baha, signifying the revival of a practice deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of this part of Saudi Arabia. Fahd Al-Zahrani, director of the local branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that that almond trees are once again a common sight across the landscape. “Almond cultivation has spread to several areas including Baha, Baljurashi, Al-Mandaq, Bani Hassan, and Al-Qura,” he said.

HELSINKI: In an interview with Arab News, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen discussed Saudi-Finnish ties, the recognition of the Palestinian state, and the results of the 2024 World Happiness Report which ranked the Nordic country in the top spot for the seventh year in a row. “I think we have had intensifying ties in the trade side for some years now, and we have especially taken notice of the Vision 2030 plans of Saudi Arabia,” Valtonen told Arab News.

RIYADH: Joint efforts between the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, also known as Etidal, and Telegram in combating extremist content led to the removal of 18 million items of extremist content and the closure of 660 extremist channels during the second quarter of 2024. A press release said that the joint teams continued to monitor and combat the propaganda activity of extremist content for three terrorist organizations: Daesh, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and Al-Qaeda.

LONDON: Diriyah Company is bringing a taste of Saudi culture and heritage to upmarket London department store Harrods this month, in the form of an exclusive pop-up exhibition highlighting the $63 billion mega-development project underway in Diriyah, the historic birthplace of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday reiterated the Kingdom’s tireless efforts alongside its partners at the political and humanitarian levels to halt the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported. For nearly nine months, Israel has been carrying out a devastating ground an air incursion inside the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements bordering the enclave.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman was received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Tuesday. During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Turkiye and ways to enhance them. They also discussed regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them. Prince Khalid is on an official visit to Turkiye and arrived in the country earlier on Tuesday.

RIYADH: Temperatures in Saudi Arabia are expected to rise to 50 degrees Celsius in late July and early August. Riyadh and cities in the Eastern Province were on the meteorological department’s high alert over the searing heat forecast for the month, with the maximum temperature soaring to 44 C in Riyadh and 47 C in Dammam on Tuesday.

RIYADH: Criminal cases in the Kingdom will be heard by a three-judge panel at criminal courts after the head of the Supreme Judicial Council approved the decision, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The decision will be implemented gradually in collaboration with the relevant departments of the council and the Ministry of Justice. Walid Al-Samaani, the head of the council, has issued a series of decisions aimed at promoting judicial safeguards and enhancing the quality of judgments.