RIYADH: A delegation from the Shoura Council’s Saudi-Tajik-Uzbek Parliamentary Friendship Committee recently met with top officials during an official visit to Tajikistan. Led by Mohammed Al-Jarba, the committee chairman, the delegation met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Farrukh Sharifzoda at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dushanbe. The deputy minister welcomed the Saudi delegation, praising the strong relations between the two countries and lauding Saudi Arabia’s global leadership, Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Honey has long held a special place in Saudi culture, cultivated by beekeepers across the region for its medicinal and culinary uses. Now, with added government support, its true economic potential and environmental benefits are being realized. Last year, more than 100 licenses were granted to beekeepers to produce this liquid gold on land administered by the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, predominantly in the Rawdat Khuraim oasis.

RIYADH: Al-Ahsa representative Dr. Ibrahim Al-Shabaith secured the deputy head position at the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in crafts and folk arts. The city became a member of the network, which comprises 66 cities across the world, in the creative field following an initiative in 2015.

LONDON: A group of pioneering Saudi women spoke about their experiences in leadership roles at an event hosted by female advocacy group Johara Global at the Saudi Embassy in London on Thursday. Raha Moharrak, the first Saudi woman to ascend Mount Everest; Sawsan Al-Bahiti, the first Saudi female soprano; and Nawal Al-Khalawi, a culinary artist, all discussed how the narrative of female leadership was changing in the Kingdom and wider Middle East.

RIYADH: A Saudi delegation concluded its participation in the 67th session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, held in Vienna, Austria, from June 19 to 28. The committee meets annually in Vienna to discuss questions relating to current and future activities in space. This activity confirms Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting international cooperation for the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space and highlights its efforts in developing the global space industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

MADINAH: The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is intensifying its efforts in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to serve pilgrims and visitors, with a focus on the elderly and persons with disabilities. The authority is working on providing the highest and best services for the elderly and disabled, having prepared 10 designated prayer areas near the gates of the mosque, four prayer rooms in the northern expansion, three prayer rooms in the western expansion, and three in the eastern expansion.

N’DJAMENA: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has distributed 1,000 food baskets in the Republic of Chad's Kanem province, benefiting 6,000 individuals. The assistance is part of the Food Security Support Program in Chad for 2024. Elsewhere, the relief center distributed 530 shelter bags to displaced and the neediest families in in the Republic of Sudan's White Nile State, benefiting 3,048 individuals. The distribution is part of a project to provide urgent shelter assistance to Sudan this year.

RIYADH: As part of its preparations for the upcoming Umrah season, which begins on July 7, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Thursday held its first meeting with companies and institutions that provide services for pilgrims. The participants included the deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdulfattah Mashat, and representatives of authorities involved in Umrah and visitation services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development signed an agreement with the Saudi Association of Neurological Surgery at King Saud University on Thursday. The agreement aims to expand the provision of training, health development and awareness services to benefit health practitioners, patients and all community members. The agreement was signed by Mohammed Al-Mashali, chairman of the board of directors of Al-Balsam, and Abdulrazzaq Ajlan, president of SANS.

WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha met with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Washington on Friday. The two discussed ways of strengthening the partnership between the Kingdom and the US in the digital economy sector. The meeting was part of Al-Swaha’s visit to the US that is intended to strengthen relations and support the growth of Saudi’s digital economy. 

JEDDAH: Jeddah Season 2024 officially opened on Thursday, under the theme “Once Again.” The opening ceremony was held at the Jeddah Art Promenade under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, deputy governor of the Makkah region and chairman of the National Evaluation Committee for Jeddah governorate, and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah. Visitors were treated to drone shows, fireworks and other visual displays as the lineup of events for the season was announced.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s drug control authority arrested several people involved in smuggling and seized large quantities of drugs after operations in Asir and Jazan, the Saudi Press Agency reported Thursday. Border guards in Jazan arrested two Ethiopians for attempting to smuggle 43 kg of hashish and 3,420 grams of methamphetamine into the Kingdom. Authorities also arrested a Yemeni citizen at the Jazan border for attempting to smuggle 30 kg of qat. In Asir meanwhile, two Ethiopian citizens were arrested for smuggling 22 kg of hashish.

RIYADH: Saudi designers and entrepreneurs are making bold strides in the field of artificial intelligence, helped along by training schemes, mentors and new technologies provided by some of the world’s leading tech companies. Silicon Valley heavyweight Apple recently unveiled a new program to train students to use the latest emerging technologies, creating opportunities for Saudi Arabia’s tech-savvy workforce of the future.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is taking part in the 57th session of the UN Commission on International Trade Law, which is taking place at the world body’s headquarters in New York until July 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

JEDDAH: The University of Jeddah has developed a device that detects preterm birth using the Internet of Things (IOT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reports. The innovation calculates the percentage of amniotic fluid inside the fetal sac and also identifies potential problems in the fetus at an early stage, allowing timely medical interventions and improving outcomes by promoting fetal lung development and placental health.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday received a phone call from his Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri Kani, the Saudi Press Agency said.  The pair discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and issues of mutual interest.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji received the envoy of Syria to the Kingdom, Mohamed Ayman Sousan, on Thursday. The pair discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them in all fields. They also discussed topics and developments of common interest.

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter-Terrorism Coalition Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi welcomed the chairman of the Academy of Strategic and Defense Studies in Oman, Maj. Gen. Hamid bin Ahmed Sakroon, to coalition headquarters on Thursday. Along with his delegation, the chairman was briefed on the coalition’s key works and its role in coordinating international efforts to combat terrorism. Its monitoring, follow-up and analysis processes were also reviewed.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s consuls general to New York and Suez took an oath of office before the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Thursday. During a swearing-in ceremony, the Consul General to New York Abdullah Al-Hamdan and the Consul General to Suez Marzouq Al-Nafi’i said: “I swear by Allah Almighty to be loyal to my religion, king, and homeland, not to divulge a secret of the state’s secrets, to maintain its interests and regulations at home and abroad, and to perform my duties with honesty, integrity, and sincerity.”

RIYADH: A facility in Qassim region has been fined SR500,000 ($133,000) after the Saudi Food and Drug Authority found the documentation of a shipment it imported had been tampered with, with the intention of selling a type of fish banned from import to the Kingdom.

MADINAH: Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Madinah are always particularly interested in those historic and archaeological monuments linked to Prophet Muhammad, seeking to learn more about the sites and how their facilities have been developed over the years. The Al-Ghars Well, which is located in Al-Awali neighborhood and close to the Prophet’s Mosque, is one such example. It has undergone developmental works and improvements as part of a program that has included several mosques and historic and archaeological sites and monuments in Madinah.

RIYADH: Trainees from the King Fahad Naval Academy of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces have joined the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy at Southern Naval Command in Kochi. The 76-strong group is the second batch of trainees to undergo training with the 1TS, with the first attending in May–June 2023. “This is the second time Saudi navy officers are being trained at this facility in Kochi, India. Last year, we had 55 Saudi cadets for similar training,” said Suhel Ajaz Khan, Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

TUNIS: Ahmed Al-Zahrani, the undersecretary for skills and training at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, headed the Kingdom’s delegation in Tunisia at the second regional meeting on educating young people in skills and transitioning them to work, which took place from June 26-27. He highlighted key initiatives and programs launched by the Kingdom to deal with changes in digitization and new technology — such as artificial intelligence — that will affect the labor market and the skills system.

Riyadh: Qassim University has obtained a patent from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property for technology that allows a robot to be powered by electromagnetic energy, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The technology can be used in various medical and industrial sectors, and works with Android applications, the report stated. The research team included Dr. Fahd bin Nasser Al-Sunaidah, Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Amer Al-Rumaih, Dr. Khaled bin Ali Al-Hassoun, Dr. Fahd bin Nasser Al-Saleem, Dr. Shaaban Abdul-Radi Mahmoud, and Dr. Omar Hazem Saleem.

RIYADH: One of the oldest villages in the Hail region, sitting adjacent to the iconic Salma Mountains, is attracting an increasing number of tourists because it was built on the rim of an extinct volcano’s crater in pre-Islamic times. Located around 90 km southeast of Hail City, Taba is affiliated with the Al-Shanan governorate, known for its abundance of farms, date palm trees, ancient wells, and archaeological inscriptions. The Taba is also one of the largest dormant volcanoes in the northwest of the Kingdom.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji on Wednesday received the US Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello at the ministry’s office in Riyadh. During the reception, they discussed developments in Sudan, ways to enhance cooperation, and issues of mutual interest, the ministry said in a statement.

RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission has announced the discovery of a bilingual inscription in Tabuk. The piece, found during an archaeological dig in the village of Alqan, comprises two lines in Thamudic script and one in early Arabic, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The style of the characters suggests the piece dates from the 5th century.

TURAIF: Weddings in Saudi Arabia's northern border town of Turaif governorate in the Northern Border Province are marked by “Al-Daha” — a form of folk arts that has been linked to people’s life and happy occasions since long time ago, and that brings happiness and joy during wedding seasons in summer. The Al-Daha dance is considered the most famous type of folk arts in the Northern Border Province. It’s also one of the performative and manly historical war dances known for its enthusiastic rhythm.

JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Alat have collaborated to launch an eight-week training program covering the latest AI technologies, the SPA reported on Wednesday. The Alat-KAUST Artificial Intelligence Training Program targets science and engineering specialists in Saudi universities who are either outstanding bachelor’s degree holders or nearing the completion of their degree. T

RIYADH: India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, has praised Saudi Arabia for the services provided for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj. Khan, who performed Hajj this year and helped his nation’s pilgrims, told Arab News: “We work very closely with the Saudi Health Ministry and other authorities in providing best medical services to our pilgrims.”

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has organised a four-day exhibition in Geneva to highlight the importance of camels as part of its presidency of the International Year of Camelids 2024, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The United Nations declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids and the designation will highlight how the animals are key to the livelihoods of millions of households in hostile environments across over 90 countries, particularly indigenous peoples and local communities. 

SEOUL: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday inaugurated its pavilion as the guest of honor at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, which is being held from June 26-30, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Held at the Convention and Exhibition Complex south of the Korean capital, SIBF’s 66th edition is a celebration Saudi culture, with the Kingdom’s pavilion reflecting various aspects of its cultural heritage.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has doubled down on its campaign to combat drug use and those who engage in the trafficking and financing of illicit substances. National Center for Security Operations Commander Colonel Omar bin Aida Al-Talhi said the goal of the initiative was to “eliminate” drugs and “protect society and its youth from their effects.” His announcement coincided with International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which was set up by the UN in 1987 and falls annually on June 26.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati on Wednesday received Austrian Ambassador Oskar Wustinger in Riyadh. Al-Sati welcomed the recently appointed envoy and wished him success in his new role, the Foreign Ministry reported on X. On Tuesday, Al-Sati met Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov, with whom he discussed relations between the two countries and other issues of common interest.  

RIYADH: The first supervisory council for the Ibex protected area encompassing the governorates of Howtat Bani Tamim and Al-Hasriq has been inaugurated by Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife in collaboration with the Riyadh Region Municipality. The initiative is part of NCW’s commitment to involving local communities and relevant stakeholders, enhancing management practices within the protected area and aligning them with global standards, reported the Saudi Press Agency.