Author: Mahdeehassan

ANKARA: Turkiye will submit to parliament a mandate allowing for military personnel to be deployed to Saudi Arabia under its joint defense pact with ‌Saudi Arabia and ‌Pakistan, a ‌lawmaker from the ruling AK Party told Reuters on Wednesday. The lawmaker said the mandate would be sent to parliament once a ‌bill ‌ratifying the accord ‌has been approved. Turkiye ‌submitted the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement — signed by the three countries ‌in August — to parliament for ratification on Tuesday, moving NATO’s second-largest army closer to a formal mutual defense pledge with Riyadh.

RIYADH: When Sara Shahid’s first grade pupils heard alarming sounds during the school day, as Saudi air defense interceptions took place, some immediately recognized what they thought they were hearing. “Is that real, teacher? Is that real bombing? Are those missiles?” they asked. For Shahid, a mother of two, what stood out was that some of her young pupils were already familiar with the language of conflict. “Some of them already knew these terms,” she told Arab News. “Some of them probably knew something about it from home, their mums and dads, parents talk.” The school had regularly practised emergency…

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim met with Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser and stressed the strength of the long-standing strategic partnership between Malaysia and the IsDB. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises, encourage entrepreneurship and job creation, and expand private-sector development to contribute to inclusive economic growth, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening cooperation among countries of the Global South, mobilizing innovative financing, and strengthening the partnership…

RIYADH: The Saudi and Kuwaiti foreign ministers condemned the Houthis’ ongoing attacks and threats against neighboring countries in a call on Tuesday. Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah affirmed solidarity between the Kingdom and Kuwait as they faced attacks from the Houthi terrorist militia on civilian areas, threatening regional security and stability, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Iran-backed group in Yemen has intensified its attacks against the Kingdom this month, targeting Saudi airports, energy infrastructure and civilian areas, including several deadly strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and other airports in the…

RIYADH: The Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, on Tuesday accused the Houthis of exploiting the humanitarian and economic crises in the country to finance their military operations and obstruct peace efforts. In a message posted on social media platform X, he said the Iran-backed militia had diverted state revenues, including taxes, customs duties and telecommunications income, to fund attacks against the Yemeni people, Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels in international waterways, while failing to pay public-sector salaries or provide basic services in parts of Yemen under its control. The ambassador highlighted the situation in Taiz, where Yemeni government forces…

JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority said it had placed 166 ambulance teams on standby across Makkah region ahead of the rainy season, to ensure a rapid response to medical emergencies. The deployment includes 69 teams in Jeddah, 60 in Makkah and 37 in Taif, which are supported by six specialized response vehicles to expand coverage and reduce emergency response times. The authority said its preparations included monitoring weather forecasts and updates from the National Center for Meteorology, and the positioning of ambulance teams based on directives from authorities, the prevailing conditions, and areas identified as requiring additional coverage. The…

RIYADH: Mental health professionals across Saudi Arabia are encouraging people to prioritize emotional well-being, support one another and seek professional help when needed, as the Kingdom responds to recent attacks with a renewed sense of unity. Experts have used social media and public platforms to highlight the importance of community solidarity and psychological resilience, emphasizing that family and social support can play a vital role in helping people cope with uncertainty and distress. For Dr. Majid Al-Desouki, consultant psychiatrist and co-founder of digital mental health platform Psyter, understanding how people process distressing events is a key step toward managing anxiety.…

JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi on Monday received South Korean Consul General Dae Hwan Kim. They exchanged cordial talks and discussed topics of mutual interest. Meanwhile, Fareed Al-Shahri, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs branch in Makkah region, received Bangladesh Consul General Md Shakhawat Hossain in Jeddah. They reviewed topics of mutual interest.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Monday called for stronger coordination among Gulf nations to contain escalating regional tensions amid continuing Houthi attacks on the Kingdom. It came as the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, discussed the latest regional developments, and condemned attacks by the Yemeni militia against civilian sites in Saudi Arabia. The ministers stressed the need for closer consultations and joint diplomatic efforts to strengthen cooperation among Gulf Cooperation Council member states, support de-escalation and prevent conflicts from spreading across the region, the Saudi Press Agency…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France called on Monday for intensified diplomatic efforts to contain regional conflicts and safeguard maritime security amid escalating attacks by the Yemen-based Houthis. During a meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to mitigate the repercussions of ongoing conflicts, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Barrot condemned recent Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed France’s solidarity with the Kingdom. The ministers also stressed the important need to protect regional waterways and ensure freedom of navigation, while supporting diplomatic efforts…