Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: Yemen’s army said it carried out attacks on high-value sites in the capital Sanaa hours after reports that the Houthi militia struck an electricity distribution station in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.The Iran-back Houthis used a drone to target the facility that provides power to the Prophet’s Mosque, prompting condemnation from Islamic and Arab nations.Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said the Taibah electricity distribution station was hit early on Sept. 29.An investigation found that the Houthi militia planned and executed the “cowardly terrorist act,” Maliki said. Authorities carried out an operational review and studied the drone debris to prove the…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has warned of blowing dust, strong winds and reduced visibility in parts of Riyadh region, while forecasting continued thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of the Kingdom. The advisories were carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Friday. The NCM said dust-laden winds were expected to affect several governorates in Riyadh region from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., urging the public to follow weather updates and safety instructions. The warning came as thunderstorms continued across much of Saudi Arabia, with moderate to heavy rainfall forecast in Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha and Makkah…

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made clear during his annual address to Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council on Wednesday that Riyadh remained committed to diplomacy and de-escalation, but would respond firmly to threats against the Kingdom. “We are making every possible effort to reduce escalation and support diplomatic solutions, without the slightest compromise when it comes to safeguarding our security,” the crown prince said, warning that Saudi Arabia “will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at undermining it.” In the first episode of “Arab Views,” a new flagship show hosted by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Ambassador Khalid Al-Qahtani received the ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom, Nikoloz Revazishvili, in Riyadh. The pair discussed consular issues of mutual interest. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati received the charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in the Kingdom, Jennifer Larson, in Riyadh on Thursday, as well as the Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko. The diplomats discussed issues of mutual interest, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said on X.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia provided “logistical and necessary assistance” to all the passengers and crew on board the Israel-bound FlyDubai flight forced to land in Tabuk, the Kingdom’s interior ministry said on Thursday. Flight FZ1073 was over the Jordanian border when it plunged thousands of meters before making an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. Israeli officials said the Omani copilot attacked his colleague in the cockpit as part of a plan to crash the aircraft, which had 166 Israelis among the passengers. Preliminary investigations conducted by the Saudi authorities, in coordination with a security team from the…

ARAR: The skies of Saudi Arabia witnessed a close apparent conjunction of the moon and the Pleiades star cluster on Wednesday, an astronomical event traditionally associated with “Qiran 19” and the start of Al-Wasm season. According to SPA reports, the celestial alignment has long served as a seasonal marker for Bedouins and farmers across the Arabian Peninsula, signaling the gradual transition from summer heat to cooler weather and the arrival of a period associated with rainfall and vegetation growth. The first phase of Al-Wasm, known as Wasm Al-Harif, lasts about 27 days. The full season extends for approximately 81 days…

WASHINGTON: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Jim Risch and Ranking Member of the Committee Senator Jeanne Shaheen in Washington during his official visit to the US. The meeting addressed bilateral relations and explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two nations, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They also discussed the latest regional developments and ongoing efforts to promote regional security and stability.

AMMAN: An Israeli passenger on the FlyDubai jet forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia spoke of his gratitude to the Kingdom and its people on Wednesday. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots on the flight from the UAE to Israel stabbed his co-pilot and attempted to crash the passenger jet carrying 174 people, 166 of whom were Israeli. The traumatized passengers finally arrived at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv later, and after their plane had made a dramatic diversion to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northern Saudi Arabia. Videos…

JEDDAH: As Saudi Arabia expands its network of protected areas and accelerates conservation efforts under Vision 2030, a new initiative is seeking to ensure that scientific research keeps pace with the needs of the Kingdom’s most important natural landscapes. That ambition sits at the heart of the University of Jeddah Forum for Environmental Sustainability — Royal Reserves, known as Mahmiyah, a two-day gathering that brings together researchers, policymakers, environmental specialists and conservation authorities to explore how academic research can better support the management of Saudi Arabia’s royal reserves. Held under the patronage of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, adviser to King Salman…

RIYADH: The US hosted its first official pavilion at the recently concluded Saudi Food Show, bringing together dozens of US companies and trade associations to showcase American food and agricultural products to importers and food industry professionals in the Kingdom. US Consul General in Jeddah Rafik Mansour visited the pavilion at the Jeddah Superdome, where he met participating US companies, learned about their products and encouraged them to expand in the Saudi market. The pavilion featured a wide range of American products, including beef, potatoes, rice, grains, fresh produce, nuts, snacks, beverages and specialty foods. Participating organizations included the USA…