Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: The chiefs of staff of the Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani armed forces held talks in Riyadh on Friday to discuss support for the Kingdom in the face of escalating attacks against Saudi Arabia by the Houthis in Yemen. The senior military officials agreed to deepen their military and intelligence cooperation, and enhance the integration of defensive capabilities under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed last month by the three countries, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said. They reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense and their determination to protect the “security, sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Saudi Arabia. They also…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Senegal have urged the international community to strengthen cooperation on water security, warning that growing scarcity, rising demand and inadequate access are placing increasing pressure on societies and economies worldwide. Speaking at a high-level ministerial event at the UN General Assembly titled “United for Water: A Call for Collective Action,” the Saudi deputy minister for international multilateral affairs said water should be recognized as a fundamental issue of international security and resilience as well as economic development. • Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Saudi deputy minister for international multilateral affairs, highlighted the Kingdom’s experience in managing water scarcity. •…

MAKKAH: The city of Makkah is undergoing an urban renaissance that combines the sacred heritage of the holy sites with advanced modern infrastructure, transforming the city into a year-round economic and developmental hub in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Development — across housing, hospitality, retail, logistics, and transit — is shifting Makkah’s economy from a seasonal one to a diversified, investment-driven one. According to the Pilgrim Experience Program’s 2025 annual report, Makkah’s service ecosystem implemented 87 initiatives across more than 60 partner entities and achieved 100 percent compliance. The report also stated that the Kingdom welcomed more than 19.5 million…

JAZAN: Khasher Mountain Peak in Al-Dayer governorate in the Jazan offers visitors a tourism experience blending highlands, hillside villages, agricultural terraces, and heritage sites. Sweeping views across valleys and mountain ranges highlight the natural and cultural diversity of the area. Located around 8 km from the governorate’s main town, Khasher is reached via a winding mountain road that passes through slopes, farms, and elevated villages. With a succession of scenic viewpoints along the way, the journey to the top becomes part of the experience itself. At approximately 1,660 meters above sea level, Raydah Peak is the highest point in Khasher…

TUNIS: The Saudi Broadcasting Authority has won first prize in the main radio competitions at the 26th Arab Radio and Television Festival in Tunis.The award was presented in the “Sports Programs” category for the program “Challenge Journey.”The closing ceremony was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Buraithin. The ceremony featured the distribution of the festival’s radio and television awards across various categories, as well as the honoring of a number of media professionals.During the activities, held under the slogan “Pulse of the Image and Echo of the Future,” the winners were announced in the program competitions and…

NEW YORK: The Muslim World League on Thursday hosted an event titled “AI for All: Faith, Human Dignity and Artificial Intelligence” on Thursday with the support and participation of the UN, during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly. The event was attended by MWL Secretary-General and chairman of the Muslim World League’s Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Moratinos and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The gathering also brought together religious leaders involved in AI ethics research, representatives of major…

ALKHOBAR: Saudi Arabia has called for accelerated recovery efforts in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian access ahead of winter, while urging the full implementation of the next phase of the ceasefire and reconstruction plan. Dr. Manal Radwan, adviser and special envoy to the foreign minister for negotiations and peace efforts, represented the Kingdom at a high-level roundtable in New York City on Wednesday focused on consolidating peace and advancing Gaza’s early recovery. The event was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Titled “From Sharm El-Sheikh to Phase II: Consolidating Peace and Early Recovery,” the meeting was hosted by…

STOCKHOLM: Aseil Al-Shehail presented her letters of credence as ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Sweden to King Carl XVI Gustaf on Thursday. Al-Shehail conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and discussed further strengthening Saudi-Swedish relations and cooperation. On Sept. 7, the ambassador met Dr. Sinisa Grgic, ambassador of Croatia and dean of the diplomatic corps. “We had a constructive exchange of views on matters of mutual interest. His kind welcome and good wishes were greatly appreciated,” Al-Shehail said on X.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification will represent the Kingdom at the 28th session of the Committee on Forestry next week. The event, which will take place at the headquarters of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2, coincides with the 10th World Forest Week, also at the FAO HQ, the theme for which this year is “Forests for food, resilience and prosperity.” The Kingdom’s participation reflects its active presence in regional and international forums related to forestry, its contributions to global dialogue on the sustainable management of…

WASHINGTON: Saudi Cultural Attache to the US and Canada Tahani Al-Baiz said Saudi students continue to strengthen their academic presence at elite institutions in America and Canada, with the number of enrollments reaching about 1,545 at pioneer universities, according to 2026 statistics. It comes as part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, which aims to boost human capital efficiency by offering scholarships to leading global educational institutions, with the pioneers track targeting the top 30 educational institutions worldwide. Of this total, 950 students are enrolled at US universities under the pioneer universities category, while about 595…