Author: Mahdeehassan

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…

JEDDAH: A volunteer medical team has performed 75 cardiac procedures in four days in Nigeria as part of a project supervised by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. Implemented in cooperation with the Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development, the project aims to carry out 28 open-heart surgeries and 80 diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures. During its first four days, the team performed 10 open-heart surgeries and 65 interventional catheterization procedures at Nizamiye and Zenith hospitals in Abuja. It also conducted 13 medical examinations and provided consultations and other medical services. Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria Yousef…

KUALA LUMPUR: The Saudi Water Authority has won five international awards for projects focused on water technology, energy efficiency and recovering valuable resources from desalination waste. The authority, through its research arm, the Water Technologies Innovation and Advanced Research Institute (Watira), received the awards at the fourth Asian Water Awards and the 2026 Asian Power Awards in Kuala Lumpur. Among the recognised projects was a drinking-water enrichment system that uses nanotechnology to extract magnesium from seawater. The project won the “Innovation of the Year” award and is being deployed on a large scale for the first time globally at the…

RIYADH: Saudi influencers are using their social media platforms to promote national unity, counter misinformation and encourage informed discussion amid ongoing regional tensions. The Arabic hashtag #GoToExtremesInDefendingYourHomeland has gained traction online, encouraging citizens and residents to use their voices in support of the Kingdom. The campaign has become a rallying point for content creators seeking to shift conversations toward verified information and constructive dialogue rooted in unity and national pride. Beyond messages directed at local audiences, influencers have also used their platforms to explain developments affecting the Kingdom to international followers, aiming to foster informed discussions and improve global understanding…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.“We underscored the depth of the fraternal and historic ties between our two nations, discussed regional developments, and explored ways to strengthen cooperation and joint Gulf action,” Prince Khalid wrote on X.Prince Khalid also said he conveyed the greetings of the Saudi leadership to the UAE’s president during the meeting. The minister also met with UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and discussed ways to support efforts aimed at consolidating regional and international security and stability.…

RIYADH: Six citizens were injured and three homes and three vehicles were damaged after a Houthi projectile fell in a residential area in Najran on Sunday.A spokesman for the Civil Defense said attempts to target civilian objects constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and that the established procedures for such incidents have been implemented.The agency issued alerts of potential danger in the city earlier on Sunday afternoon but then said that the danger had passed.