Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: A Saudi National Guard reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Najran region in the Kingdom’s southwest, killing its two-man crew, the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday. Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, official spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, said an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed inside Saudi territory due to a technical malfunction. The aircraft belonged to the Ministry of National Guard and went down in the Najran region near the Kingdom’s border with Yemen. Al-Maliki said the crash resulted in the deaths of the helicopter’s two officers. “The helicopter crashed due to a technical malfunction, resulting…

RIYADH: Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles and several drones launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia, coalition officials said, after residents in Riyadh and the southern city of Khamis Mushayt received emergency alerts warning of hostile aerial threats. The Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said early Sunday that two ballistic missiles fired toward Khamis Mushayt were intercepted and destroyed. In a separate statement issued minutes later, coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said a drone was intercepted and destroyed in the Riyadh region. The announcements followed mobile phone alerts sent by the General Directorate of Civil…

Carved into the steep mountainsides of Fifa, the agricultural terraces of Jazan stand as a living record of generations who shaped the land to sustain their communities. Rising in graceful tiers between villages and mist-covered peaks, the terraces create one of Saudi Arabia’s most distinctive mountain landscapes. Long used to cultivate coffee, corn, millet and aromatic plants, they reflect traditional knowledge passed down through the centuries. Today, the layered fields and stone-built settlements remain an enduring symbol of residents’ connection to their environment, offering visitors a glimpse into a way of life rooted in the mountains and preserved by time.

JEDDAH: Schools across Riyadh and Diriyah governorate will continue remote learning until Thursday, Oct. 22, the capital’s education authority said on Saturday, extending measures introduced earlier this month as attacks on the capital continued. The Riyadh Education General Administration said the decision covers all students, teachers and administrative staff, with lessons delivered through the Madrasati platform and other approved educational platforms. “As part of the continued implementation of precautionary measures, it has been decided to extend the conversion of in-person study to remote study,” the administration said in a statement on its official X account. Alfaisal University and Prince Sultan…

Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (NASDAQ: FFAI) (“FFAI”) and FF EAI Robotics Ecosystem Inc. (NASDAQ: FFR) (formerly AIxCrypto Holdings, Inc. and AIXC) (“FFR”) signed definitive agreements on October 12, 2026, for FFR to acquire FFAI’s robotics assets and business in an all-stock transaction. FFR to become the First U.S.-Listed Pure-Play Humanoid and Bionic EAI Robotics Company under the agreement. The parties agreed on a valuation of approximately $200 million for FFAI’s robotics business and approximately $60 million for FFR on a fully diluted basis. The closing is expected to be completed by the end of October 2026. Los Angeles, CA…

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Jordanian counterpart on Saturday stressed the need for closer coordination to address escalating regional tensions amid a wave of Houthi attacks on the Kingdom. Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Ayman Safadi discussed efforts to contain conflicts and mitigate their regional and global repercussions during a phone call, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The ministers reaffirmed their countries’ solidarity in confronting threats to their security and stability, emphasizing the need of continued consultations to safeguard regional security and the interests of their people. The talks came amid intensified attacks by Yemen’s…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense has urged the public to exercise caution and stay away from valleys and flood-prone areas as thunderstorms are expected across most regions of the Kingdom, with heavy rain potentially triggering flash floods. The General Directorate of Civil Defense advised residents to remain in safe places, avoid swimming in valleys and areas where water accumulates, and follow official instructions issued through media outlets and social media platforms. According to the National Center for Meteorology’s forecast for Saturday, Oct. 17, moderate to heavy thunderstorms could bring torrential runoff, hail and strong winds that stir up dust and…

RIYADH: Adel Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, climate envoy, and commissioner general of Expo 2030 Riyadh, met Micheal Smith, Ireland’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh on Friday. He also met the Danish and Finnish ambassadors, Merete Juhl and Jukka Pajarinen, later the same day. The minister and the diplomats discussed mutual interests, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said on X on Friday.

JEDDAH: Friends gathering for the weekend, traffic on busy roads and residents heading to work and college are among the everyday scenes that people in Jeddah say have continued despite regional tensions. Residents who spoke to Arab News expressed confidence in their safety, with many saying daily life in the coastal city remained largely unchanged. “Life in Jeddah is going on as usual, and everything feels calm and normal,” Saudi national Ahlam Alhindi said. “I personally feel safe living here, and I’m happy that we can continue our daily lives without worrying too much. I’m grateful for the safety and…

DHAHRAN: It took Riyadh-resident Amal Sghaier nearly 22 hours and several detours to return home from her vacation in South Korea this week. Airport closures due to recent unrest meant her original journey was not possible, so she entered the Kingdom by car via King Fahd Causeway. While she enjoyed her first trip to Seoul, she was adamant she would not extend her eight-day trip. Despite pleas from loved ones to divert to her native Tunisia or elsewhere; she wanted to return to Saudi Arabia. “I want to go home,” she told anyone who suggested she should delay her trip…