Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has launched a large-scale coral restoration facility on the Red Sea coast, aiming to produce up to 360,000 corals annually and restore 100 hectares of reef by 2030. The opening of what KAUST describes as the world’s largest coral restoration facility was announced at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkiye, according to a university statement published late Wednesday. The KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI) operates a land-based nursery and research campus. It aims to plant more than 2 million corals across 100 hectares of reef at Shushah Island…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has launched a large-scale coral restoration facility on the Red Sea coast, aiming to produce up to 360,000 corals annually and restore 100 hectares of reef by 2030. The opening of what KAUST describes as the world’s largest coral restoration facility was announced at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkiye, according to a university statement on Wednesday. The KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative operates a land-based nursery and research campus. It aims to plant more than 2 million corals across 100 hectares of reef at Shushah Island by 2030 and…

RIYADH: Fragments of two ballistic missiles that were destroyed over Makkah fell in the village of Sabouha, the Saudi Civil Defense said early on Thursday. Earlier, two drones launched by the Houthi militia were intercepted and destroyed in the Makkah and southern regions, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said on Wednesday. The spokesperson for the coalition Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said separately that three cruise missiles launched by the Houthi militia toward the Riyadh region had been destroyed. Later on in the evening, the coalition announced that air defenses intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles in Saudi…

JEDDAH: A seabed cleanup initiative at Jeddah Marina removed 9.3 tonnes of waste from the Red Sea, bringing together hundreds of divers, volunteers and government agencies in one of the city's largest marine conservation campaigns, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Held under the patronage of Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, the initiative concluded this week at the marina in North Obhur. According to SPA, 419 registered divers and volunteers completed more than 300 dives during 64 hours of fieldwork, recovering plastics, metals, tires and other waste from the seabed. Around 6,160 kilograms of plastic, representing…

Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati received British Permanent Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lindy Cameron in Riyadh on Tuesday. They discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X. Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister for Multilateral International Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Stephen Charles Hitchen in Riyadh on Tuesday. The two discussed issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said.

RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security arrested a Saudi citizen for violating the Environment Law by hunting without a license in Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. The individual was found in possession of an air rifle and four, hunted, wild animals. Legal procedures were taken against him. The SFES stressed the importance of complying with the Environment Law and its implementing regulations, which prohibit illegal wildlife hunting. It noted that hunting without a license carries a fine of SR10,000, hunting in prohibited areas carries a fine of SR5,000, and hunting a warbler without a license carries a fine…

RIYADH: Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, unveiled 18 paintings of Diriyah at an exhibition in Riyadh on Tuesday, describing the collection as a tribute to the Kingdom and its leadership. In the exhibition titled “Diriyah: Past and Present,” the ambassador showcased the Kingdom’s historic birthplace through his eyes. Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud attended the exhibition and highlighted the close ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Speaking to Arab News about the importance of an art exhibition such as this in Saudi-Pakistan cultural ties, Prince Sultan said: “It means more than culture, it means that Pakistan and Saudi…

Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino in Riyadh on Tuesday. The two discussed issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X. Saudi Ambassador to the UAE Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Luwaihan Al-Anqari received Costa Rican Ambassador Francisco Chacon Hernandez, dean of the diplomatic corps in the UAE and Costa Rica’s nonresident ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. They exchanged cordial remarks and reviewed bilateral relations, the Saudi Embassy said in a statement on X.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved a new consumer protection system and exempted state-owned companies from customs duties on certain electric passenger vehicles imported for public transport services. The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The customs exemption applies to electric passenger vehicles imported by state-owned companies for use in their own fleets and facilities, as well as by government entities involved in public transport. The measure is subject to regulations set by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. The Cabinet also approved a…

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss cooperation, regional developments and efforts to strengthen security and stability. King Hamad was received at King Khalid International Airport by the crown prince, who was accompanied by Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar and Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd, minister of state and Cabinet member, the Saudi Press Agency reported. During their talks, the leaders reviewed their countries’ longstanding ties and ways to expand cooperation across a range of fields. King Hamad praised Saudi Arabia’s support for Bahrain…