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RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.Â
During the call, the two officials reviewed relations between the Kingdom and the United States, discussing areas of mutual cooperation and ways to further enhance them.
They also addressed the latest regional and international developments and exchanged views on several issues of common interest.
RIYADH: The Kingdom has entered the 52-day pre-winter transitional season, marking the shift between fall and winter as temperatures drop and rainfall chances rise, a change welcomed by residents, farmers and off-road enthusiasts.
Abdullah Al-Musa, a researcher in the agricultural calendar in the Asir region, said the season begins on Oct. 16 each year and consists of two lunar phases, each lasting 26 days, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
He added that signs of the season’s arrival include the passage of migratory birds across the Arabian Peninsula, honey harvesting and the eastward shift of clouds due to the western jet stream.
The period brings mild daytime weather, cool evenings and the formation of rainy cumulus clouds, making it ideal for farming and outdoor trips. It also helps revitalize wildlife and stimulate the natural ecological cycle across much of the Kingdom.
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel concluded his participation in the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo, Egypt, from Oct. 15–17.
He held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Egypt, Pakistan and Iran to enhance health coordination, ensure equitable access to medical services, support emergency response efforts and combat polio in the region, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.
AlJalajel also met WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr. Hanan Balkhy to discuss improving access to transformative health solutions and accelerating universal health coverage.
Additional meetings with health sector experts focused on strengthening health system resilience and promoting regional cooperation on shared challenges.
In the Kingdom’s speech at a session with the Executive Sponsors of the Polio Legacy Challenge, the minister reaffirmed º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s commitment to supporting international and regional efforts to eradicate polio, improve health services and enhance quality of life.
º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s participation “reflects its dedication to global health initiatives and building integrated health systems, contributing to Vision 2030 goals and fostering a healthier regional and global future,†the SPA reported.
RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Ministry of Islamic Affairs offered visitors at the Frankfurt Book Fair an interactive virtual tour of the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
The experience used virtual reality technology to combine innovation with the spiritual atmosphere of the holy sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Through interactive glasses, visitors took 3D tours of the Two Holy Mosques, viewing the Holy Kaaba, the Rawdah, and other key landmarks of the two cities.
The immersive display gave visitors a sense of connection to the holy places despite the distance from them, the SPA added.
The ministry’s pavilion also offers educational exhibits on the Kingdom’s service to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah and its promotion of moderation and balance.
It features publications from the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah in more than 77 languages, along with visual presentations on its printing technologies and production stages.
The pavilion also displays rare Islamic manuscripts from the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Library, highlighting the Kingdom’s scholarly and cultural heritage.
The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair runs until Oct. 19.
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 23,094 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 13,604 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,816 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 4,674 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 2,061 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 56 percent were Ethiopian, 43 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 27 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 17 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
GENEVA: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Shoura Council Speaker, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh, held several high-level meetings in Geneva while leading the Saudi delegation at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly.
Among the officials he received was Bahraini Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed Al-Musallam, and the UAE Federal National Council member and delegation head, Dr. Ali Al-Nuaimi, Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
During the meetings, they discussed ways to enhance joint Gulf parliamentary coordination, exchanged views on the IPU agenda, and addressed regional and international issues of common interest.
