Inauguration held for Riyadh center for homeless women

Inauguration held for Riyadh center for homeless women
The center will offer a range of medical, psychological and rehabilitation services, and will be run by the National Society for Community Services. (@ajwad_org)
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Updated 18 March 2025
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Inauguration held for Riyadh center for homeless women

Inauguration held for Riyadh center for homeless women

RIYADH: An inauguration ceremony was held for a center in Riyadh that will provide support for homeless women to reintegrate into society, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The center will offer a range of medical, psychological and rehabilitation services, and will be run by the National Society for Community Services (Ajwad).

It is being developed in partnership with the Sulaiman Al-Rajhi Charitable Foundation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Ajlan, vice chairman of the board of directors of Ajwad, emphasized the association’s commitment to providing integrated care for the Kingdom’s neediest groups.

He also praised the support provided by the organization’s strategic partners.

Ajwad was founded in 2017 with its board of directors headed by Saudi Arabia’s minister of health.

The association’s main focus is to provide services to the homeless and mentally ill in the Kingdom.


Saudi Arabia’s King Salman receives written messages from presidents of Vietnam, Angola

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received the message during a meeting with Vietnam’s ambassador to the Kingdom Hoang Huu Anh (L).
Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received the message during a meeting with Vietnam’s ambassador to the Kingdom Hoang Huu Anh (L).
Updated 30 June 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s King Salman receives written messages from presidents of Vietnam, Angola

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received the message during a meeting with Vietnam’s ambassador to the Kingdom Hoang Huu Anh (L).

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has received written messages from the presidents of Vietnam and Angola, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The message from President Luong Cuong related to Saudi-Vietnamese relations and ways to support and strengthen them in all fields.

The message was received by the Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs and General Supervisor of the Public Diplomacy Deputyship, Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, during a meeting with Vietnam’s ambassador to the Kingdom Hoang Huu Anh.

President of Angola Joao Lourenco also sent the king a letter regarding relations between their countries and ways to support and strengthen them in all fields.

That message was received by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Angola’s ambassador to the Kingdom Frederico Cardoso.


Early date harvest begins in Al-Ahsa

Early date harvest begins in Al-Ahsa
Updated 30 June 2025
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Early date harvest begins in Al-Ahsa

Early date harvest begins in Al-Ahsa
  • Harvest typically spans May 20 to July 20, marking an important period for both local agriculture and the national date market
  • Markets across Saudi Arabia are preparing to welcome over 20 varieties of premium dates cultivated in Al-Ahsa

JEDDAH: As temperatures rise, Al-Ahsa is witnessing the early signs of its annual date harvest, with farmers beginning to reap the season’s first rutab — dates in the soft, early-ripening stage of dates.

The harvest typically spans May 20 to July 20, marking an important period for both local agriculture and the national date market.

This year, markets across Saudi Arabia are preparing to welcome over 20 varieties of premium dates cultivated in Al-Ahsa, including the highly favored Khalas, Shishi, and Ghar varieties.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has confirmed the 2025 rutab season in Al-Ahsa signals a promising yield, with initial quantities already making their way across the Kingdom. 

Varieties such as Rutab Al-Tayyar, Majnaz, Ghar, Khneizi, Shishi and Khalas are expected to arrive at different stages throughout the harvest period, offering a steady flow of fresh produce. The harvest of the late-season rutab is set to begin in early July and will continue until mid-August, featuring prized varieties like Um Rahim, Zamli, Shahl, and Hilali.

Following the rutab season, Al-Ahsa will move into the full date (tamr) harvest from mid-August to early October, with popular varieties such as Shishi, Khalas and Raziz forming the core of this stage. 

In addition to fresh dates, Al-Ahsa is also known for producing some of the finest varieties for molasses (dibs), including varieties like Marzban, Hatemi and Shahl, highly valued for their rich flavor and syrupy texture.

Al-Ahsa, recognized as the largest palm oasis in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to more than 2 million palm trees. Each year, the region produces over 120,000 tons of dates, making it a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s agricultural landscape.

With its unique blend of fertile land, deep-rooted heritage, and diverse produce, it continues to be a global center for date cultivation and a vital contributor to the Kingdom’s cultural and economic identity.


Saudi project clears 1,493 mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 1,493 mines in Yemen
Updated 30 June 2025
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Saudi project clears 1,493 mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 1,493 mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,493 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included 1,448 unexploded ordnances, 27 anti-tank mines, 14 anti-personnel mines and four improvised explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 502,736 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.

 


Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Myanmar

Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Myanmar
Updated 30 June 2025
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Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Myanmar

Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Myanmar
  • The ambassador came to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Ambassador of Myanmar to the Kingdom Tin Yu in Riyadh on Monday.

The ambassador came to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.

Al-Sati praised the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries and wished him continued success in his duties.

 


Second round of GCC-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations to take place Monday

Second round of GCC-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations to take place Monday
Updated 30 June 2025
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Second round of GCC-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations to take place Monday

Second round of GCC-Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations to take place Monday
  • Kingdom along with the GCC nations and Japan will address a wide range of topics
  • Negotiations were preceded by coordination meetings of the GCC technical negotiation teams on June 29

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia is set to participate in the second round of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Japan from June 30 to July 4.

Represented by the General Authority of Foreign Trade and led by Fareed Al-Asaly, the deputy governor for international organizations and agreements, the Kingdom along with the GCC nations and Japan will address a wide range of topics, including trade in goods and services, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, financial services, telecommunications, the movement of natural persons, intellectual property, dispute settlement, general provisions of the agreement, rules of origin, and trade facilitation.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the negotiations were preceded by coordination meetings of the GCC technical negotiation teams on June 29.

The first round of negotiations took place in Riyadh on Dec. 12 last year.