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RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday received his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, at his office in Riyadh.
The pair discussed relations between their countries as well as the latest developments in the region, including efforts to support security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A number of other senior officials from the two sides attended the meeting. Marles is also Australia’s deputy prime minister.
MAKKAH: Makkah’s young scouts at the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association volunteered 11,800 hours during the first 10 days of Ramadan.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Makkah Department, the association’s pilgrim service camp deployed 295 scouts to assist Umrah performers in Makkah during Ramadan.
Ziyad Qadeer, the camp leader, said the camp plays a vital role in promoting volunteerism, patriotism, and a positive image of the Saudi youth, confirming that their services will continue throughout Ramadan.
The camp also collaborated with the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, the Makkah Health Cluster, and the General Directorate of Public Security.
MAKKAH: The commander of Saudi Arabia’s Facilities Security Forces, Maj. Gen. Saad bin Abdulaziz Al-Moghaisseb, inspected transportation sites in Makkah as part of efforts to ensure the safety and security of visitors and Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan.
Al-Moghaisseb visited the command and control centers, halls, and yards of the Haramain High Speed Railway, which connects the holy city of Makkah to Madinah.
Staff briefed the FSF commander on security measures implemented at the Haramain train stations to create a safe environment for visitors and Umrah pilgrims.
The commander conveyed the greetings of Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif to FSF staff for the month of Ramadan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
RIYADH: King Fahd University Hospital has successfully performed a complex robotic surgery to stabilize spinal and pelvic fractures in a patient injured in a motor vehicle accident.
The hospital is part of Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University’s Academic Medical City in Alkhobar.
The hospital highlighted that the Saudi medical team used robotic surgery to reduce complications and speed up recovery, thereby improving healthcare quality, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The achievement underscores the hospital’s commitment to advanced medical technologies and AI integration, enhancing safety, accuracy and innovation, the SPA added.
In January, King Fahd University Hospital’s Heart Center achieved significant breakthroughs in treating heart and lung conditions.
The center pioneered balloon pulmonary angioplasty, a groundbreaking treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, marking a first for the Eastern Province.
During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through a vein to reach narrowed or blocked pulmonary arteries. A small balloon is then inflated to widen the vessels and restore normal blood flow.
This technique improves blood oxygen levels, reduces pulmonary artery pressure, enhances heart function and significantly elevates quality of life, according to the SPA.
RIYADH: Saudi authorities carried out multiple drug-related arrests and seizures across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested five Ethiopians for smuggling 100 kg of qat.
In the Al-Dayer governorate of the Jazan region, authorities arrested three Yemenis and Ethiopians for smuggling 90 kg of qat.
In another seizure, land patrols thwarted the smuggling of 59,210 tablets subject to medical circulation regulations in the same governorate.
Authorities in Jazan also arrested a citizen for selling methamphetamine, also known as shabu.
Preliminary legal procedures were completed and all seized items were transferred to the relevant authorities.
Authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.
Reports can also be submitted, in strict confidence, to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at [email protected].
RIYADH: Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque, located near the historic Emirate Palace in Najran, is undergoing restoration as part of the second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques.
The project aims to correct previous renovations that introduced non-authentic materials, restoring the mosque to its original heritage style, reflective of the Najran region, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Built in 1966, the mosque spans 1,436 sq. meters and accommodates 1,000 worshippers, the SPA added.
Its construction follows traditional methods, featuring horizontal courses and roofing made from wood extracted from palm trunks, fronds, and tamarisk trees.
The restoration will use the same natural materials as the original construction, preserving the distinctive architectural character of Al-Zubair bin Al-Awwam Mosque — the first mosque in Najran’s old popular market area.
It is one of 30 mosques across 13 regions included in the project’s second phase, which covers six mosques in Riyadh, five in Makkah, four in Madinah, three in Asir, two each in the Eastern Province, Jouf, and Jazan, and one each in the Northern Borders, Tabuk, Baha, Najran, Hail, and Qassim.
Phase two follows the successful completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions, the SPA reported.
The project balances traditional and modern construction standards, ensuring the sustainability of mosque components while preserving their heritage and historical features.
Saudi companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the development efforts, according to the report.
The project’s four strategic objectives include restoring historic mosques for worship, preserving their architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and enhancing their religious and cultural significance.
It also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by preserving architectural heritage and integrating it into modern mosque designs.
