US ambassador visits King Fahd Complex for Printing of Holy Quran/node/2382926
US ambassador visits King Fahd Complex for Printing of Holy Quran
US Ambassador Michael Alan Ratney, left, receiving a memento from an official at the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran in Madinah. (SPA)
US ambassador visits King Fahd Complex for Printing of Holy Quran
Updated 30 September 2023
SPA
MADINAH: The US Ambassador to the Kingdom, Michael Alan Ratney, and the US Consul General in Jeddah, Fares Asad, visited the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran in Madinah recently.
Ratney appreciated the work at the complex. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception he received from those in charge of the complex.
Ratney said that thousands of American citizens visit Makkah and Madinah every year, and they often leave with a copy of the Holy Quran printed in the King Fahd Complex.
Saudi crown prince to deliver annual royal address at Shoura Council on Wednesday
The crown prince will deliver the address on behalf of King Salman
Address will cover the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign policies and its positions on international issues
Updated 12 min 38 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will deliver an annual royal address to inaugurate the first year of the ninth session of the Shoura Council on Wednesday.
The crown prince will deliver the address on behalf of King Salman and it will cover the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign policies and its positions on regional and international issues, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Shoura Council Speaker Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh said the council is guided by the contents of the royal address every year in its work, discussions, and decisions.
Purrfect plan to pamper kitties by cat company in Saudi Arabia
Horayra Community’s ‘1 Million Cats’ campaign wants to ensure no cat naps hungry
Updated 6 min 20 sec ago
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: A Saudi Arabia cat food company, inspired by Islam’s directives on treating animals with love and kindness, is helping to take care of strays and those abandoned in the Kingdom.
The Horayra firm is named after Abu Huraira, a close companion of Prophet Muhammad. Abu Huraira, which means “Father of the kitten,” was given his nickname due to his affection for a kitten.
Horayra Community’s initiative to feed and take care of stray cats brings together experts, cat lovers and rescuers across the Kingdom. (AN photos/Supplied)
When tending to people’s sheep he would carry the kitten with him, playing with it during the day and placing it in a tree at night for safety. This reflects the values of compassion and love for animals that is at the heart of the company’s Horayra Community.
Saud Al-Sohimi, owner of the brand, told Arab News: “The goal is to feed the largest number of needy cats, promote the culture of compassion for animals, and rescue them from homelessness.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Horayra Community launched the ‘1 Million Cats’ campaign recently to feed this number of cats across the Kingdom by distributing free food to rescuers and pet stores.
• The brand donates cat food for strays with every purchase of a Horayra product, which is certified by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.
The initiative brings together experts, cat lovers and rescuers across the Kingdom.
They manufacture special bags for stray cats which are distributed to supervisors in the Horayra Community for delivery to rescuers across Saudi Arabia. (AN photos/Supplied)
They launched the “1 Million Cats” campaign recently to feed this number of cats across the Kingdom by distributing free food to rescuers and pet stores.
The company has offered SR5,000 ($1,332) to someone who has the best story about feeding a cat.
The goal is to feed the largest number of needy cats, promote the culture of compassion for animals, and rescue them from homelessness.
Saud Al-Sohimi, Horayra brand owner
By sharing videos with the campaign’s hashtag on social media, the community contributes to a larger story of collective effort and compassion, Al-Sohimi explained.
Speaking about the company’s products, he added that it is made “from natural ingredients, ensuring their health and care.”
Milo, a rescued stray cat finds a new life in the Philippines after being adopted through the Horayra Community's rescue services. (Supplied)
The company also donates cat food for strays with every purchase of a Horayra product, which is certified by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and is available in Qatar and Kuwait.
They also manufacture special bags for stray cats which are distributed to supervisors in the Horayra Community for delivery to rescuers across the Kingdom.
Reflecting on the public’s love for cats, Al-Sohimi recalled how a woman in Riyadh rescued a cat with a severed tail. “She took the cat in, cared for it, and nursed it back to health. Unable to keep it, she put the cat up for adoption,” he said.
A Filipino man, living in Riyadh adopted the cat, and took it with him to the Philippines.
“There, the once-stray cat’s life transformed completely. It became a cherished pet, eventually had kittens, and lived a happy life filled with love and care, known as Milo to its new family,” said Al-Sohimi.
At the end of the year, the Horayra Community intends to honor the people who contributed to the campaign.
“The Horayra Community’s members are increasing every day. It is a shining example of the compassion and kindness of the Saudi people toward animals.
“Their efforts have significantly improved the lives of stray cats across the Kingdom, fostering a healthier environment for both humans and animals.” Al-Sohimi said.
Course bids to enhance hiking safety at Saudi royal reserve
The course highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two bodies to enhance skills in tourism activities at reserves
Updated 20 min 48 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, in collaboration with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation, has hosted a two-day hiking risk assessment course at King Khalid Royal Reserve.
Some 25 participants, including tourist guides, hiking enthusiasts and local community members, attended the event to obtain skills in identifying hazards faced by outdoor sports practitioners, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The course covered risk analysis, avoiding common hiking mistakes, and safety strategies, including emergency risk management.
A key component was a five-step risk assessment process: identifying hazards, assessing who might be at risk, evaluating hazard levels, controlling and mitigating risks, and applying these skills in simulations of diverse terrains.
The course highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the two bodies to enhance skills in tourism activities at reserves.
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Crust Corner’ in Riyadh
Crust Corner’s herbed chicken bowl, which is served with fluffy white or brown rice, steamed broccoli and carrots, is a perfect light meal for those on the go
Updated 20 min 59 sec ago
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
Crust Corner is a hidden gem among Riyadh’s gastronomical experiences. From filling salads to nourishing juices, this local joint is worth a try.
Who said healthy food should be boring? Colorful salads are Crust Corner’s specialty while its star dish, Mexican chicken, has the perfect balance of savory flavors of chicken and the creamy chipotle dressing. The texture plays a big role, bringing out the creaminess of the avocado, the crunchy lettuce, and the toasted grilled corn.
The Greek salad is also bursting with authentic flavors. The cool salad is a mix of romaine lettuce, salty feta cheese, addictive cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and tangy kalamata olives. The dish is then topped off with baked za’atar pita and served with a lemony Greek dressing.
Crust Corner’s herbed chicken bowl, which is served with fluffy white or brown rice, steamed broccoli and carrots, is a perfect light meal for those on the go. The chicken is grilled with a mixture of herbs and spices.
To satisfy the sweet tooth, the acai bowl is a great alternative to ice cream. Acai, the purple berries of the South American palm tree, is offered in two different flavors: granola and peanut butter. Each dessert has a topping of fresh fruits such as strawberry, blueberry and banana.
Meals can be paired with one of the outlet’s cold pressed juices. The green detox is a refreshing mixture of kale, celery, rocca, cucumber, green apples, lemon and ginger.
For more details, check @crustcorner on Instagram.
‘Anyone who prohibits us from working in the Gaza Strip is creating the conditions for human rights to be violated. We know the risk. We are prepared to take it. Grant us access to Gaza’
Signatories included editors and reporters from Der Spiegel, Die Welt, public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and the German Journalists Association
Updated 41 min 6 sec ago
AFP
BERLIN: German news media outlets on Tuesday called on Israel to grant them access to war-torn Gaza, charging that the “almost complete exclusion of international media... is unprecedented in recent history.”
“After almost a year of war, we call on the Israeli government: allow us to enter the Gaza Strip,” a group of newspapers, agencies and broadcasters wrote in an open letter.
They also urged Egypt to permit them entry to the widely devastated Palestinian territory via the Rafah border crossing in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has been at war with Hamas since the October 7 attack launched by the Palestinian militant group in a conflict that has brought mass casualties and destroyed swathes of the coastal strip.
The media organizations wrote that “anyone who makes independent reporting on this war impossible is damaging their own credibility.
“Anyone who prohibits us from working in the Gaza Strip is creating the conditions for human rights to be violated.”
The open letter was addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and had been delivered on Monday, they said.
Signatories included editors and reporters from Der Spiegel, Die Welt, public broadcasters ARD and ZDF and the German Journalists Association.
They said they have decades of experience in conflict reporting and wrote: “We know the risk. We are prepared to take it. Grant us access to the Gaza Strip. Let us work, in the interest of everyone.”
The October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,226 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths.
