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RIYADH: Two new imams have been appointed at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and another two at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Sheikh Badr bin Muhammad Al-Turki and Sheikh Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al-Shamsan were appointed to the prestigious position at the Grand Mosque while Sheikh Muhammad bin Ahmed Barhaji and Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Qarafi were appointed at the Prophet’s Mosque.
The appointments were made by royal decree, SPA said.
RIYADH: Netzero, a Saudi Arabian environmental startup revolutionizing tree planting, signed an agreement last week with Goumbook, a UAE-based social enterprise emphasizing sustainability and environmental initiatives in the region.
Mohammed Alkhalid, founder and CEO of Netzero, said that the partnership represented a significant milestone, offering global expansion as it showcased Goumbook’s expertise and environmental networks to broaden the impact of Netzero’s creative tree-planting technique.
“This partnership represents a powerful step forward in our mission to reshape the future of our planet,” Alkhalid said. “Together, we are merging technology with nature, community with purpose, and vision with action.
“We believe that afforestation is more than planting trees — it’s about planting the right species in the right place, ensuring transparency in the process, and connecting people to the land and restoring balance to our ecosystems. We are excited to grow this vision together, with a dedicated partner,” he said.
The partnership aims to achieve environmental outcomes throughout the region, including leading large-scale projects for afforestation across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The project will emphasize biodiversity, specifically where each tree will be planted and tracked using artificial intelligence to ensure long-term growth and carbon offset accuracy.
Another objective is establishing a community engagement plan, where people will connect with the two companies through a platform, allowing schools and local communities as well as businesses to sponsor tree planting, and providing them with an opportunity to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Tatiana Antonelli Abella, founder of Goumbook, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Netzero in this transformative partnership, which amplifies our shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
“At Goumbook, we believe that every tree planted is a symbol of hope and action — an investment in the future of our planet. By merging Netzero’s AI-driven technology with our deep-rooted knowledge of sustainability and regional ecosystems, we are paving the way for more impactful, data-driven reforestation and afforestation efforts.”
“Together, we are not just planting trees, we are creating resilient ecosystems, empowering communities and taking meaningful steps toward long-term environmental change,” she said.
Netzero is a part of the Sidra Initiative by the Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture, focused on using artificial intelligence to improve reforestation and land management to reduce carbon emissions worldwide.
RIYADH: The secretary-general of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghidi, welcomed the director of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, Mauro Modico, to the coalition’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The aim of their meeting was to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and to enhance strategic relations between their organizations. They reviewed several key issues and discussed ways in which they can work together in pursuit of global peace and security.
Modico acknowledged the pivotal role the Islamic coalition plays in efforts to combat extremism and terrorism, praised the strong relationship between the organizations and said he hopes for even greater cooperation in future.
He underscored the importance of forging international partnerships to help promote global security and stability, and said coordination of this kind remains the cornerstone of effective counterterrorism efforts.
His visit to Riyadh coincided with a symposium titled “Future Prospects for Countering Terrorism through Digital Technologies,” which was organized by the coalition.
RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority, also known as Mawani, has announced the addition of the new FEM1 shipping service, in partnership with CStar and UGL, to Jeddah Islamic Port.
It aims to enhance the movement of imports and exports to and from the port, supported by reliable and efficient operations in a safe and sustainable environment.
It comes within the framework of Mawani’s efforts to improve the maritime network’s connectivity index with global shipping lines, while enhancing the competitiveness of ports and increasing their connectivity with worldwide locations.
It is in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and aims to promote the Kingdom’s standing as a global logistics center.
The new shipping service connects Jeddah Islamic Port to Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo and Nansha in China, Klang in Malaysia, and Istanbul in Turkiye.
The addition of new maritime shipping services to Jeddah Islamic Port contributes to strengthening its central role due to its distinctive strategic location, enabling it to connect the three continents of Europe, Asia and Africa.
In addition, it confirms its competitive advantage for exporters, importers and shipping agents as the first port on the Red Sea coast in the field of maritime transit trade, container and cargo transportation.
RIYADH: The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission plans to elevate the Kingdom’s food culture in global forums and competitions dedicated to the culinary arts, Saudi Press Agency reported.
This was revealed during the commission’s announcement of a strategic partnership with the international organization Sirha Food.
According to SPA, through this partnership, the Kingdom will host the Middle East regional selection for the prestigious Bocuse d’Or and World Pastry Cup next year, marking a significant milestone in the development of its culinary arts sector.
These prestigious competitions seek to discover the region’s top talent, offering the chance to compete globally and giving Saudi chefs an international platform to showcase their expertise.
The partnership between the Culinary Arts Commission and Sirha Food includes participation in the World Pastry Cup Final, the Bocuse d’Or Final, and the Sirha Exhibition, all set to take place in Lyon, France, in January 2025.
This collaboration builds on the existing partnership between the commission and Sirha Food, which previously brought the Sirha Arabia exhibition to Riyadh, SPA reported.
The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, emphasized that the collaboration with Sirha Food was key in the development of the Kingdom’s culinary arts. She said that hosting the regional Bocuse d’Or and the World Pastry Cup, alongside the commission’s participation in Sirha Lyon, reflected a strong commitment to enhancing the Kingdom’s global presence in this field.
Badr said that this partnership was part of the authority’s efforts to elevate the culinary arts sector by forging strategic partnerships that enriched the Kingdom’s culinary landscape. This initiative not only promoted the sector’s growth but also empowered Saudi chefs and nurtured local talent, she said.
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated on Thursday in the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue summit which is being held in Doha.
Prince Faisal said the summit is an important platform through which Asian countries can enhance dialogue and cooperation in various fields.
He added that development challenges cannot be separated from the tense political and security situations in the region, and that ongoing events in Palestine and Lebanon represent a major obstacle to economic development and trade progress.
“The continuation of aggression and violations in the region hinder the movement of international trade and increase political tensions that threaten the flow of investments and economic cooperation between the countries of the region and the world,” he said.
He said that regional conflicts should be resolved through peaceful and diplomatic means to ensure the prosperity of the region.
“We thank Asia Cooperation Dialogue countries for their support for the two-state solution and their recognition of the State of Palestine, and we urge the rest of the world to follow suit,” Prince Faisal said.
He also said that the Kingdom believes in the importance of sports diplomacy as an effective means of facilitating constructive dialogue and supporting peace and stability, and “is constantly working to enhance this sector by hosting many major sporting events.”
