JEDDAH — Turkish Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk announced that conducting joint military exercises among Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is part of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement. He also unveiled plans of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to conduct joint military exercises. “The defense pact aims to boost joint military capabilities. The agreement in question is defensive in nature and does not identify any country as a common enemy or adversary,” Aktürk said while addressing the ministry’s weekly press briefing in Ankara on Thursday. Aktürk said the Turkish Armed Forces, which successfully serve in numerous regions…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will hand over the COP presidency to Mongolia at COP17 on Monday, concluding a term marked by the launch and implementation of several international initiatives and partnerships following COP16 in Riyadh. During the conference, held from August 17 to 28, Saudi Arabia will highlight progress made during its presidency, including the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP) and the Riyadh Action Agenda, which expanded from 35 to more than 100 initiatives. It will also showcase the International Initiative for Early Warning for Sand and Dust Storms and the Business4Land initiative. The Kingdom hosted COP16 in Riyadh…
The UAE plans to expand its organ transplant programme to include procedures involving the face, hands, arms, uterus and intestine, as part of the next phase of the country’s transplant services. The Ministry of Health and Prevention said future plans under the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues, known as Hayat, include widening the types of organs and tissues that can be donated and transplanted. Among the planned procedures are intestine and uterus transplants, as well as what are known as vascularised composite tissue transplants. These can involve complex body parts such as the face,…
The story of Burundian contestant Pentra Bushima Amin began when he was 14, after a Muslim friend invited him to learn about Islam and introduced him to the values, morals and virtues of the religion. He found its teachings deeply moving and decided to embrace Islam, a decision witnessed by his family, with four of its members—including his parents and sister—also embracing Islam alongside him. After embracing Islam, Pentra did not wait long to begin his journey with the holy Quran. He started memorizing it with strong determination and a genuine desire to learn, managing to memorize the entire Quran…
Ericsson and Zain Jordan have announced the next phase of their longstanding and trusted partnership to modernise Zain’s Business Support Systems (BSS). This significant project will advance Zain Jordan’s digital transformation, preparing its IT infrastructure for the demands of the 5G era and modernising digital service delivery for its customers across the Kingdom. This new phase deepens the long-standing collaboration between the two companies by extending its scope to include the postpaid line of business, enabling new revenue streams across both segments. The agreement underpins Ericsson’s role as a key partner in Zain Jordan’s journey to build a flexible, scalable,…
RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has launched the New Accelerator Program for Drugs in Rare Diseases (NADR) to support the development of and access to medicines for rare diseases. Operating within the SFDA’s regulatory framework, NADR is a specialized initiative aimed at streamlining the development, evaluation, and authorization of drugs for rare diseases. The program also seeks to empower researchers and developers while advancing healthcare innovation. Through scientific and regulatory incentives, the initiative aims to accelerate patient access to critical treatments while strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position among leading countries supporting research and innovative healthcare solutions. According…
PANAMA CITY — Colombia has authorized joint military operations with the United States to target drug traffickers, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, as he welcomed the country into a military-led counternarcotics coalition, expanding Washington’s campaign against cartels in Latin America. Colombia had authorized “joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks,” Hegseth told a gathering of the US-led Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama. “Yes,” he replied when asked if he had discussed with his Colombian counterpart joint strikes against armed groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN), which the US designates as a terrorist group,…
At 68, Thangavelu Chandra Mohan knew that a liver transplant would be risky. However, living with his disease had become difficult too. Mohan’s condition steadily worsened since he was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in 2011. Simple activities such as walking left him exhausted, and he had become increasingly dependent on his family. By the time he reached Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, doctors found several complications. His liver was functioning poorly, fluid repeatedly accumulated in his abdomen, and he had suffered internal bleeding. Blood clots had also blocked major vessels carrying blood to the liver, while his low platelet…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 8.5 percent in June 2026 compared with the same month last year, driven by higher manufacturing prices, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Manufacturing prices rose 9 percent year-on-year, driven by a 14.4 percent increase in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products, a 14.3 percent rise in wearing apparel, and a 13.2 percent increase in refined petroleum products. GASTAT’s figure showing Saudi Arabia’s Producer Price Index annual changes. Prices for the manufacture of basic metals increased 8.4 percent annually, while food products rose 4.6 percent. Elsewhere, prices for…
As the world marks International Youth Day, OMODA & JAECOO is highlighting how a new generation of intelligent mobility technologies is responding to the changing expectations of young drivers in the UAE. With AI, OMODA 4 and SIVP at the centre of its technology roadmap, the brand is bringing together intelligent interaction, assisted driving and electrified mobility to create vehicles that reflect the digital lifestyles and evolving priorities of younger consumers. OMODA & JAECOO’s global vision to “Co-Create A Beautiful Life With Young People” reflects this shift, placing young users’ expectations for intelligent technology, individuality and sustainable mobility at the…