BURGENSTOCK, Switzerland — US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday that “great progress” had been made in talks with Iran over the past few hours and expressed optimism that further advances could be achieved as negotiations got underway in Switzerland. “We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect it will make additional progress” in the coming hours, Vance said before the opening of talks in Burgenstock. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, together with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, opened the talks aimed at implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding…
Author: Editorial Team
MAKKAH — Nearly two million male and female students in public schools across the education departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif have begun sitting for their final written exams on Sunday, marking the end of the second semester of the current academic year. The exams will continue through next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is geared up to release school exam results electronically on Monday, through the Education Portal and the Tawakkalna platform in all regions of the Kingdom except the four education departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif. This will provide students and parents with easier…
Arab culture preserves a rich linguistic heritage that meticulously chronicles every stage of a camel’s life, with a vast vocabulary tracking the animal from birth to old age and reflecting both linguistic precision and an enduring bond between the region’s people and their herds. Transcending mere survival, camels stand as a paramount symbol of Arabian civilization, embodying profound cultural dimensions passed down through millennia. Historically, camels commanded unparalleled status. Endowed with extraordinary traits, they adapt to unforgiving climates, endure immense thirst, and navigate trackless terrain. These biological marvels were the indispensable engines of early travel, driving trade caravans across vast…
PARIS — A delegation from the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, headed by its Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Saleh Kamel, concluded a five-day high-profile visit to France. During the visit, the delegation participated in several key meetings and events, including the Gulf Vision 2026 forum and the annual meeting of the Saudi-French Business Council. The delegation held meetings with government officials and business leaders to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment. The delegation, representing more than 40 Saudi companies and investors, attended the annual dinner of the Saudi-French Business Council hosted by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs,…
DOHA — Qatar announced on Sunday the start of negotiations between the United States and Iran in Switzerland with the participation of Qatari and Pakistani mediators to discuss the implementation of the interim agreement between the two sides. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said specialized technical and expert working groups had been established to negotiate the provisions of a final agreement covering all aspects of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran. He added that follow-up groups had also been formed to oversee the implementation of the memorandum and monitor progress toward reaching a final agreement. As one of…
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that no maritime fees would be permitted in the Strait of Hormuz during the current 60-day ceasefire period, warning that the United States could impose its own tolls afterward if a final agreement is not reached. “There will be no tolls … unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The warning came after Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters announced that the strategic waterway would be closed, citing what it described as US failures to fulfill commitments and…
ATLANTA — Atlanta Stadium witnessed a strong turnout of Saudi fans ahead of Sunday’s match between Saudi Arabia and Spain in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Draped in national team flags, Saudi supporters gathered in large numbers around the stadium before marching in rallies and chanting national songs on their way to the official FIFA fan zone. The supporters included fans who had traveled from the Kingdom, as well as Saudi scholarship students and residents across the United States. The Saudi Press Agency spoke with several fans in attendance, including Khalid Habash, who said the rallies…
KANSAS CITY — King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima capped a memorable day at the World Cup by celebrating Curacao’s historic first point after witnessing the Caribbean nation’s 0-0 draw with Ecuador on Saturday. #VIDEO: A moment to remember for Curaçao. ???King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima celebrated alongside the Caribbean nation after its historic draw against Ecuador in its first-ever World Cup appearance.pic.twitter.com/0iq4MiSjrZ — Saudi Gazette Sport (@SGazetteSport) June 21, 2026 The Dutch monarchs had begun the day in Houston, where they watched the Netherlands defeat Sweden 5-1 before flying to Kansas City to support Curacao, a constituent country within the…
Former Saudi national football team captain Sami Al-Jaber affirmed that Saudi Arabia has become one of the most frequent qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup™ finals in recent decades, having participated in seven of the last nine editions of the tournament, a journey that began most notably at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when the Green Falcons made their debut and reached the Round of 16. In an interview with the FIFA podcast, Al-Jaber recalled memories from that generation, noting that his World Cup dream began while watching the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, following stars from…
BURGENSTOCK, Switzerland — US and Iranian delegations arrived in Switzerland on Sunday for technical negotiations under the memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week to end the Middle East conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The talks in Burgenstock are being led by US Vice President JD Vance and, on the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Pakistan serving as mediator. Before departing on Saturday, Vance said US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already in Switzerland to address the “technical elements” of the negotiations. Vance, who arrived at Emmen Air…