JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Iranian regime of direct military aggression against Saudi Arabia by supplying its Houthi militias with missiles, Saudi Press Agency reported.
“The involvement of the Iranian regime in supplying its Houthi militias with missiles is considered a direct military aggression by the Iranian regime and may be considered an act of war against the Kingdom,” the crown prince was quoted as saying during a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
During the conversation, Johnson expressed his condemnation of the Iranian-allied Houthis launching a ballistic missile on Riyadh and denounced the deliberate targeting of civilians.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition said in a statement on Monday that the ballistic missiles being fired by Houthis from Yemen toward Saudi Arabia, including the one intercepted over Riyadh on Saturday night, were manufactured in Iran.
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir also said that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to respond to hostile acts against it by Iran.
Johnson affirmed his country’s stand with the Kingdom in confronting security threats.
The two leaders also reviewed regional and international developments.
Saudi crown prince accuses Iran of direct military aggression
Saudi crown prince accuses Iran of direct military aggression
Saudi HR ministry launches wage protection service for domestic workers
- Paying the salaries of domestic workers through specific formal channels has several benefits for the employer because it provides proof of wages paid for domestic labor
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has launched the Wage Protection Service for domestic labor salaries, starting July 1.
The move is part of ministry initiatives to develop the domestic labor sector and ensure the rights of employers and domestic workers.
The service aims to facilitate and ensure transparency of salary payments by using digital wallets and banks authorized on the Musaned platform. This service promotes safety and reliability in transferring salaries, thereby preserving the rights of contractual parties, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministry said that the service applies to domestic workers under new contracts and will be applied to current contracts in stages, depending on the number of domestic workers for each employer.
The ministry also noted that the service will be applied to those who have more than four domestic workers starting Jan. 1, 2025, to those who have three or more domestic workers starting July 1, 2025, and to those who have two or more domestic workers starting Oct. 1, 2025.
It added that the service is expected to include all domestic workers by Jan. 1, 2026, mentioning that it has been optionally available on Musaned since April 1, 2022, and has received widespread positive interaction from customers and contractual parties.
Paying the salaries of domestic workers through specific formal channels has several benefits for the employer because it provides proof of wages paid for domestic labor, makes it easier for the employer to terminate the worker’s procedures at the end of the contractual relationship or when traveling, and protects the employer and the employee in the event of a disagreement.
Launch of Makkah Route Initiative at Karachi airport aims to facilitate Hajj pilgrims’ journey: official
- Al-Yahya said the introduction of a mobile counter-verification device is streamlining procedures for beneficiaries of the initiative
RIYADH: The launch of the Makkah Route Initiative at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport aims to facilitate pilgrims’ journeys, the Director-General of Passports Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya has said.
Speaking during Sunday’s launch of the initiative at the airport, Al-Yahya said the introduction of a mobile counter-verification device, equipped with AI and innovative digital solutions, is streamlining procedures for beneficiaries of the initiative.
The initiative was launched in 2019 and 11 airports across seven countries are currently participating, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to Hajj pilgrims from beneficiary countries.
As part of the initiative, biometric data is collected in the pilgrim’s home country and the necessary procedures are carried out there. An electronic Hajj visa is also issued in the pilgrim’s country.
The Kingdom’s General Directorate of Passports will ensure that health requirements are met before pilgrims enter the country, and baggage will be coded and sorted according to transportation and accommodation arrangements.
Pilgrims will be transported to their residences in Makkah and Madinah by bus and partner agencies will transport their luggage separately.
Saudi Arabia launches Makkah Route Initiative at Ankara Esenboga Airport
- A lounge was set up at the airport in Ankara, making it the second Turkish airport to facilitate Makkah Route Initiative pilgrims
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia launched the Makkah Route Initiative at Ankara Esenboga Airport on Monday with the Kingdom’s ambassador to Turkiye in attendance.
A lounge was set up at the airport in Ankara, making it the second Turkish airport to facilitate Makkah Route Initiative pilgrims, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative aims to provide high-quality services to Hajj pilgrims from beneficiary countries.
As part of the initiative, biometric data is collected in the pilgrim’s home country and the necessary procedures are carried out there. An electronic Hajj visa is also issued in the pilgrim’s country.
The Kingdom’s General Directorate of Passports will ensure that health requirements are met before pilgrims enter the country, and baggage will be coded and sorted according to transportation and accommodation arrangements.
Pilgrims will be transported to their residences in Makkah and Madinah by bus and partner agencies will transport their luggage separately.
Rainy Abha alive with color as jacaranda trees bloom
- Scores of picnickers and tourists have been drawn to areas like Art Street where the blossoms provide a picturesque backdrop
- Asir is home to more than 15,000 jacaranda trees, some of which can grow to a height of 18 meters (60 feet)
RIYADH: After the recent rains in Asir, the city of Abha is awash with color as the jacaranda trees that line its streets spring into life.
Scores of picnickers and tourists have been drawn to areas like Art Street where the blossoms provide a picturesque backdrop to the hustle and bustle of the city, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Asir region is home to more than 15,000 jacaranda trees, some of which can grow to a height of 18 meters (60 feet).
The jacaranda genus, which comprises about 45 species of trees and shrubs, is known for its ability to thrive in temperate regions. Within the Kingdom, the trees are mostly cultivated in moderate regions to the south.
Saudi FM meets with Standing Committee of International Humanitarian Law delegation
- Strengthening of international unification with regard to supporting efforts made to ensure human security and safety in all parts of the world was discussed
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the chairman of the Standing Committee of International Humanitarian Law Dr. Jalal Al-Owaisi in Riyadh on Monday.
During the reception, Prince Faisal, Al-Owaisi, and his accompanying delegation discussed aspects of cooperation in the fields of international humanitarian law.
The strengthening of international unification with regard to supporting efforts made to ensure human security and safety in all parts of the world was also discussed during the meeting.
Later, a memorandum of understanding to enhance joint cooperation in the field of international humanitarian law was signed by the Foreign Ministry and the committee.
The MoU aims to support the integration of joint efforts and facilitate the exchange of experiences and transfer of knowledge in the field of international humanitarian law.
