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PARIS, April 18 — A French soldier serving with the U.N. peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon was killed and three others were injured in an attack on Saturday morning, French President Emmanuel Macron said. Macron identified the soldier as Staff Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban. “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said in a social media post. France is demanding that Lebanes

RIYADH, April 18 — Saudi authorities recorded 14,487 violations of residency, labor and border security laws during inspection campaigns carried out across the kingdom between April 9 and 15, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing the Ministry of Interior. The total included 7,911 residency violations, 3,588 border security violations and 2,988 labor-related violations. Border authorities also apprehended 1,382 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, including 38%

RIYADH, April 16 — Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense is continuing a public awareness campaign on weather phenomena, urging residents to follow safety instructions and remain alert during changing weather conditions. The campaign, launched under the slogan “Important to Know,” is aimed at strengthening prevention awareness and improving community preparedness in dealing with climate-related fluctuations. Civil Defense urged the public to stay in safe places

SPA RIYADH, April 15 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Culture opened the first edition of the Nonprofit Cultural Sector Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday with a session focused on culture as a form of soft power and the role of the nonprofit sector in shaping the future, state news agency SPA reported. The opening session, held at the King Fahd Cultural Centre under the title "Culture as Soft Power: Redefining the Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Shaping the Future," featured Prince Tu

SPA RIYADH, April 14 - Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior has announced penalties for violating Hajj permit regulations ahead of the 1447 AH pilgrimage season, including fines, deportation and possible confiscation of transport used to carry offenders, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. The ministry said anyone caught performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit could face a fine of up to 20,000 riyals ($5,332). The same penalty applies to holders of vi

SPA RIYADH, April 13 - Saudi Arabia's Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority said it had recorded 55 new wildlife births in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve and King Khalid Royal Reserve by mid-second quarter 2026, in a sign of wildlife recovery and the success of protection and reintroduction efforts. The authority said the births included nine Arabian oryx and 46 sand gazelles, also known as Reem gazelles. Of the total, 40 births were r

SABN RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Public Security said arrangements requiring residents wishing to enter Makkah to obtain official permits took effect on Monday, with those lacking entry permits barred from entering the city. The measures apply to residents who do not hold a permit issued by the relevant authority to work in the holy sites, a resident identity document issued in Makkah, or a Hajj permit. Public Security said entry permits for resident

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has begun accepting electronic applications for Makkah entry permits for resident workers during the 1447 AH Hajj season. The directorate said the permits would be issued through technical integration with the Makkah Entry Permit service via the Absher and Muqeem portals, removing the need for in-person visits to passport offices. The Absher Individuals platform will be used to

SPA RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said residents wishing to enter Makkah will be required to obtain official permits starting Monday, April 13, as the Kingdom begins implementing arrangements for the 1447 AH Hajj season. The ministry said residents without the required permits would be denied entry to Makkah. Exemptions apply to holders of residency permits issued in Makkah, those holding a Hajj permit, and individuals wit

SPA RIYADH, April 12, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - Saudi Arabia recorded 15,458 violations of residency, labor and border security laws during inspection campaigns conducted across the kingdom between April 2 and April 8, the Interior Ministry said. The violations included 8,440 related to residency laws, 4,054 to border security and 2,964 to labor regulations, the ministry said in a statement. Authorities arrested 1,600 people attempting to enter the kingdom illegally, incl

RIYADH, April 6, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — The King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reopened on Tuesday morning after being closed for hours over possible threats from Iran. The causeway authority said in a post on X that traffic resumed on the only road route connecting Bahrain to the Arabian Peninsula. The temporary shutdown came after a ballistic missile attack from Iran targeted Saudi Arabia and may have damaged energy infrastructure there. The kingdom h

SPA RIYADH, April 7, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said on Tuesday that 18 drones and seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed in recent hours. Military spokesman Major General Turki Al-Malki said debris from the intercepted missiles fell near energy facilities and that damage assessment was underway.

SPA JEDDAH, April 4, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Arabia recorded 14,242 violations of residency, labor and border security regulations during inspection campaigns carried out across the Kingdom between March 26 and April 1, the Ministry of Interior said. The total included 7,884 residency violations, 3,948 border security violations and 2,410 labor-related violations, the ministry said. Border authorities also arrested 1,449 people attempting to enter the Kingdo

The route taken by the ship CMA CGM Kribi through the Strait of Hormuz shown on the Marine Traffic website. Marine Traffic RIYADH, April 3, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - A French-owned container ship crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data, in one of the latest signs of limited commercial movement through the waterway since the war disrupted regional shipping. Reuters reported that the vessel was the Malta-flagged Kribi, operated by CMA CGM. The ship pa

SPA RIYADH, April 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed four drones over the past few hours, the Defense Ministry spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said on Thursday. The announcement was carried by the Saudi Press Agency. No further details were immediately provided.

NASA’s Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) RIYADH, April 1, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Four astronauts set off on a high-stakes flight around the moon on Wednesday, marking humanity’s first crewed lunar voyage in more than half a century and the opening mission in NASA’s renewed push toward a moon landing within two years. The crew, made up of three

SPA RIYADH, April 1, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Royal Court said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency that Princess Al Jawhara bint Faisal bin Abdullah Al Abdulrahman Al Saud, mother of Prince Mohammed bin Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, had died. Funeral prayers were set to be held on Thursday after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, according to the statement.

SPA RIYADH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi cardiac surgeon Professor Zohair Alhalees has received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology, in recognition of a career that has helped shape cardiac surgery, pediatric heart care and surgical training in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The award was presented during the college’s Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans, where Alhalees was recognized before an international gather

SPA MADINAH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Nusuk app has surpassed 51 million users worldwide, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah said at the opening of the third Umrah and Ziyarah Forum in Madinah. The forum is being held over three days with broad local and international participation, bringing together stakeholders involved in services linked to Umrah and religious visitation. Developed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Nusuk offers more than

Air Force One departs from Sigonella Air Force Base in Sigonella, Sicily, Italy, May 27, 2017. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi RIYADH, March 31, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Italy has refused permission for U.S. military aircraft to use the Sigonella air base in Sicily for operations linked to the Middle East, an official said. The aircraft were intended to land at the base before continuing toward the region, the official said, adding that the case involved U.S. bombers. U