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SPA RIYADH, April 10, 2026, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - The Saudi Tourism Authority and Expo 2030 Riyadh signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in promoting Saudi tourism and attracting visitors to Expo 2030 Riyadh. The agreement includes joint work on tourism products and activities, international promotion, and coordinated marketing and media plans aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s profile as a global destination. The partnership also see

SPA RIYADH, April 10, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program (Saudi Reef) has helped turn a Taif rose farm into a model destination for rural tourism and high-value rose products, contributing to regional trade and supporting Saudi Vision 2030. The farm owner said the program’s guidance was instrumental in expanding production and developing expertise in the extraction of natural oils. Benefiting from Taif’s moderate clima

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia has confirmed attacks on its oil and gas facilities, including the key East-West Pipeline, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed official at the Ministry of Energy. The report did not say when the attacks took place, but said one Saudi national was killed and seven others were wounded. SPA said the recent attacks on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure had significantly affected both oil production and transport, disrupt

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shakes hands with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa as they meet in Damascus, Syria, April 5, 2026. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi KYIV, April 10 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Ukraine is in talks with Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain on security cooperation and sharing its drone defence technology and expertise, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday. Zelenskiy said Ukraine had signed security cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, w

WAM ABU DHABI, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed Middle East developments, regional security risks and the impact of the conflict on maritime security, energy supplies and the global economy during talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The two sides also addressed Iranian attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in the UAE and elsewhere in the region, with Starmer

REUTERS PARIS, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Iran will allow no more than 15 vessels a day to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under its ceasefire agreement with the United States, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Thursday, citing a senior Iranian source. The move would leave tight restrictions in place on one of the world's most important shipping lanes after weeks of disruption linked to the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, is the main e

SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on matters of mutual interest between the two countries. The message was received by Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral International Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi during a meeting in Riyadh with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kozlov. The two sides also reviewed bilateral relations and discussed r

SPA ALULA, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - AlUla posted the biggest improvement in the IMD Smart City Index 2026, climbing to 85th place from 112th a year earlier in a gain that put it among the most improved cities in this year's ranking. The rise reflects AlUla's push to upgrade infrastructure, public services and quality of life as authorities pursue broader development plans for the governorate while preserving its natural and cultural character. The Royal Commissi

GIORGIA MELONI | INSTAGRAM ROME, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday that Israel must halt its military escalation in Lebanon and guarantee the safety of U.N. peacekeepers after Israeli forces fired warning shots that damaged an Italian convoy serving with UNIFIL, drawing sharp condemnation from Rome. Meloni told parliament that Italy supported Lebanon's territorial sovereignty and efforts to disarm Hezbollah, while al

SABN TEHRAN, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned on Thursday that continued Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon would trigger "explicit costs and STRONG responses," as disputes over the scope of a fragile two-week ceasefire threatened to deepen regional tensions. Qalibaf said in a post on X that ceasefire violations would draw a strong response and urged that the fighting be stopped immediately. Iranian officials

SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Domestic tourism in Saudi Arabia rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with the number of local tourists reaching about 28.9 million, up 16% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism. Domestic tourism spending reached SAR34.7 billion during the period, an increase of 8%, while the total number of domestic and international tourists climbed to around 37.2 million, with combined spendi

SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, with the two sides discussing current developments and steps to reduce tensions and restore regional security and stability. The call came as regional diplomacy intensified around efforts to contain the fallout from the Iran war and prevent a wider escalation. It was the first publicly announced contact

SPA JEDDAH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Jeddah on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on bilateral ties, regional developments and related security and economic risks. The two sides reviewed ways to strengthen their strategic partnership across multiple fields and discussed efforts to bolster regional stability. Senior officials from both countries also attended the meeti

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk speaks at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 23, 2026. Valentin Flauraud/AP/File GENEVA, April 8 - U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, saying the scale of killing and destruction was putting severe strain on an already fragile push to contain the regional conflict. Türk’s comments came after a wave of Israeli attacks that Lebanon’

Macron attends a meeting of France's defence and security council in Paris, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/Pool PARIS, April 8 - French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran on Wednesday but said the situation in Lebanon remained critical, urging that Beirut be included in any broader arrangement tied to the pause in hostilities. Macron raised the issue at the opening of a defence meeting with advisers and cabinet members, a

SPA ALULA, Saudi Arabia, April 8 - AlUla has secured a place on the shortlist for a major international screen industry award, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s wider effort to develop the ancient desert region into a competitive base for film and television production. The northwestern county was named a finalist in the Film City 2026 category at the Global Production Awards, an industry event held in parallel with the Cannes Film Festival that recognises leading production destin

Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir RIYADH, April 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Several Iranian media outlets reported on Wednesday that a ceasefire had been breached by Israel, warning of a possible response if military operations in Lebanon continue. Tasnim news agency, citing an unnamed source, said Iran would withdraw from the ceasefire agreement if attacks on Lebanon persist. It added that Iranian armed forces were identifying targets in response to

SPA RIYADH, April 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a written message from Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares regarding bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The message was received by Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral International Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi during a meeting in Riyadh with Spain’s