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Morocco Look to Finish Top of Their Group Ahead of Brazil

(From L) Morocco's defender #19 Youssef Belammari, midfielder #24 Neil El Aynaoui and defender #02 Achraf Hakimi take part in a training session at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey on June 21, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
(From L) Morocco's defender #19 Youssef Belammari, midfielder #24 Neil El Aynaoui and defender #02 Achraf Hakimi take part in a training session at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey on June 21, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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Morocco Look to Finish Top of Their Group Ahead of Brazil

(From L) Morocco's defender #19 Youssef Belammari, midfielder #24 Neil El Aynaoui and defender #02 Achraf Hakimi take part in a training session at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey on June 21, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
(From L) Morocco's defender #19 Youssef Belammari, midfielder #24 Neil El Aynaoui and defender #02 Achraf Hakimi take part in a training session at The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, New Jersey on June 21, 2026, during the 2026 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Morocco will be ‌chasing not only victory but also goals against already-eliminated Haiti in Atlanta on Wednesday, eager to finish top of their World Cup group ahead of Brazil.

It would be a statement success for the North Africans, who have four points from their opening two Group C games and made an immediate impression when they had Brazil on the back foot in their drawn first match at the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Morocco, who then beat Scotland in Boston on Friday, have picked up where they left off ‌from the last ‌World Cup in Qatar, where they became ‌the ⁠first African and ⁠Arab country to reach the semi-finals.

Brazil will be playing Scotland at the same time in Miami, and if both the five-time world champions and Morocco win their last group games, then top place in Group C will be decided on goal difference.

A 3-0 win for the Brazilians against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday gives them a ⁠better goal difference than Morocco, whose coach Mohamed ‌Ouahbi said the Caribbean team would ‌pose a difficult challenge despite their early exit.

“That’s the beauty of the World ‌Cup, all the different styles of teams you go up ‌against and have to deal with,” he said.

But if they want to usurp Brazil and take top place, Morocco will have to be on the all-out attack.

The Group C winner takes on the runners-up in Group ‌F, and the second-place finisher in Group C is up against the top side in Group F, ⁠where the ⁠Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden are all in the running.

A meeting with the Netherlands would have added resonance for the Moroccans, who have a large immigrant community in the country and three Dutch-born players in their squad.

Haiti were the first team eliminated from the expanded 48-team tournament after losing to Scotland and then Brazil but promised there would be no drop in intensity from their team.

After more than a half-century since they last participated in the World Cup in 1974, coach Sebastien Migne said it would be unthinkable to treat their final outing as a meaningless fixture.

"Do we have the right to neglect a match? Obviously not," Migne said.

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First Confirmed Black-winged Kite Nesting Documented in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Reserve

The Black-winged Kite is a bird of prey associated with open habitats that provide suitable nesting trees and reliable food sources. (SPA)
The Black-winged Kite is a bird of prey associated with open habitats that provide suitable nesting trees and reliable food sources. (SPA)
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First Confirmed Black-winged Kite Nesting Documented in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Reserve

The Black-winged Kite is a bird of prey associated with open habitats that provide suitable nesting trees and reliable food sources. (SPA)
The Black-winged Kite is a bird of prey associated with open habitats that provide suitable nesting trees and reliable food sources. (SPA)

The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority announced the documentation of the first confirmed nesting record of Elanus caeruleus, commonly known as the Black-winged Kite, within the boundaries of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

Providing new scientific evidence of the reserve's suitability as a natural habitat that supports wildlife settlement, breeding, and biodiversity conservation, the achievement aligns with the strategic objectives of the royal reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative in support of Saudi Vision 2030.

The nesting activity was recorded between January 20 and May 26, 2025, based on field surveys conducted in several natural meadows characterized by dense Sidr tree growth.

Adult and juvenile birds of the species were observed throughout the season, before researchers discovered an active nest on May 14, 2025, atop a Sidr tree approximately 2.9 meters high. The nest contained three eggs, providing direct evidence of local breeding within the reserve.

The Black-winged Kite is a bird of prey associated with open habitats that provide suitable nesting trees and reliable food sources.

Its documentation within the reserve reflects the authority’s efforts to protect and manage natural habitats and provide safe environments capable of supporting raptor populations, particularly in areas undergoing ecological recovery and improvements in vegetation cover.

The nesting activity was recorded between January 20 and May 26, 2025, based on field surveys conducted in several natural meadows characterized by dense Sidr tree growth. (SPA)

The authority also holds scientific records confirming the expansion of the species’ breeding range within Saudi Arabia through a combination of field observations in the reserve and national records published in a global biodiversity database.

These findings indicate a seasonal pattern of occurrence that supports the hypothesis of local breeding synchronized with seasonal movements and dispersal across several regions of the Kingdom.

The findings were published in a peer-reviewed study in the international journal Zoology and Ecology. The study was conducted by a joint research team comprising researchers from the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority and King Saud University as part of efforts to promote scientific research and document biodiversity within the reserve in accordance with internationally recognized scientific standards.

The authority underlined the importance of continuing environmental monitoring and surveillance programs in the reserve, identifying new nesting sites and incorporating them into conservation programs. These efforts contribute to protecting natural habitats, supporting wildlife, and advancing scientific knowledge of biodiversity in Saudi Arabia.

Culture

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Visits Ameen Rihani Museum

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
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Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Visits Ameen Rihani Museum

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)
Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari is seen during his visit to the museum. (SPA)

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari visited on Monday the Ameen Rihani Museum in the town of Freike in Matn District, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The ambassador was received by members of the Rihani family, led by the museum's curator, Ameen Albert Rihani, who welcomed him and praised the historic relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

They recalled the historic meeting between King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud and Lebanese writer and historian Ameen Rihani in 1922.

During the visit, Al-Dosari toured the museum's historical and literary sections and viewed the exhibition marking the centenary of the book “Rihaniyyat”.

Culture

On World Camel Day, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Celebrates Camel Heritage and Reinforces Its Cultural Identity

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
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On World Camel Day, Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Celebrates Camel Heritage and Reinforces Its Cultural Identity

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)
In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. (SPA)

World Camel Day, observed annually on June 22, serves as a global occasion to reflect on the enduring relationship between humans and camels throughout history.

The day highlights camels' economic contributions, their role in supporting food security and sustainable development, and their cultural significance, which extends beyond geographical boundaries and has made them a deeply rooted symbol in the collective memory of peoples worldwide, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship with camels extends beyond traditional heritage to form an integral part of national identity and collective memory. This is reflected in the significant attention devoted to the sector through specialized initiatives and events, support for camel owners, and efforts to preserve and sustain this heritage as one of the Kingdom's most prominent cultural assets.

Across AlUla, rock art and inscriptions dating back thousands of years tell the story of the close relationship between humans and camels. (SPA)

Across AlUla, rock art and inscriptions dating back thousands of years tell the story of the close relationship between humans and camels. These animals contributed to the prosperity of trade routes, facilitated mobility, and supported the stability of successive communities.

Camels remain an essential part of AlUla's heritage and a testament to the deep connection between people and their environment since ancient times.

Today, camels in AlUla are more than witnesses to history. They are an integral part of the region's cultural and sporting landscape and a key element of the tourism experience offered by the land of civilizations.

Through a contemporary vision that combines the authenticity of history with the aspirations of the future, AlUla continues to showcase this rich heritage, ensuring that camels remain among the most enduring symbols in the story of people and place across generations.