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Saudi Arabia Approves Hosting of 1,000 Umrah Performers from 16 Nations under Guests Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Approves Hosting of 1,000 Umrah Performers from 16 Nations under Guests Program

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud approved on Tuesday the hosting of 1,000 male and female Umrah performers from around the world at his personal expense under the Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit.

The initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.

The first group under the program, which will be carried out in four phases, includes 250 Umrah performers hailing from 16 Asian countries: Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mongolia.

Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and General Supervisor of the program Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continued care and commitment to serving Islam and Muslims.

He expressed his gratitude for their ongoing efforts to enable Muslims from across the world to perform the Umrah and visit the holy sites with ease and peace of mind.

The initiative reflects the leadership's dedication to strengthening bonds of brotherhood among Muslim peoples, he added.

It also underscores the Kingdom's humanitarian and religious mission to build bridges of communication with scholars, clerics, and influential figures across Muslim communities worldwide, he stressed.

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Gulf

Coalition Intercepts Ballistic Missiles Fired Towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region

A fighter loyal to Yemen's internationally-recognized government fires a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (Photo by Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP) /
A fighter loyal to Yemen's internationally-recognized government fires a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (Photo by Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP) /
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Coalition Intercepts Ballistic Missiles Fired Towards Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region

A fighter loyal to Yemen's internationally-recognized government fires a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (Photo by Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP) /
A fighter loyal to Yemen's internationally-recognized government fires a turret from the back of a pickup truck at a position along the frontlines against the Houthis around Mount al-Midan in Yemen's western Taiz province on October 26, 2026. (Photo by Ahmad AL-BASHA / AFP) /

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced in an official statement that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region early Tuesday morning.

Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition also said that air defenses intercepted and destroyed four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by the Houthi militia toward the Southern Region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Earlier, Al-Malki announced that air defenses had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the Eastern Region, SPA said.

On Monday, the Coalition said it had conducted a targeted military operation to destroy and neutralize legitimate military targets in areas under Houthi militia control. The operation targeted five tunnels used to store ballistic missiles, four missile launch platforms, and missile depots, in response to repeated attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Al-Malki, said the operation also focused on disrupting supply lines between areas under Houthi control and targeted the militia’s fortifications, personnel concentrations, and military equipment along front lines inside Yemen.

Gulf

Saudi Leadership Congratulates Brazilian President on Re-election

Brazil's President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves a Brazilian flag as he delivers a speech to supporters after winning the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 25, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves a Brazilian flag as he delivers a speech to supporters after winning the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 25, 2026. (AFP)
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Saudi Leadership Congratulates Brazilian President on Re-election

Brazil's President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves a Brazilian flag as he delivers a speech to supporters after winning the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 25, 2026. (AFP)
Brazil's President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva waves a Brazilian flag as he delivers a speech to supporters after winning the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on October 25, 2026. (AFP)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sent on Monday a cable of congratulations to Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his re-election to a new term.

King Salman extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes for the president's continued success, as well as continued progress and prosperity for the friendly people of Brazil.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent Lula a similar cable.

Gulf

Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from South African Foreign Minister

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from South African Foreign Minister

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.

During the call, the two sides reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and South Africa and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields to serve the mutual interests of both countries, SPA reported.

They also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments and efforts to address current challenges in ways that support regional and international security and stability.