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Saudi Crown Prince Hails Extraordinary Efforts to Host Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Hails Extraordinary Efforts to Host Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, hailed on Tuesday the extraordinary efforts that went into hosting this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Chairing a cabinet meeting in Jeddah, he praised the concerned parties in ensuring that the pilgrims had a smooth journey and were able to perform the Hajj at ease.

He thanked God Almighty for bestowing upon Saudi Arabia the honor of serving the Two Holy Mosques and in organizing the Hajj and Umrah.

The cabinet was briefed on the talks and contacts held between Saudi Arabia and various friendly countries over the past week that were aimed at consolidating relations and cooperation in all fields.

The cabinet also reviewed the outcomes of the Kingdom's participation in several regional and international gatherings.

Such participation is in line with the Kingdom's commitment to supporting multilateral approaches and collective efforts aimed at resolving crises in the region and the world, achieving international security and stability, and creating conditions conducive to development and prosperity.

The cabinet highlighted the Kingdom's strong efforts on both political and humanitarian fronts to halt Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people. It noted the Kingdom's international efforts to support initiatives aimed at gaining further global recognition of the State of Palestine, as well as its ongoing provision of relief aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On domestic affairs, the cabinet highlighted the launch of the Geographic Survey Project for Renewable Energy sites in the Kingdom, which is the first of its kind globally.

The project reflects the Kingdom's commitment to achieving ambitious national targets in renewable energy production, contributing to the optimal energy mix for electricity generation and displacing liquid fuel use, and supporting the Kingdom's goal of exporting electric power and producing clean hydrogen.

The cabinet highlighted the awarding of contracts for the second phase of the Jafurah natural-gas field project development program and the third phase of the main gas network expansion project in the Kingdom.

These developments fall within the continued development and economic diversification efforts, utilizing the comparative advantages that the Kingdom enjoys, and strengthening its leadership position in global energy markets.

It noted the new discoveries of oil and natural gas made by the Saudi Aramco in the Eastern Region and the Empty Quarter.

The cabinet commended the progresses and successes the Human Capability Development Program and National Industrial Development and Logistics Program have achieved and their contributions to boosting the Kingdom’s global competitiveness and its status as a leading international industrial powerhouse and logistics hub.

Moreover, the cabinet noted the results listed in the World Competitiveness Yearbook Report for 2024, regarding the Kingdom’s advancement to the 16th rank among the most competitive countries in the world, and its achievement of the first positions in a number of sub-indexes, supported by improved business legislation and infrastructure, a thriving economy, and a society that interacts with the world.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Russia Sign MoU for Environmental Protection

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia, Russia Sign MoU for Environmental Protection

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to cooperate in environmental protection, aiming to strengthen the bilateral partnership and develop collaboration on environmental issues of mutual interest.

Signed by Saudi Vice Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour Al Mushaiti during his visit to Russia and Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, the memorandum will contribute to strengthening joint efforts to preserve natural resources and achieve environmental sustainability in accordance with the legislation of both nations.

Key areas of cooperation include developing vegetation cover, mitigating land degradation, sustainable forest management, and developing management systems for protected and natural areas.

Additionally, the partnership will focus on enhancing environmental monitoring and waste management, supporting scientific research to protect and rehabilitate rare and endangered species, combating the illegal trade of endangered flora and fauna, and protecting migratory bird routes and stopover areas.

The agreement also targets the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity alongside the exchange of technical expertise and successful environmental initiatives.

This cooperation will be implemented through the exchange of information, expert visits, and the organization of joint conferences, seminars, and training courses, supervised by a newly formed joint working group to follow up on future environmental opportunities.

Gulf

Man Sentenced to Life in Jail for Murder of Saudi Student in Cambridge

Saudi student Mohammed Algasim. (Cambridgeshire police)
Saudi student Mohammed Algasim. (Cambridgeshire police)
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Man Sentenced to Life in Jail for Murder of Saudi Student in Cambridge

Saudi student Mohammed Algasim. (Cambridgeshire police)
Saudi student Mohammed Algasim. (Cambridgeshire police)

The Cambridge Crown Court sentenced to life in prison on Thursday a man for the murder of Saudi student Mohammed Algasim in August 2025.

Prosecutors said that construction worker Chas Corrigan, 22, attacked Algasim, 20, with a kitchen knife after “an evening of drinking and using drugs”, reported the BBC.

Corrigan was sentenced to life, to serve a minimum term of 22 years and six months in prison after he was found guilty of murder at an earlier trial.

Corrigan's father, Peter Corrigan, 50, was also jailed for two years after pleading guilty to assisting an offender after concealing high-visibility clothing that his son had been wearing at the time of the attack.

Cambridgeshire police said Chas used a kitchen knife to stab Algasim in the neck in Mill Park on the evening of August 1.

Algasim ran from the scene but collapsed moments later as a member of the public called for an ambulance.

Three off duty doctors and paramedics found him bleeding heavily on the pavement and despite best efforts to save him, his injury to his neck was so severe that he was pronounced dead at 12:19am, the police said in a statement.

The whole incident was captured on CCTV camera and showed Chas run from the scene.

A media appeal was launched within hours and, following a tip-off from a member of the public, Chas was arrested.

Algasim had been in the city on a 10-week placement studying English in the city.

During the trial, Chas accepted he was the man seen in the CCTV footage and that he had been carrying a knife, claiming he intended only to scare off any attackers and not to use it.

Following a two-week trial at Cambridge Crown Court, which concluded in March, a jury took less than two hours to find him guilty of murder. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place, said the statement.

His father was also sentenced to two years in prison after previously pleading guilty to assisting an offender on September 8.

He was captured on CCTV at 9:04am on August 2 removing the blood-stained jacket his son had been wearing from bushes in Vinter Terrace and placing it into a wheelie bin. He also helped his son evade arrest by facilitating him hiding at the Holbrook property, said the police statement.

Detective Chief Inspector Dale Mepstead, who led the investigation from the Major Crime Unit, said: “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of Chas’ actions. He chose to arm himself with a knife and carry it in a public place, with devastating consequences.”

Algasim “was a young man with his whole life ahead of him, and his death has had a profound impact on all who knew him. Our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends as they come to terms with this tragic loss,” he added.

Following the trial, in a statement, the Algasim family said: “This has been a very difficult journey for our family. Losing Mohammed has left a deep void in our lives. Whilst nothing can bring him back, today’s verdict recognizes the seriousness and brutality of how his life was taken.

“We thank Cambridgeshire Police for their thorough investigation. In particular, we are grateful to Lucy Bright and Charlie Sermon for their steady communication and support. We also acknowledge the wider investigation team and those working behind the scenes for their efforts.

“We recognize the Prosecution team, especially Nicholas Hearn and Ruby Shrimpton for their clear and focused presentation of the case. We understand that the legal system here is different from our own, but within the British legal framework, they carried out their responsibilities with professionalism and commitment.

“Finally, we thank the jury for their thorough consideration of the evidence and for reaching a verdict based on the facts presented in court.”

Gulf

GCC Hails India’s Condemnation of Iranian Attacks against Kuwait

GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi (The Council)
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi (The Council)
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GCC Hails India’s Condemnation of Iranian Attacks against Kuwait

GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi (The Council)
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi (The Council)

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi commended on Thursday India’s condemnation of the Iranian attacks against Kuwait that also called for the protection of citizens and civilian infrastructure.

In a message to Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Indian External Affairs Minister, Albudaiwi expressed condolences over the death of an Indian citizen and injuries to others caused by the recent Iranian attacks on Kuwait.

Albudaiwi said India’s position reflects the deep and strategic partnership between New Delhi and the Gulf Cooperation Council states, as well as their shared commitment to upholding international law and preserving regional security and stability.

Albudaiwi stressed that continued Iranian attacks demand a united international response to protect Gulf residents and hold those responsible accountable.