Riyadh: Amid the Palestine-Israel conflict, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone on Wednesday during which they discussed the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. The two leaders spoke for the first time after a China-brokered deal between Riyadh and Tehran to resume ties.

According to Iranian state media, the leaders discussed the "need to end war crimes against Palestine."

The Saudi leader emphasized that the Kingdom is making every possible effort to communicate with international and regional parties in order to halt the current escalation, the Saudi state news agency SPA said.

The crown prince reaffirmed the Kingdom's stance against targeting civilians in any manner and the loss of innocent lives by stressing the importance of respecting the principles of international humanitarian law. He also expressed deep concern about the dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the impact on civilians, SPA added.

After seven years of hostility, both Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to resume ties in March under a deal negotiated by China.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.