RIYADH: The third Madinah Book Fair is experiencing a high turnout of visitors “eager to explore Arab and international publications,” according to the Saudi Press Agency. More than 300 Arab and international publishing houses and agencies are participating in the event, which is organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, and showcases a wide range of publications over 200 pavilions.

JEDDAH: Saudi rockers Wasted Land made history on Saturday, when they became the first band from the Kingdom to appear at Wacken Open Air 2024, the world’s biggest heavy metal festival. Vocalist Emad Mujallid, guitarists Ayman Al-Ghamdi and Ahmed Khoja, bassist Mahmoud Al-Tayeb and drummer Tameem Helmi raised the Saudi flag as they took to the stage and launched into their pounding set. Jeddah’s German Consul-General Eltje Aderhold was among the crowd of thousands of headbanging metalheads from all over the world.

JAZAN: The Saudi Border Guards in Al-Ardah in the Jazan region recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle 380 kilograms of the narcotic substance qat into the Kingdom. After the completion of the initial legal procedures, the qat was handed over to the relevant authorities. Meanwhile, security patrols in Jazan arrested a citizen in Al-Dayer governorate for attempting to smuggle 41 kg of qat hidden in the vehicle he was driving. After taking the completion of initial legal procedures, he was referred to the relevant authorities.    

JEDDAH: Saudi watchmaker Abdulrahman Al-Zahrani developed an interest in watches at a young age and is now among the very first Saudis to join the world of watch engineers, driven by his commitment to the craft. His journey into watchmaking began while working at a company representing Longines. The lack of local skilled watchmakers sparked his interest in exploring this field. Al-Zahrani, 29, told Arab News that his love for taking things apart and a childhood dream of becoming an aviation engineer set the stage for his career in watchmaking.

DHAHRAN: Scientists working in northwestern Saudi Arabia’s ancient oasis of AlUla were thrilled earlier this year to discover a new species of snake. With its striking red hue and chic black collar, the reptile is perfectly adapted to camouflage against the sand and rock of the Hejaz. This charismatic new species, which is thankfully non-venomous, was discovered by Laszlo Patko, who for the past two years has worked as the applied research lead at the Royal Commission for AlUla, inventorying the biodiversity of the region.

SAKAKA: The Al-Jouf region in Saudi Arabia has recently experienced a surge in economic and tourism activity, thanks to three festivals that have provided diverse entertainment for families and youth across the region. The third Al-Jouf Bounties Festival in Sakaka, which ended on Thursday, drew an impressive crowd of nearly 70,000 visitors over its four-day run. The event exceeded sales expectations for participating farmers and featured a variety of children’s activities, entertainment programs, as well as health awareness and service booths.

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association will participate in the Arab Scout Youth Forum for Digital Transformation to be held from Aug. 3-8 in Salalah, Oman. Organized by the Arab Scout Region in cooperation with the National Organization for Scouts and Guides in Oman, the forum aims to enhance the capabilities of youth, while empowering and engaging them. It also provides national coordinators with the opportunity to fulfill their role.

MADINAH: Farmers in Madinah have begun to harvest dates as the palm fruit reached optimum ripeness this agricultural season, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The process of ripening date palms involves several stages, starting with pollination and moving on to thinning, where excess fruit is removed to support optimal growth. The dates are carefully bagged in palm fronds to shield them from the sun’s heat before being harvested.

RIYADH: Italy’s flag carrier ITA Airways operated its first nonstop Rome-Jeddah flight on Aug. 1, linking Rome Fiumicino Airport with King Abdulaziz International Airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. The service, launched under the Kingdom’s Air Connectivity Program, or ACP, will run three times a week with an Airbus A321neo aircraft. Carriers operating services between Rome and Jeddah airports include the low-cost carrier Wizz Air and Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia. ITA Airways added Riyadh to its route network in June.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar AlKhorayef has concluded his visit to Chile where he held talks with leading private and public sector officials on boosting cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. There were discussions held on the transfer of knowledge, the latest innovative technologies in mining, and mutual investment opportunities in the production and processing of minerals, particularly lithium, copper, and iron ore, the SPA reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has ordered the recall of 13,763 magnetic phone holders for cars, citing serious concerns over their impact on airbag deployment. In a statement released on Friday, the ministry warned of the potential danger posed by these phone holders, which were designed to be mounted at the center of the steering wheel, in interfering with the function of vehicle airbags. In the event of airbag deployment, the phone holders could be propelled toward the passenger, posing a risk of serious injury or death, the ministry stated.

CAIRO: The Kingdom’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih has been holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hassan El-Khatib in El-Alamein, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. The ministers discussed investment opportunities and cooperation in several sectors.

JAZAN: The Fayfa Mountains in Jazan region are a stunning natural wonder, boasting lush greenery, abundant rainfall, and dramatic cloud formations. Its iconic agricultural terraces, a cherished heritage passed down through generations, have cemented Fayfa's status as a top tourist destination. This summer, visitors across Jazan and beyond are flocking to this enchanting escape. 

MAKKAH: Over 800 elderly men and women, including a 105-year-old woman, participated in the literacy campaign held this summer by the Saudi Ministry of Education, represented by the General Administration of Education, in Jazan.  Around 233 male and 599 female students enrolled in 28 educational centers across the region in Samtah, Ahad al-Masarihah, Al-Harth and Al-Aridhah governorates.   Several educational, cultural, social and health activities and events were held in partnership with government agencies and the nonprofit sector. 

RIYADH: As the world’s leading online platform for competitive gaming, FACEIT is leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to ensure a safe environment for its global — and growing — 25 million user community. The FACEIT platform uses Minerva, a specialized AI technology that can understand in-game actions and other non-text chat behaviors, identifying trends that suggest poor sportsmanship beyond explicit statements.

ABHA: The deputy emir of Asir, Prince Khalid bin Sattam, said that it is important to harness all local capabilities to ensure that tourists and other visitors to the region are able to fully enjoy all the attractions and services it has to offer.

JEDDAH: Fish farming is vital for the Kingdom’s food security needs, according to Riyadh Al-Fageeh, general director of the National Center of Fisheries. Al-Fageeh said there are significant investment opportunities in the industry, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to boost agriculture, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. He said the center was formed four decades ago in Jeddah, and subsequently developed partnerships with a number of international organizations.

JEDDAH: The Saudi minister of Islamic affairs, dawah and guidance, Abdullatif Al-Asheikh, signed an agreement with Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Jeddah on Thursday, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between the nations in efforts to promote the understanding of Islam and its message of tolerance, and raising cultural awareness among Muslims.

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Season 2024 has emerged as a significant platform for youth employment and skill development, attracting young talents and providing them with opportunities to showcase their creativity and gain valuable work experience.

TAIF: The juniper tree, revered as the “Lady of Trees” and a symbol of lush forests and towering mountains in Saudi Arabia, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of terrestrial ecosystems.
 Serving as a refuge for wildlife, these ancient trees have stood the test of time, creating vital habitats across the provinces of Taif, Al-Baha and Asir, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

TAIF:  The juniper tree, revered as the “Lady of Trees” and a symbol of lush forests and towering mountains in Saudi Arabia, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the delicate balance of terrestrial ecosystems. Serving as a refuge for wildlife, these ancient trees have stood the test of time, creating vital habitats across the provinces of Taif, Al-Baha, and Asir.

RIYADH: In partnership with the Saudi Entertainment Academy, the Embassy of South Korea in Saudi Arabia is set to hold the final preliminary round of its first-ever participation in the K-pop World Festival in JAX district on Saturday.  In the first preliminary round, held at the academy’s hall earlier this week, 30 teams from all over the Kingdom, including Jeddah, participated.  Out of these, only 10 made it to the final preliminary round, which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3 in JAX.

RIYADH: A campaign to raise awareness about rangers’ contributions to protecting the environment, wildlife and historical monuments has been launched by the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority. The start of the initiative, July 31, was also World Ranger Day. The reserve’s rangers protect, monitor and control the area with daily patrols and monitoring, as well as working to prevent illegal activities such as grazing, poaching and tree felling. They also help scientific research teams and those carrying out academic studies.

Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi met with South Korea’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo on Wednesday as part of his official visit to the country. During the meeting, they discussed opportunities for cooperation and “the exchange of qualitative experiences in the priority sectors of the two friendly countries,” the Saudi minister wrote on X.

Tarik Al-Saad is the chief internal audit officer at the Sports Boulevard Foundation, where he oversees the foundation’s internal audit strategy and operations.  He has been instrumental in establishing the internal audit function, developing and refining internal audit charters, policies and risk-based plans. He has also created financial, operational, project and engineering audit departments, and implemented technology tools to enhance internal operations. 

RIYADH: The Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission has launched a training program for aerospace engineering students, in collaboration with Boeing. The month-long program aims to provide participants with valuable hands-on experience with space technologies and give them the chance to develop their skills in aerospace engineering and sciences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: NEOM, the sustainable development project in northwest Saudi Arabia, has announced that 50,000 people benefited from its social responsibility programs over the past year. In its annual Social Responsibility Report, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, it states that 26 projects were awarded to Tabuk companies. In addition, 583 people from NEOM and Tabuk found employment. A notable finding is the social return on investment from the NEOM “Seven Senses Program,” which exceeded SR40 million ($10.6 million), the SPA reported.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for praising the Health Sector Transformation Program during Tuesday's Cabinet session. Al-Jalajel highlighted the program’s advancements in top-tier health services in line with leadership directives, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

DHAHRAN: The second Islamic Art Conference will be hosted at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture between Nov. 25-30, in partnership with the Abdullatif Al-Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture. The event, which is titled “In Praise of the Artisan: A Reassessment of Contemporary Islamic Arts & Crafts Practice,” explores Islamic works. Visitors can expect lectures, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, and demonstrations.

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has provided healthcare services for people in Guinea and Turkiye over the past few weeks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. In Conakry, Guinea, the Noor Saudi Arabia program, aimed at helping those with visual challenges, provided services between July 15 and 23. Medical staffers completed 6,500 examinations, distributed 1,100 spectacles, and carried out 450 operations.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has sent a letter to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian concerning relations between the two nations. The message was delivered by Minister of State Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz who was in Tehran on Tuesday to hold talks with top Iran officials, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. Prince Mansour conveyed best wishes to the Iranian people from the monarch and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Dr. Saud Al-Sati met with Ambassador of Syria to the Kingdom Ayman Soussan in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in various fields, the Foreign Ministry reported on X. Meanwhile, acting CEO of the Ministry of Culture’s Museums Commission Ibrahim Al-Sanousi met with Pakistani Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmad Farooq, and they discussed avenues of cooperation in museum innovation, the Pakistani Embassy reported on X.  

RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority has said that 25,737 beehives spread across 256 sites in the reserve are participating in this year’s honey production season. The season, which opened at the beginning of July, will close at the end of April 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

RIYADH: Pakistani artist Zainab Anwar’s compelling work is marked by vibrant colors and surrealist portrayals of South Asian and Arab cultures, with a focus on tackling challenges facing women and girls in society. Anwar, 24, was born in Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia when she was 8 years old. She spent her formative years in the capital, attending Manarat Riyadh International School. She left the Kingdom at 18 to attend university in Canada and has since returned.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification are increasing their efforts to protect the Kingdom’s mangrove forests. Mangrove forests are one of the planet’s most stunning and remarkable natural ecosystems, yet the trees occupy only 0.5 percent of the global coastal areas. Pollution from construction and manufacturing, shrimp farming and urban expansion have led to their destruction and a decline in their numbers, Saudi Press Agency has reported.