Saudi Arabia News Network

One martyr has fallen in an Israeli enemy airstrike on the West Baalbek town of Saaide and many others have been injured, our correspondent reported on Wednesday. Source: National news agency - Lebanon

The local government in Diwaniyah Governorate announced the receiving of 57 Lebanese refugees. Diwaniyah Governor Abbas Al-Zamili said, "The governorate is ready to receive a larger number of Iraqi guests from our Lebanese brothers," noting the formation of a joint operations room to manage the file of the entry of the displaced and coordinate with the Ministry of Migration and Displacement to provide the needs and provide health supplies to care for them. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Jeddah Governor Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi received here today Consul General of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in Jeddah Miah Md Mainul Kabir. The two officials discussed topics of common interest. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Justice announced the monthly position of the Juvenile Reform Department regarding the number of those released during the month of September 2024. The Director General of the Juvenile Reform Department, Muhammad Radi Bahr, stated, according to the Ministry's statement, that the total number of those released during the month of September amounted to (140) juveniles, including (66) detained juveniles who were released, (51) released after serving their sentence, and (23) on parole for their good behavior and passing various rehabilitation courses according to the recommendations of the Social Research Department and the approval of the judicial authorities. Bahr added that the department is continuously following up on the release mechanism after the completion of all legal procedures, in order to complete its work in the best possible way. Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced that the Ibex Protected Area in Saudi Arabia, managed by the National Center for Wildlife (NCW), has been added to the IUCN Green List. This makes it the first protected area in Saudi Arabia to meet all required criteria and join the prestigious list, which contains only 77 sites out of more than 300,000 protected areas worldwide. This recognition highlights the site's adherence to best practices and global standards in managing and safeguarding protected areas. The IUCN Green List is a global verification system that sets the bar for excellence in nature conservation. It identifies and honors protected areas that demonstrate effective management, fair governance, and positive outcomes for both nature and local communities. Inclusion in this list signifies that the Ibex Protected Area has met demanding benchmarks, with natural resources successfully safeguarded, biodiversity enhanced, and habitats improved over time. In an NCW press release issued today, NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban said: 'The inclusion of the Ibex Protected Area in the IUCN Green List affirms our commitment to conserving habitats and achieving the 30x30 goal of protecting 30% of Saudi Arabia's land and marine areas by 2030.' He said that NCW is working with partners in the wildlife field to register all national protected areas on this significant list, contributing to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 objective of having environmentally and culturally significant sites recognized globally. Qurban added: 'This accomplishment shows that NCW efforts are up to international conservation standards and is testimony to our dedication to preserving Saudi Arabia's rich biodiversity. It supports the sustainable management of natural resources, ensuring that our conservation efforts benefit current and future generations. Being on the Green List boosts the global reputation of the Ibex Protected Area and reinforces our commitment to developing sustainable conservation practices.' Locat ed in the Riyadh region, the Ibex Protected Area was established in 1988 in response to local community requests. It consists of a large plateau within the Tuwaiq mountain range, numerous valleys, streams, and sandy areas. Its biodiversity and ecological richness have made it a distinguished natural site both regionally and globally. The protected area is home to thriving populations of mountain ibex; it is a vital habitat for the species that has flourished there for thousands of years. The area serves as a model of integrity of habitats across the Tuwaiq mountains in central Saudi Arabia. It supports a variety of plant species, including acacia, samur, and sidr trees, as well as numerous shrubs, grasses, and herbs, providing habitat for many species such as mountain ibex, Arabian gazelle, rock hyrax, foxes, rodents, birds, and reptiles. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Commander of the Border Forces, Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sakr, opened 22 new checkpoints on the Iraqi-Turkish border today, Wednesday. A statement by the Ministry of Interior stated that: "On the second day of his field tour, the Commander of the Border Forces, Lieutenant General Mohammed Abdul Wahab Sakr, visited the First Border Brigade, which holds the Iraqi-Turkish border within the administrative borders of Dohuk Governorate, accompanied by the Commander of the Borders of the First Region, Major General Dalir Farzanda Al-Zibari." On the sidelines of the visit, according to the statement, the Commander of the Border Forces opened (22) new border checkpoints on the zero line between Iraq and Turkey, for which roads were paved and constructed in areas of very rugged and difficult terrain, and they were established for the first time in these areas of the border between the two countries. The commander held a security conference at the headquarters of the First Brigade, attended by the commanders of the brigade units. The commander of the First Brigade gave a briefing on the tasks and duties of his brigade in controlling border security and confronting infiltration and smuggling attempts. The commander directed the necessity of exercising caution and care, and paying attention to fortifying the fighters' points and securing them with modern equipment, and providing the best administrative services to the fighters. Source: National Iraqi News Agency