Day: August 16, 2024

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, spanning a vast 91,500 square kilometres, offers a captivating tapestry of diverse landscapes. Its golden sand dunes, pristine valleys, plateaus, mountains, and open plains create a unique setting for ecotourism. The reserve's rich biodiversity, including the Arabian Oryx, ostrich, and various flora and fauna, further enhances its appeal. The reserve's strategy centres on developing ecotourism as a cornerstone, aiming to create an engaging and educational destination while preserving the environment. By offering experiences such as camping, exploration, and nature observation, the reserve aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's goals for sustainable environmental tourism and quality of life enhancement. Source : Saudi Press Agency

Nad Alsheba, a British breeding farm, sold three falcons for 176,000 Saudi riyals on the fifth night of the International Falcon Breeders Auction 2024, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club at the club's headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. The night began with the sale of a Shaheen chick, fetching a price of 36,000 Saudi riyals. Following this, a Gyr Taba chick was sold for 50,000 Saudi riyals. The night came to a close with the bidding for a Gyr Shaheen chick, which commenced at 30,000 riyals and eventually sold for 90,000 riyals. Source : Saudi Press Agency

The Standing Committee of International Humanitarian Law held a meeting in Riyadh, chaired by Saudi Red Crescent Authority Chairman Dr. Jalal Al-Owaisi. Committee members representing both military and civilian sectors attended the gathering. The meeting reviewed the performance of the Executive Committee and subcommittees during the second quarter of 2024. The committee outlined its goals for the coming period, emphasizing the deep-rooted nature of international humanitarian law within Saudi society, reflecting both Islamic and social values in times of peace and conflict. This aligns with the committee's core mission. Moreover, the committee aims to highlight the Kingdom's contributions to enriching the field of international humanitarian law, developing practical applications for both civilian and military sectors, and sharing its diverse expertise with the global community. Saudi Arabia's unique blend of legal, historical, cultural, and practical experiences offers valuable insights that can enhance international humanitarian law, underscoring the prominence of Islamic law as a foundational source in this domain. Source : Saudi Press Agency

Speaker of the Arab Parliament Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi held talks yesterday with the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, as part of his visit to Cairo. In a press release today on the meeting's outcome, Al-Asoumi stressed the parliament's stance of rejecting any attempts to interfere in Somalia's internal affairs, violate its sovereignty, or undermine its territorial integrity and unity. The statement communicated that Somalia's security and stability are an integral part of Arab national security. Al-Asoumi considered the election of Somalia as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term an added value to Arab diplomacy in the United Nations. For his part, the Somali President hailed the Arab Parliament's efforts in defending Arab issues by employing parliamentary diplomacy to achieve the interests of the Arab people. Source : Saudi Press Agency

The King Abdulaziz Public Library is dedicated to preserving, documenting, and sharing Arab and Islamic heritage. Its vast collection of rare books, manuscripts, and artefacts offers invaluable insights into Arab and Islamic civilization. With over three million books and a growing digital archive, the library is a leading resource for researchers, scholars, and students worldwide. Since its opening in 1987, the library has prioritized digitalization to ensure accessibility and preservation of its collections. It has published extensively on the Kingdom's and the broader Arab and Islamic world's history and hosted international seminars on heritage. The Arabic Union Catalog, an online platform launched by the library, supports research and cultural exploration. The library houses a remarkable collection of over 8,000 manuscripts, 32,000 rare books, and 700 ancient maps, including Latin versions of Arabian Peninsula maps dating back to 1482. Its holdings also include 7,600 rare coins and a vast photographi c archive featuring works by renowned photographers. The library's commitment to preserving Islamic heritage extends to rare copies of the Holy Quran, with over 350 copies in its collection. Exhibitions showcasing these treasures have been a cornerstone of the library's outreach efforts. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the King Abdulaziz Public Library continues to innovate. By digitizing its collections and hosting exhibitions both domestically and internationally, the library is not only preserving the past but also shaping the future of cultural understanding. Source : Saudi Press Agency

Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef yesterday visited the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) headquarters in Riyadh. During the visit, he exchanged viewpoints with the President of SDAIA, Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, on aspects of cooperation between the two sides in the field of data and artificial intelligence. The meeting cited the importance of the Center of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Mining, which was launched in February 2024 and was established to adopt artificial intelligence technologies, address the challenges of the sector and support the achievement of strategic goals to contribute to making the Kingdom a leading industrial power and a global logistics centre. Al-Khorayef was also briefed on the innovative field in which SDAIA worked in cooperation with several government agencies in the fields of energy, health, education, environment, media, and other projects and initiatives. Source : Saudi Pres s Agency