Day: September 5, 2024

The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at) in Madinah will host Film Production Week on September 8, comprising six meetings. This initiative is part of Monsha'at's efforts to support various sectors and entrepreneurs. Throughout the week, discussions will cover topics such as sustainability, collaboration in film production, marketing through film, and the importance of creative photography for startups and businesses. As part of the Film Production Week, Monsha'at will organize 44 similar meetings through its support centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, and Madinah. According to Monsha'at, the goal is to highlight investment opportunities and government initiatives that benefit various small and medium enterprises while also showcasing successful experiences from active entities in these fields. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, organized yesterday a symposium on moderation in Islam at the State Islamic Institute of Kendari in Indonesia. It was attended by the institute rector, faculty members and students. Religious Attaché in Indonesia Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hazimi and faculty member at Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University Dr. Muhammad Al-Furaih said during the symposium that moderation can be achieved through adherence to the Qur'an and Sunnah. They stressed the importance of rejecting extremism and misleading ideologies and factions within the religion. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Aseer region has emerged as the top destination for cultural tourism in Saudi Arabia, according to the 2023 Report on the State of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, published recently by the Ministry of Culture. The region attracted significant visitors, with over 541,544 local trips undertaken to museums and art galleries last year. One of the primary factors contributing to Aseer's success is the region's growing number of private museums and cultural centers showcasing Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, the region's renowned traditional interior wall decoration, traditional crafts, and honey production. Aseer's unique cultural offerings, including its distinctive southern heritage, have positioned it as a leading cultural tourism destination in the Kingdom. The cultural tourism index measures the economic impact of cultural activities on tourism. Aseer region's market share for local and incoming tourist trips that included cultural activities reached 45%, second only to the Al-Baha region. In 2023, the tot al number of local and visiting tourists participating in cultural activities in Saudi Arabia reached approximately 35.2 million, a substantial increase from 22.9 million in 2022. Inbound cultural tourism experienced remarkable growth, with 13.77 million visitors in 2023, a 145% increase from the previous year. The report attributed this growth to several factors, including regulatory reforms in the tourism sector, such as the introduction of the tourism sector and visitor visa regulations, as well as the development and rehabilitation of historical sites. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Roads General Authority (RGA) stressed that the Saudi Highway Code has established unified standards for designing parking spaces for people with disabilities, aiming to enhance safety and comfort for these individuals. These standards are part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life and achieve the highest levels of safety and efficiency in the road network. The Saudi Highway Code has specified a set of technical requirements and specifications for the design of designated accessible parking spaces. These include positioning the spaces closest to building entrances and elevators to facilitate access. The code also requires the parking spaces to be marked with clear signage, road markings, and pedestrian sidewalks to be equipped with the necessary ramps and adequate lighting to ensure user safety. Also, a longitudinal access lane must be provided on both sides of the road to ease movement. Adopting these requirements enhances road safety, improves quality of life, and ensures the best comfor t and security levels for people with disabilities. The code serves as a comprehensive technical reference for all entities responsible for roads in the Kingdom, including ministries, city development authorities, regional municipalities, and other local governments. The goal is to provide these entities with the necessary information to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain all types of roads across the Kingdom while considering environmental aspects and the requirements of autonomous vehicles. Included in the code are guidelines, drawings, procedures, and checklists for all road networks in the Kingdom to ensure minimum acceptable levels of quality, safety, security, economic efficiency, and sustainability. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has called on establishments subject to withholding tax in the Kingdom to submit their withholding tax forms for August, with a deadline of September 10. The authority urged establishments to promptly submit their withholding tax forms through its website, zatca.gov.sa, to avoid a late payment penalty of 1% of the unpaid tax for every 30 days of delay from the due date. ZATCA also called on business taxpayers seeking more information about withholding tax to contact the unified call center at (19993), which is available 24/7, or reach out via X account (@Zatca_Care), email (info@zatca.gov.sa), or instant messaging on the ZATCA website (zatca.gov.sa). Withholding tax is imposed on all payments made from a source in the Kingdom to non-resident entities that do not have a permanent establishment in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the rates specified in Article 68 of the Income Tax Law and Article 63 of its Executive Regulations. Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Najran region is renowned for housing some of the oldest and highest-quality palm trees in the Arabian Peninsula, which provide a substantial economic yield. The first Najran Dates Festival, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture's (MEWA) local branch, started in early September. This event serves as a tribute to the palm tree's cultural and economic significance among the people of Najran. It aims to preserve the region's rich heritage, boost the palm-based economy, expand its reach, and enhance its economic and developmental benefits. During a tour of the festival in western Najran City, an SPA reporter engaged with various officials and participants. Director-General of MEWA's Najran branch Eng. Mareeh Al-Shahrani highlighted the enthusiastic response from farmers to showcase their produce and engage in the festival's diverse activities, ranging from cultural and educational seminars to recreational events. Al-Shahrani noted the extensive participation from local palm gr owers, government and private entities, the Saudi Reef Program, and families involved in cottage industries. He emphasized that the event attracted a large crowd of citizens and residents eager to explore the region's famous date varieties. Families working in cottage industries played a crucial role in processing palm products like fronds, fruits, and date pits, showing their dedication to making the festival a success and ensuring its growth to meet the needs of farmers and visitors. Farmer Mohammed Al Mansour praised Najran for its exceptional date production quality, featuring varieties such as Al-Mawakil, Al-Barni, and Al-Rutab. He highlighted the unique quality and size of fruits from different palm trees, influencing prices based on market demand and supply dynamics. Farmer Hussein Al Abbas, besides his agricultural pursuits, shared his expertise in processing date derivatives native to Najran, including fire-cooked molasses and Najrani date powder. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Secretary General of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) Dr. Aws bin Ibrahim Al-Shamsan announced today that the commission is exploring the possibility of allowing holders of a Bachelor's degree in nursing to practice as nursing technicians, provided they meet the professional competency requirements for classification. During the 2nd Annual International Conference of the Saudi Nurses Association, held yesterday in Riyadh, Dr. Al-Shamsan said that this initiative aims to support healthcare practitioners in the nursing profession. He noted that practitioners could reapply for classification as nursing specialists upon passing the professional licensing exam. He emphasized that the commission is collaborating with its partners in the healthcare sector to enhance the experience of healthcare practitioners and increase the percentage of the national workforce. He highlighted the importance of collaboration in finding solutions to meet job demands, thereby improving healthcare quality, especia lly in vital fields like nursing. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, Lieutenant-General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, Minister of Defence Affairs, attended the opening of the second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) advanced judicial course for officers and Bahrain's military and security agencies. The ceremony began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a speech from the minister, who expressed his gratitude to Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), for his continued support of the courses held by the Military Judiciary. He highlighted the importance of enhancing judicial cooperation across GCC nations. Lt Gen Al Nuaimi saif that BDF remains committed to advancing its judicial system, particularly through courses that foster the exchange of legal expertise with neighbouring countries. He also pointed out that these efforts align with the broader goal of strengthening judicial ties across the region. He concluded by thanking the participants and encouraging them to apply what they learn to their respective fields. Yousef Rashid Fleifel, Chief of the Military Judiciary and President of the Military Court of Cassation, gave an overview of the course's curriculum, which includes both theoretical and practical training on legal and judicial matters. He emphasised the role of ongoing cooperation with legal experts from Bahrain and international organisations such as the Red Cross, which supports the development of the officers' skills in these areas. Since the beginning of the reform project under His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Military Judiciary has hosted numerous legal and judicial training programmes for GCC military personnel, helping to enhance their professional skills. The Judiciary continues to offer regular courses and workshops for Bahrain's military and security institutions. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Saudi athlete Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi won the gold medal in the T53 100m wheelchair race at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games yesterday, held at the Stade de France. Al-Qurashi won the gold medal by finishing first with a new personal best of 14:48 seconds, leaving the silver medal to Thailand's Paeyo Pongsakorn, who finished with 14:66 seconds. The bronze medal went to Brazilian Ariosvaldo da Silva, who finished in 15:08 seconds. With this gold medal, Al-Qurashi increased Saudi Arabia's Paralympic medal tally to six medals (two gold, two silver, and two bronze). He had previously won bronze in the 100m wheelchair race at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. This year's event was attended by Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Secretary General Abdulaziz Baeshen and the accompanying delegation. Source: Saudi Press Agency

An aftershock hit Khanaqin district near the Iraqi-Iranian border. A local source told the correspondent of the National Iraqi News Agency / NINA / that an earthquake struck the Iranian city of Kermanshah with a magnitude of 3.4 on the Richter scale, and that the areas surrounding Khanaqin district, northeast of Baqubah, felt the aftershock. Source: National Iraqi News Agency