Saudi authorities seize narcotics haul with street value of up to $21m
Updated 11 January 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Zakat, tax and customs authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle 841,440 captagon pills at the Haditha port on Thursday.
The pills were found hidden in iron boxes on a truck during a routine check as it entered the port.
The drugs haul had an estimated street value of between $8.4 million and $21 million, according to research published in the International Addiction Review Journal, based on assumptions that users pay in the range of $10-$25 a pill.
Amphetamines are largely used by young men and teenaged boys across the Middle East, and the money raised through the sale of all narcotics are usually ploughed back into the drug trade while some find their way into organized crime and terrorism.
Additionally, border guards in Jizan arrested an individual of Ethiopian nationality for attempting to smuggle 97,200 medical pills into the Kingdom and thwarted a seperate attempt to smuggle 80 kilograms of qat.
The Saudi government has urged anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number 00 966 114208417, or email [email protected].
Saudi Heritage Commission registers 13,040 new sites of historical importance
Sites manifest a lasting testament to the Kingdom's historical narratives for future generations
The number of heritage sites increased to 17,495 in various regions
Updated 13 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission has registered 13,040 new urban sites, increasing the total number of documented sites with cultural and historical importance to 17,495 in various regions.
The commission's National Urban Heritage Register includes a list of urban sites that manifest a "lasting testament to the Kingdom's historical narratives for future generations," the Saudi Press Agency reported.
According to SPA, the most recent registered sites are 1,950 in Riyadh, 3,273 in Madinah, 1,531 in Al-Baha, 1,525 in Hail, 1,400 in Qassim, 972 in Aseer, 571 in Makkah, 363 in Al-Jouf, 351 in Jazan, 200 in Najran, 107 in Tabuk, 35 in the Northern Borders, and 762 in the Eastern Region.
The Heritage Commission is dedicated to preserving and managing Saudi Arabia's urban heritage for future generations and raising public awareness about its cultural importance, SPA added.
The commission conducts research to identify new heritage sites using technologies and modern practices to preserve, document, and create a comprehensive database of these sites.
The commission said the community is vital in preserving heritage sites. It encourages Saudi citizens to report any sites and buildings of cultural or historical importance for documentation on its online service portal, https://contactcenter.moc.gov.sa.
Experts call for urgent fire-safety measures at historic Saudi sites
AlUla symposium outlines steps to protect Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage
Case studies presented at the event included the 2019 Notre Dame fire
Updated 16 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and its strategic partner, the Saudi International Council on Monuments and Sites, have issued recommendations for protecting people and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage sites.
These recommendations were made during the AlUla Symposium on Fire Risk Management at Historic and Heritage Sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Recently hosted in AlUla, the symposium had 80 national and international experts in fire management and heritage conservation participating. It provided a platform for discussions on fire prevention, mitigation, and response strategies for historic and cultural sites.
These discussions will help guide the development of policies and procedures for AlUla’s cultural landmarks, the SPA reported.
The experts shared best practices, case studies, and technologies, emphasizing an approach that prioritizes the safety of occupants, visitors, surrounding communities, and the sites.
Discussions covered the implementation of fire codes, such as the Saudi Historical Building Code, while respecting the unique character of old buildings and maintaining their structural integrity.
Case studies presented at the event included the 2019 Notre Dame fire, which emphasized the need for comprehensive safety planning and collaboration.
Experts shared practical strategies, including fire risk assessments, community training, and tailored roadmaps for specific locations.
Princess Nouf bint Mohammed bin Fahad, president of the Saudi International Council on Monuments and Sites, emphasized the need for preventative measures.
“Fires pose a serious threat to priceless historical and heritage sites, endangering their authenticity, integrity and the values they represent. The negative effects of fires on these sites remind us of the need to prevent such disasters.”
The recommendations from the symposium will guide the commission’s ongoing efforts to improve fire safety at AlUla’s heritage sites. This supports the broader goals of Vision 2030, and establishing AlUla as a global leader in heritage conservation, the SPA reported.
UN chief opens Riyadh tech conference with virtual speech
19th IGF tackles cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI
More than 10,000 expected to attend
Updated 16 December 2024
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered the opening remarks in a virtual speech at the 19th edition of the organization’s Internet Governance Forum, held in Riyadh on Sunday.
Over 10,000 people from 160 countries are expected to attend the conference, which runs from Dec. 15 to 19, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The forum covers a range of topics from cybersecurity and data privacy to artificial intelligence in more than 300 sessions and workshops.
Other notable speakers included Saudi Communication Minister Abdullah Alswaha and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua.
Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, moderator of the forum, told Arab News: “Definitely, IGF 2024 came at a very critical time in the global digital world.”
He went on to say: “This year is the first year that we dedicate a full track for businesses. So, IGF has a history of being developed in different countries with tracks for government, academia, and parliaments, but for business; it was missing.
The forum covers a range of topics from cybersecurity and data privacy to artificial intelligence in more than 300 sessions and workshops.
(AN/Jaafar Alsaleh)
“We know now that the private sector and technology play a major role in the governance of IT and AI. This is the first time that we invite many private sector players to IGF, and we hope this plan will continue in the upcoming IGFs.”
Discussing the different offerings at the forum, Al-Mutairi said: “For this year, we expanded IGF Village to provide a lot of exhibitions and active workshops.
“Many organizations are presenting their work in IGF, allowing the community to collaborate and interact. This is a tradition of IGF, but this year it has expanded, making it more interactive for all participants in Riyadh.”
One of the participating organizations is the Digital Cooperation Organization, which offered a session on the ethical uses of AI as part of a series of roundtables.
The forum covers a range of topics from cybersecurity and data privacy to artificial intelligence in more than 300 sessions and workshops.
(AN/Jaafar Alsaleh)
Alaa Abdulaal, chief of digital economy foresight at DCO, told Arab News: “We have something we call the digital space accelerator. It is a working group we created to focus on specific topics, one of which is the ethical use of AI.
“We have conducted many roundtables globally, including one in Singapore and another during GAIN (Global AI Summit). Today, during IGF, the aim is to gather perspectives from different AI experts on the policy tools we are creating regarding the ethical use of AI.”
The forum also saw awards distributed to prominent individuals, celebrating their achievements in the field. Arwa Al-Duwaish, winner of the IGF award for the Most Promising Employee at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, told Arab News that she received an award recognizing her contributions to digital transformation in the Kingdom.
The conference is being held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh until Thursday.
RIYADH: Authorities have arrested members of criminal drug network who posed as a local bee import business.
A Ministry of Interior source said that five people from the network were arrested: Four Egyptian expatriates and one Saudi citizen, according to the Saudi Press Agency report on Monday.
The network’s activities included smuggling drugs by importing beehives through a beekeeping business, concealing amphetamine tablets in the hives, shipping them to the Kingdom, and transporting them in a refrigerated vehicle to Al-Darb governorate in the Jazan region, where the drugs were distributed and sold.
Legal action has been taken against the suspects, who were referred to the Public Prosecution, the SPA reported.
The ministry reiterated its commitment to counter all attempts to disrupt the security and stability of the Kingdom, or endanger its citizens and residents, highlighting its vigilance against criminal schemes targeting the nation with drugs.
JEDDAH: The Jeddah Book Fair buzzed with energy recently as Iraqi musician and renowned oud player Naseer Shamma captivated attendees with a lecture on echoic memory.
The discussion titled “Music Stylistically” was led by moderator Bader Al-Hamoud.
Shamma explored how climate and environment influence musical expression, noting differences between coastal and mountainous music.
He explained how geography, architecture, and economic factors shape a community’s musical identity and heritage.
Shamma said: “Just as our senses possess memory and require care to maintain their function, music demands a period of maturation, much like the cycle of life.”
Some of his compositions have taken years to perfect before being shared. He believes music that resonates for two decades achieves a lasting impact.
Shamma also announced a project to train instructors to teach at schools.
The seminar highlighted the therapeutic power of music. Shamma said that music can accelerate wound healing by up to 30 percent.
Music therapy has become a recognized academic field, he added.
Focusing on children, Shamma emphasized music’s role in intellectual growth and counteracting the effects of excessive screen time.
He said music has become a cornerstone of early childhood education in many parts of the world.
Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the fair runs until Dec. 21 and features over 450 pavilions, with the participation of over 1,000 publishing houses and agencies from 22 countries.
Entry to the fair is free daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, except on Fridays when it opens from 2 p.m. until midnight.
