Authorities bust drug smugglers across Saudi Arabia

Officers of the Directorate of Narcotics Control of Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry sort through tablets of captagon (Fenethylline) seized during a special operation in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. (AFP file photo)
Officers of the Directorate of Narcotics Control of Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry sort through tablets of captagon (Fenethylline) seized during a special operation in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. (AFP file photo)
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Updated 20 April 2024
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Authorities bust drug smugglers across Saudi Arabia

Authorities bust drug smugglers across Saudi Arabia
  • The Saudi government urges anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966114208417, or to email [email protected]

RIYADH: Saudi authorities recently made several drug-related arrests and confiscations in operations across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

Border Guard land patrols in Al-Ardah governorate, Jazan region arrested a Yemeni national attempting to smuggle 60 kg of qat.

In the Saqam sector of Najran region, the land patrols thwarted the smuggling of 58 kg of hashish.

The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested a Bangladeshi resident in the Hail region for attempting to sell methamphetamine, a narcotic substance commonly referred to as “shabu.”

The authorities also arrested a citizen in Jazan for selling amphetamines, highly addictive drugs that stimulate the central nervous system.

Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all the individuals involved and all seized items have been handed over to the relevant authorities.

The Saudi government urges anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966114208417, or to email [email protected].

Tips received relating to smuggling and breaches of common customs law are treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid tips.

 


Riyadh’s royal institute launches craft initiative

Riyadh’s royal institute launches craft initiative
Updated 31 December 2024
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Riyadh’s royal institute launches craft initiative

Riyadh’s royal institute launches craft initiative

RIYADH: The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts will launch the Wrth Community initiative on Saturday, marking the beginning of its year-long celebration of the “Year of Handicrafts” in 2025.

The initiative will feature a series of meetings, dialogues with leading figures in the field and educational workshops, all held at the institute’s headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It seeks to revitalize and modernize traditional handicrafts by incorporating contemporary design and technologies, foster collaboration among institutions and the local community, and highlight the crucial role of traditional arts in preserving cultural identity.

The initiative will also help individuals to use these arts in innovative ways through specialized training, the SPA added.

It covers a diverse range of areas — education, handicrafts and entrepreneurship — and features dialogue sessions, providing a platform for skill development, experience exchange and fostering creativity and innovation.


KSrelief steps up aid projects in Yemen, Gaza

KSrelief steps up aid projects in Yemen, Gaza
Updated 31 December 2024
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KSrelief steps up aid projects in Yemen, Gaza

KSrelief steps up aid projects in Yemen, Gaza

RIYADH: KSrelief has signed an agreement with a civil society organization to implement the water and sanitation project in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate, benefiting 30,422 people with $1.1 million in funding.

The project includes drilling and rehabilitating solar-powered wells, installing pumping networks, building and restoring tanks, and setting up water desalination plants.

The project will also facilitate the transportation and distribution of water by trucks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ahmed Al-Baiz, assistant supervisor general of operations and programs at KSrelief, signed the deal in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, Saudi aid convoys carrying 4,494 shelter kits arrived in northern Gaza to support residents and displaced families, the SPA reported.

The kits include blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils and water containers to help families cope with the harsh conditions.

The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s executive partner in Gaza, will begin immediate distribution to alleviate suffering amid severe cold and the ongoing siege.


Saudi defense minister meets UAE leader in Abu Dhabi

Saudi defense minister meets UAE leader in Abu Dhabi
Updated 31 December 2024
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Saudi defense minister meets UAE leader in Abu Dhabi

Saudi defense minister meets UAE leader in Abu Dhabi

DUBAI: Saudi defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud has met on Tuesday UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
The Saudi minister wrote on his personal account on X, “I had the honor to convey the greetings of our leadership, and we reviewed the fraternal relations between our two brotherly countries, and discussed regional and international developments as well as issues of common interest.”


Museums Commission appeals for applicants in virtual reality competition

Museums Commission appeals for applicants in virtual reality competition
Updated 31 December 2024
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Museums Commission appeals for applicants in virtual reality competition

Museums Commission appeals for applicants in virtual reality competition
  • Invitation to place spotlight on Kingdom’s cultural heritage 

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Museums Commission has appealed for applicants for its virtual reality competition, an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing education and promoting technological advancement in the sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The competition, which opened on Dec. 6, invites young people to create immersive and interactive educational experiences that utilize virtual reality to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and help transform the role of museums in society, the SPA added.

The competition targets a diverse range of participants, including students and graduates specializing in information technology, computer science, digital design, and fine arts.

Developers and programmers with an interest in virtual reality, as well as artists and designers keen to blend technology with art, have also been encouraged to apply.

The initiative also welcomes culture enthusiasts with a technological background who want to explore VR applications in museums, as well as storytellers with a passion for narrating the history and civilization of their cities or regions.

Successful participants will undergo a four-month training program designed to develop their skills in virtual reality design and programming.

The competition will unfold in four stages: the selection of trainees, VR training and development, the creation of interactive educational experiences, and the evaluation and judging of entries.

Winners will be celebrated through regional ceremonies held across the Kingdom.

The Museums Commission said its ambition was to inspire future generations and foster a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage through the initiative. By integrating cutting-edge technology and storytelling, the competition aims to reimagine museums as dynamic platforms for learning and engagement, it added.

Registration for the competition can be made on the official Museums Commission website and its social media channels.


Saudi crown prince offers condolences after South Korea plane crash

Mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar for victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, at Muan Sports Park in Muan.
Mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar for victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, at Muan Sports Park in Muan.
Updated 30 December 2024
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Saudi crown prince offers condolences after South Korea plane crash

Mourners pay their respects at a memorial altar for victims of the Jeju Air plane crash, at Muan Sports Park in Muan.
  • All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok after a plane crash killed 179 people on Sunday.

All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.

The crown prince extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of South Korea and wished the injured a speedy recovery.