Saudi deputy minister attends 50th Arab Labor Conference

Saudi deputy minister attends 50th Arab Labor Conference
Saudi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanin, led the Saudi delegation at the 50th session of the Arab Labor Conference iin Baghdad. (SPA)
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Updated 28 April 2024
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Saudi deputy minister attends 50th Arab Labor Conference

Saudi deputy minister attends 50th Arab Labor Conference

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor, Abdullah bin Nasser Abu Thanin, led the Saudi delegation at the 50th session of the Arab Labor Conference, being held from April 27 to May 4 in Baghdad.

Labor ministers, heads and members of delegations from employers’ organizations, and labor unions from 21 Arab countries, along with representatives from the Arab League and other Arab and international organizations, are attending the conference.

The opening session of the conference included the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani; Arab League Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit; and Director General of the International Labor Organization, Gilbert Houngbo.

During the plenary session of the conference, Abu Thanin delivered a speech in which he emphasized the importance of early qualification and training to meet the labor market’s needs, highlighting technical, personal, and social skills as well as modern work patterns.

Abu Thanin also highlighted the Kingdom’s significant commitment to investing in and developing human resources through the Vision 2030 programs and labor market strategy, along with its various initiatives.

He also pointed out the ministry’s initiative in holding the Global Labor Market Conference in partnership with the International Labor Organization and the World Bank, with the participation of a group of international experts and specialists with the aim of setting plans for future changes in the labor market.

The conference participants are expected to discuss several issues and reports, including the arrangement and coordination of Arab participation in the activities of the upcoming International Labor Conference organized by the International Labor Organization, scheduled to be held in Geneva.

The Arab Labor Organization is one of the organizations of the Arab League, established in 1965. It is considered the first specialized Arab organization concerned with labor and workers’ affairs at the level of the Arab world.


The Bedouin’s best friend: Saudi saluki center works to preserve at-risk breed

The Bedouin’s best friend: Saudi saluki center works to preserve at-risk breed
Updated 12 sec ago
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The Bedouin’s best friend: Saudi saluki center works to preserve at-risk breed

The Bedouin’s best friend: Saudi saluki center works to preserve at-risk breed
  • The Arabian saluki dates back 5,000 years but faces the threat of extinction due to crossbreeding, the loss of traditional desert habitats and lifestyle changes in region
  • International Aseel Arabian Saluki Center aims to raise awareness of breeding standards and offers support for owners, including training and veterinary services

RIYADH: The Arabian saluki, which is believed to have originated in the Middle East, is one of the oldest purebred dogs in the world. It has been a loyal companion to Bedouin peoples dating back at least 5,000 years.

Now, however, it faces the threat of extinction as a result of crossbreeding but the International Aseel Arabian Saluki Center in Saudi Arabia is working hard to ensure it survives.

Unlike some breeds that rely primarily on sense of smell for hunting, salukis are sighthounds, meaning they visually identify prey. Known for their agility, intelligence and an impressive ability to take down prey, salukis long served Arab Bedouin tribes as hunters.

Fahad Al-Farhan, the president of The International Aseel Arabian Saluki Center. (Supplied/IAASC)

Fahad Al-Farhan, the president of the IAASC, explained the significance of the saluki to the region.

Arabian salukis are “deeply rooted in our culture and one of our main symbols of our national identity with falcons, Arabian horses and camels,” Al-Farhan told Arab News.

“The Arabian saluki and the traditional way of hunting is a vital part of Arabian culture and heritage.

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The Arabian saluki dates back 5,000 years but faces the threat of extinction due to crossbreeding, the loss of traditional desert habitats and lifestyle changes in region.

“In the old days, salukis were indispensable hunting companions, securing the existence of many of the Bedouin families.

“They are graceful and fast and they distinguish themselves with their endurance.”

Unlike some breeds that rely primarily on sense of smell for hunting, salukis are sighthounds, meaning they visually identify prey. (Supplied/IAASC)

He noted the loyalty of the breed, quoting a proverb that states: “Only the owner sees the true face of a saluki.”

The animals are very attached to their families and loyal to their masters, said Al-Farhan, who is also president of the World Aseel Arabian Saluki Organization and the Saudi Kennel Club Union.

“Although the Arabian salukis are natural born hunters, they are calm and even-tempered representatives of their species,” he added.

Arabian saluki dates back 5,000 years but faces the threat of extinction due to crossbreeding, the loss of traditional desert habitats and lifestyle changes in region. (Supplied/IAASC)

“They are also very curious and you even get the impression that they have a great sense of humor.”

However, the rapid economic growth of the region in the modern era has endangered the natural desert environments that were the traditional habitats not only of the saluki but other Arabian species including falcons, horses and camels, he warned.

“The deserts and Arab lifestyles that created the circumstances in which the Arabian horse, camels and the saluki flourished now no longer exist,” Al-Farhan said

“As a part of the cultural heritage of Arabian hunting, Bedouins have been breeding Arabian salukis for thousands of years (but) the saluki may be lost to our future generations unless steps are taken to preserve it.”

The Arabian Aseel Saluki Center in Saudi Arabia has a long list of members that includes saluki owners abroad, Al-Farhan added, and it works to raise public awareness of breeding standards.

It offers veterinary services worldwide, including health checks and vaccinations, health certificates, micro-chipping and DNA testing, together with advice about grooming and travel arrangements for owners moving their dogs to another country.

Al-Farhan said that the IAASC is working to register the Arabian saluki on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, which recognizes and helps to preserve endangered cultural traditions and practices.

“We believe that the inscription of the Arabian saluki hound of Arabia (on the UNESCO lists) will promote the visibility of its heritage locally and worldwide,” he added.

 


Desert truffles: Saudi Arabia’s buried treasure

The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle. (SPA)
The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle. (SPA)
Updated 16 min 58 sec ago
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Desert truffles: Saudi Arabia’s buried treasure

The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle. (SPA)
  • Truffles offer various benefits beyond their culinary value. Their water is traditionally believed to have medicinal properties for eye ailments, based on a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad

QASSIM: A prized wild fungus found under the desert sands is popping up at markets across the Kingdom as Saudi Arabia’s truffle season is in full swing.

The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle, known by its scientific name Terfeziaceae, or in Arabic as fage, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.

The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle. (SPA)

Several natural environmental factors contribute to the area’s proliferation of truffles, including fertile soil, untouched land, access to fresh water, climate, and the presence of the sunrose or raqrooq plant, particularly in the northern Qassim areas of Shari and Al-Sa’ira.

Local farmer Abdulkarim Saleh Al-Rasheed harvests truffles found near the sunrose plant thriving in lowlands adjacent to wheat fields irrigated by overflowing pivot sprinklers.

The central region of Qassim is a leading center for the cultivation of the desert truffle. (SPA)

He said that the emergence of truffles had coincided with the cessation of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, a phenomenon traditionally linked to truffle growth.

Al-Rasheed told SPA that successful cultivation depended on irrigation timing, water salinity, soil fertility and temperature, each playing a crucial role.

For truffles, the optimal temperature is measured ten days after the typically mild “Wasm” season beginning in mid-October.

In northern Qassim, this translates to nighttime temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.

Irrigation typically begins around Sept. 25 in areas where the sunrose plant is present, with truffles beginning to appear about 50 days later.

He added that cultivated truffles in northern Qassim typically begin to appear around Nov. 20.

Truffles offer various benefits beyond their culinary value. Their water is traditionally believed to have medicinal properties for eye ailments, based on a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. They also serve as a natural food source for grazing animals.

The Qassim Truffle Festival, currently in its fourth year, is a marker of the region’s truffle production.

The ten-day festival features 18 booths showcasing truffles, a dedicated auction area, 32 booths for local producers, and other exhibits featuring dates, honey, food products, and related activities.

 


Poetry in spotlight at Jazan forum

Poetry in spotlight at Jazan forum
Updated 10 January 2025
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Poetry in spotlight at Jazan forum

Poetry in spotlight at Jazan forum
  • This year’s forum featured the participation of over 25 poets representing various poetic schools

JAZAN: The Sixth Poetry Forum was launched at the Jazan Literary Club on Thursday. The event forms part of the Jazan Winter Season 2025 and was held at the Grand Millennium Gizan Hotel. Yahya Al-Ghazwani, the secretary of the Jazan region and general supervisor of the winter festival, attended the event.

Hassan Al-Salhabi, the club’s president, spoke of the forum’s success over the past five years, which has boasted the participation of more than 200 poets.

Among the guests was Yahya Al-Ghazwani, supervisor of the Jazan winter festival and regional secretary. (SPA)

He also mentioned the honoring of several literary figures in the Kingdom and the presentation of specialized critical studies on prominent poets.

This year’s forum, which ran for two days, featured the participation of over 25 poets representing various poetic schools, further enriching the cultural movement on the local literary map.

The opening included an artistic performance titled “Inspiration of Mirrors,” and the honoring of several participating writers and poets.

Two poetry sessions were held on the first day of the forum, featuring 10 poets who presented a variety of works in front of a large audience.

 


Saudi Arabia takes up position as secretariat of global coral reef body

Saudi Arabia takes up position as secretariat of global coral reef body
Updated 10 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia takes up position as secretariat of global coral reef body

Saudi Arabia takes up position as secretariat of global coral reef body
  • Coral reefs sustain 25 percent of the world’s marine biodiversity and generate an estimated $9.9 trillion annually in ecosystem services

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Friday officially assumed its position as secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative, an organization that works to protect the planet’s coral reefs.

Representing 102 members and 45 countries responsible for 75 percent of the world’s reefs, ICRI plays a role in tackling environmental and economic challenges facing these vital ecosystems.

The virtual handover ceremony was attended by international representatives, including Peter Thomson, the UN’s special envoy for the ocean, as well as representatives from organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the US State Department.

The Kingdom’s tenure as head of the body was confirmed during the ICRI’s 38th General Meeting in September 2024 and will be led by the Kingdom’s General Organization for the Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, also known as SHAMS.

“Saudi Arabia’s role as ICRI secretariat underscores our unwavering commitment to a sustainable future for coral reefs worldwide,” said Dr. Khaled Asfahani, CEO of SHAMS and chair of ICRI. “Through science, innovation, and collaboration, we aim to protect these vital ecosystems, ensuring their resilience for future generations while maintaining their invaluable contributions to the global economy.”

Coral reefs sustain 25 percent of the world’s marine biodiversity and generate an estimated $9.9 trillion annually in ecosystem services, from fisheries to tourism.

Yet, they are under siege from climate change, pollution, and overfishing. With Saudi Arabia at the helm, ICRI will craft its 2025–2027 Action Plan to address these threats.

The plan seeks to expand membership to include countries representing 90 percent of global coral reefs, strengthen regional collaborations in the Red Sea, South Asia, and East Africa, and integrate reef resilience into global biodiversity policies.


Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh looks to bolster global links

Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh looks to bolster global links
Updated 10 January 2025
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Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh looks to bolster global links

Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh looks to bolster global links
  • Mining leaders from 85 countries gather next week to discuss challenges, outlook
  • The event is being organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources under the patronage of King Salman

RIYADH: Leading mining representatives from more than 85 countries will meet in Riyadh next week as the Future Minerals Forum discusses challenges and developments in the global mineral industries.
Key stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, business federations, investors, and sector leaders, will take part in the forum from Jan. 14-16 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center.
The event is being organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources under the patronage of King Salman.
According to the ministry, the fourth annual international ministerial meeting of mining ministers, due to take place on Jan. 14 as part of the forum, will feature its largest-ever number of government representatives and topics to be discussed.
Among the 85 countries represented will be 16 nations from the G20. At least 50 ministers and 13 deputy ministers are taking part, the ministry said.
The ministry said that over 50 official and nongovernmental organizations, along with trade unions and leading figures in the global mining industry, will attend the event, reflecting the significance of the gathering as a global platform to discuss mining and mineral industry affairs, ways to meet the growing demand for strategic and critical minerals, and new opportunities for development in mineral-producing and processing countries.
The meeting will focus on several issues, including progress made during the previous year concerning the three ministerial meeting initiatives, which include developing a strategic framework for critical minerals increasing value-added processing in mineral-producing countries, producing green minerals using modern technologies and renewable energy, and ensuring sustainability and transparency in supply chains.
Discussions will also focus on the establishment of centers of excellence in major mining regions to enable investment, build capabilities, and develop human resources.
Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef will chair the meeting and deliver the opening address, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable mineral development and emphasizing its leadership role in advancing the sector’s future.
He will also discuss opportunities for global cooperation to face challenges and invest in the vast potential offered by the mineral sector.
Among the ministers attending the meeting are Italian Minister for the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin; UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds; Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira; Indian Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy; South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau; Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba; Egyptian Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi; Nigerian Minister of Solid Minerals Development Henry Dele Alake; and Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali.
Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer said that the meeting represents an important step toward achieving sustainable development in the global mining and minerals sector.
He said that the international ministerial meeting provides an ideal platform for finding solutions and developing legislation on best practices in sustainable mining, exploring ways to invest in mining projects to achieve economic and social development in producing countries.