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RIYADH: AlUla is increasingly recognized as a top summer spot for photography and astronomy lovers, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

Its clear, low-light skies and striking landscapes make it an ideal setting for night photography and stargazing.

Sites like Al-Gharameel Nature Reserve and the Arch Rock formation, along with other desert landmarks, draw photographers from across the Kingdom and abroad, who capture night scenes featuring stars, galaxies, and dramatic rocky terrain against the sunset, the SPA added.

AlUla Manara, managed by the Royal Commission for AlUla, serves as a hub for astronomy enthusiasts, offering workshops, observation programs, and public events that promote interest in space and night photography.

DarkSky International recently designated AlUla Manara and Al-Gharameel Nature Reserve as the first Dark Sky Park in º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and the Gulf region, recognizing efforts to reduce light pollution and promote astro-tourism.

Photographers from several countries praised AlUla’s natural setting and facilities, noting its strong potential as a global astrophotography destination, the SPA reported.

Tourism initiatives in AlUla include night camping, guided tours, and activities that connect visitors with nature and the cosmos, offering a complete experience under the stars.

RIYADH: An attempt to smuggle over 5 million amphetamine pills into Lebanon was thwarted after Saudi authorities provided intel to their Lebanese counterparts who intercepted the container where the pills were concealed inside glass and porcelain tableware.

Talal bin Shalhoub, spokesman of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, said that intel shared with the Lebanese Customs falls within º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s proactive security follow-up of the activities of drug smuggling criminal networks.

He commended cooperation with relevant authorities in Lebanon in monitoring and seizing narcotic substances, stressing that the Kingdom continues to monitor, confront, and thwart criminal activities targeting the Kingdom's security and youth through narcotics, and to arrest those involved.