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Ithra Winter set to heat up the season with art, music and drones

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season. (Supplied)
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Updated 9 min 40 sec ago

Ithra Winter set to heat up the season with art, music and drones

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season.
  • Khobar Season and Ithra Winter will kick off with performances at Ithra Theater by young talents Abdulaziz Al-Ma’na and Abdullah Al-Manea

DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture has announced the beginning of Ithra Winter, coinciding with Khobar Season.

From Oct. 29 to April 2026, families and friends can come together in warm, inspiring atmospheres filled with art, music and live performances.

The season features a light and 1,000 drone show, interactive workshops, live music, family activities, a winter souq and plenty of food.

Khobar Season and Ithra Winter will kick off with performances at Ithra Theater by two of º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s promising young talents: Abdulaziz Al-Ma’na and Abdullah Al-Manea, led by Maestro Wissam Khassaf.

Together, they will present a musical experience that embodies the spirit of the season and reflects the artistic identity and taste of the region.

The outdoor spaces at Ithra will host a diverse musical program, including free performances by Saad Aloud, interactive live shows with Saudi Arwa and the Choralla band.

Art lovers can also attend the opening of a brand new exhibition on Oct. 30, which will bring together 28 Saudi artists exploring the theme of “home†through 35 works of art.

Ithra continues to cement its position as a cultural hub in the Eastern Province, combining local and global experiences.

Programs include Tanween, Ithra’s flagship program starting on Nov. 17, as well as the celebration of the 10th edition of the Iqra’ Competition, and the upcoming Ithra Cultural Days (Spain), which will showcase Spanish culture through music, arts, cinema and food, promoting cultural exchange between º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Spain, and following on from the success of the Japanese cultural event earlier this year.

While entry to the Ithra building is always free, as are most events, some performances and areas require tickets, which can be purchased on-site. For a full schedule of activities and times, visit the Ithra website or follow its social media accounts.


KSGAAL announces names of award winners for serving Arabic language

KSGAAL announces names of award winners for serving Arabic language
Updated 5 sec ago

KSGAAL announces names of award winners for serving Arabic language

KSGAAL announces names of award winners for serving Arabic language
  • There will be a ceremony honoring the winners held under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, minister of culture

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language announced the names of the winners of its awards celebrating efforts to serve the language.

Mahmoud Al-Batal won an award for his work in teaching Arabic in the US, which included carrying out in-depth research into linguistics, much of which has been published in peer-reviewed studies.

The Saudi-based Manahij International Foundation received an award recognizing its development of educational materials and curricula for early years language learning and Arabic for non-native speakers.

Manahij was also highlighted for developing training packages for teachers, and praised for its “originality, methodology and innovation†in the field, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Algerian Ahmed Khorssi was recognized with an award for his contributions to the language by developing more than 30 computer programs including tools for correcting pronunciation.

He has published more than 15 studies in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology won an award for developing systems including an audio database, an automatic speech recognition system in local dialects, and other advanced tools.

Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki, from Lebanon, won an award that recognized his academic career that has spanned four decades

Baalbaki has authored 12 books and more than 80 research papers in Arabic and English in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Saad Abdel Aziz Maslouh, from Egypt, received an award recognizing a lifetime of academic achievements including the publication of 33 books and 29 research papers.

The Arabic Education Training Center for Gulf States, in the UAE, was awarded for developing evaluation tools and other educational content.

Mazen Abdulqader Mohammed Al-Mubarak, from Syria, won an award for his extensive scholarly work including the well-known book “Towards Linguistic Awareness.â€

The National Coalition for Arabic Language in Morocco also received an award for promoting linguistic awareness in Moroccan society through lectures, seminars and intellectual forums.

There will be a ceremony honoring the winners held under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, minister of culture and chairman of the board of trustees of the academy, next Sunday in Riyadh.


National Greening Season begins in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

The National Greening Season 2025 has begun in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, and aims to expand vegetation cover and reduce land degradation.
The National Greening Season 2025 has begun in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, and aims to expand vegetation cover and reduce land degradation.
Updated 18 min 29 sec ago

National Greening Season begins in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

The National Greening Season 2025 has begun in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, and aims to expand vegetation cover and reduce land degradation.
  • Season supports national goals of Saudi Green Initiative

RIYADH: The National Greening Season 2025 has begun in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, and aims to expand vegetation cover and reduce land degradation in the country.

Supporting the national goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, this year’s greening season is the second following its launch in 2024.

It emphasizes the importance of growing native plants suited to the Saudi environment, as well as raising awareness about the impact of poor environmental practices. It also seeks to encourage volunteering.

The program will also attempt to strengthen partnerships in government and private and non-profit sectors, contributing to unifying national efforts toward achieving environmental sustainability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The country has so far planted more than 151 million trees and rehabilitated more than 500,000 hectares of land under its SGI.


Global fire, rescue teams gather in Riyadh

Many national teams from other countries, including Cameroon, also reached out to participate in the fire and rescue sport event
Many national teams from other countries, including Cameroon, also reached out to participate in the fire and rescue sport event
Updated 55 min ago

Global fire, rescue teams gather in Riyadh

Many national teams from other countries, including Cameroon, also reached out to participate in the fire and rescue sport event
  • General Directorate of Civil Defense is hosting the event in partnership with the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers

RIYADH: Cameroon, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia’s national teams arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday to take part in the World Championship in Fire and Rescue Sport, held in Riyadh from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense is hosting the event in partnership with the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers.

The championship marks the first time an Arab nation has hosted the event since the federation’s establishment in 2001, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The event highlights the Kingdom’s growing stature as a global hub for major international sporting events, with participation from 22 countries.

Russian Minister of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief Lt. Gen. Alexander Kurenkov arrived in the Saudi capital to attend the event.

Many national teams from other countries, including China and Kyrgyzstan, also reached out to participate in the fire and rescue sport event.

Firefighting and rescue sports simulate real-life firefighting operations in a competitive framework that tests athletes’ speed, endurance, and teamwork, the SPA reported.

The championship includes four main competitions: hook ladder climbing, the 100-meter hurdles, the 400-meter relay, and the water pump and hose firefighting race.

The Ministry of Interior, through the General Directorate of Passports, has introduced a special stamp marking the championship, available to travelers arriving at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ joined the federation in 2022 to help develop fire and rescue sports locally and globally, enhance international cooperation, and build human capabilities.

This is achieved through sharing knowledge, expertise, and skills, and introducing new rescue and firefighting technologies, the SPA reported.

Aleksandr Chupriyan, president of the federation, praised the Kingdom’s efforts and expressed confidence that º£½ÇÖ±²¥ will deliver an outstanding championship.


º£½ÇÖ±²¥ welcomes expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump applaud as ceasefire agreement signed between Thailand and Cambodia.
Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump applaud as ceasefire agreement signed between Thailand and Cambodia.
Updated 26 October 2025

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ welcomes expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia

Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim and US President Donald Trump applaud as ceasefire agreement signed between Thailand and Cambodia.
  • The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire deal on Sunday watched over by Trump, who is in Malaysia for an ASEAN Summit

RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥ on Sunday welcomed an expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The leaders of both countries signed an expanded ceasefire deal on Sunday watched over by US President Donald Trump, who is in Malaysia for an ASEAN Summit.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet signed the agreement at a ceasefire ceremony in front of a sign that read “Delivering Peace,†building on a truce signed three months ago.

Trump helped broker an end to the five-day conflict in July by calling the then-leaders of the two countries and urging them to end hostilities or risk their respective trade talks with Washington being put on hold.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry “appreciates all efforts made to resolve the border dispute between the two countries and to pave the way for sustainable peace that meets the aspirations of both countries and their peoples.â€

The Kingdom reiterated its full support for diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving disputes through peaceful means which ensure the establishment of international peace and security.


º£½ÇÖ±²¥ signs UN convention against cybercrime

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ signs UN convention against cybercrime
Updated 26 October 2025

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ signs UN convention against cybercrime

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ signs UN convention against cybercrime

RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥ signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime, joining 64 other countries in endorsing the first UN crime-fighting pact in more than 20 years, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Represented by Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, the Kingdom’s signing is a continuation of its role in supporting international efforts at enhancing security and stability in cyberspace, and consolidating international cooperation in combating cybercrime.

Approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 following five years of negotiation, CAC establishes the first worldwide framework for prosecuting online crimes, ranging from ransomware and financial fraud to the unauthorized distribution of intimate images.

At the signing ceremony, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that while technology had brought “extraordinary progress,†it had also created new vulnerabilities, according to UN News.

“Every day, sophisticated scams defraud families, steal livelihoods and drain billions of dollars from our economies, Guterres said.

“In cyberspace, nobody is safe until everybody is safe. One vulnerability anywhere can expose people and institutions everywhere.â€

Guterres said the convention is a victory for victims of online abuse and a clear pathway for investigators and prosecutors to enable justice for transnational crimes where evidence spans jurisdictions.

This multilateral treaty — the first UN crime-fighting instrument in more than two decades — comes as cyber threats escalate rapidly.

It aims to strengthen preventive measures, international cooperation and specialized capacity building.

The convention criminalizes acts including unauthorized system access, data interference or corruption and online sexual assault of children.

The National Cybersecurity Authority, as the Kingdom’s dedicated cybersecurity entity and national reference body, works to safeguard national interests, infrastructure and state security.

The authority also represents º£½ÇÖ±²¥ in bilateral, regional, and international cybersecurity forums while overseeing implementation of the Kingdom’s global commitments in this domain.