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JEDDAH: An event to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the exchange of ideas about geographical place names in Arab countries began in Jeddah on Sunday.

Experts from 22 Arab nations and international organizations gathered for the start of the 10th Forum of the Arab Division of Experts in Geographical Names, which is scheduled to run for three days.

The event is being held under the theme “Strengthening Relations and Links Between Arab States in the Field of Geographical Names,” and is hosted under the auspices of Prince Khalid bin Salman, the minister of defense and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.

The conference, which was opened by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, aims to facilitate joint Arab action in various fields, including the documentation of geographical names; unifying geographical names in Arabic, avoiding the use of colloquial dialects; and launching new national committees.

Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Sayel, president of the authority, noted that ��������Ƶ placed great importance on the topic of geographical names.

The authority on the opening day signed 10 memorandums of cooperation with a number of entities in the government sector, the academic sector, and the nonprofit sector.

Tim Trainer, a part-time consultant to the UN and former chief geospatial scientist for the US Census Bureau, told Arab News: “The collaboration, from a regional perspective, is very impressive, and it seems there is a positive path to that collaboration.”

Meanwhile, Tariq Aba Al-Khail, the official spokesperson for the Saudi Geological Survey, spoke of the importance of documenting data on mineral sites through the National Geological Information Database.

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has launched the Child’s Culture digital platform to spark children’s interest in ��������Ƶ’s rich cultural heritage.

The platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Young explorers can delve into various sections, such as Cultural Monuments, which showcases iconic heritage sites; Cultural Luminaries, which introduces influential Saudi figures; and Cultural Recommendations, which features weekly updates on cultural experiences.

The Puzzle Game section challenges players to assemble fragments of paintings from different regions to reveal a complete masterpiece.

Catering to auditory learners, the platform offers the “Podcast Tawela,” with content tailored to capture the imagination of young audiences.

The platform also offers a variety of training activities to nurture children’s cultural talents. These include Be Creative with Your Handwriting with Arabic Poetry, which provides handwriting lessons for young Arabic learners; Let’s Discover Culture Together, a coloring book that introduces children to cultural concepts through art; and The Little Writer, which guides children in writing and composition.

The initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader children’s program aimed at nurturing national pride by providing an accessible and engaging gateway for children to explore their cultural heritage.

Through innovative and interactive content, the platform fosters knowledge, skills development, and a deep appreciation of Saudi culture and identity.

The platform is accessible at .