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RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered 195 winter kits for vulnerable people in Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
This initiative is a part of an ongoing emergency shelter project in Yemen. The kits benefited 1,170 people from 195 families.
KSrelief provides food, medical and other aid to needy communities across the globe.
Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.
They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Ƶ Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.
Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
RIYADH: Ƶ is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.
The three-day Biofach Ƶ, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.
Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.
Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Ƶ, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”
Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.
The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.
Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.
Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”
He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.
Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”
Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.
“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.
He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.
These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.
“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.
RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India
More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.
Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Ƶ for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.
Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Ƶ’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.
RIYADH: King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has launched Arabic Language Month in Thailand, in cooperation with Krirk University in Bangkok and Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, southern Thailand.
The event is a comprehensive program aimed at developing Arabic language curricula, improving teacher performance, promoting Arabic and highlighting Ƶ’s initiatives in this field, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Running until Nov. 29, the event features a variety of activities, including a scientific symposium, two panel discussions and four courses designed to enhance the teaching skills of Arabic teachers for non-native speakers, focusing on modern teaching methods.
The King Salman academy has hosted Arabic Language Month programs in a number of countries, including Indonesia, China, India, France and Brazil.
Last month, the academy hosted Arabic Language Month in France, featuring educational activities aimed at developing Arabic curricula.
The program included visits and meetings with French educational institutions offering Arabic programs and centers focused on teaching and promoting the Arabic language.
RIYADH: The National Portal for Hobbies, Hawi, a part of the Quality of Life Program, is hosting the Hawi Baloot Tournament in Riyadh on Nov. 14-15.
The tournament aims to promote the popular card game, and encourage individuals to pursue their interests, contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 goals in the hobby sector.
The event will be held at King Saud University. Interested participants can register via the Hawi app.
Open to all Baloot enthusiasts in Riyadh, the tournament will follow the Swiss system format, with five rounds of play. The top four teams will qualify for the knockout stage to compete for the top spots.
The total prize pool is SR20,000 ($5,300). Participants must also adhere to public morals, including the dress code.
Hawi has previously organized several tournaments across the Kingdom, including one in Makkah last month, with more planned for the coming months.
The initiative encourages people of all ages to engage in hobbies, particularly Baloot, fostering friendly competition within society.
The hobby sector in the Kingdom has rapidly grown since being placed under the Quality of Life Program, which, in collaboration with 12 government entities, established Hawi to oversee the sector.
Hawi supports both male and female hobbyists, raising awareness about the importance of hobbies in achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
