RIYADH: Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi inaugurated Riyadh International Book Fair 2016 on Wednesday.
A large audience attended the opening ceremony at the Riyadh Center for Exhibition and Conference, including top Ministry of Culture and Information officials, diplomats and representatives of local and international publishing houses along with the general public.
Around 500 local and international publishers and countries are participating in the fair, displaying a wide variety of books on science, technology, history, literature, politics, religion, languages, geography, medicine, engineering and education.
Many countries are participating in the 10-day event with national booths of different sizes, with Greece having a large pavilion as guest of honor country at the middle of the fair venue.
The United States is one of the major participating countries. “First, I would like to congratulate Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Ministry of Culture and Information for professionally organizing this large event. We are very happy to participate in this major Saudi culture event because of its importance to our bilateral cultural relations,” US Cultural Attaché David Edginton told Arab News.
He said that the US booth will display many books on American culture, history and biographies of prominent Americans.
“The fair is a good opportunity for us and all participants and visitors to exchange ideas and information freely,” Edginton said.
The fair, seen as one of the largest yearly cultural events not only in the Kingdom but in the whole Middle East, aims to facilitate and promote exchanges between authors, publishers and all responsible for promoting the culture of reading.
The ministry has set strict rules to protect intellectual property at the fair. Other rules include warnings against displaying or selling any books or cultural materials not approved by the ministry.
Al-Toraifi opens Riyadh Book Fair 2016
Al-Toraifi opens Riyadh Book Fair 2016
Police nab two Pakistani residents for drug case
RIYADH: Police officers in Riyadh have arrested two Pakistani residents for promoting the drug methamphetamine, or more commonly known as shabu.
Legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the competent authority, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The security authorities said all information available to citizens and residents about any activities related to drug smuggling or drug promotion shalll be reported to police, by calling the numbers (911) in the regions of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Riyadh, and Al-Sharqiyah and (999) in the rest of the regions of the Kingdom.
Haramain Express ready to meet Hajj demand
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Haramain Express is prepared to meet expected demand for train trips during this year’s Hajj season.
Saudi Arabian Railways, in coordination with the operators of Haramain Express, said they plan to operate more than 3,800 train trips, providing more than 1.6 million seats, an increase of more than 100,000 seats compared with last year.
By connecting Makkah with Madinah via a double railway line, the Haramain Express provides safe transport for pilgrims, Umrah performers and travelers between the two holy cities and the city of Jeddah.
Haramain Express Train is considered one of the 10 fastest electric trains in the world and is capable of speeds up to 300 kph while using advanced signaling and communications systems, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Launched in September 2018, it is a crucial part of the development plan and expansion program in the Saudi railway network. The project connects the main cities in the Western Region, addressing the growing demand to serve increasing numbers of internal and external pilgrims and reducing congestion on the roads in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.
The Haramain Express Railway is a 453 kilometer route linking Madinah and Makkah. It has a 449 km line from Makkah to Madinah and a 3.75-km branch connection to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudi economy minister meets with senior Italian official
MILAN: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim, met with Antonio Tajani, Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.
During Saturday’s meeting, the two officials discussed cooperation and bilateral relations in various sectors between their two countries, as well as global and economic developments, reported Saudi Press Agency.
Saudi Arabia continues Hajj 2024 preparations as pilgrims arrive
JEDDAH: Sheikh Aima Diakite, president of the Superior Council of Imams of Mosques and Islamic Affairs in Ivory Coast, praised the services and facilities provided by the Makkah Route Initiative.
Diakite said the program has enabled pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals easily and comfortably.
The Makkah Route Initiative has developed procedures for Ivorian and other pilgrims and worked on overcoming difficulties and obstacles to alleviate the hardship of Hajj, Diakite told the Saudi Press Agency.
Saudi Arabia launched the initiative in 2019 to help Hajj pilgrims from seven countries — Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye and Ivory Coast — with their visa, customs and passport requirements.
Pilgrims arriving from Jordan and Palestine also expressed gratitude to the Saudi government for organizing the Hajj process and caring for pilgrims.
Meanwhile, more than 20,000 pilgrims have arrived from Iraq through the Jadidat Arar border crossing in the Kingdom’s Northern Border Region, ahead of this year’s pilgrimage, and were provided with security, health and guidance services by 194 volunteers.
Over at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, 7,808,112 worshippers and visitors visited the daily prayers last week, according to SPA.
Penalty enforcement for performing Hajj without a permit begins
- The no-permit, no-Hajj policy will be in effect until June 20, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Security has begun imposing penalties on pilgrims violating Hajj regulations and instructions by undertaking a pilgrimage without a permit.
The areas covered by the no-permit, no-Hajj policy include the city of Makkah, the central area, the holy sites, the Haramain train station, security checkpoints, screening centers and temporary security checkpoints, according to a report from Saudi Press Agency.
The rule will be in effect until June 20, 2024.
Any individual — whether citizen, resident, or visitor — found violating Hajj regulations will be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals ($2,666). Non-citizens will be deported to their home country and banned from re-entering the Kingdom for a specified period.
The Public Security also said repeat offenders would have their fines doubled, as the agency stressed the importance of adhering to Hajj regulations and instructions to ensure pilgrims can perform rituals safely and peacefully.
In addition, any individual caught transporting Hajj violators without a permit faces imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of up to 50,000 riyals (13,328), and their vehicle confiscated.
Violators who are not citizens will be deported after serving the sentence and barred from re-entering the Kingdom for a specified period. Fines will be multiplied according to the number of transported violators, the agency added.
To report violations, contact (911) in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern regions, or (999) in other regions.
