KSrelief distributes food aid, shelter packages in Pakistan, Yemen
Updated 25 October 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency, KSrelief, recently distributed food and shelter packages to families in towns and districts of the flood-affected Balochistan province in Pakistan.
In Washuk town, 818 shelter packages were given to 5,726 residents, while in the Sohbatpur district 965 food parcels were distributed.
The distribution of aid is a part of the second phase of a food security project in Pakistan.
In Yemen, the aid agency provided shelter and food packages to families in Al-Mahrah governorate, hours after Cyclone Tej damaged homes and displaced hundreds of families.
The assistance includes food, blankets, mattresses, and other household essentials.
15 years in jail for 2 expatriates guilty of SR22m financial fraud in Saudi Arabia
The pair, who set up call centers from which they contacted victims while pretending to be government officials, were also fined a total of SR1.5m
Updated 11 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Two expatriates convicted of financial fraud have each been jailed for 15 years in Saudi Arabia and fined a total of SR1.5 million ($400,000). They were found guilty of 177 crimes from which they amassed more than SR22 million.
Investigations revealed the pair organized a fraud operation that targeted victims inside and outside the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. They established call centers in several regions across the country, from which they contacted victims while pretending to be government officials.
A search of their residence revealed tablets, SIM cards, two high-tech telecoms devices for making fraudulent calls, and a control device that managed the entire operation.
One of the individuals was fined SR1 million and the other SR500,000. The court also ordered that their ill-gotten gains be seized, and they be deported after completing their sentences. Officials from the Public Prosecution worked to trace the illicit funds and froze them so that the money can be returned to the victims.
The Public Prosecution said it remains committed to investigating such crimes and taking action against anyone found to be involved in them, as efforts to combat financial fraud are a top priority to help protect the assets of citizens and residents.
Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission vows to protect archeological sites against violators
Penalties for violations, including sticking advertisements, include hefty fines and imprisonment
Updated 08 October 2024
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission stressed that it will stand firmly against people who tamper with archeological sites, taking legal measures against them and preventing any transgressions that pose a threat to the safety of the Kingdom’s heritage.
In the past week, the commission observed several violations of the antiquities and urban heritage regulations in Al-Wajh governorate in the Tabuk region and referred 23 expatriates to the relevant authorities.
The commission seeks to raise public awareness about Saudi Arabia’s archeological heritage. (SPA)
The Heritage Commission explained that the encroachments were observed on the Umm Qurayyat and Al-Arja sites in Al-Wajh, Tabuk.
The violators moved stones and soil from an archeological site, it noted, adding that authorities will take legal measures against them.
HIGHLIGHT
The Heritage Commission outlined the penalties for vandalism and attacks on heritage sites, as stipulated in Articles 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the Antiquities and Urban Heritage Law.
The commission noted that it arrested numerous individuals who were involved in similar violations and investigations are underway in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.
The commission seeks to raise public awareness about Saudi Arabia’s archeological heritage. (SPA)
In its statement to Arab News, it emphasized that its mission is to protect and effectively manage the Kingdom’s cultural wealth and archaeological sites, by enforcing laws and regulations that ensure the protection of these sites.
The commission also seeks to raise local communities’ awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage as an integral part of the nation’s historical identity.
The commission seeks to raise local communities’ awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage as an integral part of the nation’s historical identity. (SPA)
The Heritage Commission outlined the penalties for vandalism and attacks on heritage sites, as stipulated in Articles 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 of the Antiquities and Urban Heritage Law.
According to these regulations, anyone who illegally appropriates an antiquity belonging to the state faces imprisonment for a period ranging from six months to seven years, and fines of between SR50,000 ($13,300) and SR500,000.
The commission seeks to raise public awareness about Saudi Arabia’s archeological heritage. (SPA)
In addition, the articles stipulate that anyone who violates a monument, archeological site or urban heritage site by destroying, altering, removing, excavating, damaging and changing its features, can be punished with imprisonment for a period ranging from three months to three years, and a fine between SR20,000 and SR300,0000.
The commission added in its statement: “Anyone who surveys or excavates antiquities without a license faces imprisonment for a period of not more than two years and a fine of not more than SR200,000 or with one of these two punishments.
The commission seeks to raise public awareness about Saudi Arabia’s archeological heritage. (SPA)
“Similar penalties apply to anyone who imitates or falsifies antiquity or performs any of the total or partial demolition works within the boundaries of antiquities and urban heritage sites, or builds on them, without obtaining approval from the ministry.”
It indicated that anyone who modifies a building or an urban heritage site, makes a modification in the surrounding environment that damages it without taking the ministry's approval or moves rubble, stones, or soil from monuments and urban heritage sites without the ministry’s approval, faces imprisonment for not more than a year and a fine not exceeding SR100,000 or one of these two penalties.
Similar sanctions apply to anyone who throws rubble or waste, defaces a monument or urban heritage by writing, painting, engraving, sticking advertisements on it, or committing arson in monuments and urban heritage sites.
World Dyslexia Day sees launch of initiative to empower Saudis with learning difficulties
Magnetic resonance imaging studies by scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have identified abnormal brain activity in individuals with dyslexia, particularly in left brain regions that process language and visual neural signals
Updated 08 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: A project aiming to support and empower people with learning disabilities was launched in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, coinciding with World Dyslexia Day.
The initiative will address the challenges faced by those with dyslexia, and plans to equip their families, educators and healthcare professionals with additional tools to provide support.
Bahareth said people with dyslexia often encountered difficulties due to the impact on their reading, writing and overall learning capabilities. (SPA)
“It is crucial to remember that 70 percent of history’s most groundbreaking inventions came from minds shaped by dyslexia,” said Mohammad Bahareth, the scheme’s supervisor, citing Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Nikola Tesla.
Dyslexia is initially diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. To receive additional support in the Kingdom, people need a medical report and disability certificate from authorities accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Dyslexia is initially diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. (SPA)
People with dyslexia often have normal or above-average intelligence, and many are capable of performing well in school. One of the aims of the new program is to create a more inclusive and understanding environment.
Emotional support is believed to be crucial, with early assessment and intervention leading to the best outcomes. However, dyslexia is often not diagnosed until adulthood and there is also an overlap between dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which can cause difficulties with focus and impulsivity.
Dyslexia is initially diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. (SPA)
Bahareth said people with dyslexia often encountered difficulties due to the impact on their reading, writing and overall learning capabilities. He spoke about the magnocellular theory of dyslexia, which says the condition is caused by an abnormality in the cells responsible for transmitting information between the eye and the brain.
Studies have shown these cells are smaller in those with dyslexia than in people who are neurotypical. This causes incorrect transmission and frequency of read information, resulting in messages from the eye being misinterpreted by the brain.
Magnetic resonance imaging studies by scientists at the University of Bonn in Germany have identified abnormal brain activity in individuals with dyslexia, particularly in left brain regions that process language and visual neural signals.
Those with dyslexia can also experience associated difficulties, including physical balance issues. Another common challenge is distortion in the perception of time, while spatial disorientation can be another associated symptom.
People with dyslexia might struggle to recognize directions and have difficulty finding locations with using a map, while others face mathematical and numerical challenges.
Saudi defense minister discusses efforts to de-escalate regional tensions with US counterpart
Two officials reviewed the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the US and ways to bolster defense cooperation
Updated 08 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed efforts to de-escalate regional tensions in a phone call on Tuesday.
During the call, the two officials also reviewed the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the US and ways to bolster defense cooperation.
The latest regional and international developments and efforts to promote security and stability in the region were also discussed.
Saudi defense minister meets with French ambassador to Kingdom
The two officials reviewed Saudi-French relations and discussed the latest developments in the region
Updated 08 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received the French ambassador to the Kingdom Patrick Maisonnave in Riyadh on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed Saudi-French relations and discussed the latest developments in the region.
A number of topics of mutual interest were also discussed, Prince Khalid wrote on X.
