Red Sea Global, Warner Bros. to release coral reef documentary

The film features Saudi Arabian free diver Salma Shaker as she explores extensive coral research. (RSG)
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Updated 16 April 2024
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Red Sea Global, Warner Bros. to release coral reef documentary

  • Viewers will discover the untouched coral reefs along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery to produce a documentary on climate change and coral reefs.

“Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals” will air on the Discovery Channel on Earth Day, April 22, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The documentary will highlight RSG’s environmental efforts, according to a statement from the developer.

Red Sea Global Group CEO John Pagano said the documentary will “aim to spotlight the beauty and vulnerability of these underwater wonders and emphasize the importance of global collaboration in preserving our oceans.”

The film features Saudi Arabian free diver Salma Shaker as she explores the extensive coral research conducted by Red Sea Global and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

Viewers will also discover the untouched coral reefs along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, showcasing their rich biodiversity and vital role in the environment.

“Beneath the Surface: The Fight for Corals” also extends beyond local waters to coral reefs in Mexico, emphasizing the universal challenges these ecosystems face.

The documentary will highlight the benefits of coral research in the Red Sea for ecosystems globally.

Kerrie McEvoy, head of Factual Channels in Discovery Networks EMEA at Warner Bros Discovery, said: “As a company, we believe in the power of storytelling to entertain and inspire change, and this film exemplifies that commitment.”

The documentary will provide a holistic view of coral reefs worldwide, their importance to the marine ecosystem, as well as conservation efforts. It also features insights from a range of experts.

A trailer of the documentary was screened to attendees at a side event during COP28 in Dubai late last year.
 


Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh

Updated 5 sec ago
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Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh

  • ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan

RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.

Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”

He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”

“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.

The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.

A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan

 


Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan

Updated 5 min 42 sec ago
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Saudi aid agency KSrelief distributes over 2,000 food parcels in Pakistan

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 2,028 food parcels in Pakistan’s flood-affected Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions, benefiting 13,159 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Sunday’s initiative forms part of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan.

The aid reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to assist needy individuals in Pakistan.


Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation

Updated 17 min 36 sec ago
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Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation

RIYADH: Japan’s Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.

The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.

The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2023.

A version of this story originally appeared on Arab News Japan


Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center

Updated 26 min 5 sec ago
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Saudi aid agency KSrelief treats hundreds at Aden prosthetics center

  • The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has helped to treat 452 Yemenis, who lost limbs because of the ongoing conflict, at the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Aden governorate, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

A total of 1,407 procedures were completed for men, who made up 65 percent of patients, and women at 35 percent.

In addition, 54 percent were displaced individuals and 46 percent residents.

The services included the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy.

KSrelief continues to provide general and critical care for vulnerable Yemeni people, the SPA reported.


New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve 

Updated 14 January 2025
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New study documents reptile species in King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve 

  • Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve

RIYADH: A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled the first detailed list of reptile species in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Conducted by the reserve’s development authority, the study was published in the Amphibian & Reptiles Conservation journal.

Researchers identified 31 species — 25 lizards and six snakes — following 1,551 field observations within the reserve. Three species were also newly documented, raising the reserve’s known total to 34.

The research highlighted two endangered species, the Egyptian monitor lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) and the Wolfgangboehmei gecko (Tropicolotes wolfgangboehmei), which both face threats from climate change and human activity, according to the study.

Spanning from November 2022 to October 2023, the study employed tools such as genetic barcoding and highlighted the reserve’s ecological diversity.

Aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program and the Saudi Green Initiative, the study is part of efforts to protect endangered species and sustain wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Researchers recommended enhanced monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate environmental challenges.