The sweeping life style changes across the Gulf region particularly in the Kingdom, neighboring Kuwait and Qatar have had little impact at least in one aspect — the consumption of the seasonal desert truffle called Faqa.
This is quite conspicuous during winter, when health-conscious citizens make a beeline for make-shift stalls or parked vehicles vending truffle. Desert truffle known as Faqa is available right after the winter rains and its demand rises with the falling mercury.
Faqa is a gastronomic treasure that can be found hidden beneath sandy soil in the north-eastern region in general and in the surrounding areas of Hafar Al-Batin and Rafah in particular. A bumper crop of the truffle, after a 9-year gap, has attracted a large number of Saudis, Kuwaitis and Qataris according to traders who spoke with Arab News over the phone.
Faqa is used in local traditional medicine for treating eye, back, knee and leg ailments and is also known for its qualities as an aphrodisiac.
The abundant supplies of Faqa in the local markets are believed to be due to the heavy rains in the Kingdom.
“A small 2-kilogram carton of Faqa commands a price ranging upward of SR2,000,” Mishal Haddal Al-Shammari a resident of Hafar Al-Batin told Arab News on Saturday. He said that “Like some hundreds of youths, I have been busy collecting Faqa in the border areas for two weeks now.”
He said that one has to have eyes like a hawk to discover the spot in desert and dig out as much of the truffle as possible.
“Faqa has provided us with a great opportunity to make some money. Two weeks ago we sold a carton for SR5,000 and now it is going for SR2,000. The prices are expected to drop further in the coming weeks,” he said.
Faqa is also available in the northern border areas of Arar, Turaif and Rahfa but the light-colored Zubaidi as it is known in Hafar Al-Batin is considered of premium quality, he explained.
Sheikh Altaf, a long-time resident of Hafar Al-Batin said that, “We have been witnessing a huge influx of Kuwaitis and citizens from other areas into Hafar to purchase Faqa.”
He said that the entire process of searching for Faqa to sel it on the roadside is done by Saudis as they are familiar with the different qualities and are able to determine the price.
The search for Faqa is largely concentrated in Kuwait, Iraq and the bordering areas where hunters often trespass into restricted zones on the borders.
Admiral Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, spokesperson of the General Directorate of Border Guards has warned that “Border Guards will not tolerate anyone moving around the border areas in search of Faqa.” He added that Border Guards have noted an increasing presence and movement of people in the bordering areas in search of Faqa.
Connoisseurs scour desert in hunt for truffles
Connoisseurs scour desert in hunt for truffles
Saudi aid agency KSrelief sends humanitarian aid to Syria by road and air
- 60 agency trucks deliver food, shelter materials and medical supplies to meet needs of the Syrian people
- Six planes carrying aid from the Kingdom arrive at Damascus International Airport
RIYADH: Sixty trucks carrying relief supplies from Saudi Arabia crossed the Nasib Border Crossing into Syria on Monday, as part of a humanitarian effort organized by Saudi aid agency KSrelief.
The trucks contained essential supplies including food, shelter materials and medical supplies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Also on Monday, six planes planes carrying aid from the Kingdom arrived at Damascus International Airport.
Jordanian authorities said 600 trucks filled with aid have entered Syria through the Jordanian-Syrian Free Zone since the collapse of President Bashar Assad’s regime on Dec. 8. The director general of the zone, Irfan Khasawneh, told the Jordan News Agency that the flow of goods has remained consistent since then.
The shipments are addressing the needs of the Syrian people for essential items such as food supplies, energy equipment and spare parts for machinery, he added.
Trade is flowing smoothly, with transactions completed promptly and without delays, Khasawneh said, and staff at the zone are ready to handle larger volumes of trucks and goods in the days ahead.
Anti-extremism group Etidal helps Telegram remove 160m items of extremist content in 3 years
- Riyadh-based organization says the collaboration has had a significant effect in curbing the spread of extremist propaganda and recruitment efforts
- Platform thanks Etidal, says partnership has been instrumental in efforts to identify and remove harmful content
RIYADH: The Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, also known as Etidal, said on Monday that more than 31 million items of extremist content were removed from messaging service Telegram during the final quarter of 2024.
This brought the total number of such items removed from the platform since the start of their partnership in 2021 to more than 160 million, it added.
Etidal, which is based in Riyadh, said international cooperation is important in efforts to address extremist ideologies and counter the global threat posed by terrorist organizations, and that the collaboration with Telegram has had a significant effect in curbing the spread of extremist propaganda and recruitment efforts.
The platform said it has intensified its efforts to combat extremism since 2022 and expressed its appreciation for the partnership with Etidal, saying it has proved to be instrumental in efforts to identify and remove harmful content.
“There is no place for incitement to violence or terrorist propaganda on Telegram,” it added.
Etidal said it uses advanced technologies to help monitor and analyze extremist content, and detect the deceptive propaganda and tactics used by terrorist organizations in an attempt to evade content removal. It added that its efforts form part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to help safeguard societies through an integrated approach, including targeted media campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of extremism.
In addition to its partnership with Telegram, Etidal has established strategic collaborations with other international organizations. In 2021, for example, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN Counter-Terrorism Center.
King Faisal Prize to announce 2025 winners on Wednesday
- Selection committees start meetings to select winners in Islamic studies, Arabic language & literature, medicine and science
RIYADH: The names of the King Faisal Prize winners for 2025 will be announced on Jan. 8 in Riyadh.
Ahead of the event, specialized selection committees for the prize’s four categories — Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine and science — convened at the prize’s headquarters starting Monday, the General Secretariat of King Faisal Prize said.
Deliberations will continue through Jan. 8, it added.
The General Secretariat had previously announced the themes for the KFP 2025: Islamic studies focuses on Studies of Archaeology in the Arabian Peninsula, Arabic language and literature explores Studies of Identity in Arabic Literature, medicine highlights Cellular Therapy and Science centers on Physics.
Nominations for the prize are accepted by universities, research centers and scientific institutions, ensuring that nominees meet rigorous criteria.
Candidates must be living, and their work must already be published, intellectually impactful and beneficial to humanity’s progress. Nominations from individuals or political groups are not accepted, the secretariat said.
This year, the selection committees include prominent experts, scholars and specialists from 16 different countries. The evaluation process adheres to the highest standards of integrity.
The announcement of the winners will be made by the General Secretariat on Jan. 8 at 8:00 p.m. during a ceremony at the Prince Sultan Grand Hall in the Al-Faisaliah Center, Riyadh.
The KFP was established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and was granted for the first time in 1979.
Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Blinken during call
- Blinken called for a final push for a Gaza ceasefire before President Joe Biden leaves office during a visit to South Korea on Monday
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional developments and efforts made with regard to them during a call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
Blinken called for a final push for a Gaza ceasefire before President Joe Biden leaves office during a visit to South Korea on Monday.
“We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time we have remaining,” Blinken told a news conference.
Saudi minister of Islamic affairs meets Palestinian ambassador to the Kingdom
- Mazen Ghoneim praised Saudi authorities for their services to Muslims worldwide
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh received the newly appointed Palestinian Ambassador to the Kingdom Mazen Ghoneim in his office on Monday in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Sheikh discussed the ministry’s programs in service of Palestinian pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah.
Ghoneim praised the Saudi authorities for their services to all Muslims worldwide.
He highlighted the generous program that hosts the family members of Palestinian martyrs, enabling them to perform Hajj with ease.
