Fahad Cultural Center to House Saudi National Theater, Orchestra

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
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Fahad Cultural Center to House Saudi National Theater, Orchestra

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan announced on Thursday that the King Fahad Cultural Center has been elected as headquarters for the national theater and orchestra which were announced earlier in the Cultural Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Badr attributed the center’s selection to the Culture Ministry’s “keenness towards harnessing all capacities facilitating the establishment of the two groups (the national theater team and orchestra), in such a way that meets the standards of the audience and pioneers of Saudi theater and music fans.”

Cultural Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia encompasses the following central objectives, as cited by the ministry’s official website: promoting culture as a way of life, enabling culture to contribute to economic growth and creating opportunities for international cultural exchange.

These objectives are closely aligned with the three strategic pillars of the Kingdom’s national transformation Vision 2030, which are to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

The Ministry will seek to realize the cultural sector’s potential, bringing all aspects of the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage into the daily life of Saudis – it will enrich the lives of the people of Saudi Arabia.

Culture is a broad term, and the Ministry has identified 16 priority sub-sectors where it will focus its work. The intention of this is to create a Ministry which can effectively champion causes across the sector. The Ministry will also create 11 new bodies, reporting to the Ministry which will focus on these sectors.



Australian Hiker Found Alive after Surviving for Two Weeks on Berries and Muesli Bars

A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
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Australian Hiker Found Alive after Surviving for Two Weeks on Berries and Muesli Bars

A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)
A general view of Cooma Hospital where hiker Hadi Nazari was transferred to for a health check in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia, 08 January 2025. (EPA)

An Australian student missing for two weeks near the country's tallest mountain was found on Wednesday, after surviving by foraging for berries, drinking water from a creek and finding two muesli bars left behind by other hikers, police said.

Hadi Nazari, a 23-year-old university student from Melbourne, went missing from his group of friends on December 26 in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Nazari was found on Wednesday afternoon by a group of hikers who alerted the authorities, police in the state of New South Wales said.

“This is the fourteenth day we've been looking for him and for him to come out and be in such good spirits and in such great condition, it’s incredible," NSW Police Inspector Josh Broadfoot said.

The student was in "really good spirits" with no significant injuries, he added.

More than 300 people had searched for Nazari across rugged bushland, police said. The national park is home to the 2,228 meter (7,310 foot) Mount Kosciuszko.