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Riyadh International Book Fair Kicks Off Thursday

The Fair is a major cultural event in the Arab scene. SPA
The Fair is a major cultural event in the Arab scene. SPA
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Riyadh International Book Fair Kicks Off Thursday

The Fair is a major cultural event in the Arab scene. SPA
The Fair is a major cultural event in the Arab scene. SPA

Riyadh International Book Fair "Cultural Chapters," under the supervision of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, kicks off Thursday and will continue until Oct. 8.

The Fair is a major cultural event in the Arab scene, as it is one of the most important Arab book fairs in terms of the number of visitors, sales volume, and the diversity of its cultural programs, as well as in terms of the participation of the most prominent Arab, regional and international publishing houses.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture named Tunisia as the guest of honor, noting that its selection comes within the relations that bind the Saudi and the Tunisian people as part of the joint efforts of the two countries to enhance cooperation in the cultural field.

It also brings together literature, publishing, and translation officials from local and international institutions and companies with readers and those interested in books and publications.

The event has a program that includes several qualitative cultural events, dialogue platforms, interactive lectures, poetry evenings, and cultural and artistic seminars.

It also hosts several arts, reading, writing, and publishing seminars, workshops on bookmaking and translation, activities for children, and other accompanying programs.

The most prominent Arab and international publishing houses and Arab and international writers, authors, and intellectuals participate in the exhibition.

During ten days, the exhibition is set to celebrate the Tunisian cultural and artistic presence through many literary events with the participation of several Tunisian writers, authors, and poets.

Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs Hayat Guermazi confirmed that the Riyadh International Book Fair provides an opportunity to enhance cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Guermazi told Asharq Al-Awsat that there would be 17 Tunisian publishers, adding that Tunisian cultural and artistic presence at the event is an outstanding opportunity for the intellectuals of the two countries to discuss humanitarian issues through literature and thought.

The Minister explained that her country's participation would include seminars and meetings on Tunisian literature, translation, the experience of Tunisian theater, criticism, enlightenment thought, and other topics.

In addition, there will be various workshops and literary and poetry events with the participation of Tunisian intellectuals and writers with a special booth dedicated to introducing the digital cultural economy.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Tunisian cinema will celebrate its centenary and Zied Gharsa will perform at a concert.

There will also be the Tunisian Night at the al-Ahmar Theater at Princess Nourah University in Riyadh, where Saber al-Rubai, Latifa, and Olfa bin Ramadan will be in concert on Oct. 1.

The Saudi ambassador to Tunis, Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Sager, said that choosing Tunisia as a guest of honor for the Fair confirms the country's cultural position.

The diplomat told Asharq Al-Awsat that Tunisia is an addition to the exhibition through the prepared program, the participating delegation, and the diverse content to include all aspects of cultural activity.

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Varieties

Cities Around the World Welcome 2026 with Fireworks and Heightened Security

Fireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the New Year's Eve midnight display, at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, 01 January 2026. EPA/DAN HIMBRECHTS
Fireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the New Year's Eve midnight display, at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, 01 January 2026. EPA/DAN HIMBRECHTS
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Cities Around the World Welcome 2026 with Fireworks and Heightened Security

Fireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the New Year's Eve midnight display, at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, 01 January 2026. EPA/DAN HIMBRECHTS
Fireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the New Year's Eve midnight display, at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, 01 January 2026. EPA/DAN HIMBRECHTS

From Sydney to Paris to New York City, crowds rang in the new year with exuberant celebrations filled with thunderous fireworks or light shows, while others took a more subdued approach.

As the clock struck midnight in Japan, temple bells rang and some climbed mountains to see the year’s first sunrise, while a light show with somersaulting jet skis twinkled in Dubai. The countdown to 2026 was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, while in Moscow people celebrated in the snow, The Associated Press reported.

In New York City's Times Square, revelers braved frigid temperatures to celebrate with the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop.

In Rio de Janeiro, crowds packed more than 4 kilometers (2 1/2 miles) of the city’s Copacabana Beach for concerts and a 12-minute fireworks show, despite high tides and large waves that rocked barges carrying fireworks.

Other events were more subdued. Hong Kong held limited celebrations following a recent fire at an apartment complex that killed 161 people.

Australia saluted the new year with defiance less than a month after its worst mass shooting in almost 30 years.

Crowds bundled up against the chilly temperatures cheered and embraced as the New Year’s Eve ball covered in more than 5,000 crystals descended down a pole and confetti fell in Times Square.

Revelers wearing tall celebratory hats and light-up necklaces had waited for hours to see the 12,350-pound (5,602-kilograms) ball drop. The festivities also included Tones and I performing John Lennon's “Imagine” just before midnight.

The television hosts interviewed visitors who were attending from such places as Florida, Mexico and South Korea, and read people's wishes for the new year.

A sixth grader from Dallas, Texas, told one of the hosts that he wants to get good grades in 2026 and have a better year.

Police in the city had planned additional anti-terrorism measures at the ball drop, with “mobile screening teams.” It was not in response to a specific threat, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

Moments after the ball dropped it rose again, sparkling in red, white and blue, to mark the country’s upcoming 250th birthday.

A few miles away in a decommissioned subway station, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as mayor during a private event just after midnight Thursday.

A heavy police presence monitored crowds watching fireworks in Sydney.

Many officers openly carried rapid-fire rifles, a first for the event, after two gunmen targeted a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, killing 15.

An hour before midnight, victims were commemorated with a minute of silence, and the crowd was invited to show solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns had urged residents not to stay away from festivities, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds as a victory: “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime."

Indonesia scaled back festivities in solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in parts of Sumatra a month ago that killed over 1,100. Fireworks on the tourist island of Bali were replaced with traditional dances.

Hong Kong rang in 2026 without fireworks over Victoria Harbor after the massive fire in November. Facades of landmarks were turned into countdown clocks and a light show at midnight.

And in Gaza, Palestinians said they hope the new year brings an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

“The war humiliated us,” said Mirvat Abed Al-Aal, displaced from the southern city of Rafah.

Around Europe Pope Leo XIV closed out the year with a plea for the city of Rome to welcome foreigners and the fragile. Fireworks erupted over European landmarks, from the Colosseum in Rome to the London Eye.

In Paris, revelers converged around the glittering Champs-Élysées avenue. Taissiya Girda, a 27-year-old tourist from Kazakhstan, expressed hope for a calmer 2026.

“I would like to see happy people around me, no war anywhere,” she said.

“Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, I want everybody to be happy and in peace."

In Scotland, where New Year’s is known as Hogmanay, First Minister John Swinney urged Scots to follow the message of “Auld Lang Syne” by national poet Robert Burns and show small acts of kindness.

Greece and Cyprus turned down the volume, replacing traditional fireworks with low-noise pyrotechnics in capitals. Officials said the change was intended to make celebrations more welcoming for children and pets.

Varieties

Heavy Snow in Poland Leaves Drivers Stranded in Tailbacks of up to 20 Km

Cars drive on a road during heavy snowfall in central Warsaw, Poland, 30 December 2025. (EPA)
Cars drive on a road during heavy snowfall in central Warsaw, Poland, 30 December 2025. (EPA)
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Heavy Snow in Poland Leaves Drivers Stranded in Tailbacks of up to 20 Km

Cars drive on a road during heavy snowfall in central Warsaw, Poland, 30 December 2025. (EPA)
Cars drive on a road during heavy snowfall in central Warsaw, Poland, 30 December 2025. (EPA)

Heavy snowfall in Poland caused tailbacks stretching as far as 20 km (12.43 miles) on a motorway between ​the capital Warsaw and the Baltic port city of Gdansk during the night, police said on Wednesday.

While the situation left hundreds of people trapped in their cars in freezing conditions, by the early hours of ‌Wednesday morning traffic ‌was moving again, ‌according ⁠to ​police.

"The ‌difficult situation began yesterday after 4 p.m., when the first trucks on the S7 route... began having trouble approaching the slopes," said Tomasz Markowski, a spokesperson for police in the northern city of ⁠Olsztyn.

"This led to a traffic jam stretching approximately ‌20 kilometers overnight." Deputy Infrastructure Minister ‍Stanislaw Bukowiec ‍told a press conference that nobody had ‍been hurt as a result of the difficult situation on the roads.

Anna Karczewska, a spokesperson for police in Ostroda, said officers had ​tried to help drivers who found themselves stuck. Ostroda lies on ⁠the highway about 40 km west of Olsztyn.

"We helped as much as we could, and we had coffee and hot tea for the drivers, which the Ostroda City Hall had prepared for us," she said.

State news agency PAP reported that there had also been some disruption to railways and airports, ‌but that services were returning to normal.

Varieties

Infant Screen Exposure Shapes Long-Term Brain Changes and Teen Anxiety, Study Finds  

The study concluded that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two are exposed to endure adolescent mental health. (The University of Queensland)
The study concluded that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two are exposed to endure adolescent mental health. (The University of Queensland)
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Infant Screen Exposure Shapes Long-Term Brain Changes and Teen Anxiety, Study Finds  

The study concluded that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two are exposed to endure adolescent mental health. (The University of Queensland)
The study concluded that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two are exposed to endure adolescent mental health. (The University of Queensland)

Children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two showed changes in brain development that were linked to slower decision-making and increased anxiety by their teenage years, according to new study released by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore.

Prepared in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the study focuses on infancy, a period when brain development is most rapid and especially sensitive to environmental influences.

The amount and type of screen exposure in infancy are largely determined by parental and caregiver awareness and parenting practices, highlighting a critical window for early guidance and intervention, showed the study, published in eBioMedicine on Tuesday.

It said the researchers followed 168 children before age two and conducted brain scans at three time points (ages 4.5, 6, and 7.5), which allowed them to track how brain networks developed over time rather than relying on a single snapshot.

Children with higher infant screen time showed an accelerated maturation of brain networks responsible for visual processing and cognitive control.

The researchers suggest this may result from the intense sensory stimulation that screens provide. Notably, screen time measured at ages three and four did not show the same effects, underscoring why infancy is a particularly sensitive period.

The study showed that children with high screen exposure, the networks controlling vision and cognition specialized faster, before they had developed the efficient connections needed for complex thinking. This can limit flexibility and resilience, leaving the child less able to adapt later in life.

It said this premature specialization came at a cost: children with these altered brain networks took longer to make decisions during a cognitive task at age 8.5, suggesting reduced cognitive efficiency or flexibility.

Those with slower decision-making, in turn, reported higher anxiety symptoms at age 13. These findings suggest that screen exposure in infancy may have effects that extend well beyond early childhood, shaping brain development and behavior years later.

In a related study, the same team found that infant screen time is also associated with alterations in brain networks that govern emotional regulation — but that parent-child reading could counteract some of these brain changes.

Researchers found that their results give a biological explanation for why limiting screen time in the first two years is crucial.

“But it also highlights the importance of parental engagement, showing that parent-child activities, like reading together, can make a real difference,” said Asst Prof Tan Ai Peng, Clinician-Scientist at NUS, and the study's senior author.

The study concluded that children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two are exposed to endure adolescent mental health, particularly on cognitive performance and anxiety levels.