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Riyadh Int’l Book Fair Kicks Off with Participation from 30 Countries

Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 at its opening (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 at its opening (SPA)
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Riyadh Int’l Book Fair Kicks Off with Participation from 30 Countries

Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 at its opening (SPA)
Riyadh International Book Fair 2022 at its opening (SPA)

The Riyadh International Book Fair (RIBF) 2022 kicked off on Thursday amid a wide turnout of visitors looking to discover the latest publications and titles of participating publishing houses from over 30 countries.

RIBF, which is considered the most important book festival in the Arab world, will last for 10 days.

Around 1,200 publishing houses are showcasing their titles at the grand fair, with the theme of “Cultural Chapters.”

Moreover, the fair will feature seminars and cultural and artistic events.

As a “guest of honor,” Tunisia is attending with a group of its intellectuals and artists.

In honor of Tunisia, RIBF theaters were named “Carthage,” “Green Tunisia” and “Kairouan.”

RIBF is classified as the largest book market in the region, and one of the most important destinations for selling and distributing Arabic books. The fair is known for attracting many visitors and a high volume of sales.

Tunisia’s participation at the RIBF will cover several enrichment seminars.

A session on “Tunisian Architecture” had already shed light on the legacy of ten centuries of Tunisian civilizations.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, Tunisian artist Ziad Gharsa, one of the most prominent singers of Tunisian musical heritage, will perform for three nights at the Green Tunisia theater.

At the concerts, Gharsa will play many musical instruments, such as the oud, violin, and piano.

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.

On Oct. 6, visitors will get to enjoy Andalusian poems performed at the Green Tunisia theater.

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49 Saplings from Famous UK Tree that Was Illegally Chopped Down will be Shared to Mark Anniversary

FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian’s Wall near Bardon Mill, England, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian’s Wall near Bardon Mill, England, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
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49 Saplings from Famous UK Tree that Was Illegally Chopped Down will be Shared to Mark Anniversary

FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian’s Wall near Bardon Mill, England, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)
FILE - A general view of the stars above Sycamore Gap prior to the Perseid Meteor Shower above Hadrian’s Wall near Bardon Mill, England, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File)

It's been a year since a sycamore tree that stood high and proud near the Roman landmark of Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England was inexplicably chopped down, triggering a wave of shock and disbelief across the UK, even among those who had never seen it up close.

Known and loved by millions, the 150-year-old tree was made famous around the world when it featured in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” The Sycamore Gap tree, as it was known because of its regal canopy framed between two hills, was a popular subject for landscape photographers and a great resting spot for walkers.

Now it is going to get a new lease of life — dozens of them, The AP reported.

The National Trust, a conservation charity that seeks to protect and open up historic places and green spaces to the general public, launched an initiative on Friday in which 49 saplings from the tree will be given to communities around the UK. Other saplings will be sent to the UK's 15 national parks and the local primary school.

The initiative, which also involves the local Northumberland National Park Authority and Historic England, the public organization that looks after England’s historic environment, is called “Trees of Hope” and aims to “create a new chapter in the life of this legendary tree.”

Each of the 49 saplings — one to represent each foot of the tree's height when it was felled — is expected to be 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall on delivery.

People from around the UK are invited to apply for a tree to plant in publicly accessible spaces which have emotional connections with people and communities. Entries must be made by Oct. 25, with winners announced on Nov. 18.

“The last 12 months have been a real rollercoaster of emotions, from the hopelessness and grief we felt when we discovered that the tree had been illegally felled, to experiencing the stories shared with us about just what the tree meant to so many," said Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian’s Wall properties.

Also on Friday, the Northumberland National Park Authority is marking the anniversary of the felling with the opening of the first phase of an exhibition, “Sycamore Gap: One Year On,” including the largest remaining section of the tree.

Two men — Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers — have been charged with two counts over the felling of the tree. One count is for allegedly cutting down the tree and the second is for damage to the adjacent wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Prosecutors have calculated that the cost of the felling was around 620,000 pounds ($825,000).

Both have been released on bail ahead of their trial scheduled for early December.