Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 to Feature over 900 Publishing Houses

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 will kick off on Wednesday. (SPA)
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 will kick off on Wednesday. (SPA)
TT
20

Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 to Feature over 900 Publishing Houses

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 will kick off on Wednesday. (SPA)
The Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 will kick off on Wednesday. (SPA)

The Riyadh International Book Fair 2019, one of the region’s largest cultural events and slotted for March 13-23, is set to witness the vast participation of over 900 Saudi, Arab and foreign publishing houses representing 30 countries.

For the first time, the event will be honoring seven leading Saudi filmmakers: Saad Khadr, Ibrahim Al Qadi, Khalil Al Rawaf, Saad Al Freih, Abdullah Al Muhaisen, Haifa Al Mansour and Ibrahim Al Hasawi.

The exhibition will also celebrate late Saudi writer and poet Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, as the Arab poet of the year for 2019. Gosaibi was named in consensus by a number of Arab Culture Ministers.

Saudi General Supervisor of Cultural Affairs Abdullah al-Kanani said the fair will officially open its doors on Wednesday.

Starting Thursday, it will be open to visitors from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

According to Kanani, the Riyadh International Book Fair is split into two main wings: cultural and media.

Featuring multi-sector participation, the fair also enjoys the support of Saudi Media Minister Turki Al-Shabanah.

Noting that this year's guest of honor is the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kanani said the Gulf state will take part in over 13 cultural activities.

According to Kanani, the fair has slotted some 1,465 publishing houses, institutions and independent entities, bringing the number of participants up to 1,750 hailing from 30 Arab and foreign countries.

Recognizing the Riyadh International Book Fair as an iconic event for Arab exhibitions, he said it has become a “preferred destination for both publishers and readers.”

A total of 267 authors will hold book-signing events.

He also announced that the 2019 Book Awards will be announced on the sidelines of the fair.

The exhibition will also include a pavilion dedicated to Saudi Vision 2030 and displays for the NEOM, Red Sea and Qiddiya mega projects.



Lion Attacks Woman in Australian Zoo, Severely Injuring her Arm

FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo
TT
20

Lion Attacks Woman in Australian Zoo, Severely Injuring her Arm

FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo

A woman has sustained severe injuries to an arm when she was attacked by a lion at an Australian zoo.

The Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland state said the 50-year-old woman was watching animal keepers working in the zoo’s carnivore precinct before opening hours Sunday morning when she was attacked.

She was flown by helicopter from the rural town of Pilton to the state capital Brisbane where she underwent surgery. Her condition was stable, the zoo said in a statement Sunday. Several news media reported the woman lost the injured arm.

The zoo said staff were working with government workplace safety investigators to determine how the incident happened. The state government confirmed an investigation was underway.

“Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it,” the zoo statement said.

“At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public.”

The woman was not a staff member but a “much loved member” of the zoo’s “family,” the statement added, according to The Associated Press.

She had watched keepers at work many times over the past 20 years and was “well versed in safety protocols around potentially dangerous animals,” the zoo said.

Staff at the 48-hectare (119-acre) zoo declined media interviews on Monday.

The zoo planned to reopen Tuesday for the first time since the attack.

“The animal will definitely not be put down or punished in any way,” the statement said.

Five years ago, two lions mauled and critically injured a keeper inside their enclosure at the Shoalhaven Zoo in the state of New South Wales.