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Third Edition of Madinah Book Fair Gets Underway

The third edition of Madinah Book Fair kicked off on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The third edition of Madinah Book Fair kicked off on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Third Edition of Madinah Book Fair Gets Underway

The third edition of Madinah Book Fair kicked off on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The third edition of Madinah Book Fair kicked off on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The third edition of the Madinah Book Fair, organized by the Authority for Literature, Publishing and Translation, kicked off in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah on Tuesday.

The event, which runs through August 5, features more than 200 pavilions and the participation of more than 300 Arab and international publishing houses and agencies.

The exhibition has become an awaited annual event, and a forum that provides an integrated knowledge experience to thousands of visitors every year and contributes to spreading cultural awareness among the residents of Madinah.

This year’s edition provides a comprehensive cultural experience featuring the latest literary, knowledge, and scientific publications from hundreds of local, Arab, and international publishing houses.

The event will also see the participation of various governmental and private cultural entities and community institutions and universities, showcasing their initiatives and highlighting their contributions. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the authors at the book signing corner.

The fair also dedicates an area for children, offering educational and skill-based activities and workshops designed to enhance their creative abilities.

The exhibition, which extends over seven days, coincides with the school summer break, allowing all family members to have an enjoyable experience and an integrated cultural journey, especially as it provides the latest titles and book releases in the literary and scientific fields.

It will also witness many cultural and intellectual activities that aim to enrich the culture and knowledge production sector and consolidate the culture of reading through a rich and diverse program in various knowledge fields.

A group of Saudi and Arab writers, authors, and intellectuals will participate in the event, through panel discussions, workshops, and poetry evenings.

The Madinah Book Fair is part of Saudi Arabia’s endeavor to confirm the leading cultural and historical position of Madinah, and to boost the cultural attractiveness of the Kingdom and its role in the publishing industry.

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Culture

Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
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Historic Linah Marks Saudi National Day with Heritage Events, International Performances

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA
Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia - SPA

Historic Linah, located south of Rafha in Northern Borders Region, will celebrate Saudi National Day with a series of national and heritage events at the Historic Linah Market.

The program features performances by local and international artistic groups, along with a variety of artistic segments, solo musical performances, and equestrian and camel-riding displays, SPA reported.

The festivities will also include puppet shows, children’s competitions, and a musical evening showcasing traditional songs.

The Historic Linah Municipality has completed preparations across sites, parks, and roads, decorating streets with national flags and festive lighting to welcome visitors and create a celebratory atmosphere that reflects national pride.

Linah is one of the most prominent historical sites in northern Saudi Arabia.

Once a key stop along ancient caravan routes, the town’s historic palaces and market continue to stand as enduring witnesses to the region’s collective memory.

Culture

Germans Arrested for Louvre Stunt in Mona Lisa Hall

A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
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Germans Arrested for Louvre Stunt in Mona Lisa Hall

A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)
A person photographs Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa at the Louvre museum, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP)

Two Germans were arrested Saturday after they stuck two paintings on a wall of the hall that hosts the Mona Lisa in Paris's Louvre museum, police sources said.

The two men used sticky tape to stick the two paintings -- measuring 30 by 40 cm -- in the hall where visitors flock to see Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece.

One showed one of the two men wearing armor, while the other was a portrait of the two men accompanied by a woman.

Security officers at the museum detained the two men and called the police, who arrested them for minor damage to the wall. Interviewed by police, they said they had done it for fun.

The two men will be summoned to appear in court once the museum files a formal complaint for the damage, said the police sources.

The Mona Lisa itself, now behind a thick layer of protective glass, suffered no damage in the incident.

Museum officials are more than usually alert these days after a spate of heists at French museums and galleries, which have highlighted inadequate security in some cases and led to questions about whether criminal gangs see them as soft targets.

The Louvre itself was targeted last October when eight items of jewelry worth millions of dollars were stolen during a daylight heist.

Even though four suspects have been arrested, the stolen items have still not been found despite extensive searches by French investigators.

The burglary stunned the world, embarrassed France and revealed a series of security lapses, including the museum's old-fashioned CCTV system.

Many of the museum's security flaws had already been highlighted in a 2019 audit ordered by the museum, the findings of which were never acted on.

The Louvre welcomed around nine million visitors last year, far above its intended capacity, which has led to overcrowding problems.

In May, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major overhaul of the museum, which will include a new space for the Mona Lisa and a new museum entrance.

Culture

Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
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Saudi Culture Ministry, ALECSO Sign Executive Program for Intangible Cultural Heritage

The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA
The agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices. SPA

The Ministry of Culture has signed an executive program with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to establish a cooperative framework to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and advance shared Arab cultural goals.

Thursday’s agreement focuses on organizing a specialized symposium to exchange expertise on safeguarding policies, methodologies, and practices.

It also includes formulating recommendations for bilateral and multilateral cooperation and showcasing living Arab heritage practices on the international stage to unify regional preservation efforts.

Building upon a 2022 memorandum of understanding between the ministry and ALECSO, the executive program underscores both parties' commitment to broadening institutional partnerships that ensure the long-term protection and sustainability of intangible cultural heritage.