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Saudi Arabia: National Wildlife Center Releases 124 Endangered Species in Imam Turki Royal Reserve

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) logo
The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) logo
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Saudi Arabia: National Wildlife Center Releases 124 Endangered Species in Imam Turki Royal Reserve

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) logo
The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) logo

The National Center for Wildlife (NCW), in cooperation with the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, has released 124 endangered wildlife species into the reserve as part of programs to breed and reintroduce them into their natural habitats.

The release included 100 rhim gazelles, 10 idmi gazelles, and 14 Arabian oryx, within the center’s efforts to reintroduce native species into their natural environments, restore ecosystems, and enrich biodiversity in natural reserves, thereby enhancing ecological balance and promoting environmental sustainability.

NCW CEO Dr. Mohammed Qurban noted that the release is part of the center’s ongoing efforts to reintroduce endangered native species into their natural habitats and to strengthen ecosystem stability within protected areas.

He added that this step builds on a series of releases carried out by the center in several natural reserves under its dedicated program for breeding and reintroducing endangered species, contributing to one of the key objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to create an attractive environment that improves quality of life and promotes sustainability.

Since its establishment, the NCW has been implementing strategic plans to protect wildlife, restore ecosystems, and enhance sustainability, while aiming to become a global leader in reintroducing endangered species into their natural habitats through advanced technologies and specialized scientific research.

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Philippines Raises Alert Level at Restive Mayon Volcano

Glowing lava flows across the dark volcanic terrain during nighttime activity on the slopes of Mount Etna during a tour in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
Glowing lava flows across the dark volcanic terrain during nighttime activity on the slopes of Mount Etna during a tour in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
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Philippines Raises Alert Level at Restive Mayon Volcano

Glowing lava flows across the dark volcanic terrain during nighttime activity on the slopes of Mount Etna during a tour in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti
Glowing lava flows across the dark volcanic terrain during nighttime activity on the slopes of Mount Etna during a tour in Catania, Sicily, Italy, January 3, 2026. REUTERS/Antonio Denti

The Philippines on Tuesday raised its alert level for the Mayon volcano in the central province of Albay, warning of "potential explosive activity" in the coming days or weeks and advising people to stay outside of a 6-kilometer (3.7 miles) danger zone.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, also known as Phivolcs, raised the alert to level three on a five-level scale, which ⁠means magma is pushing up inside the volcano and forming a lava dome at the summit, Reuters reported.

Phivolcs urged residents within the 6-km no-go zone to evacuate because of risks like lava flows, falling rocks, and other hazards.

Mayon ⁠is the most active of 22 volcanoes in the Philippines, having erupted more than 50 times in the last four centuries. Its last magmatic eruption was in June 2023 when it spewed lava and noxious gases.

The most destructive eruption came in February 1841 when lava flows buried an entire town and killed 1,200 people.

The Philippines ⁠lies on the "Ring of Fire", a belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific Ocean that is also prone to earthquakes.

Phivolcs urged civil aviation authorities to advise pilots to avoid flying near Mayon's summit because ash from a sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.

Since January 1, 2026, PHIVOLCS has recorded 346 rockfalls and 4 volcanic earthquakes, compared to 599 rockfalls in November–December 2025.

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Snowmobiler Dies after Avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada

Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y,, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y,, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
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Snowmobiler Dies after Avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada

Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y,, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y,, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)

An avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada on Monday buried a snowmobiler in snow and killed him, authorities said.

Rescuers responded after a 911 call around 2:20 p.m. reported a possible avalanche near Johnson Peak and Castle Peak in Truckee.

The snowmobiler was initially reported missing but then was found under the snow several minutes later, The Associated Press quoted the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Fellow recreationists found him but he didn't survive despite lifesaving efforts, according to the statement.

Emergency personnel were working to safely extract the victim late Monday and to confirm no others were buried.

The sheriff's office said more avalanches could occur and recommended that people avoid the area.

Each winter, 25 to 30 people die in avalanches in the US, according to the National Avalanche Center. The center’s current map shows high risk spots in Utah and Washington and areas of considerable risk in California, Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming.

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Snow, Cold Snap in UK, France Triggers School, Travel Disruptions

A woman walks her dog in a snow-covered area in front the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026. (Reuters)
A woman walks her dog in a snow-covered area in front the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026. (Reuters)
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Snow, Cold Snap in UK, France Triggers School, Travel Disruptions

A woman walks her dog in a snow-covered area in front the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026. (Reuters)
A woman walks her dog in a snow-covered area in front the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as winter weather with snow and cold temperatures hits a large part of the country, France, January 5, 2026. (Reuters)

Snow and ice forced hundreds of schools to shut in the UK and badly disrupted travel across the country and neighboring France on Monday, grounding flights in some of the coldest weather of the winter so far.

The UK's Met Office issued fresh amber weather warnings for Monday and Tuesday for snow and ice for Scotland, Northern Ireland and parts of northern England and said cold weather health alerts for all English regions would remain in place until Friday.

The disruption follows a cold snap in recent days in the UK.

Temperatures dropped to a low of -10.9C in the high hills of Shap in Cumbria, northwest England, on Sunday night.

There was then heavy snowfall in some regions, with Tomintoul, near Inverness in northeast Scotland, recording the highest amount, 52 centimeters (20 inches), as of 10:00 am (1000 GMT) on Monday.

"Overnight into Tuesday temperatures will once again fall below freezing for much of the country, with the lowest temperatures over lying snow possibly dipping to -12C," the Met Office said.

A total of 212 schools were closed in Northern Ireland on Monday, the authorities said, with dozens of schools also shut in Scotland, Wales and northern England.

Flights were cancelled at airports including Liverpool in northwest England, Aberdeen and Inverness in northeast Scotland, and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

At France's major Paris airports of Charles de Gaulle and Orly, heavy snowfall forced airlines to reduce their flights by 15 percent.

Some 250 snowploughs were on standby at the two airports, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot told a press conference, adding there would likely be "cancellations and some delays".

Local, regional and international railways across the UK were also affected.

In Paris, snow disrupted the bus network on Monday afternoon and roads, particularly in the northwest Normandy region as well as in the French capital, were badly affected with long tailbacks.

The Eurostar train service linking the UK to the European mainland advised passengers travelling between London and the Netherlands to postpone their journeys as services could not operate beyond Brussels due to the weather in the Netherlands.

British railway authorities meanwhile deployed snowploughs in Scotland to try to clear tracks hit by heavy snow.

In Scotland, the police cautioned road users not to try to drive through closed roads.

The UK's roadside assistance provider, the AA, said there had been a 40 percent spike in callouts compared to a typical Monday.

Belfast Zoo remained closed due to the weather conditions on Monday, while snow, ice or low temperature warnings were in place across neighboring Ireland.