Riyadh International Book Fair to open on March 2
Taken from Arab News http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article19660.ece
By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS
Published: Feb 20, 2010 12:38 AM Updated: Feb 20, 2010 12:38 AM
JEDDAH: More than 1,000 Saudi and foreign publishing houses and companies are expected to take part in the Riyadh International Book Fair which opens on March 2.
“We want to make this annual exhibition a Saudi cultural festival,” said Abdullah Al-Jasser, deputy minister of culture and information for media affairs and supervisor of the exhibition.
Senegal is being honored at the event, he said, adding that the African country will hold a variety of cultural programs including seminars, literary events and folklore presentations, highlighting its contributions to Arab and Islamic civilization. A number of Senegalese books in Arabic will also be displayed in its pavilion.
Meanwhile, Culture and Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja disclosed the possibility of holding the book show in Jeddah once it is held in Riyadh. The minister did not say when this would take place. Khoja made this statement after opening an arts show exhibiting the work of Moroccan artist Muhammad Al-Shahdi.
He said there would be a seminar on the role of cultural forums in promoting the Kingdom’s cultural development. Other seminars will focus on medical doctors who are interested in literature; the problems faced by Saudi authors in terms of publication and reading; and issues related to translation of books. “There will be another interesting program on the national dialogue forum’s role in promoting moderation and tolerance.”
Al-Jasser commended Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for establishing the King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center (KANDC) to develop a culture of dialogue among Saudis. “The basis of this culture is moderation, critical thinking and respecting the views of others. KANDC will hold a workshop to deepen the culture of dialogue among Saudis,” he said.
The book fair will also witness, for the first time, a dialogue between Khoja and male and female writers. “The minister is expected to honor some of the pioneers of cultural forums in the country,” Al-Jasser said. He said the exhibition’s cultural programs were finalized with the support of 60 researchers including women from different parts of the Kingdom.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
FREE Intensive Arabic Course for Men
The following info is taken from http://ahlussunnahriyadh.com/ read the update at the bottom.
Abu Abdurrahman wrote:
As-Salamu Alaikum..
I received a text message stating that the Rawdah Da'wah Center will be starting it's fall semester Arabic program for men this coming Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. I attended the course last year, and I loved it, Maa-Shaa-Allah.
The Rawdah Da'wah Center is located on King Abdullah Road.
Directions:Traveling on King Abdullah Road East (Exit 10), pass Applebee's, KFC and TGIFriday's.
At next intersection (at the McDonald's), make a U-turn.
Come back down King Abdullah, and you will see it on your right hand side.
Course Summary:
Days: Every weeknight; Saturday - Wednesday (5 nights a week)
Time: Between Maghrib and Ishaa' prayers (for just over 1 hour)
Text Used: Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk
Cost: FREE (the book with CD is given to the students)
Last year they offered 2 levels: level 1 and level 2. Level 1 used Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk Book 1 and Level 2 used Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk Book 2. Although there is an Al-Arabiyyah Bayna Yadayk Book 3, this Da'wah center doesn't offer the class for that book.
The students in my class found the class very beneficial. One key to language acquisition is how little English the teacher will use in the class. Our teacher used very little English while teaching, so we benefited greatly. From what I heard about another class was that the teacher and the students spoke a lot of English during the class. Therefore, student beware.
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As for other places to learn Arabic, I know that Imam University usually runs an evening Arabic program for men. From what I can remember, students pay for the books (about 150SR) and the classes are twice a week. Your are on campus for about 3 to 3.5 hours a night.
Last year King Saud University had an evening program for men.
This is all the info I have about these two programs, but they will probably start this coming week as well.
UPDATE!!!!! From our brother Nasir H.:
I recently read a notice that there will be another intensive course commencing 20/02/2010 ending 02/06/2010. (free dinner, gifts, certificates etc...) for more info call: 01 249 2727 ext 156 or 219... i think this is an ideal opportunity for beginners...
Al-Asheikh calls for fighting terrorism
Published: Feb 20, 2010 12:35 AM Updated: Feb 20, 2010 1:29 AM
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s top religious authority on Friday denounced terrorism as un-Islamic and condemned the killing of civilians, saying such attacks have nothing to do with Islam.
“Terrorism is criminal and spills the blood of innocents,” said Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al-Asheikh, chairman of the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars.
“It attacks security, spreads terror among people and creates problems for society ... Such acts are forbidden by Islamic law,” he said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
“It is necessary to fight the attempts of some to attach terrorism to Islam and Muslims with the goal of distorting the religion and assailing its leadership role in the world,” he added.
Al-Asheikh’s statement came on the eve of a workshop on combating terrorism and its financing. The workshop, to be held in Riyadh, has been organized by the Commission for Investigation and Public Prosecution in association with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in the Middle East and North Africa. Eleven international experts are to take part in the program.
“Saudi Arabia has been fighting terrorism for many years. It has a wealth of experience in successfully combating terrorism and terror financing,” said Al-Asheikh emphasizing the need to make use of Saudi Arabia’s expertise in the field.
He said Islam has prohibited killing innocent people. “If anyone kills a person, and this killing is not in retaliation for a murder or is done to spread mischief in the land, then it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind. And if anyone saves a life, it is as if he has saved the whole of mankind,” the mufti said quoting a verse from the Holy Qur’an.
Al-Asheikh called for international cooperation to fight terrorism, something that threatens not only Muslims but the whole of mankind. “We should dry the sources of terror funding and their sources of weapons,” he said.
The three-day workshop in Riyadh will include 16 sessions, which will focus on expanding international cooperation and developing judicial systems and regulations to confront terrorism and exchanging information among countries and international organizations.
Topics such as the Kingdom’s experience in combating terrorism, the UAE’s anti-terror legislation and the efforts of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in fighting terrorism are also to be discussed at the workshop.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
FREE of Charge*****MESA Sports Academy Basketbll Clinic & Competition*****FREE********
Join MESA for some fun Basketball instruction and competition and open swim!
| Host: | |
| Type: | |
| Network: | Global |
| Date: | Thursday, February 18, 2010 |
| Time: | 3:45pm - 8:00pm |
| Location: | Kingdom Schools |
| Street: | King Abdulaziz St. - North |
| City/Town: | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Description
Come join MESA Sports Academy for an afternoon of Basketball with Coach Bilal & Coach JB
Registration Fee: FREE!
Ages: 10-12, 13-14, 15-17
Schedule:
- Brief Intro / Warm-up & Stretching
- Drill Intro - Offensive / Defensive & Shooting Skills - The MESA Way!
- Games! We will group you into teams & let you COMPETE - Who will be the MESA Champion for the Day?!
- Open Swimming - after all the work jump in our Jr. Olympic Indoor Pool to relax & have fun!
Please confirm your attendance here and come on time. If you plan to go swimming you must have the proper swimming shorts.
See you this Thursday!
Registration Fee: FREE!
Ages: 10-12, 13-14, 15-17
Schedule:
- Brief Intro / Warm-up & Stretching
- Drill Intro - Offensive / Defensive & Shooting Skills - The MESA Way!
- Games! We will group you into teams & let you COMPETE - Who will be the MESA Champion for the Day?!
- Open Swimming - after all the work jump in our Jr. Olympic Indoor Pool to relax & have fun!
Please confirm your attendance here and come on time. If you plan to go swimming you must have the proper swimming shorts.
See you this Thursday!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Johnny Rockets: The best burger in Riyadh? Who do you think has the best hamburger in the Kingdom? Leave a comment.
Good food and fun! Johnny Rockets theme is based on the traditional diner or "nostalgic atmosphere" according to their website http://www.johnnyrockets.com/index2.php. Remember Mel's Diner or Arnold's Drive-in? Well you get the picture.
Abdur Rahman's #12.
Mahmoud's favorite!!! Single burger, cheddar cheese, beef bacon, oinion ring and a special sauce. Simply Delicious!
Like most popular eat-in spots it is better to beat the crowd by visiting between the asr (afternoon) and maghrib (sunset) prayers. If you wait till after isha (night) prayer most places are very crowded and teeming with people. Not to mention Johnny Rockets is located on Tahlia and it can be quite challenging getting out of the area when crowded with fancy cars, onlookers, motorcycles and even fourwheelers. We nearly got ran over by one while we were leaving Johnny Rockets.
Vanilla shake! Mum!
Yes, strawberry. They also have chocolate and peanut butter and an apple pie milkshake. They take the leftovers from the apple pie and blend it with vanilla milk shake.
Although it may take a couple of days to work off the apple pie was well worth every bite.
Monday, February 08, 2010
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