Regulations on the use of surveillance cameras in Saudi Arabia have been approved by the Council of Ministers, headed by King Salman.

The Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, Presidency of State Security and Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority will now implement the regulations.

Buildings and institutions where the installation and use of cameras is mandatory, where their use is prohibited, as well as the punishments for violations of the law are outlined in the legislation.

Areas such as schools and universities, public and private health facilities, public transport and buildings such as government ministries and institutions are now required to install surveillance cameras on their premises.

The regulations also stipulate that it is prohibited to install cameras in any changing rooms, medical check-up rooms and operating theaters, toilets, salons and women’s clubs.

A set of penalties for violations include SR500 for low or poor quality of cameras; SR1,000 for poor installation and maintenance of systems and no signage informing of surveillance; SR5,000 for not recording and keeping footage; SR10,000 for installing cameras in prohibited areas; and SR20,000 for transmission or destruction of footage or camera systems.

An incentive, or financial reward, to the value of 10 percent of the relevant fine will also be given to any person who assists in the prosecution of violators of the law.

People living next to the UK’s largest opencast coalmine have said they are “devastated” by plans to keep it working.

Coal extraction at Ffos-y-Fran in Merthyr Tydfil had been set to stop in September after 15 years.

But the owners hope to persuade the local council to let it keep going.

Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd said it wanted to continue supplying the steel industry with Welsh coal.

The firm claimed there were insufficient funds set aside to restore the 1,000 acre (407 hectare) site as planned and time to develop and consult on a revised proposal was needed.

It has initially applied for a nine-month extension.

Recent heavy rainfall has helped to ease water scarcity concerns across most parts of Scotland.

Abstraction bans were imposed in a number of eastern areas this summer as levels became critically low.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has now lifted its last warning of significant scarcity.

However, it has warned that a “further period of prolonged, above average rainfall” was still needed to offset the current water storage deficit.

Sepa highlighted an east-west split in terms of scarcity at the start of the summer.

Abstraction bans followed on the River Eden in Fife and the River Tweed in the Borders.

A fire has damaged the enigmatic statues on Easter Island, with some of the charring said to be irreparable.

Easter Island has nearly 1,000 of the megaliths, known as moai. They have oversized heads and generally stand about 4m (13ft) high.

They were carved by a Polynesian tribe more than 500 years ago.

The fire, which broke out on Monday, affected nearly 60 hectares (148 acres), cultural heritage official Carolina Perez Dattari tweeted.

It is reported to have been started deliberately, and is centred around Easter Island’s Rano Raraku volcano – which is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Easter Island lies 3,500km (2,174 miles) off the coast of Chile. It relies on tourism and reopened just three months ago following its closure during the Covid-19 pandemic. The site has now been closed again while a conservation team examines the extent of the damage.

The island’s Mayor, Pedro Edmunds, told local media: “The damage caused by the fire can’t be undone.”

The are some 1,000 giant stone statues and carvings on Easter Island, the largest of which weigh 74 tonnes and stand 10m tall.

The figures were carved by the indigenous Rapa Nui people sometime between the years of 1400 and 1650, and positioned to form a ring around the island, facing inland.

They were figures of spiritual devotion for the Rapa Nui, embodying the spirit of a prominent ancestor. Each one was considered to be the person’s living incarnation.

Dada Pottery is located at the Dada area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The pottery occupies about an acre of land and it is the largest concentration of potters in the state. It is also reputed to be the source of pottery in the town.

The Pottery Industry which is touted to be as old as Ilorin itself is being managed by women who are dedicated to the business of pot making.Residents of the area engage mainly in pot making and work full time throughout the year. They neither go on break nor holiday.

The Dada area is located at Okelele, Ilorin East Local Government of Kwara State.

It is on the left side of the Sobi Specialist Hospital Road, Alagbado, Ilorin while going from Muritala Mohammed Road to Sobi Specialist Hospital; Sobi Hills, and the 22 Armoured Brigade, Nigerian Army, Sobi Barracks.

Dada Pottery derives its name from the community: Dada in Ilorin. The potters who are said to be over a hundred women organised themselves in a group and chose a leader for themselves.

Though the surroundings of the pottery are not captivating as one may hope, this may be excused.

It is located in a low income area. A fascinating scenery, however, awaits a patient visitor who tours the manufacturing and storage sections of the pottery.

Huge heaps of clay, different types, sizes and colours of finished pots and those still smouldering on fire were massed all over the local industrial estate creating a beautiful scenario.

Some of the potters who refused to disclose their names in deference to their leader, said they have been able to use proceeds from their activities in the pottery industry for the upkeep of their children, sending them to schools up to the higher institution level.

Some of them also said they had built houses while others had bought vehicles from the trade. Many of them also said they had diversified into other business with the money they made from pottery.

The studies into the art of pottery give a good insight into the intelligence, skill and technological know-how of these, though unschooled, yet skilful people; and their economic activities and trade connections at this ancient time, despite the non-availability of today’s high technological development and advancement.

However, despite the dedication of the women and the possibility of being a great revenue generation for the state, the Dada pottery is in a deplorable state.

The industry which is believed to be the largest traditional pottery making centre in the country has different sizes and types of pot with decorations and textures sold in the area.

Although there are other pot-making centres in Okekura, Oloje, and Abemi areas of the state. The Dada Pottery is one of the largest traditional pottery workshops in the country, and a place to visit anytime a visitor happens to be in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Spitzkoppe is a group of granite peaks that are located in the Namib Desert , within the central west part of the Republic of Namibia.

Located more precisely between the cities of Usakos and Swakopmund, the inselbergs are sometimes referred to as the “Matterhorn of Namibia” as they are bald and rise quite dramatically over the surrounding plains.

Being some 120 million years old, the highest peak is 670 meters (2,200 feet) above the desert, however, the highest outcrop stands at 1,728 meters (5,669 feet) above the sea level.

As it is debatable, the first Europeans who named Spitzkoppe as such were the Germans in 1946 when at that time Namibia was known as German South-West Africa.

The name means Pointed Dome in German, and so far there are unconfirmed reports that there was a soldier once who might have reached the summit first in 1904.

Nowadays, this unique natural creation is like a paradise for hikers and mountaineers because the beginners can practice nicely here, while for the more experienced professionals, ascending the peak can present a real challenge.

Climbers always avoid conquering the peak in summertime, as the heat can be unbearable, but from the history of ascends, there are some 600 roped parties that successfully made it to the top.

The locals too have made in imprint on the rocks, as various examples of Bushmen wall art can be seen throughout the area.

Unfortunately, due to vandalism, most of the paintings have been destroyed, but still there are some which clearly point that once upon a time there were rhinos that lived in the area.

The Rock Arch is another unique feature from Spitzkoppe, as it is also shown in numerous films, calendars, photographic competitions and travel guides.

All in all, this impressive Namibian landmark is somewhat missed by visitors who come to this nation in South Africa, and with recent promotion of camping trips, it is always preferable to see Spitzkoppe also at night as the stars shine in the background of this mesmerizing rock formation.