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KSrelief provides food, relief supplies in Syrian provinces

KSrelief provides food, relief supplies in Syrian provinces
In Syria’s As-Suwayda, KSrelief distributed bags of flour, winter kits, and personal-care kits on Thursday to 258 families, benefiting 984 individuals. (SPA)
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Updated 19 January 2025

KSrelief provides food, relief supplies in Syrian provinces

KSrelief provides food, relief supplies in Syrian provinces

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has provided vital food assistance and relief aid in several Syrian provinces as part of its ongoing relief project in the country, state news agency SPA reported.
In Homs Governorate, KSrelief on Thursday distributed 14 food parcels, each containing a 10-kilogram bag of flour, along with 14 winter bags and 14 personal care kits in Talbiseh city. 

This initiative benefited 1,982 individuals from 382 families as part of the relief materials distribution project there.




In Homs, KSrelief distributed 14 food parcels along with 14 winter bags and 14 personal care kits in Talbiseh city. (SPA)

The agency also distributed bags of flour, winter kits, and personal care kits on Saturday to 15 families in the city of Al-Rastan in Homs, benefiting 61 individuals.
In As-Suwayda, KSrelief distributed bags of flour, winter kits, and personal care kits on Thursday to 258 families, benefiting 984 individuals. 
This aid is part of a larger food distribution project coordinated with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.


º£½ÇÖ±²¥, UAE foil major amphetamine smuggling operation

º£½ÇÖ±²¥, UAE foil major amphetamine smuggling operation
Updated 01 September 2025

º£½ÇÖ±²¥, UAE foil major amphetamine smuggling operation

º£½ÇÖ±²¥, UAE foil major amphetamine smuggling operation
  • Saudi customs also report 1,371 seizures at various ports in a week

RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s General Directorate of Narcotics Control has assisted the UAE to thwart an attempt to smuggle 89,760 amphetamine pills into the country, the Ministry of Interior’s security spokesman said on Sunday.

The banned drugs were hidden in a consignment of clothing accessories, Brig. Gen. Talal bin Shalhoub said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

Shalhoub stated that the monitoring of criminal networks involved in drug smuggling, along with information shared by the GDNC with its UAE counterpart, led to the operation’s success.

In addition, Saudi authorities said customs operations at land, air and sea ports in the Kingdom recorded 1,371 seizures of prohibited items in a single week, the SPA reported.

The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, or ZATCA, said there were 47 cases involving hashish, cocaine, heroin, shabu, and captagon pills, and 333 of other prohibited substances.

Customs officials also thwarted 1,046 attempts to smuggle tobacco and its derivatives into the country. They further dealt with 15 cases related to sums of money, and three incidents involving weapons and their accessories, the SPA stated in a separate report.

The ZATCA has called on the public to support its efforts by reporting smuggling activities through its designated hotline, 1910, via email at [email protected], or by calling the international number 009661910.

The ZATCA assured the public that all reports will be treated confidentially, with financial rewards for accurate information.


Saudi, Palestine ministers discuss technology partnerships

Saudi, Palestine ministers discuss technology partnerships
Updated 01 September 2025

Saudi, Palestine ministers discuss technology partnerships

Saudi, Palestine ministers discuss technology partnerships
  • Abdullah Alswaha, Abdel-Razzak Natsheh hold talks in Riyadh
  • º£½ÇÖ±²¥ committed to strengthening Palestine’s economy

LONDON: º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Palestine officials held talks in Riyadh on Sunday to boost partnerships in the technology sector.

The Kingdom’s Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Alswaha met with his Palestinian counterpart, Abdel-Razzak Natsheh, for the discussions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The officials had a meeting on the sidelines of the Global Symposium for Regulators, hosted in Riyadh until Sept. 3. They discussed strategic partnerships in digital infrastructure and innovation.

The Kingdom is supporting Palestine’s efforts to build its economy and achieve sustainable development, the SPA added.

The Global Symposium for Regulators began on Sunday titled “Regulation for sustainable digital development.†The gathering includes policymakers and digital stakeholders from around the world.


Arab sculptors shape Saudi landscapes in Al-Namas

Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium highlighted the region’s ambition to enhance public spaces with contemporary art.
Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium highlighted the region’s ambition to enhance public spaces with contemporary art.
Updated 31 August 2025

Arab sculptors shape Saudi landscapes in Al-Namas

Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium highlighted the region’s ambition to enhance public spaces with contemporary art.
  • Ten artists crafted works to transform public spaces into cultural canvases during Al-Namas sculpture symposium

MAKKAH: Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium wrapped up in Asir region recently, bringing together leading Arab sculptors under the theme “Linear Rhythms.â€

Organized by Al-Namas municipality with artistic direction from Saudi sculptor Mohammed Al-Thaqafi, the symposium, which concluded on Aug. 26, highlighted the governorate’s ambition to strengthen its visual identity and enhance public spaces with contemporary art.

Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium highlighted the region’s ambition to enhance public spaces with contemporary art. (SPA)

The theme drew inspiration from Al-Namas’s striking topography, where mountain ridges and cloud lines merge into sweeping horizons. This natural geometry guided the artists’ designs and interpretations.

Ten renowned sculptors from across the Arab world took part: Saudi representatives Al-Thaqafi, Ali Al-Tokhais, and Ebtesam Saleh were joined by Morocco’s Ikram Kabbaj, the UAE’s Azza Al-Qubaisi, Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Ateeq, Oman’s Yousuf Al-Rawahi, Sudan’s Khalid Abdullah, Tunisia’s Mohammed Bou Aziz, and Egypt’s Omar Toussoun.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Working with locally sourced stone, 10 Arab and Gulf artists created large-scale pieces now installed in gardens and public areas.

• The theme drew inspiration from Al-Namas’s striking topography, where mountain ridges and cloud lines merge into sweeping horizons.

• Participants praised both the artistic exchange and Al-Namas’s natural setting.

Working with locally sourced stone, they created large-scale pieces now installed in gardens and public areas, blending modern creativity with Saudi heritage.

The theme drew inspiration from Al-Namas’s striking topography, where mountain ridges and cloud lines merge into sweeping horizons. (SPA)

Al-Thaqafi told Arab News the event was a platform for celebrating visual culture while making art accessible to the community.

He emphasized sculpture’s role in “advancing visual literacy and urban beautification,†adding that the medium “expresses identity and spirit while transforming public areas into creative showcases of local aesthetics and heritage.â€

The theme drew inspiration from Al-Namas’s striking topography, where mountain ridges and cloud lines merge into sweeping horizons. (SPA)

He noted the symposium’s growth in scope and ambition each year, with Al-Namas aspiring to become a regional hub for public art, and he said expressed optimism that other Saudi cities will embrace comparable initiatives.

Participants praised both the artistic exchange and Al-Namas’s natural setting.

Al-Namas International Sculpture Symposium highlighted the region’s ambition to enhance public spaces with contemporary art. (SPA)

Egyptian sculptor Toussoun described the invitation as one of the most prestigious moments of his career, drawing inspiration from the region’s “mountainous terrain, valleys, and captivating landscapes.â€

Qatari artist Al-Ateeq highlighted the strength of Gulf and Arab participation, saying the symposium offered artists “ideal working conditions†to bring large-scale ambitious visions to life.

With its cool climate, scenic beauty, and cultural vibrancy, Al-Namas continues to position itself as both a tourism draw and a rising cultural destination where art, nature and heritage intersect.

 


Film Commission to launch third Saudi Film Confex in October

The third Saudi Film Confex will be held from Oct. 22-25 in Riyadh. (AN file/Huda Bashatah)
The third Saudi Film Confex will be held from Oct. 22-25 in Riyadh. (AN file/Huda Bashatah)
Updated 31 August 2025

Film Commission to launch third Saudi Film Confex in October

The third Saudi Film Confex will be held from Oct. 22-25 in Riyadh. (AN file/Huda Bashatah)
  • Event will attract leading filmmakers, producers, industry specialists

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Film Commission is preparing to launch the third Saudi Film Confex from Oct. 22-25 in Riyadh.

The event, called “A Gathering That Transforms the Scene,†will bring together leading filmmakers, local and international producers, and industry specialists from across the global cinematic sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Building on the momentum of previous events, the confex will strengthen its role as a catalyst for the growth and empowerment of the Saudi film industry.

FASTFACT

This year’s Saudi Film Confex will strengthen its role as a catalyst for the growth and empowerment of the Saudi film industry.

Initiatives include driving investment, fostering strategic partnerships, and aligning with the Kingdom’s National Culture Strategy under Vision 2030, which places cultural development among its top priorities.

Positioned as a dynamic networking platform, the Saudi Film Confex connects all players in the filmmaking ecosystem, from production and distribution companies to technical and logistical service providers, as well as investors and funding institutions.

The event will highlight filming and production opportunities, encourage high-value collaborations, reinforce the nation’s film infrastructure, and support startups and entrepreneurs in the sector.

It will include an international conference featuring more than 30 panel discussions and workshops, and covering topics such as film financing, content development, and regulatory frameworks.

The program will also include side events and specialized workshops designed to introduce audiences and young talent to career paths and professional specializations within the industry.

The confex will host an expanded exhibition with more than 130 local, regional, and international participants, with dedicated areas for stakeholders including production companies, equipment rental and cinematic technology providers, streaming, distribution, and government and strategic partners.

The exhibition will also feature participants from related sectors, including educational institutions, film associations, and funding and investment bodies.

Exhibitor registration for the Saudi Film Confex 2025 is now open to local and global companies as well as government and regulatory entities.

Registered exhibitors will have the opportunity to present their projects, showcase the latest innovations and opportunities across the film industry value chain, and build strategic partnerships that will drive market growth and strengthen the Kingdom’s global presence.

The upcoming confex is expanding its content and activities to highlight the industry’s growing economic impact and elevate Saudi talent on the world stage, supporting the creation of a competitive Saudi film sector.

 


Saudi project clears 968 explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi project clears 968 explosive devices in Yemen
Updated 31 August 2025

Saudi project clears 968 explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi project clears 968 explosive devices in Yemen
  • Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 512,323 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018

RIYADH: Members of º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Project Masam removed 968 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included 925 unexploded ordnances, 32 anti-tank mines, four anti-personnel mines and seven improvised explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 512,323 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.