Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN
Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN/node/2609937/saudi-arabia
Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets separately with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts on the sidelines of UN conference co-chaired by the Kingdom on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Updated 24 sec ago
Arab News
Saudi FM meets with Iraqi, Portuguese counterparts on sidelines of Palestine conference at UN
Updated 24 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Iraqi and Portuguese counterparts on the sidelines of the high level UN conference that º£½ÇÖ±²¥ co-chaired on Tuesday.
The ministers were in New York to attend the United Nations High-Level International Conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution†which called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza.
It also set out a detailed international roadmap toward the implementation of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the separate meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, Prince Faisal reviewed relations between the Kingdom and their respective countries, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The latest developments in the region and efforts being made in this regard were also discussed.
Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)
Updated 42 sec ago
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
Saudi artist spotlights Asir’s rich cultural landscape in her artwork
Arafat Al-Asimi overcame challenges to prove herself as a female artist
Updated 42 sec ago
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s lush Asir mountains inspired the artistic vision of Arafat Al-Asimi.
Highlighting her early artistic endeavors, Al-Asimi said that she enjoys using pastel colors to paint natural and heritage landscapes. The mountains, valleys, the color gradations of the forests and the region’s unique climate shaped her artistic imagination.
Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)
Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings, particularly those inspired by Asir, as they convey her deep sense of belonging and offer her psychological comfort and balance.
She also shared her passion for incorporating Arabic calligraphy into her work, describing how it beautifully merges visual aesthetics with cultural identity.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Arafat Al-Asimi’s artwork is inspired by Asir region’s environment.
• She developed her artistic talent through practice and experimenting with different materials.
• She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence.
With a background in geography, Al-Asimi said that her passion for art extended far beyond her studies.
Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)
She continued to develop her talent through self-practice, experimenting with different materials, engaging in artistic community activities, and attending exhibitions that contributed in developing her talent and shaping her artistic identity from an early age.
The absence of an art major at her university was not an obstacle, but rather the engine for self-development, allowing her to cultivate a distinctive artistic style despite the lack of formal academic training in the field.
Arafat Al-Asimi uses pastel colors to paint landscapes inspired by her native Asir. (Supplied)
Speaking on challenges she faced at the beginning of her artistic career, Al-Asimi told Arab News that the most prominent of these were the lack of art specialization in university education, the lack of community and artistic support in the early stages of her career, and the difficulty of obtaining appropriate materials and tools.
She also highlighted the challenge of proving herself as a female artist in a conservative environment, a struggle that required her to double her efforts to prove herself. However, she was able to overcome these challenges through persistence and continuous practice.
Artist Arafat Al-Asimi said that she feels most at home with nature and traditional landscape drawings. (Supplied)
Al-Asimi highlighted her participation in numerous exhibitions both within the Kingdom and internationally, describing these experiences as enriching.
The events not only expanded her artistic vision, but also provided valuable opportunities for cultural exchange, enriching her portfolio with new horizons.
She said that family support in the early stages has had a significant impact on boosting her self-confidence. Community encouragement, even through simple attendance or interaction, is an important motivator for an artist to continue, she added.
Societal awareness of the value of fine art has been growing in recent years, providing Saudi female artists with broader opportunities to express themselves and demonstrate their abilities, she said.
Expressing her ambitions, Al-Asimi said that she seeks to expand her presence in º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Gulf art scene, and take part in major upcoming exhibitions locally and internationally to showcase her experience, inspired by the Asir environment.
She also hopes to hold a solo exhibition documenting her artistic development and conduct art workshops for young girls to support local talent.
The fast-moving meteors of the Delta Aquariid often produce bright trails and occasional fireballs. (SPA)
Updated 51 sec ago
Arab News
Look up: Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks over º£½ÇÖ±²¥
Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, said the best time to observe the meteor shower will be after 3 a.m. local time, when the radiant point in the constellation Aquarius climbs higher in the southern sky
Updated 51 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Stargazers across º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and the wider region are in for a celestial treat in the early hours of Wednesday, July 30, as the annual Delta Aquariid meteor shower reaches its peak.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, weather and moon conditions are expected to offer ideal viewing, especially in areas away from city lights.
Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, said the best time to observe the meteor shower will be after 3 a.m. local time, when the radiant point in the constellation Aquarius climbs higher in the southern sky.
The early setting of the moon will also ensure darker skies for stargazing.
Observers can expect approximately 18 meteors per hour during peak activity, potentially reaching 25 under ideal conditions.
Abu Zahra noted that these fast-moving meteors often produce bright trails and occasional fireballs.
While visible in both hemispheres, the Delta Aquariids are best seen from the tropics and and southern lattitudes, where the radiant point sits higher above the horizon.
Abu Zahra noted that no special equipment is needed, just a clear, dark sky, as well as allowing 20 minutes for eyes to adapt to darkness and committing at least one full hour to observation for optimal results.
The Delta Aquariid shower occurs annually between July 12 and Aug. 23 as Earth passes through debris left by Comet 96P/Machholz.
Dust particles ignite upon entering the atmosphere at 41 kilometers per second, vaporizing at altitudes of 70-100 kilometers to create luminous streaks.
Although the peak occurs early on Wednesday, the meteor activity will continue into early August and gradually blend with the more intense Perseid meteor shower, which peaks mid-August.
AlUla’s summer fruit market extended until Saturday
The summer fruit season is one of the most prominent agricultural production seasons in AlUla, as its farms produce approximately 4,9000 tonnes of fruits annually through about 216,000 trees
Updated 1 min 16 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla on Monday announced the extension of the summer fruit market, held as part of the “Khairat AlUla†initiative, until next Saturday, Aug. 3.
The extension aims to provide an additional opportunity for farmers and local families to display and sell their products, driven by high demand during the season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The season is held at the Al-Manshiyah Farmers Market, where farmers display a large variety of fruits, including mangoes, grapes, and figs.
The summer fruit season is one of the most prominent agricultural production seasons in AlUla, as its farms produce approximately 4,9000 tonnes of fruits annually through about 216,000 trees.
The season contributes to empowering farmers, opening marketing outlets for their products, in addition to developing sales markets and linking them to visitors, which enhances the sustainability of the agricultural sector in the governorate and consolidates its connection to the cultural and economic identity of AlUla.
The fifth week at Expo 2025 Osaka, “Learn and Play,†closely aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom’s pavilion’s participation, emphasizing º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s transformational journey within the framework of Vision 2030
Updated 1 min 22 sec ago
SPA
RIYADH: º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka concluded its interactive business events, which it organized as part of the fifth thematic week at Expo 2025 Osaka, titled “Learn and Play.â€
Through these events, the pavilion aimed to enhance cooperation and forge global partnerships, showcasing the future of digital transformation and advanced digital initiatives in º£½ÇÖ±²¥, along with the Kingdom’s path to improving learning.
The theme weeks at Expo 2025 Osaka are an initiative that seeks to solve global problems and issues through purposeful dialogue between different countries of the world.
The sessions enabled international participants to exchange insights on advanced digital innovation and its impact on future societies.
This week’s event at the Kingdom’s pavilion addressed a range of transformative initiatives, most notably the role of innovative technologies in transforming education, towards a more sustainable future, and empowering youth in the age of artificial intelligence.
The participating global experts highlighted the role of educational technologies in transforming the concept of lifelong learning at the national and international levels.
Through interactive discussions and presentations, the event showcased the technological advancements achieved by º£½ÇÖ±²¥ and Japan, reflecting the two countries’ shared efforts to advance digital transformation and technological development.
The fifth week at Expo 2025 Osaka, “Learn and Play,†closely aligned with the objectives of the Kingdom’s pavilion’s participation, emphasizing º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s transformational journey within the framework of Vision 2030.
It also showcased the Kingdom’s rich heritage, pioneering mega-projects, and environmental initiatives.
Police in the Asir region have arrested individuals carrying prohibited drugs. (SPA)
Updated 1 min 27 sec ago
Arab News
Saudi authorities arrest foreigners for drug offenses
Border guard land patrols in the Ad-Daer sector in Jazan arrested three Ethiopian nationals for smuggling 73,500 unregulated medical tablets
Updated 1 min 27 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s authorities arrested several foreign nationals across the country this week for drug offenses, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Security patrols in Asir region arrested two Sudanese residents for possessing 16 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate.
In addition, the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Bangladeshi residents in the Eastern Province for selling methamphetamine, also known as shabu.
Meanwhile, border guard land patrols in the Ad-Daer sector in Jazan arrested three Ethiopian nationals for smuggling 73,500 unregulated medical tablets.
And in the Al-Rabou’ah sector in Asir they arrested 17 Ethiopians for smuggling 255 kg of qat.
The security authorities called on citizens and residents to report drug-related activities by calling 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 and 994 in other regions of the Kingdom.
All reports will be handled confidentially, the authorities said.
