Namas in southern Saudi experiences magnitude 4 earthquake with no fatalities
Updated 05 November 2017
Arab News
AL-NAMAS: Residents in the south of Saudi Arabia, in particular Al-Namas, Bisha and the surrounding villages, woke up on Friday dawn to an earthquake with a magnitude 4 on the Richter scale, followed by six 1.1 to 1.7 aftershocks, that were not felt by residents.
Hani Zahran, director general of the National Center for Earthquakes and Volcanoes at the Saudi Geological Survey told Al-Hayat: “The seismic activity happened in a three-rift region, where the activity occurs in separate periods.”
Zahran expected that a little seismic activity will continue for several days, saying that it is a normal activity since three faults meet in the region.
He added that the center monitored the magnitude 4 quake at 4:06:52 a.m. Friday, at 16 kilometers away from the northwest of Al-Namas.
In 2017, several earthquakes hit the Kingdom and the last earthquake before this one was a magnitude 3 quake that hit the Red Sea near Jeddah and was not felt by Al-Madinah residents. Non-significant quakes were also monitored in Umlaj, Haql and Yanbu during the past few months, he added.
Saudi Arabia condemns deadly attack on healthcare facility in Sudan
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday the drone attack on a Saudi-run hospital in El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur regionr.
A drone attack on Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in the besieged town in western Sudan has killed 70 people and wounded 19 others, the World Health Organization said.
The Kingdom described the attack as a “violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”
“The Kingdom reiterated its rejection of these violations and emphasized the critical need to protect health and humanitarian workers,” read the foreign ministry statement.
It called for “protection of medical and humanitarian workers,” practice of “self-restraint” and avoidance of “targeting civilians.”
The Kingdom also called for adherence to the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.
Winter treasures: Truffle hunting in Northern Borders desert
Truffle season coincides with the rainy period from late winter to early spring
Truffles’ unique flavor enhances the taste of dishes
Updated 45 min 15 sec ago
SPA
RAFHA: Truffle hunting in the Northern Borders region is an annual activity that combines the thrill of discovery with the beauty of heritage, attracting nature and heritage enthusiasts who embark on sunrise journeys in search of these prized delicacies.
The Saudi Press Agency accompanied a group of enthusiasts in Al-Sahin area, where they gathered truffles in a tranquil desert setting, enjoying the scent of rain mingling with the earth and flora. This experience highlights the deep connection between natural heritage and local culture.
The truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage. (SPA)
Enthusiasts use traditional knowledge to interpret soil and plant indicators, identifying potential truffle sites. Using simple tools that reflect humanity’s connection to the environment, they employ long sticks to shift the soil and uncover hidden treasures.
Others use their hands to gently remove the surface layer without damaging the truffles, while bags and baskets are prepared for collection.
Types of truffles in KSA
• Zubaidi stands out for its round shape
• Khalasi is the smallest and has an irregular shape
• Jabbi is small and round
• Hooper is the most irregular in shape
The truffle season coincides with the rainy period from late winter to early spring, usually beginning in January and lasting until the end of March. During the rainy season in Saudi Arabia, the rainfall enriches the soil and activates truffle seeds, with growth rates varying. Some truffles require 50 to 70 days of rain, while others take less time.
Truffles are wild fungi that grow beneath the surface at different depths, depending on the complex interaction of soil, moisture, and surrounding plants.
They thrive in well-ventilated sandy or clay soil, exhibiting signs such as slight cracks or small lumps when ripe.
Among the various types, the zubaidi stands out for its round shape, while the irregularly shaped khalasi is the smallest. The jabbi is small and round, while the tiny hooper is the most irregular in shape.
he truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage. (SPA)
Truffles are celebrated for their unique flavor that enhances the taste of dishes. The truffle hunting season is not just a quest for food; it is a celebration of nature and heritage, fostering social bonds and revitalizing an age-old tradition passed down through generations.
As interest in this heritage activity grows, there is an increasing recognition of the need to educate future generations on preserving the environment and the desert landscapes, which are integral to this land’s cultural heritage. The truffle season is a testament to the splendor of nature and the importance of heritage.
Rare Vatican artifacts on show at Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
More than 500 historic items, contemporary artworks on display
1685 Nile map’s journey to Jeddah a ‘cultural milestone’
Updated 25 January 2025
Jasmine Bager
JEDDAH: A six-meter map of the Nile believed to be more than 300 years old has left its home in the Vatican archives for the first time to become the centerpiece of the second Islamic Arts Biennale launched in Jeddah on Saturday.
Visitors to Jeddah’s Western Hajj Terminal, the biennale venue, can see the map along with 10 other artifacts from the Vatican Library.
The historic chart, drawn with watercolor ink on Venetian paper and depicting historic sites along the Nile, has been dated to around 1685.
Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations. (Supplied)
Its inclusion in the biennale marks a cultural milestone, showcasing the Vatican’s commitment to interreligious and intercultural dialogue, according to Vatican archivist and librarian Angelo Vincenzo Zani.
The map underwent restoration by the Vatican before making the journey to Jeddah. It is displayed alongside a sister map of the Arabian Gulf from the National Library of Qatar.
Both maps are believed to have been acquired in the 1700s in Constantinople by Giuseppe Alemanni, a Lebanese librarian who later became the Vatican Library’s prefect.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the exhibition in Jeddah explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.
• More than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.
Zani attended the biennale’s opening ceremony and later told Arab News that the artifacts highlight a rich history of cultural exchange and shared knowledge.
The Islamic Arts Biennale features more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world. (Supplied)
“I think this Islamic Arts Biennale is very important. The concept of art is very important — to expand knowledge and creativity. Art is an emotion that we can all understand. It can cross over in a dialogue that is ‘in between’.”
The 2025 biennale’s theme, “And all that is in between,” draws from the Qur’anic verse “And God created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is in between.”
The Vatican Library is also showcasing several works from its collections in “The Art of Numbers” display at Al-Madar section of the biennale.
Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations. (Supplied)
Al-Madar, or “The Orbit” section, features items from 20 institutions with significant Islamic art collections worldwide.
The section examines the role of numbers in collective history, exploring their origins in natural calculations and applications across Islamic culture, mathematics, architecture, music, design, celestial and terrestrial mapping, ocean navigation, trade and geometric patterns in Qur’anic decoration.
Heather Ecker, Al-Madar’s curator, said the Vatican Library, which was established in the Middle Ages, is the oldest taking part in Al-Madar.
The Islamic Arts Biennale will run in Jeddah until may 25. (Supplied)
“The Vatican has Arabic manuscripts on virtually any subject, and has a large collection of early Qur’ans. It has early translations of the Qur’an, of which we are exhibiting several,” she said.
Ecker said the Nile map appears to have been linked to a travel log and is a visual record of a journey.
“The maps were created from the written text and from memory, apparently,” she said.
The Islamic Arts Biennale features more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world. (Supplied)
“It’s not a map as we conceive it, because it is image with text, with annotations that correspond to observations made during the voyage and notes taken. It collapses geography in a certain way, so it scrunches up the land between the Nile and the Red Sea, for example, in order to include more sites such as Jeddah.”
The map has been in the Vatican since the late 18th century, but had never been restored and was first shown in 2021, Ecker said. The Diriyah Biennale Foundation helped fund its restoration and conservation.
“It’s much brighter now,” Ecker said. “The paper is much more supple now, so it’s really vastly improved, and it’s much easier to exhibit and for people to appreciate. That was a big undertaking, and important in the field of conservation preservation.”
Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation, the Jeddah exhibition explores faith by juxtaposing contemporary and newly commissioned artworks with historical objects from Islamic cultures.
The event has built on the success of the first biennale, and is bigger in scale and ambition, Aya Al-Bakree, CEO of the foundation, told Arab News.
This year, more than 30 cultural institutions have provided objects from their collections, as well as 29 newly commissioned works of art.
“The biennale is rooted in Saudi Arabia and has become a clear landmark on the international stage as well. We are excited to share this exhibition with audiences from near and far,” Al-Bakree added.
Display space is divided into several sections, each blending Islamic cultural heritage with contemporary interpretations.
The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in 2023 attracted more than 600,000 visitors. The 2025 edition will feature more than 500 historical artifacts and contemporary artworks, including treasures from Makkah, Madinah, and around the world.
The 2025 curatorial team is led by Julian Raby, Amin Jaffer, and Abdul Rahman Azzam, with Saudi artist Muhannad Shono as curator of contemporary art.
Saudi minister emphasizes Islamic unity at Khair Ummah conference in Bangkok
Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh calls on scholars, preachers to ‘reinforce core principles of Islamic faith’
Kingdom committed to fostering a culture of coexistence, cooperation among Muslims, forum told
Updated 25 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Minister Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh inaugurated the third Khair Ummah conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bangkok on Saturday.
The event was attended by Thai National Assembly President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, along with several ministers, muftis, and leaders of Islamic universities, centers, and associations.
Al-Asheikh emphasized that the conference aimed to strengthen Islamic unity and adherence to the truth, promoting solidarity that upholds Islamic identity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Central Islamic Council of Thailand awarded Al-Asheikh with the First-Class Medal for Influential Global Islamic Personalities in 2024. (SPA)
He said that scholars bear a significant responsibility in light of global challenges and the intellectual, political, social, and security changes facing the world.
“This situation calls for a real response from scholars and researchers to clarify the right religious stance against sedition and to reinforce the core principles of the Islamic faith,” Al-Asheikh said.
He added that the responsibility of scholars and preachers is growing due to global calls for intellectual and ideological deviation, requiring careful reflection to realign efforts, uphold Shariah, safeguard the Prophet’s Sunnah, promote Islamic values, and combat extremism.
Al-Asheikh reaffirmed that under its leadership, the Kingdom has diligently fulfilled its responsibility toward the Two Holy Mosques and the holy sites.
“Saudi Arabia is committed to serving pilgrims, visitors, and Umrah performers by implementing substantial projects that enhance their experience and facilitate their rituals. The Kingdom is also dedicated to printing and distributing the Holy Qur’an in multiple languages worldwide,” he said.
Several participants delivered speeches thanking Saudi Arabia for its service to Islam and Muslims, emphasizing the importance of promoting tolerance, combating violence and extremism, and fostering cooperation among Muslims.
Meanwhile, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand awarded Al-Asheikh the First-Class Medal for Influential Global Islamic Personality of 2024. The medal was presented by Bangkok Islamic Affairs Committee President Arun Boonchom.
The award recognized Al-Asheikh’s distinguished contributions to serving Islam, promoting moderation and tolerance, and combating hate speech and extremism, SPA reported.
Al-Asheikh expressed his gratitude to the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand for his efforts in spreading noble Islamic values and fostering a culture of coexistence.
Saudi ambassador meets Sweden’s International Development Cooperation Agency chairman
“The two kingdoms, Saudi Arabia and Sweden, are major players on the humanitarian assistance field, with vast opportunities for shared experiences and best practices in the field
Updated 25 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Sweden and Iceland Enass Al-Shahwan recently met chairman of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and former minister for international development cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson.
“The two kingdoms, Saudi Arabia and Sweden, are major players on the humanitarian assistance field, with vast opportunities for shared experiences and best practices in the field, the Saudi ambassador wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al-Alsheikh met Thailand’s National Assembly President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, in Bangkok on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Matha expressed his appreciation for the Kingdom’s leading role in serving Islam and Muslims, and for its support of interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
