MOSCOW: Declaring a victory in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation.
Putin’s visit marks his first trip to Syria, drawing a symbolic line under the campaign that has shored up President Bashar Assad’s government. It is also the first visit by a foreign head of state to war-ravaged Syria since its bloodletting started nearly seven years ago.
Putin’s brief stop at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia while on route to Egypt comes days after the Russian president declared his bid to run for re-election in the March 18 vote, helping encourage the feelings of pride about Russia’s revived global clout and prestige.
It also follows the Russian announcement last week that the Syrian army under the Russian air cover routed the Islamic State in eastern Syria and fully restored control over the border with Iraq.
In a televised speech to the Russian troops at the base, the Russian leader hailed their valor.
“You have shown the best qualities of a Russian soldier,” Putin said.
The Hemeimeem base, in the heartland of Assad’s Alawite minority, has served as the main foothold for the Russian military campaign in Syria.
In a speech to the troops, Putin said that he had ordered the military to withdraw a “significant part” of the Russian contingent in Syria.
“Friends, the Motherland is waiting for you,” Putin said. He added that “if the terrorists again raise their heads, we will deal such blows to them they have never seen.”
Russian television stations showed Putin walking off the plane, embracing and shaking hands with Assad at the air base.
Putin said that the Russian military will maintain their presence at the Hemeimeem air base and the naval facility in Tartus.
Syrian TV said Assad thanked Putin for his troops’ effective contribution to the fight against terrorism in Syria.
Russia launched its air campaign in Syria at the end of September 2015 when Assad’s government was teetering on the brink of collapse and quickly changed the course of the conflict in its favor.
Putin, on visit, orders Russian forces to start pulling out of Syria: agencies
Putin, on visit, orders Russian forces to start pulling out of Syria: agencies
Ancient organic farming practices in Taif feed growing industry
- Closed-loop farming supports environment
- Rising Saudi demand for organic products
RIYADH: Organic farming in Taif province’s villages and its serene mountain and valley farms represents a continuation of an ancient tradition.
This approach avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, ensuring that farms do not damage their surrounding environment, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Inherited organic farming wisdom from previous generations boosts the health of consumers and the vitality of soil, water, plants, and wildlife.
The farming methods practiced in Taif involve a closed-loop system in which animal and plant waste is recycled into natural fertilizers.
This approach supports crop cultivation and animal husbandry, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030’s food security and sustainability objectives.
Drawing upon his years of experience tending terraced fields in the Al-Shafa mountains, 80-year-old farmer Abdullah Saed Al-Talhi told the SPA that organic agriculture is a fast-growing industry.
“Consumer demand for nutritious organic products is reshaping our industry,” he explained.
“Working these mountain terraces has taught me that organic farming is more than a cultivation method — it is our legacy to future generations, ensuring sustainable food production for years to come.”
“Organic farming operates through two distinct approaches,” Al-Talhi said. “We have protected greenhouse cultivation and open-field farming, but both share the same fundamental principle: producing pure food without chemical interventions.”
He emphasized that this natural approach encompasses every aspect of farming — from soil enhancement and seed selection to pest control methods.
“The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has spearheaded remarkable efforts to advance organic farming in Taif,” he added.
The ministry offers instructional programs to budding organic farmers, supporting the establishment of new farms, increased production from existing farms, and the import and export of organic products.
Other support from the ministry includes securing certification to ensure the credibility of products in Saudi and international markets.
Speaking at a recent organic market event in Taif, Al-Talhi said: “The market for organic products is experiencing remarkable growth.”
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian Al-Bustan community center in Jerusalem
- Al-Bustan Association functioned as a primary community center in which Silwan’s youth and families ran cultural and social activities
LONDON: Israeli forces demolished the office of the Palestinian Al-Bustan Association in occupied East Jerusalem’s neighborhood of Silwan, whose residents are under threat of Israeli eviction orders.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Culture condemned on Thursday the demolition of Al-Bustan by Israeli bulldozers and a military police force.
The ministry said that “(Israeli) occupation’s arrogant practices against cultural and community institutions in Palestine, and specifically in Jerusalem, are targeting the Palestinian identity, in an attempt to obliterate it.”
Founded in 2004, the Al-Bustan Association functioned as a primary community center in which Silwan’s youth and families ran cultural and social activities alongside hosting meetings for diplomatic delegations and Western journalists who came to learn about controversial Israeli policies in the area.
Al-Bustan said in a statement that it served 1,500 people in Silwan, most of them children, who enrolled in educational, cultural and artistic workshops. In addition to the Al-Bustan office, Israeli forces also demolished a home in the neighborhood belonging to the Al-Qadi family.
Located less than a mile from Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s southern ancient wall, Silwan has a population of 65,000 Palestinians, some of them under threat of Israeli eviction orders.
In past years, Israeli authorities have been carrying out archaeological digging under Palestinian homes in Silwan, resulting in damage to these buildings, in search of the three-millennial “City of David.”
Israeli strike kills 12 after hitting civil defense center in Lebanon’s Baalbek, governor tells Reuters
- Eight others, including five women, were also killed and 27 wounded in another Israeli attack
CAIRO: An Israeli strike killed 12 people after it hit a civil defense center in Lebanon’s city of Baalbek on Thursday, the regional governor told Reuters adding that rescue operations were ongoing.
Eight others, including five women, were also killed and 27 wounded in another Israeli attack on the Lebanese city, health ministry reported on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Lebanese civil defense official Samir Chakia said: “The Civil Defense Center in Baalbek has been targeted, five Civil Defense rescuers were killed.”
Bachir Khodr the regional governor said more than 20 rescuers had been at the facility at the time of the strike.
Light fantastic: Countdown begins to Noor Riyadh 2024
- Event ‘embodies the essence of striving toward new horizons,’ curator says
- World’s largest light art festival gets underway on Nov. 28
RIYADH: The start of this year’s Noor Riyadh Festival is now just two weeks away and preparations for the annual event are well underway.
Launched in 2021, the festival is a celebration of light and the arts and includes contributions from leading Saudi and international artists. It also features community activities, workshops, discussions and shows.
Billed as the largest light art festival in the world, Noor Riyadh is part of the broader Riyadh Art initiative and aims to support and inspire young artists to drive the Kingdom’s creative economy.
This year’s theme is “Light Years Away” and a host of activities are planned at three key locations — King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifa and Diriyah’s JAX District — between Nov. 28 and Dec. 14.
The title is inspired by the Thuraya star cluster, which has long been a guiding light and symbol of aspiration, according to Dr. Effat Abdullah Fadag, the curator of Noor Riyadh 2024 and board member of the Visual Arts Commission.
“This year’s theme explores our journey from Althara, or Earth, toward Althuraya, or the stars, celebrating how art can bridge the physical and metaphysical,” she told Arab News.
“‘Light Years Away’ is a theme that embodies the essence of striving toward new horizons, where light is used as a metaphor for hope, creativity and resilience.
“We want the audience to feel connected to the stars above and the Earth below, experiencing how art can unite diverse elements such as science, technology, philosophy and spirituality, fostering a shared sense of inspiration and identity.”
Among the 60 artworks on offer this year are sculptural light installations and laser shows from artists like Ali Alruzaiza and Javier Riera, who use light to reimagine iconic sites like Murabba Palace.
“The works of artists like Saad Al Howede, Kimchi and Chips explore our relationship with the environment, challenging us to reflect on our impact on the Earth,” Fadag said.
“The landscapes of Wadi Hanifa serve as a living canvas, inviting the audience to consider how we can preserve the environment and the beauty of our natural heritage.
“The JAX District is a hub for innovation, experimentation and digital creativity. Originally an industrial area, it has now transformed into a space that bridges art and technology. Here, traditional and modern techniques converge in an environment that supports the creative economy.”
Fadag said she hoped visitors would leave the festival with a renewed sense of curiosity and wonder.
“The Noor exhibition reminds us that, as individuals, we aspire to connect and engage. Art and light have the power to bring us together, inspire us and illuminate new paths forward.
“I believe these experiences will remain alive long after the festival ends, encouraging visitors to carry the festival’s light with them and continue exploring their own journeys, connecting the Earth to the sky in their unique ways.”
Media group IMI and UAE Media Council sign deal to recruit and train local talent
- Collaboration is part of the Media Apprenticeship Program launched last year by the Media Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council
- It targets existing Emirati media professionals, as well as graduates and final-year students in media-related studies
DUBAI: IMI, a media group in the UAE formerly known as International Media Investments, has signed a cooperation agreement with the UAE Media Council to train and recruit local talent and develop media infrastructure in the country.
The initiative is part of the Media Apprenticeship Program, an initiative launched in May 2023 by the UAE Media Council and the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council. It targets existing Emirati media professionals, as well as graduates and final-year students in media-related studies, with the aim of developing the next generation of talent in the nation’s media sector.
The agreement was signed at IMI’s new headquarters in Abu Dhabi by Mohammed Saeed Al-Shehhi, secretary-general of the UAE Media Council, and Rani Raad, CEO of the recently rebranded IMI Group, which owns several news outlets including Sky News Arabia, The National newspaper, Al-Ain News and CNN Business Arabic.
“We are proud to be the first global media group in the UAE to partner with the UAE Media Council on this initiative,” said Raad.
IMI Group, he added, can offer “aspiring Emirati talent unique opportunities to learn about the best media assets and standards” through its network of companies and the IMI Media Academy.
Launched in September, the IMI Media Academy employs the latest learning methodologies and offers an advanced curriculum focusing on the media industry, journalism and content creation.
Al-Shehhi highlighted the need to forge stronger partnerships with private media companies, and for cohesive country-wide efforts to develop the sector.
He said the partnership with IMI demonstrates the Media Council’s “commitment to empowering the media sector to attain global leadership by investing in the development of national skills and talents and equipping them with the latest media tools and technologies.”
It also aligns with the council’s desire “to nurture a new generation of talents capable of spearheading the sector and achieving significant accomplishments in the future,” he added.
