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RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed a US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.
US President Joe Biden outlined a ceasefire proposal for the war in Gaza on Friday. The offer calls for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
During a phone call, the two officials also discussed developments in Sudan, Saudi Press Agency reported.
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Culture has announced 2025 as the “Year of Handicrafts,” recognizing the cultural and artistic significance of this tradition in Saudi society.
The initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to celebrate Saudi artisans’ creativity and showcase their talents globally.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan expressed appreciation for the Cabinet’s decision and emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Saudi cultural heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Badr said: “At the Ministry of Culture, we work to instill pride in the national identity and all the tangible and intangible cultural elements associated with it.
“This is one of the goals of the National Cultural Strategy under the umbrella of Saudi Vision 2030, which places national identity and Saudi culture among its ambitious objectives.”
The “Year of Handicrafts” will serve as a platform to honor this essential component of national identity, celebrating its cultural and artistic value.
Prince Badr added: “Saudi handicrafts reflect the creativity of Saudi society through weaving, handmade artifacts and artistic innovations passed down through generations.
“Among these are pottery, traditional clothing, ceramic utensils, leatherwork, copperwork, tailoring, dyeing, blacksmithing, gold and jewelry crafting, and other handmade creations by Saudi artisans.”
The Ministry of Culture aims to elevate Saudi handicrafts locally and internationally, empowering artisans and boosting their contribution to the economy.
This will be achieved through events organized with partners to highlight the cultural, historical and economic importance of handicrafts.
Since 2020, the ministry has celebrated an annual “cultural year” to honor key elements of Saudi culture.
The “Year of Arabic Calligraphy” was celebrated in 2020 and extended into 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Kingdom celebrated 2022 as the “Year of Saudi Coffee,” 2023 as the “Year of Arabic Poetry,” and 2024 is the “Year of the Camel.”
The “Year of Handicrafts” in 2025 promises to celebrate the artistry and heritage that form the core of Saudi identity, ensuring that this invaluable legacy is preserved and shared globally.
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has completed the second phase of a school-based initiative aimed at raising environmental awareness and encouraging community involvement, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
In the second phase of the initiative, it expanded its reach to 1,300 students across all grades — up from the 500 students involved in the first phase — and included five school complexes where students planted 1,600 native trees and seedlings.
The initiative aligns with the authority’s broader goals of increasing vegetation cover, educating young people, and promoting sustainable practices, in line with the 2030 strategic targets for royal reserves and the Saudi Green Initiative.
It includes interactive projects and volunteer opportunities for students and is designed to inspire young people to become environmental stewards.
The participants’ volunteer hours are recorded on the National Volunteer Portal affiliated with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
By caring for these plants, students will develop a deeper connection with their environment, the SPA reported.
DUBAI: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Wednesday the dangerous situation in Gaza requires all parties to double their efforts to deal with the latest developments.
Prince Faisal made the remarks as he attended an Arab-Islamic ministerial committee meeting in Jordan focused on halting the conflict in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Jordan's foreign minister said Israel is pushing the whole Middle East to the brink of regional conflict by maintaining a dangerous escalation on several fronts.
Ayman Safadi said following the meeting that peace would not prevail without a two-state solution.
The Islamic and Arab committee, established to coordinate a global response, will consider action during the upcoming high-level meetings of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to the Jordan News Agency (Petra).
It includes representatives from Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria and Bahrain, as well as the secretary-generals of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to provide pediatric hematology and oncology services in the Mukalla area of Hadhramaut, Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The program, which began on Sept. 14 and runs until Sept. 21, is led by five specialists. They have already examined 21 children with cancerous tumors.
The program is a part of KSrelief’s volunteer specialist medical services for needy people across the world.
RIYADH: The Saudi Civil Defense warned of thunderstorms across the Kingdom until Sunday as the country experiences cooler autumn weather.
The authorities urged people to avoid areas susceptible to flooding, not to swim in open water, and to follow instructions issued through social media channels.
The Makkah region is expected to receive heavy rain that may lead to torrential downpours, hail, and strong winds.
moderate-to-heavy rain expected to affect the Baha, Asir, and Jazan regions, while Najran and Madinah regions might see drizzle to moderate rain.
September 1st signaled the official start of autumn in Saudi Arabia.
The season is usually rainy, with rapid fluctuations in weather patterns, providing much-needed respite from the heat, according to the National Center for Meteorology.
Temperatures are anticipated to remain elevated until the middle of the month, with significant fluctuations expected in temperature.
