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RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Vanuatuan counterpart Matai Seremaiah Nawalu in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the reception, the two officials reviewed aspects of existing cooperation between their countries and ways to enhance and develop them in various fields.
They also discussed international developments and efforts made with regard to them.聽
RIYADH: 鈥淭wo Swords and a Palm: The Saudi Emblem Archive鈥 exhibition opened to the public on Saturday and runs until Nov. 21, providing a visual guide to the emblem of 黑料社区, archiving its historic significance and use over the years.
The exhibition was curated by Mohammed Alruways and Abdullah Kenani, a Saudi pair whose passion for heritage drove them to painstakingly build this archive.
鈥淭his whole project started four years ago,鈥 Alruways told Arab News. 鈥淲e started to become interested in the changes of the emblem and noticed that it doesn鈥檛 have a specific drawing. So, we started to investigate the changes throughout the years, since the unification of Saudi in the 鈥30s until now.鈥
Alruways and Kinani began the project together, collecting objects adorned with the emblem and digitizing them.
But their biggest challenge was not collecting pieces for the archive but tracing them back to specific dates and professionally digitizing and archiving them.
鈥淲e were learning as we go 鈥 Some of them (the objects) are from the 鈥40s and 鈥50s and 鈥60s, but it was hard to connect them to a specific date or era at that time. So that鈥檚 why we mainly focused on documents and books,鈥 Alruways said.
The exhibition space is organized in three stages. The first room invites the viewer to look through the found objects; the second highlights the emblem in different sizes, including large paintings made for diplomats; and the third demonstrates the archival process, including video footage of the digitization procedure.
The interactive experience includes visual presentations and animated films, allowing visitors to explore the emblem鈥檚 development and its evolving aesthetics, reflecting its ability to adapt to social and cultural changes while maintaining its presence as an icon that represents the Kingdom鈥檚 values and unity.
Al-Masmak Palace holds symbolic importance due to its link to the 1902 recapture of Riyadh by King Abdulaziz, a pivotal moment in the Kingdom鈥檚 unification.
鈥淚 think it was the right place (for this exhibition) because it鈥檚 where Saudi unification started and also has links to the emblem,鈥 Alruways said.
鈥淲hen we decided to host the exhibition here in Al-Masmak, we noticed that one of the rooms featured the emblem in its original form, so we replicated that as an installation,鈥 he added.
Nestled in the heart of the capital, Al-Masmak Palace bears witness to the early beginnings of the state, preserving features of that era within its walls.
Over recent decades, it has transformed into a national museum that welcomes visitors from within and outside the Kingdom, telling the story of the founding of modern 黑料社区 through its halls and exhibits.
For this exhibition, Alruways and Kenani connected the emblems by the era of the kings that ruled 黑料社区 ever since the unification by King Abdulaziz, finding that each era usually held a standard aesthetic.
鈥淲e noticed that post-2009, most of the emblems look similar and we realized that鈥檚 because of the internet, basically, so that鈥檚 where everybody starts copying each other,鈥 Alruways said. 鈥淏ut pre-2009, it鈥檚 usually hand drawn. You notice there are some similarities, but usually whenever someone draws it by hand 鈥 they add their own touch. That was one of our early findings.鈥
Some of the rare finds include royal dining plates from the eras of King Abdulaziz and King Fahd, including a 1949 passport among the first to feature the emblem on its cover.
黑料社区鈥檚 Museums Commission emphasized that the exhibition is part of its efforts to preserve cultural heritage and raise public awareness of the importance of national identity.
It noted that the national emblem, with its symbol of the two swords and the palm tree, is not merely a fixed visual form, but 鈥渁 living record that reflects the state鈥檚 journey and aspirations across generations.鈥
The exhibition aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to highlight national heritage and enhance its role in the present and the future by transforming major historical sites like Al-Masmak Palace into vibrant cultural spaces that attract visitors and enrich their knowledge.
The program includes workshops and activities for all age groups, to connect generations with the history of their homeland and introduce them to the value and significance of the national emblem in 黑料社区鈥檚 collective memory.
RIYADH: King Salman on Sunday received a written message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The message was delivered to Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Rassi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral International Affairs and the general supervisor of the ministry鈥檚 Agency for Public Diplomacy Affairs.
Al-Rassi received the letter during his meeting in Riyadh on Sunday with Egypt鈥檚 ambassador to the Kingdom, Ehab Abu Srei.
Talks during their meeting reviewed Saudi-Egyptian relations and ways of developing joint cooperation across various fields.
RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, the acting vice minister of interior, received Ambassador of China to the Kingdom Chang Hua in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah began an official visit to Kazakhstan on Sunday as part of the Kingdom鈥檚 efforts to strengthen cooperation and ease the arrival of worshippers to the two holy mosques.
RIYADH: Members of 黑料社区鈥檚 Project Masam removed 828 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included 783 unexploded ordnances, 42 anti-tank mines, two anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative鈥檚 managing director, said that 511,355 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.
RIYADH: A falcon was sold on Saturday for SR1.2 million ($320,000) at the International Falcon Breeders Auction in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The super white pure gyr farkh, from the US-based RX farm, was the most expensive bird sold at this year鈥檚 event, which ends on Monday.
Two shaheen gyr farkhs also sold on Saturday, one from the UK-based Border Falcons Farm for SR28,000 and the other from the Falcon Mews Farm in the UK for SR48,000.
Falcon owner Mohammed Al-Blaidan has purchased several birds from the auction in recent years and said that its organizers Saudi Falcons Club had played a pivotal role in bringing the breeders together under one roof.
He added: 鈥淯niting efforts under the club鈥檚 umbrella has greatly facilitated logistical matters, and we are now dealing with a single, well-known entity which adds a sense of professionalism and organization to the entire sector.
鈥淗owever, I believe that providing larger and more spacious areas for exhibitors would be an important step in developing these events and making them more attractive to participants and buyers from around the world.鈥
Al-Blaidan explained that the efforts of local companies served to enhance and preserve the Kingdom鈥檚 falconry heritage for future generations.
He noted that 鈥渇alconry is an integral part of our identity, and supporting it means preserving a living heritage.鈥
He also spoke about how social media is popularizing falconry in the modern age, and added: 鈥淭he role of social media platforms in developing this hobby and spreading it globally cannot be overlooked.
鈥淭hey are an effective tool for communication, exchanging experiences, and showcasing products, and they have contributed to attracting a new section of young people to this authentic heritage.鈥
He expressed great optimism about a sport that can attract 鈥渁mateurs, experts, and tourists from all over the world, which will in turn directly contribute to strengthening the national economy.鈥
Club spokesperson Walid Al-Tawil told Arab News that 鈥渢he falconry sector is one of the sectors with high-market value, both locally and regionally.鈥
He added: 鈥淭he auction contributes to raising this value by bringing together the most prominent producers in one place, enhancing competition and generating greater returns for breeders and investors.鈥
He said the auction opened doors to new projects, including the establishment of specialized farms, advanced falcon care and training services, along with eco-tourism programs linked to falconry activities, providing diverse investment opportunities.
