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RIYADH: 黑料社区 offered its condolences to Sudan on Sunday after a gold mine partially collapsed in the country, killing聽11 miners and wounded seven聽others.
The mine is in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan.
The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom stands with Sudan during this tragedy and wished聽the injured a speedy recovery.聽
JEDDAH: Amid changing values, shifting priorities and growing alternatives to traditional partnerships, a panel titled 鈥淲hy is there a decline in marriage today?鈥 has explored evolving views on love, commitment and marriage.
Organized by Ta3mq, a platform focused on honest dialogue, the event at Hayy Jameel鈥檚 Rukn Space in Jeddah featured panelists from psychology, community leadership and youth engagement.
It was moderated by Tasneem Alshanqiti, Ta3mq founder, and Motaz Al-Safh, a Saudi engineer and entrepreneur. The session addressed generational concerns, fears and new definitions of partnership.
Reflecting on her role, Alshanqiti said: 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 just moderating 鈥 I was carrying the voice of younger women,鈥 adding that she aimed to create a safe space that encouraged openness and reflection.
Panelist Rozana Albanawi, founder of Qeema and Jeddah_CM, said that the discussion explored marriage from societal, religious and psychological perspectives, focusing on self-understanding, compatibility over idealism, and the evolution of love.
Al-Safh said that he focused on creating a safe, judgment-free space for men to express vulnerability.
He described the conversation as 鈥渕ore like a talk between brothers than a formal panel,鈥 aiming to help participants understand their fears and feelings about love and commitment.
The discussion highlighted recurring themes among Saudi youth. Al-Safh said that a few key issues kept emerging: Fear of failure, feeling unready, and pressure from expectations. Many question whether marriage today feels like love or a liability.
He added: 鈥淏ut beneath it all, there鈥檚 a real craving for connection, just done right, in a way that feels safe and meaningful.鈥
Dr. Khalid Sindi, a relationship and marriage psychotherapist, offered a broader national perspective by linking personal challenges to policy and social change.
Speaking to Arab News, he noted the ongoing transition in Saudi marriage values 鈥 from traditional to more modern 鈥 while emphasizing the preservation of core Islamic principles.
He highlighted government efforts under Vision 2030, such as the Saudi Marriage Fund and Sakani housing program, aimed at easing economic barriers for youth.
Sindi added: 鈥淵ounger generations are seeking marriages that blend our cherished traditions with contemporary expectations of emotional connection and mutual growth. This represents not a rejection of our values but their natural adaptation to modern life.鈥
The panelists said that changing views on love and commitment reflected maturity rather than uncertainty.
Albanawi said: 鈥淭here is high awareness among the generation now on marital topics, and many are seeking marriage with the right tools.鈥
She explained that conversation and dialogue help young people to commit while accepting uncertainty in relationships.
鈥淭he younger generation is looking for new ways to shape their marriage, such as avoiding unnecessary rules like high financial burdens or societal expectations that don鈥檛 match their reality.鈥
On the event鈥檚 outcome, Albanawi added: 鈥淎 common theme was that marriages work best when couples marry early, are ready, and have family support.鈥
She noted that many believe delaying marriage increases fears and makes adaptation harder.
Sindi expressed a similar view on marriage鈥檚 evolving nature, saying that the changing views reflected progress and natural generational dynamics rather than fear or uncertainty.
鈥淩ather than seeing shifting perspectives as problematic, the older generation should guide younger Saudis with wisdom and empathy.鈥
Highlighting the national context, Sindi noted the vital role of government initiatives in supporting 黑料社区鈥檚 vision for marriage and family life, demonstrating a commitment to making families society鈥檚 cornerstone.
Reflecting on the session鈥檚 emotional honesty, Al-Safh said that hearing men express concerns such as, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to fail someone鈥檚 daughter,鈥 revealed deep care often left unspoken.
Alshanqiti echoed the need for open, non-judgmental spaces, saying fears about failure and not being enough reminded her that many seek places where they can be truly seen and heard. She described the session as a step toward that openness.
JEDDAH: As part of a broader effort to revive the region鈥檚 visual identity through art, Al-Arbaeen Lake in historic Jeddah has been transformed into an open-air gallery featuring a curated collection of sculptures by international artists.
Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city鈥檚 visual landscape, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sculptures form a dynamic dialogue between the past and present, blending the site鈥檚 heritage with the language of contemporary art.
Notable works on display include 鈥淭he Illusion of the Second Cube鈥 by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely; 鈥淩ouge鈥 and 鈥淔lexibility of Balance鈥 by Alexander Calder; 鈥淐ircular Mass鈥 by Arnaldo Pomodoro; 鈥淭he Bird鈥 by Spanish sculptor Joan Miro; and 鈥淕iving and Receiving Love鈥 by Lorenzo Quinn 鈥 a powerful piece that reflects human values through striking aluminium forms.
鈥 Led by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with Jeddah Municipality, the urban art initiative features 14 world-class artworks integrated into the city鈥檚 visual landscape.
鈥 Notable works on display include 鈥楾he Illusion of the Second Cube鈥 by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely and 鈥楪iving and Receiving Love鈥 by Lorenzo Quinn.
The installations are part of a wider artistic movement that reimagines public spaces as platforms for cultural engagement.
By transforming urban environments into art experiences, the project invites both residents and visitors to explore the intersection of architectural heritage and modern creativity.
It underscores the growing role of art in shaping urban identity and fostering public appreciation for visual beauty in shared spaces of the Kingdom.
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Djiboutian counterpart, Abdul Kader Hussein Omar, in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.
The two ministers also chaired a meeting of the Political Consultations Committee between the two countries, during which they discussed coordination on key regional and international issues.
Saud Al-Sati, deputy minister for political affairs, was among the officials in attendance.
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The message, regarding Saudi-Russian relations and ways to support and strengthen them in various fields, was received by Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji in Riyadh during a meeting with Russia鈥檚 ambassador to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov.
During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji and Kozlov elaborated on relations between their countries and ways to enhance them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed, SPA added.
RIYADH: The Islamic Center in London hosted a meeting between Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and Islamic leaders from across the UK this week.
The discussion focused on the need for wisdom in guiding Muslim communities, especially in the face of provocation by extremists. Speakers stressed the importance of responding with calm and restraint, following the Prophet鈥檚 example of mercy and patience.
Al-Issa highlighted the need for unified religious authority in issuing fatwas and public religious guidance. He announced that the MWL-affiliated Islamic Fiqh Council 鈥 a leading body in Islamic jurisprudence 鈥 would soon hold a forum at the center to discuss the jurisprudence of Muslim communities.
The forum will also explore the creation of a reference framework for this jurisprudence, to be updated as needed. It will review training programs and initiatives in the UK aligned with the Charter of Makkah and propose its inclusion in Islamic education curricula.
Al-Issa emphasized protecting Muslim youth from extremist ideologies, noting the family鈥檚 role, the importance of balanced religious education, qualified teachers, and effective use of platforms such as sermons and lectures.
He praised the British Muslim community鈥檚 awareness and commitment, describing it as a positive example of Islamic values in a diverse society.
The meeting included questions and feedback, with attendees expressing support for the MWL鈥檚 global work. They welcomed Al-Issa鈥檚 visit, especially given the current context, and appreciated his approach to addressing Islamophobia.
Participants also backed the league鈥檚 efforts to unify local religious authority, citing its success in other minority communities.
They viewed this as a long-awaited step, and said that Al-Issa鈥檚 message strengthened trust in the MWL鈥檚 mission of promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, values rooted in Islamic teachings.
