https://arab.news/c6kav
GENEVA: The United Nations warned Saturday that dire fuel shortages in the Gaza Strip had reached “critical levels,” threatening to dramatically increase the suffering in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“After almost two years of war, people in Gaza are facing extreme hardships, including widespread food insecurity. When fuel runs out, it places an unbearable new burden on a population teetering on the edge of starvation,” seven UN agencies cautioned in a joint statement.
RIYADH: A bold lineup had been revealed on Sunday for Riyadh Season 2025, with a range events which will reinforce Saudi Arabia’s position as a key destination for leisure and entertainment.
Announcing the program on Sunday, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, said the new season — set to begin on Friday, Oct. 10 — would feature an expanded range of entertainment zones, record-breaking sporting events and large-scale cultural celebrations.
Among the highlights will be new international zones at Boulevard World offering immersive cultural experiences inspired by Kuwait, South Korea and Indonesia.
The new additions reflect Riyadh Season’s growing global scope and commitment to fostering international cultural exchange.
One of the most highly anticipated new attractions is Beast Land, developed in collaboration with global influencer MrBeast, one of the world’s leading content creators. The zone will include more than 40 retail and dining outlets, adventure gardens and daily competitions.
The zone is expected to be one of the season’s major draws, with MrBeast set to attend the zone’s grand opening.
Riyadh Season 2025 will also host a series of world-class sporting and entertainment events, including the Six Kings Slam Tennis Championship, the Ring IV boxing card, the prestigious Joy Awards and the Jewelry Salon exhibition.
In a historic first, the WWE Royal Rumble will be held in January 2026, marking its debut outside North America and underlining Riyadh’s growing role as a global sporting hub.
On the business front, the Joy Forum on Oct. 16-17 will bring together leading entertainment executives and professionals for high-level discussions, networking and industry partnerships.
Meanwhile, Via Riyadh will host “Ana Arabia,” a cultural celebration dedicated to Arab heritage, creativity and identity which will feature art, music and performances.
Riyadh Season 2025 aligns with the Kingdom’s broader cultural and economic transformation, fostering investment in the entertainment sector and supporting Saudi talent.
The upcoming season places strong emphasis on combining local creativity with global expertise, ensuring visitors experience both international quality and authentic Saudi character.
JEDDAH: The world of gemstones took center stage at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah as Alliance Francaise hosted a conference with internationally-renowned French artist and sculptor, Nicolas Jourdier over the weekend.
The ‘Interior Jewellery’ event explored how gemstones can transform spaces, emotions and everyday objects into unique works of art.
In an engaging talk, Jourdier explained that he does not work with traditional cut and polished gemstones used in jewelry.
Instead, he assembles semi-precious stones and even simple natural stones, often without commercial value but remarkable in beauty, into functional artworks.
“I didn’t want to cut the stones, so I invented a unique method unlike anything else in the world to assemble hundreds or even thousands of already polished semi-precious stones,” he said. “I also use simple stones found in nature, which allows me to create truly unique pieces.”
He revealed that the term “interior jewelry” was coined to define this new form of artistic expression.
“Some of my works, like my latest sculpture made of amber, gold and bronze powder, stand 2.56 meters tall and have been exhibited in several iconic venues in Paris,” he added.
He noted the warm reception of his art internationally and expressed excitement about the Saudi market: “I’ve met decorators who were very open to my invention. I’ve been told that Saudis have a great appreciation for stones.
“I feel a strong connection to the energy of stones, and my clients are often surprised because I can usually sense which stone would suit a particular person.”
Jourdier emphasized the importance of matching stones to both the client and the space. “Every stone has its own properties. They benefit us not only through the minerals they contain — for instance malachite is a copper carbonate and a natural antioxidant — but also through their colors.
“Some people need to see pink tones to feel calm and at peace; for them, I create mirrors or tables in rose quartz.
“Others feel good surrounded by red, so I often use red jasper. Some people need to recharge with positive energy so I create pieces in Baltic amber for them.
“In France, we traditionally give amber necklaces to young children when their teeth are coming in to ease their pain.”
Discussing his projects in Saudi Arabia, Jourdier said: “Green, the color of the banner of the Prophet Muhammad and of paradise, holds deep symbolism in Islam.
“I love creating tables and chandeliers with malachite. I recently sold a large console in Riyadh entirely covered with hundreds of pieces of malachite.
“I also imagine composing Qur’anic verses using fragments of malachite on a golden background.
“Two years ago, I visited the amethyst mines in Brazil and brought back magnificent geodes in deep violet.”
He went on to say express his appreciation for the Kingdom and describe his fondness for his visits.
“I truly enjoy coming to Saudi Arabia, as I meet people who are welcoming, kind, positive, respectful, and forward-looking.
“On my next trip, I would love to collect stones and sand from the desert to create a unique artwork.”
The audience was equally inspired. Jewellery enthusiast Reem A. Alhussain Al-Khayri describing the experience, said: “It was truly amazing and one of its kind … the most fascinating insight for me was the idea of creating pieces of furniture with gemstones.
“I had never imagined that gemstones could be used in such a manner, transforming everyday objects into unique works of art that carry both beauty and meaning.”
Dr. Ibrahim Abbas Natto, former dean at the University of Petroleum & Minerals, reflected on the significance of hosting an international artist in Jeddah: “During the discussion, I recalled a golden era 50 years ago, during the reign of the founder of modern Jeddah (Mayor Mohammed Said Farsi) and his grand dedication to the arts.
“I expressed my hope that this international artist and the French Center would inspire us to establish one or more artistic memorials, perhaps within the Ballet Center or the Opera Center, both soon to be built in Jeddah.”
Larry Lamartiniere, director of Alliance Francaise, speaking about the event said: “Hosting this conference highlighted a truly unique creator whose work blends the elegance of interior furniture design with the refinement of semi-precious stones.
“The event perfectly embodied our mission to foster cultural dialogue and celebrate contemporary French creativity.
“Through his artistic vision, Nicolas invited the audience to explore the intersection of function, beauty, and material, showing how art can transcend boundaries and inspire meaningful conversations across cultures.”
WASHINGTON: Israel needs to stop bombing Gaza for an eventual hostage release by Palestinian militant group Hamas to take place, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday.
“I think the Israelis and everyone acknowledge you can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop,” Rubio told CBS News talk show “Face the Nation.”
“There can’t be a war going on in the middle of it.”
In a text exchange with a CNN reporter released Sunday, US President Donald Trump said “yes” when asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on board with ending the military campaign in Gaza.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas were set to hold talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, with Netanyahu expressing hope that hostages held in Gaza could be released within days.
The diplomatic push follows the Palestinian militant group’s positive response to Trump’s roadmap for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Rubio, who appeared on several Sunday talk shows to speak about the situation in Gaza, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that there were “logistical challenges” to address to pave the way for the hostage release.
He also predicted that the longer-term goals would be “even harder” to attain, in terms of how the war-ravaged territory will be governed and disarming militants.
“You can’t set up a government structure in Gaza that’s not Hamas in three days. I mean, it takes some time,” Rubio told NBC.
Trump told CNN he expected clarity “soon” on whether the Palestinian militant group — which carried out the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the conflict — was committed to peace.
The US president added that if Hamas were to refuse to cede to power, they would face “Complete Obliteration!”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will launch a crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles in the federal capital of Islamabad from Nov. 17 to curb air pollution ahead of the smog season, state media reported on Sunday.
Smog is caused by crop burning, vehicular emissions and industrial pollution. It harms health, reduces visibility and degrades air quality. The smog season begins in late October, peaks from November to January and lasts through February.
In June, Pakistan began emission testing for vehicles entering Islamabad to curb air pollution by measuring exhaust pollutants such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides for compliance with environmental standards.
Authorities will fine and impound vehicles during surprise inspections and on-the-spot emission tests during the crackdown across the federal capital, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
“This campaign is not only about enforcement but also awareness,” Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, a climate change ministry spokesperson, was quoted as saying.
“Public education efforts are underway to encourage voluntary compliance and ensure cleaner air for Islamabad’s residents. Protecting ourselves, our families and our environment from the harmful effects of air pollution and smog is a collective responsibility.”
Pakistan’s urban centers routinely rank among the most polluted cities in the world, with vehicular emissions remaining one of the top contributors to urban air pollution, according to the report. This severe air pollution poses a serious threat to public health, undermines economic productivity and diminishes the quality of life for millions of residents.
Shaikh urged all vehicle drivers and owners to cooperate with EPA teams, get their vehicles tested before the crackdown begins next month, and obtain official clearance to avoid penalties.
“We urge citizens to avoid unnecessary use of vehicles, use public transport, ensure regular maintenance to minimize smoke emissions and refrain from burning waste or leaves in open spaces,” he said.
LONDON: Israeli authorities approved a new settlement plan on Sunday to confiscate 35 dunams (9 acres) of land from the Palestinian village of Kafr Qaddum, located east of Qalqilya in the occupied northern West Bank.
The Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, which monitors settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, reported that the Israeli plan includes the construction of 58 new housing units at the Mitzpe Yeshai settlement, which is situated on the land of Kafr Qaddum.
Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a breach of international law and UN resolutions, hindering the potential for establishing a Palestinian state, the Wafa news agency said.
In early September, Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right Israeli finance minister, revealed plans to annex 82 percent of the West Bank, a move that would effectively end the prospect of realizing the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have carried out more than 38,000 attacks in the West Bank, including 767 fires deliberately set on Palestinian homes and lands, and more than 1,000 demolitions that destroyed nearly 3,700 structures, including homes and agricultural facilities, according to the commission’s report.
The commission also documented the displacement of 33 Palestinian Bedouin communities caused by settler violence and the establishment of 114 new settler outposts. Israeli forces set up more than 900 permanent and temporary checkpoints in the West Bank, restricting movement throughout the occupied territory.
According to official Palestinian figures, at least 1,048 Palestinians have been killed, and about 10,300 injured by Israeli gunfire, since October 2023.
