Sonic booms heard over Beirut as Israeli raids on Lebanon continue

Special Sonic booms heard over Beirut as Israeli raids on Lebanon continue
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Israeli shelling in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam in Marjeyoun on July 22, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 23 July 2024
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Sonic booms heard over Beirut as Israeli raids on Lebanon continue

Sonic booms heard over Beirut as Israeli raids on Lebanon continue
  • Lebanon expects extension of UNIFIL mandate for another year, PM says
  • Mikati: ‘No one can guarantee Israel’s intentions’

BEIRUT: Israeli warplanes broke the sound barrier over Beirut, Sidon and other parts of Lebanon on Monday.

The planes conducted mock raids over the Hasbaya area and the occupied Shebaa Farms, reaching as far as Bekaa.

Although hostile operations on the southern front have significantly decreased, sporadic strikes continue.

One Israeli air raid targeted a house in the town of Chihine in the Tyre district.

The raid resulted in injuries, and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party reported that one of its members was killed.

A Lebanese Army unit, meanwhile, found the wreckage of a drone in the town of Aaiha in the Rashaya district. Army command did not clarify the nature of the drone or whether it was Israeli-made or from another source.

A Lebanese Army watchtower was attacked by Israel on Sunday night on the outskirts of the town of Alma Al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, resulting in “moderate injuries to two soldiers, who were transferred to a hospital for treatment,” according to the military.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, targeted the Israeli military site of Al-Malikiyah with an attack drone, hitting one of its bunkers.

The developments in the south and the issue of renewing UNIFIL’s mandate, which is on the UN Security Council’s agenda, have been the focus of internal political attention.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said at a meeting with key officials that recent developments “naturally call for caution, but we continue to discuss with concerned parties and engage in necessary diplomatic contacts to prevent matters from spiraling into undesirable consequences.”

He added: “We cannot say there are reassurances and guarantees, as no one can guarantee the Israeli enemy’s intentions. However, we continue our diligent efforts to address the situation.”

Regarding the renewal of the mandate for the international forces operating in the south of Lebanon, Mikati said: “We continue diplomatic contacts to ensure a calm extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, whose essential role in the south we highly appreciate, along with the fruitful cooperation between them and the army.

“From the contacts we have made, we have sensed a keenness to maintain this role, especially under the delicate circumstances the south is going through.”

Speaking after a meeting with Mikati, Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib said he informed the prime minister that “there is a quasi-agreement to renew the work of UNIFIL forces for one year, under the same conditions and without any modifications.”

Bou Habib, who briefed Mikati upon his return from New York, also said that US and European officials he met with emphasized “the importance of not expanding the war and working to avoid escalating military actions in the south.”

He added: “There is a kind of optimism, or less pessimism, about the outbreak of a wide war in Lebanon.”

Also on Monday, a group of opposition MPs submitted a petition requesting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri hold a session to discuss the repercussions of the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli military, now in its 10th month. 

The opposition MPs — Georges Okais, Mark Daou, Ashraf Rifi, and Salim Sayegh — demanded Berri “hold a parliamentary session at the earliest opportunity to discuss the ongoing war, prevent its escalation, and ensure that the government fulfills its constitutional duties.”

In their petition, the parliamentarians called for diplomatic efforts to return to the 1949 ceasefire agreement and fully implement UN Resolution 1701.

They stressed the need to put an end to military actions “outside the framework of the Lebanese state and its institutions, declare a state of emergency in the south, hand over control to the army, and allow it to respond to any attack on Lebanese territory.”

They referred to the “escalation and threats reaching the highest level since Oct. 8, and the increasing fears of the expansion of the ongoing war, which has cost us hundreds of Lebanese lives and thousands of destroyed residential units so far, in addition to the economic and environmental damage caused by daily Israeli attacks, and the repercussions of this in light of the political and economic crises plaguing the country, and the obstruction of electing a president for the country.”

Nabil Qaouk, a member of the Central Council of Hezbollah, stated that Israel had put the region “on a path of escalation.”

He said that “the support fronts in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen have entered a new phase, introducing new field equations through which we hope to increase pressure on the Israeli enemy to stop the aggression on the Gaza Strip.”


Global renewable energy capacity up 585 GW in 2024: IRENA

Global renewable energy capacity up 585 GW in 2024: IRENA
Updated 15 min 9 sec ago
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Global renewable energy capacity up 585 GW in 2024: IRENA

Global renewable energy capacity up 585 GW in 2024: IRENA

RIYADH: Global renewable energy capacity saw a record annual growth rate of 15.1 percent in 2024, increasing by 585 gigawatts, according to a new analysis.

In its latest report, the International Renewable Energy Agency said that this addition brought the total installed power capacity in the sector to 4,448 GW. 

Despite this record increase, IRENA highlighted that growth is still falling short of the 11.2 terawatts needed to align with the global goal to triple the installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. 

The study further said global renewable capacity should expand by 16.6 percent annually to meet the stipulated 2030 target.

Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency said that renewable energy sources accounted for most of the growth in international supply in 2024 at 38 percent, followed by natural gas at 28 percent, and coal at 15 percent, as well as oil at 11 percent and nuclear power at 8 percent. 

IEA’s estimate of renewable energy installations was also higher than the projections made by IRENA. IEA said that new renewable installations hit record levels for the 22nd consecutive year, with around 700 GW added to the total capacity in 2024, of which around 80 percent was from solar photovoltaic. 

Reflecting on the new analysis, IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera said: “With just six years remaining to meet the goal adopted at COP28 to triple installed renewable power capacity by 2030, the world now needs additions in excess of 1,120 GW each year for the rest of this decade to keep the world on a 1.5-degree Celsius pathway.”

La Camera also urged governments to leverage the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions as an opportunity to outline a clear blueprint of their renewable energy ambitions. 

He further called on the international community to enhance collaborations to support the renewable ambitions of the countries of the Global South. 

“The continuous growth of renewables we witness each year is evidence that renewables are economically viable and readily deployable. Each year, they keep breaking their own expansion records, but we also face the same challenges of great regional disparities and the ticking clock as the 2030 deadline is imminent,” said the director-general.

He added: “With economic competitiveness and energy security being increasingly a major global concern today, expanding renewable power capacity at speed equals tapping into business opportunities and addressing energy security quickly and sustainably.” 

According to IRENA, solar and wind energy saw the most significant expansion in 2024, accounting for 96.6 percent of all net renewable additions.

Over three-quarters of the capacity expansion was in solar energy, which increased by 32.2 percent, reaching 1,865 GW, followed by wind energy, growing by 11.1 percent. 

In 2024, China added 278 GW of solar energy capacity, followed by India at 24.5 GW. 

Commenting on the IRENA report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Renewable energy is powering down the fossil fuel age. Record-breaking growth is creating jobs, lowering energy bills and cleaning our air.”

He added: “Renewables renew economies. But the shift to clean energy must be faster and fairer — with all countries given the chance to fully benefit from cheap, clean, renewable power.”

According to IRENA, hydropower capacity reached 1,283 GW in 2024, demonstrating a notable rebound from 2023, driven by growth in China. 

The world saw wind energy capacity reaching 1,133 GW by the end of last year, driven by expansion in the US and China. 

Bioenergy expansion rebounded in 2024, with a growth of 4.6 GW of capacity compared to an increase of 3 GW in 2023. This rise was propelled by China and France, which added 1.3 GW each last year. 

Geothermal energy increased by 0.4 GW overall, led by New Zealand, followed by Indonesia, Turkiye, and the US. 

Off-grid electricity capacity expansion, excluding Eurasia, Europe, and North America, nearly tripled, growing by 1.7 GW to 14.3 GW. 

La Camera added that renewables accounted for 46 percent of global installed power capacity. 

“Even as renewable energy almost accounts for half of total capacity, many energy planning questions still need to be addressed to establish renewables as the most significant source of electricity generation — including in the context of grid flexibility and adaptation to variable renewable power,” he said. 

During the opening ceremony of the annual UN climate summit in November, Mukhtar Babayev, president of COP29, underscored the vitality of increased funding to enable climate efforts and urged governments, the private sector, and multilateral financial institutions to work together to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. 

That treaty, signed in 2015, compels signatories to work toward limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.


Inside NEOM’s inaugural Artists in Residence program 

Inside NEOM’s inaugural Artists in Residence program 
Updated 18 min 2 sec ago
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Inside NEOM’s inaugural Artists in Residence program 

Inside NEOM’s inaugural Artists in Residence program 
  • Eight artists, including four from Saudi Arabia, took part in the three-month residency

DUBAI: What does art have to do with the creation of a futuristic city in the middle of the desert? According to Michael Lynch, the head of the entertainment and culture sector at NEOM — Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion megaproject — it has a vital role to play. 

“Building a region also requires artists to be working with us,” Lynch told Arab News. “We're talking about a future region within a forward-looking country. To make a community work, artists are an integral part of it, and to make a region work, artists in their various forms and with the various things that they want to work on are incredibly important to building the quality of life and the quality of experience for people.”  

A detail from Abdulmohsen Albinali's 'Landscaping the Desert,' produced during his NEOM residency. (Supplied)

As proof of NEOM’s focus on art and culture, it kicked off its inaugural three-month long Artist-in-Residence program in September. Four Saudi artists — Bilal Allaf, Ahaad Alamoudi, Abdulmohsen Albinali and Ayman Zedani — took part and were joined by four international artists: Eduardo Cassina from Spain, Tamara Kalo from Lebanon, Giulia Bruno from Italy and Liva Dudareva from Latvia.  

“For the residency, we paired each artist with a peer from eight different sectors across NEOM,” Lynch explained. “We had biotech, robots and design so that each artist had someone largely from the sector of engineering or completely different backgrounds. None of them were artists, but they were all young and interested in the idea of how the artists would work within the context of NEOM.” 

The NEOM “peers” acted as guides to assist the artists in better understanding the region.  

A detail from Eduardo Cassina's 'A Blanket for Dreaming.' (Supplied)

“I think the artworks created at the end of this period were quite different pieces of work but offered really incredible ways to understand the role of the artist within a community, within a future region, within NEOM itself as a starting point,” said Lynch 

NEOM’s culture section collaborated with Dubai-based Alserkal Advisory to develop the residency. Its first phase saw the artists travel to NEOM to learn about the region, its landscape and the upcoming futuristic city. For the second phase, the artists traveled to Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, an art and advocacy foundation in Madrid, to work on the ideas inspired by their time in NEOM. The works were then exhibited in NEOM in late November for a short time, accompanied by lectures from the artists for NEOM staff. 

“We saw the residency as a first step for us, and hopefully what we will then be able to do is repeat it over a period of time in venues across the region and ultimately some of the bigger venues that are due to happen with The Line,” added Lynch, referring to the linear smart city due to be constructed in NEOM. 

Ahaad Alaamoudi's 'Work in Progress' on display at NEOM Museum. (Supplied)

Among the works, standout pieces included Cassina’s creation, which mixes the worlds of architecture and sociology. With “A Blanket for Dreaming,” the artist presents the history of the site of NEOM, which spans thousands of years, on a tapestry map, roughly 8.4 meters long and 2.1 meters tall. It tells the story of the area from the Nabataean period to the contemporary era and was created on a “hacked” Japanese automated knitting machine built in the 1990s, which Cassina found in Madrid.  

“We had some people visiting NEOM around the time it was exhibited and they immediately wanted to purchase it,” said Lynch.  

Performance artist Allaf, meanwhile, presented work featuring a dancing robot programmed by one of Neom’s engineers, demonstrating how the worlds of dance, art and robotics could intersect.  

Ayman Zedani's 'To The Eagles, Chapter 2.' (Supplied)

“The engineer is now also interested in how art can (be mixed with) engineering to make major public artworks for Neom in the future,” said Lynch, emphasizing that he hopes that in the same way as Neom has been able to showcase its architectural plans in exhibitions around the world, Neom’s culture sector hopes to be able to “replicate the artist in residence scheme in the next couple of years and have some of the work become part of a potential collection for buildings.” 

Lynch said the residency had exceeded expectations for everyone involved.  

“It was really important, I think, for the artists to understand the complexities of the 26,500 square kilometers of NEOM, and that it isn’t just about The Line as the dominant public manifestation of what has been going on,” said Lynch. “It was about their ability to travel around, look at the site, see what was happening, and to be able to respond to that. And hopefully we will hold onto those connections as we step forward.”


Italy pledges 68 million euros in aid for Syria

Italy pledges 68 million euros in aid for Syria
Updated 27 min 52 sec ago
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Italy pledges 68 million euros in aid for Syria

Italy pledges 68 million euros in aid for Syria
  • EU countries have also suspended a range of sanctions against Syria, including restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction

ROME, March 27 : Italy has earmarked some 68 million euros ($73.20 million) to finance humanitarian projects and rebuild infrastructure in Syria, Rome’s foreign minister told lawmakers on Thursday, saying it was crucial to support the transition in Damascus.
“An initial package has been earmarked for humanitarian initiatives in the hospital and health sector, in infrastructure, and in strengthening food supply chains,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told a parliamentary hearing.
“New cooperation projects will start in the coming weeks. And we also intend to organize a business forum aimed at reconstruction,” he added.
Earlier this month, donors at a European Union-led conference pledged 5.8 billion euros to help Syria’s new authorities with the challenges of the transition.
EU countries have also suspended a range of sanctions against Syria, including restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction.
The new authorities this month issued a constitutional declaration that retains a central role for Islamic law in the country.
Tajani said the constitutional declaration represented a “positive step” and a “progressive and cautious” easing of sanctions should continue to foster institutional consolidation and economic recovery.


Riyadh’s Ahlam Gallery hosts group show ‘Stories in the Making’

Riyadh’s Ahlam Gallery hosts group show ‘Stories in the Making’
Updated 28 min 33 sec ago
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Riyadh’s Ahlam Gallery hosts group show ‘Stories in the Making’

Riyadh’s Ahlam Gallery hosts group show ‘Stories in the Making’

RIYADH: “This is a group exhibition, created by a community of eclectic artists to exchange, talk, collaborate and build a connection in a healthy environment,” Dr. Ahlam Alshedouky, founder of Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh, tells Arab News. 

Alshedoukhy is discussing “Stories in the Making,” a collection of 36 works by local and international artists which runs at the gallery until March 31. Approximately half of the participating artists were pre-selected for their unique stories, while the rest joined through an open call. 

“Most of these works were created in the last year; one of the criteria is to present something new,” Alshedoukhy explains, adding that the exhibition puts “big lights on the artist’s journey and artist’s story.” 

Jeddah-based Salah Jandali, founder of JZB Studio, says he created “functional art” for the exhibition — essentially four stools and a small table — that he hopes people will use to sit and reflect, or engage in conversation with others. The furniture blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. 

“Weaving was part of our daily lives. Today, it has become more of a decoration,” Jandali tells Arab News. “This affects demand — if people aren’t interested in this craft and no one works with it, over time, it will disappear.” But he believes that it “will gradually become widely accepted again.” 

The designer sought out artisans to create the pieces. He collaborated with a palm weaver in Al-Ahsa, who worked from her home farm dyeing the palm fronds to match Jandali’s requirements. He also partnered with a carpenter known for intricate craftsmanship reminiscent of Japanese joinery. Bringing together techniques from both the east and west coasts, the work now comes full circle in the center of the Kingdom, Riyadh. 

Abdullah Alkhorayef’s work for the exhibition, “The Origins,” explores where the designs for Saudi traditional clothing came from. Finding no concrete answers, he instead created his own version of the evolution of traditional wear in the region. “I decided to start at my own zero point, which is today,” he told Arab News.  

“The Origins” comprises an installation made of black cotton linen featuring geometrical shapes that explore the origins of clothing, and a number of silkscreen prints on paper depicting the geometrical forms used.  

The shapes within the black cotton linen installation were created by folding and sewing a simple rectangle in ways that cover the body. Each piece adds onto the previous one: so a simple draped cloth acquires an arm hole, then is divided in various ways — horizontally, vertically, and diagonally — combining mathematical and engineering concepts, to create garments that could be worn by humans.  

Those shapes were then translated into visual compositions using the silkscreen technique and form an alphabet-like system that is personal to the artist, as if creating his own language for clothing.  

“It all starts with simple shapes,” he says. “With all the chaos in the past 40 or 50 years, we lost the reasoning behind anything. With this exhibition, because of the cultural boom happening in Saudi, I just wanted to throw in a question for people to ask, challenge, and research.” 

Saudi artist Zainab Abo Hussain’s tapestry “A Tide Once Near, Now Drifted to Memory” is an ode to her ancestry inspired by Islamic miniature painting, textiles and innovative construction techniques, as well as her own life.  

Zainab Abo Hussain with her work 'A Tide Once Near, Now Drifted to Memory.' (Supplied)

“Childhood memories of my grandmother, who led our family while my grandfather (was) at work in remote areas, are a significant source of inspiration,” she says. “Evenings spent gathered around her, listening to her captivating stories, are cherished moments.”  

The work aims to honor her grandmother by reimagining these narratives through contemporary miniature painting and manuscript art.  

“Henna nights, in particular, provided precious opportunities for connection and storytelling,” Hussain continues. “These experiences deeply influenced my desire to capture and preserve such memories through my art.” 


Best and Worst: Saudi influencer Alya Khalil talks fashion, food and entertainment

Best and Worst: Saudi influencer Alya Khalil talks fashion, food and entertainment
Updated 37 min 15 sec ago
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Best and Worst: Saudi influencer Alya Khalil talks fashion, food and entertainment

Best and Worst: Saudi influencer Alya Khalil talks fashion, food and entertainment

DUBAI: The Saudi influencer talks fashion, food and entertainment. 

Best TV show or film you’ve ever seen? 

“Succession.” The drama, the outfits, the power struggles… it’s just so good. For movies, “Interstellar” blew my mind. The way it explores space, time and human connections is incredible. The visuals are stunning, the music is unforgettable, and the story really makes you think about love, sacrifice, and the unknown. Plus the scene where time moves differently on different planets is just crazy. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alya khalil (@alya_khalill)

Worst TV show/film you’ve ever seen? 

I couldn’t get into (2009 British horror movie) “Triangle.” It’s the worst horror movie I’ve ever seen. It had an interesting idea, but the way it played out just didn’t keep me hooked. The characters weren’t very engaging, and by the end, it felt like it was trying too hard to be clever instead of actually being scary. 

Best personal style moment so far? 

Wearing evening dresses from my favorite Saudi designer, Huda Bamarouf. Nothing beats that feeling! I’ve worn Huda’s designs so many times, and every single time feels special. Huda is so unique. Her designs mix timeless elegance with a modern flair that truly sets them apart. My favorite piece is her stunning yellow “Alya” dress. It’s so elegant. It made a huge splash on social media, garnering tons of orders.  

Worst personal style moment? 

My teenage years — specifically the neon skinny jeans era. What was I thinking? 

Best accessory for a little black dress? 

A killer pair of earrings or a bold clutch. They are simple but they make a statement. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alya khalil (@alya_khalill)

Worst accessory for a little black dress? 

I don’t like it when there’s too much going on — like layering a million necklaces with an oversized belt. It just kills the elegance.  

Best fashion trend of 2025? 

Effortless minimalism. It’s chic, clean and timeless. I love it.  

Worst fashion trend of 2025? 

I don’t like some of these extreme Y2K comebacks. Not everything from the 2000s needs to make a return! 

Best advice you’ve ever been given? 

“Stay true to your vision, but be flexible.” It’s been a real game-changer for me. Trends change all the time, and life throws surprises at you, so being able to adapt while keeping your true self has really helped me grow. 

Worst advice you’ve ever been given? 

“Follow every trend to stay relevant.” No thanks. True style is all about curation. 

Best book you’ve ever read? 

“The Alchemist” (by Paolo Coelho). It’s such a good reminder to trust the process. I love how it shows that the journey itself is as important as the destination. It’s not just about chasing your dreams — it’s about embracing every twist and turn along the way. The simple storytelling makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger, and it reminds you that every setback or unexpected turn can lead to amazing discoveries.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Alya khalil (@alya_khalill)

Worst book you’ve ever read? 

“Twilight” wasn’t my thing. I just didn’t love the writing style.  

Best thing to do when you’re feeling low? 

Two things: a little retail therapy and putting together an outfit that makes me feel amazing. Shopping gives me a creative break. And when I step outside in an outfit that boosts my confidence, it feels like I’m reclaiming my power. 

Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good? 

Overcommitting and saying yes to everything just because you’re on a high. While it might feel exciting at first, it can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed. It sets you up for stress later on and can even affect your credibility if you can’t deliver on what you’ve promised. 

Best holiday destination? 

Italy. It’s beyond gorgeous. Not only does it boast stunning landscapes and charming cities, but its rich culture makes every moment feel like a dream. And the food is unforgettable: every meal is a celebration of taste, from fresh pasta and wood-fired pizzas to decadent gelato. Wandering through Rome’s timeless ruins or the chic streets of Milan feels like stepping into a living museum of art and fashion. Every corner of Italy invites you to slow down, savor the moment, and immerse yourself in a vibrant lifestyle that’s as stylish as it is soulful. 

Worst holiday destination? 

I don’t like anywhere that’s so packed with tourists that you can’t actually enjoy it. 

Best subject at school? 

Art and literature. I’ve always been drawn to creative stuff. 

Worst subject at school? 

Chemistry. I respect it, but it was never my thing. 

Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day? 

Plan your outfit the night before. It saves time and puts you in the right mindset.  

Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day? 

Endless scrolling on social media. You suddenly realize that an hour has gone by and you’ve done nothing.