Both officials reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation
Updated 22 August 2024
Arab News
BAGHDAD: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during an official visit to Baghdad on Thursday, state news agency SPA reported.
During the meeting at the presidential palace, both officials reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields.
They also addressed several regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Prince Faisal conveyed the wishes of Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for further progress and continued prosperity for the government and people of Iraq.
KSrelief’s humanitarian activities continue in Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Jordan
Updated 07 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) work in Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Jordan continues, with over 10,000 individuals benefiting from the aid agency’s various humanitarian activities.
In Al-Qadarif state of Sudan, KSrelief on Thursday distributed 990 food parcels to vulnerable families as part of the third phase of the food security support project for the country this year. The distributed food packages benefited 5,940 individuals, state news agency SPA reported.
In Zaranj of Afghanistan’s Nimruz province, 350 shelter kits were provided to 350 families – or about 2,100 family members – who returned from Pakistan, and also to those affected by flooding.
In Jordan’s Zaatari Camp, KSrelief-run clinics provided medical assistance to 2,674 Syrian refugees in Jordan during the fourth week of November. Among the services provided included diagnostics and laboratory tests as well as X-rays. General practitioners treated patients dispensed necessary medications, while specialists provided services for dental care, treatment for sinus and ear infections, eye conditions as well as heart issues.
In Miniyeh of northern Lebanon, the Souboul Al-Salam Association ambulance team funded by KSrelief carried out 54 ambulance missions from Nov. 1 to 7, funded by the King Salman
The missions included transporting patients to and from hospitals and aiding individuals injured in road accidents.
What a Saudi marine scientist has uncovered about the role of algae in coral reef health
Climate change has been linked to ocean warming and deoxygenation, reducing oxygen solubility and harming algae
KAUST researcher Taiba Alamoudi examined the role of algae in coral reef ecosystems and its contribution to nutrient cycling
Updated 06 December 2024
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: The Red Sea’s rich marine life depends on maintaining a balanced environment to protect biodiversity and delicate habitats, with the survival of each species closely tied to the health of its surroundings.
This interdependence prompted a Saudi researcher to explore the critical role of algae in shifting ecosystems and investigate the impact of nighttime hypoxia on macroalgae and crustose algae, especially during the hot summer months.
Taiba Alamoudi, a Saudi PhD candidate in marine science at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and her colleagues examined how algae play a vital role in coral reef ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and stability.
However, climate change has been linked to ocean warming and deoxygenation, causing greater stratification and reduced oxygen solubility, which ultimately harm algal health.
Alamoudi told Arab News that the inspiration for her research, titled “Impacts of Climate Change and the Biotechnological Potential of Seaweed,” was “the phase shifts occurring in coral reef ecosystems, where algae begin to dominate areas once rich with corals.”
She said: “While it might seem that algae have an advantage over corals in warmer oceans, I believe the situation is more complicated. Algae, like corals, are also impacted by environmental stressors such as nighttime hypoxia, a drop in oxygen levels after sunset when photosynthesis ceases but respiration continues.”
Alamoudi’s research seeks to “explore what a balanced ecosystem should look like amid climate change” and deepen understanding of the vulnerabilities and strengths of both corals and algae.
This insight, she said, provides a deeper understanding of reef ecosystem dynamics and supports the development of more effective strategies to preserve their balance and health for the future.
The two main criteria for the studied species were their association with reefs and the limited research on them in the Red Sea region.
“Specifically, we placed special emphasis on crustose coralline algae due to their critical role in reef-building and maintenance,” Alamoudi said.
“These algae deposit calcium carbonate in their cell walls, effectively acting as natural cement that strengthens reef structures and provides essential substrates for coral larvae to settle and grow.”
The researchers used “gas buffering” methods to simulate natural reef oxygen dynamics and replicate nighttime hypoxia.
“By bubbling the seawater stock with the specific concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen gases, we can adjust the dissolved oxygen and pH levels in our setups to the required experimental levels.”
Opinion
This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)
The study also measured metabolic respiration rates, oxygen production, photosynthetic efficiency, and metabolomic processes to assess the impact on algal health and functionality.
In addition, Alamoudi said, “we examine changes in their associated microbial communities and observe visual cues like discoloration or tissue degradation.”
The experiments’ results showed that “macroalgae and crustose algae significantly mitigate the impacts of ocean warming through substantial daytime oxygen production, often leading to oxygen supersaturation that enhances reef resilience.”
However, she said, this benefit is offset at night when photosynthesis stops.
Climate change worsens nighttime hypoxia by raising sea temperatures, which in turn lower oxygen solubility and increase metabolic rates. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, reducing its overall availability.
“Elevated temperatures increase the metabolic demands of the entire reef community, intensifying oxygen consumption and leading to nighttime hypoxia,” Alamoudi said.
“This hypoxic stress disrupts the algae’s physiological processes and associated reef microbial communities, making them more vulnerable to additional stressors.”
She added: “While they help maintain current reef conditions, prolonged nighttime hypoxia compromises their ability to support reef expansion and long-term ecosystem vitality.
“Understanding the balance between their daytime benefits and nighttime vulnerabilities is crucial for defining a truly balanced ecosystem.”
During the day, photosynthesis by algae produces oxygen that helps offset increased consumption. “However, at night, no new oxygen is produced while organisms continue to consume it at elevated rates,” said Alamoudi.
“This combination of decreased oxygen solubility, increased metabolic demand, and reduced oxygen production exacerbates nighttime hypoxia, making it a significant stressor intensified by climate change.”
During peak summer temperatures, the research team observed that hypoxia worsens.
“Warmer water reduces oxygen solubility and increases the metabolic rates of the reef community, leading to greater oxygen consumption,” Alamoudi said. “At night, without photosynthesis to produce oxygen, this intensifies hypoxia.
DID YOU KNOW?
1. Without sunlight, algae stop producing oxygen through photosynthesis but still consume oxygen through respiration, leading to low oxygen levels (hypoxia).
2. Areas with heavy macroalgae or crustose algae cover are prone to oxygen depletion, especially in low-flow environments.
3. Nighttime hypoxia can harm nearby marine organisms such as fish and invertebrates that rely on oxygen-rich waters.
“Consequently, marine organisms experience increased stress during the hottest months, making them more vulnerable to hypoxic conditions compared to cooler seasons.”
Moreover, Alamoudi’s research shows how changes in the health of macroalgae and crustose algae can have cascading effects on marine organisms, particularly herbivorous species and invertebrates, potentially impacting their population.
“Coralline algae are crucial for coral larval settlement. Their decline could hinder coral recruitment and reef regeneration,” she said. “This, in turn, affects species dependent on healthy coral reefs for habitat, potentially reducing biodiversity and altering the ecosystem’s balance.”
By studying the impact of nighttime hypoxia on algae, Alamoudi aims to uncover their true role in these shifting ecosystems.
She said her research helps scientists “explore what a balanced ecosystem should look like amid climate change,” noting that “understanding the vulnerabilities and advantages of both corals and algae allows us to better comprehend the dynamics of reef ecosystems and develop more effective strategies to preserve their balance and health for the future.”
One of the biggest challenges Alamoudi and her colleagues faced in this research was the need for continuous monitoring, as even slight fluctuations can greatly impact dissolved oxygen and pH levels.
She added that “collecting samples from deeper ocean zones demanded substantial technological resources.” However, her team’s collaboration with the Saudi National Center for Wildlife enabled them to “access these depths and gather the necessary data and specimens.”
Alamoudi said she found it interesting how mesophotic coralline algae, which live in deeper, lower-light reef zones, respond differently from shallow-water species.
“Even short-term hypoxic stress at the microscale can have substantial impacts, potentially leading to significant ecological consequences that are not yet widely studied,” she said.
“This highlights the importance of examining subtle environmental stressors across different habitats, as they may reveal vulnerabilities in marine ecosystems that could affect overall reef health and resilience.”
Alamoudi is one of six winners of the 2024 L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Program. Currently a PhD student under the mentorship of Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor Carlos Duarte, she earned her undergraduate degree in marine biology from Oregon State University in 2018.
She gained experience in environmental consulting and aquaculture in the Kingdom before joining KAUST in 2020.
Misk Art Week returns for artists, enthusiasts in Riyadh
‘Seeing Riyadh’ exhibition features photographs of Saudi Arabia’s capital down the years
Updated 06 December 2024
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: The eighth annual Misk Art Week began on Thursday and runs until Dec. 10, featuring a spectacular display of what is all the latest on the local art scene.
Enthusiasts rushed to Prince Faisal bin Fahd Arts Hall and its neighboring venue to explore new exhibitions, art fairs, markets, and educational programs, while the soothing sounds of oud music added charm to the evening
The interactive experience invites visitors to explore and create parallel worlds in real-time through generative artificial intelligence. (AN photo)
Ibrahem Al-Suhaibani, executive director for marketing, communication, and user experience at Misk Art Institute, told Arab News: “We do have artists who are now establishing their career in the art and design market.
“So, we see ourselves supporting and bridging between the establishment and the mature galleries, and in between we support the artists through all the value chain.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• At Misk Art Week, Canadian art studio Iregular is presenting ‘As Water Falls,’ a free-flowing digital waterfall that continuously evolves.
• ‘Alternative Realities’ invites visitors to explore and create parallel worlds in real-time through generative artificial intelligence.
• The ‘Obsolete Technologies’ showcase features works from local and international artists.
This year’s event is curated around the theme of art and technology, pushing artists to contemplate the aspects of digital and media through an artistic lens.
The educational program and mentorship sessions are also part of the Institute’s strategy to educate, enable, and encourage new generations of artists. (AN photo)
Al-Suhaibani added: “We tackle the topic from different angles: from a research angle, before internet, post-internet, what’s the impact of the technology and the media, how this is helping artists to boost their creativity or even block them in any way, and how they really reveal their creativity after that blocking.”
At the entrance of the space, inspired by how nature is alive and ever-changing, the Canadian art studio Iregular presents “As Water Falls,” a free-flowing digital waterfall that continuously evolves with alternating patterns and visuals that will never be the same for at least 100 years.
The Art Fair space is bigger this year, which features works from 11 Saudi-based galleries including Hewar Art, Mono, Hafez, WRD Art, ATHR, Dawi, and others. (AN photo)
While the digital installation has been presented in seven countries around the world this year, an addition was created especially for Misk Art Week, Al-Suhaibani said, and is being shown for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
Further into the outdoor space, the studio presents “Alternative Realities,” an interactive experience that invites visitors to explore and create parallel worlds in real-time through generative artificial intelligence.
The Art Fair space is bigger this year, which features works from 11 Saudi-based galleries including Hewar Art, Mono, Hafez, WRD Art, ATHR, Dawi, and others. (AN photo)
By combining word prompts and arranging a variety of props at their disposal, participants can craft infinite combinations of realities that range from slightly different to wildly surreal.
Al-Suhaibani said: “We have four shows in total for Misk Art Week, all of them around media and technology in a different format.”
The interactive experience invites visitors to explore and create parallel worlds in real-time through generative artificial intelligence. (AN photo)
The exhibitions include the Masaha Residency’s “Obsolete Technologies” showcase, which features works from local and international artists; the “Seeing Riyadh” exhibition, which explores the city’s significant transformation over the past decade through photography; the Misk Art Grant’s “Digital Civilizations” outdoor exhibit, which taps into phenomena shaped by modern technology; and “The Silent Age of Singularity” exhibition, which investigates the post-internet era.
Al-Suhaibani said: “Riyadh has been evolving in the past few years, especially now with the announcement of the metro starting to operate.
The educational program and mentorship sessions are also part of the Institute’s strategy to educate, enable, and encourage new generations of artists. (AN photo)
“Riyadh is hosting big events and has become a hub. So, we felt this year that we needed to highlight Riyadh, especially at the beginning of the ’80s and ’90s.”
Additionally, the event includes an art book fair featuring a number of international, regional, and local publishers to celebrate the rich and diverse Arab art culture; and an extended art and design market with 92 artists and entities at which the local community can engage, sell, and commission unique works.
“We designed it in a way that anyone walking by the market can see everything. And there is a diversity between painting, photography, sculpting projects, and even design,” Al-Suhaibani said.
The educational program and mentorship sessions are also part of the institute’s strategy to educate, enable, and encourage new generations of artists.
The art fair space is bigger this year, and features works from 11 Saudi-based galleries including Hewar Art, Mono, Hafez, WRD Art, ATHR, and Dawi.
Al-Suhaibani added: “We believe today the market desires to have galleries more specialized to support artists and to showcase their artwork.”
The Misk Art Week mural is also a feature and an interactive space crafted to showcase the creativity of young talents. As children contribute unique visions that are then displayed on a wall, they collectively shape a masterpiece that evolves with each individual contribution. With the help of augmented reality tech, the artwork comes to life in an entirely new dimension.
Misk Art Institute’s goal is to create a cohesive environment in which all artists, regardless of their background, can thrive.
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Bahrain for Manama Dialogue 2024
Conference is annual security summit organized by International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in collaboration with Bahraini foreign ministry
Updated 06 December 2024
Arab News
MANAMA: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bahrain on Friday to participate in the Manama Dialogue 2024 Forum, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Upon his arrival at Bahrain International Airport, Prince Faisal was received by Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, and Fahd bin Munikher, the Charge d'Affaires of Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Manama.
The IISS Manama Dialogue is an annual security summit organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in collaboration with Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The forum brings together government officials, policy experts, and academics from across the globe to discuss pressing regional and international security challenges.
Since its inception in 2004, the dialogue has served as a platform for fostering dialogue, enhancing cooperation, and shaping policies to address critical issues such as Middle East security, economic stability, and international diplomacy.
JAX District hosts dialogue sessions on contemporary arts
Talks held as part of Noor Riyadh blend creativity, critical thinking to explore new horizons in realms of art, society
The discussions also focused on the role of cultural institutions in boosting art and culture
Updated 06 December 2024
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: JAX District in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, has hosted a week-long series of Noor Talks as part of community engagement activities accompanying the light festival Noor Riyadh 2024.
Noor Riyadh is running until Dec. 14 with the theme “Light Years Apart.”
The talks served as a platform for cultural dialogues, reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global hub for art and creativity.
They blended creativity with critical thinking, inspiring participants to explore new horizons in the realms of art and society.
The talks were held to explore the dimensions of art and culture from a multifaceted perspective.
Sessions addressed topics related to art and culture and featured the participation of artists, curators, specialists, and cultural experts, as well as those interested in the sector.
The discussions also focused on the role of cultural institutions in boosting art and culture, as well as their importance in promoting communication between generations.
In a session moderated by Gaida Al-Mogren, artistic director of the Noor Riyadh Festival, Effat Abdullah Fadag and Alfredo Cramerotti, the festival’s co-curators, discussed the symbiotic relationship between the Earth and the stars and how this influenced both the symbolic and practical aspects of the festival.
They emphasized that curators and artists benefited from exchanging diverse viewpoints which allowed artworks to evolve and highlighted the festival’s theme, along with the variety of artistic perspectives.
In another session, Refik Anadol, Lachlan Turczan and Ebtehal Al-Rajhi discussed the creative process behind designing public art, emphasizing its importance in resonating with the audience to enhance community participation and strengthen cultural identity.
The session emphasized the ability of public art to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment, relying on technology, environmental harmony, and narrative approaches to interact with the public on multiple levels.
In a session moderated by Miguel Blanco-Carrasco, and featuring panelists Vilma Jurkute, Nawaf Alharbi, and Nour Kelani, building creative communities through collaborative work was discussed.
The session also touched on the role of music and artistic performances in fostering cultural innovation; the importance of creating sustainable networks to support creators; and providing spaces for dialogue and education.
The talks, which were held throughout last week, concluded with a dialogue moderated by cultural expert Sara Al-Mutlaq, in which the role of cultural institutions in the 21st century was discussed. The session featured Noura Al-Maashouq, Jack Persekian, Farah Abushullaih, and Nora Aldabal.
The participants emphasized the importance of museums and cultural institutions as platforms for inspiration and learning, especially for the young.
