Mystery Persists as Missing Swiss Paintings Reappear 

A man walks past the entrance of the Kunsthaus Zurich art museum on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
A man walks past the entrance of the Kunsthaus Zurich art museum on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
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Mystery Persists as Missing Swiss Paintings Reappear 

A man walks past the entrance of the Kunsthaus Zurich art museum on March 14, 2023. (AFP)
A man walks past the entrance of the Kunsthaus Zurich art museum on March 14, 2023. (AFP)

One of the Switzerland's top art museums announced Sunday the return of two paintings that went missing last year, refusing to provide details in a case still under investigation.

Kunsthaus Zurich offered in June 2023 a reward of 10,000 Swiss francs ($11,100) for information that could help it track one painting by Flemish painter Robert van den Hoecke and another by the Dutch Golden Age artist Dirck de Bray.

The small paintings disappeared when the Kunsthaus took down more than 700 works for cleaning and restoration after a fire broke out in August 2022.

But no trace of the two paintings could later be found.

On Sunday, the museum said only that its restoration experts had confirmed both paintings were in "good condition", with no indication of how or when they turned up.

Because of ongoing police inquiries, "no further information will be released for the time being," the Kunsthaus said.

Museum officials had alerted the missing works to the Art Loss Register, the world's largest database of lost and stolen pieces.



Jeddah Book Fair Highlights Saudi Manga and Comics’ Rise from Hobby to Professionalism

Manga zone at Jeddah Book Fair captivates visitors with creative content, comics. (SPA)
Manga zone at Jeddah Book Fair captivates visitors with creative content, comics. (SPA)
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Jeddah Book Fair Highlights Saudi Manga and Comics’ Rise from Hobby to Professionalism

Manga zone at Jeddah Book Fair captivates visitors with creative content, comics. (SPA)
Manga zone at Jeddah Book Fair captivates visitors with creative content, comics. (SPA)

A dialogue session held on the main stage of the Jeddah Book Fair 2025, organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, discussed the rapid transformations taking place in the manga and comics sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the title "The Saudi Manga and Comics Wave: From Hobby to Professionalism."

The session began by outlining the features of the creative renaissance in these art forms, explaining how they evolved in just a few years from individual initiatives and youthful hobbies to a mature artistic movement and a cultural vision embraced by institutions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The session highlighted the development of manga and comics in Saudi Arabia and the challenges and opportunities artists face as they transition from hobby to professional practice. It reviewed the local scene, which has seen a broad presence, bolstered by media platforms that support Saudi productions and help spread this art form among the public.

The session explained that manga and comics in Saudi Arabia have developed a clear artistic identity that reflects Saudi cultural values such as generosity, courage, and humanity. It emphasized that professionalism depends on an integrated system encompassing concept, story writing, illustration, and design.

The session concluded by highlighting the most prominent professional challenges in this field, while stressing that human creativity remains the key factor of manga and comics production and the true engine of this art form's development.


Red Sea Film Festival Partners with Annecy to Boost Saudi Animation Industry and Talent

The MoU aims to support the animation industry in the Kingdom and enhance its global presence. SPA
The MoU aims to support the animation industry in the Kingdom and enhance its global presence. SPA
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Red Sea Film Festival Partners with Annecy to Boost Saudi Animation Industry and Talent

The MoU aims to support the animation industry in the Kingdom and enhance its global presence. SPA
The MoU aims to support the animation industry in the Kingdom and enhance its global presence. SPA

The Red Sea International Film Festival has announced a strategic three-year partnership with the CITIA, organizer of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, formalized by a memorandum of understanding signed in Jeddah by Red Sea Film Foundation CEO Faisal Baltyuor and CITIA CEO Mickaël Marin.

The MoU aims to support the animation industry in the Kingdom and enhance its global presence.

The partnership will launch key initiatives starting in 2026, including developing Saudi talent and expanding international collaboration through professional networking and knowledge exchange, and establishing an annual program at the Culture Square in Historic Jeddah featuring Annecy Festival works, workshops, and family events.

The initiatives also include the implementation of training workshops and exchange programs in collaboration with CITIA's network.


Seminar Highlights Saudi Sports as Medium for Global Cultural and Media Exchange

The seminar highlighted the significant advancement in the Saudi sports sector since 2017. SPA
The seminar highlighted the significant advancement in the Saudi sports sector since 2017. SPA
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Seminar Highlights Saudi Sports as Medium for Global Cultural and Media Exchange

The seminar highlighted the significant advancement in the Saudi sports sector since 2017. SPA
The seminar highlighted the significant advancement in the Saudi sports sector since 2017. SPA

The Jeddah International Book Fair 2025 hosted a seminar on the role of sports as a medium for cultural and media exchange, highlighting the significant advancement in the Saudi sports sector since 2017, driven by official support that has attracted global talents.

By attracting global stars, Saudi Arabia is building new communication bridges worldwide, establishing Saudi sports as a key destination for millions of international viewers. This movement confirms the Kingdom's growing presence as a global cultural and sports destination.

The Jeddah International Book Fair serves as a prominent platform supporting this intellectual and cultural exchange.