Saudi Flag Flies in the Sky of Tabuk in Celebration of the 94th National Day

The Saudi flag flies in the sky of Tabuk marking the Kingdom’s 94th National Day - SPA
The Saudi flag flies in the sky of Tabuk marking the Kingdom’s 94th National Day - SPA
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Saudi Flag Flies in the Sky of Tabuk in Celebration of the 94th National Day

The Saudi flag flies in the sky of Tabuk marking the Kingdom’s 94th National Day - SPA
The Saudi flag flies in the sky of Tabuk marking the Kingdom’s 94th National Day - SPA

The Saudi flag is flying 75 meters high in the sky of Tabuk, celebrating the Kingdom’s 94th National Day.
Located in Al-Tawheed square on King Fahd Road, in the city of Tabuk, it symbolizes the unity and cohesion of a people that has dedicated itself to serving and defending the nation.
The square features 12 flagpoles, each with the national flag standing 12 meters high. It also includes green spaces covering an area of 2,240 square meters, and decorative artistic lighting designed based on the latest technology, according to SPA.

The national flag of the Kingdom is testament to the country’s progress and achievements of those who built, established and are leading this great nation.



Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
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Van Gogh Painting Falls Short of Expectations in Hong Kong Auction

A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP
A visitor looks closely at 'Les canots amarres' by Vincent van Gogh at Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. Peter PARKS / AFP

A Vincent van Gogh painting displaying the artist's shift from dark realism to vibrant impressionism sold for US$32.2 million at a Hong Kong auction on Thursday, falling short of expectations that it would fetch a record-breaking price.
"Les canots amarres" -- or "the moored boats" -- was the centerpiece of an inaugural evening sale held to celebrate the opening of auction house Christie's new Asia Pacific headquarters.
According to Christie's, it was expected to fetch HK$230-380 million (US$30-50 million) on the auction floor, AFP reported.
If bidding had reached the higher end of the estimated value, it could have surpassed Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Warrior" -- which went for HK$323.6 million in 2021 -- as the most expensive Western painting sold in Asia.

But the hammer of auctioneer Adrien Meyer fell Thursday at HK$250 million.
Cristian Albu, deputy chairman and head of 20th/21st century art at Christie's Asia Pacific, said the price was the "record of a Van Gogh in Asia.”
The auction house was "cautious" with its lineup on Thursday in hopes of boosting market confidence, added Ada Tsui, head of evening sale and specialist for 20th/21st century art.
Owned by the Italian royal family of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the Van Gogh painting is "the most important painting by the artist ever to be offered in Asia,” Christie's said in its introduction.
"'Les canots amarres' marks a vital stepping stone in his career," it said.
The painting is one of about 40 works Van Gogh developed around the scenic French town of Asnieres, a boating hub on the outskirts of Paris, during the summer of 1887.