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Arab Culture Ministers Conference Focuses on Cultural Industries, Digital Transformation

People watch the sunset at the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Sahara desert outside Merzouga, Morocco December 7, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
People watch the sunset at the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Sahara desert outside Merzouga, Morocco December 7, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
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Arab Culture Ministers Conference Focuses on Cultural Industries, Digital Transformation

People watch the sunset at the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Sahara desert outside Merzouga, Morocco December 7, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi
People watch the sunset at the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Sahara desert outside Merzouga, Morocco December 7, 2024. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

The 24th session of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Cultural Affairs in the Arab World convened in Rabat on Wednesday under the theme Cultural and Creative Industries: Challenges of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence.

The event brought together culture ministers from across the Arab world, alongside representatives from regional and international organizations.
The conference’s agenda included presenting a forward-looking plan for developing cultural industries in Arab nations, reviewing and adopting the recommendations of the Permanent Committee for Arab Culture, and discussing arrangements for the 25th session of the conference.
The opening session emphasized the Arab world's rich cultural and creative resources and the necessity of leveraging these assets to drive economic development. Discussions also focused on embracing digital transformation and artificial intelligence to modernize cultural industries and enhance global competitiveness.
Participants highlighted the importance of adopting global best practices in cultural and creative industries to foster innovation and economic growth while preserving and promoting Arab cultural heritage.
The conference is expected to produce actionable strategies to position Arab culture as a cornerstone of sustainable development and global cultural exchange.

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Culture

Louvre Museum Says Shutting for the Day Due to Strike

People walk next to the Louvre Museum covered in snow in Paris, France, 07 January 2026. (EPA)
People walk next to the Louvre Museum covered in snow in Paris, France, 07 January 2026. (EPA)
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Louvre Museum Says Shutting for the Day Due to Strike

People walk next to the Louvre Museum covered in snow in Paris, France, 07 January 2026. (EPA)
People walk next to the Louvre Museum covered in snow in Paris, France, 07 January 2026. (EPA)

The Louvre Museum was forced to close on Monday due to strike action from staff in the latest disruption at the world's most-visited museum, management said.

"Due to public strikes, the Musee du Louvre is closed today," the museum said in a message posted on its website, informing disappointed tourists and art lovers that their entry tickets would be automatically reimbursed.

The museum closed for a full day last month and has been only partially open on several other days since.

Nearly three months after an embarrassing daylight heist, which has heaped pressure on Louvre bosses, staff are calling for more recruitment and better maintenance of the vast former royal palace.

Questions continue to swirl since the October 19 break-in over whether it was avoidable and why thieves were able to steal crown jewels worth more than $100 million.

Two intruders used a truck-mounted extendable platform to access a gallery containing the jewels, slicing through a glass door with disk-cutters in front of startled visitors before stealing eight priceless items.

As well as the robbery, two other recent incidents have highlighted maintenance problems inside the building, which chief architect Francois Chatillon has described as "not in a good state".

A water leak in November damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department, while management had to shut a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics in October because ceiling beams above it risked giving way.

Culture

20-Year-Olds Gathering in Kimonos for Coming of Age Day Ceremony in Japan

Kimono-clad Japanese young women take pictures after attending a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, 12 January 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Kimono-clad Japanese young women take pictures after attending a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, 12 January 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
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20-Year-Olds Gathering in Kimonos for Coming of Age Day Ceremony in Japan

Kimono-clad Japanese young women take pictures after attending a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, 12 January 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Kimono-clad Japanese young women take pictures after attending a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Japan, 12 January 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

Young women in brightly colored long-sleeved kimonos and young men in formal suits or traditional hakama and haori gathered Monday at Yokohama Arena to mark Coming-of-Age Day, an annual celebration for those who have turned 20.

The ceremonies, which are a widely observed public rite of passage in Japan, lasted less than an hour. Before and after the events, young adults gathered near the arena entrance, sidewalks and nearby train stations, greeting friends they had not seen for a long time. Smartphones were raised repeatedly as participants took pictures of each other and themselves.

Among the many participants wearing black and navy suits, a large number of young men chose traditional hakama trousers and haori jackets.

Legally, adulthood in Japan now begins at 18, following a revision of the Civil Code in April 2022. Even so, most local governments continue to hold Coming-of-Age ceremonies for 20-year-olds.

Inside Yokohama Arena, participants stood for the national anthem, then sang Yokohama’s city song together. Many then switched on the lights of their mobile phones, illuminating the hall.

Culture

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture
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Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

Saudi Pavilion at Makkah's Global Village Showcases the Kingdom’s Culture

The Saudi pavilion at Global Village in Makkah, part of the Makkah winter season, reflects the richness and uniqueness of the Kingdom's culture and heritage.

It features interactive and engaging sections that introduce visitors to the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, including live demonstrations of traditional handicrafts and artwork inspired by the local environment, SPA reported.

The pavilion’s presence at Global Village reflects ongoing efforts to highlight the nation’s cultural heritage, promote its civilizational legacy, and strengthen its cultural presence at major events.