Arabic Calligraphy on Display in Exhibition Held in Three Capitals

Arabic Calligraphy on Display in Exhibition Held in Three Capitals
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Arabic Calligraphy on Display in Exhibition Held in Three Capitals

Arabic Calligraphy on Display in Exhibition Held in Three Capitals

The Global Exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy organized by King Abdulaziz Public Library kicked off simultaneously in Riyadh, Beijing, and Casablanca yesterday.

The biggest names in Arabic calligraphy are taking part in the exhibition, which is part of the initiative launched by Saudi Culture Minister Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Frahan to make 20201 the year of Arabic calligraphy, a step that reflects the great interest of Saudi Arabia and its cultural and academic institutions in calligraphy and their awareness of the significance of this Arab and Islamic heritage.

The Global Exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy, which is scheduled to run until the end of the year, will exhibit the works of the most prominent artists in the field, rare manuscripts that demonstrate the aesthetics and types of Arabic calligraphy, rare ancient manuscripts and coins from various Muslim dynasties, and a library that includes more than 200 books about the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy. It will also host 15 workshops for advanced students and beginners, as well as competitions for children.

For his part, the general supervisor of the library, Faisal bin Abdul Rahman bin Muammar, said: “Arabic Calligraphy, as one of the most prominent features of our civilization, remains influential for many languages.” This, he said, “is a testament to the elegance of its letters and its artistic and aesthetic diversity that enhances our cultural identity.” This exhibition, he added, will promote Arabic calligraphy and contribute to the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of the Arabian Peninsula.

According to bin Muammar, the coordination of the concerned sectors’ efforts and those individual initiatives aimed at furthering the art of Arabic calligraphy strengthens the King Abdulaziz Public Library’s role through the organization of this global exhibition in Riyadh and its two branches in Casablanca and Beijing. The exhibition also promotes the culture and civilization of Saudi Arabia, paving the way for building bridges between various creative and artistic visions.



Two Holy Mosques Exhibition Welcomes Visitors for Founding Day Celebrations

The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m - SPA
The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m - SPA
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Two Holy Mosques Exhibition Welcomes Visitors for Founding Day Celebrations

The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m - SPA
The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m - SPA

In celebration of the Kingdom’s Founding Day, the Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques Architecture in Makkah is welcoming visitors to explore a comprehensive historical journey.

The exhibition presents the evolution of the Two Holy Mosques through rare artifacts, historical photographs, and documentation of successive Saudi expansions, according to SPA.

The halls highlight the Kingdom’s long-standing dedication to serving the Two Holy Mosques. They combine heritage and modern technology to present the architectural development of Islam’s holiest sites.

The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.


Photos Show Filming of Ramadan TV Drama Series on the War-scarred Streets of Syria's Aleppo

Extras stand by as a television crew films an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Extras stand by as a television crew films an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
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Photos Show Filming of Ramadan TV Drama Series on the War-scarred Streets of Syria's Aleppo

Extras stand by as a television crew films an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Extras stand by as a television crew films an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Ramadan in the Arab world is a month of fasting and prayer by day — and television by night. For decades, families have gathered after the iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daytime fast, to follow the season’s highly anticipated drama series, produced specially to air during the Islamic holy month.

In the week before Ramadan, a television crew in central Aleppo was busy preparing one of those productions, with a battered street in the historic city transformed into a scene from decades past.

Lamees Al-Ali, an extra in the series, poses for a photograph during the filming of an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Classic 1970s cars lined the curb. A horse-drawn cart rolled through the frame. A vendor in a red tarboush, a brimless cone-shaped hat, stood beside steaming pots of sahlep — a sweet, thickened milk drink flavored with spices and associated with winter evenings.

Just outside the camera’s view stood a stark reminder of Syria's more recent history. Collapsed buildings and damaged facades testified to Aleppo’s role as a major battleground during the country's civil war. However, with costumes, props and careful framing, the production temporarily carried the street back to what it portrays as a more innocent era, according to The AP news.

A television crew films an episode of the TV series “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), based on a novel of the same name that was banned under Bashar Assad, along a transformed street in central Aleppo, Syria, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.(AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

The series being filmed — “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada,” or “The Syrian Enemies” — is based on a novel that was banned during the rule of former President Bashar Assad. The story examines painful chapters of Syria’s past, including the 1982 events in Hama, when government forces crushed an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing or disappearing an estimated 10,000 to 40,000 people and leaving the city in ruins.

As filming continues into Ramadan, the production reflects both a cherished seasonal tradition and Syria’s complex, layered history.


How Bomb Cyclones Form and Create Dangerous Conditions 

A man works in a snowstorm, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP)
A man works in a snowstorm, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP)
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How Bomb Cyclones Form and Create Dangerous Conditions 

A man works in a snowstorm, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP)
A man works in a snowstorm, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP)

When turbulent weather with whipping winds and heavy snow is in the forecast, meteorologists sometimes warn that a storm could “bomb out” or become a bomb cyclone. But what exactly does this mean?

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, certain storms undergo bombogenesis, which happens when a storm’s central pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. These storms are sometimes called bomb cyclones. Storm intensity is measured by central pressure, so the lower the pressure, the stronger the storm.

Such rapidly strengthening storms are capable of producing heavy rain, blizzard conditions and intense winds that can create dangerous conditions such as downed trees and power outages.

“If you’re watching TV at night and the weather report comes on and you’re hearing ‘bomb cyclone’ being used, that usually means there’s quite a bit of active weather going on,” said Andrew Orrison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

Bomb cyclones can happen in any season, but mainly occur during fall and winter when frigid air from the Arctic can creep south and clash with warmer air masses.

“It’s really the clash of those air masses that really kind of helps to generate the areas of low pressure in the first place,” said Orrison.

Regions in North America that are prone to seeing bomb cyclones include Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and the Great Lakes region.