Saudi Culture Minister Meets French Counterpart

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his French counterpart Rima Abdul Malak in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his French counterpart Rima Abdul Malak in Riyadh. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Culture Minister Meets French Counterpart

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his French counterpart Rima Abdul Malak in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his French counterpart Rima Abdul Malak in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan held an official meeting with the French Minister of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak, who is on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Badr emphasized the strong bilateral relations between the two countries across various domains.

The two officials reviewed the cultural relations in different fields and discussed strategies to further enhance them for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The two countries signed an agreement in 2021 to promote cooperation and cultural exchange in a variety of sectors, including architecture and design, heritage, visual arts, performing arts, films, and literature. They also signed a historic agreement in 2018 to develop AlUla governorate’s cultural and heritage features, and launch joint strategic projects and joint scientific initiatives relating to archeological research and excavation in the Kingdom.

Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq, undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, and Eng. Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Kanaan, general supervisor of cultural affairs and international relations, also attended the meeting.



Heavy Rain in Northern Japan Triggers Floods, Landslides

A road is flooded after a heavy rain in Sakata, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Friday, July 26, 2024. Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. (Kyodo News via AP)
A road is flooded after a heavy rain in Sakata, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Friday, July 26, 2024. Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. (Kyodo News via AP)
TT

Heavy Rain in Northern Japan Triggers Floods, Landslides

A road is flooded after a heavy rain in Sakata, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Friday, July 26, 2024. Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. (Kyodo News via AP)
A road is flooded after a heavy rain in Sakata, Yamagata prefecture, northern Japan Friday, July 26, 2024. Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. (Kyodo News via AP)

Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued emergency warnings of heavy rain for several municipalities in the Yamagata and Akita prefecture, where warm and humid air was flowing.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged the affected area’s residents to “put safety first” and pay close attention to the latest information from the authorities.

According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, one person went missing in Yuzawa city — in the Akita prefecture — after being hit by a landslide at a road construction site.

Rescue workers in the city evacuated 11 people from the flooded area with the help of a boat.

In the neighboring Yamagata prefecture, more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain fell in the hardest-hit Yuza and Sakata towns within an hour earlier Thursday.

Thousands of residents in the area were advised to take shelter at higher and safer grounds, but it was not immediately known how many people took that advice.

Yamagata Shinkansen bullet train services were partially suspended on Thursday, according to East Japan Railway Company.

The agency predicted up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) of more rainfall in the region through Friday evening, urging residents to remain cautious.