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Greek Police Arrest a Suspect over Online Auctions for Ancient Artifacts

A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
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Greek Police Arrest a Suspect over Online Auctions for Ancient Artifacts

A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)
A woman poses for a photo in front Caryatid statues that prop up the porch of the 5th century B.C. Erechtheion temple, as at the background is seen smoke from a fire , during a hot, windy day at Acropolis hill, in Athens, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (AP)

Authorities in Greece said Friday they have arrested a suspect accused of setting up online auctions to sell ancient Greek artifacts across multiple countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Italy.

The suspect, a woman who described as a foreign national but was not further identified, was detained in Athens by police officers tasked with combating antiquities trafficking, the agency said Friday.

Officers who searched her home seized multiple ancient relics including pottery fragments, figurine pieces, and a statuette of a satyr, a creature from Greek mythology.

The suspect was referred to a public prosecutor to be charged. No further details were immediately available.

Under Greek law, the transfer of ownership of antiquities without legal authorization is punishable by up to two years in prison, with sentences of up to 10 years for more serious related offenses.

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Culture

Saudi Museums Commission Signs Executive Program to Strengthen Cultural Cooperation

Officials are seen at the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures. (SPA)
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Saudi Museums Commission Signs Executive Program to Strengthen Cultural Cooperation

Officials are seen at the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the signing ceremony at Diriyah Art Futures. (SPA)

The Saudi Museums Commission, one of the 11 sector-specific commissions of the Saudi Ministry of Culture, signed an executive program with the Centre national d'art et de culture – Georges Pompidou (Centre Pompidou), France, to establish cooperation in the field of museums, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The signing ceremony took place at Diriyah Art Futures, the MENA region’s first center dedicated to New Media Arts.

The executive program establishes a framework for cultural exchange and collaboration between the Museums Commission and one of the world’s leading institutions for modern and contemporary art.

Through this partnership, both parties will work together to advance the development of Saudi Arabia’s museums sector while fostering cross-cultural dialogue and knowledge exchange.

The partnership establishes cooperation in three key areas: loans of selected modern and contemporary artworks from Centre Pompidou to Museums Commission collections; co-curation of modern and contemporary art exhibitions, as well as cultural and public programs or events across Museums Commission assets; and exchange in research, editorial content, and publications, including exhibition catalogues, digital content, and archives.

The collaboration reflects the Museums Commission’s commitment to building international partnerships that facilitate the exchange of ideas, experience, and knowledge.

The signing of the executive program at Diriyah Art Futures underscores the venue’s role as a space for international dialogue and collaboration in contemporary art practices. As the region’s first institution dedicated to New Media and Digital Arts, Diriyah Art Futures exemplifies the Ministry of Culture’s vision to establish Saudi Arabia at the forefront of artistic innovation and global cultural exchange.

Culture

Saudi Artist Reimagines AlUla’s Geology at Arts Festival

The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers - SPA
The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers - SPA
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Saudi Artist Reimagines AlUla’s Geology at Arts Festival

The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers - SPA
The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers - SPA

Saudi artist Aseel Alamoudi is presenting her interactive installation “Playformation: The Curve & The Dot” at AlUla Arts Festival 2026 in the Design Space AlUla within AlJadidah Arts District, where the work represents the culmination of an intensive artists residency focused on the region’s unique topography, SPA reported.

The installation features sand benches that mimic AlUla's geological layers and faults. Rather than traditional urban furniture, the piece proposes a speculative "playscape" that invites physical and visual interaction.

By redefining the concept of a seat as a space for contemplation and play, Alamoudi creates a living dialogue between visitors and the ancient forces of erosion and transformation that have shaped the desert floor.

The work reflects AlUla’s growing status as a global creative hub, where historical material intelligence meets contemporary practice to transform public spaces into vibrant platforms for cultural dialogue.

Culture

SDRPY, UNESCO Sign MoU to Safeguard Yemen’s Cultural Heritage

The agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture. SPA
The agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture. SPA
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SDRPY, UNESCO Sign MoU to Safeguard Yemen’s Cultural Heritage

The agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture. SPA
The agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture. SPA

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and UNESCO have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the preservation of Yemeni cultural heritage and identify historical sites eligible for the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Building on a successful partnership that includes the restoration of Seiyun Palace and support for basic education, this agreement provides technical assistance and institutional capacity-building across heritage, science, and culture.

The program’s efforts encompass diverse initiatives, from digitizing ancient manuscripts at Al-Ahgaf Manuscripts Library in Tarim to supporting the socio-economic empowerment of women through traditional craft workshops in the Socotra Archipelago.

Furthermore, the collaboration extends to preserving intangible heritage, such as the Mehri language, and fostering cultural exchange through joint musical and artistic events.

With more than 268 projects across eight vital sectors, SDRPY continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Yemen’s cultural heritage while driving sustainable development and economic benefits for the Yemeni people.