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Germany’s Scholz
welcomes Saudi-led
Ukraine summit, calls for
more diplomatic e!orts

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday

welcomed a recent Saudi-led summit on a peace
settlement to end the fighting in Ukraine. (AFP)

Short Url https://arab.news/mybkf

Scholz called the talks in the Kingdom, held at

the level of foreign policy advisers, “very special”

Updated 13 August 2023

AFP
August 13, 2023 17:57

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FRANKFURT: German Chancellor Olaf

Scholz on Sunday welcomed a recent
Saudi-led summit on a peace settlement
to end the fighting in Ukraine, and called
for further diplomatic e!orts.

Representatives from more than 40

countries including China, Germany,
India and the US took part in last
weekend’s gathering in Jeddah.

“It makes sense for us to continue these

talks, because they increase the pressure
on Russia to realize that it has taken the
wrong path and that it must withdraw its
troops and make peace possible,” Scholz
said in his annual summer interview with
German broadcaster ZDF.

Similar international talks to discuss a

path toward peace also took place in
Copenhagen in June.

Scholz called the talks in Denmark and

Saudi Arabia, held at the level of foreign
policy advisers, “very special.”

He continued: “They are very important

and they are really only the beginning.”

Ukraine on Monday said it had

been “satisfied” with the Saudi summit
during which Kyiv sought to drum up
support for its 10-point peace plan,
including the full withdrawal of Russian
troops from Ukrainian territory.

Moscow meanwhile said a peace

settlement was only possible if Kyiv put
down its arms.

More than a year after Russia’s invasion,

Ukraine launched a highly anticipated
countero!ensive in June after stockpiling
Western weapons. But it has struggled to
make headway in the face of sti! Russian
resistance.

Kyiv has repeatedly asked Berlin for

long-range Taurus cruise missiles to
boost its e!orts, but Germany has so far
resisted amid concerns the weapons
could reach Russian territory and widen
the conflict.

Scholz reiterated in the interview that

Germany was now the second-biggest
supplier of military assistance to Ukraine
after the United States.

But on the issue of sending Taurus

missiles to Ukraine, the chancellor
remained vague.

“As in the past, we will always review

every single decision very carefully, what
is possible, what makes sense, what can
be our contribution,” Scholz said.

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Topics: RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT RUSSIA

UKRAINE SAUDI ARABIA GERMANY

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Ukraine back international e!orts to
end war

Saudi authorities thwart

attempt to smuggle 93kgs
of khat

In Najran, police arrested two citizens for

distributing hashish

Updated 14 August 2023

ARAB NEWS
August 14, 2023 08:12

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RIYADH: Saudi border guards in Jazan

region foiled an attempt to smuggle
93kgs of khat, state news agency SPA
reported.

The drugs were confiscated and

transferred to the relevant authorities.

In Najran, police arrested two citizens for

distributing hashish. The detained were
referred to public prosecution, according
to SPA.

Saudi authorities have urged the public

to report suspected drug smuggling
operations or sales by calling 911 in
Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions
and 999 in the rest of Kingdom. Tip-o!s
will be treated with strict confidentiality,
the Saudi government said.

The Kingdom vs
Captagon
Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug
destroying lives across the Arab world

Enter

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Topics: SAUDI ARABIA JAZAN

ABU HILALAIN: INSIDE THE KINGDOM’S CRACKDOWN ON

CAPTAGON

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Palestine welcomes
appointment of non-
resident Saudi envoy

The Palestinian ministry also offered its full

cooperation with Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi to
strengthen bilateral relations between the two
states

Updated 14 August 2023

ARAB NEWS
August 14, 2023 07:39

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JERUSALEM: Palestine has welcomed the

appointment of Naif bin Bandar Al-
Sudairi, the Saudi envoy to Jordan, as
concurrent non-resident ambassador for
the Palestinian Territories and who will
also serve as consul general for
Jerusalem.

The decision reflects the Kingdom’s

interest in the Palestinian cause as one of
the foundations of the Kingdom’s foreign
policy and a continuation of its historical
stances in support of the Palestinian
cause and the rights of the Palestinian
people, the Palestinian foreign ministry
said

The ministry also o!ered its full

cooperation with Al-Sudairi to
strengthen bilateral relations between
the two states.

Al-Sudairi earlier presented his

credentials to Majdi Al-Khalidi,
diplomatic a!airs advisor to the
Palestinian president, at the Palestinian
Embassy in Amman.

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Topics: SAUDI ARABIA PALESTINE

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AlUla archaeological
discoveries reveal
influence of starry canopy
on ancient civilizations

Astronomy enthusiast Majed Al-Zahoufi points

out a consistent pattern that the various
civilizations that thrived in AlUla all strategically
controlled significant global trade routes

Updated 13 August 2023

NADA HAMEED
August 13, 2023 20:47

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ALULA: The barren expanse of AlUla,

known for its historical monuments and
enchanting desert landscapes, has long
captured the imaginations of those who
traverse its ancient grounds.

An exploratory study is unveiling a

fascinating link between the historical
sites of AlUla and the cosmos,
demonstrating an old connection
between civilizations and the stars that
continues to influence the region today.

HIGHLIGHTS
• A team of archaeoastronomy
specialists aim to piece together a
comprehensive picture of how AlUla’s
sky influenced ancient societies’
worldview.

• In Gharameel, around 6,000

twinkling stars adorn the sky, an awe-
inspiring sight only possible when
light pollution decreases.

Situated in the northwest of the

Kingdom, AlUla’s archaeological sites
o!er a unique window into the
significance of astronomy in the region’s
history. Stories shared by guides, as well
as evidence from ancient civilizations,
reveal how the vast desert’s starry
canopy played a pivotal role in guiding
travelers and commercial caravans,
helping them navigate the vast expanses
over the centuries.

Majed Al-Zahoufi, a passionate guide and

astronomy enthusiast, has cultivated a
deep connection with the desert. His
journey into the realm of stars began
almost a decade ago through avid reading
and personal observations.

Al-Zahoufi told Arab News that his

exploration of these subjects is firmly
rooted in reality and not at all
uncommon. Drawing from his extensive
knowledge of Arab history, civilizations,
and astronomy, he pointed out a
consistent pattern: “The various
civilizations that thrived in AlUla, such as
the Dadans, Lihyans, Nabataeans, and
Minaeans, all strategically controlled
significant global trade routes.

The Gharameel rock formations are composed of

sedimentary layers shaped by ancient marine and
riverine environments. (Supplied)

“Among these routes were the renowned

incense routes utilized by traders from
the southern Omani region to traverse
towards the northern parts of the
Arabian Peninsula. This crossroads of
trade facilitated interactions between
diverse cultures, including the Greeks,
Babylonians, and Assyrians.”

These ancient civilizations, positioned at

the crossroads of trade, communicated
with diverse cultures, many of which
were heavily influenced by astronomy.
Some even worshipped the stars.

Throughout history, cultures worldwide

have recognized the profound interplay
between the Earth and the sky. Celestial
bodies, like luminaries, held the key to
navigation, determining seasons and
guiding various cultural practices. This
connection between civilizations and the
cosmos remains evident in the rich
tapestry of AlUla’s past.

"
The various civilizations that
thrived in AlUla, such as the
Dadans, Lihyans, Nabataeans,
and Minaeans, all
strategically controlled

"
significant global trade
routes.

Majed Al-Zahoufi
Al-Zahoufi, AlUla guide

Al-Zahoufi said: “In my personal

observations and readings, I see a close
relationship between the Nabataeans,
their artifacts, and the sky. Numerous
scientific studies validate this bond,
showing how the Nabataeans believed in
the influence of constellations.”

This ancient connection between

civilizations and the cosmos has
attracted the attention of modern
experts. In May, a team of
archaeoastronomy specialists embarked
on a field study within the AlUla Oasis.

Their objective is to unveil the reasons

behind ancient civilizations' selection of
specific sites, decode the symbolism of
tomb inscriptions, and decipher the
cultures’ perception of the sky. By
analyzing architectural details,
decorative patterns, and calendar
indications, researchers aim to piece
together a comprehensive picture of how
the sky influenced these societies’
worldview.

Juan Antonio Belmonte, an astrophysicist

from Spain’s Institute of Astrophysics,
found an intimate correlation between
the Earth and the sky through
preliminary data collected from a
hundred Nabataean tombs. In the
months ahead, analytical and statistical
studies will further elucidate the
connection between the ancient Arab
kingdoms and the universe.

Among AlUla’s treasures is the

Gharameel area, a haven for stargazing —
the further away one goes from city
lights, the more stars become visible in
the night sky, Al-Zahoufi explained. In
Gharameel, around 6,000 twinkling stars
adorn the sky, an awe-inspiring sight
only possible when light pollution
decreases.

The Gharameel rock formations are composed of

sedimentary layers shaped by ancient marine and
riverine environments. (Supplied)

To safeguard this remarkable stargazing

destination, the Royal Commission for
AlUla is actively working to minimize
light emissions from the city. Visitors can
also take midnight excursions to the
secluded Gharameel area to immerse
themselves in constellations under the
untouched AlUla night sky.

The enchantment of AlUla extends to its

geological marvels as well. Abdullah Al-
Shammari, a Saudi geologist, explained
that the unique Gharameel rock
formations are composed of sedimentary
layers shaped by ancient marine and
riverine environments.

“The sedimentation began in this

formation at the end of the Cambrian era
and the beginning of the Ordovician era
(the Paleozoic era) that falls between 470
to 500 million years ago,” Al-Shammari
said.

He also highlighted that these geological

wonders mirror similar formations
across the world, from the Ennedi
Plateau in Chad to the Saudi Arabian
desert.

The stars, woven into the fabric of Arab

culture, serve as poetic inspiration and
cultural markers, encapsulating the