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Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival
More than 3,000 balloons decorate the sky of Jazan at the launch of the Jazan Winter Festival 2025. (SPA)
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Updated 08 November 2024

Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival

Hundreds of events set to wow audiences at Jazan’s winter festival
  • Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days
  • The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival

RIYADH: Audiences will be spoilt for choice at the Jazan Winter Festival, with 300 fantastic events on the program, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
General supervisor Yahya bin Jaber Al-Ghazwani told a press conference that the festival, under the patronage of Jazan Governor Prince Mohammed bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, included 200 diverse events implemented by the region’s secretariat and 100 by other government agencies and departments.
Al-Ghazwani said this year’s winter season would last for 90 days with events taking place at 42 sites across Jazan city and the region’s governorates.
The calendar includes the international book fair, craft bus, Saudi international coffee festival and Jazan international festival for performing arts, along with concerts, cultural events, forums, poetry evenings, sports events, waterfront events, and park and heritage events.
On Thursday, the skies above Jazan’s North Corniche witnessed the launch of more than 3,000 balloons in various colors to celebrate the Jazan Winter Festival 2025.
Hundreds of residents, visitors and volunteers marveled at the spectacle, which included artistic formations of illuminated balloons.
The event marks the start of a busy winter season aimed at promoting local tourism in an atmosphere of joy and entertainment.


Riyadh hosts Hawi Baloot Tournament

Riyadh hosts Hawi Baloot Tournament
Updated 15 sec ago

Riyadh hosts Hawi Baloot Tournament

Riyadh hosts Hawi Baloot Tournament
  • The tournament aims to promote the popular card game, and encourage individuals to pursue their interests

RIYADH: The National Portal for Hobbies, Hawi, a part of the Quality of Life Program, is hosting the Hawi Baloot Tournament in Riyadh on Nov. 14-15.

The tournament aims to promote the popular card game, and encourage individuals to pursue their interests, contributing to the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 goals in the hobby sector.

The event will be held at King Saud University. Interested participants can register via the Hawi app.

Open to all Baloot enthusiasts in Riyadh, the tournament will follow the Swiss system format, with five rounds of play. The top four teams will qualify for the knockout stage to compete for the top spots.

The total prize pool is SR20,000 ($5,300). Participants must also adhere to public morals, including the dress code.

Hawi has previously organized several tournaments across the Kingdom, including one in Makkah last month, with more planned for the coming months.

The initiative encourages people of all ages to engage in hobbies, particularly Baloot, fostering friendly competition within society.

The hobby sector in the Kingdom has rapidly grown since being placed under the Quality of Life Program, which, in collaboration with 12 government entities, established Hawi to oversee the sector.

Hawi supports both male and female hobbyists, raising awareness about the importance of hobbies in achieving Saudi Vision 2030 goals.


Ƶ can be aviation hub for Middle East, air show boss says

Ƶ can be aviation hub for Middle East, air show boss says
Updated 2 min 15 sec ago

Ƶ can be aviation hub for Middle East, air show boss says

Ƶ can be aviation hub for Middle East, air show boss says
  • Saudi General Aviation Airshow 2024 opens in Riyadh next week
  • Event reflects nation’s ‘dedication to expanding its aviation capabilities,’ Prince Sultan bin Salman says

RIYADH: The Kingdom is committed to becoming a leading aviation hub for the Middle East, the head of the Saudi Aviation Club said on Wednesday ahead of this year’s Saudi General Aviation Airshow.

Also known as Sand & Fun 2024, the event will run from Nov. 19-23 at Al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh.

Club chairman and founder Prince Sultan bin Salman said the show had a significant role to play in advancing the nation’s aviation sector.

“Sand and Fun 2024 reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to expanding its aviation capabilities and nurturing a thriving industry that will inspire generations to come.

“Through Vision 2030, we are committed to making Ƶ a regional leader in aviation, fostering innovation and creating opportunities for our youth.”

Dr. Ahmed bin Fahad Alfahaid, the club’s director general, said: “This event is more than just a display of aviation in the Kingdom. It is a convergence of minds and ideas that will help us shape the future of aviation in Ƶ and the region.

“At the Saudi Aviation Club we are aiming to increase the number of aviators, number of planes, number of airports … We need to increase the numbers with other partners such as the General Authority of Civil Aviation.”

Capt. Fareess Muneer, who sits of the club’s board, said: “Sand & Fun 2024 serves as an inspiration for young Saudis interested in aviation careers, supporting the Kingdom’s goals to cultivate a skilled and passionate workforce in this sector.”

More than 100 exhibitors from around the world are taking part in the event, which will feature aerial displays, interactive exhibitions and the latest advancements in aviation technology. About 100,000 visitors are expected to attend.

The main attraction is likely to be the SkyVentures Air Show, featuring more than 15 international teams, including the Saudi Hawks and the Phoenix Paramotors Display Team from Poland, showing off their aerobatic artistry.


Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna

Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna
Updated 13 November 2024

Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna

Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna
  • Billions of people living without safe drinking water, UN secretary-general says
  • Previous winners have helped develop sustainable water resources, Saudi environment minster says

RIYADH: The Saudi environment minister called on scientists and researchers to work together to find practical solutions to global water challenges as he attended this year’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water at the UN offices in Vienna on Wednesday.
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli congratulated the winners of the 11th cycle of the awards, which are held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported
Their work, he said, had contributed to the development and sustainability of water resources. He also praised the Kingdom’s leadership for supporting research and innovation in the sector.
“This confirms the importance of government institutions worldwide coordinating and organizing to transfer these innovations into practice,” he said.
Experts should work together to find practical solutions to the world’s water challenges, Al-Fadhli said.
“It has become important for water sectors in the world to embrace and enhance these researches and innovations and adopt the principle of integrated water resources management in a manner that suits the nature and geography of each country, taking into account economic, financial and environmental sustainability.”
He thanked the award’s board members and secretary-general for their efforts and said the Kingdom would continue to play its part in addressing water-related challenges at the local, regional and international levels.
The Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid Toula said: “In 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the establishment of a global water organization, which aims to enhance integration between countries and organizations to address the challenges of water availability in a comprehensive manner and make it a platform for exchanging best technical practices, supporting research, development and innovation and enabling priority quality projects and facilitating their financing, in an effort to ensure the sustainability of water resources and enhance safe access opportunities for all.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Water is life, yet billions of people live without safe drinking water, sanitation services or basic hygiene facilities and water scarcity is increasing and people and communities pay the price.”
Dr. Badran bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar, chairman of the award’s board, said: “The late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud anticipated the water crisis we face today, as a growing population suffers from increasing demand for food, water and hygiene under conditions exacerbated by uncertainty about climate change. He realized that scientific solutions were needed to alleviate this crisis.”
The Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water was a unique scientific award dedicated to advanced innovations, focused on tangible achievements in finding creative solutions to humanity’s water needs, he said.
The award’s secretary-general, Dr. Abdulmalik bin Abdulrahman Al-Sheikh, said the award had been created in response to the global water situation and that previous winners were working together to overcome the challenges of providing sufficient potable water for people all around the world.
The Kingdom’s ambassadors to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia also attended the awards ceremony.
This year’s winners were from 14 institutions in six countries: China, the Czech Republic, Italy, Singapore, the UK and the US.
Dr. Qiuhua Liang from Loughborough University, UK, and his team won the Surface Water Award.
Dr. Chunmiao Zeng from the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China, and his team won the Groundwater Award.
Dr. Virender K. Sharma from Texas A&M University, US, and his team members attained the Alternative Water Resources Award.
Dr. Joseph Hon Wei Lee from the Macau University of Science and Technology, China, and his teammates won the Water Resources Management and Protection Award.
Anyone who wishes to nominate their project for consideration for the 12th cycle of the awards should do so at psipw.org before the end of December 2025.


Ƶ’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations

Ƶ’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations
Updated 13 November 2024

Ƶ’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations

Ƶ’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations
  • Three applications used within the online hail and ride and delivery services sectors lacked licenses from the relevant authorities and failed to follow regulations
  • TGA regulations require that each taxi driver wear an approved uniform to ensure the safety and security of the public

RIYADH: Ƶ’s Transport General Authority suspended three digital applications on Wednesday for breaching transport regulations and failing to follow the country’s cyber and labor laws.

The three applications used within the online hail and ride and delivery services sectors lacked licenses from the relevant authorities and failed to follow regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The transport authority said that two of the suspended applications provided transportation services for passengers while the third was active in the delivery sector. It added that digital applications should obtain licenses to run on the country’s cyber network.

Digital applications should follow labor laws and hire national staff to work within passenger transportation services, the authority said, adding that each vehicle and driver must meet the legal requirements to operate on the road.

The Transport General Authority’s regulations require that each taxi driver wear an approved uniform to ensure the safety and security of the public.


Saudi crown prince, Russia’s Putin discuss Ukraine war during call

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (File/SPA/AFP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (File/SPA/AFP)
Updated 13 November 2024

Saudi crown prince, Russia’s Putin discuss Ukraine war during call

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (File/SPA/AFP)
  • Saudi-Russian relations and efforts made to intensify them were praised during the call

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed developments in the war in Ukraine during a phone call, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Saudi-Russian relations and efforts made to intensify them were praised during the call. Cooperation between the two countries in various fields was also discussed.

Prince Mohammed and Putin also discussed a number of issues and topics of common interest, SPA said.