Second season of the Professional Fighters League launches in Jeddah

Jeddah is set for an action-packed night this Friday with the launch of the second season of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) at Onyx Arena. (Supplied)
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Updated 05 May 2025
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Second season of the Professional Fighters League launches in Jeddah

  • Iranian lightweight champion Mohsen Mohammad Saifi will defend his title against Egypt’s Ahmed El-Sisi
  • Saudi veteran Ahmed Makki, whose career spans 26 years, will take on Egypt’s Hisham Al-Nimr

JEDDAH: Jeddah is set for an action-packed night this Friday with the launch of the second season of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) at Onyx Arena. The event marks a major highlight in the 2025 mixed martial arts calendar for fighters from the Middle East and North Africa.

Headlining the card, Iranian lightweight champion Mohsen Mohammad Saifi will defend his title against Egypt’s Ahmed El-Sisi. Also in the lightweight division, Algeria’s Suhail Thaeri will square off against Kuwait’s Abdullah Saleem, making his return after a season-long suspension due to doping.

Other notable lightweight bouts include Bahrain’s Abbas Khan versus Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli, and Lebanon’s George Eid taking on Iraq’s Mohammed Fahmi.

In the featherweight division, Jordan’s Abdulrahman Hayasat— riding a five-fight win streak— returns after missing last season’s final due to injury. He will face unbeaten Moroccan Taha Ben Daoud. Elsewhere in the division, Jordan’s Ezzedine Al-Derbani will meet Algeria’s Mohamed Amin, while Iraq’s Hussein Salem faces Egypt’s Assem Ghanem.

In another featured bout, Egypt’s Islam Reda will go up against Algeria’s Akram Nasri, who steps in for injured Saudi champion Abdullah Al-Qahtani, last season’s gold belt holder.

Capping off the official fight card, Saudi veteran Ahmed Makki, whose career spans 26 years, will take on Egypt’s Hisham Al-Nimr.

The exhibition matches will include the debut of Saudi fighter Abdulaziz Bin Muammar against Morocco’s Fares Hamdani in the open weight division. In the flyweight category, Saudi fighter Malik Bashel will face Morocco’s Montaser Boutouta.


Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety

Updated 1 min 24 sec ago
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Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety

  • Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations

RIYADH: The National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia welcomed the unanimous adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution on protecting children in cyberspace.

The society called it a significant step that strengthens international efforts to safeguard children’s rights amid the growing challenges of the digital world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

It noted that the resolution aligns with the global initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to protect children in cyberspace, reflecting a strong commitment to upholding children’s rights in the digital sphere.

Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations, and establishes an international framework to support countries’ and communities’ efforts in this field.

He stressed that protecting children’s rights is a core priority the society actively supports and promotes, and praised the Kingdom’s mission to the UN and international organizations in Geneva for its role in supporting and engaging with the resolution.

Al-Fakhri highlighted the need to integrate national and international efforts to advance human rights, particularly children’s rights in the digital age, the SPA reported.

The society reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all international and local initiatives to protect children’s rights and raise public and legislative awareness of the dangers of cyberspace.

These efforts, it added, are crucial to ensuring a safe digital environment and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for a cohesive and secure society.


‘World’s oldest marathon runner’ dies aged 114 in road accident

Updated 5 min 40 sec ago
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‘World’s oldest marathon runner’ dies aged 114 in road accident

  • Fauja Singh gained global fame after taking up long-distance running at 89, completing marathons past 100
  • Tributes pour in for Sikh athlete who inspired generations with message of resilience, fitness and faith

NEW DELHI: India’s Fauja Singh, believed to be the world’s oldest distance runner, has died in a road accident aged 114, his biographer said Tuesday.

Singh, an Indian-born British national, nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado,” died after being hit by a vehicle in Punjab state’s Jalandhar district on Monday.

“My Turbaned Tornado is no more,” Fauja’s biographer Khushwant Singh wrote on X.

“He was struck by an unidentified vehicle... in his village, Bias, while crossing the road. Rest in peace, my dear Fauja.”

Singh did not have a birth certificate but his family said he was born on April 1, 1911.

He ran full marathons (42 kilometer) till the age of 100.

His last race was a 10-kilometer (six-mile) event at the 2013 Hong Kong Marathon when 101, where he finished in one hour, 32 minutes and 28 seconds.

He became an international sensation after taking up distance running at the ripe old age of 89, after the death of his wife and one of his sons, inspired by seeing marathons on television.

Although widely regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner, he was not certified by Guinness World Records as he could not prove his age, saying that birth certificates did not exist when he was born under British colonial rule in 2011.

Singh was a torchbearer for the Olympics at Athens 2004 and London 2012, and appeared in advertisements with sports stars such as David Beckham and Muhammad Ali.

His strength and vitality were credited to a routine of farm walks and a diet including Indian sweet “laddu” packed with dry fruits and home-churned curd.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute on social media.

“Fauja Singh was extraordinary because of his unique persona and the manner in which he inspired the youth of India on a very important topic of fitness,” said Modi on X

“He was an exceptional athlete with incredible determination. Pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and countless admirers around the world.”


Saudi Arabia’s inflation holds steady at 2.3% in June

Updated 13 min 59 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s inflation holds steady at 2.3% in June

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate stood at 2.3 percent in June, up slightly from 2.2 percent in May, according to the latest data released by the General Authority for Statistics.

The increase in prices was primarily driven by a rise in housing rents, which continued to exert upward pressure on the cost of living, even as other consumer categories experienced mixed price movements.

Housing and utility costs remained the biggest contributor to inflation, rising by 6.5 percent year on year. This surge was largely due to a 7.6 percent increase in actual housing rents, with villa rental prices alone climbing 7.1 percent compared to June last year.

Given that the housing component carries a significant weight of 25.5 percent in the consumer price index basket, its persistent escalation has had an outsized impact on overall inflation.

Compared to its Gulf Cooperation Council neighbors, the Kingdom’s inflation sits near the regional average. In the UAE, annual inflation hovered around 2.3 percent in recent months, reflecting similar housing-related pressures.

The Saudi food and beverage segment experienced an annual increase of 1.5 percent, driven by a 2.4 percent rise in meat and poultry prices. The cost of personal goods and services rose by 4.1 percent, influenced in large part by a 26.5 percent spike in jewelry, watches, and antiques.

Restaurants and hotels also saw moderate inflation, rising 1.6 percent annually, while education prices increased by 1.4 percent, driven mainly by a 5 percent hike in tertiary education fees.

At the same time, downward pressure came from a handful of categories. Prices for furnishings and household equipment fell by 1.7 percent due to a decline in furniture and carpeting. Clothing and footwear prices dipped 0.6 percent, primarily due to a reduction in garment costs, while transportation prices declined 0.7 percent year on year, reflecting a 1.7 percent drop in vehicle prices.

On a monthly basis, the CPI remained broadly stable in June, registering a modest 0.2 percent increase from May according to the report. This was once again led by a 0.2 percent rise in the housing category, alongside slight increases in food, personal goods, and recreation services.

Prices of health services and communication saw minor declines, while tobacco and transportation remained flat compared to the previous month.

Saudi Arabia’s inflation rate remains moderate by global and regional standards. A combination of government subsidies, regulated utility prices, and the riyal’s fixed exchange rate to the US dollar are key stabilizing forces.

Additionally, the country’s subsidy framework, particularly in energy and essential food items, continues to shield consumers from global price shocks.
 
While the Kingdom’s inflation rate is in line with that seen in Kuwait — which reported a figure of approximately 2.2 percent as of May — other countries have seen a marked difference.

Qatar’s inflation remained significantly lower at just 0.5 percent year-on-year in April, and Bahrain experienced deflation, with consumer prices falling by about 1 percent annually in May.

Oman also recorded one of the lowest rates in the bloc, holding under 1 percent for much of 2025. The shared currency pegs and regional subsidy models have collectively contributed to a subdued inflationary landscape across the Gulf.

Oranges and lemons up

Saudi Arabia’s Wholesale Price Index saw an annual rise of 2.1 percent in June, driven mainly by 4.5 percent increase in transportable goods except metal products, machinery and equipment.

The price of agriculture and fishery product also increased by 4.4 percent annually according to the General Authority of Statistics.

Prices for metal products, machinery, and equipment declined by 0.3 percent due to a fall in electronics and industrial machinery costs. On a monthly basis, however, wholesale prices edged down 0.1 percent compared to May, suggesting some easing of cost pressures at the producer level.

GASTAT’s accompanying report on the Average Prices of Goods and Services offered a closer look at individual items affecting consumers directly.

The price of medium African lemons surged by 12.6 percent in June compared to the previous month, marking one of the sharpest increases among fresh produce. Abu Sorra Egyptian oranges and Pakistani mandarins also saw notable jumps.

Conversely, local onions became significantly cheaper, falling 16.7 percent month-on-month, while okra and imported onions dropped by 13.4 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively.

These fluctuations underscore the seasonal and supply-driven nature of food price changes in the Kingdom.

With inflation remaining broadly contained and economic diversification efforts continuing under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is maintaining a stable macroeconomic environment.

While rents and discretionary spending categories such as jewelry and education continue to rise, broader price stability across essential goods and services reflects the resilience of the Kingdom’s economic framework amid global uncertainty.


Riyadh to host global falcon auction in August 

Updated 17 min 20 sec ago
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Riyadh to host global falcon auction in August 

RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced that preparations are underway for this year’s International Falcon Breeders Auction from Aug. 5 to 25 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. 

The auction has become a key event for falconers worldwide, attracting sellers and buyers of elite local and international breeding stock, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Last year’s auction featured 56 production farms — 13 from Saudi Arabia and 43 international — with 866 falcons sold to buyers from 19 countries.

Total sales topped SR10.6 million ($2.8 million), and more than 18,000 visits were recorded during the three-week event, the SPA added. 

The 2024 auction included the highest-priced locally bred falcon, sold for SR210,000 by Al-Aradi Production and Protection Center, and the most expensive international falcon, sold for SR400,000 by Pacific Northwest Falcons, US.

Recognized as one of the world’s largest specialized falcon auctions, the Malham event has created investment opportunities in the sector, according to the SPA.

The auction has also helped local farms adopt international best practices and contributed to Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global falconry hub.


Jessica Kahawaty’s cookbook receives celebrity nod of approval

Updated 20 min 17 sec ago
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Jessica Kahawaty’s cookbook receives celebrity nod of approval

DUBAI: Lebanese Australian duo, model Jessica Kahawaty and mother Rita, have launched their own cookbook — with no less a person than Hollywood actress and producer Courteney Cox providing a cover quote.

Kahawaty and her mother are the minds behind UAE-based food delivery business Mama Rita and the book, “Mama Rita: Family recipes from the Mediterranean,” is now available for pre-order ahead of its release in September.

It is endorsed by Cox, who says it is “a must-have for anyone who is passionate about cooking and loves food as much as I do.”

Writing on Instagram on Monday, Kahawaty said: “The moment we held the Mama Rita cookbook in our hands for the very first time … after two years of pouring our hearts into it. And we’re beyond thrilled to share a special surprise on the cover — a quote from the one and only (Courteney Cox). Her iconic role as Monica in ‘Friends’ — the talented chef, perfectionist, and loving control freak — mirrors so much of the dynamic between mum and me. And her true persona is even more beautiful, warm, and generous.

“Years of love, passion, late nights and so many memories. It’s all finally coming to life just as Mama Rita turns five this September,” she added.

Kahawaty is on an entrepreneurial roll, having launched jewelry brand Kahawaty Jewels alongside her father, master jeweler Ghassan Kahawaty, in May. Based in Dubai, it continues the family’s long-standing tradition of jewelry craftsmanship.

“I grew up watching my father in his jewelry trade. I saw how happy he made people when he created these beautiful pieces,” Kahawaty told Arab News. “I’ve always wanted to continue my father’s legacy and my grandfather’s trade. I felt like this is the perfect time to launch Kahawaty Jewels in Dubai, which is a city I’ve been in for over 13 years.”

For Jessica, building the brand with her father has been a meaningful journey.

“He’s the only man I trust when it comes to diamonds and jewelry. He has an impeccable eye for detail and quality. He has the most incredible craftsmanship. I learned so much from him and launching this with my father feels like a true partnership,” she said.