Taif Municipality is putting the last touches on the largest rose carpet in the world to be ready in time for the opening of the Taif International Rose Festival on March 31 in King Faisal Park.
Taif Mayor Mohammed Al-Mukharij said, “This year’s rose carpet has over 100,000 roses and flowers covering 750 square meters. It includes more than 15,000 species of flowers of all colors in addition to seedlings of the famous Taif rose.”
A mobile flower carpet will move through the streets, and a bus for children will tour Taif before the start of the festival as an advertisement.
“The municipality’s exhibition will contain new gardens, and there will be a show of plants, some of which are indigenous to Taif,” the mayor added.
In King Faisal Park there will be an aloe vera garden to show the variety of this species that grow in Taif. Replicas of flowers will be presented to children as gifts and there will be kids-sized flower dresses for photography. Old cars have been refurbished for agricultural purposes to preserve the environment and to benefit from anything old.”
“New attractions at this year’s rose festival are a six-meter high flower bridge, an outdoor home garden which aims to teach visitors about how to arrange such gardens and there will be a waterfall of flowers, which consists of 3,000 flowers,” said Al-Mukharij.
He concluded, “There will also be a drawing and coloring competition for small kids. They will receive gifts daily.”
World’s largest rose carpet ready for Taif festival
World’s largest rose carpet ready for Taif festival
KSrelief sends food and shelter aid to Pakistan and Sudan
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has sent food and shelter aid to Pakistan and Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
A total of 450 shelter bags were distributed in Sudan’s El-Gadarif state, benefiting 2,588 individuals.
In Pakistan’s Pakhtunkhwa province 710 food baskets for 4,970 individuals were handed to vulnerable families in flood-affected areas. This was a part KSrelief’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan 2024.
Putin reappoints Mishustin as Russia’s prime minister
- Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the house, the State Duma, will hold a session later Friday to consider Mikhail Mishustin’s candidacy
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has reappointed Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister for the lower house’s approval.
Parliament Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the house, the State Duma, will hold a session later Friday to consider Mishustin’s candidacy.
Mishustin’s approval is a mere proforma in the Kremlin-controlled parliament.
In line with Russian law, Mishustin, 58, who held the job for the past four years, submitted his Cabinet’s resignation on Tuesday when Putin began his fifth presidential term at a glittering Kremlin inauguration.
Mishustin’s reappointment was widely expected by political observers, who noted that Putin values his skills and the lack of political ambition. Mishustin, the former head of Russia’s tax service, has kept a low profile, steering clear of political statements and avoiding media interviews.
Saudi Film Festival ends with honors for best production, music, acting
- Kingdom’s acclaimed wildlife documentary ‘Horizon’ and film ‘Hajjan’ win top awards
DHAHRAN: The red carpet was rolled out on the final night of the eight-day 10th Saudi Film Festival on Thursday with awards handed out for best production, music and acting.
The event, held at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, had included masterclasses, workshops, book signings and networking opportunities.
The closing ceremony was a glamorous event, as presenters handed out the Golden Palm awards on stage.
Of the 76 films that were screened, 53 titles competed for 36 awards.
The acclaimed 2024 wildlife documentary “Horizon” won in its category. It was produced by the Konoz Initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Media’s Center for Government Communication and the National Center for Wildlife.
Ithra’s own award-winning “Hajjan,” about a young camel rider, won for best music, best actor for the young star Omar Alatawi, and best actress for Tulin Essam. The film also won the Jury Golden Palm.
One of the big winners on the night was the documentary shown at the opening ceremony of the festival on May 2, “Underground,” about the music scene in Saudi Arabia.
The list of winners and the recorded stream are available on the Ithra website.
In surprise move, Somalia asks UN to end political mission
- UN body of 360 members began work in 2013
- Horn of Africa nation in conflict since 1991
- Federal government seen as becoming more assertive
NAIROBI: Somalia’s government has requested the termination of a UN political mission that has advised it on peace-building, security reforms and democracy for over a decade, according to a letter the foreign minister wrote to the Security Council.
The request for the departure of the 360-member United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) when its mandate expires in October took the mission by surprise, three UN officials told Reuters, asking not to be named.
In the face of continuous conflict since 1991, including a two-decade insurgency by Al-Qaeda-linked militants, Somali authorities have taken steps to restore services and provide a measure of security. But the Horn of Africa nation of 17 million people remains among the world’s most violent and impoverished.
The end of the political mission is separate to a UN-mandated African Union peacekeeping mission, currently comprising at least 10,000 soldiers, which is due to withdraw and hand over to the Somali state by the end of this year.
The three UN officials confirmed the authenticity of the May 5 letter, which was circulated on social media on Thursday. Somali officials did not respond to requests for comment.
’More assertive’ state
In the letter, Minister of Foreign Affairs Aimed Moa Fiji did not give reasons, saying only that the government believes “it is now appropriate to transition to the next phase of our partnership.”
A Somali presidential adviser confirmed the authenticity of the letter and said Somalia no longer needed support from the UN to coordinate with the international community as was the case under UNSOM.
“UNSOM played a critical role, but now it outlived its usefulness,” the adviser said, adding that the mission also had a high annual cost of $100 million.
Matt Bryden, a Somalia analyst and co-founder of the Sahan think tank, noted that the federal government had previously accused UNSOM of interfering in internal affairs.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been moving to centralize authority through changes to the constitution and other reforms while UNSOM has been trying to strike a balance between the federal government’s agenda and the desire of individual states for more autonomy, Bryden said.
“We should expect more assertive and unilateral FGS (federal government of Somalia) initiatives with respect to constitutional revisions, federalism, and elections,” Bryden said.
In a statement to Reuters, UNSOM said Somalia’s request was “a testament to the work of UNSOM in support of the Somali authorities these past years.”
Other UN offices, including humanitarian agencies, would continue to operate in Somalia, said UNSOM, which was created in 2013.
Time running out for Arsenal as Man City hunt Premier League glory
- Arsenal, boasting a superior goal difference, need City to stumble but the signs are not promising
- Newcastle and Chelsea are both making a late-season charge for a European place, helped by Manchester United’s slump
LONDON: Arsenal have barely put a foot wrong in the Premier League in 2024 but, as the title race approaches the finish line, they desperately need a favor from Fulham, who host relentless Manchester City this weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who travel to Manchester United, are one point clear at the top of the table with two matches to play but Pep Guardiola’s men, crucially, have a game in hand.
Nottingham Forest will take a huge step toward safety if they beat in-form Chelsea, who are battling Newcastle and Manchester United for a European spot.
Here’s a look at three talking points ahead of the action.
When the 2023/24 fixture list came out, Sunday’s trip to Manchester United would have seemed a tricky task for Arsenal, but it is not looking that way now.
The Gunners, chasing their first Premier League title for 20 years, are likely to have been dislodged from the top of the table by the time they kick off at Old Trafford on Sunday.
That is because second placed City, in the hunt for a historic fourth straight Premier League title, are in action at Fulham the previous day.
City are unbeaten against the London side in 21 games in all competitions.
Arsenal will be confident they can beat a sputtering United team, who appear increasingly likely to miss out on European football next season after their embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday.
City’s game in hand is next week at Tottenham, where they have never even scored a goal in the league, but Spurs’ form has deserted them and Erling Haaland is back to his marauding best.
Arsenal, boasting a superior goal difference, need City to stumble but the signs are not promising.
Newcastle and Chelsea are both making a late-season charge for a European place, helped by Manchester United’s slump.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are in pole position to take either a Europa League or UEFA Conference League spot, depending on results in the last few rounds of the Premier League and in the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United.
They could even finish in fifth spot if Tottenham implode further.
Sixth-placed Newcastle, who host Brighton on Saturday, have won five of their past seven league games.
Free-scoring Chelsea were well off the pace just weeks ago, but a run of one defeat in their past 12 league games has given them hope of salvaging a troubled season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest knowing a win will keep alive their hopes of a European spot.
Nottingham Forest learned this week that an appeal against their four-point penalty for breaching Premier League financial rules had been unsuccessful, but they are still close to securing top-flight safety.
If Forest better Luton’s result against West Ham they will be on the brink of securing a third straight year in the top-flight.
It has been a rollercoaster season for Forest, who were charged with improper conduct by the Football Association earlier this month after the club criticized VAR Stuart Attwell on social media following their defeat to Everton.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said he had “already moved on” after the failed appeal over their points deduction.
They are favorites to avoid the drop but if results go against them this weekend, they could yet face a shootout for survival with Burnley on the final weekend.
Fixtures
Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)
Fulham vs. Man City (1130), Bournemouth vs. Brentford, Everton vs. Sheff Utd, Newcastle vs. Brighton, Tottenham vs. Burnley, West Ham vs. Luton, Wolves vs. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea (1630)
Sunday
Manchester United vs. Arsenal (1530)
Monday
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool (1900)
