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AlUla to Host E-Sport Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 for 1st Time in Region

The Royal Commission for AlUla will host the Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 on December 20. (SPA)
The Royal Commission for AlUla will host the Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 on December 20. (SPA)
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AlUla to Host E-Sport Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 for 1st Time in Region

The Royal Commission for AlUla will host the Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 on December 20. (SPA)
The Royal Commission for AlUla will host the Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 on December 20. (SPA)

The Royal Commission for AlUla, in collaboration with strategic partners Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones and the Saudi E-Sports Federation, announced on Monday the hosting of the Drone Champions League Super Final 2023, the first event of its kind to be hosted in the ancient city of AlUla.

The event represents a milestone in AlUla’s ambition to becoming a global destination for E-Sports and Drone Gaming industry, infusing the heart of the modern drone racing world with an essence of ancient charm.

The event is organized by DCL Drone Champions League, the technical organizer of the event, and is set to take place on December 20. The Super Final flagship event of DCL promises to reveal the most extraordinary display of skill, innovation, and technology in a stunning setting of AlUla's Old Town, which has been recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022.

Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), expressed his excitement, stating: "We are thrilled to welcome the DCL Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 to AlUla, along with our strategic partners at the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones and the Saudi E-Sports Federation."

"AlUla has always been a place for gathering on the old Incense Trading Route, with 7,000 years of continuous human civilizations, and we are committed to showcasing the beauty of AlUla to the world once again with various innovative activities and hosting unforgettable events."

Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones spokesperson Yaser Alosaimi said: "With this collaboration to host the DCL Super Final in AlUla, one of the most prominent destinations in the region, we are advancing Saudi Arabia's ambitions to be one of the leading nations in drone racing sport and in technical fields and aligning with global standards. By enhancing our national capabilities, we are actively progressing towards a more advanced future for all."

Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Esports officer at Saudi Esports Federation, said: "Hosting DCL Super Final in AlUla is an extension to our deep commitment towards making the Kingdom a global hub for gaming and esports industry, and this innovative event is an important milestone that will reshape the future of Esports In the Kingdom and fostering a new era of excellence within the field."

Markus Stampfer, Chairman of the Board of DCL Drone Champions League, said: "The Super Final 2023 in AlUla will not only showcase the incredible skill and innovation of our competing teams but also highlight the beauty and cultural significance of this extraordinary location. We are committed to working closely with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure that this event benefits the AlUla community and promotes sustainable tourism in the region."

The event marks the first Super Final ever held in a GCC country, which will not only showcase the historical significance of AlUla, the ancient city that is home to Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, but will also add to its thrilling roster of annual sports events.

Furthermore, it signifies unprecedented growth and unveils a wealth of opportunities within the E-Sports sector in AlUla and Saudi Arabia at large. The event is set to raise interest from the local population, setting the stage for enduring collaborations that are poised to reshape the landscape of E-Sports in the region for years to come.

DCL Super Final 2023 is set to captivate audiences in AlUla at the Old Town Amphitheatrer. This unique event blends physical and virtual elements, with pilots stationed in AlUla but maneuvering their drones virtually within the amphitheater. The colossal screen at the venue promises a real-time spectacle for onlookers. The event will spotlight AlUla, enticing both local communities and drone/e-game enthusiasts nationwide and across the GCC to partake in this thrilling convergence of technology and sport.

While no physical drones will be flying in AlUla, it will be a chance for drone sports enthusiasts to enjoy the stunning and diverse landscapes of AlUla, varying between golden canyons, lush green oases or spectacular geological marvels.

It's an event that will not only showcase the scenic natural beauty of AlUla but also decide the World Champion of Drone Racing. The convergence of technology, athleticism, and AlUla’s vision for sports and adventure will make this Super Final a truly exceptional and unforgettable experience.

The Drone Champions League Super Final 2023 marks the inaugural event from the world of E-Sports and drone racing sports to be introduced into the AlUla Moments Calendar of events and festivals. The event promises both visitors and E-Sports enthusiasts to immerse themselves in a fresh and exciting experience amidst the vibrant cultural tapestry of AlUla.

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Entertainment

Iran Court Sentences Filmmaker Panahi to Five Years

Director Jafar Panahi poses on the red carpet after the screening of the film "Un simple accident" (It Was Just an Accident) in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 20, 2025. (Reuters)
Director Jafar Panahi poses on the red carpet after the screening of the film "Un simple accident" (It Was Just an Accident) in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 20, 2025. (Reuters)
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Iran Court Sentences Filmmaker Panahi to Five Years

Director Jafar Panahi poses on the red carpet after the screening of the film "Un simple accident" (It Was Just an Accident) in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 20, 2025. (Reuters)
Director Jafar Panahi poses on the red carpet after the screening of the film "Un simple accident" (It Was Just an Accident) in competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 20, 2025. (Reuters)

An Iranian court has sentenced renowned filmmaker Jafar Panahi in absentia to over five years in prison, Iranian media said quoting his lawyer, although the latest charges remain unclear.

"The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced my client to five years and one month in prison and ordered the confiscation of all his movable and immovable property," the ISNA news agency reported, citing his lawyer Mostafa Nili on Tuesday.

"The court also imposed a two-year ban on social media activity and a two-year travel ban," he added.

The ISNA report did not specify the charges.

Nili said he discovered the conviction after Panahi told him last week that his bank accounts had been frozen, prompting the lawyer to visit the sentence enforcement office of the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office.

The lawyer said Panahi had returned to Iran during the war with Israel and the United States which broke out on February 28.

It remains unclear if Panahi has remained in Iran.

Panahi currently has three pending cases, Nili said, adding that his client had not been notified of the hearing date in the latest case.

In June, an Iranian court rejected Panahi's appeal against a one-year sentence in one of the cases, which was handed down in December on charges of "propaganda" against Iran.

Panahi, 66, won the top prize at last year's Cannes film festival for "It Was Just an Accident", a film in which five ex-inmates contemplate whether to exact revenge on a man they believe to be their former jailer.

He has won a host of prizes at European film festivals since showcasing his debut film "The White Balloon" in Cannes in 1995, which won an award for best first feature.

In 2010, Panahi was banned from making movies for 20 years, and from leaving the country, after supporting mass anti-government protests a year earlier and making a series of films that critiqued the state of modern Iran.

Convicted of "propaganda against the system", he was sentenced to six years in jail but served only two months behind bars before being released on bail.

A year later, he dispatched a documentary with the title "This is Not a Film" to the Cannes festival on a flash drive stashed in a cake.

His 2015 movie "Taxi" featured him acting as a taxi driver and was shot entirely in a car.

In 2022, he was arrested in connection with protests by a group of filmmakers but was released nearly seven months later.

Iranian filmmakers, prominent media figures and celebrities are closely monitored in Iran and their work reviewed for content deemed critical of the regime.

Entertainment

Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Actor of ‘McMillan & Wife’ and ‘Kate & Allie,’ Dies at 80

Susan Saint James attends the SNL50: The Anniversary Special in New York on Feb. 16, 2025. (AP)
Susan Saint James attends the SNL50: The Anniversary Special in New York on Feb. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Susan Saint James, Emmy-Winning Actor of ‘McMillan & Wife’ and ‘Kate & Allie,’ Dies at 80

Susan Saint James attends the SNL50: The Anniversary Special in New York on Feb. 16, 2025. (AP)
Susan Saint James attends the SNL50: The Anniversary Special in New York on Feb. 16, 2025. (AP)

Susan Saint James, who co-starred with Rock Hudson in the 1970s TV crime series “McMillan & Wife” and later co-starred with Jane Curtin in the sitcom “Kate & Allie” in the 1980s, has died. She was 80.

People magazine, citing a representative for the actor, said Saint James died Monday. She had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“She never met a stranger," her family said in a statement to People. "Every person she met became the most important person in the room at that moment, from a fellow board member to the clerk at the shoe store, who usually walked away knowing her entire life story."

Born Susan Jane Miller on Aug. 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, she was raised in the northern Illinois city of Rockford, where her father had transferred for work. She began modeling as a teenager in Paris.

At 20, she moved back to Los Angeles and landed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios. She made her television debut in the 1966 movie “Fame is the Name of the Game” with Tony Franciosa.

She got another break when it became a series called “The Name of the Game” in 1968, with rotating lead characters played by Franciosa, Gene Barry and Robert Stack. Saint James provided the show continuity in her role as Peggy Maxwell, a research assistant who worked for all three men. She won an Emmy Award for the part in 1969.

Before “The Name of the Game,” Saint James had a recurring role in the crime-caper series “It Takes a Thief” starring Robert Wagner. Her other early TV credits included “Ironside," “McCloud” and “Alias Smith and Jones.” In 1980, she guest-starred in an episode of “M(asterisk)A(asterisk)S(asterisk)H.”

Saint James, known for her unique, throaty voice, had a supporting role in the 1968 movie “Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows” starring Rosalind Russell and Stella Stevens.

She earned her biggest fame as Sally McMillan, the plucky wife of Hudson’s San Francisco police commissioner Stewart McMillan, in the hit series “McMillan & Wife” from 1971-76. She received three Emmy nominations for the role.

Saint James left the NBC show before its sixth and final season because of a contract dispute, with her character killed off in a plane crash. Saint James then turned to feature films.

She played opposite Peter Fonda in “Outlaw Blues” in 1977. She co-starred with George Hamilton in the 1979 vampire spoof “Love at First Bite” and joined Jessica Lange and Curtin in the 1980 comedy heist “How to Beat the High Cost of Living.” She co-starred in the 1981 romantic comedy “Carbon Copy,” in which Denzel Washington made his movie debut.

After middling success on the big screen, Saint James reunited with Curtin in the CBS sitcom “Kate & Allie,” which ran from 1984-89 and earned Saint James two Emmy nominations as the free-spirited Kate to Curtin’s straight-laced Allie.

While guest-hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 1981, Saint James met Dick Ebersol, the show’s then-executive producer and the future chairman of NBC Sports. They married barely six weeks after meeting and had three sons, Charlie, Willie and Teddy.

Teddy died at age 14 in a 2004 private plane crash that also killed the pilot and flight attendant; Ebersol and Charlie survived with serious injuries.

Saint James filed for divorce from Ebersol in 2002, but they reconciled later that year. “We had a second chance,” she told People magazine in 2002. “I’m amazingly happier, so that’s a good sign.”

In his 2022 memoir “From Saturday Night to Sunday Night,” Ebersol called Saint James “the greatest partner I’ve ever had by far.”

She retired when “Kate & Allie” ended, choosing to focus on raising her younger children in Litchfield, Connecticut, while Ebersol took the executive job at NBC Sports.

Saint James made occasional guest appearances after that, including as the mother of her real-life look-alike niece Christa Miller on “The Drew Carey Show,” as well as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Suits.” In 1999, she starred in a production of “The Miracle Worker” in Torrington, Connecticut.

In 1998, Saint James, her sister, Mercedes Dewey, and a friend founded Seedling and Pip, a baby gift basket business with a focus on books based in Litchfield, Connecticut.

She was a longtime supporter of Special Olympics, volunteering and serving on its board of directors.

Besides her husband, she is survived by daughter Sunshine and son Harmony from her second marriage to makeup artist Tom Lucas, with whom she remained friends; sons Charlie and Willie with Ebersol; and Miller, whose first TV role was on “Kate & Allie.” Saint James’ first marriage to Richard Neubert ended in divorce.

Entertainment

Dutch Broadcaster Pulls Out of Eurovision Over Israel ‘Sensitivities’

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 logo is displayed on a screen at the end of the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final, Basel, Switzerland, May 14, 2025. (AFP)
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 logo is displayed on a screen at the end of the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final, Basel, Switzerland, May 14, 2025. (AFP)
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Dutch Broadcaster Pulls Out of Eurovision Over Israel ‘Sensitivities’

The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 logo is displayed on a screen at the end of the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final, Basel, Switzerland, May 14, 2025. (AFP)
The Eurovision Song Contest 2025 logo is displayed on a screen at the end of the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final, Basel, Switzerland, May 14, 2025. (AFP)

The Netherlands will not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest, its broadcaster NPO said Tuesday, citing "sensitivities" over Israel's participation.

"We have known for some time that Israel's participation elicits various reactions in society and causes discussion and division... therefore, after consultation with the Board of Broadcasters, the NPO has decided to forgo participation in 2027," Jurre Bosman, NPO's media director, said in a statement.

Jet de Ranitz, NPO's executive chairman, acknowledged this would disappoint many Dutch Eurovision fans and stressed that the contest would still be aired on the public channels.

However, he said: "We must conclude that it is currently too early to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027."

"Due to the sensitivities surrounding the themes currently at play, we have decided to take a step back for the time being," added De Ranitz.

The contest has recently been hit by a wave of boycotts over Israel's participation, in protest at the country's deadly offensive in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas attacks in 2023.

Earlier this month, the Czech public broadcaster also pulled out, but cited spending cuts as the reason.

Ireland has already announced it will not be taking part, while the head of the Spanish public broadcaster has come out in favor of a boycott.