MiSK Launches Interactive Platform for Discussing Future of Technology in Saudi Arabia

The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
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MiSK Launches Interactive Platform for Discussing Future of Technology in Saudi Arabia

The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)
The MiSK Academy launches an interactive platform for discussing future of technology in Saudi Arabia. (MiSK Academy Twitter)

MiSK Academy, an arm of the Misk Foundation established by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, launched MiSK Academy Forum “1 Hour panel Talk”, a platform for periodic discussion between a group of experts and specialists in various topics in different fields, including technology, leadership and digital media.

The aim of the forum is to facilitate the transfer of expertise and raise awareness in the field of digital media and equip youths who are interested in media with the information they need to develop the sector in the country.

The panel discussion, entitled “The Future of Animation in Saudi Arabia”, was held at Prince Sultan University and hosted by the CEO of Manga Productions Essam Bukhary, filmmaker and director Ayman Jamal, whose movie Bilal was listed among of the top 10 animation films for 2018 and designer, director and animator Malek Najjar, who directed the series Masaamir (Nails), and Omar bin Dahlous, a painter and the art director of You Brand.

More than 100 people were in attendance, including motion graphic filmmakers and those interested in the media field. The discussion included an evaluation of local experiences, presented the challenges faced by animators and studied creative solutions to solve those problems. The panel also discussed the animation market, its future and the best schools in this field

The MiSK Academy is working on launching a number of educational and developmental programs with the aim of training Saudi youths and equipping them with the skills they need to help the Kingdom move towards becoming a digital economy. These include technical, financial technology and creative digital media programs. So far, more than 9,000 have been trained, with the career development reaching up to 80 percent.



Greece to Reinforce Firefighting Teams on Chios as Wildfires Rage for Second day

Canadair planes and firefighting helicopters in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 23 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
Canadair planes and firefighting helicopters in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 23 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
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Greece to Reinforce Firefighting Teams on Chios as Wildfires Rage for Second day

Canadair planes and firefighting helicopters in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 23 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS
Canadair planes and firefighting helicopters in action during firefighting operations on Chios Island, Greece, 23 June 2025. EPA/KOSTAS KOURGIAS

Greece will send more than 170 more firefighters on Monday to reinforce teams battling wildfires on the Greek island of Chios for a second day, as winds further whipped up the blaze, bringing power cuts and spurring the evacuation of residents.

"The situation remains critical as firefighting forces are still dealing with many active fronts, several of which being near hamlets," Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference.

He said another 171 firefighters would be sent to the island in the northeastern Aegean Sea, joining about 190 assisted by 11 aircraft who were trying to prevent the conflagration from spreading to homes and areas known for producing mastiha, a natural resin harvested from mastic trees.

Wind gusts complicated efforts to extinguish the wildfires, which have razed forest and pasture land as they barrel towards the north, west and south of Chios town, the island's capital, causing power cuts and forcing hundreds of villagers to flee to safety.

Sitting at Europe's hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years that scientists say have been exacerbated by a fast-changing climate.

The country has spent hundreds of millions of euros to compensate households and farmers for damage related to extreme weather and to update firefighting equipment.

It has hired a record number of firefighters this year, some 18,000 of them, in anticipation of a challenging fire season.