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Riyadh Season to Kick off on October 20

Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh. (SPA)
Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh. (SPA)
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Riyadh Season to Kick off on October 20

Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh. (SPA)
Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh. (SPA)

The Saudi capital is gearing up to host its massive recreational festival, Riyadh Season, after a two-year halt caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Governor of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh announced on Monday that the festival will kick off on October 20.

He said the recreational events will be held in 14 districts in Riyadh and cater to audiences of all ages.

This year’s Riyadh Season will be much bigger than previous editions, boasting 7,500 events, 10 exhibitions, and 350 stage performances and an e-sports competition, he revealed.

Al-Sheikh also addressed the Matloob platform that was launched by the Authority ahead of the Riyadh Season.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Authority is seeking to support aspiring artists and establishing a fanbase for them. He explained that as they gain more fans, the artist will be requested to perform at major events, such as Riyadh Season, in the future.

This year’s edition will also boast 100 interactive events, 24 Arab and international theatrical performances, car exhibitions and auctions, concerts, a wrestling match, and two football matches played by international teams, said Al-Sheikh.

Over 30 tons of fireworks have been dedicated to the event and visitors will have over 200 restaurants and 70 cafes to choose from.

Over 16,000 workers built the venues of the festival, which is expected to generate record revenues and attract a record number of visitors and tourists, added Al-Sheikh.

In 2019, over 10 million visitors and 200,000 tourists attended the festival and the General Entertainment Authority generated over a billion riyals (266 million dollars) in direct revenues.

The Riyadh Festival had helped create over 51,000 direct and indirect jobs in the past and this figure is expected to double for this year’s edition, he predicted.

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Varieties

Meet the Baby Koala Hiding in Its Mom’s Pouch at a Florida Zoo’s New Outback Habitat

This photo provided by the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society Clearance shows a koala named Ellin and her newborn joey in a habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (John Towey/Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society via AP)
This photo provided by the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society Clearance shows a koala named Ellin and her newborn joey in a habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (John Towey/Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society via AP)
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Meet the Baby Koala Hiding in Its Mom’s Pouch at a Florida Zoo’s New Outback Habitat

This photo provided by the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society Clearance shows a koala named Ellin and her newborn joey in a habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (John Towey/Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society via AP)
This photo provided by the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society Clearance shows a koala named Ellin and her newborn joey in a habitat at the Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (John Towey/Palm Beach Zoo Conservation Society via AP)

A zoo in Florida has two reasons to celebrate — the first birth of a koala and a newly renovated habitat for the cuddly creatures is opening to the public on Saturday.

“For the zoo and for us here, it’s the very big deal,” said Amarylis Celestina, who oversees carnivores and koalas at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, Florida. "We are trying the best that we can to help with a lot of the genetic diversity within the population that we have here in the United States. So that’s why it’s important that we do have a joey and that we were successful this year.”

The joey, born to Ellin and Sydney last fall, remains in its mother's pouch and has just recently started to become visible to zoo officials.

They continue to monitor Ellin's weight, and are providing extra food as she cares for the baby.

Meanwhile, the koala population is enjoying a renovated habitat, which includes more greenery, new perching for exercising, and solar tubes to bring in more natural light.

The changes bring a bit of the Australian outback to the zoo for koalas, which are an endangered species. They are able to move between their climate-controlled indoor exhibit and the expanded outdoor area.

“This new habitat is a milestone for our koalas,” Margo McKnight, the zoo's CEO and president said in a news release. “The deliberate design supports the voluntary, cooperative care our zoologists and koalas have developed together.”

Koalas in the US are on loan from the Australian federal government to help with conservation practices.

Koalas are generally peaceful, have a calm nature and enjoy a “slow” lifestyle. They like to climb and hop between the trees in the habitat.

The renovations are designed to help koalas express their natural behaviors, zoo officials said.

Varieties

Melania Trump Is Growing the White House Honey Program with a New Beehive

First lady Melania Trump smiles during the 113th Annual First Lady's Luncheon, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
First lady Melania Trump smiles during the 113th Annual First Lady's Luncheon, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
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Melania Trump Is Growing the White House Honey Program with a New Beehive

First lady Melania Trump smiles during the 113th Annual First Lady's Luncheon, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
First lady Melania Trump smiles during the 113th Annual First Lady's Luncheon, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP)

What's all the buzz about?

Melania Trump on Friday announced that she is expanding the White House honey program by adding a beehive in the shape of the White House to two other beehives that have been on the south grounds since 2009.

The existing hives can swell to about 70,000 bees during peak summer months and produce 200 to 225 pounds of honey in a year, the White House said. The new hive could increase honey production by about 30 pounds, according to the White House.

The White House uses the clover honey to prepare meals, as official gifts from the president and first lady, and in donations to food kitchens.

The bees help pollinate a nearby produce garden that then-first lady Michelle Obama started in 2009 and a nearby flower cutting garden, along with vegetation on the National Mall.

The beekeeping program began in 2009 after a White House carpenter started beekeeping as a hobby on the complex.

The new hive was funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the White House said.

The hive and the base were designed by White House residence staff and hand-made by a Virginia artisan.

Varieties

AlUla Manara Team Hosts Lyrid Meteor Shower Observation

The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution - SPA
The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution - SPA
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AlUla Manara Team Hosts Lyrid Meteor Shower Observation

The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution - SPA
The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution - SPA

AlUla Manara team hosted an educational astronomy evening yesterday near the iconic Arch Rock, aimed at promoting astrotourism and scientific awareness. The event utilized AlUla’s exceptionally clear skies and low light pollution to provide residents and visitors with an immersive celestial experience, SPA reported.

The evening featured the Lyrid meteor shower, an annual phenomenon caused by debris from Comet Thatcher entering Earth's atmosphere. Under expert guidance, attendees observed the shower and used advanced telescopes to explore the cosmos.

The program included interactive scientific discussions on the historical role of astronomy in navigation and timekeeping, as well as its contributions to modern science.

This initiative is part of AlUla’s strategic effort to become a premier global destination for astrotourism. By blending education with entertainment, AlUla Manara continues to showcase the governorate’s unique natural landscape and foster a deeper connection between the community and the universe.