130 Media Outlets from 50 Countries Cover Riyadh Summits

The media center prepared to cover the Riyadh summits. (SPA)
The media center prepared to cover the Riyadh summits. (SPA)
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130 Media Outlets from 50 Countries Cover Riyadh Summits

The media center prepared to cover the Riyadh summits. (SPA)
The media center prepared to cover the Riyadh summits. (SPA)

The Saudi Media Ministry launched media centers to cover the activities of the three Riyadh summits that were held in line with the official two-day visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Kingdom that kicked off on Dec. 7.

More than 130 local, Gulf, Arab, and global media outlets from 50 different countries attended to cover the Saudi-Chinese, Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese and the Riyadh-Arab-Chinese cooperation and development summits at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center and the Marriott Hotel.

The Ministry provided five well-prepared studios for direct broadcasting of the events, locations for conducting interviews, and hospitality.

The media centers offered media professionals covering the summits access to satellite services for satellite channels, open Internet service, and direct broadcasting.

The attendance of the Chinese media delegation was remarkable.

Juan of the Chinese People's Daily said these summits are “historic” and require special coverage.

He referred to a statement by China’s Foreign Ministry, in which it stressed that the summits are considered the first diplomatic dialogue between China and Arab States with this momentum and international presence.

Juan expressed eagerness to know more about the Saudi cities, specifically the capital Riyadh, which is witnessing a major transition and holding important events, the most significant of which is the Riyadh Season.



Spain's Christmas Lottery Spreads Cash and Seasonal Joy to Winners

Reuters
Reuters
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Spain's Christmas Lottery Spreads Cash and Seasonal Joy to Winners

Reuters
Reuters

Players with winning tickets in Spain's huge Christmas lottery draw on Sunday celebrated with sparkling wine, cheers and hugs in a 200-year-old tradition that marks the beginning of the Christmas season.
The total prize pot in the state-run National Lottery event reached 2.71 billion euros ($2.83 billion) this year, slightly more than last year's 2.59 billion euros.
The top prize, known as "El Gordo" (The Fat One), was won in the northern city of Logrono, capital of La Rioja region that is famed for its wines.
In the nationally televised draw at Madrid's Teatro Real, young pupils from San Ildefonso school picked the winning numbers from two revolving globes and sang them out.
The audience, who had queued for hours to enter, wore Santa hats, regional costumes and their personal lucky charms.
"I'd like the lottery to go to Valencia. Honestly, I think it should go to the affected areas. We'd like that very much," said 25-year-old Vicent Jacinto, dressed in a traditional Valencian fallas suit and referring to deadly floods that struck the region in October.
Lottery mania hits Spain in the weeks leading up to the Christmas lottery. Relatives, co-workers, groups of friends and club members frequently buy tickets or fractions of them together, often favoring particular "lucky" vendors or numbers.
The most common ticket costs 20 euros, offering up to 400,000 euros in prize money, before taxes.
The lottery tradition dates back to 1812, when Spain was under French occupation during the Napoleonic Wars and the draw aimed to raise funds to fight for independence.
These days, proceeds after operating costs and payouts are given to social causes.