عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Culture

‘Historic Jeddah’ Development Project Proceeding According to Int'l Sustainable Standards

A view shows the carved wood panels decorating the facades of traditional buildings of the Old City in the center of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port city of Jeddah, 2 August 2007. (Getty Images/AFP)
A view shows the carved wood panels decorating the facades of traditional buildings of the Old City in the center of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port city of Jeddah, 2 August 2007. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT
TT

‘Historic Jeddah’ Development Project Proceeding According to Int'l Sustainable Standards

A view shows the carved wood panels decorating the facades of traditional buildings of the Old City in the center of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port city of Jeddah, 2 August 2007. (Getty Images/AFP)
A view shows the carved wood panels decorating the facades of traditional buildings of the Old City in the center of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port city of Jeddah, 2 August 2007. (Getty Images/AFP)

The implementation of the “Historic Jeddah” Development Project is progressing steadily according to international sustainability standards, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

The project is part of the plan to transform the ancient town into a hub for business, culture, and innovation and a destination for entrepreneurship, and to upgrade the living standards of its residents and visitors.

The first phase of the “Historical Jeddah Rejuvenation” Project calls for carving out the waterfront that had previously been filled to accommodate the city’s urban expansion.

During the second phase, Lake Al-Arbaeen’s water will be treated and purified, and infrastructure will be built for a new urban area and waterfront.

The third phase includes building a marina for luxury yachts, open green spaces, pedestrian overpasses, and public utilities to create a sustainable urban environment for Jeddah’s Al-Balad (downtown) area.

The project is part of the Kingdom leadership’s keenness on preserving and rehabilitating the country’s historic sites as part of the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 to reflect the Kingdom's Arab and Islamic heritage.

The Historic Jeddah (Al-Balad) is home to more than 600 heritage buildings, 36 historical mosques, five major historical markets, ancient alleys and squares, and sites of prime historic significance, including the old waterfront, which was a major route for pilgrims since the dawn of Islam.

Most Viewed

 
 
Culture

Colombian Bullfighters Decry New Ban on Centuries-old Tradition

Photos of bullfighters decorate the walls of the bullring in Choachi, Colombia, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Photos of bullfighters decorate the walls of the bullring in Choachi, Colombia, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
TT
TT

Colombian Bullfighters Decry New Ban on Centuries-old Tradition

Photos of bullfighters decorate the walls of the bullring in Choachi, Colombia, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Photos of bullfighters decorate the walls of the bullring in Choachi, Colombia, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Sebastián Caqueza says a new law to ban bullfighting in Colombia by 2028 will not dampen his passion for the sport that he has been practicing since has was a small boy.

Caqueza became a professional matador five years ago by taunting a fully grown bull for about 20 minutes and killing it with his sword, in a ceremony known as the Alternativa. Now, the 33-year-old says he will struggle to make a living as a bullfighter, but vows to do his best to stay in the centuries-old tradition.

“I will continue to participate in bullfights outside of Colombia,” said Caqueza. “And once bullfights are illegal in Colombia, we will stage them here anyway, because this is our passion and our life.”

“I will die a bullfighter” The AP quoted Caqueza as saying.

The legislation signed Monday by President Gustavo Petro places restrictions on bullfighting for a three-year transitional period and then imposes a full ban by 2028. It also orders the government to turn more than a dozen bullfighting arenas into concert halls and exhibition venues.

The bill was approved earlier this year by Colombia’s Congress after a heated debate. It removes Colombia from the short list of countries where bullfighting is still legal, including Spain, France, Portugal, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru, although the bill does not spell out sanctions for those who continue to stage bullfights.

Recent polls conducted across Colombia indicate bullfighting has lost popularity in the South American country, and animal rights activists have widely celebrated the government’s efforts to end an endeavor they describe as cruel and out of touch with modern values.

Bullfighting aficionados, and those who make a living from the sport, argue the government is threatening the cultural freedoms of minorities.

The bill has especially worried matadors, their assistants and cattle ranchers who specialize in rearing fighting bulls, whose future is now uncertain.