NEOM Celebrates Student Excellence and Innovation in Chicago

High-performing students from the Tabuk region have been honored by NEOM at a special event held in Chicago, US. (SPA)
High-performing students from the Tabuk region have been honored by NEOM at a special event held in Chicago, US. (SPA)
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NEOM Celebrates Student Excellence and Innovation in Chicago

High-performing students from the Tabuk region have been honored by NEOM at a special event held in Chicago, US. (SPA)
High-performing students from the Tabuk region have been honored by NEOM at a special event held in Chicago, US. (SPA)

High-performing students from the Tabuk region, on scholarship at US universities, have been honored by NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwestern Saudi Arabia, at a special event held in Chicago, US, according to a press release from NEOM.
Led by NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr, the occasion celebrated the educational achievements of the 130 participants in NEOM’s 2023 Scholarship Program, which sponsors Tabuk students who pursue their tertiary studies, as well as seek valuable work experience abroad, SPA said on Wednesday.
From the 2023 cohort, 118 students made their way to Chicago, where they were feted for their educational accomplishments. Forty-nine of the students were honored for their academic excellence or innovative contributions. The event enabled students to showcase their achievements, connect with NEOM leaders and discuss future collaboration.
This most recent activity of the annual scholarship program built on the success of last year's gathering in Washington, D.C. This year’s Chicago event featured three presentations by students, which offered insights and perspectives into the key NEOM projects of Trojena, Oxagon and ENOWA.
Notable figures from NEOM, including Founding President of NEOM University Professor Andreas Cangellaris, head of Health and Wellbeing Dr. Mahmoud Alyamany, and head of NEOM Digital Media Academy Nada Alshaibani, attended the event alongside the NEOM CEO.
Al-Nasr said: "This event celebrates the remarkable achievements of our scholarship recipients. NEOM takes great pride in being a catalyst for these bright, young minds by fostering academic excellence and vital community involvement. In addition to their studies, the students take part in field trips and internships at NEOM offering them invaluable practical exposure to our diverse sectors and operations. We aim to cultivate a generation that not only excels in their respective fields but actively contributes to Saudi Vision 2030 – building a dynamic society, fueling economic prosperity and shaping an ambitious nation."
The NEOM Scholarship Program targets Saudi students and high-achieving school leavers. Since its inception in 2019, the program has supported 740 undergraduate students and recent graduates.
Students enrolled in the program study at renowned institutions in Saudi Arabia, UK and US. Upon completing their studies, scholarship recipients are offered positions within NEOM's sectors, their knowledge and skills aligned with the expertise required for NEOM's future development.
The initiative underscores NEOM's commitment to nurturing talent, driving innovation, and building a dynamic workforce to realize the ambitious goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.



US Congressman from Wisconsin Swims to Safety After Plane Makes Emergency Landing in a Lake

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) speaks, before US Vice President JD Vance discusses anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 8, 2026. (Reuters)
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) speaks, before US Vice President JD Vance discusses anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 8, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Congressman from Wisconsin Swims to Safety After Plane Makes Emergency Landing in a Lake

Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) speaks, before US Vice President JD Vance discusses anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 8, 2026. (Reuters)
Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) speaks, before US Vice President JD Vance discusses anti-fraud initiatives during a visit to Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing, at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, July 8, 2026. (Reuters)

A Republican congressman said he had to swim to safety after a plane he was traveling in made an emergency landing in a lake late Saturday.

US Rep. Tom Tiffany says he was returning from the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner when the light aircraft lost power as it approached Wausau Downtown Airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. They both ended up in the water and swam to safety.

“After landing, we called 911. As the plane began to submerge, we exited the aircraft and swam to a shallow area, where we waited until emergency responders reached us by boat," he wrote on X.

Emergency responders got both Tiffany and the pilot to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Tiffany is running for governor on the Republican ticket in Wisconsin and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The plane Tiffany was traveling in was a single-engine, four-seat Bonanza aircraft.


Beijing Bans Drone Possession in the City After Earlier Moves to Tighten Rules

People commute as the sun sets in Beijing on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
People commute as the sun sets in Beijing on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
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Beijing Bans Drone Possession in the City After Earlier Moves to Tighten Rules

People commute as the sun sets in Beijing on September 12, 2026. (AFP)
People commute as the sun sets in Beijing on September 12, 2026. (AFP)

Beijing is banning the possession of drones within city limits in new rules announced Sunday that further tighten its regulations on drones, which already include a May ban on sales of the devices. The ban on possession will come into effect in mid-November.

Beijing has barred unauthorized drone flights, citing security reasons, and has designated the city’s administrative area as restricted airspace.

The latest revised rules come after a fatal accident in late June when a small aircraft crashed into a Beijing skyscraper, killing the pilot and injuring 13 others.

Under regulations approved in March and which came into effect May 1, existing drone owners in Beijing had to register their devices with their real names and identities, but owners have been allowed to keep their registered drones under strict requirements.

However, according to the revised regulations approved this month, which will be effective from Nov. 15, the possession or storage of drones or key components within Beijing's city limits will also be banned. The revised rules were released Sunday by authorities.

Authorities can confiscate the drones of those who do not comply and can impose fines on individuals and companies.

Beijing authorities will be offering subsidies for existing drone owners to sell their devices at designated buyback locations, according to the state-owned newspaper Beijing Daily. Drone owners can also consider scrapping and recycling their drones with a small subsidy provided, or shipping them outside of Beijing before the new rules come into effect.

Drone users can still fly drones outdoors in other parts of the country, but real name registrations are required. Beijing, the Chinese capital, often has more stringent security rules than other parts of China.


Around 230 Flee Croatia Island Fire

A firefighter inspects the area of a forest fire in Trebisevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 7, 2026. (Reuters)
A firefighter inspects the area of a forest fire in Trebisevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 7, 2026. (Reuters)
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Around 230 Flee Croatia Island Fire

A firefighter inspects the area of a forest fire in Trebisevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 7, 2026. (Reuters)
A firefighter inspects the area of a forest fire in Trebisevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, September 7, 2026. (Reuters)

Around 230 people were evacuated overnight Sunday on the Croatian Adriatic island of Brac because of a fire that has ravaged some 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres), according to authorities.

With the wildfire threatening peoples' houses after being fanned by strong winds, the authorities sounded the alarm shortly before midnight for residents and tourists in the small town of Milna and its surrounding settlements in the island's west.

"After an extremely difficult night, the situation... has noticeably improved this morning," the national firefighting command said.

Four Canadair water-bombing airplanes have been at work since the morning, while more than 220 firefighters backed by 69 vehicles have worked through the night to douse the blaze, the firefighters' statement said.

Several boats from the harbormaster's office and the maritime police worked alongside private vessels to get people out of the areas near Milna threatened by the flames.

The official Hina agency reported that some 230 people had been evacuated as a result, citing firefighter commander Slavko Tucakovic.

"The firefighters saved a large number of residential buildings and helped secure the safety of tourists and local residents. Some damage was reported to facades and awnings. Two people were slightly injured," Tucakovic said.

In total, about 3,500 hectares of pine forest and scrubland were devastated by the blaze, Hina reported, citing a senior firefighter.

As with elsewhere in Europe, Croatia has seen an extremely hot and dry summer which has created tinderbox-like conditions for wildfires to rage.

Scientists have long warned that climate change driven by humanity's burning of fossil fuels is making periods of extreme heat and drought more frequent, intense and longer-lasting.