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Hail Region Governor Launches Hail Toyota International Rally 2025

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz officially launched the start of the rally on Thursday. SPA
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz officially launched the start of the rally on Thursday. SPA
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Hail Region Governor Launches Hail Toyota International Rally 2025

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz officially launched the start of the rally on Thursday. SPA
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz officially launched the start of the rally on Thursday. SPA

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Hail Region, Hail Region Development Authority Chairman, and Hail Toyota International Rally 2025 supreme organizing committee chairman, officially launched the start of the rally on Thursday.
During the opening ceremony, Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) vice president Feher Alshareif delivered a speech highlighting the generous support from the Kingdom's leadership in promoting sports and solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for motorsports.
He said that the Hail Toyota International Rally, now in its 20th edition, is a significant milestone in the world of rallying, featuring four major championships: the World Baja Championship, the Middle East Baja Championship, the Asia Motorcycle Championship, and the Saudi Toyota Championship.
He emphasized that since its launch in February 2006, the rally has become one of the premier motorsports events in the region, attracting elite drivers from around the world and experiencing substantial growth in recent years.
As part of his visit, the governor of Hail toured the Hail Toyota International Rally 2025 Security Operations Center and the Al-Maghwa Security Point.

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Swimmer Al-Sarraj Wins First Gold Medal for Saudi Arabia at Islamic Solidarity Games 

Zaid Al-Sarraj poses with his medal. (SPA)
Zaid Al-Sarraj poses with his medal. (SPA)
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Swimmer Al-Sarraj Wins First Gold Medal for Saudi Arabia at Islamic Solidarity Games 

Zaid Al-Sarraj poses with his medal. (SPA)
Zaid Al-Sarraj poses with his medal. (SPA)

Saudi swimmer Zaid Al-Sarraj won on Tuesday the first gold medal for the Kingdom at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games, which is underway in Riyadh.

He won the 100m freestyle race with a time of 49.62 seconds – a Saudi record.

His teammate, Imad Al-Zuban, came third with a time of 50.04 seconds, while Qatar's Ali Hassan took silver with a time of 49.63 seconds.

Sports

Barca President Laporta: Messi Return 'Unrealistic'

Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
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Barca President Laporta: Messi Return 'Unrealistic'

Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen
Argentina's Lionel Messi (R) takes part in a training session in Algorfa, Alicante, Spain, 11 November 2025. EPA/Marcial Guillen

Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi returning to the Catalan giants is "unrealistic,” the club's president Joan Laporta said Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Argentine superstar made a surprise appearance at Barca's Camp Nou stadium on Sunday night and said he hoped "one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, Barca's record goalscorer and appearance maker, left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after two decades there because their precarious financial position meant they could not afford to keep him.

"Out of the utmost respect for Messi, the professionals at the club, Barca, and the Barca club members, I believe that now, for me to make speculation that is unrealistic, nor do I think is fair, well, I believe that is not appropriate," Laporta told Catalunya Radio.

The president, who was in charge at the time of Messi's departure, said he did not regret what happened because "Barca is above everything.”

Laporta confirmed he would love to hold a match in homage to Messi's career at the rebuilt Camp Nou, once it is fully open.

"Things didn't end the way we would have liked... if, in some way, this tribute can make up for what wasn't done, I think it would be a good thing," explained Laporta.

"It would be right that he has the best tribute (match) in the world, and it would be wonderful to have it here, in front of 105,000 fans," he continued.

The president said Inter Miami forward Messi's surprise visit to the stadium on Sunday was a "spontaneous" display of his love of the club.

Messi is currently in Spain with the Argentina national team, where they are training before a friendly against Angola.

Sports

Chelsea's James Warns England of Extreme Heat at 2026 World Cup

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - October 28, 2023 Chelsea's Reece James looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - October 28, 2023 Chelsea's Reece James looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo
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Chelsea's James Warns England of Extreme Heat at 2026 World Cup

Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - October 28, 2023 Chelsea's Reece James looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo
Soccer Football - Premier League - Chelsea v Brentford - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - October 28, 2023 Chelsea's Reece James looks dejected after the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo

England defender Reece James said his teammates must brace for "super difficult conditions" at the 2026 World Cup in North America having experienced intense summer heat during Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign earlier this year.

James, who captained Chelsea at the Club World Cup held in the United States from June 14 to July 13, playing through a heatwave in Philadelphia and thunderstorms in Charlotte, said England are readying for the World Cup heat next summer.

The 48-team showpiece event will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Dallas, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, where June and July temperatures often exceed 33°C (91°F), will be tough to endure.

"Everyone is aware of that. We are trying to prepare as best we can for that. It's super difficult conditions to play in that heat. Especially for us playing in England, there's not anything like that before," James told reporters on Tuesday.

"You feel the heat the minute you step outside the hotel. Once you are out there you adapt the longer you are there, when you are settled in one place and try to limit the things you can. Later kick-offs when it's not so hot and humid, that would definitely help.

Matches in venues such as Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and Toronto are expected to offer milder conditions at next year's finals. However, the 25-year-old James noted that poor pitch quality compounded the weather challenges, Reuters reported.

"The pitches when we were there weren't the greatest either and made it a little bit harder but hopefully by the time the World Cup comes around it's better," he added.

England host Serbia on Thursday and visit Albania on Sunday in their last two World Cup qualifiers.