Saudi Team Leaves Kingdom for United States to Participate in ISEF 2024

This year marks the 18th consecutive year of Saudi participation - SPA
This year marks the 18th consecutive year of Saudi participation - SPA
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Saudi Team Leaves Kingdom for United States to Participate in ISEF 2024

This year marks the 18th consecutive year of Saudi participation - SPA
This year marks the 18th consecutive year of Saudi participation - SPA

The Saudi Science and Engineering Team left Riyadh to participate in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF 2024), which will be held in Los Angeles, United States, from May 10 to 18.
Thirty-five Saudi female and male students from the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity -- "Mawhiba” -- will be competing with 1,700 peers from 70 countries in ISEF, the world’s largest and most prestigious pre-college competition in scientific research and innovation, SPA reported.
Mawhiba said that the Science and Engineering Team includes elite Saudi students who were chosen from among more than 210,000 students from various regions of the Kingdom at the beginning of this year. Their scientific projects passed through various judging stages during the "Ibdaa" National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity until they were reduced to 180, out of which 35 talented students were nominated to represent the Kingdom in ISEF out of the 45 students whose projects qualified to the Olympiad’s finals.
The foundation underlined that the students nominated to represent the Kingdom in ISEF 2024 underwent intensive training given by Saudi and foreign academic trainers and experts in various disciplines to develop their skills and qualify them to participate in the exhibition through integrated efforts of a number of national incubators and supporters, including universities and research centers, parents, families, and teachers.
Represented by Mawhiba, the Kingdom also participates in ISEF 2024 exhibition as a main sponsor and offers special prizes for the best participating projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), which include paid scholarships for undergraduate study at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, as well as scholarships to participate in the Mawhiba Universal Enrichment Program.
Saudi Arabia extends its impressive streak in international science competitions. This year marks the 18th consecutive year of participation, with a remarkable track record to show for it. Since 2007, Saudi students have claimed a staggering 133 awards, including 92 grand prizes and 41 special distinctions. This exceptional achievement underscores the Kingdom's dedicated efforts to foster a culture of innovation and propel scientific excellence among its youth.



Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025
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Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Japan's Nintendo (7974.T), will release the Switch 2 console, successor to its hit Switch device, this year, it said on Thursday.

The Kyoto-based gaming company did not release pricing for the new device and said it would provide more details at a Nintendo Direct event on April 2.

The company said that existing Switch software will be usable on the new device although some games may not be fully compatible.

Consumers and investors have been waiting for details of the new console, which appears to closely follow the playbook established by the hybrid home-portable Switch.

"The reveal did not have the punch of the original Switch," said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy, Reuters reported.

"What we saw is more like a 'Switch Pro' - an upgraded version that is bigger - than a Switch 2," he said, adding the launch will likely be after June.

The Switch transformed Nintendo's fortunes following the poor performance of the Wii U console, and has sold more than 145 million units.

Nintendo has extended the lifecycle of the Switch, which launched in 2017, with hardware refreshes and hit games from franchises such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

The company has said it expects to sell 12.5 million units of the ageing Switch console in the financial year ending March.

"The Switch 2 is poised to reinvigorate hardware sales," Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal wrote in a client note ahead of the announcement.

"Even if Nintendo builds up capacity to manufacture 15m Switch 2 for the year, the demand is likely to outstrip supply for several months/quarters," he added.

The Switch is the company's second best seller, topped only by the handheld Nintendo DS which sold 154 million units in total.

Nintendo is heavily dependent on its console business, even as it has opened stores and with its roster of characters featuring in theme parks and film.

Along with PlayStation maker Sony (6758.T), Japanese companies remain leading console providers, even as technology such as mobile and cloud offers alternatives for gaming.