Dazzling Opening Held for Disney Castle in Boulevard City in Riyadh

The Riyadh Season 2023 kicked off on Thursday with the opening of "The Disney Castle," one of the entertainment zones in Boulevard City.
The Riyadh Season 2023 kicked off on Thursday with the opening of "The Disney Castle," one of the entertainment zones in Boulevard City.
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Dazzling Opening Held for Disney Castle in Boulevard City in Riyadh

The Riyadh Season 2023 kicked off on Thursday with the opening of "The Disney Castle," one of the entertainment zones in Boulevard City.
The Riyadh Season 2023 kicked off on Thursday with the opening of "The Disney Castle," one of the entertainment zones in Boulevard City.

The Riyadh Season 2023 kicked off on Thursday with the opening of "The Disney Castle," one of the entertainment zones in Boulevard City. These events offer some of the world's best entertainment destinations, SPA said.
The Castle is spread over an area of approximately 20,000 square meters and offers visitors a nightly 20-minute concert, a screening of the movie "Encanto," the famous house from the movie "Frozen," and an exploration of the wonders of the cave.
The Castle's activities include "Jimba" drumming for pieces from "The Lion King," exploring the underwater world with the character "Ariel," the mermaid, exclusive Disney merchandise, and the opportunity to capture memorable photos of The Disney Castle's magical worlds.
Visitors can also enjoy a 90-minute immersive experience of fun and excitement through shows that take them on a journey through the worlds of famous Disney cartoons.
The exceptional Disney family festival celebrates the most famous animated films through interactive performances in front of the towering castle stage, which reaches a height of 30 meters.
The Senior Vice President of Business Development & Business Affairs for the Disney Music Group (DMG), Chip MacLean, expressed his joy in presenting the world's first-of-its-kind show at the "Disney Castle" festival as part of the Riyadh Season 2023 events.
He emphasized that the success of launching this event emanates from creativity and close collaboration among a large group of talented people who made significant efforts to translate the shared vision into tangible reality.
The Riyadh Season, in its fourth edition under the theme "Big Time," celebrates a variety of global entertainment options, experiences, and unique entertainment events featuring a lineup of celebrities.



Indonesia Rescuers Evacuating Thousands after Volcano Erupts

A woman and child look on at volcanic ash rising into the air during the eruption of Mount Ibu, as seen from Duono Village in West Halmahera, North Maluku province, on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AZZAM / AFP)
A woman and child look on at volcanic ash rising into the air during the eruption of Mount Ibu, as seen from Duono Village in West Halmahera, North Maluku province, on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AZZAM / AFP)
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Indonesia Rescuers Evacuating Thousands after Volcano Erupts

A woman and child look on at volcanic ash rising into the air during the eruption of Mount Ibu, as seen from Duono Village in West Halmahera, North Maluku province, on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AZZAM / AFP)
A woman and child look on at volcanic ash rising into the air during the eruption of Mount Ibu, as seen from Duono Village in West Halmahera, North Maluku province, on January 15, 2025. (Photo by AZZAM / AFP)

Hundreds of islanders have been evacuated, with thousands more awaiting their turn following increased volcanic eruptions in eastern Indonesia, officials said on Thursday.

Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera in North Maluku province, erupted on Wednesday, sending a column of smoke up to four kilometers (2.5 miles) into the sky.

The volcano's alert status was immediately raised to the highest level by Indonesia's Geological Agency, prompting local authorities to call for the evacuation of 3,000 people living nearby.

As of Thursday morning, 517 residents from the village closest to the volcano had been evacuated, with the remaining residents scheduled to be moved later in the afternoon.

"The evacuation shelters have been prepared by the local administration, and today a thorough evacuation will be conducted for all residents in six villages," said a spokesman of local disaster management agency, Irfan Idrus.

He added that evacuations began on Wednesday at 6:00 pm (1100 GMT) but were delayed due to administrative and logistical issues.

Rainfall since Thursday morning further hampered the process, he said.

According to an AFP reporter, residents were still carrying out their daily activities in their respective villages as trucks prepared for evacuation.

"Of course, there is some fear and concern, but we are already used to the eruptions here," 32-year-old resident Rista Tuyu said.

"In a week, eruptions could happen three to four times, but the biggest ones occurred this week," she said.

She added that she hoped the volcano would calm down soon so the village community could resume to their daily lives.

Mount Ibu has shown a significant increase in volcanic activity since last June, following a series of earthquakes.

In the first weeks of January alone, the volcano, which is one of Indonesia's most active, erupted nine times.

Residents living near Mount Ibu and tourists have been advised to avoid a five to six kilometer exclusion zone around the volcano's peak and to wear face masks in case of falling ash.

As of 2022, around 700,000 people were living on Halmahera island, according to official data.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago, experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity as it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Last November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-meter (5,587-foot) twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores erupted more than a dozen times in one week, killing nine people in its initial explosion.

Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi province erupted more than half a dozen times last year, forcing thousands from nearby islands to evacuate.