Al-Dosari Honors Winners of 4th Media Excellence Award

The fourth edition of the Media Excellence Award was held in Riyadh on Sunday. (Bashir Saleh)
The fourth edition of the Media Excellence Award was held in Riyadh on Sunday. (Bashir Saleh)
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Al-Dosari Honors Winners of 4th Media Excellence Award

The fourth edition of the Media Excellence Award was held in Riyadh on Sunday. (Bashir Saleh)
The fourth edition of the Media Excellence Award was held in Riyadh on Sunday. (Bashir Saleh)

Saudi Minister of Information Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari honored the winners of the fourth edition of the Media Excellence Award, during a ceremony held in Riyadh on Sunday.

Saudi Poet Khalaf bin Hazal was awarded the Special Honor for his patriotic songs and his valuable poetic collection that has been popular in Saudi Arabia for decades.

The Independent Arabia newspaper won the Press Material Award for the piece "Journalism in the Language of Infographics."

Al-Dosari also honored the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammad Al-Abdulaali, who played an important role in spreading awareness, clarifying facts and enhancing public safety during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The award this year saw the qualification of nearly 20 entries, out of 2,355, to the final stage to compete across six media platforms. The participating government agencies exceeded 90, while entries from the private and non-profit sectors totaled more than 65.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) won the Photography Award for the photo "A Picture for a Thousand Reports," which showed a member of the Saudi military during the evacuation of people affected by the war in Sudan.

The Ministry of National Guard won the Creative Video Award, while the Saudi Ministry of Interior received the Excellence Award in Government Media for its distinguished media contribution to the security and safety of society.

Riyadh Radio won the Audio Producer Award and the Television Producer Award went to the Saudi Channel for its program titled "Earth."

The ceremony featured a short film about the development media over the past year. It reviewed the programs, activities and achievements that contributed to a qualitative leap in media. The film highlighted the efforts of the Media Forum, the periodic government conference, and the "Treasures" series that sheds light on unique Saudi stories.



Orange-Clad Crowds Cram into to Dutch Cities to Celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s Birthday

People celebrate King's Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
People celebrate King's Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
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Orange-Clad Crowds Cram into to Dutch Cities to Celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s Birthday

People celebrate King's Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)
People celebrate King's Day in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, April 26, 2025. (AP)

Across the Netherlands, people donned orange clothes — from tuxedos to feather boas — and boats packed with revelers clogged Amsterdam's canals to celebrate their king's birthday Saturday.

In an Amsterdam park, a dog called Lucy sported orange-dyed fur.

“I love it. It’s a day where every year everyone just comes together, just celebrates and it doesn’t matter where you’re from everyone is just accepted," said 22-year-old Dicky van Warmerdam. "And if you look around, it’s just a giant party and who doesn’t want that?”

The official royal walkabout by King Willem-Alexander and family members in the eastern town of Doetinchem started an hour later than planned so as not to clash with the funeral at the Vatican of Pope Francis.

In a video message, Willem-Alexander said the day of Dutch celebration “has two faces” due to the pope's funeral, and paid tribute to Francis.

“For many Catholics and non-Catholics, he was a source of inspiration,” the king said.

The king's 58th birthday is on Sunday, but King's Day was held a day earlier.

The celebrations began Friday night with street markets in the central city of Utrecht and parties in other towns and cities.

By Saturday afternoon, some canals in the Dutch capital were crammed with boats, the water sometimes barely visible through the throngs of people and clouds of orange smoke from flares.

In a message on social media, Amsterdam Municipality said parts of the city were “too full” and urged people not to visit Amsterdam and “celebrate King's Day somewhere else.” Other cities also reported that events were overcrowded.

In Amsterdam's Vondel Park, children spread out blankets and sold unwanted toys, clothes and books in one of the many “free markets” that spring up on sidewalks and parks.

And it wasn't just the Dutch who were celebrating in Amsterdam.

“It is a great moment for togetherness, to be with friends, you know, ... to make new connections," said 23-year-old Lorenzo Soldi from Italy.