‘Future’ List Triumphs in Saudi Journalists Association Elections

The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20

‘Future’ List Triumphs in Saudi Journalists Association Elections

The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi journalists and media figures, running on the “Future” list, were elected members of the board of directors of the Saudi Journalist Association.

The elections, held on Sunday, drew significant participation from the Saudi journalistic community.

Adhwan Alahmari, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia, was elected president of the Saudi Journalist Association.

The elected board members of the board are: Zaid bin Kami, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat; Mohammed Al-Bishi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Eqtisadiah; Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News; Adhwan Alahmri, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia; Ali Al-Hazmi, Editor-in-Chief of Sabq; Hamed Alshehri, Editor-in-Chief of the Saudipedia platform; Fatima Al-Awfi from the Media Department at the Ministry of Sports; Lama Al-Shethry, Editor-in-Chief of Sayidaty; May Al-Sharif, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia; Noor Nugali, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Arab News; Bushra Alrabiah from the Government Communication Center; Thekra Al-Atyawi from the Saudi Broadcasting Authority; and Mamdouh Al-Muhaini, General Manager of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath television stations.

Saudi Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari, in a statement posted on “X,” highlighted the importance of civil society in developing journalists’ skills and enhancing media performance.

He congratulated the newly elected board of the Saudi Journalists Association, thanked the outgoing council led by Khaled Al-Malik, and expressed optimism about a productive partnership for advancing the media industry.

Following the election, the Board of Directors held its first meeting, electing Alahmari as president, and Faisal Abbas as president while Bushra Alrabiah was elected as treasurer.

Alahmari thanked his colleagues for the confidence entrusted in him.

He hoped that the new team can achieve their hopes and aspirations. He also praised the great efforts made by the members of the previous boards who made outstanding contributions in meeting objectives.

He said his colleagues will present their visions at the next meeting to develop an organized strategy for their work that stems from the main objectives of the association and is consistent with the aspirations of Saudi media and journalists.



SpaceX Starship Explodes During Routine Test

Flames rise as a SpaceX rocket explodes in Brownsville, Texas, US, June 18, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. TheRocketFuture via X/via REUTERS
Flames rise as a SpaceX rocket explodes in Brownsville, Texas, US, June 18, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. TheRocketFuture via X/via REUTERS
TT
20

SpaceX Starship Explodes During Routine Test

Flames rise as a SpaceX rocket explodes in Brownsville, Texas, US, June 18, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. TheRocketFuture via X/via REUTERS
Flames rise as a SpaceX rocket explodes in Brownsville, Texas, US, June 18, 2025, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. TheRocketFuture via X/via REUTERS

One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test late Wednesday in Texas, law enforcement said, in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species.

The Starship 36 suffered "catastrophic failure and exploded" at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11:00 pm (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by the Cameron County authorities said, according to AFP.

A video shared with the post showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm, and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion.

Musk's Space X said the rocket was preparing for the tenth flight test when it "experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," without elaborating on the nature of the complication.

"A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for," Space X added on social media.

"There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue."

The Starship was not scheduled for launch on Wednesday evening when the explosion occurred during a "routine static fire test," according to the Cameron County authorities.

During a static fire, part of the procedures preceding a launch, the Starship's Super Heavy booster would be anchored to the ground to prevent it from lifting off during the test-firing.

Starbase on the south Texas coast, near the border with Mexico, is the headquarters for Musk's space project.

Standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall, Starship is the world's largest and most powerful rocket and central to Musk's long-term vision of colonizing Mars.

The Starship is billed as a fully reusable rocket with a payload capacity of up to 150 metric tons.

The latest setback follows an explosion of a prototype Starship over the Indian Ocean in late May.

The biggest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built had lifted off on May 27 from the Starbase facility, but the first-stage Super Heavy booster blew up instead of executing its planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

The previous two outings also ended poorly, with the upper stage disintegrating over the Caribbean.

But the failures will likely do little to dent Musk's spacefaring ambitions.

SpaceX has been betting that its "fail fast, learn fast" ethos, which has helped it dominate commercial spaceflight, will eventually pay off.

The company has caught the Super Heavy booster in the launch tower's giant robotic arms three times -- a daring engineering feat it sees as key to rapid reusability and slashing costs.

NASA is also increasingly reliant on SpaceX, whose Dragon spacecraft is vital for ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in early May approved an increase in annual Starship rocket launches from five to 25, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely impact the environment.

The decision overruled objections from conservation groups who had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds.